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

I'm Camp Barnabas Bound...

Tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. I'll hop on a bus and head for Camp Barnabas. You may have heard of it, since Extreme Makeover helped them out a few years back. It's a camp for kids with special needs, and it is one of the most amazing places in the world. Smiles, songs, laughter, chants, and cheers are constant, and you can't help but feel the joy. I'll be going as a "CIA" (Christian In Action), which means that I'm going to be one-on-one with a camper all week. I've been praying for a challenge, and I simply can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do in my life, and who He is going to give me.

I'll be back next tuesday! I'd really appreciate your prayers for patience and strength this week!

xx.
Lindsey

Make Your Mark.

        

       

        Recently I have been thinking about the life I live. We live in a world that wants us to fit in. To go with the flow, and to look like everyone else. But is that what we were made for? Were we created so that we could just fade into the woodwork? No. Our purpose as followers of Christ is to stand out. We need to shine our lights to the world, to show them that we have something different, and we’re not afraid to live crazy for Jesus. And part of that is just by working hard, doing “our thing,” whatever that may be, and doing it well, all to the glory of God.

            

       Every time I think about this, the fire inside me that tells me to leave my mark on the world burns fiercer. I want to leave my mark on the world in ways that will inspire, bless, encourage, and challenge others. I want to do something big to change the world someday, but big must start somewhere. So I will strive to change the world a little bit everyday, whether through my photography, words of encouragement, time spent with the lonely, a smile here, a bear hug there, or a love letter to a stranger.

           

      I want my passion for the gospel to burn so deeply that I will never be afraid to speak Christ’s name, and I will have not a care in the world what others will think of me. In everything I do, I want to do no less than my very best, as for the Lord. I want to develop and use the gifts I have been given to bless others. And I long to love others so well that when I am gone from this world, they would remember the mark I left on the world, but more than that, that they would say “I saw Christ in her.” All in all, I suppose you could say I just want to live an extraordinary life, living fully and loving freely everyday, all for the glory of God and the advancement of the gospel.

That’s my mission. 

What's yours?