Matt & Jamey - a wedding to remember....

Enjoy the highlights from this wedding filled with love and laughter!

Laughter....

It really is one of God's greatest gifts....and my absolute favorite thing to catch in a photo. If my subject is laughing, I've done my job and the shoot is a success. :0)

Been super, DUPER busy...so much so I've not posted much. BUT, I have much to share. I'll be back soon with lots of pictures and stories to tell!

When something is right....

Sitting at the computer working on post-production like a mad woman....and then the best thing happens.

This:

As I sit here, I realize that God has given me a unique opportunity to share Him with my subjects. What a great job I have.

Pretty sure this is my favorite pic from 2010 EVER. Just sayin'.

Smiles.....

Turn down the music at the bottom of my blog. This is worth the watch. :0)

My daughter....and a tree....

Round three of senior pictures yesterday. Hoping the kid finds something she likes SOON. Here is one that cracked me up yesterday....and just now. Gotta love her.

Just right this second...

I love it when this happens. When you are in that "place" where all things seem to come together and even through the mega-stress of getting things done you feel completely at ease.

It doesn't happen often. Trust me. I'm a freak of nature most of the time....mind racing, eyes twitterin', spazin' out all over the place (slight exaggeration, but ya feel me?).

But today, right this second, it all feels....easy.

Right this very second I have been reminded:

• that I have a HUGE God who has seriously proven, once again, that He is here and He is GOOOOD....
• that I have been so beyond measure blessed with a husband who means what he says and does what he means....
• that my "quiver is full" and no matter how much it scares me that one of my "arrows" will be flying off my bow in no time flat (231 days til graduation!), she will always be in my heart and never far from home....
• that I've been given a gift. Something I truly love, deep, deep down....and people keep "showing up" and needing photos for this and that. The latest? An author from TEXAS, here in my town, meeting my pastor at the very moment she gets the call that her book is going to publication NEXT WEEK and she needs to submit a headshot for the BOOK COVER ASAP. Just so happens that my pastor knows a photographer that will "rock your socks". Tell me God wasn't in THAT. Shoot is tonight. :0)
• that no matter where I am, what I'm doing, how I'm feeling or anything else, all I have to do is LOOK UP. It is in that act of just slightly lifting my eyes toward the sky that I find my greatest peace.

Ahhh.....I feel safe in the wisdom I have just regained. Just right this second.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." ~ Psalm 121:1-2

1 + 1 = a couple a nuts

Meet twins Vanessa and Trevor (I put Vanessa first...Trevor is a minute older and always gets to go first. You're welcome, V...).

Boy, did we have fun. I'm pretty sure we laughed all afternoon. This family = too funny. They call mom Vivo (Vivian) and dad DJ (his initials). Only time I ever heard "mom" was when Vanessa would yell "MA!" like a good italian girl from Jersey. Believe me when I tell you she is NOT from Jersey....rather a small farm town in Iowa. We just don't have accents like that. She was seriously channeling some Jersey girl. :0)

They also had a plan.....and, man, do I love a plan. They knew where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. I got to take them to one of my favorite places too....the campus of Central College in Pella. Beau-t-ful.

So here are my favorite out-takes and the ones that worked. It was a tough choice....these kiddos are too cute and too funny.

I paid him .50 cents to show me his best "diva pose"...... hahahaha!!!!

I wanted her to put the ball by her face and give me her best "I'll kick your arse in volleyball" face, but she could NOT do it. :0)

And for my favs....

So thank you Jack family for making our trip a fun one! You guys are seriously awesome!!!

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10