{cotton love}

Last year I missed cotton pictures with Abigail, so this year I made sure I got into a cotton field since they are everywhere in Huntsville…
I will have to say, my heart stopped a few beats when I was editing this picture. I have to remind myself daily, she is only 3. I need to enjoy the rambunctiousness, the needy moments, the craves of attention she has when Jaden is getting attention and she is not….there are days she seems so much bigger than what she is because she talks back, and is so bold with her words. But, its moments like tonight when I was lying with her in bed, she pulled my arm over her to snuggle a little closer.
I love the girl she is becoming. I love that she is learning to control her voice and tantrums quicker than she use to. I love that she has a heart to serve. I love that she adores me and I am her favorite person.
I love being a momma. period.

Wedding in Columbia, Missouri

It seems crazy that almost a year ago I shot Susan and Donnie’s engagement pictures up in Missouri, and now they are happily married! Susan cracked me up with how well organized she was with all her planning, she took care of my hotel a year in advance, and I think its ok for me to say this now, she booked me before she even had a ring on her finger. 😉
The wedding took place at http://www.alpineparkandgardens.com/” title=”Alpine Park and Gardens” target=”_blank”>
It was a typical hot muggy August day, but we made the most of it, and had a lot of good laughs…especially on the tire swing.
Thanks so much Susan for asking me to be part of your beautiful day! I hope you enjoy a little peek into your wedding day. 🙂

{A cord of three strands is not easily broken}

This couple not only humbles me every time I am around them, but they make me strive to love Jesus more. A little background on this couple…
When we moved here a little over a year ago my husband got to know this guy named Paul..I had no idea who he was, but my husband went to his house quite often for guys night. His wife was in Birmingham (hour in a half) from where we live, with their son, Greyson. I will not go into much detail, but, he was born at 26 weeks, was 2 pds 4 ounces and 13 inches long and was diagnosed with prune belly syndrome. Brittni lived there, while Paul lived back here to work and provide. I never met this couple, just heard a lot about them. This past spring their sweet son went home with the Lord after a year in a half of life here on this earth. Let me tell you, you will never meet two people that handled a situation like this better than they did….
Scriptures they clung to were:
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord…” 1 Sam. 1:27 and “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know this full well. Psalms 139:14”
So humbling to know they could read these scriptures with faith and trust in God. Having a child placed in your womb, then two short years later having to give him back to Jesus…these are circumstances that I can not fathom and do not and will never understand completely until I am in heaven with Jesus. I will have to say, I can not wait to meet Greyson!
It’s so easy to ask the question…why does something like this have to happen to two people that are SO SWEET and LOVE Jesus with all their heart…but, who am I to question the will of God?
I can’t help to think of the story of Joseph, when his brothers sold him to the slaves due to being jealous of him, but told their father that he had died….but in the end all Joseph could say to his brothers were these tender words…
“you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is not being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20
Who knows how many lives you have touched through your faithfulness and trust in God. We don’t understand the goodness that is being accomplished out of this, but God does…and I pray that others come to Christ through your faith in God.

You will see in one of the pictures the tattoo Paul has on his arm…the name of his son….

so sweet!!!
I thought it be funny to sit in the middle of all these crazy animals…I love their expressions. 🙂

and to end the night on this pic should make everyone smile.

{rivers cannot wash it away} Huntsville, Al Engagement Photographer

I love it when a couple is up for anything, even starting their engagement shoot at 6:30 am, and trusted me when I told them to wear hiking shoes because to get to our location we would have to go down a steep hill, and get into a river. They both fully trusted me, and were ready to do whatever! That’s my type of couple!
This couple was also very unique because they wanted to express in their shoot how God brought them together. This is what her email wrote:
“I feel like God had a huge part in bringing Matt and I together –I was wondering if by chance you could incorporate Jesus somehow into our pictures…I know you are very creative and I want my family and friends to see and remember and feel God throughout this whole process… I don’t want the wedding to make me forget the most important part which is my vow to God that I never want to break.. and to love others like He loved me first… it doesn’t have to be anything big…it can be very subtle…no big deal if it is not really possible…I just wanted to ask anyway.

The verse I used to describe Matt and I is:

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. Song of Solomon 8:6-7”

I used the Scripture to inspire me, and when it read that rivers cannon wash it away, I knew just the place I wanted to go. When I typed up their scripture I burnt the edges to represent their love like a blazing fire as the Scripture mentions.
The headpiece that she is wearing was created and designed by my mother and I. I wanted it to have a fall but angelic feel to it, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the result.
The lighting that morning was unreal, and the rainbow flair that I was capturing blew me away. If only every session could go as perfect as this one. 🙂

well why not start out the shoot cuddling on a tree? 🙂

and why not cross a raging river to stand in one anothers arms…you know you do this everyday with the love of your life. 🙂

and when you get your pants wet by accident, you mine as well stand there and make-out with your beautiful fiance.

their life verse…love it….


