Raising Hope

{Long Overdue & More Free Bathroom Printables}

2013-05-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I have been a very bad blogger! Man, the past few months have been a crazy whirlwind. There has been so much going on, and I know I need to get caught up. However, today, I am again in a rush. I do want to share another fun little bathroom printable I made for Kevin's bathroom. We are having the blue version printed on a canvas. While I was at it, I decided to make a couple of other color options as well. Feel free to download them for yourself by right clicking on your favorite and saving the image to your computer. Enjoy!

My original bathroom printables were kind of a big hit on Pinterest. I have had over 100 downloads...such a nice surprise! Sooooo, I decided to add a couple of colors to match the prints above. Feel free to grab these as well!

Have fun with these! I should be back to blogging normalcy next week!

{Happy Friday}

2013-03-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

As we go into this weekend, let's remember that Easter is coming!

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

John 12:13 NIV

^{Have a lovely weekend, friends!}

{Bathroom Printables}

2013-03-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

As I have said many times before, the hubby and I are re-designing our bathrooms on a shoestring budget. This especially goes for all things decorative. Kevin is such a man...he sees no need for decoration. I, on the other hand, LIVE for this part of the process!

Since my decorating funds are so tight, I decided to try my hand at designing some of these cute little printables that are taking over Pinterest and Etsy. I wanted something that would be fun, pop art-ish, and easy for my 5 year old to read. I am so pleased with how these prints turned out. The boys love them, so I am beyond happy!

Feel free to download them for yourself. They are high resolution images and should print well. I actually sent mine to my professional printer, so that the paper quality and color are better. I recommend Mpix. I use their sister company Millers Professional Imaging for all of my Angel Kisses Photography print orders, and just adore them! All you have to do is right click on the image and save. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

{Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Spray Paint}

2013-03-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

Our house has approximately 5 different finishes scattered throughout. I really did not think it was that bad (or I just chose to ignore it). Then one day, I decided to check it out. I was horrified! I am all about the little details. When we started our bathroom project, the OCD version of me had a massive hissy fit for two reasons:

1) We have a billion different outlets, A/C vent covers, door knobs and hinges. The time that would be spent changing these things out would be ridiculous.

2) The cost of replacing all of those items would be astronomical! Of course, my favorite happens to be an oil rubbed bronze finish. This is also the most expensive in most stores. Womp womp.

Enter Rust-Oleum's Universal Satin Metallic Spray Paint in Oil Rubbed Bronze...

This little $7.28 can of spray paint is really a thing of joy! One can has beautified every item on my wish list and then some.

Now, we went a little crazy with the spray paint. I found a chrome faucet with a really great shape at Home Depot for $22.00. A similar ORB version was a whopping $80.00...Crazy! That's a big difference, so we figured we would give it a shot. We sanded the faucet down really well and then spray painted the heck out of it. After it was dry, we lightly sanded it again and added another coat of paint. It looked great for the first couple of weeks, but now has a few chips here and there. We are making it work for now. The great thing is, that we can just do a little touch up when needed. Hopefully, in a month or so, Kevin will let me buy the real thing. A girl can dream!

Fake It Til You Make It, Right?!?! I am perfectly fine with that. Anything is better than the situation we were dealing with before!

Here are some after shots.....

REVIEW: Rust-Oleum's Universal Metallic Spray Paint might have just saved my sanity! For things like light switches and outlet covers, it works great! The finish is perfect. You would seriously never know it was spray paint. We have been very pleased with the finish and durability on those items. On the faucets, the durability is not as impressive. But, hey, it was certainly worth a shot. And, it's given us some more time to save for the real deal.

{If you want to see more of our renovation photos, follow us on Instagram at #theburtchsrenovate}

{Content}

2013-03-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

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^7-8The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

^9-10I’m happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
that’s not my destination!

¹¹Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
I’m on the right way.

Psalm 16:8-11 (MSG)

{Fasting, Prayer and a Little Music}

2013-03-06T01:00:00.000-08:00

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Ever had one of those days when you feel like you have so many balls in the air, that you just know one is going to come crashing down? Yep...I know I have! I am there right now. These are some life-changing decisions we are contemplating, but PRAISE JESUS that they are all great decisions to be faced with. Whenever we are preparing to make these decisions, we fast and pray. It's funny that these seasons in my life always happen right around Easter. Every year, for the past 3 years, we have done the Daniel Fast leading up to Easter. Looking back, I can see how the Lord really began to reveal his plans to us, and really started to stir our hearts during the Daniel Fast. The seasons have stretched my faith, and challenged us as a family. I have had to reign my anxiety in, relinquish control and trust HIM! The great thing is, that God's already got it worked out! I wholeheartedly, passionately believe this!

This morning, as my mind was racing, I heard Chris Tomlin's song, "Whom Shall I Fear", on the radio. The chorus says exactly what I needed to hear. I love God's heart, and how he speaks through others:

I know Who goes before me

I know Who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The One who reigns forever

He is a Friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

Don't you love that?!?! If you are wrestling with a big decision, or just feeling plain defeated, I encourage you to take a couple of minutes and listen to this song. It reminds me that Jesus is on my side, is fighting for me, and passionately loves me. I pray it does the same for you!

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

{DIY: Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit}

2013-03-05T09:34:00.001-08:00

Better late than never...right??? It is a well know fact that I loathed our yellow bathtub, shower and counter tops. They were seriously the bane of my existence. However, our tight budget on the bathroom renovations did not allow for us to replace them. So, we got crafty, did some research and found the Rust-Oleum 1 Qt. White Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit. These kits allow you to refinish the bathroom surfaces with a durable, high gloss epoxy acrylic paint. We watched tons of Youtube how-to videos and read about a thousand reviews before we pulled the trigger and purchased the kits from Home Depot. They are not currently available in store, so you can check them out HERE. We are trying to take care of both bathrooms at the same time (crazy, I know). We ended up purchasing four kits, which have taken care of a bathtub, shower stall, and 2 counter tops. We were able to take care of 2 coats on all surfaces. I would have liked to do a third coat for good measure, but we needed a functioning bathroom ASAP. So, if needed, we can always go back and add that last coat.

