Learn how light, composition, connections, and details all come together to create memories that will last a lifetime. Ginger will give insight into observing daily routines and spaces within your home to capture authentic moments. In addition, she will present ideas for you to create your own story telling session from start to finish. Finally, she will discuss shooting in public places and the importance of getting in the pictures yourself. This two week mini workshop will include 4 assignments with personal critique and feedback from Ginger on each assignment. You will receive a PDF of all of the course material and assignments.

A Q&A section will also be provided. At the end of the course there will be a private section on Bloom where participants can continue interacting and sharing with one another.

A DSLR camera and basic knowledge of shooting in manual is recommended. You must be a member of the Bloom Forum to participate.

Read reviews from past students here.

Early Registration Details:

(this is your chance to sign up early, before registration is announced and opened within the forum)

Workshop Dates: July 22-August 5

Active Seat:  $200

Silent/Read-Along  Seat: $150

If you are not a member of the Bloom Forum yet, you can join by clicking on the icon below:

To register for an active seat, click here.

To register for a silent seat, click here.

If you have any questions please email: ginger.unzueta@gmail.com.

Note: Workshop fees are non-refundable.

Mother’s Day is a time of year that always brings me to a point of reflection.   I can remember 9 years ago celebrating my first Mother’s Day just like it was yesterday.  I was a new mom with our firstborn baby only a couple weeks old.  Mother’s Day changed from that moment forward for me. I believe each year the meaning of being a mother intensifies in ways.  It’s hard for me to put into words how much I love my three children and how much motherhood has changed me.   God has taught me so much about myself, others, and His love and grace through motherhood.

This week one morning I was reading a daily devotion by Charles Stanley called The Service of Motherhood.  It was so encouraging to me as a mother and I wanted to share it with other mothers.

“Philippians 2:1-11

Children are a gift from the Lord (Ps. 127:3-5). As a result, motherhood is a great honor and privilege. Yet it is also synonymous with servanthood. Every day women are called upon to selflessly meet the needs of their families. Whether they are nursing a baby late at night, spending their time and money on less-than-grateful teenagers, or preparing meals, moms continuously put others before themselves.

Sometimes this constant serving can be exhausting and even discouraging— particularly for a first-time mother. But you can take real encouragement from Jesus. One of the best examples of gracious servanthood is found in John 13:3-16. By kneeling to wash His disciples’ feet, the Lord showed that the key to genuine leadership is humility. And it is humility that leads to eternal reward.

Unless you are willing to stoop down and get your hands dirty, you will miss the real riches of motherhood. By dying to your own desires and pouring your life into someone else’s, you become like Christ and create a godly legacy that will carry on for generations to come. What greater blessing could one hope for? Of course, the motivation for serving others should not be to reap benefits, but when we follow God’s plan for our life, that’s what happens.

In giving us children, God places us in a position of both leadership and service. He calls us to give up our lives for the sake of others—to abandon our own desires and put our child’s interests first. Yet according to His perfect design, it is through this selflessness that we can become truly fulfilled.”

-from The Service of Motherhood, Charles Stanley, www.intouch.org.

As I read this message I couldn’t help but think of my own mother and all she sacrificed for my brother and sisters and myself.   It was easy to take it for granted growing up and only knowing the life we had, but now as a mother myself; her service really stands out to me.   I am so grateful for being brought up in home where I saw this example modeled daily.

“Unless you are willing to stoop down and get your hands dirty, you will miss the real riches of motherhood. By dying to your own desires and pouring your life into someone else’s, you become like Christ and create a godly legacy that will carry on for generations to come.”

Wow, when you really look at the purpose and responsibility God has given us as mothers it surely puts the day to day life of caring for our children’s needs into perspective.  It’s easy for us all to get frustrated in the moments of our daily tasks….meals to fix, diapers to change, clothes to clean, activities to attend….but when we look at these tasks in a Godly way, we see there is so much meaning to what we are doing as mothers.

I will admit that I had no idea what it meant to “die to my own desires and pour my life into someone else”..until the day my daughter was born.   I was so used to being on the receiving end of this. As a mother to my own children now, I feel challenged to be the woman and mother God has called me to be. I also feel encouraged because He blessed me with three children to serve and lead and ultimately I know He believes in my abilities.

“In giving us children, God places us in a position of both leadership and service. He calls us to give up our lives for the sake of others—to abandon our own desires and put our child’s interests first. Yet according to His perfect design, it is through this selflessness that we can become truly fulfilled.”

Finally, I feel so grateful to know this “fulfillment.”   Yes, His perfect design, is just that–perfect.   The more I mother my children, putting them first, the more I see how complete my life truly is.

I hope this message can be one of encouragement to all mothers today.  We have been given a special role and gift by God and for that we all need to be thankful.  We are blessed.

Happy Mother’s Day.  Much love to you and your families.

I want to  thank Rashmi Pappu, an amazing photographer with a heart of gold, for posting the first quote about motherhood by Rajneesh.  It is beautiful and resonated with me immediately.

taking over mama and daddy’s bed

shenanigans

sibling love

3DS

taking care of babies

under the table

in the water

tranquility

all three

snack time

follow along to the blog of Melissa Weicker and see what 10 on 10 she has.  every month i am impressed over and over again with her talent.

Kate will be participating in teaching an online workshop with 5 other photographers.

Finding Your Photo Style Workshop
6 weeks starts 5/23/2013 $68
Click here to sign up.

About the class and the instructors
Looking for some incredible photo ideas? Look no further than Finding Your Photo Style, a 6-week online workshop packed with creative photo tips, tricks, and insider secrets that will help you find (or refine) your own signature photography style.

In Finding Your Photo Style, you’ll get to know six premier photographers (see the video below!) who take stylish, stunning, and unique pictures of their families and their everyday lives—while also working as professional photographers in their own corners of the world.

These photography pros are ready to spill some of their best secrets and challenge you to try their favorite photo ideas for yourself! Through inspirational videos, downloadable challenges, and hands-on exercises that cover photography tips and post-processing tricks alike, you’ll discover the looks that suit you best.

Tracey Clark, Southern California
Rebecca Cooper, Raymond, Alberta, Canada
Elizabeth Dillow, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Maggie Holmes, Gilbert, Arizona
Andrea Jenkins, Southern California
Kate T. Parker, Atlanta, Georgia

You can watch a video clip here.

Link to purchase…we can refund if you win!

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY AND YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SEAT : 

At the conclusion of the workshop, some of the students collaborated to create a monthly project inspired by their desire to capture the everyday beauty within their homes.  You can follow along with this lovely project at the Cherish the Day blog.

I am thankful to share with you some of the reviews and work of my students from this first workshop.  I encourage you to check out the work of all these talented mothers.

Cate Wnek- Cate Wnek Photography     Find her on Facebook.

“The Everyday Beauty workshop with Ginger Unzueta is for anyone who wishes they could appreciate and photograph life more beautifully. Ginger’s art is imbued by her immense, genuine appreciation for her life. In this workshop everything becomes something to be cherished and documented exquisitely – to be shared and remembered. It changed the way that I saw my world and family – my house, the light, the expressions, little things, big things – my whole perspective.  After taking this workshop, I find myself seeing rims of light, pops of color, shadows, and reflections that I might not have noticed before. Even opportunities to do something unexpected and fun with my family. At the end, I did find myself a better photographer; but more importantly, a lot happier with my life. It is those everyday moments that matter – spilled chocolate milk, giggling story time – it is these moments that make me want to be a better photographer, a better Mother, more than anything else.”

Sherri Davis-Sherri Davis Photography     Find her on Facebook. 

“Words cannot express how grateful I am for being able to spend 2 weeks in Ginger’s class. I have come out of it a better photographer, but more importantly a better Mother. Her lessons were not technical how-to’s. They were much deeper than that. They were inspiring and guiding. She has such a grace about her. You can see it reflected in her children’s eyes in her photographs of them. She is such an inspiration for all mothers who are trying to balance capturing their childhood beautifully but still want to be an attentive, in-the-moment parent.   Thank you from the bottom of my heart for guiding me to the person I want to be.”

Nikki Matthews-Nikki Matthews Photography      Find her on Facebook.

“Dear Ginger,

I don’t know if I have the words to adequately express my appreciation for you and this class.  Everyday Beauty was everything I didn’t know I needed – a little bit of self-discovery, a huge boost in confidence, guidance to the path that was right in front of me, connections to some wonderful ladies, and the most beautiful inspiration a girl could ask for.   When I signed up for your class, I knew that your work was a huge inspiration to me.  I knew that I was in a place where I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my photography – that awkward place where everyone tells you:  you are good, and you should have a business, and your heart says that’s not what is right for you and your family.  I knew I needed to be challenged. I knew I was ready for something more. I delighted to say that not only did your class teach me to see the beauty all around me; it also helped me find my way.  I have a new found confidence in the choices I make, the path I am headed down, and even in the beauty of motherhood. Both through your teaching and your modeling, I continue to be inspired to be the best version of me I can be.  When I try to find the words to adequately express my thanks and appreciation for you and this class, I come up short. Please know that my words do not come close to saying what my heart and mind feel.  So for now, thank you from the bottom of my heart for you, this class and your constant inspiration.

With gratitude,

Nikki”

Sarah Roberts Jennings- The Whispering Willow     Find her on Facebook.

 “I am not a professional photographer but have a passion for capturing life…I have three boys 11, 8 and 2 years old.  I know how quickly my eldest boys grew up and those little people disappear forever, leaving behind just memories which are sometimes forgotten…doing Gingers course has made me record their everyday lives and through this, it has made me sit back and spend more time with them..Instead of cleaning the bathroom (which I usually do when my youngest is in the bath)..I stopped and played with him and captured some shots of what he gets up to in the bath…I discovered little things that I have never noticed before…I captured my middle playing on our bed (I would never photograph in there as thought it was too dull and dark) but after Ginger teaching us how to use the available light in our homes I captured an image which will always be special to me as it shows happy they are together….

Lauren Radley-Lauren Radley Photography     Find her on Facebook. 

“Hi Ginger,

I wanted to send you this ‘review’ which is really more of a thank you. Forgive me in advance, I’m not so great with words, so I have included many images as examples.

In the two weeks I spent in your class, I have found me.  I found what I love. You showed me the beauty in my everyday.  Which has turned the mundane into
joy, an adventure to discover what wondrous moments I can capture everyday. I no longer stress about the little things, the messes, or the imperfections of my little home.

I have my camera near by everyday, ready to go.  I capture things I’ve always wanted to but now I do it!  You know that moment when say to yourself, I wish I had my camera for that!  Well, now I do, which is so special because my husband is often away, and misses all these wonderful little moments.

You also showed me the importance of seeing the ‘memory’ from all angles to remember every aspect of it.  This has been a game changer for me, in terms of composition and interest in what I capture.  I find myself stopping and thinking about composition before pressing the shutter now.

