{NC Portrait Photographer} One Thousand Gifts: February 7, 2012

So, today was full of wonderful gifts. I was able to spend the whole day with my momma, and we had the best time. We were lazy this morning, then went to Rockola Cafe for an early and delicious lunch, and then spent the rest of the afternoon at the NC Zoo. So the gifts I was supposed to find for my Joy Dare today were 3 red gifts. I found alot of red gifts, so here are the pictures.

Red swampy algae or something

The red in the flamingo wings was beautiful.

Red-headed bird

Most of these pictures were from the aviary at the zoo. That was our favorite part of the whole place. So thankful for a day with my mommy.

{Western NC Portrait and Wedding Photographer} One Thousand Gifts: February 6, 2011

So, I haven't done yesterday's blog for my Joy Dare yet, but I promise to do it this week. Those gifts are back home in Bat Cave, and I don't have photos of them with me in Sanford. Yeah, in case you haven't gathered, I am not at home. I'm visiting my parents in Sanford, NC so I can love on my mommy. We've both had a few rough weeks, and we just kinda need each other, so I'm here. Tomorrow we are going to spend the whole day just the two of us! I can't wait. This afternoon, she and I were able to escape for a walk just the two of us. We both brought our cameras to look for our 3 gifts for today which were 3 gifts found outside.

So here are my 3 gifts from today:

That's my mommy in the background taking pictures. This picture represents my walk outside with my mom. It was great to just walk and talk with her. It's soooo difficult living 4 hours away from her, and I miss her so ridiculously much. Right now I'm just enjoying every minute I can have with her.

Really cool weed/leaf thing

More beautiful dead weeds. I love how something dead can be so beautiful to me. It makes me think of Gungor's song, Beautiful Things. The chorus says, "You make beautiful things out of the dust"

Yeah, I know this is more than 3, but who says I can't have more than 3 gifts in a day. The fungi on this tree was so cool.

{Western NC Portrait Photographer} My Husband, Becoming a Photographer

So yesterday, I was feeling kinda like a princess. I wore a new dress to church that was made of lace. It was just so pretty, that my husband and I decided to do an impromptu photo shoot outside. I've taught my husband alot about photography because I really want us to be a team when I do weddings. He's getting really good. He got some great shots, and I edited them for him. Here's what we got together.

One Thousand Gifts: Days 25, 26, & 27, February 2-4, 2012

Yes, I am behind again. If you only could have been in my house the last few days, then you would completely understand why. :) So, I'm just going to get right to my gifts

February 2, 2012: 3 things overheard today, all gifts
1. "Yes ma'am." My little boy used manners. Yay!
2. The sound of my little boy reading books in his bedroom. He is such a good reader, and it's one of his favorite things to do at only 7 years old. That makes me very happy. :)
3. A pastor counseling one of his church members. I love it when pastors invest into their flock.

February 3, 2012: 3 gifts found in writing
1. Our tax return! Thank you Lord for our tax return this year. It's the biggest return we've ever gotten, and our businesses still showed a profit, so yay. I have been thanking God over and over again for this gift.
2. My list of things we are going to be able to do with our tax money. Pay off debt and make investments into my business are some of the things included in that list. Also one thing just for us, is a trip to Virginia to have my favorite photographer photograph us. I can't wait!
3. My calendar. I am lost without. If I don't look at it in the morning, then I will completely forget what I have for the day, so I'm thankful for the reminders.

February 4, 2012: 3 gifts found when bent down
1. A hug from my little boy
2. A sweet picture of my boy's little sister (we had a visit with her today)
3. A kiss from my puppy

One Thousand Gifts: Day 24, February 1, 2012

So, I'm really trying to stay caught up with my joy dare. Today has been a not so easy day, but I've still found blessings in it. Today's gifts were: a gift found at 11:30am, at 2:30pm, and at 6:30pm.

My gift at 11:30am was a shower. I had gone for a jog this morning, and then I came back in the house and did a interval strength training DVD. Needless to say, I saw sweaty and gross, so a hot shower to soothe my sore muscles was so very welcome. I didn't want to get out!

My gift at 2:30pm was happy hour at Sonic. My husband and I love Sonic, mainly for their drinks. I have two drinks that I go back and forth between, a Vanilla Coke Zero and a Raspberry Coke Zero. Today I chose the vanilla coke zero. That boost of caffeine is always a gift. :)

My gift at 6:30pm was being able to leave my house and go to church. Like I said earlier, today has not been easy. My kiddo has had numerous meltdowns today, so being able to go to church and find encouragement in my brothers and sisters was wonderful. So thankful for my church family. They are awesome!

One Thousand Gifts: Day 22 & 23, January 30th and 31st, 2012

I'm getting caught up on my Joy Dare. Hopefully tonight, February 1st will be on time.


January 30, 2012 = 3 old things seen new

1. God's word. It is as old as time, but He always shows me something new every time I pick it up.

2. Me. I have been so thankful here recently for Christ making me new every day. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.^[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

3. Date time. My husband and I have gone on hundreds of dates in the almost 10 years we've been together so dates are old to us, but every date is also new. On this day we had a lunch date a Chick-Fil-A. Yeah, I know it's not fancy, but it's time for us to sit together and enjoy each other's conversation. Plus Chick-Fil-A's new grilled chicken nuggets are the bomb diggaty!

January 21, 2012 = a gift found on paper, in a person, in a picture

1. A gift found on paper, my husband's wedding vows to me. I saw these on my bed side table, and I read through them. I'm thankful God gave me a man after his own heart to be my husband. I am so blessed.

My handsome husband.

2. A gift found in a person, alone time with my husband. We don't get alone time very often, and when we do we usually have something to do. But on the morning of 1-31-12, we had a couple of hours just to enjoy each other's company. It was so wonderful, and I'm so thankful we had it.

3. A gift found in a picture. I was looking through my wedding pictures on facebook, and I found this one:

This is my Granny Jo pinning Eric's boutonniere to his shirt before our wedding. Granny Jo passed away unexpectedly on July 2, 2011, and I so regret not taking more photos of her. I can't believe as a photographer that I haven't taken more photos when I've gone to visit my family. Granny Jo's death has really made me check myself to make sure I'm recording my own memories as well as those of my clients. A picture can mean so much to you when a loved one has gone on. I am so thankful I have this picture of a special moment between my husband and my Granny Jo. She really loved him. :)