Amy (maternity)

I had quite a busy weekend! On Saturday, my amazing sister gave birth to my new nephew! In honor of that, I thought I would share a few pictures from our maternity session. It was cold and a little bit brief. I guess that's what happens when you have a toddler running around! :) But, she made thirty-seven weeks look pretty amazing! We are so thankful for this precious baby boy who is now out of her tummy! I will have LOTS to share from birth pictures to newborns in the next few weeks! 

Sweet big sister!Seriously, isn't she beautiful? Anyways....lots more to share in the next few weeks! It's been a bit silent over here. I will try and be better! :)

Happy Birthday Brett!

Today is my boys birthday! I am so incredibly thankful that I get to do life with him each day. I am so blessed that he has been in my life the last five years and that I have been his wife for the last two! What a privilege! He works so hard! He is patient with me! He puts up with my need to take pictures of pretty much everything and my need to bust out in random dances! :) He is genuine and kind! 

This boy has my heart! I am so thankful for you! Thank you for being such an encouragement to me and for loving me so well!

I love you B! Happy Birthday!!

The Hawley Family

After Christmas the Hawley family was in town visiting and asked if I could take some family pictures and some to document that their precious baby boy had turned 1! I took pictures of them during the summer and I cannot believe how big Henry has gotten! They are such a sweet family and this little boy is so adorable and so happy! I am so happy they decided to call me again! :)

The Gilbert Family

Right after Christmas I really expected things to slow down a bit with photography. A little before Christmas some friends from out of town asked if I had some time after Christmas to take a few family shots and pictures of their precious little boy. I have known Brittany for a while and every since Sam was born I have wanted to take pictures of him! Those blue eyes and blonde hair....he is just precious!! Thanks for letting me take some pictures of your sweet family! It was so fun!

The Williams Family

Back around Thanksgiving I went to visit my brother and his family in Georgia. My aunt, uncle, and cousins were also visiting and I had the privilege to take pictures of this sweet family. Y'all, I can't say enough about this family. They are so precious. I can't even believe that Palmer is in high school and Olivia is right behind him. I was in Florida just shortly after Olivia was born. I love them....SO much! My aunt and uncle are like none other. They are a precious testimony of love and faith. Their marriage is such an encouragement to me and Brett and I LOVE when we get to spend time with them! Here are a few of this sweet family...

Love you all so much!! We will have to take more when we visit in Tampa!

Snow Day?!?

We have had quite a bit of excitement in Alabama. On Monday we had a high of about 65 degrees but we were promised that "snow" or a "wintry mix" would await us on Tuesday or Wednesday. Naturally, because we live in South Alabama we did not know what to expect but I am a teacher and teachers are tend to be the ones who are quite hopeful. On Monday around 2:00 I joyfully announced to my fifth graders that we would indeed not be at school the next day! :) On Tuesday morning I waited and waited. On Tuesday afternoon I waited and waited. Around lunch the precipitation began. By the afternoon we definitely had lots of ice. I am a bit of a weather nerd so I was pumped. We got word that we would not be at school today either! TWO SNOW DAYS in MOBILE? What?  We woke up this morning and to a winter wonderland. I am almost certain that it was not really snow and probably just ice but it was beautiful!! It stuck all day...and was FREEZING! Brett and I went "sledding" and played outside. It was such a fun day! We also ate soup, worked on a couple of projects, and did a lot of relaxing!

It was such a fun day! I am thankful that it is still frozen outside! I am thankful that we are off again tomorrow!! While it was beautiful and I am thankful for three days off.....it showed me that I am without a doubt a summer girl. Spring, warm weather, where are you? I am so ready! :)  You people up north are tough. I would much rather sweat it out! Until then, I will bundle up and stay inside! Stay warm!

Baby Shepherd (birth--pictures)

On November 13, 2013 I had the absolute privilege of photographing a birth. This was the first one I have done for someone who is not a family member. I have known Annie for a long time! She contacted me about wanting me to be present for the birth a bit before and I was just thrilled. This was Annie's third baby, she and Chop's were not finding about the sex of the baby, and Annie was planning on going natural. Oh my word. Can we talk about what a rockstar she was? She had everything against her. She was induced, they broke her water, and she was three weeks early! Gracious me....but she did it! She was so amazing! After several LONG hours of labor that precious boy made his grand entrance! Chops was also incredible as well....so encouraging...so helpful! They were such a great team! He helped her as she went through the pain and the exhausting task of delivering baby Shep. I shared the video I put together a bit ago but wanted to share some pictures as well. Sweet husband...

Really...aren't the precious? Can't you just see all of the emotion from the work to the relief when he is finally here! I cried and cried as the baby entered the world! :)

Thank you Annie and Chops for letting me be apart of this emotional and special day! Y'all are precious friends and I am so grateful for you!