My son sitting up for the first time by himself., Or my toddler waking from his nap, the joy I feel to have this memory forever now.. I can’t express, Even the bliss in painting (one of my artist daughter’s favorite things in the world), But my favorite thing, has been capturing little moments – things you would never think could be so special - Like your children sitting still just watching a movie, taking a bath, your baby swinging, even changing your sheets, or playing outside in a not-so-perfect backyard.

I really can’t thank you enough for all the knowledge, inspiration, encouragement, and compassion you have shared with me, and our group.  I feel blessed to have discovered your class, which led me to the bloom forum, and probably the most amazing group of people I have yet to encounter online.

With gratitude, and love,
Lauren Radley
xo

Amanda Burr-Amanda Burr Photography     Find her on Facebook.

“Ginger Unzueta’s “Everyday Beauty” workshop is a breath of fresh air.  It is clear that Ginger has a passion for what she does.  She is an incredible storyteller and artist.  She has such a gift for capturing the little moments and details of her family that would otherwise go undocumented.  Her workshop is designed to help you see those beautiful moments and details within your own family and to help you learn to capture those in the most beautiful way.  Ginger has a very “open book” approach to teaching.  She is very attentive and willing to answer any questions you may have.  Her lessons include lighting, camera settings, composition, perspective, finding spaces in your home, recognizing details, connecting, editing, etc.  Ginger gives constructive and encouraging feedback that is helpful to everyone in the workshop.  She also shares her beautiful imagery that is both thought provoking and inspiring.  I participated as a silent member in this workshop, only because the active spots were taken.  I still came away with so much knowledge and inspiration.  Thank you Ginger for helping me to see the beauty in the everyday life of my family!”

Erica Finnan- Erica Finnan Photography     Find her on Facebook.

“I was just a silent seat, but still learned a lot.  I enjoyed reading about how Ginger captures creative, playful images that truly tell a story of her life, by using light, emotions, and play.  It helped me to step outside of my box and use places in my home creatively that I have never used before to capture memories. I feel like my images are beginning to tell my families story, and for that I am grateful!  Ginger also gave great feedback to everyone and was so kind in doing so!  Great class and great teacher!”

Anna Dobrenski- Anna Dobrenski Photography     Find her on Facebook.

“My dear Ginger,

Your class was delightful!  I participated with a silent seat which was of course not the same as being a participant, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!  Since FTL I’ve enjoyed watching your growth and have always admired your ability to not only see beautiful light but also to create beautiful images with simplicity and truth.  Thank you for sharing that with the class!  I am super excited to continue my journey with personal photographs using your insights and tips.  I am trying to step outside the “business” of photography with my own family more and more.  I needed the reminders to get in the picture, watch composition and get the details.  I would tell anyone who wants to take this workshop to stalk the registration to make sure they get a participating seat!

Melissa Stanfield- Melissa Stanfield Photography     Find her on Facebook.

“I just embarked on my very first workshop through the bloom titled “Everyday Beauty” with the talented and lovely Ginger Unzueta with Ginger Unzueta Photography.  I had an active seat with a group of talented photographers that I count an honor to fully participate with. Such lovely and amazing talent throughout this workshop!

Ginger, has become a dear friend of mine and I’m so blessed to know her! I love her work for many reasons but what draws me, is her way of documenting life as it is! When given the chance to take her workshop, I was all over it. I was challenged in many ways to look and see things all around me that have always been there but to look through a different lens. To see the “Everyday Beauty” that is such a blessing and capture these moments that seem mundane but are anything but! These moments are fleeting and as we get older and our little ones grow up these little things, big things, our daily routines, my little ones enlightenment in her world will start to fade some, as she ages and discovers new beauty all around. I’m grateful to be reminded through Ginger’s work and teaching, to lay hold of what is in-front of you! to study what is around me, to see the light, see the creative opportunity to tell my little ones story in so many amazing ways. it’s such an honor and privilege to be able to witness her life! All the way down to the expressions on her face, her favorite things, and most of all..the moments that I never want to forget! To capture time, the time that is against me and is not going to stop! I often, can take for granted the day to day things which can be so easy for me to do but after taking this workshop it has quickened my heart and spirit to embrace the imperfection that is perfection in our world! Our lives are unique to all of us and they need to be documented and captured! This is what Ginger, so gracefully and full of life guides you in, finding all that is around you and embracing it for what it is! Be sure to check out Ginger’s blog and her work to see the Everyday Beauty and head over to The Bloom to see all that this forum has to offer you! I’m so thankful for joining such a wonderful forum who stands with you and encourages your growth while cheering you on!”

Kelly Carothers

“I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that I signed up for this class! The lessons that Ginger gave us really pushed me to think outside the box and stop and really consider what was in my frame before I clicked the shutter button. It made me stop and appreciate the little moments with my children, moments that might have been overlooked due to the hustle and bustle of our everyday routine. Ginger has a wonderful teaching style and was very hands on with all the students in the class. The lessons were all carefully explained and very easy to follow along with. The photos she used in each one were so inspiring it was hard not to shoot all day long to try and recreate some of my own. Our children leave such a mark on our lives and in our world. Ginger is able to document that perfectly and I am so thankful she was willing to share her knowledge with the rest of us.

Colie James-Colie James Photography     Find her on Facebook. 

“When you sign up for a workshop, particularly a new one, there is always some apprehension. In my case because I shoot lifestyle images at home daily as well as for clients, I am very familiar with the basic ideas of lifestyle and storytelling inside a home. However there is always room for improvement, always room to grow, and often all I am looking for is another spark of inspiration to push myself. That is what I got from Ginger.

Just seeing how Ginger thinks about her frame and approaches her shooting was fantastic. It was amazing to see her settings for different shots I loved and get her perspective on how she approached them. I was also surprised to see the number of images shot above ISO 2000. I often shoot around 2500 indoors but in her work there always seems to be more light than I have available in my house. It has made me more comfortable in my decision to shoot in high ISOs

I felt like the most important things Ginger covered in the workshop for me were using light in your home effectively, telling stories in different spaces in your home, telling the story from different perspectives, and identifying the important details to include them in your frame.  She also covered other important elements like framing, connecting with your subjects, planning a lifestyle shoot, getting IN the picture yourself, shooting in public. Most of the workshop is taught by example, using her own work to describe what she does and how she does it. There is ample opportunity for questions and discussion.

If you are a fan of Ginger’s work and looking for some inspiration on how to approach photographing your Everyday Beauty please consider Ginger’s workshop.”

Laura Mood-Everyday Blessings Photography     Find her on Facebook. 

“I was so excited when I saw Ginger was teaching a class at Bloom, and signed up quickly, knowing her class would sell out. I had been following her for over a year and was thrilled at the opportunity to learn from her. What I didn’t know was how much her class would change me and help me appreciate this hobby of capturing everyday beauty. After taking back to back workshops for months, I was starting to get burned out, but Ginger’s class was different. Ginger shoots from her heart and she shares so much of her heart during her workshop that you can’t walk away from this without feeling inspired. She truly is an open book and so gracious about answering any questions. She does such a fantastic job of sharing her thought process and approach to shooting that you almost feel like you are right there with her while she photographs her beautiful children. After trying to incorporate some of her ideas while I shoot, I was able to relax a little more, observe a little more, and have some fun while capturing more authentic moments that make my heart sing. My only regret is that our time together was not longer, although Ginger packs a ton of information into two weeks, so prepare to be busy.

Aubri Graybeal-Pink Sky Photography     Find her on Facebook.

“Ginger’s course saw me to see both light and my everyday life in a new way. She has an amazing gift to make extraordinary beauty out of the most simple tasks. I have always admired her work and her kind heart and felt incredibly lucky to learn from her. Although I have been in business for a few years it becomes easy to miss my own families moments. Taking Ginger’s course has given me a renewed sense of excitement for capturing those candid moments I sometimes take for granted. An additional bonus was learning how to use light that I would have normally thought was not suitable for photos. Some of my favorite photos taken during her course were evening images lit by incandescent light bulbs. I will never look at available light in the same way. I highly recommend Ginger’s course for both beginner and advanced photographers. ”

When I first began this project, I thought it would be fun to document the every day messes my children make.  As the weeks have passed, this project has really become so much more than that.

It’s not really about messes at all, but about the stories they tell.  It’s about traces of childhood I see throughout my home on a daily basis. It’s about the love we share together.  It’s about living and being…creating, making, learning and trying.   This project leaves me a beautiful story each month of the reminders that Kids are here now…and the time, well, its all too fleeting, isn’t it?   We all need to embrace these moments and just live them too; because they really are the best moments of life.

Please be sure to stop by the Kids Were Here Blog to see the images of photographers from all over the world. It really is neat to see the commonalities in all of our lives.

“These still life images serve as a daily reminder that my days are awash in chaos, whimsy, laughter and laundry (sometimes all at once). They capture toys and spills and puddles and piles. Sentimental, solitary moments of childhood ephemera. A gentle prodding to live in the now and stop looking toward the “then.” And though sometimes I pray for clean and quiet and still, I know all too well it will come. And I will yearn for tiny shrieks of laughter in my bedroom. For toys and loveys strewn about. For signs of a daily life well lived. For traces of my babies who once were. For reminders that Kids Were Here–and they were life and light and love.” – Stephanie Beaty

In March I was blessed to teach my first photography workshop called Everyday Beauty with the Bloom Forum.   I am really excited that I will be teaching it again in July.  I made many wonderful new friends through my class.  I have grown to love their hearts and talent alike.  What a gift it is to watch them grow and challenge themselves daily to document their families.  When the ladies in my class decided that they would form a blog circle to continue their everyday beauty exploration, I was over the moon.  I was even more excited that they wanted me to join them for this project.

Each month we will have a different theme to capture in our home.   The theme for this month is pretend.  I have to be quite honest in that these were pictures I had shot before the theme was given to me. My camera has been in the repair shop for over two weeks, but I didn’t want to miss this first month.  I hope to get more creative in future months–I’ve missed my camera so much.

Be sure to go to our Cherish This Day blog to see the other beautiful pretend images.  I am blown away by their images this month.

And thank you to all of my students. I am so blessed to have you each in my life now.

My sweet e.

We are fast approaching your 9th birthday.  This birthday has brought so many emotions for mama. It is your last single digit year and  half way to 18.   I had planned that today I would write your annual birthday letter to you, but I have decided to do something different. I am going to wait and give you your letter to you on your birthday.  I want you to read my words, only you, and not an audience.   I’ve come to realize that there is so much about life we share with others, yet there is so much we need to keep for just us.

Today I want to share some of the highlights of the last year while you were 8.

As I look back on 8 the one thing I will remember forever is that this was the year you asked Christ into your life.  As a parent I do not think there is anything that can bring more joy than knowing your child’s eternity will be spent in Heaven.  Your daddy and I knew this had been something you had been thinking about for a long time; something you took very seriously. It was such a blessing to see the peace and excitement you had when you shared this with us.  I will never forget the night we sat as a family, hands held, while you prayed to our Lord.