Here is the process that worked for us:

Step 1: Clean, Clean, Clean! We used a hefty dose of Comet to get a really good clean on all of the surfaces.

Step 2: Give the surfaces a good sanding with a fine grit sand paper. According to Kevin, this was his least favorite part, but it makes a BIG difference in the end result.

Step 3: Pull out the painters tape and tape off all of the surfaces. If this product gets on your walls or cabinets, it's not coming off any time soon. Be sure to secure the tape, and you should be good to go.

Step 4: Mix the materials as instructed on the box. FYI - the smell is pretty intense. We are fortunate and have an attic fan. We did this on a nice, warmer day, so we were able to turn it on and cut back on the fumes. If you have children, you may want to get them out of the house for the day, open the windows and wear a surgical mask. Seriously...it's tough to take in. The smell doesn't stick around for too long, though.

Step 5: Start painting the first coat. We used a foam roller and foam brushes for a more even finish. I was a little wary after we finished the first coat. I seemed a little spotty, and like the coverage wasn't going to be great or even. The first coat dries super quick, so you do not have to wait a long time to start on the second coat...maybe 1 to 2 hours.

Step 6: It's time for the second coat of paint. This will make all the difference in the world! Once the second coat goes on, you will forget about the crazy color of your old tub or tile or counter top. It's like magic!

Step 7: We let this paint dry overnight...just to make sure.

Step 8: Remove the painters tape. Kevin used an x-acto knife to do this. We wanted the edges to be sharp, so we didn't just rip it off the walls, like we tend to do with regular wall paint. It was a tedious and careful task, but the edges turned out perfectly!

Here are the after photos of the bathtub and counter top:

REVIEW: The Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit was awesome! The price is great and we are very pleased with the results. Are the surfaces 100% perfect? No, there are a few spots where bubbles dried in the paint. But, those are few and far between. Honestly, I don't think you could notice, unless you did a detailed inspection. I will do an update in a few months to let y'all know how it is holding up. Fingers crossed!!!

COST: $103.88 (4 units @ $25.97 each + free shipping)

{Crazy Funny!!!}

2013-02-28T07:03:00.001-08:00

Please do yourself a favor and watch this video...with sound! I love Taylor Swift and animals. So, to me, this is genius! I laughed SO HARD! Happy Thursday, Friends!

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTwwUtEeSE0

{Bathroom Before & After}

2013-02-25T08:37:00.001-08:00

At the beginning of December, Kevin and I bought my great-grandparent's home from the rest of my family. This home has been more of a home to us than any place we have lived (and we've moved a lot). I have so many memories in this house from childhood. I lived here after college. This is where Kevin and I brought Hayden home to after he was born. This house is sort of my happy place. Since moving back from Florida, we have been thinking about pulling the trigger and buying this house. So we are very excited to get our hands dirty and make the updates and renovations that we have been talking about FOREVER!

We have 2 bathrooms in the house. The kids and I use the larger of the two, and Kevin gets his own smaller version. Both were clad in that awesome 70's mustard yellow. I am sure you know the color...can't miss it! Well, my Paw Paw must have loved the color when he built this house, because it is everywhere. Yep...the tubs, the counter tops and even the toilets. Indeed, I have two mustard yellow toilets. I bet you weren't even aware that they made colorful toilets. Oh, they do my friend, and they are pretty special!

Here is a peek at our before photos:

There is also a lot of dark wood in the house to spruce up, as seen in the picture above.

Our goal in renovating this house is to do it as inexpensively as possible. We plan to stay here for a while. But when we do move, we hope to use this house as a rental property. That being said, we don't want to dump a ton of money into it. We are getting creative with our updates and it has been so much fun! This week, I will share with you some of the great products we used to renovate the bathroom. For now, I will leave you with the after photo. I am very proud to share this. I think I am still washing paint our of my hair, but the end result is worth every bit of it!

If you would like to follow our progress and see additional photos of the process, you can follow us on Instagram at #theburtchsrenovate

{Yep...I'm Going Insane}

2013-02-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

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So, it's about that time! I am tired of being tired and not feeling healthy! I am kicking off this new year (I just turned 32 on the 9th), and getting my lazy butt in shape. I started Insanity this morning, and it was not pretty! This is seriously the hardest program I have EVER done. The first time I tried to start the program, I puked after the fit test. Sad...I know. But we all have to start somewhere, and for me it's at the beginning. I am really hoping to be more Jennifer Aniston-esque in my 40's, than where I am currently heading with my inconsistent and virtually non-existent workout habit!

This morning, I did the first video on the schedule: Plyometrics Cardio Circuit. Now, I am not a huge fan of cardio or plyo, so you can image how pleased I was that Shaun T decided to combine them. Awesome! I made it to the last round of the last circuit (which was a miracle) and started to fall apart. When suddenly, Colton (my precious 3 year old angel) started doing the exercises with me...and encouraging me! "Mommy, only 10 more seconds. We can do it Mommy. We're almost done!" Welp...who's gonna stop after hearing that? Not this girl. I may not be able to walk tomorrow, but I finished the video, sweaty and barely breathing, with the help of my baby boy. God knew I needed motivation, and he sent me the best motivation in the world! LOVE IT!

Now, I am not going to update every day. There's just no way I can promise that. But I would like to update every Friday with how the week has gone, and if there has been any weight loss.

Thank you to Lauren Lewis for inspiring me to do this! If that woman can raise 3 kids, study for the MCAT, be super involved in the church, and become an organic foods specialist of sorts (with her wonderful husband of course), all while getting up at 5 am to do the program (not with her wonderful husband)...I can do it too! She is a wonderful friend and a modern day Super Woman and I am thankful for her!

If you are interested in checking Insanity out for yourself...click HERE.

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Just looking at that photo makes my body hurt. I'll be back at it tomorrow, though. Have a great weekend, ya'll!

