.:

2008-04-15T16:15:00.001-05:00

So...

Hey everyone, or anyone that still visits this dead blog. :)

I've talked to quite a few people who never knew that I have made another personal blog (Like a Watered Garden) that I have been updating rather frequently. I found this a little humorous, but for whatever reason you didn't see in my last post, I now have two blogs:

www.perceivephotography.blogspot.com

and

www.likawateredgarden.blogspot.com.

Go check them out if you want!

.: Britt

2008-01-28T18:47:00.000-05:00

.: "Two are better than one"
- Ecclesiastes 4:9 :)

Hi my wonderful friends! I hope you're all doing fantastically, resting in the wonders of His amazing grace!

I've decided I need to re-organize myself and get to a point where I will post more than once a month, in order to serve others. In addition, I just feel like switching things up. :)

Introducing...
~~~~~
Perceive Photography ~ the blog

This will be where I will post a bunch of pictures from the jobs I do, soon after I do them ("soon" is the key word here). Not only will it be where others can keep track of what I'm doing, but I also want to use it to serve my clients by giving them a place where their friends and family can see their pictures (this, I hope, will be especially useful for weddings).

The frequency of updating this blog will be based on how frequently I get jobs, so you might not be seeing much this winter, but when Spring comes, Lord-willing, I'll have more business. --However I have posted a wedding that I did as a secondary photographer for a fantastic couple...

And secondly, I'm switching over blogs. I think it's time I retire my beloved "The Way I Take it" blog. It's been fun, but I think a change of scenery will help motivate me to post more. :) Thank you all for following along with my photography and life. I am really humbled that anyone would take the time to read this stuff, and look at my pictures, and I want to seek to serve the readers of my new blog more effectively.

So, introducing...

:like and watered garden:

The title is taken from a quote from CH Spurgeon expounding on Jeremiah 31:12 describing how when we are deep in prayer and the study of God's Word, our soul is like a watered garden. (You can read the quote on the blog description. :)

As regards the content of this blog, I plan to do similar to what I've done on here, minus my business updates. It'll be illustrated scriptures and quotes, pictures from my life and family, and/or random pictures that I've been taking recently.

Should be fun!

So, if you wanna take a little look-see at both of those, figure out which one you want to keep up with, etc. And if any of you guys, have any ideas or suggestions about what else I can do with these blogs, I'd appreciate it a lot! Thanks!

Grace be with you all.

2008-01-26T18:06:00.000-05:00

Coming very soon...

.: the blog :.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

2008-01-20T10:45:00.001-05:00

.: My dear girlie

Today is your birthday and you're turning 4. Happy birthday!

Thank you for bringing so much joy to your whole family.

Thank you for loving everyone so so much and playing with us whenever you get a chance.

Thank you for your laugh. You laugh at everyone's jokes--even mine--even when they're not so silly jokes.

Thank you for how you love to explore. Thank you for always wanting to go on "adventures" in the Summertime with Drew the puppet guy.

Thank you for loving Doggie and Skywishes so so much. I know they love you too. and even though they haven't gotten very many presents this year, I think their greatest present is having you as a mommy.

Thank you for loving your siblings. And for trying to help the littler kids to do what's right.

Thank you for just taking joy in the life that God has given you. cuz it is a good life.
One of the bestest. :)

I love you more than you know!!!

Love,

Brip-Brip

2008-01-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

.: Coming soon: Ryan and Stefanie :.

2007-12-29T23:48:00.000-05:00

.: A Kauflin Christmas :.

I'm sorry for the delay, but I want to give anyone who still reads this blog (which you've gotta be crazy to do given the fact that I blog like twice a month...if that...) a little glimpse into a very merry Kauflin Christmas.

The day started out rather quietly around 8:30 am. (shew! Dad had to practically drag Chelsea, Kenzie, and me out of bed to open our stockings before the rest of the family arrived) Of course, Devon and Kristine were the first to arrive promptly at 8:35 am. Dad sat us all down before the hurricane arrived, and read us a wonderful Valley of Vision prayer on the Gift of gifts.

And then, just after he finished, the whirlwind of children came flooding in...

...showing off their new toys...

...opening up some of their own...

...unknowingly sleeping away the whole day...

...and not exercising enough patience to wait for mommy to open their orange...

:)

And the present opening began!

