chelsy's blog

Blue Skies

2012-02-11T16:29:00.001-05:00

On days of gray
When doubt clouds my view
It’s so hard to see past my fears
My strength seems to fade
And it’s all I can do
To hold on, ’til the light reappears
Still, I believe though some rain’s bound to fall
That you’re here next to me
And you’re over it all
Lord, the sky’s still blue
For my hope is in you
You’re my joy
You’re the dream that’s still alive
Like the wind at my back
And the sun on my face
You are life
You’re grace
You are blue skies
You’re my blue skies

When nights are long
Seems the dark has no end
Still we walk on in light of the truth
For waiting beyond
Where the morning begins
Is the dawn, and your mercy anew
Oh, to believe we’re alive in your love
There is so much to see
If we keep looking up

Lord, the sky’s still blue
For my hope is in you
You’re my joy
You’re the dream that’s still alive
Like the wind at my back
And the sun on my face
You are life
You’re grace
You are blue skies
You’re my blue skies

{"Blue Skies" by matt huesmann & grant cunningham}
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This song is one of my all-time favorites. I love how it speaks about the pain and the hard times in life...and yet the chorus always comes back to the fact that the "sky is still blue". For the ?? time, I am reminded that my circumstances do not have to control my joy.

I have to CHOOSE joy.

For me....its been choosing joy even when I MISS my home

Choosing joy even when I'm exausted and just want to sleep..and its time to do another concert.

Choosing joy even when I'd give almost anything for just 10 minutes to listen to nothing but myself thinking. =)

Choosing joy even when it seems that I can't make yet another decision without falling apart.

Choosing joy. It is all about joy. All about seeing past the rain and the wind and seeing the BLUE in the sky.

Today I want to thank God for the blue.....the blue that is there because my hope is in HIM!

I often feel like my "thoughts" blog posts are me getting up on my little invisible box and preaching to myself. Saying what I think. Thinking out loud.

After I've finished....I go back and read what I wrote and feel so convicted.

And then all of you just happen to read this and get in on my self-examination and self-diagnosis of my problems and issues. =)

-chels

Allison::Senior2011

2012-02-07T09:41:00.001-05:00

Congratulations, sister! I'm so proud of all you and all your hard work in graduating early.

Love you!

Cousin PhotoShoot

2012-02-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

These are a few more of my cousins. The pictures are from last summer. I just haven't gotten around to posting them til now.

They're amazing ladies and I love them to death.

We rang in age from 14 to 21...you'd never guess, right?

The younger ones are mature beyond their years and us older ones are still 13-yr olds at heart.

well......

You girls bless me so much with your amazing friendship. your commitments to purity. your love for your families. your hearts for others. your unique and creative personalities.

and most of all.....the joy of Jesus that just shines on your faces.

I'm so blessed to have ya'll as cousins.

*cheers* to our host of memories!

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(thank-you, Thomas, for your patience in taking these pictures for us. It is no small feat to photograph eight girls, five of whom are photographers. =) You did a great job)

Ministry with Cousins

2012-02-04T22:03:00.001-05:00

Three of my Bontrager cousins were at the prison crusade this year. Will was our evangelist and Dorcas and Naomi were in the same region as we were the last two days so it was wonderful to spend some time with them.

Will got to be just like part of the family (to those of you who have had the misfortune of traveling with our family...you know exactly what I mean) We are quite a rowdy, noisy, unconventional crew, and I'm afraid day #1 on the bus is always a little eye-opening and shocking to those coming in from the "outside". Seriously, folks, its not at all the glamorous ride ya'll think it is!
Will did a marvelous job blending in and in no time he was just another one of us. =)

We had many long discussions about all sorts of things. Everything from prayer to healing to finding "the one" (or "the one" finding you) to missions to family to standards to the difference between teaching and preaching....was discussed, dissected, and determined.
Okay. Not quite.
But there is something very encouraging about talking about these life issues with other people who are going at it with the same guide as you---God's Word.
It is very uplifting and strengthening, and makes you want to know even more what you believe, and why you believe it.

love you people!

The Matching Tradition

2012-02-04T19:28:00.001-05:00

so.it.was.lovely

once again. this was time #4 for "the matching tradition". it is so fun!

we went to the mall and after about 50 stores and ??? dressing rooms we finally found something we all half ways liked.

(grin)

I personally tried on everything from an XS to an XL and everything in between, due to the differences in stores' clothing sizes.

I'm sure the clerks were laughing. I had to laugh myself. Our process of selection was, um, original.

Have you ever tried a shopping trip with all four of the personalities?

Sanguine, choleric, melancholy, and phlegmatic?

It was quite humorous, the different way we each evaluated the situation.

Such as....

"I LOVE this shirt!! Its so my color!! You all love this, right girls?" exclaims the sanguine

"I just don't know if I should get a medium or a large. I want something I'll like. I want it to fit me. I like my shirts a certain fit," debates the melancholy

"I like this one. But you don't? Which one do you like? Well, yes, I like this one....but that one is really pretty! We can get that one. I like them both," reassures the phlegmatic.

"Girls! We're running out of time! Lets just all agree and get something," states the choleric.

This is not word-for-word accurate but...you get the idea.
(smile)

{ali...torie...myself...Tess}

Through all of that.....we actually ended up matching. =)

It was such a party.

Love you ladies! I love your personalities and how we have so much fun when we're together! Can't wait til next time!

behind the wire

2012-01-28T22:13:00.002-05:00

My heart is so full.

How can I describe this week in words?

How can I describe my thoughts as I walked behind these fences on Monday for the 32nd time in six years?

How can I describe the honest JOY that filled my heart at the thought of what would happen during our three hours in prison each night?

How can I describe what it is like to see these men and women inmates broken before God?

How can I describe seeing God's power come down and literally, physically, heal the sick?

How can I describe the fire of God that fell each night as my twenty-year old cousin passionately proclaimed the gospel and the truth of God's redemption and grace?

How can I describe singing to men and women who were weeping, laughing, shouting, and weeping again?

