Love and Photography

I have a beautiful friend that I've mentioned on here before that has recently developed a love for photography (no pun intended).

She has taken some really great pictures and I asked her around Christmastime if she would be able to take some pics of my hubby and I. Our schedules didn't coincide until the middle of February, but it was perfect timing...as it happened to fall right before our anniversary.

She and I both scoured Pinterest for some inspiration for poses. She came up with some great ideas on her own, too. And, we were all so very happy with the results.

Enjoy!

(Photo taken and edited by Elise)

(Photo taken and edited by Elise)

(Photo taken and edited by Elise)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken and edited by Elise)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me - this is the journal I wrote letters to my future husband in. I gave it to Josh on our wedding night. I started writing letters when I was sixteen)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

(Photo taken by Elise, edited by me)

I'm so very thankful we have these beautiful photos to cherish for years to come...and that they celebrate the four years we've been married.

Order of Importance

This past week, my hubby and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. And, in two days, we celebrate the 7th anniversary of the day our whole relationship got it's start.

I smile a lot when I think back on all the times we've spent together.

We've had good times and bad, just like any couple, but the good always outweighs the bad in my mind.


We went to Disneyland last week to celebrate our anniversary. This was our third year doing so (we kind of love that place...a lot). It was fun to actually be there on our anniversary this time, though.

(Anniversary dinner at the Blue Bayou)

While we were on our trip, I couldn't help but think about how different things would be if we didn't take time out to spend together. Not just going on a vacation, because we definitely do not vacation all the time...but doing little things together. Some of our best conversations have been in the car, whether we were on our way somewhere, or just driving for the heck of it.

I see so many people fall out of love with their spouses because they don't take time out of their busy lives to spend together. And, believe me, I know it's not always easy to find time to go on a date or even to have an important conversation that lasts more than 10 minutes. But, I also know that it's very important that we do so...for the survival of our marriages.

(My handsome hubby on the tea cups)

I'm going through the book Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer right now. She's been talking a lot about the importance of spending quiet time with God to hear His voice, and taking the time to read from His Word so He can speak to us through it. If it's important to the survival of our marriages that we take time out to spend with our spouses, it's even more important that we give God the same consideration. And, the nice thing about His schedule is that He's always free.

I just really feel like we, as women, (but mostly myself because this is something I'm currently learning) need to understand the importance of cultivating the important relationships in our lives. I know I spend far too much time watching TV or reading posts on Facebook or Twitter than I do reading my Bible, or having a serious conversation with my husband. Life is too short to waste it all away on things that don't matter all that much.

It's time we set our sights on the things that matter, not on the things that don't (or that shouldn't matter as much).


Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
(Colossians 3:1-2, NIV)

Be blessed this week, friends, and pursue the things that truly matter.

Valentine's Day

Last year, for every day leading up to Valentine's Day, I wrote a special blog to each of the people in my life that mean the most to me.
(You can read find them here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

This year, I had every intention of at least finding some way to show them how much I appreciate them...but I just was not able to find the time...

And here it is already the 13th...

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it doesn't matter if it doesn't happen before tomorrow. It doesn't even matter if it doesn't happen this week or this month.

There's nothing magical or special about Valentine's Day. There's nothing in the rule books that says you can only show love to those you care about one day a year.

So, instead of beating myself up for it, I'm going to take the time to really show them I appreciate them...and not rush through it like I'd be forced to do if I tried to do it all tonight.

So, for now, I leave you with this collage I made:

(And, of course, the hubbies of these beauties that aren't pictured here are also very important to me as well)

I hope you will take some time, whether this week or next month, to show those you love how much you care.

Grateful

This week was a hard one in many ways.

My grandma found out last month that she had a couple of major blockages in her arteries and needed to have a double, if not triple, bypass surgery. She went into her doctor with some chest pains, thinking nothing of them, and this was the answer she got. After enduring many painful tests, she went in for surgery this morning.

All week I have been worried about it. Not many people in my family have had to have a major surgery...and some that have had major complications.

(That is my grandma on the right at our wedding)

Thankfully, the surgery went well...better than her doctor hoped...and she only had to have a double bypass. When I got off the phone with my mom, I felt joyful tears welling up in my eyes. My shoulders felt lighter and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I didn't even realize until that moment how worried I truly was.

I've been praying, friends and family have been praying...a part of me was definitely trusting that things were going to be ok. But another part of me was entertaining what ifs...

My boss had K-Love on while I was at work and two beautiful songs came on in the midst of all of this. Gungor's Beautiful Things (which I just recently fell in love with after our worship leader played it for church a few weeks back) and Phil Wickham's Safe.

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make me new, You are making me new
(Beautiful Things)

You will be safe in His arms
Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
(Safe)

I know He was definitely holding my grandma's heart today...as well as mine.

I am oh so thankful today for life.

Blur

This past weekend was kind of a blur.

Not only did I turn 27, but I helped celebrate a friend's future marriage, I got a massage (woohoo!), attended the end of an era that my hubby was involved in, and had two birthday celebrations.

Busy...

Here are a couple of pics from one of the birthday celebrations:

(MAD, me, Megh)

(My sweet friend, who also happens to be one of my bosses)

(My sis and I)

(I love these beauties. They have such sweet spirits)

(The handsome hubby!)

It was a fun weekend, but it definitely flew by.

Now, onto other fun things to look forward to in the future...can't wait to share those pics!!