Stepping Out of the Boat -- Engagement Photos

I love taking photographs.  I am fortunate to have a great camera and some great lens.  My subjects are horses 90% of the time.  Today it was different.
A couple of  months ago a friend came into my house for the first time.  She saw the canvas photographs I have of horses hanging on my walls.  She loved them.

A month or so later she was talking about those same photos and suggested or asked if I would take some engagement photos of her nephew and his fiance.  I was flattered, however, a bit disbelieving.  Her nephew is the son of a very old friend of mine who died about 20 years ago when Luke was 8.  While I have not kept up with Luke since that time, the possibility of reconnecting with him was very attractive.  After lots of thought and soul searching on my part I sent him and email and offered to take the engagement photos. He was very grateful and asked me to email his fiance, Brittney, since she was making all the wedding plans.  We made contact and decided to put it off a bit until hopefully it would be cooler.
So with much anxiety until now, today was the day.  I spent time scoping out the internet for poses and other photos of other engaged couples.  I googled tips and ideas.  I did my homework.  However, it's kind of like lots of things, studying about it is one thing, but doing it is all together something else.
We met at Pioneer Village or Pioneer Living History and Event Center, and attraction in Gonzales, Texas.  Numerous buildings from yesteryear have been brought here to form a little village.  There's a church, a school, a saloon, most from the late 1800s.  They also hold weddings here.  The church holds about 70 people.
So here are a couple of examples of this beautiful couple...

 Luke and Brittney!

Matthew 19 (Genesis 2:24)
⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’^[a]5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’^[b]? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

 I have not known these two long, however, I am hopeful to know them a long time into the future.

This photo session was great fun.  The day was beautiful.  The subjects were gorgeous.  The stepping out was worth it!  God blessed this day and he blessed me.  I hope they feel blessed too!.

Matthew 14:

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Encourage One Another and build each other up.  I Thes 5:11

Continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo

To Grandmothers---How Will You Be Remembered?

I remember my grandmother for many things, most noteably her kindness and her faith.  However, when I think about her as I was growing up, I remember sleeping in her back bedroom under her water cooler (she couldn't afford air conditioning).  It had a loud rumbling sound that was great to sleep under.  My big sister and I spent many Saturday nights with her when our parents went to the Baylor Bear football games.  Our favorite part about Saturday night was after dinner and before bed she would make us "Black Cows", or in layman's terms, a Dr. Pepper float.  She used the same special tall glasses every time.  We didn't get many soda waters at home so this was a huge treat for us.  Sunday morning we woke up and went to church with her.  She taught us a lot about Jesus and about faith.

Me on the other hand, how will I be remembered?  Mac and cheese!  That's how I will be remembered by my grandson.

By the time he quits asking for it, I have no idea how many bowls of mac and cheese that boy will eat.  No matter what I have prepared or try to feed him, that most kids would like to have...pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries... he asked for "mac and cheese please".  And he asked for it for every meal...seriously.  Last night I said, "we are having blueberry muffins for breakfast".  He said yummy.  Then this morning when I got up I headed to the kitchen to bake them.  From the bedroom I hear..."let's have mac and cheese with our muffins ok?"  Uh, well, ok for you, but it'll just be muffins and butter for me my love.  And it makes him happy, really happy.

His mother had a love for something too, only her choice was "spaghettios".  She ate them hot or cold and right from the can was her preference.  She ate them every day in her lunch box at school...until Junior High.  Seriously.  I guess the boy is following her footsteps.  (And if I have to be honest, I ate Gerber's apricots out of a baby food jar forever.)

So if I'm remembered for Velveta Mac and Cheese, that's ok with me.  We always say prayers at night asking for his parents safe return home and for everything God gives us.  It's one of my favorite times with him.  But then every moment with him is special.

Encourage One Another and build each other up.  I Thes 5:11

Continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo

Proverbs 17:6 

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Psalm 143:5

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.