How can I describe the testimonies we heard every night from inmates?

How can I describe the church behind bars? How it is SO alive? How it puts our churches to shame? How it makes me want to know God more?

How can I describe all this?

I can't. Words can't express it....I just know that it changes me every time I experience it.

I come away with a renewed sense of what I have in godly family....a renewed sense of God's glory.....a renewed sense of thankfulness.....a renewed sense of the POWER of Jesus in changing lives.

Yes...my heart is full!

Charming Little Man

2012-01-20T23:13:00.001-05:00

Isn't this little Michael James one of the cutest little men? I LOVE his eyes.....

Rebecca Shania

2012-01-10T16:32:00.001-05:00

This is my baby sister, Rebecca Shania.

Tell me, people.....is she not the most adorable, darling child you have ever seen??

I love her to the moon and back....

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(photo by GehmanPhotography)

PEACE

2012-01-05T15:15:00.002-05:00

"PEACE.....it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

{unknown}

Alesha & Allison

2012-01-04T18:51:00.002-05:00

Don't they look alike?

Christmas Memories

2011-12-28T21:36:00.002-05:00

This Christmas was probably the most special Christmas I can remember.

The older us cousins grow, the closer we get. So everytime all the Bontrager girl cousins are able to come from IA, MO, & TX to get together....we have so many memories from our times together and I am so blessed to have them as my friends and cousins.

I'm posting more about our weekend over on our family blog, but here are a few of the "girl" moments we captured on camera.

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On Christmas Eve we spent a little time at Goodwill before heading over to join everyone else at Pizza Hut for dinner.

Teresa, Victoria, Ally, Kenzie, Naomi, Tiffany, Allison, Dorcas, Hannah, Rhoda, & Mary

(I attempted to put the camera on timer, but by the time I started the 10 seconds and got it positioned on the van hood...I only had about 2 seconds left to run across the parking lot and join everyone else. After one try I gave up =))

I love this picture. =) They were all obviously deep in thought.....

And here's all of us at Pizza Hut

(my dear aunt arrived so we put her behind the camera)

We had the annual "teenage & older" girls night at the grandma house. (for those of you who don't know, a "grandma house" is an amish tradition-a little house that amish families build onto their homes for their parents to live in. This little house is built onto the house where my dad grew up and is where my great-grandma lived before she died. Now it is mostly empty and is used as a guest house of sorts)

It is always the perfect place for us rather noisy girls....we can be as loud as we want, as long as we want...and we don't keep anyone else awake because we're in our own little house. =)

This year....we got off right away into some deep discussions about convictions/standards/guidelines/etc and that kept going until probably 12:30am, at which point Allison and Naomi declared they were too tired to stay awake any longer so they left to go sleep in the adjoining house.
(interesting note: we learned the following morning that the "too-tired-to-stay-with-the-party" Allison & Naomi went to bed and proceeded to talk for the next hour and a half. Hmm...so much for being tired!)

Those of us remaining got launched into an extremely interesting personality evaluation of Tiffany. (our goal was to evaluate all of us girls over the weekend, but it didn't happen)

This is a personality test where there are four different options for a variety of strengths/weaknesses. You have to check one out of each set of four and then add up all your points to figure out if you are

A} Choleric

B} Sanguine

C} Melancholy

D} Phlegmatic

If you've never done this, or studied it, you simply must! It is SO fascinating to know what you are, and what those around you are....its very helpful in learning to get along with and relate to your family, especially.

At some point we began to get really crazy. Here we were attempting a self-portrait, but Dorcas (who had set the camera on timer) was in such a hurry to get into her position that she tripped, sending us all into hysterical laughter and resulting in the above expressions.

Enjoying blankets, coffee, and another good discussion on Grandma's porch swing, Christmas evening.

Life

2011-12-17T21:32:00.001-05:00

Hello all!

Obviously the scrumptious saturday deal is over.

*frown*

I am disappointed that I didn't make the full 8 weeks but I am surprised that I kept it going as long as I did so I guess its not all bad. I got close, at least!

*smile*

This past week has been full to the brim. Preparing to leave my home for 3 months.....lots of music practice w/ my siblings in preparation for the tour....sewing.....a formal banquet..... a surprise birthday party last Saturday with my sister and 10 dear friends (I'll be posting more about that *fabulous* time later).....Christmas preparations (can't WAIT to see these dear cousins who are coming!).....more sewing.....lots of time spent mailing out cds and promotional packets.....a birthday party for a sibling.....accompanying for the community choir performance.....and a huge cooking disaster one hour ago.

*frowns and smiles inserted here in rapid succession of each other as I remember how horrible it was at the beginning...and how hilarious at the end*

(more on that to come later as well. Stay tuned. Its a hummer of a story. =))

I may be missing many additional adventures but those are the few that come to my mind at the moment. Life is never dull on the farm!

Have a blessed weekend, all! I'll be back after Christmas! =)

~Chels

Random

2011-12-17T21:12:00.001-05:00

I'm posting this picture ONLY because it is part of a bargain I was coerced into, and not by my choice.

Just to clarify. =)

So. In Octber we were in Shipshewana with some friends, and one of them unofficially ended up being the photographer for the weekend. She later sent me some of the photos she took...including this one, and also another picture she had found from long, long ago. She said the "long, long ago" picture was only for me to laugh at, and that I was NOT allowed to post it. Of course the minute I saw that photo I knew it HAD to go on the blog. So I responded pleading (with all my skill) that she PLEEEEEASE give me her permission to post that photo, and that I would send her chocolate if she would! In the email, I also commented on the other photos she had sent, and, among other things, I told her that the above photo of me was HORRIBLE and that I hated it.

She promptly emailed back saying that she would discuss it with our other friend who had also been in the "long, long ago" photo, and they would let me know.

I was left to agonize over the outcome of their decision....

Finally they emailed, with this conniving and utterly unkind bargain-

I could post "long, long ago" if I promised to send them both chocolate...

