Just because.

  

A little stomach bug has gone through our family this week, but today we are on the mends. Here are a few little pictures I thought I’d share, just because I love this baby! :)

Fall Fun.

I could not resist going outside for pictures on Sunday, the day was just perfect! I also had some fun on Photoshop with their pictures… so, I thought I would share. :) I hope you are enjoying cooler weather as much as we are!

PS – Happy birthday Mom (Ammy)!!! We LOVE you! :)

THREE peas in a pod.

       

I had a great time this morning, I had a photo shoot with this sweet family! Those two kids are so cute! There are a few more photos from the shoot over HERE. :)

This makes me smile.

My beautiful sister has a boyfriend in her life, his name is David. I like him because he loves the Lord and he makes my sister happy. :) They were having a date night and I showed up with my camera and shot a few pictures of them… enjoy!

Twin Beauty.

           

I had the privilege of taking these precious twins pictures last night. They were so much fun to watch and get to know. To see the my favorite shots of the evening cruse on over HERE. <---- Did I mention that I am loving what I am doing! :) 

Moon.

Last night the moon was incredible. But, seriously have you ever tried to take a picture of the moon… yea… it doesn’t work so well. But, Ryland and I had fun going outside in our PJs and talking about the beauty of the moon. We talked about the fact that God made the moon so beautiful so that we would remember Him. So that when we see beautiful things that scream of His creation that we will stop and worship Him. She then shouted, “Thanks God for making the moon!” I love moments like this, I wish I could capture them and relive them whenever I wanted. Sometimes I can’t wait for my babies to grow up, most of the time I am sad that the moments are passing by too quickly.    

Piano.

 

I love when he plays. I love listening to the piano, no lyrics, just notes dancing around in the air, filling our home with music that lifts the fog. It’s like a cool fall breeze sweeping through the open windows.

Condoms. (I’m sure you’ll read this one with a title like that!)

A conversation started on a friends Facebook page the other day about whether or not public schools should offer condoms to students. There was a lot of discussion and a lot of misjudgment in this conversation between a believer in Christ and a non-believer. But, non the less the conversation got me thinking and here are my thoughts on the subject:

WARNING: This is my soapbox, I’m aware of that. Sorry if this is offensive to any of you, it’s not meant to be offensive, just a place for me to get my thoughts out in writing.

My husband and I both "saved" ourselves for marriage. We committed to doing this BEFORE we were even together at the age of 15 and this was based on our personal convictions... not those of our parents or anyone else. It was hard to keep that commitment, but sharing that first experience together on our wedding night was truly incredible. We now have two daughters and I honestly I'm terrified of them becoming teenagers. ;).

I want them to experience the wonderful compassionate grace that the Lord gives us. He loves us regardless of our moral decisions and he fully understands the temptations we face. I pray for them daily, that they will find a relationship with the Lord that is personal to them, not something they do to make me happy. I will encourage them to follow there dreams, to listen to their heart, and to think with their brain. But I will also teach them that our authority comes from our Creator and because we love Him will follow Him.

We will send them to public school so that they will have to make choices that are hard and experience the depravity of this world while still living in our home. I am not against homeschool or private school, this is just a decision we feel firmly about in regards to our children. I want to shelter and protect my children from the world, but I also know that it is my role to teach them how to live in this world and not of it. We want to do this while they are in our care and give them the opportunity to own their faith and choices themselves. This scares me to no end, but I know that the Lord loves my babies more then I could ever love them. He will stir their hearts and call them to be His children. They will be faced with all of the same things facing teenagers today and sometimes they will make the wrong decisions. They will get hurt. They will experience pain. I will do my best to comfort them, and I will always point them back to the One who gives the eternal comfort and covers all of our weaknesses with His strength. Yes, it is my job to protect them, but more importantly it is my job to teach them and I don’t want to shelter them from everything in this world, I want to use it to teach them more about our Lord.

The choice to abstain from sex before marriage is not one that is made in the moment. It is made long before the moment happens, so that when the temptation comes the decision is already there. I do not believe that if condoms are readily available to them that they will just choose to go a head and have sex. If they are going to have sex, they will make that choice with or without a condom. I also do not believe that non-Christians should be held to the strict moral standard that the bible lays out for us. The standard that Christians live by is because we fully love the Lord, not because we want favor or merit from Him. We can never be good enough to enter His presence without His covering of grace, which is that of Jesus dying on the cross and shedding his blood as the eternal sacrifice for our sins. Why should we expect people who do not know Christ to hold to our same moral standard?

