The JOURNAL

I spent the afternoon with the McAlpine family recently to take some family portraits before Julia and Sara left for college. John, Susie, Julia, and Sara are one of the cutest families I’ve met in a long time and it was so much fun getting to know them. They all love each other so much, […]

Jonathan and Marsha met on an online dating site and I’m REAL impressed at how perfect they are for each other. She’s sweet and incredibly encouraging, and he’s quietly intelligent with a strength of character that peeks out now and again in conversation. Both love the Lord with all their heart and their relationship is […]

For me, negative space in a photo evokes a feeling of freedom. It’s an invitation for my imagination to create possible stories and behind the image. Wide open skies or snow-covered fields that go on for miles, a sun setting into the sea spreading reds and blues across the horizon, plains of grass dancing as […]

Last time I blogged, I was still engaged, still planning and preparing for the wedding, and still losing my mind. It’s amusing now, as I look back on it all, but  I’m thankful life is slowly returning back to normal. Settling into married life is exciting…. still odd when I realize I’m a wife… but […]

The quiet and reserved lady behind the Brotbäckerei counter patiently waited as I chose a pastry to enjoy with my fresh cup of Kaffee. I pointed to the flaky looking pastry with something that looked like chocolate drizzled over the top of it and handed over a few coins, hoping I understood the amount correctly. She […]

I’m writing this blog post waaaaay after I should be sleeping, but only because these two totally inspired me today. David and Mirjam came all the way from Germany to attend a dear friend’s wedding next weekend. And while they’re here, they decided they want to document their love… just because. So that’s just what […]

Today, I was inspired by this photo from a recent engagement shoot with Scott and Kate. We could all use a little more laughter in our lives… because really, life isn’t supposed to be serious all the time…. it’s supposed to be enjoyed thoroughly.

Recently, I heard someone say that said we should never go a day without “being in wonder about something.” That’s been on my mind a lot lately, and I think that person is very very correct. Wonder is something that comes naturally to us as children, and then, at some point, that innateness fades and […]

My “Lately” has been a real high strung “Lately.” As much as I want to be someone who rolls with the punches naturally, I’m not… and that completely frustrates me about myself. Life seems to be a never ending smorgasbord of interconnected yet separate pieces that vie for my attention. I’ve been re-reading A Million […]

As I sit at my computer my fingers are typing reeeeaaallll slooowww… because it’s finally cold outside and I feel like a Kate-scicle. Southern California weather has been pretty bi-polar this fall and winter, going from 90 degrees to 45 degrees… but FINALLY, it feels like Christmas time. And with that, I wanted to share […]