{Happy Valentine's Day 2013}

2013-02-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

This is the Valentine we sent out to the grandparents and a few others. Seriously...how precious are these boys?!? They look so grown up! I designed the card using a Photoshop template from Crave Designs. Andee Tate is a creative genius in photography, editing and design. I really love her work and use her designs frequently. I did change some fonts and slightly altered the colors to make them as "boy" as a Valentine card can be. If you would like to take a peek at the original, click HERE.

Valentine's Day in our house is celebrated a bit differently than in most homes. I sort of feel that it's silly to promote a day to celebrate something we are called to do EVERYDAY! God called us to love one another. I think some people wait until V-Day to show the love and affection that we should express daily. I also believe that it is a commercial holiday...big time! Jewelry stores and chocolateers are salivating about right now, knowing that their bankroll will be enormous come close of business. While I love V-Day, and enjoy exchanging little gifts with the boys and Kevin, I like to take this time to celebrate God's love for us. We are shown God's grace and mercy and love with every single breath. We are his children and he is madly in love with us. I am pretty sure HE deserves the special day far more than I do!

That is one reason I am so thankful that Hayden goes to a private Christian school. We are free to express that notion and speak openly about God's love with his friends and teachers. Below is the Valentine that Hayden helped me put together for his friends (again using a customized version of the Crave design). I saw the bible verse on Pinterest and thought I would "barrow" the idea. I love how it turned out!

This year, I had a ton of goodies left over from my Valentine Mini Treat Basket. We were able to put together a special V-Day gift for the girls and boys in his class. All items were purchased at Hobby Lobby. I bought them right after they were loaded on the shelves and took advantage of a 40% discount they had just put up. The bags were ordered last year for Hayden's birthday from The Party Fairy on Etsy. I ordered more than I needed because they were cute and knew I would use them again at some point. I loved the football for the boys and the "My Heart Belongs to Jesus" bracelet for the girls...so cute!

My favorite items are the God Is Love Conversation Hearts. Hob Lob again. Man, I love that place! Hayden picked out the Love themed magnets for his teacher at Kohl's. They were originally $12.99 (way more than I would normally spend on something like this), but I had $10 in Kohl's Cash, so I got them for $2.99. SCORE!

Here is the final product! I added a little name tag on each one. This is a Freebie on the Crave Design Website. It's a pdf, so you can use them even if you don't have Photoshop. There are several really cute designs.

This particular Valentine is for Simone. This precious little girl has been Hayden's girlfriend since the second week of school They go everywhere together at school, and he just adores her. Ah, young love! What can I say...he's a one woman kinda guy!

Hayden & Simone - Fall 2012

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day! I pray that God blesses you all with an abundance of hugs and kisses from the ones you love!!!

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. 1 John 4:7

{Flashback: New Years & The Orange Bowl 2013}

2013-02-12T09:02:00.001-08:00

This year, Kevin and I got to have our very first Adult's Only NYE since Colton was born. To say we were excited was an understatement. I mean...last year, we watched the ball drop from bed. And, I was barely hanging on for that! We're OLD.

We started off the night with James and Lauren Messing. James is Kevin's best friend. He was the best man in our wedding, and I am pretty sure the only reason Kevin survived college. His wife, Lauren, is a dear friend of mine, and quite possibly the cutest pregnant woman I have ever seen! They have the most precious and dainty little girl named Kate, and are expecting another in a few months. It was so nice to see them, and spend some QT catching up...it's been way to long! We ate dinner at Rebel House, a new restaurant in Boca Raton that is owned by their neighbor. The food was AMAZING. The portions were small, but the flavor made up for it in spades!

After we said good-bye to the Messings, we headed to Sandbar in Delray Beach to meet up with Ashley and Noah.

If you are ever in Delray (and I highly recommend you go), you MUST check this place out! I honestly cannot think of a better place to have spent NYE. We had our toes in the sand, a bon fire keeping us warm, great company, football playing on the tv's and even a corn hole tourney going on. It was the PERFECT way to ring in 2013!

On New Year's Day, we ventured out with the boys to the Orange Bowl. Florida State was playing and Kevin had been telling the boys for weeks that we were going...even though we did not have tickets yet. You see...Kevin is "thrifty". Even though the tickets were selling on StubHub for $6.00 each the day before, Kevin had convinced himself that we could get them cheaper on the day of the game from scalpers. WRONG! We wound up spending $40/ ticket. What we didn;t expect was that the NIU fans would travel like an army! Good for them for supporting their team. I can't really blame them though, I'd want to get the heck out of IL in January too! Not a fan of extreme cold! Anyway, lesson learned. We had a great time and the Noles won the game. The boys had a blast and we made some pretty special memories!

Are you starting to notice a pattern? The child can sleep anywhere!

{Flashback: Christmas 2012}

2013-02-12T08:26:00.001-08:00

We had a VERY active holiday season this year. Like a lot of families with out-of-town relatives, we alternate holidays with both sides of the family. This year, we traveled to Florida for Christmas (for 11 wonderful days), so we had to get visits with my side in prior to leaving.

We started off in South Carolina, with Dad and Beth. We love visiting them! The boys get to see their cousins and we get to enjoy the outdoors a lot while we are there. Not to mention, God blessed me with the world's best Step-Mother! If you've got to have one, you'd better pray for a lady like Beth...what a blessing she is to my family, and to my Dad. Not to mention, she came with the most amazing family of her own. Matt, Sarah, Nathan, Will and Katie Beth...we just love them! Anytime we get to go and spend the weekend with them, we're all in!

This year, Dad and Beth took all of us to a farm, where we enjoyed a horse drawn carriage ride, with some of the most beautiful horses. The property was stunning, and it was just cold enough to feel like winter, but not too cold for comfort. We got to have a picnic right beside a stream, and play football in an open field. The entire day was right up our alley. After that, we got to have a bonfire at a little fort in the woods of the property. The boys (all of them) had a blast! What boy wouldn't? The place was like a little boy's wonderland!

Once we got back to their house and ate dinner and opened presents, I forgot to pick my camera back up. It was nice, because I was able to really enjoy the moment, but I do wish I had at least gotten a few shots of the boys with Pop-Pop and BeBe. It was an awesome weekend though, and a great way to kick off our Christmas celebrations!

