Ponder
Life
Abandon
Embrace
Stare
Portraits of Radiance
Mustard Seed Creations – 2019
Two Words
Earlier this year a seed was planted in the garden that is my mind.
Sounds fancy when I write it like that, doesn’t it?
Basically, after years of digging and rooting for inspiration on my own I finally stopped and gave it to God. (What can I say? I’m stubborn and a slow learner.)
I prayed and I waited. Big shocker here but two words popped into my head one Sunday morning. (I love it when He does that, don’t you.)
Spring. Brook.
Within the course of a few minutes those two words grew into a town brimming with life.
Spring Brook, Arkansas. (My home state)
The ideas started flowing then. Much like the brook that runs through the fictitious town’s park. A park that is situated across Main Street; full of worn brick buildings filled with wares of delight and necessity all beckoning at visitor and resident alike. Sounds lovely? Don’t worry, one day you and I can visit and walk the paths that meander throughout the pages of the books.
Within a few hours the town of Spring Brook opened up and showed me that there’s more to her than meets the eye and that one book just wouldn’t be enough. Two simple words became a concoction of words forming the flesh of characters who are now after six months more friend than fantasy. Two weeks after the seed was planted a town was born full of old friends whom I’ve never met.
And so I set about growing a garden. One filled not with soil and produce, of course. (I’ve a black thumb. In fact, I hold the distinction of being able to kill even fake plants. Let that sink in.) Rather a metaphorical garden containing the small town of Spring Brook. A town full of people searching for God’s love and His purpose for their life.
Two simple words whispered into my ear and placed upon my heart during a Sunday morning sermon. Two small words that are ready to grow into something only God has foreseen.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m slightly overwhelmed and at times just downright terrified. What if I can’t do it? What if I’m wasting my time, and even more so- His time? What if—well the list goes on. It always seems to grow doesn’t it?
When one sets about growing a garden, one must be willing to tend it. This includes pulling out the weeds. All of those fears and doubts? They are most definitely trying to choke the roots of what’s been planted, and I’m ashamed to say that at times I’ve let them. Along with other weeds besides the obvious. Such as procrastination and distraction.
I’d be naive to say there won’t be any more weeds. They’ll come. I’ll be ready though. I’m tired of letting the What If’s keep me from this. I’ve got my tools and I’m ready.
It’s time to go to Spring Brook.
The Stevens Family in Black and White
If you’ve been following along this past week then this adorable family will now be familiar to you. If you’re new (hello!!! Welcome!!!), then this and this are apart of well…this. Go ahead, don’t be shy slide that cursor over there and give it a little click….
Now, scroll down and enjoy the third and final set of photos from our “spring session”.
We had so much fun that it was only inevitable that we’d end up with so many good shots. A majority of them are in color, but I couldn’t help but do a few in black and white, I mean how gorgeous are these two close ups of Mama Stevens?
Some of us enjoyed the session a little more than others….ahem…while a certain Little Stevens wasn’t as impressed with the romance of the moment.
Thank you again for going on this journey with me and sharing in what was a very wonderful day with new friends.
Finding Friends In Maine
Passed by for almost a year on my monthly grocery shopping trips to Presque Isle, Aroostook State Park holds the distinction of being Maine’s first state park. Home to Echo Lake and Quaggy Jo mountain, it’s been on my Places to Go list since last April. Can you believe we’re just a few days shy of our first anniversary since we moved across the country? I can’t either.
With any big move there’s sure to be big changes. Most are good: slower pace, gorgeous colonial home where everyone gets there own bedroom (well except me, I have to share….. thankfully I like him. Wink wink. Nudge. Nudge.) Making new friends. And so many more things that I can’t even list. Well I could but you’d eventually just skip all of my blah blah blah and just scroll on down to the pictures (if you haven’t already.) In short, a lot of good things have come from moving here.
There’s two sides of the coin though and with the good you get the bad. You know it. I know it. That’s just life. We had to say some teary goodbyes and one year later, our eyes are still suspiciously wet when we think of them. Like tacos. Oh and more importantly, and hardest of all – saying good-bye to old friends and working up the courage to make new ones.
