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