words + pictures (lots of them)

Fall has come to town. The leaves are crimson, orange and gold, the breezes are cool, and I've even worn a few sweaters. For a while, I slipped into a slump where my creative spirit was completely void and I hadn't taken a picture in days, but I came around again. The color and life has begged me to. 

As of lately, I am starting to realize so many things about life. How fleeting time is... school takes up so much of it, and I'm no longer the sprite home schooled kid who got her school done at 1:00. How things change. Time can really change things and people... for better or for worse. How making simple decisions to love, to encourage, to go out of the way when I don't specifically care to, can have such an enormous impact on people. How much I love music. Listening to good old hymns and spending what little free time I have at the piano has just fed me. How many false gods I make for myself. I hate calling them that, but it's the truth. It makes my heart ache when I recount the number of worldly idols I put before my Savior. This verse really struck me when I was in a rut: "My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God!" (Psalm 84:2b) Here's the truth: He is living and our idols are not. It seems like an obvious choice, then, who we should devote our lives to. I must remember this. 

In the last 34 days I've had the opportunity to assist with a wedding and shoot an engagement and a family session. Although I am not in the business stage yet, I believe I'm inching closer. In fact, my friend Elizabeth and I are co-shooting a wedding (by ourselves!) in January! We are both pretty stoked.

Anywhoodle, here are a few of my favorites from my recent shoots:

And on the side...

adieu, my friends!

-Lindsey

Elizabeth / / portraits

This is Elizabeth. You've probably heard me talk about her before. That's probably because she's just so amazing. She is beautiful inside and out, an incredible photographer, and an amazing friend. More than anything, she just wants to live for the Lord and she is one of the most humble and most encouraging people I know.

Last week we went on a photo shoot adventure and these are some of the captures of our time:

 

If you've never read her blog, you should. It's located down the street, to the left, on the corner of lovely and sincere. That was a little random, but it really is the perfect blend of lovely and sincere.

hugs,

Lindsey

precious days

Stillness. That's what I took my break to have. Did my plan work completely? Not completely, but I did  have time to ponder a few things.

Being a dreamer and an adventurer at heart, it's hard for me to be still and stop dreaming about the future. To just be and enjoy the moment. Without snapping a picture or imagining the moment any other way. Without checking social media or broadcasting my life to the world. I'm a teenager, but really, I'm still a kid. I won't be able to say that for very much longer. These days are precious, and when I look back, I want to be proud of the way I spent them. I don't want to be regretful because I put too much value on social media or longed so fiercely for the future that I didn't realize the joy of being young. 

A few days ago, a facebook group that I'm in asked us where we saw ourselves in ten years. This was my response:

"In ten years, I (like many of you) would positively love to be the momma to a crowd of little children and a wife to an amazing and godly husband. While I would love to keep pursuing photography, family will be first priority and hopefully I'll do weddings and portraits on the side. I want to capture the priceless looks on my kids' faces and live life fully with them. I want to be their mother and teacher. I want to teach them not only how to read and write, but also how to really live life. Maybe some days will consist of reading children's books, playing in the garden, and building a massive fort in our tiny living room-- but if I teach them about the science in the vegetables and how to love each other well, isn't that enough? I want them to be creative and have imaginations (our TV will be seldom put to use) and if their art ends up everywhere, even as crayon marks on the walls, that's peachy keen with me. We probably won't be wealthy (I'd hate that) and we'll probably be a rather odd bunch. But we'll be a happy, colorful bunch. Our house will be filled with joy- the joy of the Lord, and we'll love each other to the moon and back. These are, of course, my plans... the Lord may have completely different ones, but any way he plans it, that's the way I want it."

See, when I dream, sometimes I dream about these things. Sometimes I dream about the man I'll marry. I wonder if I know him already. He could be anyone. I over think things, and I get impatient. There isn't anything wrong with dreaming, but when I get so caught up in worrying about things that won't matter for years, I just get fitful and realize that I should be enjoying what the Lord has given me today. "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad it it!" I want to stop worrying about tomorrow and just let Him guide my life.

I want to live my life today in a way that will make me proud tomorrow.

I want to finish with no regrets or wasted hours.

I want to inspire others to do the same.

And I want to be sincere in all that I do.