Our Christmas celebration with Mom was equally as awesome. My Mom's husband Jimmy is another great blessing in our lives. As far as Step-Dad's go...he's the best! We all love us some Jim-Jim, and he loves us right back! He really is a great man, and a great Grandfather to our children and a great husband to my Mom. This year, I realized how truly blessed we are by the new family in our lives. It our family different than I thought it would be...Yes. Is it better than I thought it could be...Absolutely! I never imagined that Zach and I would have a total of 3 Step-Brothers, but we do and I am so thankful for them all!

We started our celebration by hitting up Lake Lanier's Magical Nights of Lights. All 12 of us packed into a 14 passenger van and rode through the light display and wound up at the carnival. Now, I am a roller coaster junkie! Few things in life make me happier than a good roller coaster ride. I was a little nervous about how the boys would react, and if they would like the rides. Verdict: They both LOVED the rides! Praise Jesus!!! I cannot wait to take them to Six Flags now! We had so much fun with the family that night, and it was so much fun to see the kids (even Little Bobbie) be so brave, and really enjoy themselves.

Again, when it came to dinner and present time, I forgot about my camera...Oops! But again, I got to enjoy the craziness of the evening...and it was a fun one!

Wiped Out!

The Saturday before Christmas, we headed South to Florida. One the way down, we got to stop and visit with Uncle Ray and Aunt Mary. Ray is one of Kevin's best friends from college. We have done a lot of life with them over the years, and they really are more like an aunt and uncle to our kids, than family friends. When Hayden was born, they drove up from Florida to meet him. The send the boys birthday and Christmas presents every year. They gave Colton his beloved Doggie, that he cannot sleep without. They are such a blessing to us and the boys. In true uncle fashion, Ray suggested that we meet them for lunch at the World's Largest McDonalds in Orlando. Pretty much, the most incredible thing the boys had ever seen...MINDS BLOWN!

Once we got to Florida, we got to meet Kevin's new sister, Lucy MacGillicuddy Burtch. He He! It's a Burtch Family Tradition to give pets funny middle names. MacGillicuddy was Lucille Ball's maiden name. Ashley is a HUGE Lucy fan, so it fit perfectly. The first Burtch dog, Snickers (R.I.P.), had Lurtch for a middle name. I think Lucy fared much better...don't you? How stinkin' cute is this dog???

We got to do so many fun things with the Burtch side of the family while we were in Florida. Again, I am pretty sure we have the best family EVER! I know I am blessed with the best in-laws on the planet...hands down! Here are some of our adventures:

1) Swimming in December 2) Movie Date Night @ iPic Theater w/ Recliners, Blankets & Pillows 3) Hayden's 1st Game of Twister 4) Spending Time With Tatiana (oh, how we've missed her)

1) Skateboarding at the Park 2) Madagascar 3 + A Crazy Clown Wig 3) Largest McDonald's in the World in Out PJ's

1) Christmas Eve Services at Church By The Glades...AMAZING night of worship and celebrating Jesus' birth! 2) Colton fell asleep during dinner. The anticipation of Santa was just too much for his little body to take. 3) Sweet boys snuggling on Christmas Eve.

This year, instead of Christmas cards, Brenda decided to send out New Year's cards. That way, shoe could have the whole family in the photo. So, I set up my tripod and camera timer and took these photos for the cards:

I love Colt's face in the bottom one. You can tell he's super excited to be taking another picture! The life of a photographer's child...that sounds like the title of a book I need to write!

Christmas was an amazing experience this year. 11 days was a long time to be away from home, but we got to make up for lost time with Kevin's parents, and that was something we all needed! We missed them so much, and it was nice to get to do fun things with them. But also, just to sit and talk...it was comforting for us all.

I am exhausted from just going through our month of December. Not sure how we crammed so much in...but it was worth every second. It did take us most of January to recover, though!

Speaking of January...Tomorrow, I am posting about New Years and the Orange Bowl!

{Bragging On My Boy}

2013-02-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

For those that know Hayden, then you know he is high energy, a total Type A, super outgoing and an old soul with a heart of gold. Last week, the high energy part of his being got him in a bit of trouble at school...several times. Honestly, it took us by surprise. Hayden is typically the teacher's pet. He loves school and he also needs words of affirmation...this is CLEARLY his love language. For the most part, I think he behaves so well because he desires praise instead of reprimands. It was so out of the ordinary, and I was taken aback when his teacher said that he had been in trouble for his inability to stay seated during class and for acting crazy in the line. Behavior and obedience are two things we don't mess around with in our house. The boys know what we expect from them and they know their punishment if they break the rules. So, Hayden spent a lot of time sitting in his room thinking about his behavior, and is banned from all things electronic for an entire week. Last week was so hard on Kevin and I too. We rarely have to punish our kids for how they act outside of our home. We are so fortunate that they act WAY BETTER for others than they do for us. I am totally okay with admitting that. But last week, I started to think we had a full moon every night! Insanity!

During a normal week of non-crazy behavior, Hayden does things like volunteering to pray over our dinner(nearly every night). This started when he was only 3. When we would ask if he wanted us to help, he would always say no...that he could do it himself. As he has grown, his prays have matured, but they have always been his special, precious words. This is something that has always made me so proud. I wish I could say that I had something to do with it, but I think that it's a true gift from God. I call Hayden my Angel Face! I think, for so many reasons, that he really is one...oh my heart!

Hayden loves going to church on Sunday. Since he moved up to "big kid church" or KidMo (elementary ages) at Momentum CC, he has looked forward to going. Kevin and I recently started volunteering with the children's program, so the boys are now spending 2 services in their respective classes. Yesterday, we stopped by to talk to his class leaders to see how he has been doing. Honestly, I was a little worried to hear their response. But here are a few things they said about Hayden:

1) He is always happy and obeys
2) If they ever need volunteers, he is the first one with his hand in the air
3) He loves to lead his peers from the stage in song and dance (even though he's one of the youngest in the room)
4) He ALWAYS volunteers to pray over the offering
5) When he prays, he always prays for orphans, that they find homes and families to love them

I literally walked in to church in tears. So what if my child doesn't like to sit in his seat at school or tries to break dance while waiting in line to go to the bathroom! That moment made the stresses of the previous week seem so trivial. His heart...that sweet 5 year old heart...is certainly in the right place. I am overwhelmed with pride. Not because I think I have anything to do with it. I am proud that he is the way he is in spite of me! I could learn so much from Hayden's love of God and others, and his blind faith that Jesus IS the solution to the problems of this world. I ~~want~~ need to have that child-like faith. I am sure it would give me a much different perspective on life!