AND post that AWFUL picture of me!

I was horrified and again tried my usually successful pleading skills...but this time to no avail. They were determined to make me post it.
*sigh*
Enough said.
(amazingly enough, I still love them both dearly....and will return the *unkind* favor if the opportunity ever comes my way. =))

New Book Out....

2011-12-06T17:13:00.004-05:00

The {must-read} book

"Understanding Women Volume One"

has finally arrived in stores!

Prepare to be enlightened greatly. =)
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(note: I know the quality of this photo is not the normal calibar of the photography seen on my blog,but.....this was WAY too great not to post =))

AND THE WINNER IS.......

2011-12-03T18:22:00.002-05:00

(drum-roll, please......)

......Dorcas Rose Schrock!!!

Congratulations, Dorcas, on winning a beautiful scarf! It will be arriving in your mailbox sometime near the end of next week!

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Thanks so much to everyone else for entering/linking/following/participating.

Of course it wouldn't have been a giveaway without you all!

Now, to all of you who didn't win and are currently sobbing buckets of tears at the thought of this gorgeous scarf going to a closet other than your own...I have some marvelous news for you!

You can purchase the same scarf for just $10 over at Spoonfuls of Sugar!

What are you waiting for?!?!

Christmas is just around the corner! Head on over and get your shopping done!

Scrumptious Saturday {6}

2011-12-03T13:21:00.000-05:00

::Quick Berry Cream Dessert::

-2 T. plain gelatin

-1/2 cup cold water

-1 cup milk

-1 quart cream

-3 T. maple syrup

-1/2 tsp. vanilla

-3 pints frozen berries

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Mix gelatin with cold water.

Heat 1 cup milk until almost boiling; add the gelatin/water mixture to hot milk to dissolve.

Whip the cream until thick; add sweetener and vanilla. Mix cream mixture into gelatin/milk mixture and add frozen berries.

Pour immediately unto serving bowl and chill for several hours until set.

Serve and enjoy!

Scrumptious Saturday {5}

2011-11-26T21:27:00.000-05:00

::Blackberry Maple Scones::

1 ½ cups flour
3 Tbsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. sea salt

1-1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 heaping cups blackberries OR raspberries
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and whisk together. Cut in the shortening with your fingers or a pastry cutter until coarse crumbs are formed.
In a separate small bowl whisk together the syrup, milk, and vanilla. Add this to the dry ingredients and quickly mix together with a fork or wooden spoon until the dough thickens. Fold in the berries, being very careful not to over mix.
Drop by the large spoonful onto a cookie sheet and bake for about 15 to 17 minutes, depending on the size of your scone.
Yield: About 32-40 large scones

{Note: Whenever you see a recipe with this much butter, you can know it is bound to be a winner. =)
-We have been cooking gluten-free lately, so I made these with a gluten-free flour mix my sister concocted. Regular flour (as the recipe uses) will work just as well}

Giveaway!!

2011-11-21T09:14:00.002-05:00

Blue Fringe Wrap Scarf

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I am {most} excited to announce this spectacular giveaway featuring one of the amazing creations of my very beautiful and creative cousin from Georgia.

I am also excited because this is the first give-away for my blog and that is thrilling in itself. =)

Corina (my cousin) has recently opened a delightful business called Spoonfuls of Sugar. Visit her Etsy shop to browse and purchase from her collection of scarves, hair flowers, and headbands.

You can also become a fan of Spoonfuls of Sugar on her facebook page

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(above photo: I'm modeling my own scarf. I will be giving away an identical scarf to the one I'm wearing. This scarf is adorable and SO fun because it is so different from the typical scarf. It is actually a circle, about 60" in length, that can be draped around the neck once or twice)

Instructions for the give-away are simple: just comment with your full name (first, middle, & last)

You can get an additional entry if you post about this giveaway and link to it on your blog or facebook page, or both! To do that, simply do a post linking to this on your blog/facebook, and then submit another comment on this post with the link to the post you did.

At the end of two weeks I will draw from all the names entered and will do another post with the winner's name, at which point the winner will be requested to send me their address...and I will send them the scarf!
Let the fun begin!

Scrumptious Saturday {4}

2011-11-19T20:39:00.003-05:00

::Broccoli-Mushroom Penne Pasta::

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-1 & 1/2 lbs. penne pasta (or other pasta- I used rice pasta)

-1/2 cup butter

-2 garlic cloves

-8 oz. can mushrooms

-1 small onion
-1 & 1/2 cups cooked & cubed chicken

-4 cups frozen broccoli

-1 tsp. basil

-1 tsp. oregano

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1. Cook pasta to desired doneness

2. Melt butter in saucepan and saute' the garlic, mushrooms, & onion for about 5 minutes or until tender. Add chicken and continue cooking until all is hot.

3. Cook broccoli until heated through.

4. Toss sauteed mixture, pasta, broccoli, & herbs together and serve immediately.

(Note: Serves 6. This recipe worked out great for me this week as I was cooking for only five in our family =))

Mitchell::Senior2011

2011-11-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

Mitchell&Allison::Seniors2011

2011-11-19T16:49:00.001-05:00

Back in September, I had the fun of doing a duo senior photo shoot for two of my siblings, Mitchell & Allison, who graduated together this fall. It was a great experience. As they are my family and best friends....it was more of a party than a photoshoot!

Here are a few of the shots that we did with them together.

The glasses were Mitchell's idea...SO cool.

*smile*
Watch for their individual photo shoots, coming soon!

4th Place for Joshua!!!

2011-11-19T15:57:00.001-05:00

Congratulations, Joshua, on winning 4th place at the 2011 National Bible Bee Final Juniors Competition in Nashville, TN!!!!!!!!!

I'm SO proud of you!=)

Note: Joshua recited all of his verses in the final five rounds word perfectly. (each contestant recited one passage of up to sixteen verses, per round) After two of the seven contestants were knocked out for mistakes, the remaining five were judged by/according to their previous Sword Study written test scores)

Reba on the Phone

2011-11-19T11:24:00.000-05:00

Rebecca loves talking on the phone. With over half the family gone this past week, she's had lots of opportunities for phone chats with the missing family members.

