Five Years

Dear Sweet Husband,

5 Years...I cannot believe it has been 5 years since we said "I Do" on that beautiful fall day. I have to say....I personally think our wedding day was just the best. I remember how unbelievably excited I was leading up to that day. The details were beautiful, the food was good, so many precious friends came to witness, but all I could think about was that I was finally going to get to be your wife. After three and a half years of dating, finally.....I got to marry my best friend. Joy...overwhelming joy.

I remember our ceremony being so meaningful. I know a lot of people don't worry too much about the ceremony, but it was my favorite part. My heart pounded as my dad walked me down the aisle. I was far more emotional than I thought I would be, and seeing your face at the end was just the best. I loved our ceremony. I loved our vows, and loved that I got to commit myself to you until death. 

In the last five years we have been through so much. There have certainly been good times and harder times. You have been the most amazing partner. I am incredibly grateful that God brought us together. You are caring and kind. You have been a shoulder to cry on when my heart has been so hurt. You constantly make me laugh. You are compassionate and a good friend to me and so many others. You encourage me. You point me back to the Lord, and consistently pray for me and with me. 

You are a helper. You are gracious and hardworking. About 16 months ago you gave me the sweetest gift in encouraging and allowing me to stay home with our sweet Evelyn. I have gotten to watch you become a wonderful father. That little girl adores you almost as much as I do, and I love watching you with her. 

Thank you for all that you do for our family. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader, and also calling me out when I need it. Thank you for loving me so well. You are my best friend, and I am so grateful I have gotten to walk beside you these last five years. I pray we have many more together, and that we glorify the Lord more and more every year. I am thankful for our life together. I love you dearly, Brett!  Happy Anniversary!

Love, 

Laura

Alivia and Samuel

Alivia and Samuel were married back in August, at her grandparents property on a beautiful day! Alivia is stunning as you may remember from their engagement photos and her bridal portraits, and I had been looking forward to this wedding for months! It was such a perfect day. The way Samuel and Alivia looked at each other all evening was so precious. Most importantly, God was glorified in their ceremony. Now, of course if you live in the south you know that an outdoor August wedding is going to be quite warm! You would think this might hinder some guests....Not for these two. The party lasted well into the evening and Alivia and Samuel were surrounded by the sweetest friends and family who danced all night long!! Alivia and Samuel, thank you so much for allowing me to be a small part of such a special day! :) 

Welcoming Baby Ellie

The Waite family is so precious! They are dear friends of ours, and I had the privilege of documenting the first year of that curly-headed big sister, so I was thrilled I got to take photos as they welcomed Baby Ellie to the family. Y'all, this little girl is almost 6 months old, so clearly I am a little behind on blogging. But, I loved taking these so much and just had to share! Aren't they a beautiful family? Oh, and this was just a week after having Ellie....how amazing does Caitlyn look?!? Pretty mama! 

Anna (Bridals)

Anna and Lawson's wedding was this past weekend, and I am thrilled to be sharing her bridal portraits today! When I first met Anna I knew she was going to be the most stunning bride. That wasn't hard to see. She is absolutely gorgeous, but she has such a gentle and humble spirit about her. We took the photos at her grandmother's property on a perfect afternoon! When Anna received her bridal portraits she sent me the sweetest message telling me...."Oh my goodness! I am dying! They are beautiful! I had no idea I was that pretty!" If you know Anna, you know that she said it in the most humble way possible. I honestly couldn't believe she didn't know how gorgeous she was! :) I can't wait to share more from their wedding, but for today...enjoy her precious bridals! 

Thoughts on Motherhood (Volume 10)

It's been a couple of months since I have written about the happenings of being a mama. This post might also need to be titled "Ignorance is Bliss". Let me start by saying, I fully believe that we go through lots of seasons as mama's. Well, at 14 months old can I just say we are in such a joyful season?

Friends, I love everything about being a mom. From the time I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to have babies and stay home with them. I was prepared for changing diapers, smelling like spit up, doing lots of baby talk, and taking care of our home. When Evelyn arrived, as with most people when they have their first baby, your world is a little rocked. Sure...you have a pretty good idea about what life will look like, but really.....you don't have a clue until you are thrown into being a mom. I have tried to enjoy every stage that we have experienced so far. The first year was challenging with a lack of sleep, nursing all the time, figuring out schedules, and just learning this new role. Still, even on hard days....there is nothing like it. I know many would agree. 

I was telling Brett the other day that although I knew it could change at any point.....I felt like I was in such a sweet spot with being a mom. I seriously love everything about my days with Evelyn. I know many veteran mama's or mama's with lots of kiddos are probably laughing and thinking I just don't understand. Maybe not...but I truly enjoy spending my days with this little girl. I love watching her grow. I love taking care of her. I love watching her learn new things. I don't live for nap time. I just quite simply feel like the days are so much fun! 