This year you have gone from enjoying soccer to absolutely LOVING soccer. You dream of being a soccer star.  I love watching you on the field. You are atleast a foot shorter than all of the girls you play against, yet you don’t let that intimidate you or stop you. You are fast on your feet and you truly amaze me with your skill. I love to see how you always cheer your teammates along, even when you have been the “under dogs” this season.  You are still filled with enthusiasm and encouragement.

You love to sing and dance. I don’t think there is a day we don’t have a performance going on in our home.  You create plays and you choreograph dances for you and your siblings and cousins. These are so dear to me.  You’ve been teaching yourself piano on the Ipad and I love to hear you perform your song choices.  Your latest love has been learning the “cup song.”  You taught yourself the whole rhythm and lyrics via you tube. I love hearing your beautiful voice sing.

I’ve told you this before, but I have to tell you again.  You are an amazing big sister. I love how close you and your brother and sister are.  It is something I will not take for granted ever.

You love American girl dolls and you love to play pretend.  I love to watch you. You have a favorite tree that you love to climb. In that tree your imagination is endless; it’s a gift indeed.  Childhood is precious and I love that you aren’t in a hurry to grow up.  You really seem to enjoy being 8 and living for today.

You will try any food and have such a great variety of foods that you enjoy.  I spent my childhood being a picky eater and I am so glad that you aren’t.

You are enjoying learning to bake and do things in the kitchen for yourself now.  It is fun to see you gain your independence.

You still love to sleep with mama and daddy.  There isn’t a night that passes that we aren’t snuggled up together at some point during the night.

You are a lot like me in that you get your feelings hurt easily.  You wear your heart on your sleeve and it’s hard when others do not return the love you give so freely.  This will be something that you will always find hard. I know.

You love to read and write, but don’t enjoy math too much.

You are not a morning person.  It is rare to find you awake before 9 :00 each day.

You love to make things…crafts, clothing for your dolls, cards, drawings–you love it all. You have such a creative mind.

I am so proud of the girl you are and the little lady you are becoming. It is hard to watch you grow and give you your wings;  but I know with God leading you, you will do wonderful things.

I look forward to seeing what the next year will bring in your life.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mama

I have joined a group of other mothers writing letters to our children each month.  Please head now to the blog of Bee Chalmers.  Her work and heart are equally breathtaking. I adore the way she is able to capture her children.

getting dressed.

cinnamon rolls and Jesus.

playing doctor.

always laundry to be done.

reading.

brushing Rapunzel’s hair.

legos.

schoolroom.

time to have fun at the lake.

please join in our blog circle and see what the very talented Maria Manco has captured for her ten on ten this month. her images are always capture light in a most beautiful way.

How often do your children ask to do something where your immediate answer is NO?  As parents I am sure we’ve all experienced this. And to be honest, there are many times we should say NO.   But, I’ve really been trying to make an effort to say yes more often rather than immediately answering with no. Perhaps at times my no answers were out of my own laziness or inconvenience.  For example,  not wanting to clean play dough off the floor or not wanting to get out my daughter’s sewing machine and take the time to work on her sewing skills.  Or maybe I had a lot of laundry to finish and didn’t want to stop and join the wii game going on.  I could list many examples of times I said no or maybe later, instead of embracing their desires at that given moment.  We can’t always say yes at the time we are asked, but it’s worth examining our heart and thinking a bit before we immediately answer with no.

I’ve found that saying yes really does make such a difference.  Yes encourages them. Yes ignites something beautiful within.  Yes shows our children that we are listening.  Yes can bring happiness.  The yes can be a powerful part of childhood and it is worth saying more often.  When you say yes, you let go of the no, and you embrace that moment of discovery with your child.

This week my three year old asked if she could “paint her toes all by herself.”  I have painted her toes many times and she has seen her big sister paint her own toes,  but never have I let her do this by herself.  This afternoon I decided to say yes.  What was the worst thing that could happen?  The nail polish could spill everywhere or she could get nail polish all over her body?  I loved watching her concentrate painting each toe over and over again with a new color.  She was so proud of her toes and she couldn’t wait for daddy to get home to show him the rainbow she had created. She did do it all by herself.   And she did spill an entire bottle of pink nail polish, but that was okay.  I am thankful for these moments we shared together and  I am so thankful I said yes.

After sharing my post this morning, my dear friend Carey Pace shared with me a post she wrote on this same topic  last year.  It is filled with beautiful words and images alike. I have been so blessed to meet so many amazing mothers on this journey and Carey is definitely a friend close to my heart. Thank you for sharing Carey and thank you for being who you are.

This project has already made me stop and look at the messes so differently. I don’t really see them so much as messes anymore but documentation and living proof that I am surrounded by my children daily. It has helped me see that these messes are really gifts.  Gifts of their laughter, their love, and their presence in my home.   One day, these messes will no longer be here and I will be so grateful for these images that bring me back to this place.  A place where yes; sometimes the days seem hard and long, but where we spent years together, living and loving through life and learning together one day at a time.

I am so happy to be linking to a beautiful friend’s blog. Please follow along and see what amazing images Gail Pomare has to share this month. She is back in her homeland New Zealand and I just know she has something fabulous to share.

what child doesn’t LOVE play dough?  i know all three of mine do.  i think it is honestly great for each of them because it truly allows their creative minds to go to work.  one morning this week we went outside and all made some sweet treats. it was the perfect activity for a cloudy overcast day, hence the lack of any sunshine in my pictures. (but this project isn’t about getting the best pictures each month.  it’s about documenting quality time together).

head on over to the blog of my dear friend Jude Wood–she is always up to something fun with her four children.

I look at you daily I and am still amazed.  The journey we took until you joined our world was not an easy one, but I would not trade one moment of the road we traveled.

In January of 2009, Daddy and I found out that I was pregnant.  A short week later we found out we would no longer be having that baby.  It was hard to understand at the time, but we knew God’s plan and timing are always perfect.

A month later, in February 2009, we received the news that we would be having a baby in November. Daddy and I were so excited and very surprised.   I will admit that I was nervous because of what we had just experienced, but I knew I had to put my faith in God.  My pregnancy with you was wonderful. I can still remember the moment the sonogram technician told us you were a girl. I was shocked and so excited.  At that moment we knew we would call you Caroline Grace.  Your brother and sister both have names that have been in our family, but we knew this was the name we wanted for you.  We loved the meaning of your name:  Caroline, beautiful woman and Grace, Grace of God.

In September of 2009 everything took an unexpected scary turn with my pregnancy.  One day I began swelling, which I had never done before with you or your brother or sister. It was very unusual and it didn’t go away.  The doctor took my blood pressure and realized after some other tests that I was very sick. I was diagnosed with severe pre- eclampsia.   I was admitted to the hospital that day and taken by ambulance to another hospital the next day about an hour away.  I had to get to a  hospital that had an adequate NICU for you to be admitted into upon your arrival.  You were still not due for almost 2 more months. I was scared. I was terrified. I remember being in the ambulance so frightened, worrying about what was going to happen to you and me. I had never felt that sick in my life.  We made it to the hospital safely and they started Mama on a drug to help with the sickness I was having. I was also given shots at this time to develop your lungs.

One day later, you were delivered; almost 2 months earlier than planned.  I honestly do not remember anything from the first two days you were born. I was so sick. In addition, to being on the drugs to help with my blood pressure, I ended up having a spinal headache and could not move until the Dr. went back into my spine and performed a spinal patch.

Those first few days were so emotional while I was so sick and you were in the NICU. I am so grateful for Daddy and Mimi for all they did for us during those early days. BUT then things got better and I finally got to hold you.  All of the rest did not matter at that moment.  And you were amazing.  You were a little thing at 4 pounds 10 ounces, but amazingly healthy.  Your doctor named you Super Star, because you did so well.  You didn’t need alot in the NICU, only to feed and grow.  I began to pump my milk for you around the clock, and those moments when I got to feed you and hold you were some of the most special moments of my life.   And then finally you were able to actually nurse and it was so encouraging to see you begin to thrive. It was so hard to leave you on the days I had to go back to our home, but I knew your brother and sister needed me as well.   I will never forget the day the four of us drove together to bring you home from the NICU.  It was a moment like no other.

I remember being so worried that the time we spent apart would affect our bond.  I was scared that things would be different with you than with Sissy and Bubby.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.   Today we share a beautiful unique love and I am grateful for it; yet I feel like none of my words would adequately describe this love to you.  I know  that you feel it as well and that is more than enough for me.

I share this all with you, because this experience taught me so much about life. I have always tried to plan things…it’s just who Mama is.  But in those days I learned that I have to give God complete control of my life.  I have to have faith that He alone has a plan and that if I trust in it, everything will work out in His timing.  I pray that you and your sister and brother will live with this faith as well.  I have seen time and time again without fail, that any hard experience God has brought me through; I’ve been left with lessons learned, blessings, and so much to be thankful for.  His plan; it is perfect.  Yes, I say this, even on the hardest of days.

Today you are 3 1/2.  You are the light of our lives.  You are always filled with so much joy. You say the craziest things and we all just watch you and laugh. You dance wherever you go. You always say “mama, watch me, watch my twirl”.  You love painting and usually create something special most mornings while we do school.  I love how you say “Mama I LOVE you BIG”…or sometimes you will say “little” just to watch my sad face…and then you giggle so sweetly.  You love to bake with mama, though I think licking the bowl is what you really love!  You are strong willed and determined to get your way (whenever this side of you comes out, I think of the little preemie in the NICU who thrived beyond any of our expectations).  You still carry your pink blanket wherever you go.  Last week we took your crib down, and admittedly it was so hard for me to see it go, but you were ready.You are definitely your own little person now, and we couldn’t be more blessed to have you.

Caroline Grace, you are such a gift and I look forward to watching you become the beautiful woman that God has planned.

Jeremiah 29: 11  ” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

All my love,

Mama

Each month a group of talented ladies and amazing mothers also write letters to their children.  Next in our circle is the beautiful mother and artist Jennifer Warthan.  I always love seeing her life on the farm.

good morning.

ikea cinnamon rolls.

ice cream treat.

twirling.

back yard fun.

swinging.

down by the lake.

picking flowers.

bath time.

kisses goodnight.

This post is part of a 10 on 10 project I participate in with a group of talented and lovely friends.  Head on over to the blog of Bee Chalmers and see what 10 she has this month. Every image of hers blows me away…always.

I am hosting a giveaway for one digital copy.  In addition, since it’s been such a chilly few weeks across most of the country, I am including a gift card to Starbucks.

To be entered for the giveaway leave a comment below. Then, head on over and make sure you’ve liked  Mozi Magazine’s facebook page .