I thought these were too cute not to post. She is the queen of expressions. =)

Excitment!!

2011-11-19T10:42:00.002-05:00

Found out some amazing news this morning about this handsome brother of mine and what he is going to be doing today at 1:00pm.

VERY exciting news. =)

Visit our family blog for the whole scoop, and go to the Bible Bee website to watch the finals live as Joshua and 6 other finalists compete for the $50,000 first place prize today at 1:00pm!!

2011-11-14T16:21:00.002-05:00

Scrumptious Saturday {3}

2011-11-12T20:04:00.000-05:00

::Breakfast Apple Coffee Cake::

CAKE

~3/4 cup butter

~1 cup sugar

~3 eggs

~3 1/4 cups flour

~1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

~3/4 tsp. salt

~1 1/2 cups milk

~3 1/2 cups apples (cored, peeled, & diced)

~8 oz. cream cheese, softened and cubed

TOPPING

~4 T. flour

~4 T. sugar

~4 T. butter, melted

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture, alternately with milk.

Add apples and cream cheese and mix just until blended.

Pour into greased 9x13 inch baking dish.(I prefer glass)

Mix topping ingredients and drop small spoonfuls on top of the cake.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

And there you have it---a bite of delicious, healthy, buttery, fattening goodness.

Just don't focus on the fattening part and you'll be good.

*grin*

Scrumptious Saturday {2}

2011-11-05T17:49:00.000-04:00

::Jalepeno Popper Burgers::

::Ingredients::

3 jalapeno peppers (halve lengthwise, remove/disgard seeds, and chop finely)
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 pounds ground beef
cheese
hamburger buns, split
lettuce leaves
tomato slices
guacamole
ketchup/mayo/mustard

::Directions::

In a small bowl, combine the bacon, cream cheese and jalapeno until blended.
In a large bowl, combine the garlic, salt, lemon-pepper, pepper and paprika. Crumble beef over mixture and mix just until blended. Shape into eight thin patties. Spoon bacon mixture onto center of four patties; top with remaining patties and press edges firmly to seal.
Grill burgers until done
Serve with toppings

chefs notes: #1: For those of you that are wondering....I made four recipes for my family. *smile*

#2: to use less jalepeno, leave seeds in. The seeds of a jalepeno have most of the zing. For example, I made this recipe times four, but only used 3/4 of a jalepeno, because I left the seeds in
#3: these are SO yummy. You will never be content with a "normal" hamburger again!

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Bottom half of burger with jalepeno filling

top of burger over jalepeno filling and edges pressed together with bottom half of burger

FINAL PRODUCT PHOTO!

Scrumptious Saturday {1}

2011-10-29T11:23:00.000-04:00

::German Chocolate Cake::

::INGREDIENTS::
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup water

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

4 eggs, separated

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

::FILLING::
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup cream
1/2 cup butter
3 egg yolks, beaten
1-1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

::GLAZE::
1 cup chocolate chips
1 T. coconut oil (or butter)

Directions
Line three greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper. Grease waxed paper and set aside. In small saucepan, melt chocolate with water over low heat; cool.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 4 egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in melted chocolate and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
In a small bowl and with clean beaters, beat the 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into the creamed mixture; fold in remaining whites.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 24-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, in a small saucepan, heat the sugar, milk, butter and egg yolks over medium-low heat until mixture is thickened and golden brown, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Stir in the coconut, pecans and vanilla extract. Cool until thick enough to spread. Spread a third of the frosting over each cake layer and stack the layers.
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and oil; stir until smooth; drizzle over and down sides of cake.
Yield: 12-16 servings

{Note: this cake is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I made it two weeks ago for my mother's birthday---yummy stuff! Be sure you either serve it to a large family or group because otherwise you'll end up eating the whole thing yourself! =)}

Introducing the Scrumptious Saturday Series!

2011-10-29T09:04:00.001-04:00

I am going to try this "post-with-a-theme-on-a-certain-day" thing. Hopefully it will be a smashing success and my posts will be regular as clockwork.

*ahem*

It is quite simple. Every Saturday you will (or should) find a post on this blog introducing something scrumptious.

Scrumptious Saturday will be lasting until the last week of December 2011, at which point it's contents and value will be reviewed to determine if it should be continued or discontinued.

Enjoy!

MN Conferences

2011-10-26T17:49:00.001-04:00

Spent a week with this dear group of ladies doing conferences in downtown Minneapolis, MN. We saw God do some amazing things that week. Attendees were from all walks of life. I'm not going to take time to write now about all that happened---there were seriously way too many "God-moments" to list. From leading small groups...to preparing food....to skits....to details....to time in God's beautiful creation....to having the conferences located in one of the most dangerous parts of town....to throwing a surprise birthday party....to singing, singing, and more singing....to teaching Sunday school to a group of 3-5 yr. old inner city kids on Sunday morning.....

See the pictures and imagine the rest.

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13

Things that Make Me Smile

2011-10-25T15:26:00.005-04:00

roses in the park

friends, cousins, and more friends who visited last month for Mitch & Alli's grad. party. We had the most amazing time....many memories can be made from the hours of 11:00pm til 5:30am. =)

cousins from MO who also came for the grad party and spent the following night with us

a notepad cover two of my former piano students sewed for me

hugs from an adorable little man

trying on thirty different shades of lipstick at 12:00am...we were all in agreement that this one was NOT flattering but we had to get a picture nonetheless. =)

more friends....

Eighteen gorgeous roses that came for me in the mail.

