The Hunt

We had a wonderful, sunny Easter this past Sunday. Gorgeous early morning run (that's my kind of church service right there...), fellowship and worship with our church family, and more fellowship with our extended family.

We spent the afternoon grilling, lounging around in the sun, playing frisbee, and hunting for Easter eggs. It was easy for me to tell when I looked through my shots yesterday which ones were before the hunt and which ones were after. (Chocolate beards all around)

It was a great day, with many great reminders of the real reason we celebrate Easter. (I see those reminders so many places: my kids faces, the hazy light curling around us all as the sun goes down, the breath in my lungs each morning, and chocolate. I'm only kind of kidding.) Now excuse me while I go raid the kids' candy stash while they are sleeping. ;)

He is not here, but has risen! - Luke 24:6

(The last shot is my pick for Trendy Treehouse and Sweet Shot, and the middle is for You Capture)

New Life

So thankful for new life, and for the Giver of life as we start out this new week. Easter is a sweet reminder of the unimaginable gift we've been given, but I hope to live each day besides never forgetting the reason I live.

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. / Isaiah 26:19

Changes

There are a lot of changes going on around here lately. Some big, some small, some just potential. I'm not exactly able to talk about all of them quite yet. And no, I'm not pregnant. ;) (It's like a 'to be continued..." blog post. Annoying, right? But soon enough.)

Some things are the same...like how much I love this Spring weather, and playing outside with my kiddos, but we are going to be playing in a yard in a different location. Not too far, just moving a bit down the road closer to my hubby's work. (I sold a kidney just last week trying to pay for gas. And am currently searching Craig's list for a horse and buggy. Horse preferably included.) So this move is going to be a huge relief on our road weary household.

I'm excited about the changes, even though I'm totally a creature of habit. (I guess we all are to an extent.) What I'm not excited about is packing up our house in the swamp. I don't even like unloading the groceries, much less a whole house. Wonder how long I can put it off? Usually I pack night before when we go on trips...but I don't think that'll work with moving.

Check out more shots at The Paper Mama

(The last shot is my pick for this week)

They Do

Last Saturday I blogged that I was shooting a wedding. It was the first one I'd done (I was shooting along with several other photographers) and I was really excited to have the opportunity to get into this genre of photography.

It's one of those things I've watched people do, and wondered..."can I do that?" Honestly, it was a bit stressful at first. But once I got into it, I remember thinking "this is something I want to keep doing".

I was nervous as first, but as one friend kindly pointed out to me, nerves are something that help keep us from relying on ourselves. Something that keep us humble.

It was originally supposed to be an outdoor ceremony, but anyone who lives in this area knows we had about 10 confirmed tornados on that day. We had a big fail in the weather department. But the venue that they had booked had a great reception hall that worked beautifully for the ceremony and reception.

We were able to sneak outside for a few minutes to get a few portraits done, but for the most part stayed indoors. I'm glad I had the experience first-hand learning to work a not-so-fabulous weather situation.

The one thing I wasn't expecting was my ridiculously sore legs (give me a break, I did squats off and on for 7 hours straight) and back. But other than the following two-days of hobbling I really enjoyed the wedding, and am looking forward to the rest of the weddings we've got planned for the summer!

Photography and editing by Austin-Lee Barron. Photos property of Nuvoria Photography.

Routine

I know a lot of people hate Monday's. But around here, after our usual crazy weekends, they are kind of our wind down time. We get back into our routine, we fix dinner at home, we play in the yard...

We go for walks, (also known as trying to herd the kids and keep them actually IN the stroller so no one gets run over by a car) we watch a little TV. We "go to bed early". (I know we always mean to, but does anyone ever go to bed when they mean to?)

I know sometimes routine is looked down on as boring, mundane, uninteresting. And too much of it can be. But I'm really grateful for the routine days with my family, when we can just relax and be together. Nothing crazy going on, not too much to do, just enjoy each other's company.

That first shot is for Trendy Treehouse, 2nd is for Perceptive Perspectives, and third for You Capture.