On the 4th...

We declared our independence from Britain....

And our dependence on God.



Not one of the signers of the Decleration of Independence, or of the Constitution, believed that there was NOT a God.  They all knew and believed in Him, even if they didn't trust their life to Him.  They founded this nation on principles first found in the Bible.  Our Nation has gone through many trials, but we are still standing.  But we must fight for our Nation, we must fight to uphold our values.

"Well there's pride in every American heart

and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA." -God Bless the USA

Anyway I just wanted to take a moment and say:

 Happy Independence Day

Because I'm proud that I have the privilege to live and breathe in this country.  I am very proud to be an American. 

God Bless,

Kristin

P.S. This is one of my favorite poems below, enjoy. :)

photo credit

She Loves Her Horses | {Portraits}

So a few days ago I got to go take some pictures of a friend of mine and her horses.

Horses that are, obviously, absolutely gorgeous.  She adores them and I now see why. :)

Between her and her sister they have four horses (one isn't pictured), and as we kept taking pictures I just kept falling in love with them.  Chip (the first pictured and the black one) never failed to walk up to the camera, oftentimes looking straight at it.  We had to work around some bright sunlight, but soon after we started the sun started setting.  It added so much to the pictures, giving a "dreamy" feel to them.

Anyway I thought I would share, well, because I couldn't help it.  :)  In my opinion they could be some of the sweetest (and most beautiful horses) I have seen. :)

Have a great day!

-Kristin

My Girly

 So today is my sweet little sisters birthday.   As you can tell, we have quite a few birthdays around this time.  But Ashlyn always starts counting down in the middle of April "only four weeks 'till my birthday,  then I'll be a big girl."  As the day gets closer, she gets more excited, constantly talking about it and thinking about it.  She told me yesterday that she wants me to wear a princess crown like her, so we can match uh' course, and she also really, really, realllllly, would like for me to stop school and play baby-dolls with her.  

That makes two of us my dear.  :)

I asked her if I could take her to my english teacher and have her repeat the question--puppy-dog eyes and "really's"  included of course.  She just kind of stared at me and said, "Why do you have to ask, can't you just stop?"  I wish, but even if I can't stop my class, I will play baby-dolls with you Ashlyn. :)

My little miss is so sweet, she loves doing things for people: helping out in anyway she can.  She is very faithfully dedicated to her dolls...and our brother Ryan, her best pal on planet earth.  She loves our dogs, cats, chickens, and being outside.  She is a girly girl with a side of mud, she can play outside in the mud with a little pink headband and not care about the big splotches of dirt scattered all over her legs, arms, face, toes, pretty much everywhere...

She is such a cuddle-bug.  She gives a zillion hugs a day, and you can always guarantee that she will snuggle close when reading a book or watching a movie.  She loves all of us, somethin' fierce, always saying goodbye whenever we go anywhere (music lessons, walk down the road, or the grocery store...).  

I gave her the nickname "Girly" when she was pretty little.  She used to have really curly hair like Shirley Temple when she was young, so I called her "Curly Girly."  After a few uses of that, we dropped the "Curly" and kept the "Girly."  It is kind of just my nickname for her though.  I call her Girly, she call me "Sisten"  (cross between Kristin and sister, not as much now though), so we're equal.  ;)

I can't believe she is turning seven.  I was looking back on some old pictures yesterday and found this one:

I remember this day like it was yesterday, and she was three here!  Now she is seven, four years have passed in a blink!!  I was soooo happy to get a little sister, after having three brothers (love ya boys), I prayed for another girl!  That first moment holding her, priceless...

Okay, okay, I will stop reminiscing.  :)

So I wanted to tell you, Ashlyn..

Happy Birthday! I love you Girly.  :)  

   

 Have a great day!

In Him,
Kristin

P.S.  All the pictures, besides the one in the middle, are from the wedding I just shot.  Ashlyn got to be a flower girl (she was so excited).  And just because I couldn't resist...

Ryan and Ashlyn, ages four and three respectively.  :)

Picnic with the Kiddos...

A few weeks ago, Ryan and Ashlyn wanted me to come with them on a picnic and have a photo-shoot.  Even though I have many pictures of Ryan and Ashlyn, I had never actually designated an actual "time" for them (for some reason, they think I am some kind of professional photographer, so they are always asking if I will "photograph" them. :-)) 

So we drove to the back and brought a blanket, the teacups, a few books, and just spent a few hours reading, having fun, and taking pictures.

Here are a few photos from that afternoon. :-)

I may be a little biased, but I think that I have some pretty adorable siblings.  Not to mention photogenic. :-)  Aren't they cute?

Have a blessed day!

In Him,
Kristin

Happy Birthday Mommy!

So today is my dear Momma's Birthday.  My Mom, the woman who always encourages, always lifts up, and who always works hard.  There is not a day that goes by that I am reminded how wonderful she is to all of us kids.  I think she has quite a few of the "fruits of the spirit" down: love, patience, joy, patience, peace, patience... :-)

I mean she has to deal with all of us kids, of course she has patience down.  :-)

Thank you so much Mommy for always encouraging me, for helping me persevere, and for being the best example of a wife and mother I could ever have.

Happy Birthday Mommy, I love you! 

Love your daughter,

Kristin

For Christy & Stephen | {Wedding}

So this past Saturday I had the wonderful privilege to shoot another wedding.  This time it was for a good friend of mine that I have known forever.