*big smiles*

babies...

fun winter hats

meeting sweet Aunt Tiny in Alabama

coffee and conversation with my dear cousin and dear sister after a long days work...

verses like this that remind how great my God is

sleeping beauties....

coffee...given to me by a friend who works at Starbucks.
*yummy-ness*

smiles with a friend at camp

charming-ness...

fun flipflops

playing with my sister @ her senior recital

a *most* fun card from my bestie

all these beautiful people hanging on my wall...=)

the smell of a hot fudge brownie candle

Blessings

2011-10-22T22:05:00.001-04:00

-Blessings-

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need

Yet Your love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?
What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a great thirst this world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
(the rains, the storms, the darkest nights)
Are Your mercies in disguise?

-by Laura Story
-------------------------------------------
I {love} this song. It speaks directly to the hard times of life and is so relevant, because hard times are part of real life.
may you all be blessed by this song....rest in Him, and remember that not everything is as it seems. Sometimes God works through the rain, the tears, the trials.

~chels

I {love} him

2011-09-02T22:40:00.000-04:00

Story-time with the handsomest little man in the state of Georgia.....Harrison Blake.....who also happens to be my charming dimply cousin. =)

---------------------------

(and FYI---if you're looking for a uplifting, edifying, and stimulating read, I highly recommend "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman)

well......=)

Just for Fun....

2011-08-23T22:23:00.000-04:00

I was digging way back in the archives tonight and discovered this photo from long long ago.

I thought it deserved posting.

{grin}

So....caption, anyone???

2011-08-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

Just popping in here in my little web corner to tell you all to enjoy today, wherever God has you at this particular moment.

Take time to smell the flowers, hug a child, take a walk, and.....smell the flowers.

Enjoy the beauty that God has placed in your life through those little things!

Currently I am finding beauty in singing a song 100+ times in a row before finally reaching a state of semi-pefection.

Well, actually.....

...I'm learning to practice what I preach. =)

Have a blessed weekend, ya'll!

~chels renee

In Studio

2011-08-18T23:42:00.000-04:00

This is focusing, NOT posing, folks.

Just for the record.... =)

::Life On My End::

2011-08-16T17:36:00.000-04:00

Sorry, ya'll. I've been absent again.

I'm not sorry that I've not been posting.

Just sorry that you've all been pining away to hear from me again.

*smile*

All that said, here I am, pictured above in all the glory of doing sweet corn.

My last month has been wild, to say the least.
-Four weeks ago, I was in Oregon, wading in the cold waters of the ocean.

-Three weeks ago, I was hiking and seeing grizzlies in the Yellowstone Mountains.

-Two weeks ago, I had just gotten home and was doing sweet corn. (and loving every minute!)

-Last week, I was dreading leaving home AGAIN.

And this week finds me in a little hick yet beautiful corner of Alabama, wearing headphones and trying to keep time with my vocals and instruments to this amazing new thing (for us) called click tracks. Incredible invention, but quite frustrating all the same. Imagine going from thinking you know a song perfectly and have awesome rhythm.....to discovering that your rhythm is awful and it will be a long while until this song is "shelved". (in other words, COMPLETED)

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

Anyhow, that's a brief glimpse into my current life. Not exactly normal, but never boring, for sure!

Of Adorableness in Oregon...

2011-07-22T20:34:00.001-04:00

While in Oregon, I got to meet the {most} gorgeous little girl, Jocelyn Kate

Check out her eyes!

*charming*

What a cutie!

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

Her mother is a former Iowan and old friend of ours. Check out her blog over at A Frame of Mind

What I ate in Oregon....

2011-07-22T00:44:00.000-04:00

...see over here!

::How Great Thou Art::

2011-07-18T21:40:00.019-04:00

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Wilderness Treasure....

2011-07-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

As most of you have probably figured out, I'm not much of a nature photographer. Portrait photography is my calling and definitely what I do best. But.....this sight that I found at the foot of the beautiful Glacier Mountains the other morning made me change my mind for the moment and for five minutes I forgot that I wasn't a nature photographer and I shot away at this precious little creation. I'm serious....if this doesn't absolutely shout God's amazing work, what does?

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork"

Psalm 19:1

Isaiah

2011-07-11T08:15:00.000-04:00

Meet Isaiah

Charming, chubby, cheerful, and.....just plain charming. =)

Meet my beautiful cousin, his "mommy/nanny", Marissa.....

He is a very inquisitive and rather ornery little guy. I fell in love with him right away....even if he did deposit my cell phone in the bottom of the toilet just ten minutes after I met him. =)

(as in....reached his whole arm in there and set the phone at the very bottom of the toilet. In one year old thinking, it was the perfect resting place---and a perfect fit. =))

note: never let a 1-yr. old on the loose with your phone while the bathroom door is open and you are engaged in a deep heart-to-heart with your bestie. bad idea. =)

this is so him. =)

I love the reflective expressions they both have here.....

She gave a year of her life in caring for him. She was the closest thing to mommy he had. He loved her like she was his mommy, and she loved him like he was her son....

Pray for Isaiah! He was re-integrated w/ his father in May and its been a hard transition for both of them. (him & my dear cousin) Imagine living with someone and doing everything with/for them for a year, and then being separated for the rest of your life. It's hard stuff for a little guy to understand.

******************

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

Mark 10:14b

Brock::Senior2011

2011-07-09T09:36:00.009-04:00

This spring I did a senior shoot with Brock. (his brother Brandt was one of the seniors I did in 2009) He was a great subject---patient, relaxed, and photogenic.

Even if he hadn't been any of that, he has blue eyes, and my camera really likes blue eyes. =)

I had so much fun with the lighting in this amazing old barn on their property....it was photographers heaven for catch-lights! Getting up to the barn was quite an adventure---through the mud, over a fence, through a pen, over another fence, and up the old "along-the-side-of-the-barn" ladder rungs into the haymow. Once we were in the haymow, I shot to my hearts' content, all the while watching for holes in the floor....

Congratulations on your graduation, Brock!

------------------

Alright, now ya'll can tell me your favorites! =)

Smiles from Canada!

2011-07-07T20:56:00.002-04:00

Sisterlove

2011-07-06T09:49:00.001-04:00

in color.....

