Walking with Daddy

Little G has no cares in the world really. She doesn’t worry about if she will eat or what she will eat. She just looks up with those amazing brown eyes and says, “Cheese, grapes please.” And we feed her just like that. No worries for her, because she casts her cares on us and we take care of them just like that. How often do we worry unnecessarily because we forget to cast our cares on our Abba Daddy? How confident are we that when we ask He will provide? Not always are his provisions right away or how we expect but He still provides everything we need – always. He promises it and He is the ultimate promise keeper. This lesson is one I am walking in daily. The past year has been all about learning to cast my cares on my Abba Daddy and learning not to be anxious about the circumstances around me. If I fully trust that my Abba Daddy will take care of me then when I spend time with Him I am more joyful and able to focus on my relationship with Him instead of my worries and my cares. What a great relationship to have with the Father, one that is full of trusting that He will lead me on the safe path and will not let harm come my way. A relationship where I am not constantly reminding Him that I have needs because I know that He will take care of them when it is time, then I can rest in his arms and know He is God.

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 55:22

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:6-8

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:25-34

Real Life in Still Life

I have been meaning to write this post for a while but life well, is life and just keeps on going.

Before Easter, we had the great privilege to meet a friend’s cousin and welcome her into our home for the afternoon to do a photo shoot. She was training another photographer and needed a family to take pictures of. The type of photography is not your typical studio photography with stiff backs and forced smiles that has been around forever. This shoot was Lifestyle Photography. It was so much fun and way more enjoyable than going to a studio for everyone involved.
When I first heard of Lifestyle Photography, I was a little skeptical about it. I thought why, would someone want to pay for pictures of life, when they can be taken every day while doing life. However, the moment Amber walked in the door; I knew that this was going to be fun and way better than just the normal life shots I take. Lifestyle Photography is about capturing the moods and emotions that occur everyday and documenting life happenings in a special way. And unlike studio portraits, the smiles are genuine, the expressions are real and the captures are of a moment in life that cannot be rehearsed.

First she had me show her around our little place while telling her about what we typically do together in each area. Such as… reading books on the couch, coloring at the coffee table, and reading Jane Austin to the girls during Little G’s bath time. Then she took the kids aside one on one to take some pictures of what they like to do in their rooms. After that we colored, read books, made cookies, played a game, and I gave G a bath while reading to the girls. She blended in and took pictures of us just doing things we enjoy doing during our day. This is real life in still life. Seriously, we had more fun than I can tell you. Here are just some of the amazing photos she took.

 

Family Time on the Couch

Head-shots of the Kids ~ Aren't these so awesome?!?

 

Game Time at the Table

 

Making Snickerdoodles

  

English Lit Class During Bathtime

The girls love this and are falling in love with Jane Austin.

  

Playing With the Dollhouse

Isn't this the coolest perspective?

Thank you so much Amber for these amazing moments that are now documented for us to remember and show the kids when they are older. I learned so much just watching you photograph us. And we all had the most amazing time.

*** Photos by Holritz Photography ***

Mommy's Day Surprise

Mother’s Day for me usually doesn’t include much celebrating. I am not one who enjoys lots of attention so this for me is perfect. Daddy Reg had to work after church and Little Man went with his Papa to see Great Grandma Reg for Mother’s Day. So I was at home with the girls.
We watched girl movies and enjoyed the day. At dinner time the girls gave me a little bundle wrapped in a doll blanket and tied with a cloth belt. Inside, I found the greatest gifts I could have gotten. Princess K gave me her collection of rocks that are heart shaped. Little G gave me a rock she picked out and Miss H gave me her first plastic lace keychain that she made. I love that they gave me things from their hearts. I think that, with all holidays, the day has gone commercial and the very heart of the day has been lost for a while.
Later on, after G had a bath, she was drying off and I hadn’t put her diaper on. All of the sudden she started yelling “Potty! Go Potty!” and ran to the bathroom. She went on the toilet! This is the first victory in potty training her. I am just so excited; it was a great Mother’s Day surprise.