Well, not exactly forever, but for a long time.  She and her sisters used to babysit my siblings and I, and when I grew older, I would look to their examples when I did my own babysitting jobs.  Even when they didn't babysit me anymore, they always tried to act like older sisters towards me: encouraging me with my walk with the Lord, my brothers and sisters, parents, and many other areas.  So, it was incredibly special for me to be able to take their photos. 

Christy & Stephen--Thank you so much for trusting me to take your wedding pictures.  I was so blessed to do it, and I will be praying for you guys as you start your new life together.  

Here are a few of the photos from the wedding...

Again, I was so blessed to have this experience!

In Him,
Kristin

P.S. The little writing you see on the photos sometimes is my new official name, Daughter of Him Photography. :-)

In Remembrance

I just wanted to take a quick moment and talk about the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

About all of the courageous crew, the captain, and the men onboard who gave their lives for other.

These people knew the real meaning of sacrifice.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

still all my song shall be,

nearer, my God, to Thee;

nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.

Have a blessed day.
~Kristin

(for an accurate representation of the sinking, watch the movie A Night To Remember)

A Little Concert

That just so happens to be a Steven Curtis Chapman Concert.

*cue applause*

Just kidding, you don't have to applaud, but we did get to go to the concert.  It was a part of the Songs & Stories tour that had Steven Curtis Chapman, Josh Wilson, and Andrew Peterson.

It. Was. Awesome. 

...and amazing

...and many other synonyms I can't think of right now.  

I took a few pictures, and if it is okay, I want to post a few (read: twelve).  I know, that is a lot of pictures, but some are for a friend, and I couldn't limit it down to any more. :-)

Nathan & Ashlyn, on the way to the church where the concert was.

Sweet Ryan.  Happy and cheerful. :-)

(from left to right) Andrew Peterson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Josh Wilson singing "Do Everything."

Josh Wilson playing "Amazing Grace"

Andrew Peterson playing "World Traveler"

Steven Curtis Chapman singing "Long Way Home"

Sharing stories.

SCC "When Love Takes You In" (I just have to say as a side note that it was so moving and beautiful when he sang and played it.  They showed the video when they adopted their first little girl while he sang and it made me cry.  It was soo sweet.)

Of course, right after he sang "When Love Takes You In," he played "Cinderella."  Tears kept running down my face.  Again, it was beautiful. 

I think they were playing "Diving In."  It was SO great!  Everybody was on their feet singing like crazy and clapping.  It was amazing.

The three singers with the band right after the end of the last song.

The "bow."  Again, the crowd was going nuts.  It wasn't to overpowering though. :-)

It was such an amazing experience.  It was my first ever (non-classical) concert to go too, it was the greatest ever.  :-)

Have a blessed day!

In Him,
Kristin

I guess I'm pretty versatile...

...because I got an award!

Thank you so much Melody!  Wow, I have never received an award for writing--or blogging--before.

(Well, I guess there was that one time Mommy gave me a sticker for writing "Massachusetts" correctly in a spelling bee when I was 10, but that doesn't count. :-))

Okay, on to the award...

There are a few rules I am supposed to follow for this award:

• Thank the award-giver and link back to their site. (check.)
• Share 7 random things about yourself. (almost check...)
• Nominate 5 fellow bloggers. (here ya go...)

-Jean Marie from Sweet Life Under The Savior.  Thank you so much for trying to glorify the Lord in all you do.  You may not remember, but thank you for answering my email. :-)
-Tara, Kelly, & Elizabeth from Daughters of Vision.  You guys are a great encouragement to me.
-Breezy from a bowl of moss and pebbles.  God has blessed you with such a gift for art.  Thank you for using it to glorify Him.
-Amanda from Quintessential Ink.  We miss you in Advanced Comp!
-Abagail from abigail anne. You take amazing pictures!  I hope we can keep in touch after class (AC) ends. :-)

Okay, on to the beast.  Seven random things about myself.

1. I'm a toe-walker.  Which means that without shoes, I walk on the balls of my feet.  However, because of this I got great balancing skills.
2. I used to be terribly shy.  As in "oh no the person expects me to say something I think I will just stare at my shoes instead" kind of shy.  Hopefully I have grown in my communication skills. 
3. Continuing on with that subject, it is easier for me to write my feelings than to tell them.  I don't know why it is easier for me to write, maybe the fact that I can (over) process what I write makes it easier. :-) But if I want to have a deep discussion with someone, I normally write it out first.
4. I have different colored eyes.  They are both green, but one has more hazel/golden tones than the other (like the bottom picture on here).  Obviously it is not a drastic difference, but if you look really close, you can see it.  
5. I can raise my right eyebrow by itself (see below).  One of my brothers calls it my Quasimodo face (and yes, I am a Victor Hugo fan. mostly.). 
6. I get very determined (read:stubborn) and competitive about certain things.  In some cases it is good--such as trying to reach a goal.  But don't play "Connect Four" with me (trying to work on this). :-)
7. 75% of my music library consists of music without lyrics: mostly symphony, piano, guitar, or strings.  40% of that 75% consists of movie soundtracks.  Give me some "Pride & Prejudice," "Mary Poppins," or "Chronicles of Narnia" any day!

No, I am not mad (and thanks to Trey for capturing my, uh, lovely face).

That was so fun!  Now you truly know seven very random facts about me. :-)  Thanks again Melody for giving me this award!

In Him,
Kristin