....in sepia

....in fade

....in antique

...or in classic black & white

So......WHICH is your favorite?? =)

{photograph by Gehman Photography}

Wedding Photography Articles

2011-07-05T14:24:00.001-04:00

I recently received an email from B&H PhotoVideo (the company where I purchase all of my photography equipment) with the links for some wedding photography articles they put on their site. I browsed through them and found them extremely helpful-I'm planning to pring them off and put them in my wedding info. book when I get home. They are so informative and helpful, whether you are a new photography just beginning to shoot weddings, or a seasoned photographer who has been shooting for years. They also include links for nearly every photography item you could imagine. =)

Click on the following link to read the articles. Wedding Photography Articles

July 4th

2011-07-04T19:14:00.039-04:00

Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

2011-07-02T15:25:00.000-04:00

Wedding Hair

2011-07-02T11:00:00.001-04:00

Allison & I did hair two weeks ago for a bunch of flower girls/cousins who were in a wedding. It was quite a party. =) By the time we had them all done and were ready to take pictures, the little girls' curls were falling out from all their running and jumping. Oh well-they looked adorable non-the-less!

Bridgette & Annie

Brooke, Morgan, & Emma

The three *adorable* flower girls ~ Annika, Brielle, & Bronywn

Precious....

Check out those b-l-u-e eyes......

Cute as a button!

Standing Still

2011-07-01T11:25:00.000-04:00

"The Father has a plan though its hard to see it now

You feel you're walking all alone but He is there, no doubt

When the storm around you rages and you're tossed to and fro

When you're faced with life's decisions not sure which way to go

Stand still and let God move::standing still is hard to do

When you feel you have reached the end He'll make a way for you

Stand still and let God move

When the enemy surrounds you and the walls are closing in

When the tide is swiftly rising and you wonder where has He been?

Friend, there never was a moment that His arms weren't reaching out

You can rest assured and be secure God is moving right now

Stand still and let God move::standing still is hard to do

When you feel you have reached the end He'll make a way for you

Stand still and let God move

The answer will come but only in HIS time

Stand still and let God move"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I'm not trying to be repetitious and always post the same thing here....but sometimes we as humans are very slow learners and God has to keep working on us in the same area for a while. In other words, that is the boat I find myself in. The last three weeks have been a time of God sifting me and showing me how extremely human and prideful I really am. Pride is so ugly, and it has had such a hold on my life.
So anyway...feels like I'm kind of at the end of myself, and needing to stand still now and let Him make a way for me. I hate waiting-hate standing still and feeling like I'm doing nothing. But I have come to the conclusion that God can work best without us getting in the way. Took me twenty years to realize that, sadly...

Trust

2011-06-22T16:49:00.000-04:00

"Here I am before you Lord

falling at Your feet

My longing is to know You more

Your purpose to complete

When I look around me

its so hard to understand

I want to see You move, Lord

I want to see Your hand

Trusting You, Lord

does not come easily to me

Trusting You, Lord

I need Your eyes, that I may see

When the way is dark and I'm afraid

and don't know what to do

Help me take my eyes off me, Lord

and keep my eyes on YOU.

I stand upon Your promise, Lord

You have a plan for me

And though I may not see it yet

I'll trust You faithfully

You have spoken to my heart

a message strong and true

So I'll gather up my courage, Lord

and humbly follow You.

Trusting You, Lord

does not come easily to me

Trusting You, Lord

I need Your eyes, that I may see

When the way is dark and I'm afraid

and don't know what to do

Help me take my eyes off me, Lord

and keep my eyes on YOU."

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

this song has been my theme song the last several weeks. I've sung it as I've worked, cranked it up loud as I've been driving hither and yon doing all sorts of errands, and pondered the words and the meaning and encouragement they are in my life right now. God has a way of giving me direction and leading through songs, although it is not always the kind of direction I want. This time, this song was His message to me to "trust". How hard it is to not know---to wait---to be content that HIS way will be best, in HIS perfect time, even when my human mind cannot comprehend. Even when I feel stressed and mentally distraught and completely out of control, I must choose to keep my eyes on the ONE Who knows the way so much better than I do.

Conferences{2}

2011-05-05T16:04:00.002-04:00

::Strong in the Lord small group::

::Eighteen 7-9yr. olds= smiles, giggles, & ENERGY::

::Radiant Purity small group::

Red Day....accidentally. =)

Emily, Bekah, & Nickie

Purple Day...again, accidentally!

Emily, me, Grace, Kristin, & Sarah

::SKITS::

I am the back half of that excuse-for-a-horse...=)

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

::enjoying time with two very dear ladies, Scarlett & Brittany::

::our whole group plus more were blessed by the generous hospitality of the Duggar Family::

and the amazing staff girls....I miss you all!

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

*thank-you to Emily Schurmanns, Stephen Mally, & Scarlett Burnham for providing me with the wonderful photos!

Conferences{1}

2011-04-23T01:20:00.001-04:00

We have arrived and final conference preparations are well underway. We arrived on Sunday night here in Rogers, AR, for the Strong in the Lord/Radiant Purity conferences this week. The time has been filled thus far with packing hundreds of snack bags, practicing skits, singing, eating, working in the kitchen, shopping for conference supplies/food, setting up for the conferences, sleeping (a little!) and spending time in the Word and prayer together.

On Monday night we met here with the local Bright Lights group that is hosting the conference. We had a very special time of food, fellowship, sharing, prayer, and singing together.

Sharing time with all the staff girls

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

Colorado{2}

2011-04-12T00:17:00.001-04:00

My five days in Colorado were marvelous, to say the least. Spending time with my dear cousin and her adorable little man was so special!

(I took lots of pictures of them together, but due to security reasons I will have to wait to post them until he (Isaiah) goes back to live with his dad in May)

All the New Horizons staff and VS people were so welcoming and kind and I came home so blessed and so thankful for the wonderful ministry my cousin is a part of there and all that they are doing to impact the lives of all these precious little ones.

Colorado{1}

2011-04-10T01:08:00.001-04:00

Thursday night, @ Big Daddy's Diner, enjoying our "diet waters".

