Gingerbread

My Yankee Gingerbread candle only has a few hours of life left... it has done a great job over the 180 hour burn time. It has been the cleanest burn candle that I've ever had- yes, I always trim the wick but with this one I think I could reuse the jar if I really wanted.
It has such a great smell but I'll have to wait 10 more months to purchase another one.
Yes, this is random but I figured since I haven't had much depth in my recent posts that this will go along with all the others. I also had an extra 5 minutes before I rest my weary eyes due to a severe headache.
I pray that each of you have a blessed weekend full of sweet memories and restful moments.

Engagement photos at IMA

So I went to Indy first thing Sunday morning to shoot Ash & Luke's engagement photos. We went to the IMA and Lily house... at first thought, I was a little hesitant going into an art museum where no flash photography is allowed. But my trusty camera did well on a high ISO setting. You can check it out here and let me know what you think.
This is the couple that is flying me down to FL for their destination wedding in May.

beauty for ashes

I have a logo project to do for a local church... here are the raw images. I'll post the final logo when finished. I had a blast with this challenge! Mad props to my great hand models.
I added some more as of today- enjoy!

Happy

Natasha Bedingfield has a new cd out today... This chorus has some meaningful lyrics as the new year has brought me some new meaning and a perspective change!



Happy
Someone just tell me
That it’s ok now
What are you worried about

Got my dreams, got my life, got my love (*those I love)
Got my friends got the sunshine above
Why am I making this hard on myself
When there’s so many beautiful reasons I have to be happy

Lord let me focus on the beautiful reasons I have to be happy!

Relationships of Integrity

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in."

"We all long for community and relationships" Pastor Mark shared while we are continuing in the Desires series Me vs We.

I've been thinking/talking a lot about relationships lately and reflecting on who I've stayed close with over the years as well as how some have changed over the months, years... as well as the new people that God has placed in my life whether it is for business opportunity or friendship.

Along with many other great thoughts, he shared the following list that I will come back to often and reflect
1. Do no harm.
2. Do all the good you can.
3. Stay in love with God.

"This kind of covenant relationship will transform our lives for the glory of God"

God has some beautiful relationships forming and being strengthened... I'm pretty stoked to see where they lead.

So small by Carrie Underwood

What you got if you ain't got love
The kind that you just want to give away
It's ok to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out and just be left alone
But don't run out on your faith

Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing Is just a grain of sand And what you've been out there searching for forever Is in your hands And when you figure out love is all that matters after all It sure makes everything else seem So small
It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It's like a river that's so wide it swallows you whole
While you're sitting around thinking about what you can't change

And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast You better make it count cause you can't get it back
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, and when you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else seem
So small

Aaron

Happy birthday cousin! I hope you have a day full of joy!
love you
-b

Michaela

10 today... wow. I remember going over to your house on my Christmas break only to hold you in my arms when you were just a little one. Hope you have a great birthday sweetie!

hands

So I had a variety of weekend options and one of the "non-options" was working on Saturday. I was hoping to have a night free but it was alright, I had the twins for the evening. They were both pretty excited/crazy for most of the night and after dinner and "simon says" we decided to watch a 30 minute Geotrax movie before bath, in hopes that they would settle down a bit. It also gave me a chance to clean up from dinner. The minute I sat down they both ran over to me to sit on my lap. I glanced down and noticed the hand that was placed upon mine.. priceless. I quickly realized this was where I needed to be last night. Other plans can be made later- I'm glad I could watch them- I love these boys.

brrrrr*

4pm- 10 degrees

6pm- 8 degrees

1-ish am- 1 degree

Yes, it was very cold last night.
I was thinking a lot about those who are homeless and how frigid they must have been last night. It got me thinking... not only how blessed I am to be in a house with an average temperature of 70 degrees but how I've also been blessed to be a blessing. What can I give from what God has given me?
Just a thought

children

Check out my zenfolio to see some new pictures. I did a shoot today of Cam, Kendyl and Cayden... we had a fun time.