Now, on a typical Kauflin Christmas, there are a few things that never fail to occur:

1. Megan gets dad/mom a deeply meaningful gift, which, upon opening, causes them to cry.

One year, it was a childhood story book that my dad always read to her, "One More Thing Dad." Another year, it was a book covering our twenty years of beach vacations. Once, she wrote my parents a poem thanking them for their marriage, "Love I See." And yet another year she searched Ebay to find a VERY old copy of a book by Isaac Watts for my dad.
And the list goes on.

This year, she didn't fail to make both mom and dad cry with the gifts she gave them, but Megan's gift to my mom was seriously a well thought-out and specifically meaningful gift. This year, my grandma (mom's mom) passed away after a long and slow surrender to Alzheimer's and Dementia. To honor my mom's heroic trust in the Lord during this time and never-ceasing faith in His sovereignty, Megan made a beautiful charm bracelet with a single charm. On it is a picture of my Grandma as a beautiful, young woman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a sweet time.

Speaking of sweet, the next event that always occurs on Christmas day:

2. Cinnamon rolls!

These deliciously gooey buns are a family tradition that has been going on ever since I can remember.

yeah, those were good. :)
Then came the rest of the present opening. I loved the different reactions people gave.

(we got mom a Coach purse. she liked it.)

Another highlight of every Christmas is watching mom and dad's interactions with eachother as they exchange gifts:

3. A super big gift that is only presented after all the presents have been opened.

This year, was a milestone.
The first Christmas in all of Kauflin history that someone got...

http://flickr.com/photos/bhopek/2142530770/

a car!

oh, and after the car, dad pulls out a huge box, and inside is the 24 inch monitor that I am publishing this post on right now. Pretty sweet. :)

Seriously, though, I can't describe how grateful I am to be a part of the family I love SO dearly.

Family,
THANK YOU for the generosity you express every year. Your consistent, heartfelt and abundant gift-giving is an example to me. And it so clearly resounds of God's generosity in sacrificing His Son in our place for our sins.
THANK YOU for living your lives to glorify God specifically in the season He has put you in, whether that be marriage, parenthood, singlehood, or teen...hood. :)
THANK YOU for loving each other and for being quick to serve each other and spur one another to godliness.

and THANK YOU mom and dad for raising up your family WELL, and for faithfully passing on a legacy of Grace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4. God is ALWAYS so faithful to remind us of the unexplainably amazing Gift He has given us of salvation.

"Christmas has come and gone, but the significance of it will impact the world for all Eternity. Light has come into the world, and it has pierced the Darkness forever. The victory has been won at the Cross, and the humiliation of it's judgment has set the world free forever. The Saviour has come to all who are thirsty, and offers His free gift to any who desire it. It is there for the asking. Are you thirsty? He is there to give you drink. His Hands are always open to those who need Him. He is Light; light that has come into a dark world, to bring the balm of Gilead to hurting hearts. He is calling all who are hurting to come, 'Come, ye who are thirsty, Come!'"

http://www.xanga.com/magroveman

2007-12-25T13:43:00.001-05:00

What a wonderful Christmas...

More pictures and stories coming soon!

2007-12-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

“The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholds and governs all things he has made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin;

being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.”

- The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 (chapter 8, article 2).

Have a wonderfully happy day celebrating God's greatest gift: Christ, our Mediator!

2007-12-16T23:42:00.001-05:00

.: Laurin and Ryan :.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to take pictures of my first night wedding. It took place in a historic inn in Baltimore--so cool. Laurin is the member of the Foster family. Mrs. Foster and I just realized that my first photography job ever was taking their family pictures about a year ago. Since then, I have taken pictures of three of their daughter's weddings (Anna and Joel, Jim and Tessa ad Laurin and Ryan) and more family pictures.

What a blessing God has given me in their family! They have been one of my main supports as I started up my photography business, and they have definitely kept me going by giving me LOTS of business. :) So, thank you Fosters!!!! And Laurin, I will eventually put you on the website (like you asked me so many times :) but for now, here are some of my favorites from the wedding day:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

.: It's that frosty time of year again :.

2007-12-03T00:45:00.001-05:00

.: My families :.

I've had the challenge, privilege and joy of serving each of these wonderful families this holiday season by taking their family Christmas pictures.

Each session provided unique and new challenges and joys in photography for me and I am grateful for them all!

click on the picture to see it larger

2007-11-27T19:07:00.000-05:00

.: The Simmons :.

2007-11-22T10:46:00.000-05:00

.: Thank you , Lord...

....for babies. :)

Jackson Chase was born to Jordan (my brother) and Tali tonight.