{grin}

Out here in Colorado, they make these amazing concoctions called fried pickles. Ooh la la.....

Delectable Caramel Macchiato Latte

Michaels on Main= a charming coffee shop/cafe in Canon City-we went there today for coffee and a several-hour-long chat.

There's nothing quite like sipping coffee and solving the world's issues at the same time!

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." ~Elisabeth Foley

{anticipation}

2011-04-02T16:54:00.002-04:00

Just four more days til I see the balmy and beautiful skies of Colorado....and my gorgeous kindred spirit of a cousin!

MatchingMemories

2011-04-01T13:00:00.001-04:00

2003

2007

2009

Tori, Alli, myself, & Tess

~miss you girls!

::sisters::

2011-03-31T22:05:00.000-04:00

Sisters will always be there for you.

You can count on them to laugh, cry, pray, talk (and talk and talk and talk...) and play with you.

And when all else fails, you can always share some dark chocolate with each other.

[smile]

When you have sisters, you have a constant source of live entertainment. :) There is never a dull moment. Whether you are eating chocolate....or singing opera at the top of your lungs while cooking dinner....or dying of laughter as you watch "My Fair Lady" at 12:00am.... or simply laying on your beds late at night solving the world's problems, sisters are so....sisterly.

I don't know what I would do without mine.

Do be forewarned: it is a proven fact that when a family has two or more daughters, those daughters tend to have some very [ahem] "unique" moments. As a brother, prepare for many moments when you will simply not understand what in the world possesses them to act so emotionally and mentally unstable.

[grin]

Calling all Iowans!

2011-03-25T17:22:00.000-04:00

Volunteers are needed for the new children's program at Niche (Iowa Homeschool Conference) this year, June 9-10, 2011.

For more information/to request an application, please click on the link below!

NICHE CHILDRENS MINISTRY

2011-03-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

I find myself very blessed after a most amazing weekend spent with family and friends.

Here is one picture of the many....visit my family's blog to see the complete post.

Celebration!!

2011-03-02T18:25:00.000-05:00

I am celebrating because today, exactly 800 days ago, this little blog came into existence!!
{cheers}
As usual I missed the date of my "real" blog birthday, and I had to come up with something else unique to celebrate, because I am in a celebrating-type mood. So I counted up all the days, hoping that it would be close to something in the hundreds, and sure enough it was---800 days! That sounded big and grand and definately in need of celebrating. :)
{YAY!}

And ever since that day 800 days ago, you, my dear readers, have followed this blog and seen the changing designs, browsed through many photo collections, and read with interest each of the long and newsy 800 posts. :)

{not}

I just had to add that last part. :)

How neat would that be-to do 800 posts in 800 days?
------

Okay, it would not be neat. It would be insane.
But quite an accomplishment, nonetheless.
----------------
I think, though, that I am straying from the celebrating, so back to that...
....what I was going to say was that in celebration of 800 days, I would love to have my comment box maxed out. (is that possible?)
If possible, I would LOVE if that happened. And if impossible...well then, maybe you all could achieve the impossible?!
Anyway, I had several different ideas of ways to accumulate many comments.
The first was to have you comment stating your name and the state you're from.....
but everyone does that and that is too boring.
The second was to have you say the color of socks you're wearing....but some of you aren't wearing socks and then you wouldn't comment.
The third was to have you state your most embarassing moment/memory....but I'm not trying to write a book and besides, half of you wouldn't be able to think of it and the other half of you that could remember, wouldn't want to share yours anyway.
And then the fourth and best idea was to have everyone share their weight {howls of protest from each and every female reader inserted here} but the problem with that is that no girls would comment because...well....just because, and the only people who would be honest and actually comment, would be the guys.
{sigh}
Due to the fact that I just finished a tall, scrumptious piece of chocolate/ice-cream/toffee good-ness, and that subsequently things of that nature are on my mind, I decided to have all of you comment and say your name, the state you are from, and....the latest sweet thing (food) that you have indulged in.
Come on, we've all eaten something sweet lately!
Now that you are finished with this rather long celebration, and have had sweet memories of that latest dessert, go and leave a comment! :)

~chels

Homeward Bound!

2011-02-22T15:09:00.001-05:00

Yay! I am sitting in the plane, and we are preparing for take off!

Can't wait to see IOWA again!
*cheers*

Update from Chicago!

2011-02-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here at the Chicago airport, rather anxiously awaiting my flight that will take me to my favorite place. :) I look out the window and see this beautiful thing I have missed for the last 6 weeks-snow! I've been up since 3:55am, and feel quite tired. I loved the flight from Atlanta though; it was so beautiful. The country life is still best, but gazing out of a tiny window and seeing all those glittering city lights below is quite an adventure, too! I love all things flying...but especially at night/dark.

I came from Georgia, where we had a simply splendid time yesterday being with some wonderful people. I went from playing Dare Base yesterday and sweating profusely (LOVE that Georgia sun!!)....to shivering this morning (I could see my breath!) as I waited for my suitcase and wondering WHY I didn't bring a jacket.

Just found out that our flight has been delayed due to the snow, so now I don't know when I will get home. *sniffle* I'm so close..!!

The next several days will be filled with feeding my two men, teaching all my neglected students, sewing projects, home projects, helping the guys chore (I never get out to the barn normally, but I'm hoping to this week, with less to do than normal) and listening to myself think, among other things. :) I was discussing the dilemma of no noise (and how I was going to survive without it) with my family and cousins last night, and they all assured me that I can just call them whenever I find myself in need of some "normal", and they will be happy to all yell into the phone for me. Such dears they are. :) I will miss them and the party they will have without me. But seriously....I do love solitude and I'm sure I will have a simply lovely time of peaceful home time. My biggest worry is that I will make way to much food. I have no idea how to cook for three. I always automatically double/triple/etc recipes almost without even thinking about it. We joke that when I get married, I will be having my family over everyday to eat leftovers, because I will always make too much food for just hubby & I. :)

Anyway, that is my life in a nutshell at 9:37am on Tuesday morning. :) Stay tuned!

