Update and Hello!

I can't believe I haven't posted in a month. Well, that's a lie. I can actually. School ended and it's as if summer started, took off, and hasn't stopped. Life is busy. But, at the same time, I am still able to rest and relax.

Summer has been busy so far. I kicked it off with a vacation to West Palm Beach with my family. It was an amazing week of rest. The weather was so so but that didn't stop us from truly enjoying the rest and relaxation that came with it.

I think being an aunt might just be the best thing ever.

This man....I love him!

Sadly, we were missing Sam on this trip and we HATED that!

We made the 12 hour ride home on Friday and I jumped right back into work with a wedding on Saturday. It was a LONG and hot day and night but so much fun!

Congrats to this happy couple!

So my week has consisted of tons and tons of editing! I have another wedding tomorrow so I am gearing up for that as well. I am thankful to be busy and I really am having to practice balancing my time! Thankfully, I am off for the summer from school so that definitely helps.

In other news around the Kittrell house, we have been doing a couple of updates. I need to do a house tour soon! :) The other big news is that Brett is in the process of changing jobs. It has been a whirlwind of decisions and lots of prayer that has been leading up to this and we are really excited! I will share more at another time but we are still praying for direction and we are very thankful for how God has been leading us so far!

I need to get back to editing but I am so hoping I can pop in more frequently around here. I miss it! Plus, there is so much happening this summer! More weddings/shoots, a special niece's 4th birthday and a 1st birthday,  (however, I need to blog about Charlotte's first as well...it's coming Linds!), changes around the house, a trip to Tennessee, etc. So much stuff to pack into two months off of school! :)

Her Lamp Does Not Go Out

Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there! This morning we were not at our home church but went to church with Brett's family. The message this morning was from Proverbs 31. He directed the sermon towards mothers of course but all women in general. I have read Proverbs 31 so many times. I prayed that I would become a Proverbs 31 woman and pray that I continue to grow in the areas I fail in.

Proverbs 31 is so challenging and states so many things that I want to embrace. I want my husband to have confidence in me. I want to bring him good and not harm. I want to be busy and work hard for my family. I want to use my time wisely. I want to speak with wisdom and give good advice. All of those things are so important.

There was one small part of the passage that the pastor in no way harped on this morning but it did stick out to me. At the end of verse 18 it says, "and her lamp does not go out at night". I am not a mom but have seen/heard first hand about women who can relate to this. While I know this might not be what the passage is specifically addressing, I can remember countless nights when my mom stayed up with one of my siblings or I if we were sick, had a project, or just couldn't sleep. Gracious, even into my late teenage years there were moments when I lived at home when my mom would be up with me late. I can also see this in my sister and sister-in-law as they wake up in the middle of the night to feed and take care of their babies.

I do know that the passage is encouraging women, wives, mothers, daughters, etc. to be hardworking. I pray that now as well as when I have a baby that my lamp will not go out at night. I pray that I will work diligently and be responsible with my time. I pray I never take my days as a wife fore granted and I pray that I will not take fore granted those nights in the future when I will be up with sick babies or doing a project with a middle schooler.

May I be a woman whose lamp does not go out at night.

I am thankful for my mother and that she has always been so willing to help, care, love, protect, or just be with her children no matter the hour.

Happy Mother's Day mom! I am so thankful that God blessed me with such an incredible example of Christ in my life. I love you so much!

It Is Well With My Soul

I have been putting off writing about this but not for any reason other than uncertainty on how to address it. On April 20th my family was in Georgia looking forward to celebrating a special little girls first birthday. However, early that morning my mom got a call. My grandmother had passed away.

My grandmother, affectionately known by many as Ding Dong :), passed away. She had been having health trouble but it certainly was sudden. It was one of those situations that you know it is coming but are shocked when it happens.

You may be wondering, "Why Ding Dong? That is kind of cruel!" haha. Well, my older sister gave her that name at age 3 when she would ask her to go hear the clock "ding dong" at our house. The name stuck and at times, it fit. Just being honest! :)

There are so many things I could say about Ding Dong. There are so many funny stories and so many memories that include her. She was always there! Every holiday and birthday included her! She was thoughtful and kind! She was such a great grandmother and I think her greatest contribution to me personally was my mother!

We were blessed with many years with her!

She will be missed and I look forward to seeing her again one day!

Life Lately...

January was the month of no blogging. Obviously. :) I hope this isn't a sign of the next year. Life has been busy so I'll give a few updates.

On the photography front I have to say, I thought things would slow down in January. After the hustle and bustle of fall and getting people's Christmas pictures done and edited quickly before the deadline of Christmas cards went out, I thought January would be slow. While, it hasn't been as busy, the Lord has been gracious to still allow me to do what I love on the side. Here are just a few updates......

First up, this lovely couple who will be getting married in June! :) They were SO FUN!

Secondly, this sweet couple who are waiting for their lives to change forever with welcoming the birth of their first son, Aiden.

