But at least I still get to have fun birthday parties. Thanks Amanda for baking me that AWESOME cake and getting the party together. XOXO

I forgot about this incredible parody of the incredible musician Lincoln Brewster after Joel Klampert showed it to me in February. And I had to share.

Note: This video does not accurately reflect Lincoln’s musical ability.

Little Monc needs an XBox, right?

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BTW… if our families read this… our registries are at Target and Amazon so far :)

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A couple nights ago we had a photo shoot with one of our favorite families who we’ve known forever. When their son Hayden couldn’t fit into his baby checkered Vans his mom Brooke offered them to us… and of course we took them!

Aren’t they the coolest baby shoes? I think dad needs a matching pair.

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The support and encouragement and the excitement from our friends has been so encouraging and motivating. It’s like one big group hug. I expected a bit of it when we announced Little Monc to the world on Sunday, but never this much.

Justin said he had been praying for us for a few months since I first told him we were going to start trying. My mom printed the sonogram I texted to her and put it up to pray for Little Monc every day. Stacey, Paula, and Sarah have been helping Amanda with the real mom advice she needs.

We’ve had well over 150 Facebook and Twitter messages to us and so many hugs and high fives in person. I want to thank all the friends who have no idea how much they have made this new experience so good for us.

Thanks for all the advice.

Thanks for telling us we’ll be great parents.

Thanks for jumping up and down when we told you.

Thanks for the hugs.

Thanks for your prayers.

Thanks for the Facebook and Twitter love.

Thanks for being great friends.

We need you and appreciate you.

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We’ve Got Some News – We’re Expecting!

Oh my gosh we’re so excited!!!! We know what you’re thinking… “FINALLY!” :)

Amanda is a little over 8 weeks along. We found out June 6 and told our parents a few days later. Today we’re telling the world! It’s exciting to be able to start talking with all of our friends about it.

You’ll all get to meet Little Monc somewhere around February 7, 2012. In about 5 weeks we’ll find out if Little Monc’s a boy or girl. So exciting! It’s like Christmas! :)

Closed Sale: It’s a new game out there.  Nothing is closed when the sale is done.   Nobody need be loyal anymore.  Nobody need be local anymore.  It’s all about wanting to want to be. So when a sale is closed, that is when selling really begins now.  When a sale is closed that is when investment and calories and phone calls and unbelievable customer experience has to begin.  It’s too easy to walk away now.  Closed Sale?  Hardly – it’s only just begun.

Go read the rest of his post. There are two more good points.

Uberzoot needed new photos of Jimmy in action and their new stylist Blake. Amanda modeled. Here are the photos. The last one of Jimmy was a fun “I want to try something crazy”.

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

“As sacrilegious as it sounds, I had a thought: Should I visit Starbucks more? Not because the drinks might be better than Wake Up (they’re not) but because there’s a whole different set of people I have no chance of meeting and impacting that are patrons there. Should my bubble expand?”

I kept thinking about it which leads to this blog post. So, the Facebook post, dissected…

My Coffee / My Bubble

Locally, my coffeehouse of choice is Wake Up Coffee on St. Simons Island. My buddy Bo Mann owns it and has built a healthy clientele in it’s short 1.5 year life. The atmosphere sets you up to be friends with anyone there , even if it’s the first time you meet.

I frequent the shop. Depending on the week, I’m there 1-5 times. I work while I’m there. I play while I’m there. We meet many of our wedding and portrait clients there for the first time. Hanging with friends frequently goes something like “Let’s go ____, then ____, then Wake Up.”

In summary I feel at home there and it has become fond part of my bubble, a place I feel safe.

My Impact

Occasionally a conversation heads a direction where I feel like the person I was talking to might just have been impacted by what I said. Other times, it’s me who gets impacted. In my bubble at Wake Up, I can see this happening from time to time in the future. But the question I have to ask is “Is my bubble the right size?”

Because of my love for Wake Up and the wonderful people we frequently hang out with there, I dare not venture out to some other establishment. I don’t know anyone there. I don’t like their products as much. It costs more. Heck, it’s even a whole quarter mile further away!

What if that’s the point?

In the book of 1 Chronicles a guy named Jabez prays/begs God, ”If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.” and the best part, “God granted his request.” 1 Chronicles 4:10, Holman Christian Standard Bible

What if:

1. God wants to expand my border and use me to reach people who don’t shop at Wake Up and unless I shop elsewhere I will never cross paths with them?
2. enduring the uncomfortableness will make me a better person who trusts God more?
3. I prayed that prayer and I saw God answer it?

So one day soon I’ll probably be sitting Starbucks sipping a mocha. If you see me, don’t call me a traitor. I’m there on a mission to see God move. Maybe even in me.

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Question: Where could your bubble expand to? Where might God be leading you to impact the community?