Fall Family 2013

I love pictures. Taking them, keeping them, and looking back on them forever. It's very important to me to try and get them done at least twice a year, because the boys grow so fast. I have albums full of Cory and I love to look back on when he was a baby. It's hard to remember sometimes!

When Heath and I were looking for a wedding photographer, I knew that, for me, that was one of the most important aspects of the wedding itself (not my marriage- just the wedding!). I googled some photographers in our area and checked out their websites but wasn't really loving anything. I wanted beautiful engagement & wedding pictures to look back on, so I was really intent on finding the perfect person to capture our moments.

Natalee was recommended by the chapel we were married in. Honestly, I figured she was just one of the church volunteers that just takes photographs as needed and didn't even look at her work. After becoming frustrated with either the quality of pictures, or the sky-high prices, I finally checked out Natalee's website, www.pixelphotodesign.com, and was blown away by her work. Her sample wedding albums were just what I was looking for in our wedding and she was the cheapest. What?!?!

When we met for our consultation she brought more of her work with her, and we booked her right then. Here's some of our engagement and wedding she took!



As we worked together leading up to the wedding I found that we had a lot in common and I just liked her as a person. Over the years we've become friends and Heath and I love to go hang out at the Dean house- together we have 5 kids and I love that we can sit back and relax over the noise! She's one of the kindest friends I have, always volunteering to help baby-sit so Heath and I can have dinner, or calling to check up on us. We connect as Mommies too, and I love that she is a Godly woman, wife, and Mommy.

Twice a year Natalee takes our family pictures now. She started when Cory was 4, isn't that funny to think back on how long ago that seemed? We wouldn't have anyone else take our pictures. I don't even have to think about locations or props anymore- Natalee just has the eye for it. When she tells me a wall or fence will look fantastic, I can't see it, but she makes it look beautiful. I think it's her degree in graphic design, she's got the eye. Here's some family shots over the years:



Isn't it crazy the difference 6 months makes on children? I know they grow fast, but looking back you wonder where that time went. It definitely reminds me to slow down and enjoy the moments with them.

For our most recent shoot, Natalee calls me and says, "There's this road in Jefferson with a field and a beautiful tree in it. Wanna shoot there?" I had no idea what or where she was talking about but knew by then to 100% trust her, and they turned out gorgeous. We snagged her fall special: $75 for the shoot and all the edited images on CD. These are our latest: 



I don't even feel like I need to brag on her work- it speaks for itself!!!

And now I'd love to introduce you to Natalee and her beautiful children:

If you're looking for a photographer that takes beautiful family/wedding/newborn/senior pictures, I highly recommend my sweet friend, Natalee!

You can view her pictures on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PixelPhotographyandDesignbyNataleeDean or contact her on her website www.pixelphotodesign.com.

Natalee, we are so thankful we found you and want to congratulate you on your work being published in the February/March issue of Carolina Bride magazine, I know that's a huge accomplishment and you deserve it! Your work is beautiful. Thank you for giving us so many memories.

Jehovah Jireh

He. Provides.

I'm tickled already and I haven't even started. :)

After my "re-group" last week, my days went a lot nicer. Of course I still worried and thought about it, but to a much lesser degree and made a point to follow up every worry with a "but You have this, help me to remember that." I said it out loud too just to make sure the devil knows whose side I'm on. But I still worried too- just so no one thinks I'm sugar coating this.

On Wednesday morning I tell Heath I just need to make a decision on choosing a daycare and go with it. I feel that I'm wasting time and being silly. I fully intended to follow through with turning in those registration papers this time.

My sweet hubby listened to me tick off reasons why this just couldn't wait any longer and asked me, "Just wait until Friday." Of course I asked him why Friday, and he said he didn't know, but just give it a few more days. I agreed. On Friday, a call I had put in to a home childcare center weeks before, called me back. She apologized for not getting back to me earlier. I was in the middle of walking out the door, trying to get a coat on Easton and convince him to put the toy down and get buckled already and was feeling frazzled, but instantly felt calmer after one minute of talking with her. That peace I have been so desperately seeking finally came back during our conversation. I don't know how to describe that feeling, I just knew this would work. This woman taught elementary school for 9 years and then decided she wanted to be at home with her kids, but needed the income to support the transition. She's in Jefferson, certified by the state, she keeps ages 2 and up, and had one more spot to fill for January. She shared about their schedule and how she has circle time each morning with the children, and asked if I minded the short Bible lesson she also teaches. Are you for real? I was so pumped I could have driven to her house right then to meet her. We set up a time to meet a few days later just and that gave me the time I needed to really pray over this. Was this the place for Easton? Please show me if it's not. Help me not to just be excited that it's in Jefferson. I wanted my eyes WIDE open when we met.

