While out in CO I got to spend some good quality time with these three. We don't get to see each other very often so I was especially thankful for these times.

Greetings in 2016 everyone! While I have been seeing everyone's posts and conversations about resolutions, I have been thinking about how my views on self-image have changed, even in the last few months. It is so important to be healthy. As Christians we have a lot of work to do for Christ and taking care of ourselves is a good way to get things rolling. With that being said, I have found that changing the way I view myself or the expectations I have about health has given me encouragement to become healthier. So, I thought I would share a few points that helped me a lot! Here goes.

Love doesn't always look warm and fuzzy. It doesn't always whisper sweet nothings. It sometimes takes drastic measures to bring you back and make you whole. Love will even let you go just so that you realize that you need it more. Sometimes you don't even feel it coming in and transforming your life. How do I know?

There comes a time when a person just wants to fit in a niche. We want to find a place in life where we belong, can grow, and excel. Maybe I am impatient, but I felt like it took me forever to figure out my life passions. I didn't grow up wanting to be a doctor or a concert pianist. I loved WAY too many things and changed my mind frequently.

Without going on and on with words, I will let you just experience the pictures themselves. These were taken during the reception of Lee and Hillary's wedding. It was a relaxed, beautiful, and memorable time of course!

If beauty and love could be visualized and talked about through one word, it would be through "simplicity." Not that being simple is plain or undermined. Not in the least. Sometimes we get carried away with the grandeur of elegance that we miss where love comes in with sweet surrender and makes two people join together with gentleness and grace.

Being a photographer has been an extreme blessing for me. Yes I get to be creative and draw your attention to beautiful things, but that is only a portion of what really brings me joy. This past Sunday I trekked out to Harvard Square in Boston Massachusetts to photograph a couple I met through my church, REACH Philadelphia. I briefly became acquainted with Anika before she headed off to New England to finish her residency, so it was a pleasure to get know both her and Bryant during this time.

A lot of what I do is for ministry. This past weekend I made sure to get some photos of these four girls being baptized. I am not sure about you, but when I look at these photos I am thankful for my faith. I am thankful for the joy that there is in Jesus. Despite our sin He makes us into amazing people. He grows us every day whether we know it or not. If there is someone who finds it hard to believe that God exists or that He truly brings joy into hearts, despite the evil destruction in the world, look at these faces. Look at what I have found. There I see Christ putting His signature over it all.

I am blessed to capture beauty. It is a real test for my soul when it is my job to look for beautiful and positive things. It keeps me focused and my mind where it should be. In good things. I hope that you enjoyed seeing part 1 of Caislin and Kyle's wedding. Here are some images from the reception at the park.

When I first met Caislin and Kyle, I was in the very church they would become husband and wife. I was sitting with a group of people having lunch when Caislin immediately came up and introduced herself. After a quick introduction and a few words, I remember her saying "I think we will be good friends." She is such a sweet heart and I appreciated her assertiveness and the way that she seemed to take everyone under her "wing." Kyle as well, with his quiet personality, has a very warm heart. When Caislin was telling us about their love story, you could tell how much she adored that he was her best friend.

Probably the best description that I have heard given about adoption was told by our pastor, Tara. I wasn't adopted, so to understand the concept is kind of hard. What she explained is that we all are adopted into the family of God. Plucked out of a difficult situation and brought into the arms of Someone who can provide our every need. I know that I probably paraphrased that horribly but it spoke to me as she told the story of adopting little Josiah and being able to give him her and Caleb's last name. The power of a name never had such hope in my opinion.

Wow you guys, I am beside myself about what I have to show you. I often get anxiety about making sure that those I photograph are best portrayed the way they actually are. I wonder about my angles, framing, editing, you name it. Even though my style should take on a certain feel and consistency, I still want to show everyone the truth in front of my lens, not just behind.