Not only have I been blessed with new friends, but my youngest has found a few too, including the youngest of the Steven’s Trio. And that’s why this post is only one of three that will be posted this week from this past weekend’s photo session.
Practically a halfway point between us, the park was the perfect place to meet up with our newfound friends. When I asked my youngest if she’d like to go with me and see her friend I had to dive out of the way as she practically flew into the car. I didn’t even have my boots on yet. Yes, boots, because it might be Spring everywhere else in the U.S, but we’re in a whole other world up here and Winter up here is like that party guest who stays just a tad bit longer than everyone else….. (That’s usually me by the way- I’m that guest.)
Among the many moments captured were a few candids of a fantastic duo and I can’t help but smile when I look at these.
I think you will too.
Join me as we walk through the woods and get a glimpse of the joy of youth and new beginnings.
Moving Forward
This past year has seen a lot of changes. One of those is that I’m no longer able to see these smiling faces. 
At least not in person.
That’s the beauty of photography, am I right? Capturing moments, that no matter where you go, will always be with you. This photo (and a few others on this post) was taken just a week or so before we loaded up the moving truck and headed up to (a currently) snowy, blustery northeastern Maine. A far cry from the dry heat and almost constant sunshine of southern New Mexico.
We traded in a view of the Organ Mountains for flora, fauna, and Fall. A fact that is currently lost in translation, since everything is still slightly covered up by fresh snowfall…. (Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love it. In fact, the townfolk are beginning to wonder if I’m demented or just a few fries short of a happy meal….)
My view outside my window might be one of winter but I only need to click on this pic below to be reminded that in some areas of the world the sun shines in Spring.
Just a few short weeks after this weeklong photo shoot, I arrived in Maine. Within a month, my camera was aimed and ready to capture the world. And yet for the past three months, my camera has been sitting untouched in the dark; just waiting to be picked up to for moments like this one below.
And others like these from the handful of family sessions I did this past year.
We managed to capture some truly magical moments and I enjoyed every single person I’ve worked with, but I’m just not a family photographer.
And I’m learning that that’s okay.
My pace will be set at my leisure. My time spent shooting those moments that capture me in their awe and beauty.
Not confined by the rigors of necessity or priority. Dictated only by serendipity and fate.
We should always be moving forward, but it’s good to look back and remember the moments. After all, each and every one- whether big or small, have a part to play in the evolution of All. All that we are, all that we believe, and all that we want to be.
In the wilds of art, that’s where you’ll find me.
The Mystery Box
So I get home tonight and find this giant box on my porch. Addressed to me. From Amazon.
My first thought? “What did I order in my sleep?” My second thought “Wonder what’s inside? Maybe Tim ordered something.”
Being the high tech (stop smirking) girl that I am, I went to our online account to see if he had ordered something.
Mystery solved. Case closed. I’m telling ya, I’m the next Nancy Drew.
Turns out a certain good looking, sweet guy made good on his promise that I’d get my Christmas gift in the spring (courtesy of a certain lil govt shenanigan that foiled his plans).
Honestly, I’d all but forgotten. Mainly because I’ve given myself many “Christmas gifts” since the new year. Clothes, shiny things, shoes, and even the occasional (weekly) baked treat.
Now I’m sure he’s hoping to walk in one day to the heavenly aroma of baked goods, but who are we kidding? He just bought me the world’s prettiest fruit bowl……
Best part? It was exactly a week after my birthday. Which is also why I was confused since I’d already received my birthday gift. Of course, I do tend to get confused easily- I blame motherhood. I read somewhere, long ago, that you lose brain cells with each pregnancy. And have I mentioned I created four humans? I’ve no brain cells to spare now.
Speaking of, I’ll post soon all about how I keep offending my new Echo Show by calling her Xbox and then getting frustrated that she doesn’t obey my every command. Actually, now that I think about it, that’s probably why my kids don’t always listen either…huh.
Ha. The effects of getting older I suppose. But thankfully this lil gadget can now keep me spry.
Yeah, you heard that right. I’m now a very springy 38. In two years I will no longer be measuring my age by years, but rather by levels….
I suppose I should go look up recipes now that involve this new toy.
Hey, XBOX, what can I make with my “fruit bowl”?