2007-11-18T23:16:00.000-05:00

.: Tyler and Elea :.

.: Reception

2007-11-12T23:46:00.000-05:00

"It is not their own faithfulness, but the Lord's own faithfulness, on which the saints rely...
Come, my soul, here is a grand feast to start a dull month with. There may be fogs without, but there should be sunshine within."

.: Spurgeon . Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith . November 1 :.

2007-11-10T23:58:00.001-05:00

.: Tyler and Elea :.

.: Formals

2007-11-05T11:16:00.000-05:00

.: Tyler and Elea :.

.: Ceremony

2007-11-03T23:04:00.000-05:00

.: Tyler and Elea :.

This couple's wedding was one of my favorite weddings by far. The whole experience was so relaxed and fun! Tyler and Elea, if you read this, thank you for making it a pure JOY for me to photograph your wedding! It's been so fun getting to know you both and your families. You both glorify our Lord and Savior so clearly through your love and relationship with one another and your easygoingness. :) Thanks!

.: Preparation

2007-10-28T23:20:00.000-05:00

.: hannah banana :.

well, not really. :) She is one of the most beautiful girls I know, and I had the privilege of taking her senior pictures two weeks ago. Enjoy!

2007-10-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Hope you're doing well. :) I need your help. First, in return for your help, I'll actually post pictures from Tyler and Elea's wedding (my favorites thus far).

Anyways, my brother-in-law, Kerrin, is always thinking up some new thing to create/do/improve. Well, this time around, he's entered a contest for ideas for possible inventions, and he got into the final round!

Maybe I should tell you what his idea is first. :) This is his description:

When searching at night for a crying infants pacifier it is very difficult to find. The Light-up pacifier would make finding it much easier. A simple switch/sensor inside the pacifier would turn on the LED when the pacifier falls out of the infants mouth.

If there are any moms reading this you're probably thinking, "Oh! Yes! That's exactly what I need!" Well, if so, go on over and vote for him! He's always fixing my computer with problems that it has, and I want to thank him for that by asking all of you guys to vote for him. The winner gets $10,000 to get started on making the invention. Right now, the leading idea is to make a beach in CA just for dogs. And though I am somewhat partial to dogs,

I think the pacifier idea would do MUCH more good in this world. :) Don't you?

This is the link: http://ideablob.com/ideas/518-Light-up-Pacifier-Lights-up-wh
Voting ends on October 30, so you've gotta hurry!

2007-10-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

"We rarely take the time to think through the ramifications of our sin. We fail to realize that in even the slightest sins we commit, such as the little white lies and the other peccadilloes, we are violating the law of the Creator of the universe. In the smallest sin we defy God's right to rule and to reign over His creation. Instead, we seek to usurp for ourselves the authority and the power that belong properly to God. Even the slightest sin does violence to His holiness, to His glory, and to His righteousness.

Every sin,
no matter how seemingly insignificant,
is truly an act of treason against the cosmic King."

.: The Truth About the Cross, RC Sproul, page 32 :.

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered. He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

.: 1 Peter 2:22-24 :.

2007-10-15T15:25:00.001-05:00

"If anything has been lost from our culture, it is the idea that human beings are
privately,
personally,
individually,
ultimately,
inexorably
accountable to God for their lives."

.: The Truth About the Cross, RC Sproul, page 8 :.

2007-10-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

.: Reception

................................

2007-10-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

.: Ladies and Gentleman...

You're witnessing history right now. This morning I baked. Yes, that's right. I baked AND I cooked! Once you recover from this initial shock, I want you to know that this meal that I baked and cooked was FROM SCRATCH and was not a bust! (like every other meal I've cooked.)

Ok, enough of that. I really, just wanted to tell you all these really yummy waffles that I made up. They were so good, I thought I'd post about it. The most exciting part is that I discovered that I really like photographing food. :) If you all know of any way I can use this strange hobby, please let me know! Well, here they are:

.: Cinnamon Apple waffles

.: Cinnamon Apples
3 apples, peeled, cored, sliced
2 T butter
3/4 c brown sugar
1 t cinnamon

. melt butter in saucepan
. place apples in saucepan
. add brown sugar and cinnamon on top
. simmer over low heat until apples are soft and then turn off heat

.: Waffles
1 3/4 c flour
3 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 T sugar
2 lg. eggs
1 1/4 c milk
4 T melted butter

. Mix dry ingredients
. Add egg yolks, milk and butter
. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites

.: Whipped Cream
1 1/2 c heavy whipping cream
1/2 t vanilla

. whip cream at high speed
. fold in vanilla

.: Directions
. cook waffles
. place waffles on individual plates
. dollop whipped cream on each waffle, and spoon on apples on top

easy enough. :)

2007-10-03T21:59:00.000-05:00

.: Announcing

Autumn is here, and before you know it, Christmastime will be upon us..