{Kind Of A Big Deal...At Least To Me}

2013-02-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

In 2012, I got to check an item off of my bucket list. My photography work was published. I can just see my Grandma Clark grinning from ear to ear as she looks down from Heaven. This was something she always dreamed of for herself, so it was sort of fulfilling a dream of hers as well. She was quite the poet. Though, my artistic medium is very different, this was a very big deal for me. I am not sure that this was a dream that I had ever really expressed to anyone other than her. She always encouraged me in my artistic pursuits, weather it was writing, painting, photography, music. I mean...music...really? I am absolutely tone def, but listening to her, you would have thought I was Judy Garland. No matter how crazy my ideas seemed, she always made me feel as though I was up for the challenge. She was a huge influence in my life, so I am proud that I was able to do something that we both dared to dream about.

Some of the very first photos I took "professionally", were for my next door neighbors in Florida. This precious family had just brought home a brand new baby girl. She was a miracle for them, an adopted angel that completed their family. You can actually see some of the photos HERE. I was able to photograph this little one and her big brother several times after this shoot, and they have such a special place in my heart.

Two years later, right before we moved back to Georgia, Patricia, the baby's Grandmother, asked me if she could use the newborn photos for a book she was publishing. Well...of course! I was so pleasantly surprised and honored to find out that my images would be used in a devotional for expectant parents. It really is a beautiful book and would make a lovely gift for friend or loved one. You can purchase it direct from the publisher HERE or head on over to Amazon to read the reviews by clicking HERE.

Thank you for taking a second to let me share this exciting tid bit. I hope you will take a peek at the journal and will share it with friends and family.

Source
Front Cover (I took that photo of the tootsies)

Source
Excerpt Page (my Angel Wing photo can be seen behind the text)

{Fear, Inspiration & Lungleavin Day}

2013-01-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

Source

I find so much inspiration in this verse. I for one, take the Bible at it's word. With that said, I read this verse and know that God created me to be courageous and loving and determined. How cool is that!?! I love the thought that I was not created to sit on the sidelines of life cheering everyone else on. I am meant to be knee deep in the trenches, acting as His hands and feet on this planet.

That doesn't mean fear won't get the best of me at times. It does...for sure! One thing that terrifies me? CANCER. That word can stop me dead in my tracks, and make my heart ache like nothing else. I have lost two grandfathers to cancer. My grandmother and 2 great-grandmother battled and survived breast cancer. Kevin lost his grandfather to brain cancer, and currently has a grandmother suffering with it as well. The list just goes on and on. So many people are affected by it, and it knows no boundaries. It's easy to feel helpless, because the disease is just so vast.

I have recently been feeling a tug at my heart, to volunteer with some organization that works with cancer patients or survivors. I came across Magic Hour Foundation. This organization's mission states, "We are a national network of professional photographers who want to serve the individuals and families who are fighting cancer by providing them with the ability to celebrate the truly important things in life through photography. These charitable portrait sessions will provide an opportunity to be normal - just relax, smile and have fun with loved ones. Above all, we will strive to express compassion and love as we support them and pray for God’s grace in their lives, no matter the outcome of their battle." I am honored to now be a volunteer with this organization, and pray that my God given gifts will bring some joy into the lives of these brave warriors. If you want to nominate someone, or are personally interested in applying for a session, please visit www.magichourfoundation.org. We want to share this service with as many people as possible, so please help us spread the word!

Cancer is something I look at as a possibility in my life down the road. With my family history, it's something I take very seriously. But, it's not something I will ever allow myself to be fearful of. My God is for me, and He is faithful! Over the last few weeks, I have read so many stories of peers who have battled cancer, or have children or other family members facing down this disease. So many of them are living out 2 Timothy 1:7, and I am in awe.

One story in particular touched my heart. Heather Von St. James was just 36, and a brand new mommy to a 3 1/2 month old, when she was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. This form of cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos and kills 90-95% of those diagnosed. That's grim folks, and I cannot imagine baring that burden. On February 2, 2006, Heather underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy...or the removal of her left lung. Today, she is healthy, happy and CANCER FREE (to God be the glory)!

On the anniversary of her surgery, Heather celebrates Lungleavin Day (I love the name of the holiday...perfection). In a recent email to me, Heather said. "Lungleavin Day is a celebration of life and facing your fears. Each year we celebrate with nearly 100 loved ones. The idea of this day is for everyone to fill a blank plate with their fears and smash it into a bonfire at my Lungleavin Day party, symbolizing people throwing their fears to the fire. I also use Lungleavin Day as a fundraiser for mesothelioma research."

Wow! My friends, that's how it's done! I pray that I would be so brave! Please take a second to visit Heather's blog post about this special day, and to donate to her cause. I know that your time and/or contributions will be greatly appreciated.

Heather's Blog: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/heather/

Heather's FB Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherVonStJames

On Saturday, after all 10 of my Valentine Mini Sessions are done, I plan to write out a list of the fears holding me back. Christ died so that I did not have to be afraid. I think this is a perfect time to take a moment and reflect on His grace, and send those fears right on up for the Big Guy to handle. If you are really wrestling with something, maybe you should consider doing the same! Celebrate Lungleavin Day and let those fears go bye-bye!

