HO, HO, HO...Merry Christmas!

Our sweet friend DeAnn took the littles Santa pics this year. Hudson wanted to make absolutely sure that the big jolly fella was who he said he was so first things first...he gave his beard a little tug and tickle! Oh my!! Thank goodness, Santa was a good sport! And THANK GOODNESS it was his REAL BEARD!!!!!!!

That ended up being my favorite pic of the bunch because it captured just exactly who they are!! 

Telling Santa their wishes...

They brought him their lists...

Santa Visit {2014}...
Grace, 7 3/4 + Hudson 5 1/2.

Just 2 more days!
 

autumn is flirting with us...

For weeks now we've been going back and forth between a certain crispness in the air and an everlasting Indian summer...

In between the days getting shorter and the skies showing off with their golden splendor, I keep searching for that time machine, but she is nowhere to be found...

Grace, 7 1/2

Hudson, 5 1/4

There's something about Autumn Fall in the South...and pick-up trucks...and Friday night lights...and cowboy boots...and Southern belles...

...and cute little fellas in checkered shirts...and driving down the road with the windows down... and pumpkins + mums on everyone's front porch... 

To every little thing that makes us stop and appreciate a little more...to slow down and soak it all in...to God be the glory for the beauty of it all!

Happy Fall Y'all!
{thanks for the awesome pics, DeAnn!}

because you blink and they're grown

Take too many pics? Who me?................Guilty as charged.
But I'm okay with that. There are worse things, after all.

I shared a couple of sneak peeks from our beach session with Alissa Aryn Photography {here} but she really saved some of the best moments to share with me when we saw our full gallery. I love how she captured Grace and Hudson...our family too.

And when I look at these pictures I realize my littles aren't so little anymore. *tear*

These smiles...priceless!

These sweet moments...the stuff that a mama's heart treasures.

This is my sweet Grace at 7 1/2...always dancing!

And this little guy...equal parts sweetness and mischief. Yep, that's my Hudson at age 5.

Most days I feel like this is a perfect representation of our family...

But there's love. And one way or another love always wins.

So thankful for these two blessings...

I sure miss the beach and the gorgeous sunsets over the ocean.

This little pumpkin...she has a song in her heart that I hope stays with her forever. The world can sure use the type of love she freely gives.

God has some mighty big plans for this little guy, I just know it. I've never met anyone as strong-willed yet so, so, so loving as my sweet Hudson.

So glad they have each other!

Our family . July {2014} . Florida

Sweetest of memories for us. Thank you for the gift of these moments captured in time, Alissa!

Beach Pics!

This year when we went to Seaside, I decided I wanted to have some professional pics taken - we were overdue for a family pic! {Lance would disagree - ha!} 

I checked out lots of photographers, but when I came across Alissa Aryn Photography, I knew she was exactly what I was looking for. Not only is she talented, laid-back, good with kids, with reasonable fees, but but most importantly, she could fit us in with only 3 weeks notice!  And to top it off, she did our session the night before going on her own vacation!  Thank you, Alissa!

These are two of my favorites! Can't wait to get the cd with the rest!!

Love, love, love!! 
{the dress Noonie and I collaborated on, turned out so sweet!! thanks, Noonie!!!!!!}

Ahhh...if only I could teleport myself to the beach right now!!
 
If you are looking for a family-friendly photographer on the Emerald Coast, give Alissa a call! 

joy is a CHOICE

I often find it ridiculous how people assume that those that share a lot of joyful moments in social media, etc. must a) have it all together/have an easy life, b) be lying through their teeth, or c) suffer from some sort of delusional "my life is fabulous" disease.

To choose to put your best foot forward, even in the midst of extraordinary circumstances and adversity requires courage. Happiness is a form of courage. I love that quote by George Holbrook Jackson.

I'm not talking about never being down. There is so much hurt in this world and at times my heart and mind do go there. Where, you ask? To that place where we wonder why some things are allowed to happen, why good people get hurt, why little children are left motherless and fatherless, why hunger and starvation envelop our world, why leaders betray nations, why people that we love dearly get sick and die, why loved ones hurt us, why, why, why. It is an abyss.

But we cannot stay there or we'll drown. Choosing joy is an everyday task. We must get up in the morning and make a conscious choice to see the beauty right in front of us. To let go of the anger and the hurt. To continue to trust and obey. To look for the sunshine after the rain. To forgive those that have hurt us in order to move on. To try, try again.

God didn't promise us that it would be easy, but He DID promise us that He would be there every step of the way. I hang on to that promise with every part of my being. And so I choose to find JOY in the little everyday moments that thread together to make life...and later relish in those memories.

I am thankful for so much, with these two littles Lance and I have been blessed with, at the top of my list.

Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. ~ Mother Teresa

Comparison is the thief of joy. ~Theodore Roosevelt  Isn't that the truth??!

This one is probably my favorite from all of these bunny pics. Anyone care to guess what they were fascinated by?

Pure . innocent . unadulterated . JOY!

Grace, 7 and Hudson, 4 3/4

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~Robert Brault