I’ll be announcing a winner on my facebook page on Monday, March 11, 2013.  All entries must be made by 11:59 EST Friday, March 8, 2013.

i really do treasure the shots i have captured of my children and myself through this project.  there are many pictures i may have not taken otherwise. i didn’t start 2013 off very well with missing january.  to be honest i almost backed out completely this year, but i really do realize the importance of  doing this each month.  i am challenged and want to continue this project for my family.

this month my oldest daughter had fun exploring my camera and began to work on  framing her own shots.  this was one of my favorites.

i am participating in this project with a group of dedicated mothers.  next in the circle is my sweet and very talented friend Hope Toliver.

my heart becomes so heavy as i think about all of the needs of this world and the people hurting and in pain. my husband recently returned from passion 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia and upon his return we discussed all of the people in human slavery.  it is gut wrenching to hear these awful tragedies.   our church continues to do missions to Guatemala, Brazil and other parts of the world and last summer my husband was able to take part in a mission to Guatemala. the images he shared with me of beautiful little girls searching through a trash dump are still vivid in my head. these delicate souls searching for shoes, food, and comforts we have taken for granted since birth.

i follow photographers whom i admire for their own courage and grace as they have gone abroad to capture those who so desperately need their stories told.  one of those photographers is Deb Schwedhelm and i have been so moved by her work in Tanzania.  she is an amazing photographer and the way she has been able to make a difference inspires me in so many ways.  last week i came across the work of Sarah Robertson who moved me in the images she was able to capture while overseas in Kenya. and another photographer and friend, Breeze of Love Resembles, is currently raising funds for her own trip to Africa and i couldn’t be more excited to see her journey in pictures.   i know in my heart that God has given me my gifts to use them for His Glory and purpose and i really believe one day that mission work is a piece of this plan.

some days i get frustrated and even critical of myself because i feel like there is so much to be done and i am doing so little.  but then God gently reminds me that the place i am at is where i am needed today. we still have three young children whom are home with us full time as we home school.  my husband is a U.S. Marine and is gone overseas and across the country quite often.   i am the constant for my children and am their rock in many ways right now.   there will be a time when their needs will not be as great, but for now i need to remember that i am doing God’s work right in my own home.  my husband and i pray that our children will grow up to love others of the world more than themselves and that we can demonstrate servant-hood to them through our own actions daily.  each day servant-hood within my family plays a different role, never one more important than the other.   by loving each other in all we do, we are sharing the love of our Lord.

my husband left a few days ago and my oldest daughter is always very upset when he leaves.  this morning she came up to me and asked me if she could make a recipe “all by herself” from her cupcake book.   this meant that we would need to head to the store and get all the ingredients.  my first reaction was “maybe”, thinking she would get busy and forget.  our youngest daughter has been sick and fussy and the last thing i really wanted to do was to take them all to the grocery store again (we’d just been there last night).  but after a few moments, i went and found my daughter and i said yes.  today, serving meant making this happen for her.  she is always such a help to me and though it didn’t feel convenient at the time, i knew how much this would mean to her.   servant hood means being present for my children and seeing what is important to them and why.  it was fun to watch her create her tie-dye cupcakes all by herself. she felt independent and special.  but most of all, for a little while her mind was off the pain she felt on a Sunday afternoon not having her daddy home to spend time with.

and let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.  -Galatians 6:9

it turns out i was not alone in my thinking and realizations. jude wood, a friend i made on this photography journey, began a project this year entitled child’s play. you can read more on her thoughts behind the project here.   last month she invited me to join her.   there are not any rules for our project per say, it’s just an effort as mothers to make sure we have no regrets. time with our children is so precious and so fleeting and i never want to look back and wish i would have prioritized things differently.

this month i have documented a simple afternoon to the library.  this is something my children LOVE to do. they ask to go to the library a lot.  and many times, i have said no.  some days to be quite honest it just stressed me out to take all three children into the library.  although she is cute as a button, my three year old is not very quiet and she loves to grab everything she sees with no regard for the order of the books. but even with all this said, it is such a joyous thing for my children to go to the library and pick out their own books and to explore. and it is a children’s library after all, so i am not quite sure why i was so worried.  now that i have let those worries go a bit, i have found i really enjoy taking them all to a place they love so much.  the fun didn’t stop there. they each came home and enjoyed all of their books and when daddy came home from work they had the best time re-living the story of star wars.

now please go visit Jude Wood and see how her child’s play looks this month.

for your birthday a few months ago  i shared a letter with you about how you complete me in so many unexpected ways.  having you, our only son, has taught me so much about love.   you have shown me that love doesn’t always come easy; it can be messy, hard and challenging.  but wow, what a gift your love is. it can be quiet and tender and so thoughtful as well.

you are all boy in all you do. you are fearless and competitive and you love to be rough and explore the world around you.   i often wonder if somehow you are missing out by being surrounded by girls all the time.  you are the middle child in our family with two sisters and you live on the same street as five of your girl cousins. sometimes,  i get sad as i see all of the girls playing, that you do not have a boy to share your childhood with.  yes, you have friends, but not a brother or a cousin close by in age or proximity.

i have come to realize that you are just fine and you are going to be an amazing man one day because of being the only boy.   you indeed are all boy, yet you have a tender side to you that is beautiful.  you care how other people are feeling and you express empathy for them.   you have learned patience as your sweet girl cousins admire you and always want to be near you.   you have learned to find your own “role” in your sisters’ pretend games. God had an awesome plan with blessing our family with you as our only boy.  we all have learned so much through you.

thank you for being who you are. thank you for the laughter you bring into our home and the love you speak, not with words, but through lovely actions.  i am so blessed to have you as my one and only son.

i love you to the moon and back.

te amo, mama

i am blessed to be a part of this circle of amazing artists and friends to write letters to our children each month. up next in our group is amy grace.  she is always able to use her incredibly soulful words and images to capture the beautiful love she shares with her children.

this month i decided to do my 10 on 10 a little different.   my goal this year is to use this monthly post as a time to capture 10 images captured throughout one day to tell the story of our daily life.  BUT as an artist, sometimes other visions creep in and play out differently. today i am sharing 10 simple images of our two daughters together.  these were all taken in a span of about 5 minutes, but the story of these images would take me forever to tell.

with these images i share ten words i hope and pray my girls will always remember when they think of one another.

companion.

love.

respect.

humility.

joy.

empathy.

compassion.

forgiveness.

appreciation.

guardian.

i am extremely blessed to being doing this project with a wonderful group of ladies that i have already grown to love so much.  i am amazed daily by all of their talent.  please follow along our circle and see what the beautiful and extremely talented Summer Murdock has captured this month for her 10.

Learn how to utilize light, composition, connections, and details to create memories that will last a lifetime. Ginger will provide heart-filled insight into observing the everyday routines within your home enabling you to capture authentic moments. Additionally, she will present ideas for you to create your own story telling session from start to finish. Finally, she will discuss shooting in public places and the importance of getting in the pictures yourself.

This two-week interactive workshop consists of four assignments, including feedback from Ginger, intended to challenge each student’s abilities. A question and answer section will be provided where Ginger will actively engage with all students. At the end of the course there will be a private section on Bloom where participants can continue interacting and sharing with one another. A PDF file will be provided at the conclusion of the course with all content covered during the workshop.

**All students (including silent participants) will be able to participate in an exclusive Q & A session that will take place with Ginger during part of the workshop.

A DSLR camera and basic knowledge of shooting in manual is recommended. You must be a member of The Bloom Forum to participate.

Early registration details:

(this is your chance to sign up early before registration is opened inside of the forum-seats are limited)

 Workshop Dates: March 18- April 1

Active Seats are $200/each (sold out) 

Silent/Read-along Seats are $150/each

If you are not a member of The Bloom Forum yet, you can join by clicking the icon below.

ACTIVE SEATS are no longer available.

To register for a SILENT SEAT, click here.

Silent seat members will get all of the course material including the PDF at the conclusion of the course. They will not turn in assignments or get CC but will be able to read through all of the active members’ assignments.

If you have any questions please send an email to : ginger.unzueta@gmail.com

The workshop fee is non-refundable.

our three year old has fallen in love with painting.  every morning while her big brother and sister do their school work she paints.   i love to watch her as she colors her canvas.  she concentrates, she sings, and she even dances as she makes her art.   it is serious work to her and she always asks me if her work  looks pretty.  some mornings she does many pictures, while other days just one is enough.   i was happy to capture her in her element yesterday morning.  this is her at three–an artist painting what is inside of her soul.   i cherish these moments with all of my heart.

a little over a month ago, i found my old canon rebel 35mm camera.   it had been in a box through many of our military moves after being “replaced” by numerous digital cameras in the last 10 years.  i have admired and watched artists who have recently pursued film and done it with such beauty.  i was intrigued. i was lured by the colors, the depth, and the feel to film. in addition, i loved the idea of minimal processing.  i knew i had to give film a try, yet i was without doubt that there was so much i did not know.  i honestly didn’t even know if this old camera of mine still worked. i read an article on let the kids dress themselves and i was encouraged. then,  i got the FIND book for Christmas which is an amazing read that i keep reading over and over.  i began asking a million questions on the bloom forum from some pretty amazing and open ladies. and i began shooting.  i’ve gone through a lot of film the past month. i’ve tried different brands. i’ve tried different processing sources including CVS, walgreens, and Indie Labs.   i’ve been excited, frustrated, nervous, excited, frustrated and nervous. i circle with emotions, but i haven’t given up.

this film journey has been a wonderful reminder of grace and that we all need grace in our lives.   i have to remember i did not become the photographer i am today with my digital camera overnight, and this journey it will take time and patience and more time and patience.  there are things i love about my digital nikon d700 which i just don’t think i could ever completely give up, but i am excited to learn more and play in this fun world of film.

the images below are some of my favorites so far. they are shot with fuji 400H and developed at CVS. and i ended up having to have the negatives re-scanned at our local walgreens because for some strange reason all of my pictures originally had lines going across them.   grace & patience…i must remember these words.

my sweet love bug,

i often sit and look at you and i wonder if you have any idea the capacity of my love for you. as i write this letter to you my eyes are filling up with tears, because there is just so much i want you to know. the days when you were just a newborn feel so real still in my heart, yet they are far from us now.  you are our firstborn and you changed me in many ways and you continue to change me daily. we have a bond that i feel to the core of me.  a bond, that i only imagine will grow deeper and stronger as the years pass.  minutes don’t pass during our day that we don’t share our love with one another. we have our secret hand squeeze and we give lots of hugs and kisses, and we snuggle a lot;  but my love for you is so much deeper than all of these expressions.

you have the most beautiful soul. you are filled with so much love, compassion and light. i remember being your age, and i was quite caught up in myself. i went through a stage where i was just rude, selfish, and wanted my own way all the time.  and to be quite honest, my selfishness continued many years. it wasn’t that i was a bad person, but you are so much different.  it was when i became a mother, that i began to become the person i am today-the person i strive to be to all of you.  i began to really understand the meaning of unconditional love when i became a mother.