{Concert Crazy}

2013-01-25T12:33:00.002-08:00

Kevin and I love concert...of any kind! Hayden's very first outing was to the Highlands festival, where we sat and listened to the music for a couple of hours. We have always enjoyed music as a family. We might even have Sunday morning Burtch Family dance parties while we're getting ready for church. It's so much fun to be able to share our love of music and concerts with the boys. They are at an age now where we can load them up and bring them along. Here are some of the shows we attented this fall and winter, along with all of the details:

The Bud Light Downtown Touchdown Concert - Centennial Olympic Park

Line-Up: Lonestar & Phillip Phillips

Review: This was a great FREE event! I don't think a ton of advertising was done, because it was not crowded at all. They was a lot going on downtown that weekend (football games, a baseball game, some comic book convention, etc). I think it was just overshadowed by bigger events. Either way, it was so laid back and so much fun. We got to sit right next to the stage during the Lonestar set. Kevin was even able to throw a football with Hayden and Colton off to the side without bothering anyone. The park got a little bit more crowded once Phillip Phillips took the stage. We decided to move back a bit so that the boys could see over the girls crowding the stage. Even still, we were only 20 feet away. Before PP got started, he was hanging out right next to us to the side of the stage. He even waved to Hayden. I got super excited! Of course, Hayden acted 15 and told me it was no big deal. I chose not to acknowledge that statement! Several friends surprised us and joined us at the show. We had a blast, and the kids were all able to dance and run around together while we had some adult catch-up time. After the show, we were able to shake hands with PP and he gave Hayden a pat on the head. I highly recommend this event and cannot wait to see who's playing next year!

American Idols Live - The Gwinnett Arena

Line-Up: All of the 2012 American Idol Finalists

Review: If you love the show, you will love the concert! I gave Kevin tickets for Father's Day last year. We loved the 2012 season, so there was no way we were missing the show. I have to be honest, I was not on the Joshua bandwagon during the season. But, MAN, can that boy sing. TV does him no justice! I was blown away by Colton Dixon. He sang his song Never Gone from his new album The Messenger. I had chills as he stood in front of the arena praising Jesus for never leaving his side. And kudos to AI for allowing him to sing a gospel song...totally caught Kev and I off guard...in such a great way. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and everyone was screaming and cheering him on. AMEN! I would have loved to see Phillip Phillips a little more, but he had just had kidney surgery, so I gave him a pass. Plus he sang Usher's Nice and Slow. That's one of favorite old school Usher jams and PP threw his flavor into it. Girls...my word...I'll leave it at that!

CMA Country Christmas Concert Filming - Nashville, TN

Line Up: The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat, Katherine Jenkins, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Keith Urban and host Jennifer Nettles

Review: Kevin and I got to have a Mommy/Daddy Weekend in Nashville (what! what!). When we headed to the strip on the first night, it was CRAZY packed (the Chicago Bears were in town to play the Titans). We ended up parking near the convention center and discovered that the CMA Country Christmas was being filmed. We scalped tickets for $40 and walked our happy tails inside to watch. Since this was a filming, the musicians interacted with the crowed, and even re-sang their songs when they messed up. I mean, who would complain about listening to Martina McBride sing O Holy Night twice? Not this girl! The filming took a long time, but we got to see so many incredibly talented artists, and we got into the Christmas spirit a little early (the filming was before Thanksgiving). Awesome show and everyone had great seats, since we all had to pack in to the lower rows for the cameras. I am not so sure the boys would have been able to handle the long down time between artists, but it was very cool to see how it works behind the scenes.

Power 96.1's Jingle Ball - Phillips Arena

Line-Up: Austin Mahone, Bridgit Mendler, Owl City, Enrique Iglesias, Flo Rida, Ke$ha, and Justin Bieber

Review: I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Props to 96.1 for putting on an A List show that was family friendly. I mean, Enrique pulled a 6 year old on the stage to sing and dance with him. Flo Rida, was loving on toddlers. Ke$sha even kept it PG. Kevin and I really enjoyed Enrique's set. He just seems like the kind of guy you want to be friends with. He was just having a ball and we knew all of the songs he sang. For the boys, it was all about Bieber! By the time he hit the stage, the boys were barely hanging on, but they LOVED it. Colton was laying in Kev's lap, clapping with his eyes closed. The show did run a little long for their attention spans, but the performers were incredible and very entertaining. Not to mention, the tickets weren't outrageously priced. I think I paid $28 each for our original seats. I say original seats, because our nose-bleed section was closed due to a repositioning of the stage. We were directed, upon entrance, to a table where they issued us 11th row tickets. Yeah, I didn't have to zoom all the way in to take the pictures below. It was unbelievable luck, and a great experience for the boys' first arena concert.

Justin Bieber's Believe Tour - Phillips Arena

Line-Up: Cody Simpson, Carly Rae Jepsen and Justin Bieber

Review: Kevin's parents bought these tickets for the boys last May when they went on sale. We had to keep it a secret until Christmas, and it's a miracle I didn't let it slip! I didn't take my camera to this one because I really wanted to be present with them. I LOVE taking photos at concerts...all of the lights and people and dancing...I get caught up in it. The show was everything we were promised it would be. It was one heck of a production! Bieber closed with Baby, and Kevin and I both got a little chocked up. That was the first song I can remember Colton singing. Baby, Baby, Baby, Ooooooooh (in his sweet scratchy baby voice of course). We have danced and sang to his music endless hours over the past 3 years. I am sure I will get a ton of eye rolls for that, but the music made the boys so happy. Anything that puts smiles that big on their faces is OK in my book. Watching an 18 year old JB sing that song, kinda made us realize that our babies have grown up too. I think the boys were more prepared for this concert. They are vets at this point and know what to expect. Colt fell asleep again about 3/4 of the way through the show. He is probably a little young to sit through these concerts. But, we would rather have him there and asleep than not there with us. It really was so much fun for our little family to get out and act like crazy kids together. We stayed out WAY past our bedtimes, but it was so worth it!!!

Welp, that's our recap! I plan on adding Thanksgiving Christmas and New Years in a few days, so check back!

{Burried Alive}

2013-01-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

I know, I know! I have been a horrible blogger! I have literally been buried under photography work since November. I am just really getting to come up for air, and have my first weekend off in almost 3 months. That's great for business...not so great for a blogging hobby or keeping track of all of the fun things we've been doing lately! I am playing catch up over the next couple of weeks, and am going to try to post all the goods.