::Jon&Hannah2010::

2011-02-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

In November I had the opportunity to assist some of my favorite photographers with the wedding of my second cousin Jon and his lovely bride, Hannah.

My job was to photograph details and side shots/views, so thats why these pictures are somewhat different from my normal wedding portfolios.

The wedding was very unique (although it was freezing cold!) and once again I had a wonderful time shooting with Rodney & Jodi.

Coffee w/ Friends

2011-02-15T18:12:00.000-05:00

left to right: Rachel Mullett(OH), Mandy Daughtery(GA), Naomi Schrock(MO), Deborah Miller(NC), Kristin Herrin(GA), me & Ali, Patricia Miller(KS), Deanna Glick(OH), & Kristen Brenneman(OH)

On Wednesday evening after the prison crusade orientation, a group of us girls from various singing groups/volunteers went out for the now traditional coffee and "heart to heart" conversation at our favorite Abbeville attraction, the Main Street Coffee Co. :) We had an absolutely lovely time talking about anything and everything....with such dear kindred spirits.

*thanks for the photo, Mandy!

Inspired....

2011-02-15T17:31:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, our family was very blessed by the opportunity to attend a concert by the Collingsworth Family. I had wanted to hear them for quite some time now, and was so thrilled that God worked out the details for us to go. It was pretty amazing, actually, that-

1) we had an "off day" the day of the concert

2) we were traveling right through Ocala

3) the Collingsworth Family was performing that night at a church in Ocala!

What are the chances? It was God all the way!

I have been to many concerts and heard many accomplished pianists perform, but as soon as she began to play, I knew that Kim Collingsworth was more than just another accomplished pianist. She played with such passion, such grace, such excellence....and every note she played just seemed to SHOUT the glory of God. It was so obvious that she was in God's presence, that she was playing for His glory. She wasn't playing for the audience.

She was playing for Jesus.

And sadly, that isn't very common anymore.

I was blessed, encouraged, and inspired.

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

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him."

Psalm 28:7

From the Past...

2011-02-08T16:42:00.000-05:00

With the recent purchase of a new photo program, I was sorting through thousands of pictures and came across this one.
Made me laugh...and sigh..and wish for yesterday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can anyone guess who these two little ladies are?

memories from thanksgiving 2010

2011-02-08T16:35:00.000-05:00

I never got to post pictures from Thanksgiving week because my computer crashed the week after Thanksgiving and all my Thanksgiving pictures were the ones that got lost. :( Thankfully my beautiful photographer cousin, Corina (visit her blog here) was also taking pictures that week so we still have hers! She shared them w/ me....this is one of my favorites, because it is with some of my favorite people, in one of my favorite places, drinking on of my favorite things. :)

Miss you girls! Can't wait to see you in....13 days!!

Hannah::Senior2011

2011-01-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

I got to know Hannah through homeschooling, doing senior photography for her brother, traveling with her last summer on the conference tour, and then having the privelege of doing family photography for her family, and senior photography for her! She is so photogenic and such fun to be with, and all in all Alli & I had a splendid time with her~ traipsing all over the amazing Amana Colonies, asking antique dealers for permission to use their "for sale" yard decor, doing her hair for the formal shots, and talking lots as we drove from one shooting location to the next.

"Congratulations as you graduate, Hannah! May the Lord direct your steps in the coming years and give you the strength to do great things for His glory!"

~~~~

-favorites, anyone?!

::Elizabeth Caresse::

2011-01-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

Meet my beautiful and darling seven year old sister/chum/pair/hunny.....

Elizabeth

Her nicknames seem to match her personality.....she has an abundance of them.

Liz, Lizzie, Lizabeth, Eliza, Lauzabeth, , & Miss Eliza DoLittle (got this one from MyFairLady...Liz really seems to have the Audrey Hepburn personality)

Absolutely NO comments necessary....this is uniquely, but most totally and originally,

~Elizabeth~

*smile*

::Sandersfeld Family::

2011-01-22T14:09:00.000-05:00

Meet the Sandersfelds....

Shawn & Jennifer & their family....

::Erich::

::Hannah::

::Gunther::

::Berend::

::Jurgen::

::Anton::

::Reiner::

(he didn't want to smile for me, so finally his siblings started saying "DON"T smile!!"....and then I got this adorable look:))

::Otto::

::Stutzman Family::

2011-01-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

Meet the Stutzman Family....

::Logan Wayne, Jamison Clark, Annika Faith, & Brooklyn Jade::

this one is my personal favorite~ I love Brooke's very original expression. :)

My very dear Aunt Wanda & Uncle Leon,

who have given my other cousins and me lots of much-needed advice on various and particular topics, especially during our teenage years. (at this point all of my cousins reading this are grinning...)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:53:00.000-05:00

Thoughts and Excuses

2010-12-24T23:35:00.000-05:00

Quite a bit has been happening on my end lately. Among other less important things....my beloved "Mac dear" discontinued its faithful service to me....and so I have had to do without it and all my thousands of photographs for the past month. *sigh* I believe I have mentioned my frustrations with technology before so I won't get started now.

So, now all of you dear people know that I have a legit excuse for not blogging all those posts I had promised back in November! They will hopefully be coming someday...when I get my laptop back from being repaired and I have time to sort through all the backed-up data and transfer everything to my new hard drive. I know-doesn't that all sound absolutely exhilarating? I am already anticipating the challenge of diving into this fun little project. Not.

Pictured above is my charming baby sister. She is the last word in three-year-olds. :) Her eyes are sooo amazing.
This photograph of her is pretty much my only good photo right now, other than the family ones I've been taking, and since those are all being posted over on my family's blog, and since I don't have photo shoots scheduled for December and have been super busy with teaching and packing......this and a few other random photos will have to do for the blog til I get my pictures back!
Til then!
Have a blessed Christmas Eve!
~chels