Project 52 Week 8 {Light}

Before I owned a big girl camera, I didn't really pay attention to the littlest details that surround me every day. I have a deeper appreciation for all the beauty that God has prepared for me and for the small, gorgeous details that make up the people I love the most.

When I look through my lens, a whole new world opens up to me. I see most everything differently than I ever did before, especially the light. The light and how it affects a photograph and how you feel when you see it. This year, I'm really striving to learn more about how to work with the light and find the best light. Since I live in a cold, northern state, I have been stuck inside a lot lately. The skies had been cold, dreary and grey until one morning this week. I went on a scavenger hunt through my house, hunting down the best light. Determined to capture just a bit of its glory. The striped tights were an added bonus.

the best camera

I have often heard it said that the best camera you have is the one you have with you. It's no secret how much I adore my iPhone and its no secret that I take a ton of photos and videos of my kids with it. I wouldn't have been able to snap this little moment in time with my big fancy camera.

My almost-two-year-old has decided he wants to go potty on the toilet. As the mother of two girls before him, I have zero experience potty training little people with fire hoses attached to their bodies. I realize that someday my son will be less than thrilled that I've posted this photo of him in all his splendid glory, but seriously? How could I not? Look at those little buns! Sorry, buddy. I had to do it. This will not be the last time I totally embarrass you in front of strangers. Not sorry about that. :)

Project 52 Week 7 & Linked 52 {Body Parts}

I missed last week for both my Project 52 and Linked 52. Such is life, eh? But here I am again and this week you're gettin' a two-fer - that's right, a two-for-one. :)

My boy has my eyes - nothing like those of his two sisters who are fair and blue. His are dark with lots of long, long lashes. One of my very favorite parts of his adorable almost two-year-old body.

If you have a quiet moment, check out what my friends are doing this week too:
Michelle, Heather, Jenn, Heather. Rhonda, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Janet, Lesli, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Heidi, Kristin, Veronica

visual therapy

My friend, Stacey, recently shared a little visual therapy on her blog and I found myself lost in her images. It's February in Minnesota. It's not all that cold but it's grey and overcast most days. I needed a little visual therapy of my own. I went back through my photos from our Paris trip in September. I combed back through hundreds of photos and found myself smiling, laughing and remembering. Good for this soul. :)

You can find more Paris photos here, here, here, and here.

grace

The idea of "grace" has been settled among rooms of my heart these last few weeks. What does it mean to have grace? To give grace - to myself and others? How difficult is it to grant myself grace when I need it most?

I'm giving myself space to just be. Whatever that is. If I don't want to take photos for 3 weeks, so be it. It's not that big of a deal. If I spend 2 hours in the afternoon laying on the couch, listening for His sweet whispers and discerning his voice, so be it. The dishes and laundry will wait. They will always wait. I'm at a point in my life when I just really want to stop comparing myself to others and just be who I was created to be.

The only "photographer" I should compare myself to is the one I used to be.

The only friend I should compare myself to is the one I used to be.

The only mother, wife, daughter I should compare myself to is the one I used to be.

And it's enough. I'm enough. YOU are enough.

Linked 52 {sleep}

As the littlest of my littles, sweet John Boy is always along for the ride. He is my constant companion and we spend lots of time shuttling the girls to activities, school and play dates. We run errands (all the time, it seems), we stop for coffee with friends, and hit all the drive-thru's - the bank, the library, the pharmacy, Starbucks. :) He often cat naps in the car in between stops...I hate to wake him. I rarely listen to the radio or talk on the phone in the car...I much prefer his itty bitty snoring and the quiet that comes with the littlest of littles.

The list of friends playing along has grown mightily in just a few weeks. Take a minute to peek at {sleep} through their lens.

Michelle, Heather, Jenn, Heather. Rhonda, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Janet, Lesli, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Heidi, Kristin, Veronica

Project 52 Week 5 {Simplicity}

"Simplicity is ultimately a matter of focus." ~Ann Voskamp