What do you see when you look past the facade of your heart?
We try to tell ourselves things that aren't true, good or bad, and those are the things that create the mask we show the world.
Being vunerable, exposed, is the hardest thing you'll ever have to do.
Dig down deep in the recess of your heart to find you. Find the person God created you as. Find your life. Find your passion. Find your love. Find your dreams.
God created in you a passion for love, for life and for Him. Live that out. God didn't gift us with life for it to be empty. So much affect the way we view and live out our lives. But really....it all comes back to God. Your Lover. He is the reason for passion, the reason for love, the reason for life. Let Him give you the rest your heart is searching for. Let Him expose the true heart of you.
Take the chance. Be vunerable. Learn to love again from the deepest depth of your heart.
Christmas wedding!! Scott and Julie got married at the Holiday Inn here in Crystal Lake to an adorable Christmas theme. The blue that Julie picked was amazing!! I think my favorite part (outside of the glowing bride, the crazy groomsmen and obvious love of the bride and groom) was the dancing. Julie loooves to dance!! Her dress was the perfect dancing dress and spun and twisted right along with her. She and Scott danced their way into the reception, and danced the night away! We didn't have time for an engagement shoot so stay tuned for thier "We Did!" shoot!Scott and Julie, thank you for giving me the priveledge of photographing your day. I had a great time with you both and can't wait for the next shoot!
There are three specific women in my life that mean more than the world to me. There are three women that have spent years helping shape who I am. Three women that love me when I'm mad, hold me when I cry, send me flowers at work when I'm having a bad week, encourage me, challenge me, and hold me to a high standard. Three women that are brutally honest when they need to be, humor me when they think I'm off my rocker, and watch hours upon hours of "Friends" with me. Three women that know the deepest parts of who I am, and love me past that. Three women that are my best friends.
These three women are kind, loving, generous, patient, laugh easily, selfless, and let's face it...just all around adorable!
These three women are my sisters.
And this!....is my amazing nephew. If you want to meet an unbeleivable woman, meet my sister, Gwen. This little guy is a glaring example of the grace, mercy and love of God. I love this little man with my life. He's just about 7 months old now, and just starting to teeth (teethe? He's getting teeth....). He squeals everytime he sees my mom's dog, runs about the house in his walker, adores his Papa (grandpa), giggles everytime you swing him around, and drools all over the place. He is my little man, and I love him!!
His new thing is giving "kisses". His meemaw (grandma) taught him to do it! Everytime you make kissy noises and go to kiss him he opens his mouth and tries to kiss you back! It's so cute! And this post wouldn't be complete without talking about my man. Nicholas is....**happy sigh*. He is everything. I could talk for hours about this man (ask my sisters!). This is the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with, and everytime I really think about that - I smile uncontrollably.
I realized at some point last night that I never posted a show for Jeff and Rebecca! If I had to sum up thier wedding in one word I don't think I could do it. They were so incredibly in love with each other and SO MUCH FUN! Rebecca got ready at the most beautiful hotel in St. Charles and her girls were so energetic and fun. I know every bride has "the glow" but Rebecca absolutely sparkled. Her smile radiated and you couldn't help but be caught up in her excitement! September 29th is historically the most beautiful day of the year, and it lived up to it again this year. It was so perfect!!
This wedding was a little emotional for me, because it really marked the end of my summer shooting with Sarah. I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to Sarah for the training, love, energy, advise and time she has poured into me this summer (and over the last year of our amazing friendship!). BethLaurren Photography wouldn't exist without her. Sarah: You are an amazing woman and I'm so grateful for not only your friendship, but for your mentoring. I never thought when I met you last year that we would be at this place just a year later! You have allowed my dream to become a reality. And you have no idea how much that means to me - how much YOU mean to me. Thank you seems trite for what I really want to say to you.
I can not tell you how far behind I am on posting!This is Scott and Tatiana, and they have the funniest story of how they met! They both attend Olivette Nazerine University and are friends with Genesis Peterkort. They met when they were running against each other for class chaplain awhile ago. The way they told their story was so cute! They kept looking at and smiling at each other privately....it was adorable! The best part about this job is meeting amazing couples like them. I love seeing how God brings different people together and watching them click! This shoot was so much fun! We went to downtown Naperville on the riverwalk, and I think I've found my new favorite place to shoot. Scott, like most every other man I know, was reluctant at first to do this shoot, but because he loves Tatiana, he was willing to put up with it. But by the end of the day he was totally into it! We stopped for a bathroom break and Scott sheepishly admitted that he got caught practicing faces in the bathroom mirror! Haha! I laughed the whole time with them...they were amazing!
