I am not a person who usually carries their camera on them, but I think that’s going to change here recently. I have more free time to express my own creativity, rather than working on images for work. So, we snapped a few outdoors for fun, the total scene of a “mom with a camera.” I was chasing these boys around, talking to them etc. It was just so funny because it is, SO not my life at all. But I love what we got and this is our life right now. Playing playing playing.

Today’s message reminded me of praying for my kids, their needs, their salvation. Sometimes I just think about the problems or changes we are facing, like obedience, defiance, education, speech. I think about all of those things, but convicted that I don’t pray enough with my husband, as a family together about those things.

One of my core family values is intentional living… not happenstance, I don’t believe in that, or rely on that at all.  So I need to be intentional about the time I have and to be praying for my family. This is just my heart.

So as a brief start to my attempts at a powerful family mission statement, here are my thoughts:

The Coleman’s will live life differently, inviting the glorious of God into the mundane. Loving our family intentionally, and that the out pouring of our lives would reflect the love of Jesus Christ.
Its just the beginning, because we have a few more values as a family we feel very strongly about like, living a debt free life. So its a work in progress but  if you have any thoughts or want to share you heart or values, please do. I would love to know!

I have had the pleasure of watching this little girl grow up this past year. Now she is finally turning one and just coming into her own. Love it

I really didn’t know how I was going to handle being at home so much. I mean, I do enjoy my home. But, I have always been a “get-up-and-go” type of gal, so before 8 o’clock in the mornings usually come around I was out the door, in my car and already headed to Starbucks. YUMMM

Now my days consist of going everywhere with my husband, Lord Love That MAN. Usually have a few stops to hit, errands to run and we are always together. The other day I actually called him around lunch cause it was so unusual that we weren’t together and I had to ask, “Are we eating lunch together?” I was at a loss because we hadn’t NOT been together in such  long time that I felt like, no you can’t eat lunch by yourself, you have to find Tim.

And who knew anyone would like that, but I LOVE IT. He took me to lunch today after hitting some work stuff and I just couldn’t believe how HAPPY I was to be riding int he car, excited about life, our future, our business that we are creating together. Its like MAGIC. You know we have had this side of our business that has always been there, its super seasonal and a LOT of work. Well, now its our life, well a big part of it and I wouldn’t just be more exited. I just LOVE MY LIFE and its an incredible feeling.

Check out these super cute little girls we worked with last night at Classical Ballet Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. 

Okay so Spring time for us is busy. I have already started planning with my husband our family vacation this fall cause I will look forward to the calm fall and winter months:) But, Spring is great cause we photograph Dance Studios. I have brag that we are the BEST dance photography company around and NO ONE puts out a better product than we do. No one. That’s not being cocky, its simply the truth. Too many event photographers slack off, don’t retouch, don’t finesse their images, don’t pose well. I have seen it all and get so disappointed with that kind of work. Quality Matters, but I am thrilled to get in a few new backgrounds that say COLOR all over it! Can’t wait to shoot some fabulous dancers!

Shades, gotta love them, but kids go through a phase where they just won’t wear them! Thankfully that was last year and this is now. My boy just can’t get enough of them and I have to say that I LOVE IT. He really can’t get them on without our help, but upside down, backwards, falling off his nose… He thinks they are the best new toy ever.

Just the cutest thing, chillin’ in the car, with a snack.

And this is where he found some Mr. Potato Head glasses and thought, hey why not. And he will wear them for hours, just like this.

I had been struggling a bit recently with the everyday life, so much stuff has to get done. I mean laundry isn’t going to do itself, I don’t have little mice to wash my dishes and put them away. There have been days I felt that I had been rushing around completely just with different tasks of accomplishments rather that stopping at times to do whats most important, acknowledging my family. Stopping to listen to them, watch Tripp play a game, or go on a walk outside with him, even thought that’s not a possibility now…

It just reminded me of Martha and Mary in the bible and who I was acting like. Martha was doing what needed to be done, she was taking care of the preparations while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus just to be with him. I can relate because busyness is a problem for most women in this world. If you have kids, a job, a husband, a home, so many things can pile up and seem at times unmanageable. Worse than, it can build up resentment between you and your spouse with negative thinking of “I do so much more that you.” That’s not healthy and after walls have been built up, they are hard to tear down.

Prayers today are for all the women in my life. See the real meaning for today, its Sunday, so rest. Be with your family, take a few extra moments to show your spouse love, your kids love. Make that priority and good luck.

Meet Laura, a friend of mine from church, Summit Church. I had the opportunity to capture her for some portraits because she is graduating from Oklahoma University and then moving to Europe! How exciting is that? Makes me feel pretty boring:) But, I asked her to bring another dress and let me do her hair and make up and capture another “look” of her that she probably doesn’t sport very much. But, thankfully she let me and we took a few for just me personally. Women’s portraiture I think is an incredible thing, one that most people won’t ever get to experience for themselves. Becoming a mom these past two years I can see how the beauty and pampering of a women can just get overlooked, with much more “important” things, so they say. But, I am bringing it back. I can’t wait to launch just some personal projects for me that celebrate women, in every age, stage and beautiful place in their lives.