My Daughter & I - Easter 2011

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

I’m offering professional photography services from Douglasville to Atlanta and Savannah. I’d love to show you a few highlights from my portfolio. I think you’ll love the family portraits and crazy kid captures, And how about this beautiful wedding!

I’ve been a photographer for a long time. In fact, I’ve had a camera in my hands as far back as I can remember. It has always provided me with a way to share my perspective of the world.

There’s something magical about capturing the emotion of a single moment that tells years of a story.

Over the years I’ve photographed all sorts of subjects, ranging from weddings to studio and landscapes. It’s portraits that are my passion. Why?

You can’t help but stare at a photograph that stares right back at you.

Consider Mosley Pro Photo if you are interested in professional photography services in Douglasville, Atlanta, or Savannah. Head over to the blog and follow along as I post new images, share tips, and tell stories.

What do you think? Do you like the images? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’t For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus didn’t spend all of His time in the temple waiting for the “sick” to come to church. No, He went out to the bars and brothels. Why? Because that’s where He was needed most.

His company was not the self-righteous, but the broken and busted. Why? Because these were the people He came to save.

Christians, maybe we need to follow Jesus a bit more practically. We may need to step out of our comfortable churches, from within our well-crafted programs, or behind content circumstances. We may need to, just as Christ did, meet the hurting where they are and stop waiting for them to come to us. After all, the “sick” may never make it to our church service.

As Christians, how can we make this practical? How can we better serve the sick?

Kids bring so much joy.

Would you allow Santa to follow you on Twitter? Or block him for fear of your tweets landing you on his “naughty list”?

Merry Christmas!

Did you like the video? Consider sharing this link on Facebook or Twitter!

The holiday season is upon us. The spirit of giving, combined with well targeted ads promoting huge discounts, draws people by the thousands out of their homes and into the stores. In cities across our nation, the traffic will be jammed and the shopping will be chaotic. Items will be crossed off Christmas lists and millions of dollars will change hands.

I’m all for shopping, especially when its a great deal on something that is needed. But let me encourage you to have a written budget for purchasing gifts. This will stretch your dollar further and help you STAY OUT OF THE RED THIS CHRISTMAS.

Here are some suggestions based on how my wife and I create our Christmas budget and shopping lists.

1. Before anything else, write your reason for the season on the very top of this list. In all the chaos, this will help you remember it’s really about God’s gift to us through the birth of Jesus.
2. Establish a budget: determine how much money you’ve saved or can afford to set aside. Put that number in bold and embed it in your mind.
3. Create a list: write down the names of everyone you intend to buy for.
4. Allocate your cash: divide your budget up over each person on your list. Of course you may want to allocate more money for some. i.e. your parents or kids. Reality check here. Though you love her dearly, you may only have $15 bucks to spend on your Aunt Penny or Uncle Gary.
5. Know what you’re after: its helpful to know what you’re shopping for. It minimizes random purchases. Write down the item(s) you plan to buy for each person.
6. Stick to the budget: Keep your list handy & only purchase gifts that fit within the allocated amount.
7. Don’t Over Buy: once you’ve made your purchase, write down the amount spent and cross it off your list.

These are simple steps that will help you stay out of the financial red this holiday season. One last thing, leave the credit cards at home. Some gifts are just too tempting.

Luke is a week old now and is doing great. He’s already a pro at eating, sleeping, crying, and pooping. Really, he should get an award or something. The kid has talent.

I’m also very proud of my 2 year old, Sydney, as she is doing so well in her new role as a “big sister.” She’s really taken to Luke and wants to “help” all the time. The first thing out of her mouth upon waking is “wanna check on baby ‘brutter’”. It’s super cute.

Sydney with Luke. 6 days old.

My wife (@jmosley) and I are still adjusting to being a 2-kid family. Saying that I have 2 kids still feels weird. I’m in a whole-nutha category now. Kinda makes me feel old.

Got kids? Was the transition from 1 to 2 kids tough? Got any pointers on how to keep your sanity amidst all the chaos?

Meet Lucas Daniel Mosley. You may call him “Luke”.

Poor lil guy was nameless for over 24 hours. His mother and I came to the hospital with a list of six names. We quickly narrowed it down to 2 and decided to sleep on it a night. Lucas means light or illumination. In the Bible Luke was a physician and a healer. It’s a good name; one we feel is fitting.

So now, we have Sydney and Luke. We are blessed.

Thank you all for the prayers, well-wishes, and congratulations. We appreciate it.

Want to see additional photos and details? View them on my Posterous site.

So, what do you think? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Want to see additional photos and details? View them on my Posterous site.

Watch the video below. Make sure you hang around till the end.

Did the end make you smile? If so, consider sharing it on Twitter or Facebook! Thanks.

Originally posted on Chapel Hill Internet Campus.

As a parent of a little one, I’ve noticed that my daughter LOVES to copy the behaviors of her mama and daddy. She imitates our adult actions by talking on toy phones, by playing dress up in big people clothes, and even literally walking in our shoes. Kids are copycats.

While this form of flattery is immensely heart-melting, this degree of direct imitation should also be sobering. It should remind us that our kids are watching. They’re like little sponges, and they’re watching. Their eyes are fixed and their ears are attentive. They absorb our words and soak up our mannerisms. Kids are copycats.

How will they respond to a frustrating situation? What will they hold in high regard and value? Where will they put their trust? They’ll do as their parents did.

Never forget, kids are copycats.

Talk it over:

• Have you ever caught one of your children mimicking your every move?
• What are some practical ways of modeling desired behaviors to our kids?

Can you guess the names?

Here’s your hint: The scramble includes 2 boy names, first and middle.

Guess away in the comments below.

Also, check out the string of surprises my wife set up. She’s awesome.

This is cool… even the White House and the UK Foreign Office are participating.

You should too!

The video below explains this year’s theme. Keep reading for how you can participate.

Will you be participating? Have you registered? Do so here.