Kendy started out camera shy and within 5 minutes was posing and telling me how to take the picture. I love 3 yr olds... we have LOTS of princess photos that I still need to sort through. She had a wonderful time and Mom was very happy!

sister

Happy birthday sister... you are 12 today. I can remember as if it were yesterday the day that Grandma and Grandpa came to pick me up as we drove to Chicago to see you as you were just a few hours old. As the years go by... other things may change but we will always be "best sisters" ::ilu::
This is the last photo we took from Christmas06. Some days are harder than others... I know she has grown up a lot in a year. I do miss her...

What is in a name?

So, here is the deal... I am trying to figure out if I want to keep "brittanirenee photography" or come up with a more unique business name before its official.

If you have an idea (especially if you've already seen my work) let me know! All names will be taken into consideration. If I chose yours maybe there will be a special prize ;)

blessed to be a blessing

And on this road to righteousness sometimes the climb can be so steep
I may falter in my steps but never beyond Your reach

My practicum has come and gone

Today was my last day at ND... it was refreshing knowing that I officially have finished my early childhood degree but bittersweet since I know I'll miss the kids a ton. They became part of my life for over 3 months.. I had a great team to work with and children that were worth waking up early for. It was something new every day and I will never forget the one child that did art for the first time- and that it was with me.
I believe I grew a lot, considering as of August I had never taught 16-20 children in my life! I was a little worried about that "minor factor" but I went in and felt completely assimilated within 2 days. I'm hoping to go back and visit before the spring semester is over. I'm very grateful for the teaching experiences I have had over the past 3 months. It has been so exciting to watch the children grow and learn so many new things and accomplish great things! Yes, we do celebrate, sing and dance if a friend went "potty in the potty." Its a big deal for a 2 year old to sing and celebrate how far they've come!
I will always remember the daily hugs I received from each of these children.

Manifesto

As the new year presses on- I just wanted to take a moment to dive back into the book that "got me thinkin" last year. This is the manifesto and I can easily apply this to my life.
"Go after a dream that is destined to fail unless God intervenes. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey."
Ah amazing.

impromptu hair cut

Inspired to change a few things
I saw a picture
Liked it
Asked Mom if she'd like to chop my hair off
She said sure

This is the resultiLike

do you?

Note: the last pic was taken with the camera phone so its a mirror image- the right side is really the left :)

life song of the new year

Here is an amazing performance of this song

Oh the Glory of it All
By: David Crowder Band

At the start, He was there, He was there
In the end, He’ll be there, He’ll be there
After all, our hands have wrought, He forgives

Oh the glory of it all, is He came here
For the rescue of us all, that we may live
For the glory of it all, for the glory of it all

All is lost, find Him there, find Him there
After night, dawn is there, dawn is there
After all, falls apart, He repairs, He repairs

Oh the glory of it all, is he came here
For the rescue of us all, that we may live
For the glory of it all, oh He is here
Redemption from the fall, that we may live
For the glory it all, oh the glory of it all
The glory of it all, oh the glory of it all

After night, comes a light, dawn is here, dawn is here
It’s a new day, it’s a new day

Everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same

Oh the glory of it all, is You came here
For the rescue of us all, that we may live
For the glory of it all, oh You are here
With redemption for us all, that we may live
For the glory of it all, oh the glory of it all
The glory of it all, oh the glory it all

Everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same
We will never be the same…

Otorhynolaryngologist

My appointment with the specialist on Friday went well; he said everything looks good, consequently no sinus surgery or any further testing. I had in the back of my head the possibility of sinus surgery and I wasn't looking forward to what he potentially had to say.
It took about 6 weeks to get in and see him so I know I'm a lot better since then- the dr that referred me just wanted to make sure there were no underlying issues.
Yes, I still need to work on the boost in my immune system and only take a few precautionary measures but I really hope this year is much better than the last concerning my health.

Be blessed today!

these are unedited but still fun

sneak preview

I did a "fun shoot" yesterday and here is a preview- more to come later!

thanks girls,
I heart you!

Last Family Photo Shoot of 2007

I had the joy of providing the Campbell's with a family photo- or a few of them! They haven't had a family picture in years and the oldest daughter is moving out of state soon so they wanted to have something done before she left. The two daughters had me come and will have a large print made for their parents as a Christmas gift. I needed the laughter they provided! These are only a few but I'll be putting a variety on my website in the families album- for right now the family has access to the entire album in their name.

Happy New Year