you shine a light wherever you go with your touch, your words, and in your presence alone.  you radiate a goodness and love for people whenever you are around. i love that you don’t treat your brother or sister differently because you are the oldest.  you include them, you watch out for them, and you nurture them.  at 8, you still want someone to lay with you as you fall asleep. in fact, your first choice is to sleep in bed with daddy and me. i love that you always rub my arm as we lay in bed together. i love that most nights as i sneak off for my alone time in the bubble bath; you show up,  not even 10 minutes later. you quietly come into the bathroom and before i know it, your one question has turned into a long conversation.   i love those quiet talks and cherish them in the greatest way. i love our movie nights, just you and me.  i love anticipating what you will pick for us to watch.  i love dancing with you and singing as loud as we can in the car together.  and i also  love how you will so delicately, but honestly,  tell me that i don’t dance or sing very well.  i love to hear your giggle and i could recognize it with my eyes shut miles and miles away.  i love your eagerness to learn about the Lord and the way He has really come into your life.  it is truly His light that radiates from you.  i cannot wait to see His plans for you.

last week  i became very sick and daddy was in california for work.  one night i was feeling so terrible that  i went outside to sit on the porch and started crying.  i felt overwhelmed and alone.  i was sitting,  looking up at the stars, knowing that even though i felt so alone, God was with me.  and then the porch door opened.  you heard me crying, and you came to me and embraced me.  you told me it was going to be okay and that you loved me so much.   you give love so unconditionally and you are such an example of love to anyone that comes in your path.

in these last 8 and a half years, we have built a bond that grows deeper day by day. i remember when you were a baby and your mita told me something that i will never forget. she told me that i was so blessed to have a little girl and that you would be my best friend for life. mita, being a mother to four boys, only dreamed of the bond between a mother and her daughter.   i thought i knew what she meant, because of the bond i shared with my own mother. mimi and i were what i like to remember as the first best friends. i would always say to her best friends forever? and she would answer me, yes, best friends forever.  i love that mimi and i are still so close and that you also share a close bond with her.  but  i never knew the capacity of love and connection i would feel with you, my own daughter.  mita’s words that afternoon could not have been more true.   you have been my rock so many times when daddy has been deployed.  you have been my helper, my comforter, and my companion.  today, i not only want you to know how much i love you, but i want to say thank you.   thank you for making me see the world differently. thank you for teaching me to love outside of myself and to want to be a better person.  thank you for loving me and for being my best friend.

i love you forever,

mama

i am participating in a project this year with a lovely group of women.  we will each be sharing a letter to our children each month.  thank you to the wonderful and loving Amy Lucy who inspired this project for so many mothers this year.  children and mothers alike will be blessed with these letters of love.   each member of our circle has their own story of love to share.  their images will speak of their love and you will feel the intimacy of a mother and child as you read their words.  i have loved following the beautiful images of Jessica Deane.  her abundant love for her family shines through every image she captures.

quietly at work.

sleeping beauty.

another sleeping beauty and her baby doll.

getting dressed.

the light surrounds her.

the view from my room.

relaxed.

cereal for lunch.

iphone and shadows.

bath.

i’ve joined a group of amazing ladies to share this project with this year.  they are each so talented and i can’t wait for you to see their fabulous work.  first up is summer murdock –head on over and see what her day looked like.

a look back on 2012 from Ginger Unzueta on Vimeo.

many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. proverbs 19:21

i was riding with my oldest daughter one evening recently to get ice cream when she asked me if we could put some music on through my iphone.   i said sure, and the next thing i knew we were singing and praising the Lord as we drove down the road.   it isn’t a secret that our family loves to worship through music and that my children are very familiar with Christian artists and radio. this particular song choice was one i wanted to keep playing over and over again.  and the words continue to play on in my head.  the song is called : steal my show by toby mac.  you can read the lyrics here and also hear a sample from this song. these words speak to my life and i wanted to share them, because perhaps they would speak to yours as well.

If You wanna steal my show
I’ll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin’ to say
Go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show
Can’t wait to watch You go, oh, oh
So take it away

as i  work in our home as a mother, wife and teacher,  or act as a friend to those i love, or share my photography;  my wish, is for Him to “steal my show”.   i want the Lord to use me in the way only He knows and has planned.  i wish to glorify Him in my actions in every area of my life.   and yes, i want God to take me over, to take all parts of me and use them.  as Toby Mac says in his interview about this song:   “no matter what you do or who you are, you have a life.  you can take it and make it yours or give it away and let God do something bigger with it than you ever imagined.”

my prayer today is that i will never stop giving my life to God and that i will seek His plans and His glory and not my own.

these pictures are of my youngest daughter doing a little “show” of her own.  in these images,  i can clearly see God and His amazing work  in our home and i am blown away at all He has done for us.

you see, she told me “you never play with me. you are always on your computer”   wow.  those words stung in my ears like no other.

at that moment i felt sick to my stomach, sad, and angry with myself.  i am with my children all day, every day.  i bake with them, i craft with them, i do daily devotions with them, we school together…i really could go on an on.   i do not think  that i am a mother missing out on my children’s childhood in any way.  and i do know that children can have a way of exaggerating the way they are feeling, but even so, the words hurt.  they really made me look at my priorities and commitments and reflect.  how often do i play on “their terms”?   how often, do i stop whatever it is i am doing and say sure let’s go?  it’s easy to play when i’ve planned the craft or activity to fit our daily schedule.  but it isn’t always easy to stop something we are doing (which may very well  be important) to go play.  is it always easy to play in the backyard with the kids  (no, not be out there while they play, but really play with them)?  is it easy to stop what we are doing and play a board game when asked?  the list could go on.

we’ve been blessed that  i can stay home with our children.  my photography business started as a passion and a  way of giving back to others in my community.  i realized this year that i cannot keep up at the pace i was going and make everyone happy.  my home life was neglected during this crazy time of shooting other families and that is not acceptable to me as the mother of our home.   i have decided that in 2013 i will be doing much less work and not shooting  at all after September.   as much as i love to share this gift; being a mother, wife, and teacher are the priorities God has given me at this point in my life.  i don’t want to neglect those duties, because i over-committed myself outside of our home.

i believe that as mothers we have to have our own loves and interests. we need to pursue something we love outside of motherhood.  i have always done this and feel it is very important.  i have no intention of giving up this passion, because i know that God gives each of us our talents and places these passions on our heart. i pray for His guidance in showing me what He has planned for me to do with this gift and how i can glorify Him through it.

as any mother that works from home can testify to, boundaries have to be set.    i let myself take on so much work, outside of our home, that boundaries got lost and the work overtook my home.  each day there has to be a “set time” when work is done.  in addition, time for house chores, cooking, etc. are planned each day, so that expectations are in place. this is easier said than done, but in 2013, my plan is to try my best to do better.  i say try, because i know i will always fall short of being perfect. i just don’t want to miss any moment with my children because i let other priorities take precedence.

one afternoon this week  my daughter came and asked me to do origami with her.   and yes, a bathroom was calling my name to get cleaned.  my husband can testify to the fact that that bathroom was pretty awful.  but i set my bucket down and i went and did origami with my cherished 8 year old.  we had the best time laughing and talking and just being together.   i love my children so much and i just pray they will feel my never ending love for them deep in their hearts.

over the weekend my youngest two children joined me in making banana bread.   really, this could be just an ordinary event, but i try to look at everything in our home as a treasured moment.  every moment is a gift from God and we have the opportunity to make these moments extraordinary each and every day.  i started taking pictures long before having children, but my passion came alive in a unique way as i captured the every day life i experience as a mother.   it’s so true that pictures will give us a way to remember all the little things we may not remember years from now.  i will see these pictures i captured while baking and remember the wonder my three year old experienced as she turned the mixer on and off over and over again.  and i will remember the frustration she felt while  peeling the banana all by herself.

recently,  i have come to a new realization.  the pictures are indeed amazing gifts that i will have to cherish forever.   i know i will relive these moments time and time again as i look through past memories. but truly the gift is experiencing  the actual moments with my children.   i cannot explain to you in words what i feel during these moments spent with my children, but it is an incredible feeling.   i’ve learned the more moments i let unfold, just as they normally would, not posed or pre -meditated; the more i feel them and live them with my children.  i laughed so hard yesterday as i watched our baby girl do her best to add flour to the bowl, while spilling most of it at her feet.   i showed her it was okay to mess up, and to try again.   i felt so much joy as i saw my two children giggling about the smell of the dough and deciding if they liked it or not.  you see the experience is the best gift of all.  i want our albums to be filled with authenticity. in addition,  i want to give thanks and glory to the One who has made these moments possible.  photography has definitely been a gift that has given me much more than the tangible blessing of pictures.  it has slowed me down in ways, because as i look at all the pictures i’ve taken, i am keenly aware of how fleeting my time with our children really is.   my eyes see things in a new way that takes in all of the beauty around me in all the every day moments.  beauty as magnificent as the sun or as simple as my children in the kitchen.  there is certainly beauty and wonder in everything.  God has used this journey to touch my life in ways i never dreamed.  to say i am grateful doesn’t seem to say enough.

over the weekend my husband sent me a link to a video on an interview by Christy Nockels, a Christian artist, discussing her new album Into the Glorious.  in all things i see God’s purpose and plan.  my husband had NO idea i was writing this post  and when i opened the you tube video and heard her words it was as if my husband knew exactly what has been stirring in my heart.  i am amazed by God’s hand in our lives..truly amazed.   there was something she said during her interview that i could relate to in such a strong way.  another mother had shared this wisdom with her and i want to share it with you.  ” you can invite the glorious into the mundane.  there is an invitation that is present to us in our everyday lives as mothers, students, as workers in the workplace. there’s this invitation to us in to the glorious things of who He is. ”  you see, ordinary moments in your home are anything but ordinary when you invite God into your life.  the most simple activities are the most beautiful gifts from God as you allow Him to work through you and for you.  its about so much more to me than pictures of making banana bread (or painting, or crafting, or reading)—it’s about the glorious i am finding right here in the mundane.  and realizing the every day is so much more than mundane.

now head on over the blog of  Misty Setzler | Lubbock, TX Family Photographer and see what she has captured this month

i feel confident in connecting with my subjects, but there was still something i was able to take from her session that resonated with me in a new and wonderful way.  i love that about this art.  fellow artists can truly push us and ignite our creativity in ways we didn’t even know we needed.   after only skimming through the pdf, i decided i wanted to try one of the exercises with my oldest daughter.  and in a matter of 15 minutes i was able to capture these pictures.  i am so drawn to the variety of expressions i was able to get and the realness in every one of these images.  and once again, thank you anne.

i am thankful day 22- i am so grateful that my children are getting to grow up with their cousins all so close. and that they truly are all the best of friends.

i am thankful day 23- i am thankful for hot chocolate on a chilly florida morning and snuggling with daddy’s childhood blankey ♥

i am thankful day 25-i am so grateful for the baby of our family. for the joy and laughter she fills our house with. i will never forget when she was in the NICU as a preemie and her dr. said she was a “super star”…she’s lived up to that name ever since. she’s so full of life and love. we are all blessed.