Headpiece designed by me and created by my awesome momma.
hello beautiful rainbow sunlight

Don’t forget you can share this with friends and family. I would love if you did. 🙂 And would love feedback. 😉

{sweet tears}

My heart is heavy for hurting friends.
My heart is heavy for not feeling connected to my community as much as I would like to.
My heart is heavy for the lost.
My heart is heavy for not enough time to get things done.
My heart is heavy……but a still small voice that is ever so sweet calls out to me and says……..

come to me sweet daughter……open your heart to me….give me your burdens….lay them down at my feet….wipe your tears on my sleeve….place your face in my hands and look up at me….trust me, sit in my presence and rest.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What is weighing your heart down? Have you taken time to just sit in the silence at the feet of Jesus? The Spirit is alive and powerful, waiting for us to come to Him with open arms and an open mind…..

i love you Lord….thank-you for these sweet moments with you…..

{inspired by nature}

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.
~William Butler Yeats, “The Stolen Child”

Hair piece was inspired by me, and my lovely mother helped me put it together. I think it went lovely with her outfit, the season of fall, and the theme of their of the shoot…

Share the love!
Anna

Huntsville Alabama Engagement session

My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Psalms 108:1

Megan and Josh were my first fall engagement shoot for the year, so I wanted to start out with a big bang and go all out! When they were telling me about their relationship, Megan told me Josh played in the Jazz band at the Arsenal here in Huntsville, Al. And right from that point my mind starting filling with a music theme.
They were so cute when we started the session, they had the normal nervous jitters, but once we got into the swing of things, they warmed up, relaxed and worked the camera like pros.

Megan and Josh–may you never forget to dance in the kitchen together, love each other unconditionally, and set aside quiet time on the couch for one another without any distractions once married….marriage truly is one of the greatest relationships you will ever encounter, but it all requires work and dedication, every single day. I am looking forward to the BIG day!! Congrats again!

xoxo
Anna

{a kiss}

YOUR LIPS ARE JEWEL RED,
YOUR MOUTH ELEGANT AND INVITING,
YOUR VEILED CHEEKS SOFT AND RADIANT.

Do you remember your first kiss? I sure do, and wish I could go back and take it back and saved it for my husband…but, I didn’t and still had a beautiful first kiss at the front door of my apartment at college. 🙂 And he asked me like a gentleman should, I believe he said, Miss Murphy…may I give you a kiss tonight? My heart still leaps, and gets butterflies in my stomach thinking about that night. We kissed, then I went in my apartment and squealed to my roommates! Then, they squealed with me.
First kisses are special, and should be treasured.

Who would like to share their first kiss story? 🙂

{laughter}

a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Did you know that it is said that…..children laugh more than 300 times a day, whereas adults laugh less than 20 times a day.
When is it when life doesn’t seem so funny anymore? Or worth giggling about? One of my favorite things to do with my daughter is laugh…and this picture is a genuine laugh out loud! 🙂 (she tooted, and thought it was pretty funny) but, right before the spontaneous combustion, I was able to capture this serious shot of my daughter….

Laughing is contagious, and truly is medicine for the soul. After a good laugh, you feel cleansed.

Who/What makes you laugh the most?
What is holding you back from letting go and laughing with others?

{fame}

We all want a taste of fame, whether it be from being published in a magazine, being the top baker, being rated the top photographer in the world…the list goes on….we are drawn in at the checkout line with what the front cover has to say about the “stars”. Don’t deny it, you know you look and are curious….what is it, that draws us in, that captivates our minds by the stars of Hollywood?
I will be honest, I want to be one of the top photographers. Why, I ask myself….stunned with no answer. Simply just because I want that fame…I guess. We all want followers, that is how the world works…twitter…follow me…..instagram…follow me…..facebook…be my friend…..what does this all mean. It seems to all be about status. Well I am sorry, but these words I am writing are only taking me back to Scripture. TRUTH. CONVICTION. ULTIMATE LEADER.
The world is very deceptive, always turning everything Scripture has to say around to pointing to us, and not God. If we want people to follow us on twitter, then are we leading others to follow Christ?
Words from Christ…”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:23-25
It’s so easy to want it all, but, when God has entrusted me with two precious children to raise up to follow Him, those need to be my main priorities, they should be my fans that I desire to win over everyday, not the world….
My heart and mind is about to explode with everything I want to do today….write, read, organize a better spiritual plan for myself,and working with Abigail, make a big calendar on my wall, edit pictures, keep my house clean, take care of my kids….
Has life ever not been busy?
Do we choose to make it busy?
Where are we exerting most of our energy every day?

My family….the reason I want to live life to the fullest everyday.