In anticipation of the holiday season,
Perceive Design, is pleased to announce a new addition to our business:
holiday cards to be used with your family picture(s).

These cards sprang from a desire to offer a quality alternative to the typical photo cards mailed out at this time of year.
They are offered in a flatcard format, printed on heavy cardstock with a high quality digital press, and include coordinating envelopes.

Don’t have a good or recent family picture?
As a service to our clients in the Gaithersburg, MD area, Perceive Photography is offering a limited-time “mini session” package.
The cost will be $50 for a 1/2 hour session on location, for the purpose of getting a “card worthy” portrait.
You will receive a cd of your family’s pictures following the session, to be used however you like.

We hope you enjoy browsing our selections (classic , jolly , & vintage),
and are able to find just the right card to wish your friends and loved ones a Merry Christmas!
---
Megan Russell | designer
Brittan Kauflin | photographer
http://www.perceivedesign.com/

:) Feel free to spread the word!!
and, yes, Megan wrote this.

2007-09-26T23:26:00.000-05:00

.: Ceremony

2007-09-25T22:23:00.001-05:00

ok, so after getting completely dogged by the blog police (a.k.a. Kristen), I've decided to quickly get on posting these pictures. :) First up: Felix and Linda. These two were SO cute together! Both have faithfully used their single years to serve the church in many ways, and now, God has given them the blessing and joy of marriage. Thank you both for the way you have been an example to me of servanthood and wholeheartedly following God's plan for your lives, and not your own!

: Preparation :

p.s. I'm pretty sure these pictures are unedited. That's why they look so bad.
Just...use your imagination. :)

2007-09-24T22:05:00.000-05:00

Haha, yeah, like you thought I would actually keep my promise and start the series of wedding pictures without first giving you a Scripture-Nature post! I thought you knew me better. :) Well, here it is! Just like I...didn't promise!

So, as I've been reading slowly but surely through the Bible, I came to Joshua. If you've never read Joshua, I must warn you that there are a few chapters that describe each tribe of Israel's land inheritance that can get you a little bogged down. I was in the midst of this bogginess, when I suddenly discovered, solely by the grace of God and illumination by the Spirit, these treasure chest chapters 23 and 24, loaded with priceless promises from our God to whom there is no comparison:

"And you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you." (J. 23:14)

"And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of the vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant." (J. 24:12-13)

"Now therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness...choose this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
(J. 24:14)

"You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive you transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good. " (J. 24:19-21)

"But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all...
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities."
(Is. 53:5-6, 10-11)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ep. 2:8-9)

00000000000000

Christ, the Victor, we exalt You;

Lord above all other names!

Satan’s rule on earth is broken;

Death compelled to drop its claims!

Everything the Law demanded

You completed perfectly;

By Your blood, received in heaven,

We are found forever free!

---------

Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer,

Thank You for Your sacrifice!

You have wholly done the labor,

Bridging earth and paradise!

--K. Hartnett, October 2003

2007-09-17T23:25:00.000-05:00

Weddings...weddings...and more weddings... :)

These first three weeks of September, I've had the privilege of shooting three weddings. (!) The first two were actually ones where I was the main photographer. It was quite a nerve-racking, strength-draining, time-consuming experience, but along with the trials, God faithfully brought much more peace, joy, and grace than I deserve.

I just finished editing the pictures from the first wedding, so I'll be posting those very soon. But in the meantime, here's a little sneak preview. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jim&Tessa | 3

2007-09-12T08:55:00.001-05:00

______________________

.the.end.

Jim&Tessa | 2

2007-09-10T22:09:00.000-05:00

____________________

Jim&Tessa | 1

2007-09-08T23:16:00.000-05:00

Kaitlyn and Momma |

2007-09-07T20:11:00.000-05:00

Jobs

2007-09-04T10:44:00.001-05:00

ok, so, someone confronted me a few days ago about never putting any pictures up from jobs that I've done. And truth be told, I totally forgot about doing that! So, we're starting with some senior pictures I did in July with a girl named

Meghan:

I have lost almost all interest in Worthy07...