Trust me....I know there will continue to be hard days. I know that the "terrible twos" or "threenager" years will hit, and already I see some sass the size of Texas in my sweet baby. Oh, and she can give a "mean mug" like nobody's business! :)  But....she is the sweetest thing most of the time! 

I also know that God has give me this great joy...this great privilege of being Evelyn's mama. It is the sweetest gift. She is the sweetest gift. I come out of her room so many nights after rocking her in tears. My poor husband. :) But, I can't help it. She is such a treasure. I love her so much. I am so grateful that the Lord is so sweet to provide for our family so that I can stay home with her each day. I am thankful that my husband has the desire for me to be home with her as well. I am thankful for my little business that is flexible and allows me to fulfill my first dream and role of being a mama.  Evelyn is such a picture of Psalm 66:20 which says,

"Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" 

This baby was longed for, for what seems like forever. In God's timing, He graciously gave me the gift of Evelyn. As I am writing, I can't help but cry, for so many reasons.....Mainly, God's goodness. His faithfulness. His provision. The waiting was hard, but who knows what God was keeping me from....I certainly know I learned a lot in the waiting. I have to preach these things to myself when I struggle with waiting even now. It is sometimes a daily battle.

Yesterday I was reading in Psalm 92, and there is so much goodness and truth in these words. 

"It is good to praise the Lord, and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your own love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hand have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound are your thoughts!" (verses 1-5)

So, I write this....not because I think Evelyn is perfect....(Gracious no!) But, to go back and read when we enter another hard season....another hard day. I know they will come. But, motherhood is such a precious gift, and one I don't want to waste. I am in a sweet season with the Lord as well right now, and He has been gracious to remind me of the good gifts in my life. I am SO UNDESERVING, but incredibly grateful. If you are in a blissful season....enjoy. If you are walking an exhausting road...remember, the hard roads are usually pretty short and go by quicker than I could have imagined.  :) 

Baby Rowan

Photos of this little boy are long overdue! I got to take his big brothers newborn photos a couple of years ago, so I was super excited to find out Whitney was expecting another baby boy! He was so perfect during his newborn shoot. He barely made a peep! Big brother was super sweet as well! I am so grateful when people allow me to take photos as their families grow! It's such an honor! He is the perfect addition to their sweet family!

The Birth of James Eric Jr.

It is with tears that I share this next birth. Two in one month.....it's such a privilege. I don't get to shoot a lot of births, mainly because not many want to let you in on such a personal event, but this one is extra special. This is my bother and sister-in-law. They have three little girls, and this fourth baby brought them a baby boy!! You will hear at the beginning, but we were all together when we found out it was a boy!! We were so excited.

We had hopes that I would get to be there, but they live in Georgia and with a natural delivery and it being the fourth baby we had no idea if I would be able to make it! Well, this little one wanted me there apparently, because he was four days late! :) I was so grateful that I got to capture James entering the world. He is such a loved little boy! Lindsey did incredible during labor, and Eric was an awesome help. Even when it is family I count it a privilege to be able to be in the delivery room!! Thank you Eric and Linds! This little boy is the perfect addition to your family! :) 

The Birth of Caleb Henry

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph the birth of a sweet friends baby boy. I have gotten to witness many births as a photographer, and I consider each one such a privilege. A birth is one of the most intimate events that couples allow me to see. Sarah Nell has been a dear friend for as long as I can remember. The entire day was so enjoyable. We all laughed together. Say was cracking jokes (at 5cm!!), and she labored so beautifully. She was so composed and calm the entire time. Christian was such a great helper through the entire birth. I, of course, cried as sweet Hank entered the world. What a sweet little miracle. I put this video together for this sweet family! Thank you again Christian and Sarah Nell!! I love y'all so much!! Congrats on a precious baby boy!

Matt and Maranatha (engaged)

I was so excited when this couple asked me to photograph their engagement photos, and soon their wedding!! Matt is family, and we spent lots of our childhood together. Our families are close, and we grew up doing children's choir, VBS, church picnics, and lots more! I met Maranatha a few years ago. She is from Africa, and when you meet her....she is an immediate friend. She has the sweetest heart, is incredibly friendly, is a talented musician, and genuinely cares about people. When I found out they were dating, and eventually when they got engaged, I was thrilled. I cannot wait to see what the Lord does as they begin their lives together in just a little over a week! :) 

Alivia (bridals)

Sweet Alivia..... I only took these photos a couple of weeks ago, but I could not wait to share them! Their wedding was this weekend, so I am free to share how absolutely stunning Alivia looked on her wedding day! We took her bridal photos in the same location of their wedding. It was hot, but we had so much fun! We walked all over their property, and Alivia was so sweet to oblige me with whatever I asked her to do! It wasn't challenging to make her look good! She is so beautiful, and I just love how these turned out, which is obvious because I could not choose just a couple of favorites! :)