Heath and I went to her house one evening with Easton to visit. It was perfect. The playroom did indeed have the circle rug with the calendar, and the pledge, and other morning tasks around the area. The big fenced-in backyard had a play set, picnic tables, and many outdoor toys. Her personality matched mine too- I am drawn to happy, bubbly people and can excite easily. I feel like I can see right through the ones that truly enjoy what they do, and those that work. She shared how she is selective about who she lets into her home, and she felt just as comfortable with me as I did with her. It was perfect. We didn't even pull out of the driveway and Heath said, "this is it, isn't it?"

I am so, so happy and relieved that God didn't make me wait one minute longer to answer that prayer for us. It was huge. The more I couldn't find a place for Easton, the more thoughts I had about withdrawing from the program. Easton can start 2 mornings a week now, and that gives him plenty of time to adjust and slowly increase days before I start January 6th. HUGE sigh of relief. Feeling so thankful for God the provider.

 

*Just a side note that we don't have tuition answers yet. I hesitated to even share this b/c I don't want it to take away from the blessing we were just given. I did want to keep you updated though as some have asked. Thanks again for praying for us! We're thankful for your friendship!

Red light, Green Light

Thank you sweet friends who have prayed for me. I really appreciate you guys. I've had some ask me if I've gotten that lottery check yet, and while I know they're teasing, I'm thankful for them caring. So thanks to YOU for just reading my blog anyways, and I'm extremely grateful for you caring enough to pray for me. I love you guys.

Well I've gotten some answers with school which is the good news, but so far it's just which way I'm not going to go, which is not quite what I was expecting or hoping for.

After being told that ATC doesn't offer federal loans, I decided to try the private loan route and started calling banks. That's when I got my loan answer: I'm not approved for a loan with or without a co-signer.

So I feel like God is showing me a definite "no" and has shut that door, which is awesome, because I wasn't too pumped about the idea of having them to pay off anyways! Where will the remainder of the funds come from? That He has not shown me yet. The clock's ticking, and yes, I'm feeling the squeeze.

Some Scripture I've been reviewing this week:

 

So most of us are familiar with that verse, in that we've at least heard it. I had the meaning taught to me by Mrs. Wanda Bagwell one Wed. night and I've never forgotten it, or scanned that verse quickly again. Wanda explained the "lamp onto my feet" as God showing you one step at a time, just enough to see where your next foot will go. He doesn't show us everything all at once- how would we walk in faith if He did show us all the answers? We wouldn't rely on Him to provide them. I'm not sharing this b/c I've got it down pat, it's the complete opposite. I'm sharing it b/c I think He's teaching it to me now.

 

 

 

Faithful in prayer. Well....I've been faithful to call/text friends about this situation. I've been faithful to continuously ask my husband where in the world we're going to get the money from. I've been faithful about becoming impatient with my kids because it interrupts the "replay" button in my mind. God's word says to be "faithful in prayer". Have I prayed half as much as I've thought about how to fix it? No. Have I lost time enjoying my family because of it? Yes. Is that of God's will? Absolutely not.

 

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:24

 

I've had to do some re-grouping this week. :)

 

 

 

 

 



 

Cory Football

LOVED watching my baby play football!! I never knew how excited I could get as a Mom watching my baby play and watch him love what he's doing.

I cannot say enough good things about Galilee Christian Sports either. Andy was a super awesome coach, and I loved how much one-on-one the smaller teams were able to receive. Upward is family friendly and I actually looked forward to his Sat. game, instead of feeling like we had been at football practice all week. I'm all about some sports, but not when it becomes something I have to run Cory to 3x a week, plus church on Wed., and the Sat. game. Upward was very good about having only 1 practice a week, they were respectful of our time, and the games were all at the same time, same field, every Saturday. At halftime Coach Andy would give a short devotional, we'd pray, the cheerleaders would cheer and throw out candy, and they'd get right back in the game. I really had so much more fun than I thought I would!

My little Nikon wasn't too awesome at it's "sports" setting, so I was thrilled when at the boys football banquet, they shared ALL of the coaches pics from the field. Really, it's a better view and I love that they thought to do that, AND not try to make money off it. They just gave the pics to us. Nice, right?

 Here's a picture overload:

 

There were no hidden fees, you just paid the registration fee and that's how much it cost. You'd think that's how it would be with every team, but not so!

HIGHLY, highly recommend Upward for your son or daughter! They'll have a blast!!!

This clip shows the whole season, but please take 10 seconds and watch my cutie. He's at the 3 minute and 15 second mark, running a touchdown. It also tells more about Upward if you're thinking about it for your kids!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWhsVQ3W1cg