For today, I am going to post a little eye candy (i.e. the cutest little boys I know). These are the Christmas photos I took (Angel Kisses Photography). We had so much fun! We headed over to Moreland Ave in south Atlanta. The area is being spruced up by some awesome artsy folks, and they are creating some pretty amazing spaces for photographers. Kevin and I goofed around with the boys, so the photos this years are not super serious. I think they were perfectly "us".

TaTa for now! Hopefully I will be back tomorrow!

Oh yeah, we did! HeHe!

There were our Christmas Cards that I designed.

FRONT

BACK

And here are some fun shots I got of the boys and their cousins, Cale and Sadie-Clark.

All Photos Are Property of Angel Kisses Photography, Inc. Please do not copy, print, alter or use without the written consent of Brittany Burtch and Angel Kisses Photography, Inc.

{Fall Fun}

2012-10-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

I know I am CRAZY behind on posts. I have been really busy with my business, so any spare time I have has been spent with the littles. I have a ridiculous amount of photos I want to post here to keep track of some really special events. I will hopefully do a catch-up post later in the week. But for right now...

Last weekend, Kevin and I took the boys to Yule Forest 155 Pumpkin Farm to get our Halloween pumpkin (that we still haven't carved). We have a tradition of taking fall photos at the pumpkin patch and I could not be more pleased with this year's results. The light was incredible and the colors on the trees were absolutely stunning! Plus, I remembered to hop in some of the shots this year...which never happens! I just love these boys...oh, my heart!

Hayden took the shot of Kevin and I above...not bad! He watches what I do, and has learned over time how to find the light and how to focus my camera. It is so funny to hear him directing us to get a shot. The photo of the boys walking away from us is another tradition. Here are the last 3 years' photos side-by-side...

They have grown so big over the last 3 years, but one thing never changes. Hayden takes care of his little brother, and Colton thinks he hung the moon. I pray they always have that relationship...it is such a blessing to watch!

Happy Halloween Everybody! Stay Safe and Eat Lots of Candy!!!

{1 Year & My Furry Babies}

2012-09-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to believe that this photo was taken a year ago yesterday (9/19/2011).That day started a new chapter for the Burtch Family. It was scary, exciting, happy and sad all at the same time. Since that day, God has blessed us in ways we never imagined. I know that Kevin and I made the right decision in moving back to GA. We have been challenged, and had to fight some pretty HUGE battles, but our faith has grown and our family is stronger than ever. I am so very excited about our future here, but am very content with my life now. We are where we are supposed to be.

***************************************************************************************

On to my furry babies.....

I happen to be one of "those people" who believe that a house is not a home unless you have a few 4 legged creatures running around. A lot of people don't understand that frame of mind, but I just adore animals and would have a menagerie if my husband would let me. He pretends that he "tolerates" them, but he did recently come home with baby chickens in tow! Regardless of his opinions, Kevin allows me to have my pets, because he knows they make me happy. He's a good man!

That being said, my pups are quite elusive when it comes to the camera. Frankie is my old lady...She's 7, a Hurricane Katrina rescue puppy, who loves tennis balls and stealing human food from the boys at dinner time. She has always been a handful, but has turned out to be the best dog EVER (think Marley & Me). As far as photos go, she is SO over it...as you can tell from the look in her eyes in the first image below.

Bella is my sweet 2 year old German Shepherd. She annoys the mess out of everyone else that walks in the door with her puppy energy, but will calm down long enough to climb onto the bed at night and pretend she's a (90 lb) lap dog. She has a good heart, loves getting her sister (Frankie) wound up in the backyard, rarely ever gets to eat her treats because she doesn't want to fight with Frankie for them, and she always sits at my feet when I edit (imagine her big ole self crammed under an Ikea desk...it's funny). I have virtually no photos of her, except for shots taken at a distance. The camera scares her...she literally freaks out when she sees me with it. I have never even had a toddler react that way to my camera!!

Shots like the ones below are few and far between, so I wanted to make sure and document them. The girls were sleepy and both climbed onto the bed in my office for a nap, while I was editing. I, with the help of my trusty sidekick Hayden, was able to get some great photos of them both. I think they were just too tired and lazy to stop me!

{DIY Photo Plaque}

2012-08-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago, I had a BIG DIY weekend. First the flag, and then 2 photo plaques to complete my new mantle decor. I have seen these floating around Pinterest and decided to take a swing at it. We actually managed to get an awesome family portrait at the beach this year, as well as a pretty dramatic shot of the boys. I wanted to display them both but didn't want to spend the money for frames.

I started off by purchasing two wooden plaques at Hobby Lobby, one to fit a 5x7 print and the other an 8x10 print. I purchased both for less than $5.00. I then printed the photos out on matte photo paper, which I already had handy. I chose to leave the plaques as they were. I toyed with the idea of staining them dark, but didn't want the mantle to be too heavy. It was far less time consuming this way...just sayin'...and I think they balanced out the flag nicely. If you want to try this project, you will also need Modge Podge (matte version), a paint brush or sponge, and a dry rag.

Yes, I use my washer and dryer for projects. It's the perfect height. Don't judge!

Step 1: Brush a thin layer of MP on the wood plaque and let it dry completely. This will establish a perfect base for your print.

Step 2: Once the first layer of MP has dried, bush another layer on the wood, as well as a the BACK of the photo.

Step 3: Carefully position the print onto the wood plaque. I needed an extra set of hands for this part. Once the MP has been brushed on the back of the print, it will become flimsy. So, you really only have one shot at getting this right.

Step 4: Once the print is positioned how you want it, use a thin rag to GENTLY smooth out any air bubbles.

Step 5: Add a thick layer of MP to the top of the print to seal it in. It will be cloudy at first, but will dry clear.

Once it's dry, you are ready to display your photos. This was super easy and much cheaper than purchasing frames. Not to mention, your options are limitless! You can paint them any color you want and the plaques come in tons of different shapes and sizes!

The finished product!!!

