Behold, All Things Have Become New

It's that time of year again.Fitspiration. Clean eating. Book lists. You know the drill. One flip of the calender page and everyone has a renewed look of the world.

The hours stretched long on December 31st. "What should I write about this year? Am I a 'Resolutions' type gal? Am I an 'Anti-Resolutions' type gal? Am I an 'OHEMGEE guys, it's just resolutions, let's have some fun, stop being so rude' type gal?" I have yet to answer any of these life altering questions.

I knew that last year held overwhelming joy and deep heartache for myself and many. I know that this year friends will lose their parent, wake another day with a barren womb, lose a job. Others will welcome babies, get that big promotion, celebrate another year of wedded bliss with their spouse. The possibilities are endless and all the while, the days are numbered.

The thing about self improvement is that I often try to outdo the great work that my creator is doing with me. He is perfecting me. In ways I don't understand. In ways a 21 day program, 52 week project, or 24 hour plan cannot. This year, 2014, is another year closer to paradise. One yet unseen that I want no part of while on this Earth. But what we do decide to do until then, it needs to be revisited often, at least yearly if not daily.

Dec 31st kept stretching on. I made the most delicious, simple chicken broth for chicken and dumplings. "Ah, yes, this! I will talk about simplification. About my new love that I had beaten into me for a Minimalist existence. How getting rid of half of what we owned this year leads to clarity and tastiness. Wait. No. That's not it." The chicken and "bumplins" (as Norah called them) were delicious. But not resolution inspiring.

Well past midnight, as I lay listening to fireworks in the distance, and the cheers of jubilee through the interwebz, I thought about "New." I have started many years by wanting a new body. New hair. New clothes. A new babe. But I've never started a year wanting to BE MADE NEW like I do right now. A new vigor for His Word An ignited fire for my husband. A refreshed patience for my children. A fortified grace for the world.

I want to taste the salt in my lungs as many times as I can, make beautiful things with these slender hands God's grown me into, push my body to work, love and rest like it never has. I want to weep with complete confidence that His Blood is more than any tragedy that lay ahead. I want to sing and dance so wildly that laughter overtakes any music.

I want Him to make me new.

Happy New Year.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things

have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Summer 2014

 

This summer I will be staying put here in Rockport, Texas. From Spring Break to Labor day, the South Texas Coast is the place to be. Rockport, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Mustang Island and Padre Island are all buzzing during the summer and I will be enjoying the long days and cool nights on the beach. Many of my DFW clients plan trips to the Coast, actually, people all over the country do. I, of course, book regular sessions throughout the summer, but have this mini session available all year long that would be ideal for many families wanting to take home a few lovely memories from their vacation and be included in the pictures! These sessions are very limited in nature (scheduled around sunrise and sunset) so please contact me if you are considering making this a part of your family's vacation.

Best of 2013

This year was anything but what I expected it to be.

I was planning on taking the summer off due to maternity leave since having my third baby in May, but an unexpected move to my hometown, Rockport, Texas threw us all through a loop. I am beyond blessed to have such a solid client base in Fort Worth that I am able to plan several trips a year there, but am elated over shooting on the beautiful coast. In no particular order, here are my very favorites of 2013

 

2013 gave me some of the most loyal and beautiful (inside and out) clients, 8 national (5 international) publications (including three covers!) and a deeper understanding and love of my camera and lens. After years of searching, I believe I've finally come into my style and identity as a photographer and am able to produce the images that I see in my head. It's an extraordinary thing.

I won't pretend to know what 2014 has in store for me, my business, or my family, but I have some big plans.

Happy New Year!