2007-09-02T17:25:00.000-05:00

...and I need to fulfill my promise...sometime.

But first, here are the rest of my favorite Sarasota pictures:

small note: If you leave a comment, can you please sign your name under what you say? Otherwise, I'll just delete it. Thanks!

2007-08-30T23:10:00.001-05:00

Worthy 07 - worship

2007-08-28T09:48:00.001-05:00

...

2007-08-26T23:01:00.000-05:00

The prodigal blogger returns. :)

I've been busy with editing pictures of a wedding that I took in early August (that I will be posting soon...once I've gone through them.), so I haven't had time to update my blog since my wonderful time in Florida. But now, I'm changing that by posting some pictures I took at our Youth Retreat. I'm doing a little series:

- messages
- worship
- baptisms
- teens

Check in if you're interested, check out if you're not. Lord-willing, I'll finish this series in just a week. that's right! I'll post four times in one week! no, folks, Jesus hasn't returned yet.

First up: Messages

CH Spurgeon (I think) said, "The greatest kindness anyone could ever do for me would be to pray for me." So, I'm asking you all now to do that great kindness. This Saturday I will be shooting my first ever wedding...by myself. I am tempted to be very anxious about this event and trust only in myself, forgetting that everything that will happen is in my loving Father's hands. So, if you get the chance, would you please pray that I would trust my heavenly Father this week, and that He would cause it all to go well? I need clear thinking, discernment, strength, joy, a servant's heart, and most of all, a single eye towards God's glory to efficiently serve this couple on their wedding day. Thank you ever so much!

Oh, and I'm doing another wedding the next Saturday. (aaagh!)

Ok, one more thing. (this post is getting kind of long...) This picture is for Kristen :

Because she tagged me to post eight little-known-facts about myself. But just to humor her, and anyone else who's pathetic enough to be interested in my life, follow this link.

Sarasota =::=

2007-08-18T17:46:00.000-05:00

I've been having a blast trying to capture the beauty we've been enjoying in Sarasota, Florida. Here are just a few of my meager attempts at capturing some of this beauty God has created:

and this is our amazing view:

p.s. none of these pictures are edited. that's how beautiful our Lord's creation is!

: off to florida :

2007-08-09T00:05:00.000-05:00

...and then the youth retreat...

I promise to come back with many many pictures. :)

See ya then!

britt

I've been digging deep...

2007-08-02T21:38:00.000-05:00

...into the rich promises and reminders laid out in Deuteronomy by our awesome God.

"The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.'" - 1:30-31 -

"For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing." - 2:7 -

"'O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand.'" - 3:24 -

"For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?" - 4:7 -

"But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day." - 4:20 -

"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." - 4:24 -

"But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul." - 4:29 -

"For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them." - 4:31 -

"Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time." - 4:39-40 -

Coming soon: Weddings, Sr. Pictures, and Baby Pictures!

little micah

2007-07-26T14:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, as most of the world was waking up from their sleep to face another day, little Micah Davis woke up to find the Savior by His side, welcoming him into a place with no pain, no tears, no cancer.

This little guy and his family have challenged me so much in my walk with the Lord as I've gotten to know them this past year. They have bravely walked through trial after trial, all-the-while, remaining faithful to trust God's will for their lives, knowing that He loves them and "works all things together for the good of those who love Him." (Romans 8:28)

The amazing thing about Micah's death is that we do mourn over the loss of his bright smile, precious words, and drum-beating on his daddy's chest, but we are also able to rejoice in his now being free from sin, pain, and sickness! The following verse was displayed on the Davis' blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And what an unbelievable truth this is! Because Jesus chose to become a man, live a sinless life, and die on the cross, bearing on Himself the wrath of God that WE deserve for our sins, and then ROSE from the dead, the power of sin and death has been overcome! Jesus suffered so that we will suffer no more once we die. The eternal destiny for all those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus' death on the cross for those sins has been sealed: "They will see His face."

"Oh the wonder of this fact,
We're included in His act,
Death by sin marked sin's demise,
Joined with Him, we now arise,
Debt to carnal life is through!
Spirit-born, we're creatures new!
Satan conquered in our stead,
He is risen from the dead!"

- "He is risen," by Kevin Hartnett and Bob Kauflin

So now, because of God's mysterious mercy and grace, and in spite of our deep sorrow and broken hearts, we can sing with Mr. Horatio Spafford,

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.It is well, with my soul,

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Please pray for Micah's family.