It's good to be back, y'all. You're the best!

xx. Lindsey

Adventures + stillness

Airport adventures. Independence. Needing help while trying to be independent. First hugs. Campfire mochas. Antique stores. Out to lunch. Spontaneously turning on London street. Photo shooting by Lake Superior. Movies. Junk Food. Giggling. Giggling more. Mini session family shoots. Hikes + picnics. More photo shoots. More coffee. More giggling. Car time. Shooting a wedding for 8+ hours. Learning life lessons. Staying in our own hotel room. Spontaneous Wal-Mart runs. Ice cream+sweets+chips+a movie. Quiet (or not so quiet) time in Caribou.  Olive Garden. Barnes and Noble. Love letter dropping in Barnes and Noble. Farewells.

That, in one conglomerated paragraph, was my weekend. Best weekend of the summer. This girl. She's gold, I tell you. Within twenty seconds of meeting her, I felt like I'd known her my whole life. Among other things, this trip consisted primarily of adventure. We drove without directions or a GPS and turned wherever we felt up to it. Sometimes it brought us where we wanted, and other times not, but either way it was an adventure.

As you can tell, right now I'm not feeling super wordy. I feel burnt out on blogging, and I don't want that to be the case. But the truth is, I need some time just to live life. Away from the internet. Away from distractions and obligations. I want to live fully and freely and just soak in life for a while. There are letters I want to write and drawings I want to draw. I'd love to talk to my brother at college and sit down and read a book for once. Which is why I'm going to take a little blogging break. I may take a total internet break, too. Just a little time off to refresh myself and enjoy life without trying to preserve it for the rest of the world. I don't know when I'll be back-- maybe two weeks or so (in time for my blogging re-start one-year anniversary).

In the mean time, can I make a suggestion? How about you join me for a day. Just for one day, turn off your computer-- no Facebook, no email, no blog or pinterest. I promise that the world will keep spinning. Just get away for a little bit and go sit under a tree, spill out your thoughts on paper, pray about them. Pray for your school year. For that person you know who's hurting. Color a princess coloring sheet, slap some watercolor on a piece of paper. Just be still. Then come back in a while and tell me how it felt. :)


Over and out,
Lindsey

this is it.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I get to fly to MINNESOTA! I get to travel alone. Second-shoot my first wedding. Have mini-session parties. Go thrifting. Watch the Hunger Games. Learn a bunch. Start instagramming (just got an iPhone... never thought I'd be able to say that.). Visit some great landmarks. And most importantly... I finally get to meet Olivia! I'd really appreciate your prayers, since I'm flying alone!

Be back in a few days with lots of news to share, I'm sure. :)

xx.
Lindsey

Blessings.

c o l o r 

[ n e w ]  t a p  s h o e s

f u n  w i t h  g r a n d m a

i m p r o m p t u   p h o t o s h o o t s

l i t t l e  n e r d 

l o v e l y

n e w  s o c k s

n a p  t i m e

t o m a t o  b o k e h

z u c c h i n i  b r e a d 

s p l a s h !

k i t c h e n  t i m e

f r e s h

s t r i p e s

i n  t h e  k i t c h e n

p i n k . enough said.

p e a c o c k .

f u n  w i t h  R o s i e  d o w n t o w n .

m y  e v e r - p a t i e n t  m o d e l .

The more life moves along, the more thankful I am for every day I have. There are so many little things to relish and capture before they turn to dust in what seems like an instant. Just last night we had a family pow-wow in Cameron's room, as we soak up our last moments together before he leaves for college on Saturday. We talked about how quickly the days fly by and how it was only yesterday that we were young, without worry or care, making crazy, childish memories.

The past weeks have been wonderful. I got to learn real life lessons about patience, humility, and God's relentless love at Camp Barnabas. I got to see Cameron's and Simon's musical... phenomenal, I tell you! They worked hard, trusted God, and did it all for His glory, and it was pretty darn good. I've been blessed with tap lessons-- they get me giddy every time. In one week from today I hop on a plane to Minnesota-- squealing with excitement! I got to start some school on Monday and I'm relishing my time in the books. So far I'm doing Church History and Middle Ages History. Church History is the best, I tell you.

If there is one blessing that outweighs all of these, it is that I am learning to see things in view of God's plan. To say Yes, Lord. and Let Your will be done, in stead of I want this or that because I know what's best. He is giving me the grace to see beyond what is just in front of me, and even as some really big things may be coming, I can't wait to see how He will show me His power and wisdom. I really can't wait to see what He will do!

Hugs,
Lindsey