i am thankful day 24-i am so thankful to live on the lake. it is such a blessing to have this as our back yard now. most days you will find our children happy as can be playing and building in the sand down by the water.

i am thankful day 26- i am grateful and in complete awe of God’s amazing creations. when i look around at everything He created for us to enjoy, i am amazed ! from my beautiful children, to the earth and sun…there are so many creations that just leave me speechless.

i am thankful day 27- i am thankful for moments like these. when i see the laughter, spontaneity, and love between my three children. nothing makes my heart more warm and filled. so blessed to be their mama.

i am thankful day 28-thankful for movie nights with the family. {especially nice during the Christmas season–love the Christmas movies}

i am thankful day 29-today i am thankful for pictures. i am grateful for the stories they tell. when i look at our stairwell of memories, i am flooded with emotions and thanksgiving. i am thankful for all of my family..each person whom i love dearly. but especially my husband of 13 plus years. i couldn’t be more blessed with a giving and loving man. but most of all, a leader of Christ in our home. i see these pictures and i am reminded how blessed we are.

i am thankful day 30- i am thankful that Jesus came and made the ultimate sacrifice. without Him, i would be nothing. without Him, none of these blessings would be. i am humbled and grateful and blessed to be His.

for round two of the photo love contest, each contestant was sent an outfit and a word.   when i opened my package and saw my word i couldn’t be more delighted.  it was as if they picked the word just for my daughter. she is such a true blessing in our lives and anyone that knows her, knows what a special soul she is.

sincere

according to merriam webster’s dictionary:

1 a : free of dissimulation : honest <a sincere interest>  b : free from adulteration : pure <a sincere doctrine><sincere wine>

2    : marked by genuineness : true

i decided that i would forgo using any props and shoot my entry in the style i normally shoot. after all, my word was sincere.   i felt like this not only suited my daughter’s personality, but my own style of photography.  here is a peek at the shoot we enjoyed together. it really was fun to get out and have this time just the two of us. 

i have been working on a daily personal project of gratitude during the month of november.  you can see my week one post here.  this week i am here to share my past 7 days of thanks.  as i take time each day to reflect on the people and things i am thankful for, my heart becomes full of memories and love.   it has been such a gift to me to be able to realize daily that even the most simple things in life are what make it hugely wonderful.

i am thankful day 8- today i am grateful for the wonderful “cool front” that has brought beautiful fall weather to florida the past two days. cool enough for a jacket, but not too cold for bare feet.

i am thankful day 9- today i am grateful for the lessons that the gift of motherhood brings into my life– even when I struggle through hard moments such as these. it is a reminder that through all of these times God is refining me into the person he has planned for me to become♥

i am thankful day 10- i am so grateful that whenever we want to visit my parents and ANY of my siblings and their families, that they are only a walk (scooter or skateboard ride) away. so blessed to live so close to family after being gone for so many years♥

i am thankful day 11-today i am grateful for the many mini-messes i find like these on our back porch. it reminds me that we are blessed to have three healthy children who love to play together and play outside. a simple but huge blessing indeed.

i am thankful day 12- today i am thankful for baby dolls. they really take my girls into a world of their own and bring so much joy into our house ♥

i am thankful day 13- today i am thankful that i had a mother who took the time to do fun traditions with us as children (like making Christmas cookies) & i feel even more grateful now to share these same traditions with my own babies. time with your children–i don’t think there is a more precious gift

i am thankful day 14-i am so thankful for all of the sources of technology we are blessed with today. certainly, there is a time and place for it all (and yes, it can be a distraction) but it has also brought us so much joy in many different ways. skype calls with daddy while he is countries apart, emails and phone calls from friends and family far away, videos of moments never to be forgotten, and resources to be used at the tip of our fingers….(only to name a few.)

before our dress up party we did have some fun together outside as well

i remember distinctly typing this quote almost a year ago as our group started this project together and here we are almost twelve months later. the years simply fly by much too quickly. no day is an ordinary day as the mother of my three children.  every day is a new adventure -some days we find fun and laughter; some days bring tears and trials; while others are filled with questions, sickness, triumphs, and surprises.  but most importantly, our days are filled with love.  and this love will be constant no matter how many years go by.  today, i share my last 10 on 10 for the year.  the ordinary moments are extraordinary when shared with those you love the most. today i have 10 moments from JUST ONE beautiful day shared with my children.   i hope you enjoy.  

thank you for following this project this year.   to continue on with our blog circle please head on over to the blog of Elizabeth Jane Photo and see what her day included this month.

welcome back for this month’s edition of just us. i love that this project has made me more aware of getting in the pictures with my children. this month’s pictures really show it can be fun to do.  my kid’s love playing with the remote..so one morning, while still in jammies, my oldest daughter and i had a little fun in bed.   snuggling in my bed is our favorite spot to be. since she was little, she has been our most snuggly, touchy baby.   she is the only one of our three children, that you will find in between us in bed at some point, every night.   she’s a truly lovely soul and we are so blessed to call her our daughter.

once awake for the day, the baby of the family decided she wanted in on the fun.  i couldn’t say no, now could I?!

please continue on and see what the talented Misty Setzler l Lubbock, TX photographer has captured of her family this month.

I am thankful day 1- i am thankful for this time with my children-not only as their mother but as their teacher. God has blessed us in so many ways. today we created our thankful tree. (without prompting from me, i love that Ellie was thankful for having family around and Mason for God–and little Caroline yelled Jesus–for sure that was probably what she “thought” she should say, but so happy HE is on her mind ♥

 I am thankful day 2- so thankful for my firstborn–for the gift of becoming a mother and for the bond we share. she truly has a beautiful soul that is more than I could have ever dreamed for. she has been my rock in so many times when I’ve been “running the house” alone with my husband deployed. so grateful for this love in my life!

I am thankful day 3- today i am thankful for the simple things that bring so much joy. bare feet in november and the wonderful world of dress up.

I am thankful day 4-  today and every Sunday i am thankful for this time to go to church as a family to learn, grow and worship together. we are so blessed to live in a country where we can freely do this

I am thankful day 5 - i am grateful today for the gift of sisterhood. i feel so blessed to have 2 amazing sisters who i now live so close to AND i am also incredibly thankful to see my daughters have each other as sisters…
“A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” ~Isadora James

 I am thankful day 6- today i am so thankful for our only son that is sandwiched in between his two sisters. for the love he brings all of us and his crazy zest for life. we are so blessed that they have him to look out for them and LOVE them..AND to show them another world –apart from dress-ups, baby dolls, and other girly fun. here they are off to have a rock throwing contest. LOVE!!

I am thankful day 7- so grateful for the natural light that pours into our house.  we have huge windows in every room of our house which is such a blessing when capturing my three babes at home.  never forget the small things that bring joy in life.

on monday we celebrated my birthday. in the morning  i came down stairs to find two signs made by my husband and my oldest daughter. one of the signs had the following scripture on it which seemed so fitting and perfect to share this month.  i completely feel blessed in every way to be a part of the family God has bestowed me with …

Proverbs 31:28-29: ²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:²⁹ “Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.”

and here i am with these amazing gifts from God…(on halloween eve before we headed out to our neighborhood get together) 

off we go for some halloween fun…

and one last one-just because every time i look at it, i get a big smile on my face…

i’d love for you to continue on to the blog of Jessica Risinger and see what has been on her heart this month…

today you turn 6.   i can still remember the moment we found out we would be welcoming a little boy into our world.   to be quite honest–i didn’t know what i would do with a boy. i was caught off guard and surprised in all kinds of ways.  i would never have dreamed the way that you would complete my life, like only you can. you have taught me so much about life and living it.  you have taught me that parenting isn’t always easy…it can be messy, hard, and challenging, but it is such a gift i never want to take for granted.  you have shown me what it means to live out a crazy love, so full of emotion and presence .  you have displayed a kind of  bravery and zest for life that i envy and desire for myself to take on. you remind me so much of your dad in this way.  i hope you will remain fearless and strong in your choices.  you, our middle child, have shown each of us an extraordinary love.  the way you take care of your baby sister makes me warm every time i see you together. and the way you look up to your big sister is so endearing.  i pray that this adoration for your sisters never ends and that you will always be the best of friends. the lake has really become your happy place.  whether you are spending time fishing, digging for treasures, or just running around in complete bliss.  it is where you find peace and solace.  i love that at six you still want me to lay with you at bed time.  some nights you ask that i don’t snuggle you; but then if i give you a few moments, you slowly embrace me. these moments with you are so precious;  i hope i will feel and remember them always.  never forget how much you mean to each of us.  your dad and i  pray that you will walk with the Lord and follow His plan for you in all you do.  you have a special heart and so many gifts to give this world.  happy birthday my sweet son.

i love you to the moon and back

go see more of this month’s fun entries at  I Heart Faces.

]]> http://www.gingerunzuetaphotography.com/i-heart-faces-photo-challenge-l-friendship/feed/ 3 http://www.gingerunzuetaphotography.com/rock-the-shot-october-photo-challenge-l-orange/ http://www.gingerunzuetaphotography.com/rock-the-shot-october-photo-challenge-l-orange/#comments Wed, 17 Oct 2012 17:54:28 +0000 ginger http://www.gingerunzuetaphotography.com/?p=6536 this shot was taken of my two year old niece while my three children joined 5 of their cousins for some fun pumpkin painting.  i used my 50 mm 1.4 lens on my nikon d700.  i hope you enjoy.

be sure to check out our sweet baby’s red bowling shoes.  we were afraid they wouldn’t have shoes her size (and we were right). so we snuck these in our bag and told her that they were her special bowling shoes.  she LOVED them just as much as she loved bowling!

please follow along with our blog circle and see what the lovely Misty Setzler | Lubbock, TX Family Photographer has captured this month.

love is us–every day.  it is the simple moments. it is the laughter and the cries.  it is everything we have together.  now and always. 

please continue with our blog circle and see what the very talented  Renee Bonuccelli

i don’t think there could be a more fitting quote for these girls. i just adore it.   they are only 4 months apart–living only 4 houses apart.  growing up playmates and becoming forever friends.

i took this series as part of a project for the Finding the Light Workshop.  the goal was to tell a story through your images using different perspectives, angles, etc.   i can’t say enough amazing things about this wonderful workshop. if you are looking to grow as a photographer, you have to check it out!

Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV:  

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

I found this scripture after reading through my current Bible Study: Nehemiah, A heart that can break.  by Kelly Minter.

This week one of the questions she asked us was: “Is it hard for you to move forward without everyone’s support or approval? Why or Why not?”

This really spoke to me as we just began our second year of homeschooling. I’ve written and spoken to many about God’s call for us to home school our children. We prayed a  lot about this and were affirmed in this decision.  And we had the most amazing first year of learning together.  I can say that I am most at peace having our children home and having this quality time together as a family.  All summer I planned and developed a wonderful room for our children to create and learn in and I was super excited for this new year with them.