Tyler -+-

2007-07-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

Okay...

2007-06-28T22:42:00.000-05:00

...we're gonna take a little break from the child portraits (seeing as we're half-way through), and I want to show you some of the pictures I took at New Attitude. Na is like a playground for photographers. There is SO much potential for artsy photos, so I had a lot of fun. :)

Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ethan - age 5

2007-06-27T15:17:00.000-05:00

oh, he was fun to shoot. :) I LOVE his laugh, his jokes, and the way he cracks himself up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Madelyn, age 3

2007-06-23T17:08:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce you to the most mischievous little girl
you'll ever meet:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just like a star across my sky,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just like an angel off the page,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You have appeared to my life,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feel like I'll never be the same,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just like a song in my heart,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just like oil on my hands,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh.. I do love you.

Words from "Like a Star," by Corrine Bailey Rae

McCarthy

2007-06-22T07:05:00.000-05:00

I mentioned one of my goals for the beach was to capture family moments throughout vacation. Well, my other goal was to have at least one photo session with each of the seven kids. So, this is the beginning of a seven part series on child portraits.

We start with McCarthy, age 6.

Tyler and Julia

2007-06-21T22:10:00.000-05:00

Up Next: Child Portraits from the Beach

Family

2007-06-16T21:05:00.001-05:00

One of the goals I had for my photography of our beach vacation was to capture special moments between members of my family. These are some of what I got:

(above photocredit: Chelsea) it was too good not to put in.

"God says..." :

Chocolate chip cookies being made while my dad plays on the piano in the background:

Kerrin singing "Julia" (from the Beatles) to Julia:

I truly do not deserve an such an amazing gift from God like my family.
It's all by His grace!

Sunrise on the beach

2007-06-14T22:39:00.001-05:00

2007-06-13T21:05:00.000-05:00

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
GREAT is Your faithfulness…
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

-Lamentations 3:22-23, 25 -

__________________

I visited Micah with my family last night.
His brain is slowly shutting down because of the tumor.
He is sleeping a lot more.
The past few days have been the hardest for his family.

Please pray for Micah!

Pray that he would be healed.
Pray that Micah's family would have peace, joy and faith in our good God.
And pray, most of all, that God would glorify His Name above all.

Upcoming Posts...

2007-06-10T22:20:00.001-05:00

and

:)

outer banks 2007 - the preview -

2007-06-06T15:54:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm at the beach right now reveling in the gifts of grace God has given me in family, fellowship, nature, and...photography! I'm really having a field day taking tons of pictures of my adorable nieces and nephews and the Simmon's kids. Here's a preview of what I've been up to:

more to come...

Great is Thy Faithfulness

2007-06-02T06:10:00.001-05:00

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

Today, I graduate from high school.
I am totally amazed at the abundant grace God has poured out on the most undeserving sinner to ever live. All I can do is stand here and attest to His faithfulness. Jesus' death on the cross in my place and resurrection from the dead have secured all future grace in my life. And I could spend the entire morning recounting the gifts of God's grace in my life...

...but right now, I've gotta go and get myself graduated! :)

Na

2007-05-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

Part of the reason I haven't updated for a while is because I have been in
Louisville, KY over the weekend at New Attitude. I dared to take my camera with me to it, and by God's grace I did not lose it. I took MANY pictures though, which is why I'm going to officially commence a New Attitude picture series. Enjoy!

<:> On the Road <:>

~ sunrise in the West Virginian mountains; Aaaaah ~

Micah and Cianne, Part 2

2007-05-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

O wondrous love that will not let me go
I cling to You with all my strength and soul
Yet if my hold should ever fail
This wondrous love will never let me go.

O wondrous love that’s come to dwell in me
Lord, who am I that I should come to know
Your tender voice assuring me
This wondrous love will never let me go

I’m resting in the everlasting arms
In the ever faithful heart
The Shepherd of my life
You’ll carry me on Your mighty wings of grace
Keeping me until the day
I look into Your eyes

O wondrous love that sings of Calvary
The sweetest sound this sinner’s ever known
The song of Your redeeming Son
Whose wondrous love will never let me go

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Micah has a rapidly growing brain tumor.
He just celebrated his third birthday, and doctors just told his family that
he has 1-2 weeks to live.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please pray for Micah.
Please pray for Micah's family.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Have you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might
He increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagle's;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint."