{DIY Flag Project}

2012-08-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

My family was wondering around Kudzu Antiques Market (one of my favorite places on the planet) a few months ago, when something jumped out at me. It was a super awesome, handmade, reclaimed wood flag that used seashells instead of stars. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love all things red, blue and beach. This piece cost an arm and a leg, so there was no way I could bring it home...especially since Kevin was in the store with me. So, I waited patiently until I had all of the pieces to create my own version, with my husband's help of course.

We started with plywood that Kevin has been hoarding in the garage. I love the texture it has!

I picked up these craft paints at Hobby Lobby a while ago. We do so many projects, so I knew they would come in handy eventually.

We starting out with a light coat of the cream paint. I wanted the texture and the grain to show through,

so it was kind of a haphazard paint job.

Once the paint was dry, we taped off the lines for the stripes. This was definitely the toughest part of the project. But thanks to my handy husband, it went pretty quickly.

Once the paint was dry and the painters tape was removed, I took this wonderful, magical metallic glaze and bronzed it up. I seriously cannot tell you how many times this stuff has been used. I got it at Michael's about a year ago and there is still a TON left. It lasts forever! To apply, I used a good paint brush, but them followed behind with a wet rag. This way, it really only built up in the cracks and accentuated the texture of the wood.

Close-up: It has an aged feel to it. Sort of like it's been hanging out in the basement of my Nanny's house for the last 30 years. PERFECT!

Done with paint!

On vacation this year, Colton and I scoured the beaches for seashells. We came back with three bags of them. So I went through and tried to find shells that were similar in shape and size. I wasn't particularly worried about the color, though.

During this process, I got a new phone. Which was really exciting, since it has a much better camera than I'm used to. The only problem is that I forgot to take final shots with my actual camera. Oops! Here's a close up of the shells in their place. I used super glue around the edges to make them stick. It seems to be working just fine. If you try this out, or anything similar, I highly advise wearing gloves. I wasn't thinking and wound up peeling super glue off of my fingers for two days.

Ta Daaaaa! The flag has taken its' rightful place on my mantle. It makes me happy!

{Colton's Superhero 3rd Birthday Party}

2012-08-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Colton has a thing for superheroes...to put it mildly! He loves them all and has a costume for each of his favorites. By far, his favorite is Spiderman. His Daddy and I took that theme and ran with it, to create one super fun, superhero birthday party! So many of our family and friends came out to celebrate Colt's big day. We are very blessed to have each and everyone of them in our lives.

My sweet boys had so much fun...he hasn't stopped talking about the party and all of the people who were a part of it. It is something he will remember for a very long time. Here are some of the photos from the day:

{Spring / Summer Catch Up}

2012-08-08T07:48:00.001-07:00

Um...sorry for being MIA for the past few months. I have done nothing but spend time with my boys and travel. I am certainly not complaining...it has been such a blessing! I will catch up on that later in the week. Right now, I do want to get caught up, since the purpose of this blog is really to document out life with the boys. They have had a pretty BIG few months and I have a lot to share.

I left off right before Hayden's 5th Birthday. Man that seems like forever ago, but we have such awesome memories. We had a total of 25 kiddos and their parents. I am so thankful for each and every person who came to celebrate our little buddy that day...tons of friends and family. Hayden had the best time at CAMP HAYDEN! Here's a rundown of the party events and vendors:

VENDORS:

Invitations and Sign Printables: Shindig Parties to Go (http://www.etsy.com/shop/shindigparties?ref=pr_shop_more)

Birthday Boy's Shirt: The Pecking Order by Zoey's Attic (http://www.etsy.com/shop/zoeysattic)

Paper Goods: Striped Straws, Trail Mix Bags, Cup Cake Liners, Fruit/Jello Cups: The Party Fairy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePartyFairy)

Fire Pit Idea: http://alwayschasinglife.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-fire-pit.html

Cake & Cupcakes: Publix

MENU:

Fruit and Veggie Cups

Sloppy Joes

Hot Dogs

Cole Slaw

Buffalo Chicken Dip w/ Tortilla Chips

Water Bottles

Sweet Tea

Beetle Juice (Inspiration - http://pinterest.com/pin/113153009357606972/)

Trail Mix Bar: Chex Mix, Gold Fish, Yogurt Covered Raisins, M&M's, Teddy Grahams, Pretzels, Dried Fruit, Gummy Worms & Bears

Smores (the real deal)

Campfire Pops (Inspiration - http://pinterest.com/pin/113153009357190494/)

ACTIVITIES:

Bug In The Tent Relay (Epic Fail!!! But a fun idea...maybe for older kids)

Fishing Tourney

Tag Game

Corn Hole Tourney

GOODY BAGS:

Bandanna Cloth (I already had some from Hobby Lobby)

Flashlights

Magnifying Glass

Sticky Bugs

Compass

Camping Suckers

Smores-To-Go (Golden Grahams, Mini Marshmallows & Chocolate Chips)

***All toy items purchased at Party City

I cannot believe my oldest baby is already 5!!! It was a lot of work to prepare for this party, but to see the joy and excitement in his eyes made it all worth it. He is such a special boy, with the biggest heart of any kid I know. He deserves all of the wonderful things I know God has in store for him!

{John 13:34}

2012-04-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34

My minister spoke about this verse on Sunday and it really stuck a chord with my heart. Obviously, when Jesus said it, he meant it. At the time, it was such a "strange and new" concept. What??? We are supposed to love each other? Really??

Our Lord did not say, "Love one another, if you believe the same things." Or, "Love one another, as long as you make each other happy." Nope, we are called to LOVE each other all of the time...period. As Christians, we should love everyone, regardless of our differences. As my minister said on Sunday...this radical, not-of-the-flesh type of love could seriously ROCK our world. Wouldn't that be a beautiful thing? As a mother, I want to always see my children treat others with love and respect and compassion, not hate or judgement or disdain.. If I want them to learn those behaviors, I need to become a better representation of them. This Easter, I want to stop just talking about loving people, and start putting that love into action.

Has something, or someone spoken to your heart like this? I would love to hear your thoughts.