Sarah Nell and Christian (married)

Sarah Nell and Christian were married in Mobile at the Magnolia Manor. It was a bit of a dreary day and we were afraid that rain might come that way! Thankfully, the rain held off and it was such a beautiful ceremony!  Sarah Nell and Christian had a ceremony where the Lord was truly glorified. These two have been together for a while and this wedding had been a long time coming! I have known Say for a very long time! It was such an incredible privilege to photograph her wedding! Here are just some of their special day!

Such a handsome groom!

They are related if you couldn't tell! :)

I love this of Sarah Nell and her twin sister!

How beautiful is she?

Her sweet momma!

I love this of Say looking out the window watching her guests arrive!

Congrats Say and Christian! What a perfect day this was! Thank you for letting me be a small part of your day! :)

John Shepherd (Birth)

This past November I received one of the greatest gifts. I have gotten to take lots of pictures of some precious friends but this might have taken the cake. My dear friend Annie was having her third baby. She contacted me months before because she had seen the video that I had done for my sister when she had her baby. Annie was planning on a natural delivery for this third baby and also wasn't planning on finding out what she was having. She knew she wanted those moments captured! I was SO EXCITED! I LOVED being there when my sister had Lucy but felt so incredibly honored to be able to be in the room for a friend I have known my whole life. It is such a treasure.

Annie's due date was December the 5th. Because I teach school I wasn't certain if I would be able to be there or not. Well, God had some different plans. Due to some blood pressure issues, on November 13th Annie went to the doctor and they decided they needed to induce her.  Now, I have never had a baby. I saw Amy go through natural labor so I knew a little of what to expect. However, being induced, having your water broken, and all of it happening almost 3 weeks earlier than planned is not an ideal situation for a natural birth. Y'all, Annie was a champ. She did an incredible job!! I am so grateful for the privilege I had to watch as they welcomed little Shepherd into the world. I cried as I watched her deliver this sweet baby boy. Thank you Chops and Annie for letting me be a small part of one of the most intimate moments!!

What About Mary and Joseph?

I have been doing a study during this season of advent. It has been such a sweet time to reflect, think about my Savior's birth, and in general, prepare my heart for what really matters during this busy season. As I was studying yesterday and this morning, my thoughts were consumed with thinking about Mary and Joseph.

We often think about Mary and put ourselves in her shoes during this time. We should. What an incredible woman, or should I say girl. Because, she was. She was just a girl when Jesus was born. She was a girl who had to grow up pretty quickly. As I started thinking about her, I listed many attributes and feelings she must have had after that startling visit from the angel. She must have been really confused and scared. Here she was, engaged but not married yet. She was a young girl who was told she was going to have a baby. She had to have been worried about what her future husband would say. A million thoughts must have entered her mind. She probably immediately figured she would be raising this child alone and experiencing childbirth alone. Surely Joseph would never believe that an angel came and told her that "the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her." (Luke 1:35) 

Mary had to be worried and full of questions. But....she said, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) What a response. Mary was willing. Mary trusted, and trusted pretty quickly if you ask me. I don't know that I could have trusted as easily without getting some answers. I would have needed more details. But Mary didn't. She was strong and obedient.

But what about Joseph? We put a good bit of emphasis on Mary but Joseph deserves some attention as well. Joseph finds out that his fiance is pregnant and knows that he is not the father. Surely he was heartbroken, worried, frustrated, and probably angry. He was probably confused and had lots of questions. It says, "Because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." (Matthew 1:20) Wow. Joseph could have chosen to handle this situation a million other ways. But, he was considerate of Mary. He cared for her and was looking out for her. He had grace and was merciful. Then the angel came to him and he listened. He decided to trust. He didn't have to be. He could've been done with this crazy situation and walked away. But, he didn't. He trusted and put his feelings aside.

The story was obviously ordained by God. Mary and Joseph were chosen for one of the greatest blessings. They chose, by God's grace, to be obedient and to trust their Father. This is such a testimony to me. As I put myself in both Mary and Joseph's shoes, I am not sure I could have been so willing. I am not sure I would have responded as they did. I pray that I can be willing vessels like Mary and Joseph. I pray that I will choose to trust when I don't always know the outcome.

I was reading something by John Piper that said,

"From the very beginning of Christ's incarnation the Holy Spirit was quietly doing what needed to be done to put forward Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of man."

I was challenged to put my own name in that phrase......"From the time she wakes up, Laura is quietly doing what  needs to be done to put forward Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of man."

I want to be doing all that I can do to put Jesus forward. I want to show others by the way that I live that He is the Savior of the world. I think Mary and Joseph, in their obedience and willingness, demonstrated this. What a testimony. What a privilege we have to carry His name. May He be glorified in my life and may others see Him when they see me.