- Isaiah 40:28-31 -

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thankfully, Micah's family is waiting on the Lord and trusting in His plan:

"Our hearts our greatly saddened at this news, but at the same time we are still crying out to God for a miracle, knowing that He is all powerful and able to do it. We are also keeping in mind that while it would grieve us so, if the Lord willed for Micah to be with Him, that it would be a joyous thing for our little Micah. 'In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' Ps 16:11. Thank God that death is not the end, because of Christ and his sacrifice for our sins we have the hope of life eternal. 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' 1 Corinthians 15:54-55."

O wondrous love that rushes over me
I can't escape this river's glorious flow
You overwhelm my days with good
And Your wondrous love will never let me go.

I’m resting in the everlasting arms
In the ever faithful heart
The Shepherd of my life
You’ll carry me on Your mighty wings of grace
Keeping me until the day
I look into Your eyes.

"O Wondrous Love" by Steve and Vikki Cook. Copyright 2001 Sovereign Grace Ministries.

Micah and Cianne

2007-05-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

BIG NEWS!!

2007-05-08T22:07:00.000-05:00

For the past few weeks, my older sister, Megan has been working on a website for the business we're starting up. And now it's finally here!

www.perceivedesign.com will give you all the info you need to know about the services we now offer (photography-by me and design-by Megan). The prices are also included, along with contact info (which is having problems, but should be up and running soon).

God is so kind to provide this opportunity for both of us to use our gifts to serve others and glorify Him. --plus I get to work with one of my heroes! (Megan. she's organized, she's patient, she's generous, she's caring, she's humble. she's amazing.)

So...go check it out!

oh, wait a minute, don't go yet! I forgot to tell you something. The creation of this website does not mean that anything's changed here. I'll still be posting pics and scriptures and stuff on here....

....speaking of which, Up Next: Pictures from Micah and Cianne's Birthday Party

You're beautiful

2007-05-06T23:29:00.000-05:00

McKenzie,

I love you!
Thank you for bringing such joy to our family.
Thank you for being so diligent in your school.
Thank you for opening up your heart to mom and being faithful to get to the root of your sin.
Thank you for taking such good care of your rabbits.
Thank you for loving the Lord.
Thank you for wanting to grow.
Thank you for living out the verse, "Love overlooks a multitude of sins" in our relationship.
Thank you for serving your older siblings by baby-sitting their kids whenever there's a need.
Thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's working.
Thank you for loving to serve the church.
Thank you for loving your friends.
Thank you for loving me.
I love you, little sister!

The Beauty of Christ

2007-05-03T11:08:00.000-05:00

"Lo, the flowery month is come! March winds and April showers have done their work, and the earth is all bedecked with beauty.

Come my soul, put on thine holiday attire and go forth to gather garlands of heavenly thoughts.

Thou knowest whither to betake thyself, for to thee 'the beds of spices' are well known, and thou hast so often smelt the perfume of 'the sweet flowers' that thou wilt go at once to thy well-beloved and find all loveliness, all joy in Him.

That cheek once so rudely smitten with a rod, oft bedewed with tears of sympathy and then defiled with spittle--that cheek as it smiles with mercy is as fragrant aromatic to my heart."

"He is to me my rose and my lily, my heartsease and my cluster of camphire. When he is with me, it is May all year round,

and my soul goes forth to wash her happy face in the morning-dew of His grace,

and to solace herself with the singing of the birds of his promises."

"Whatever there may be of beauty in the material world, Jesus Christ possesses all that in the spiritual world in a tenfold degree. Amongst flowers the rose is deemed the sweetest, but Jesus is infinitely more beautiful in the graden of the soul than the rose can be in the gardens of earth..."

"What emblem can fully set forth His beauty? Human speech and earth-born things fail to tell of Him. Earth's choicest charms commingled, feebly picture His abounding preciousness. Blessed Rose, bloom in my heart forever!"

- Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, May 1

A Spring afternoon with the kiddos

2007-05-02T10:44:00.000-05:00

shew! I finally got to update! I'm sorry, everyone, for the delay.

Up Next: The Beauty of Christ

Photocredit: My sister, Chelsea

2007-04-27T23:03:00.000-05:00

I wanted to show you what a fantastic job she did on my Senior pictures. Yeah, it was a little awkward being in front of the lens for a change...

I walked on holy ground this morning.

2007-04-26T11:27:00.000-05:00

"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,
yet He opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so He opened not His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
and as for His generation, who considered
that He was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of My people?

