embrace the camera: family edition

We spent a weekend at the end of July making our way around family birthday parties. When you live out of state, there's nothing better then seeing tons of extended family all on one trip!

Ironically, both baby birthday were Mickey or Minnie Mouse themed. Hmmmm...

Here is the two-year old birthday boy... I got his cape from an etsy shop called Applesauce. It was a big hit! (he never took it off.) And the quality was outrageously awesome.

My sweet (tall!) baby sister. She is a high school junior as of today!

Three generations!  I love getting my grandmother in photos!

embracing the camera,

Lauren

Linking up with

7

Anyone read 7, by Jen Hatmaker?

I've tried for weeks now to put something onto paper. Some arrangement of words that would describe what's going on in my heart and my head. I read 90% of the book in two days... I couldn't bear to put it down. But once it started to conclude, it's as if I developed a bad case of the butterflies.
I knew I was different for reading it. I knew it had stirred something in me. I knew that it had fed fuel to a small flame that had been burning inside of me for a while.

You see, I've always had a thing about stuff. I like to simplify. I hate junk. I have no qualms about tossing things into a garbage bag to be donated and never seen again. I appreciate sentiment, but I am not one to save something for a rainy day. If I haven't seen it, used it, or worn it in a year then see ya.

But even with that attitude, we still have lots of junk. Things. Stuff. Just in case. Sure, it is all neatly (for the most part) tucked away in closets or under beds (ssshhhhh!), but it's there. It's slowly but surely taking over my house, and maybe it's a startling reflection of the condition of my heart.


Are my wants blinding me from the needs of others? 
Are my abundant blessings keeping me from seeing how fortunate I really am?
Is my desire for comfort taking up room in my heart where the desire for justice and mercy for the oppressed should be?

I don't know yet how this has changed me. I just know that it has rocked my comfortable little world. It's not just about throwing away stuff. It's about minimizing. Reducing. Trimming the excess....to allow the important, the eternal,  to fill our hearts and minds.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV (emphasis mine)
  



Lauren

instagrammed

I figured since it's been a month since I posted, I should probably update with some pictures. What better way than with instagram?

We spent a long weekend at the lake with sweet friends to celebrate our anniversary! This man lives and breathes the lake....

I think it's important to note that this was not the worst beating that the guys took in canasta. Noted.

We painted bathroom cabinets (hooray) and framed out mirrors. They look so so nice and I can't wait to show you!

We did our fair share of relaxing too...

...and made time for froyo with sweet babies! Elly bear has this man's heart!

What's better than a nakey baby belly? And why can't I say something other than nakey when talking about babies?

We paid off a credit card, too! What a great feeling.

We cruised around town to let Molly do some people-watching.

And even stumbled across two-for-one on a Sunday afternoon... isn't that weird??? Or are we just old and making it uber obvious that we grew up in a dry county?

Lauren

Embrace the Camera - 3 years later

We enjoyed the [tremendous] pleasure of having our friend Sarah do a little photoshoot for us to commemorate our 3rd anniversary last week!

I am in l-o-v-e with the pictures and feel so grateful that we have these sweet memories to keep forever.

Embracing the camera,

Lauren

linking up with Emily!

happy 3 years, my love.

Three years ago, when asked if you promised to love and cherish me, honor and protect me, respect and encourage me... you said,

"Absolutely."

You have guarded my heart, put more value on my wellbeing than your own. You have loved me when my attitude is at its ugliest.  You have spurred me on to be better: to dream big, to take risks, and to enjoy each day to its very very fullest.

I feel so blessed to be living this magnificent love story with you by my side. It's a beautiful story. One teeming with stories of redemption, trust, faith, and forgiveness. Brimming with lessons on the fine art of laughter and its healing qualities.

Happy three years, my love.

Lauren

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.” -Roy Croft