I surely cannot wait for him to get here! :)

Lastly, just this weekend I had the privilege of taking my brother-in-law and ALMOST sister-in-laws engagement pictures! They have LESS THAN A MONTH! I am so excited for them and cannot wait for March 2nd to photograph my first official wedding on my own but also to welcome Ashley to the family!

So sweet....

January was an incredibly long month. We also had a visit from my aunt and cousins which was such a fun weekend!

Other than that, we have just been watching this little girl grow and praying the other cousins would move home! :)

It's been a long month and I am thankful that we are now in February! God has been so gracious to Brett and I. He has been teaching us a lot about dying to ourselves. He has also taught me a lot about trusting Him. Nothing is too hard for Him and I am grateful for the grace He continues to pour over my life. I am thankful that He satisfies and that He is enough! What a blessing to serve Him and have a relationship with my Lord

Oh yeah, I am also thankful for this guy who will be celebrating his birthday on Monday! I think he is definitely worth celebrating. Brett is such an answer to prayer and I am thankful for his sweet heart.

Well, that was a short and sweet update but hey, at least there were pictures! :) Hopefully I can blog more soon!

Charlotte's Birth Video

So after I made Lucy's birth video I decided that sweet little Charlotte had been left out and needed a video for sure! Her daddy is way better at things like this and has actual video footage. I only have photos! But, for her momma's sake I figured she wouldn't care if she got two videos of her second born! :) So....here is the video I made for my second born niece! What a special special day it was and I am so thankful I got to be there since I was not there for Virginia's birth!

Lucy's Birth Video

So, other than taking pictures, I also created a video of that special day that my sweet niece was born. She is such a blessing and this video shows her day from beginning to time contractions until she went home from the hospital. It's a long video but it was all too special to leave any part of it out! :) We are so thankful for this sweet baby!

Lucy Myer's Birth from Laura Kittrell on Vimeo.

"..to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ out Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

-Jude 25

Dying to Share

Hello all! I am sorry it has been so crazy. With changing hosting sites for this blog and all of the craziness that occurred last week I have just not had any time to post or even get this site up and running. I just have to say that soon there will be a blog about Lucy Myer's birth. I am in the middle of beginning the school year and doing a million other things that it just hasn't happened. I won't be posting her whole birth story since that is her momma's place! Mainly, I have to write about what a rockstar my sister is and how amazed I am at God's faithfulness and just the process of birth. Ladies, we really were made to do this! :) We are all so in love with this angel and I am one incredibly proud sister! Amy was unbelievable. Jeff was so great. It was such an amazing thing to witness and I am blessed that I was able to be there!

In the mean time......here are a couple of pictures keep you happy.

Daddy loves this little girl!

Sweet momma

Love them!

One of her newborn photos...

Hope that will hold you over till I can get my act together! :)

Thank you for your prayers and kind words over this last week!

Only A Few Weeks Left

I guess since this is my sister and she is pregnant with her first baby, we have done more photoshoots than the norm. :) We are excited...what can we say? Plus, I love any excuse to take pictures! These were taken last week after I got the privilege to go to her last ultrasound! SO SO FUN!! 

Here are a few more maternity pictures....

I mean....does she even look 36 weeks? So pretty!

Love this little peanut already!!! :) Look at that sweet profile!!

Thanks for letting me take some pictures for you Mangs! So ready to meet Miss Lucy!

Happy Birthday Sister!

July is not only the month we celebrate Virginia but also my sweet sister! I am so blessed to have her in my life! This last year she has been such an encouragement from helping to plan my wedding, throwing me a fabulous shower, standing by me as my matron-of-honor, helping us get settled in our house RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET :), and making my year by telling me I am going to be an AUNT!!

Look how far you've come! :)

 I love you sweet sister and I am so thankful for you! I cannot wait for you to become a mom to sweet Lucy in just a few weeks!! 

Happy Happy Birthday!

It's Time to Meet the Muppets!

Well, this weekend we celebrated this little girl and the three years she has been in our life! 

Cute little thing..

On Friday we opened a few presents cause.....well, we just couldn't wait! She is loving being a doctor! Wonder if that means she will continue on this path? haha..

On Saturday we set a few decorations up...She LOVED all of her balloons! 

The biggest surprise of all was that the Muppets were going to make an appearance! haha. We had so much fun!!

This was her face when she opened the door! :) Boy was she surprised!

She didn't know what to think about all of us!! :)

Miss Piggy and Kermit were the biggest hits! 

The whole gang! 

We opened presents and one of her gifts was a stuffed Kermit! We asked her to love Kermit and she ran to her JimPa! So sweet!

Loved that Kermit cake! :)

 Oh and we cannot forget about sweet smiley Charlotte!! Oh my gracious! I could eat her up!!!

 Hello family!

 Another gift from Big Aunt Amy! She loved it!

Sweet girl, you have brought so much joy to this family! We could not imagine life without you! We love you and are so thankful for these three fabulous years!! :)