Christian entrepreneur

The Messiest Answered Prayers of 2018 | Personal

The Messiest Answered Prayers of 2018 | Personal

When I thought about sharing the highlights of 2018, I knew I would share my favorite engagements, family portraits, and weddings…but I realized last year was also about so much more than just photography. Last year was the year I rediscovered prayer and began to dig into what it means in my life and the lives of those around me. It was a journey (still ongoing) that brought me to many highs and many lows, and since I’ve shared so much along the way I wanted to come full circle.

The truth is, I had a LOT of prayers answered. Prayers I never thought I would pray. Prayers I have prayed for a long time. Prayers that seemed impossible. Quick, almost thoughtless prayers that I know God still hears regardless. But the other thing about prayer is that the answer is so often not what we imagine. Even when I thought I had imagined every possible scenario, I realized later that He is far more creative than I am, which is good and sometimes a little painful. I could talk for hours on all the answered prayers from last year, but here are some of the best (and messiest) answers to what I asked God to do…

Four Easy Ways to Become More Productive | Business

Four Easy Ways to Become More Productive | Business

A few weeks ago my sister asked me how I am so productive and efficient during the day. I laughed at that thought, because I often feel like I’m running around with constant interruptions. My days look so different from each other, and working right now is the hardest it has ever been. There are a lot of factors beyond my control that add some disorder and difficulty to my life as far as being productive is concerned.

But then I realized that maybe, just maybe, this is one of my strong suits. As chaotic as I feel inside, I know my business has remained strong and most people probably have not noticed much of a difference. Weddings are still getting delivered. Family sessions are still getting scheduled. Blogs are still written (case in point!). So I began to think about how exactly I can accomplish this in the midst of life upheavals. I came up with a few pointers…

My NEW Morning Routine | Monday Musings

My NEW Morning Routine | Monday Musings

One of the more surprisingly popular blogs I've written was about my morning routine. While I had been committed to this routine for a long time, I hit 'publish' less than a month after Willow came home, not knowing how much my life would change in a few short weeks. The newborn phase, as some of you know, is difficult, but as much as possible I tried to stay faithful to what I had already been doing. I figured that if I could keep good habits going it would serve me well in the future and during the transition.

Somehow, despite sleepless nights and comforting a baby in the early hours of the morning, I was usually able to drag myself out of bed and make it to the gym so I could have a semblance of normalcy in my life. Sleep deprivation is something I would never wish on anyone, yet it's a reality for new parents. The funny thing is that I was able to function (though not well, in some areas) enough to keep a rhythm. However, life since then has shifted and I've had to make adjustments to my schedule as Willow gets older. I know now that this 'routine' will be constantly moving as life adjusts, but here is what my current 'normal' is...