I’ve missed the last few weeks worth of Faith + Full Time Focus posts.  I wish that I had a good reason why, but the truth is that I just simply felt like I had nothing to share!

Sometimes, in the midst of busy season, as we are trying to just barely keep our heads above water in a sea of overloaded work, we begin to forget our purpose in life.  Emails and editing becomes our daily routine (or sub that with kids activities or your day job or whatever it is that you spend your time doing) and suddenly it feels as though that is all that we are meant to do. 

That is such a tremendous lie that the exhaustion leads us to believe!  We all have such beautiful, unique stories to share and our purpose for living is so much greater than to just barely be keeping ourselves afloat in a midst of endless demands!

So, with that being said- here are a few thoughts, stories, and feelings about my life from the past two weeks!  Theres lots of baby related talk, but thats the season of life that I am in right now!

. . . . . 

First of all, Baby H is wonderful!!  We’ll find out exactly how big she is next week at another doctors appointment but she’s certainly growing and kicking around in there like crazy!!  I just love it and that feeling of her being inside of me moving around will never get old.  Some days I just lay there and hold my belly and feel her moving all around.  It is seriously the most magical feeling that no one can explain to you until you are experiencing it for yourself!  

. . . . .

At one of our last doctors appointments, we were able to get a clear picture of her sweet face.  Talk about all of the tears!!  Modern technology is amazing and I was just so emotionally blow away being able to see her sweet little face and that adorable little nose.  The picture is at the bottom of this post for everyone that is interested!

. . . . .

I’ve been shooting 4-6 times per week lately.  It is such an amazing feeling to be able to do what I love every day.  Computer work is still fulfilling because it is necessary to grow my business, but sessions and having my clients in front of the camera is the sweet spot of my work day!  

With Baby H due Ootober 27th, I am not taking on sessions for October just in case she makes an early arrival and then I will be on maternity through Novemebr and December to be with her and adjust to my new role as mama to this sweet girl.  I’m looking forward to slowing down with her those few months and us settling into parenthood.

. . . . .

I point out that last statement because that means that September is the final month of 2016 that I will be shooting session and I only have 5 more sessions available for September!!!  Those dates are below and if you want one of them, let me know as soon as possible because once they are gone, thats literally it until 2017!!  

September 13, 21, 22, 26, and 30 … All of my sessions are scheduled for 2 hours before sunset so these sessions would start approximately around 5 pm!

. . . . .

Speaking of bookings- I’ve already started booking sessions for January 2017 and I am so excited about that because I honestly think that January may be one of my favorite times of year to shoot.  The lighting is amazing and your outfit options are endless by being able to add so many beautiful layers and textures!!  I’ve also been booking for the 2017 wedding season and there is currently only have ONE Saturday in May still available!!  That blows my mind and I am so excited to work with my sweet brides!!  BUT!  This also means that if you (or someone you know) have been putting off booking the photographer for your wedding, I know that we’re all booking quickly so make sure to reach out to us soon so that you are hopefully able to work with the photographer you hoped for!

. . . . .

This week I was out of the office Tuesday and most of Wednesday.  “Why” you ask??  Well, because Brad and I traveled out to Roanoke Virignia for our maternity session with Ashley Powell Photography!!!  Ashley is such a dear friend of mine and someone that I am so blessed to have in my life!!  When I found out we were expecting, I knew that I wanted to have her shoot our session and her excitement when I asked completely confirmed that I made the right decision because she was probably just as (if not more) excited than I was about it!!  She’s posted three sneak peeks already and let me just say that I am blown away by how gorgeous the images are and how much I love them!!  I just know that our house is going to be plastered with them from wall to wall and we havent even seen them all yet!!  Links to the sneak peeks are below and there will in deed be a blog post of all of the images once we have them so be excited for that!

Sneak Peek #1

Sneak Peek #2

Sneak Peek #3

. . . . . 

After our maternity session, we went to dinner with Ashley, her husband Robert, and our friends Kaitlyn and David Phipps.  After so many emails and texts and social media love for so long, its easy to forget that I’ve only been friends with these people for a little over a year!! I met Ashley, Kaitlyn, and David at the Come Together event with Katelyn James and Amy and Jordan Demos in June of 2015 and I just completely connected with all of them to the point that I feel like I’ve known them all for years!!  Its a magical feeling when you feel like your friendship has been going since the beginning of time even though its only been a few short months!  Oh, and did I mention that they all live in the western side of the state while I’m on the complete opposite side of Virginia?!  Praise Jesus for modern technology, emails, and skype meetings!!  “Find your tribe and love them hard”… we hear that over and over again, but I can honestly say that at this point in my life, I’ve found my tribe, I thank God for these amazing women all the time, and I am loving them and our friendship so hard because I know they have the most amazing hearts and are all such a blessing to have on my side!!

. . . . .

Side note- we are currently traveling back from Roanoke as I type this and the making of this blog was just paused because Brad wanted to stop at Coldstone Creamery for a milkshake… Um, best husband ever!!  Did I just get a large Sugar Cookie Batter flavored milkshake??  Well yes I did and it was LITERALLY the most amazing milkshake I have ever had.  Thats one way to speak to your pregnant wife’s heart like never before!! haha

. . . . . 

Thats it for today friends.  I don’t have any life lessons or an encouaging story to share and pump you up.  But I do have my story, and I know that I’m meant to share it in all forms.  Now, its friday friends!  FRIDAY!!  whether its been a long week coming to an end, or you’re still going full steam ahead, know that I am totally cheering for you and I know that we’ve got this!!!

Here’s the picture of Baby H!!  Ah!  That sweet face just melts my heart already!!!