And they made His grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in His death,
although He had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
He has put Him to grief;

when His soul makes an offering for sin,
He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied;
by His knowledge shall the righteous One, My Servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and He shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the many,
and He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because He poured out His soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet He bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors."

- Isaiah 53:7-12 -

"Open my eyes...

2007-04-24T09:07:00.000-05:00

...that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
- Psalm 119:18

James =|=

2007-04-22T18:11:00.000-05:00

The pictures are coming! The pictures are coming!

2007-04-20T23:29:00.000-05:00

Here's what there is to look forward to:

-:- It was an ordinary Friday afternoon. I went over to watch my sister's kids. I brought my camera. I had a blast taking a bunch of pictures of them. And they turned out really good (surprisingly)! I think they're my favorite pictures I've taken of them so far. I can't wait to show them to you all!

-:- I think it's time I actually posted pictures of some of my friends (Oh, be afraid, be VERY afraid.). I'm gonna pull random pictures from years and years ago to a week ago. We'll see what happens.

-:- I took Senior pictures of...you guessed it--Jamestown himself. the drama star Jesus, John, and...Levi? I think. That was interesting... my first guy shoot. I had a hard time not telling him to pose in girly kinda poses, because that's what I had always done with the girls. We'll see how they turn out.

-:- oh, and later on, after all this excitement, I'll quiet it down with some nice dew drops and Scriptures. I feel like a Cooking show host... Enjoy!

...and yeah, there's a random Coke bottle for you...

"Now...

2007-04-20T21:32:00.000-05:00

...we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

- 1 Corinthians 13:12 -

Julia, a.k.a. Angel, a.k.a. Smiley, a.k.a. etc.

2007-04-19T07:02:00.000-05:00

Happy (early) birthday, Baby! (she's turning 1 in five days :)
You bring sunshine to my life!

The Glory of God

2007-04-18T14:08:00.000-05:00

"Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable.
For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his mist in rain,
which the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly."
- Job 36:26-28

We will never know God fully, yet we can know Him truly. The God who designed, created, and sustains all of creation has chosen to reveal Himself to us through Scripture and throughout the earth. What a good God we serve!

"The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
- Psalm 19:1

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?"
- Psalm 8:3-4

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."
- Philippians 4:19-20

Danielle & Lindsay

2007-04-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

"Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

~ 1 Peter 3:3-4 ~

Danielle and Lindsay, thank you for being truly beautiful in the eyes of our Lord! You both bring glory to the Savior through the way you live your lives. Thank you!

Lindsay --:--

2007-04-14T21:21:00.000-05:00

Danielle :-:

2007-04-14T18:11:00.000-05:00

(look closely in the Background...that's who's coming next :)

Two little munchkins

2007-04-11T23:31:00.000-05:00

And two white tulips

"'I am...

2007-04-07T23:16:00.000-05:00

...the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

John 11:25-26

"Therefore I tell you...

2007-04-06T12:41:00.000-05:00

...do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air:

they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive

and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?'

or 'What shall we drink?'

or 'What shall we wear?'

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

-Matthew 6:25-33

Aaaah, spring.

2007-04-04T19:58:00.000-05:00

yeah...i know I have ugly feet...i thought it was a cool picture, though. :)

As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from
everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD!

Psalm 103: 15-20

update coming soon!

2007-04-03T15:02:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

I'm gonna be putting up a couple new updates really soon, but other than that, my posts are going to become rather sporadic. I've fallen very behind in school because of Godspell, and I think I need to devote as much time as I can to catching up.

But check back every once in a while, and I might have posted something special. Spring is such a wonderful time to shoot nature pics!

Does anyone have any preferences on what I should keep on posting? I want to post stuff that will bless everyone, so, Poll Time: Would you like to see more nature pics, scriptures with nature pics, people pics, or...just random pics...? Be sure to comment and let me know!

Spring has Sprung!

2007-03-28T12:45:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry...

2007-03-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

...for the lack of posts. I've been busy playing on this:

Chomping on these:

And looking like this:

(Photocredit: my sister, Chelsea)

yeah.
Anyways, I thought it was pretty cool that I figured out the line we were singing when she took this picture. "Not thrones and crowns, but Mmmmen" yep. I'm brilliant like that. :D

This weekend are our last two performances. Come if you haven't already!!! And please pray!!! We are very aware of our need for His grace and mercy and healing. :)