And then the school year began. It started off wonderfully as our daughter began 3rd grade, our son began his kindergarten year, and the baby of our house continued to follow along with us.    But as the weeks passed,  I was reminded of questions I had been asked from friends and acquaintances.

Questions such as:

How long do you plan to home school your children?  Will you always home school your children? Why did you choose to home school?  When do you have your “own time”?

Followed by statements such as :

That’s great that you are doing this, but I don’t have the patience to home school my children. My kids are much too social and wouldn’t enjoy homeschooling. I don’t know how you do it all.  Most home schooled children I know are “different”

Admittedly, I really began to have doubts and questioned God’s purpose for our family.  I began to feel like I had to prove to everyone that our kids would turn out “normal” and be successful.  But who defines what is normal?   Following Jesus in today’s world isn’t normal by many standards.  And how quickly did I forget that my children’s success is not measured by today’s worldly views, but only in the eyes of our Lord.

I realized that I was letting others voices be heard over God’s voice.  No, it is not always easy to move forward when you don’t have everyone’s approval or support.  But I must remember that when God gives instruction, He will provide the resources, the strength, and the answers.   This road we have followed may always be filled with questions. And I know that each of us may experience lonely days by following God’s plan for our lives and not society’s plan, but I also know that we will reap many blessings through being obedient to God.

I must remember this verse and not rely on my own understanding, nor that of those around me, but trust in the Lord with all my heart.  I must take faith that “He will make my paths straight.”  I hope that these words will also bring you comfort when you are doing something that isn’t easy or something that others don’t approve or understand.

Please continue to follow our circle and see what my friend Gail Pomare has on her heart this month.

summer’s beauty 2012 from Ginger Unzueta on Vimeo.

i am so grateful for Let the Kids Dress Themselves and their Summer Shot List Project  .  i had such a great time doing this project over the summer months.

our spirited third child.  today you turned three.  my heart is so full and floods with so many contrasting emotions.  i want to cry inside as i watch our last baby turn into an independent little girl.  but then i want to rejoice and laugh as your growing  personality overflows to all that know you.  there is so much to you that i never want to forget.  your questions and wonder. the why’s you ask hourly.  your giggle.  your big brown eyes and adorable dimple. the special way you have me tuck you in bed  every time you go to sleep.   your love and adoration of your brother and sister.  your bossiness.  your crazy clothes choices and the even crazier things you say. these details of you are so precious to me.  i love that you are open to life with such a big heart.  you are so independent and strong willed.  you are a mama’s girl. but you love your daddy in such a special way.  it melts my heart.  he’s truly your prince.  and you are indeed his princess.    these three years have been more than i ever dreamed. i cannot wait to watch you grow into the person God has planned for you.

today we shared your birthday in so many special ways.  first it was just the four of us (daddy is gone to the middle east-but he joined you for birthday cake via skype) and you opened a few presents.  you got your first american doll and you fell in love completely. at lunch time a few of your cousins were able to  join us for lunch and cake. it is truly a blessing  for you girls to all live on the same street, growing up and making these special memories.   and then we ended the day with your mita and pito.  and yes, as you look at these pictures one day-you really did change your clothes that many times in one short day.

you are loved by all that know you.   i hope this year is filled with many more amazing memories and that you will always know how much we love you.

xoxo

the baby of our family is turning 3 next tuesday.  this has brought much emotion to my heart.   i’ve realized that the way i parent her and react to things is so different than i did with our first.   things i wanted to fix or change with our oldest daughter,  i now somehow just want to remember.  and not just remember this time, but remember every little detail of her.   i want to hold on to the crazy things she says.  to never forget the nutty outfits she chooses to wear.  i want to remember the trouble and mischief she finds. i  i know too well, from having two older children that these times will be a distant memory before we know it.

so now instead of hurrying to change these moments; i choose to grab my camera and freeze them the only way i know how.

so this morning, i asked our 5 year old son if he’d capture some pictures of me with our baby girl.  next week she will turn 3 and i just can’t believe it!  at first i thought i’d get us dressed all pretty and then have him do a few shots.  but then i decided to do it just as we are.   most days, right now, she’s running around half naked in her panties for the entire day. in the last two weeks she’s potty trained herself and i am very thankful for that.  but really, she loves to be dressed in only her panties, with her hair a mess (hairbow-nowhere to be found), her face a mess from her latest meal and free!  so here we are just the two of us…just as we love to be! ♥

thank you ladies for this project, because these memories are truly a treasure for me!! xoxo

please continue on with our blog circle and see what the lovely Celeste Jones has capture of her family this month…

please follow along our blog circle to see what my talented friends have shared this month.   first up is the delightful Elizabeth Jane Photo. So happy to have her back this month -she is such a talented artist!

over the summer i worked very hard on a special project. we have a room in our house that we used for storage since the time we bought the house.  it has a great built in desk, bookshelves, and a full bathroom with access outside to the lake.   after a year of cleaning off my dining table at the end of each day i thought it would be nice to create a school and creative spot for our kiddos. i know we will still school in many places around our house, and even outside of the house, but it is so nice to have a space to go to together to create and learn.   my vision was to create a place that could encourage and inspire our children. i wanted to have a place that would remind them to DREAM, never give up, and create a lot.  i wanted a place to remind them of the love of their heavenly Father.  i wanted to fill the room with reminders of our love for each other and our appreciation and love of life.

the room is almost complete (i have a few more items that i ordered that have not arrived, but for the most part i am finished)…and i thought since it was the first day of our 2012 school year, i would share my project.  i hope you enjoy a sneak peek into our school day. i am so grateful God has given me this time with my children.  i am so blessed to be able to teach them daily and watch them grow in Him.  i will never take these moments for granted.

” i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”   Philippians 4:13

please continue with our circle and see what the talented Clara Huynh of Heart Inspired Photography has for us this week…

this month the following verses have been on my heart…

Jeremiah 29:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

his first kiss,

his first love,

his first friend,

you are his mama

and he is your whole world.

he is your little boy.”

-author unknown

head on over to the blog of the beautiful  Celeste Jones l Wilmington Deleware Photographer and see what she has captured this month…

last thursday my husband received the news that he would be deployed for 45 days to the middle east on the following Monday.    (ye, we had about three days notice).    originally the plan for that weekend had been for my mom and i to go shopping and have a girl’s weekend away.  my mom had made reservations at the gaylord palms in orlando and we were set to leave on saturday.  ( in 8 years since we had our first child, i have not had a weekend away without the kids).  after receiving the news,  my mom was most gracious and gave us the hotel room to take the kids away for some fun.   and even though it was a short night away and only 40 minutes from home..it was a great  weekend of memories for our children. it really is a fun hotel to sneak off to for the night.  we had a blast at the water park in the hotel, viewing the alligators, going out to dinner, and having room service desert and movie night in our room. it was just what we needed! i hope you enjoy…

please follow along our blog circle and see what the talented Jennifer Kruk Photography has for this month’s 10 on 10…

follow along our blog circle to see what clara with heart inspired photography has for us this week.

this week our theme is joy.  i look into her eyes and i see so much…

please continue with our blog circle and see what the fabulous Mary Schannen l Melange Photography has to share this week…

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another,   forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. “

“you are forgiven.”  three simple words, yet at times, they can be the hardest words to say.

this weekend our two year old daughter told my husband that her brother hit her while he was playing the wii.   this is something we aren’t very proud of as parents, but admittedly bad behavior does indeed take place between our 8, 5, and 2 year old children.  my husband disciplined my son and then he requested that my son apologize to our daughter.

my son has a terribly hard time with saying i’m sorry.   i think this is hard for a lot of children.   on the other hand,  i notice that children can be so quick to forgive one another.  they quickly say “that’s okay.” or something of the like.  and then the matter is forgotten and they move on.

as adults, it can be so hard to really forgive one another when we are hurt.  sometimes it seems easier to harbor feelings of resentment, anger, and sadness, then to say i forgive you.  why can’t we be like my 2 year old who quickly says “it’s okay, bubby”… and then embraces him with a hug and a smile?  indeed there are many reasons why we instinctively don’t do this, but the bible clearly tells us to forgive one another as Christ forgives us.

have you heard the latest song by mathew west? if not, you can hear the song here and you can read the story behind the song here.  i can’t seem to get this song out of my head.  the words are just that powerful:

It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don’t deserve

It’s the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just to real
It takes everything you have just to say the word…

Forgiveness
Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it’s power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

the highlighted words stand out to me

” It’ll clear the bitterness away.   It can even set a prisoner free.  There is no end to what it’s power can do.  So, let it go and be amazed.   By what you see through eyes of grace . The prisoner that it really frees is you”

you see, by forgiving even the worst of sins done to us, we are the one who becomes free. it’s amazing how Jesus works in this way.   i cannot say this is easy, but through Him you can let go and experience this freedom.   is there something that is holding you as a prisoner today?  is there someone who has hurt you beyond repair?   go to our Lord and ask Him to show you how to experience this freedom.  ask Him to heal your heart, so that you can experience your life to its fullest. its not an easy road, but i guarantee you will find blessings at the end of it.  and maybe for you its not a big thing but a lot of small things that have just added up over time.   don’t harbor those feelings inside.

or are you the “someone” that needs forgiveness? do you feel like your sins are too much for God to forgive?   do you live with guilt and the burden of not even forgiving yourself?  the bible clearly speaks to us on this as well many times.   i’ll leave you with another verse:

Acts 13:38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

don’t let an unforgiving heart rob you of today.   i pray these passages will speak to you as they have to me.

please continue to follow our blog circle and see what scripture the fabulous  Gail Pomare | Santa Cruz, San Jose Lifestyle Photographer has to share with us this month.  i am always very inspired by her words and images.

i am thrilled to welcome Mary Schannen of Melange Photography back to our group. she’s been a way the past few weeks, and i am so glad she is back this week. she is just amazing, so enjoy!

this month my sister-n-law was so sweet to snap a few shots of me and my three kiddos while we were at Longboat Key (my husband had left a couple days early to head out on a mission trip with our church to Guatemala).   i hope you enjoy.  maybe next month i will get a little creative with my remote and tripod…who knows?!

please follow our group and see what fun pictures they have captured of their sweet families.  next up is the beautiful Celeste Jones l Wilmington Deleware Photographer.

please visit the blog of Clara with Heart Inspired Photography and see what she has captured this week…

for this week’s Summer Fun Photo, i captured our oldest daughter swinging high on the swing at the park near the beach during our vacation.  (i will be sharing many more from this week’s vacation in a few days for this month’s 10 on 10)

there’s truly a certain type of freedom summer brings that is unique only to this season.  i look forward to it year after year.  i believe there’s a similar freedom felt when flying high in the sky. this photo symbolizes the start of summer’s freedom to me.  i hope you enjoy…

please continue on to the blog of Clara at Heart Inspired Photography and see what fabulous image she has this week…

a certain little two year old found some of big sissy’s old dress up shoes.  ever since, they haven’t come off…

and i had to share this one from later in the day….so much i just love about it!