I will not fear that because the school my children go to hands out condoms that my children are then going to become sexually active. Although they might still choose that path anyway, it will not be the fault of the school. It is our responsibility as parents to raise them in such a way to understand the gospel, to hear the Lords call on their life, to pursue Him in all that they do, to live daily making choices that honor Him. They will fail. I fail. But, I don’t choose to shelter them from the fallen world right outside our door. I open the door and take every opportunity I can to teach them and show them how to live in accordance with the scriptures.

Giving out condoms to the kids that are going to have sex anyway is something that is probably a good thing. In the end, the Lord will use all of our decisions for His glory and usually our sanctification, but that doesn’t mean the world can’t give options to those that are living of the world. I also wonder what kind of impact it would have on teenage abortions. If condoms were available to them, would the rate of abortions go down? If so, and I believe it would, then heck yes, I am all over giving condoms to those that are going to have sex, if it means saving the life of an unborn baby. Again, why would I expect the public school my child goes to, to uphold the Christ centered standard of living that I have implemented in my home?

Here is a nugget from my life, I saw condoms in junior high and it did not make me want to run out and have sex. I had condoms in my dorm room at college (as a Resistant Assistant for a state college dorm, we had to give them to anyone who asked for one) and during those two years before Kyle and I were married, the condoms did not make me want to just have sex anyway. I already understood the magnitude of that decision and the beauty that the Lord had created in sex that could not be experienced outside the marriage walls. It is not simply an act to satisfy a human need, it is a gift and such a beautiful one, given to a husband and wife. 

By the time my children enter high school they will know and understand all of the standards we expect from them. They will also know that the schools expect less and for them, that is not OK. They will own the choices and be encouraged to make the right ones in the sight of the Lord, not just for us as their parents.

I am really actually not looking forward to all of this, but I know that the Lord gave these two babies to us as their parents and raising them will be our journey into sanctification. Parenting needs to be just as intentional as everything else in my life. I will not shy away from the difficult conversations. I will not hesitate to say “I don’t know” lets seek the Lord out for that answer. I am already praying for the days to come, but I know He is sufficient in everything and will help Kyle and I on our journey to parenthood and He will fill in the gaps that we leave along the way.

(PS – both Kyle and I had some pretty darn awesome parents that loving showed us the truths of the Lord and lived them out daily for us growing up. We were both blessed to be raised in a Christ-centered homes that focused more on Christ then it did on judgment and we are forever grateful for the examples we have in parenting our children)

What are your thoughts about condoms in public high schools?

Brenley.

Walking. Talking (about 10 words). Eating nothing but solid foods. Being a clown. Loving to play with Ryland. Great sleeper. Snuggler. Makes a horrible face at new people (but it’s quite funny). Strong willed. Dare-devil. Thinker. Loves Dora. Dancer. Daddy’s girl. My baby. I love this girl! 

No Pictures.

Grrr, for some reason for the last few days I have been unable to upload any pictures to the blog… it is frustrating… hopefully I’ll figure it out soon. 

Too Cold for Swimming.

It had rained quite a bit before our long weekend in Oklahoma, so the pool was quite cool. Ryland was very disappointed, so while Brenley napped we “watered the tree.” This girl loves the water and loves to be outside and for now, this was thrilling enough to forget the pool. :)

Glorious.

The sun was amazing on my shoot the other day, I just kept looking up at it and was reminded yet again how beautiful our Lord is and what a perfect artist He is. I was also reminded how often things this beautiful happen and I just pass by without even a passing glace. Thank you Lord for reminding me of your wonders and letting the very clouds themselves declare your glory!

Just a side note: these shots are straight out of the camera, no enhancements were made. 

Sweet Love.

 

Shot a beautiful budding family last night (they also happen to be some of our really good friends) … hop over HERE to see the rest.

Flesh Dwells Secure?

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” Psalm 16:9

I want that. I long for my flesh to dwell securely. Sometimes I willingly let it out of it’s hiding place and other times I turn around and there it is. But, I want to be finished building it’s jail cell, lock it up and throw away the key.

But, it is my flesh that keeps me grounded. It’s my flesh that continues to draw me back to my Makers throne. As much as I hate my flesh, it’s what He has given me so that I can experience His righteousness.

So, we will dwell together in resistance and I will press on, into Him.

When Mist and Morning Mingle.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Psalm 95:6-8

Cows.

 

What I am pondering this week, my you ponder for a little while too:

“Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but the one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Cute as a button.

Had a photo shoot tonight with a very cute family! It was rainy all day so I thought we would be shooting in the puddles, but it actually turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL evening!

 

 

To see the rest please check them out HERE!!!