now head on over to the blog of Clara at Heart Inspired Photography to see her metallic image.

this month the topic of servant-hood has been on my mind often.  i ‘ve been thinking of ways that we can serve others more as a family.  my husband and i really want to demonstrate the importance of servant-hood in our Christian walks to our children.  we desire to teach them the importance of putting others before themselves while striving to be Christ like in all things.

as i think of servant-hood my mother-in-law, mita, immediately comes to mind.  she is such an amazing example of selfless living for others similar to Jesus.  her whole life is about putting others before herself with the desire to display her love for them.  i pray my children will see this example and want to live like her.   additionally, she inspires and challenges me.

my father-in-law, pito,  is living with Alzheimer’s and as of recent it seems to be getting worse. in the year we have lived at home, i have witnessed the effects it has taken on our mita. she is one of the strongest people i know and ultimately gets her strength from our Lord and Savior. i watch her as she serves pito daily caring for his every need and i can only imagine the pain she feels in the moments he looks at her and asks who she is.  through the heartache she remains strong; she smiles and she rejoices in the moments she has with pito still in her life.  even in the midst of all this hardship, she chooses to continue to serve everyone around her.  she does this without ever making her own needs known.   her life is such a living example of how Christ tells us to live and a vivid reminder that this world is not about living for ourselves.   it’s about others.

this month’s scripture i’ve chosen is:

one of the many ways mita loves to serve is through her cooking.  this week she came over and cooked with my oldest daughter ellie and me.   through these pictures you can see the mutual love and joy of grandmother and granddaughter making lifetime memories together.

as mita and i were finishing up the cooking i saw ellie in the family room carrying out her own acts of service for our family and my heart was so touched.  she was sitting with pito and showing him our family photo albums. i heard her asking him if he knew who various people in the book were– including herself.  my heart sank a little when i heard him answer no. but as i kept listening, i heard as she explained to him who everyone in the family was and how they were related to him. she did this with such love and patience and in that moment i saw my 8 year old being like Jesus…

i’ll leave you with this song , Live Like That, by Sidewalk Prophets.  listen closely and i pray the words would challenge you as they have me.

please continue with our blog circle and see what Rachel Chaney has on her heart this month.

when michele contacted me about doing these pictures, i was very excited.   she wanted  to have something to remember this special time in their lives as they both turn 40 this month.   i feel honored to be able to give them this gift, because it will bring them so much joy for years to come.   these pictures capture their love and commitment to each other over all these years; and to have them to look back on is something to treasure.  i hope you enjoy them.

happy 40th michele and gene.  we are all blessed to know you…

ellie had her cousin over to sleep over for the first time this week.    i peeked in on them having some girly fun. couldn’t help but capture it.

let’s head on over to see what clara l heart inspired photography has captured this week…

this month, i have a pretty simple capture.  just me and my three lovies. they are all looking pretty silly in their shades. BUT we had a great time out on the boat enjoying a sunday afternoon as a family…

a couple more i loved of our youngest two…

and one more of my whole crew….as i stare at this picture, i can’t help but thank God for these blessings.  so grateful.

now please go to the blog of my new friend Carey Pace l Tricities TN Photographer .  i adore her work and i am sure you will as well.

why have i then included pictures of our almost 6 year old son?  i look at him and i just feel like time has gone by extra fast with him.   he seems so OLD to me.  i look at him and feel like the years between 1 and 5 were just a blur in so many ways… is it the middle child syndrome? is it because my husband deployed when he was 4 months old and had  2 more deployments before he was 5 years old?   was i just trying  so hard to survive in the world of motherhood that time slipped by too quickly? or maybe it is a combination of all this.  do you ever feel this way?    i feel like no time is enough to share with my family.    but i have to remember this:

“Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending.”  ~Author Unknown

i love him so much.  i love the little boy he’s become.  a tender-heart full of compassion, his own ideas, and lots of energy for life.   he’s our only son and such a true joy in our lives…

please follow our blog circle and see what the talented Clara with Heart Inspired Photography has this week…

 so thankful for friends that are just like family.  blessed we are indeed.

this month’s 10 on 10 evolved after an afternoon of fishing with our three children.   now that the lake is in our backyard the children love spending the late afternoons and early mornings with daddy on the lake.   according to my oldest, mom’s casting skills aren’t quite up to par.   this particular afternoon, our youngest, who is 2, had her first turn with the fishing pole.  big sissy had received a “real” full size youth rod from daddy that morning, so she passed her “barbie rod” down to baby sissy.

i am thankful to have the details of this fun first of our baby girl.

please follow along with the other talented ladies in my group. first up is Jennifer Kruk Photography.  i am certain she will have some beautiful images to enjoy.

doesn’t the baby of the family always feel like the one “abandoned” or left behind?    i can hear her as i stare at these images yelling…wait for me, wait for me!!

love seeing them so happy and so in their own worlds…

please continue with our blog circle and see what the talented Clara Huynh of Heart Inspired Photography has for us this week.

this week our theme for project 52 is innocence…

i see her and i still see my firstborn baby fresh in my arms.  the most innocent of beings.   i can feel it like it was yesterday. it is true, eight years have passed. i see her still so innocent even in a world that wants otherwise.  yet, she is in that moment in between what she once was and who she is now becoming…

please continue on with our blog circle and see what the super talented Mary Schannen of Melange Photography has this week…

they are sisters.  they are mine.  i am blessed.

Do not be anxious about anything,   but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   ⁷ And the peace of God,   which transcends all understanding,   will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:6-7

i have struggled with worry my entire life.   i can remember as far back as 6th grade when i was voted “most conscientious” by my teachers. not only do i worry, i plan.  i don’t mean i like to plan my day out, but i like to plan my years out.  i want everything always just right.    after being married to a Marine the past 13 years, you’d think i’d have learned not to plan anything.  their schedules, our duty stations, benefits, the list goes on.  its always changing. nothing is ever in stone.

but over the last 2 years, i experienced a different type of worry–anxiety.   something that wasn’t the normal just planning things out in my head.   i can look back and sort of see how it began.

in 2009, my youngest daughter was born almost 8 weeks premature.   i was having a very normal 3rd pregnancy.  i was the usual very tired and hot (i had a 5 year old and almost 3 year old at the time and it was the end of summer in coastal NC).  but, then one day i noticed my ankles were very swollen.  long story short..within the week, i was hospitalized for severe pre-eclampsia and taken by ambulance to the nearest town where our baby could be delivered.  God blessed us with a healthy four pound 10 ounce baby girl.  after a miraculously short term in the NICU, she was able to come home with us.  but, for any one that has ever had to leave their baby at the hospital for any amount of time, you know how emotionally draining this time was for me.  for that entire winter and spring i didn’t take her out much at all per doctor orders.  this was when the flu was circling rapidly and he instructed me to stay home as much as possible.   in the meanwhile, my husband began preparing for his overseas deployment and was gone A LOT.  fast forward a few months..and flooding began in Pakistan.  we got word that my husband’s deployment would be “bumped up” by a month and he’d be leaving within a week or two.   his return date was unknown.

he left on the first day of my daughter’s first grade year. we dropped her in her new classroom and then him at his battalion.

this began the year where anxiety set in.  i can see this now.

i remember a couple times where i just felt off.   i felt this feeling i could only describe as a “strange feeling”–not like myself.   it quickly passed but i knew it wasn’t normal.   after talking with my husband and mom i realized i was dealing with anxiety.  throughout the 10 months my husband was gone i was also living away from all of my family.   i was raising our three children alone.   not only did i have the normal day to day worries and fears of a single parent, but i began worrying about what we would do as a family when my husband returned from deployment.  it was likely that we would be getting orders to move some place new.  we really felt that God was leading us to move back to our hometown.  my father n law has alzheimer’s and we felt like this was where we needed to be.  i worried…could we get orders back home?   then i worried..where would we live?  what house would we buy?   how would i adjust to NOT living on a military base after living there for most of my adult life? could my husband really manage an  hour plus commute? how could i leave my friends that had been family to me all these months while my husband was gone?  how would my kids manage without kids their age in every house on the road?   could we financially make it all work?   what church would we attend back home? i grew up in the episcopal church where all of my family still attends, but during most of our married life we have gone to a baptist church? would my family understand?  and then there was another biggie?  for years God had placed it on my heart to home-school our children….and during these months while my husband was away, God really began to place it on his as well.   we decided we would try this.  i worried. what would my family say? what would other people think?

i am sure by now you get the idea…i was a big mess by the time my husband got home that may.  and then it was time to pack up and make our move.  i remember driving home and feeling that same funny feeling…the anxiety was there.

but somehow in all of this mess of worrying, God had His plans and He was taking care of us.

that i see so clearly now.

but at the time i just wasn’t soaking it all in.  because as one thing fell into place, i just worried about the next.   i wasn’t taking the time to thank God for leading our way…

a full year later, we are  now in florida back in our hometown.   we bought a lovely home on the lake on the same street as all of my siblings and my parents.   we have almost finished our first year of homeschooling and loved it.  and we have found an amazing church family at the first baptist church here in town.  my husband not only has adjusted to the commute, but has been able to use this time daily for his own personal time of growth with the Lord.  i can see God’s hand-prints in every aspect of our life and i am so humbled and amazed.

i could not truthfully say the year has been without heartache from time to time.  there are days when i yearn for the life we had in north carolina.   and yes, there have been a couple of times when my friend “anxiety” wants to creep back into my life.

BUT I can recognize this now.  i can see when it is happening.  and for me, i have found scripture and diligent prayer to God has brought me back to where i need to be.  it’s God’s reminder to slow down and put my focus back on Him.  to remember that as much as i try to be, i am NOT in control over my life-HE is.  i am grateful for the words of our Lord. for the peace i can only find in HIM.

i had my camera out this week while my children were playing in the backyard at the lake.  these images represent the peace only God brings to me. they are a reminder of the beauty that comes only from seeking Him first and letting Him lead me in every part of my life.

please follow along our blog circle and see what my dear friend Gail Pomare | Santa Cruz, San Jose Lifestyle Photographer has for us this month.  i promise you will be inspired.   she’s pretty amazing! and once again Gail, i am quite honored to join your group.  thank you!

now head on over and see what stranger michele has captured…

we were at Walt Disney World last saturday.   i couldn’t help but notice how enamored our three children were with the race cars.  they stared at them in awe.   the noise of their engines intrigued them.  this was the first time our youngest (who is 2) was tall enough to join us.  so, we split up into two cars…the girls and the boys.   this meant both my oldest daughter and our son would get to drive.   they were ecstatic.  they would have the power behind the wheel.

and before i go i have to leave you with this one of our sweet baby girl.  she FINALLY got her own mickey mouse ears..and as you can see, she was quite smitten.  love her.

i’d say they are all pretty special to this mama.

please follow our blog circle and see the amazing image mary schannen of melange photography has this week.