As Fresh As Fallen Snow

For those who may not know it...I am a transplant to the south. It's true. I am a northern girl by birth. I lived the first eight years of my childhood in Kenosha, Wisconsin. My memories of winter are filled with snow! We lived right off of Lake Michigan...so not just snow; lake effect snow, and lots of it. To this day winter always makes me wish for just a little bit of snow, but this week. It rained...and it rained, and rained...and it rained. For five days straight I wore rain boots and sloshed through cold wet puddles every time I went anywhere. It was miserable. All of my winter decor seemed to mock me...

 

But then, on Thursday, after a morning filled with more rain...something beautiful happened.

 It started snowing! I know my northern friends are laughing at me as they read this...but after years of snow days and sledding and hot cocoa...you just miss it every once in a while! It has been a few years since we had more than a dusting here where we live. I was thrilled when the flakes started pouring!

  



And they just kept falling! I bundled Savannah up when it was still coming down and took her out for her first time to play in the snow at her own house. She absolutely loved it. (Landon was not as excited.)

We caught snowflakes on our tongues, took a long walk making tracks in the fresh snow, and even got to do a little sledding later that night! I loved it. One of the things I love about snow is that it always reminds me of fresh starts. Some of you may be reading this and thinking that you haven't heard from me much at all this year and here I am blogging about snow... Sometimes life gets busy and we get buried beneath a list of things to do and that is kind of what happened to my blog this year. It got pushed to the bottom of a long list.  However, one of my favorite things about a new year is that it always feels like a clean slate, a fresh start... you know, like snow.

I know I won't be able to do it as frequently as I want, but I do hope to update my blog more in 2013. This snow fall was just a good motivator and reminder for me.

So here's to new projects, new memories, new dreams, and a new year...as fresh as the fallen snow.

Moments of Bliss...

I wanted to share a few snapshots from my mother's day events. I had the sweet opportunity to savor time with not only my mom, but my sister too! As well as, of course, the rest of the family and my own sweet babies. I don't know about any of you other moms with young kids, but the day made me very introspective. Motherhood is such a joy and challenge at the same time. So if you'll allow me, I'll scatter this post with both pictures of my weekend and my random emotions and thoughts about being a mom.

I broke this baby in (my amazing mother's day gift!) I do love to bake and make goodies so I know I'll spend lots of time with it... Some of you may picture me blissfully baking, cfafting, and blogging from my immaculate house while the kids play sweetly together. It isn't exactly like that...

Most of the time before the peanut butter pie is done I've dealt with a couple of melt-downs, cleaned up a couple of spills, and debated whether or not I should have let the kids help me in the first place or should I have taken up my precious nap time to create my masterpiece? Being a mom is messy! I've touched on that before. When I was younger I would imagine I was on a cooking show while I cooked (you can giggle, but come on you know you do this!) Not anymore...now my kitchen usually doesn't look anything even close to Rachael Ray's!

But the result is (almost) perfectly fine. There may have been tears along the way, but you would never know if when you see the end result. Much of life is like that. Struggle and triumph go hand and hand. Yes, it may be dramatic to call my chocolate dipped strawberries a triumph but if you're a mom I think you will understand what I'm trying to say.

For the most part...life is hard, and being a mom is no different. But always, always there are moments of bliss. Those moments when you stop to put some fresh flowers in a vase, sip on something sweet to drink, find yourself in the embrace of someone you love, watch your children laugh and dance, or simply enjoy a good meal with your family. (Props to Craig who cooked ALL of the food you are about to see!)

It doesn't get much better! I love time with family. There are moments of bliss when you give something to someone else. I am a gifts person...I like to share what I have though often it isn't much. I find that when I focus on what I can do for others I am much more fulfilled. Its easy to lose sight of that though. These pottery barn glasses were a mother's day gift for my mom. Aren't they pretty?

In addition to good fellowship and a good meal, my Dad helped me with a project I've been wanting to do since Christmas. (Craig and I are seriously under-equipped in tool department!)

My mom and sister helped me scour for the vintage camera...it will serve as a reminder to me that I am blessed enough to do something I love and call it a job! It isn't easy. As you may have noticed from my lack of blog posts, my new role as photographer is time consuming. But I love it! Sometimes when I edit and post a picture and someone tells me how much it means to them or how they love it I have one of those moments of bliss. Being a mom, wife, working part time, and now being a small business owner can sometimes make me crazy. I am striving to maintain balance and it is not easy. As most mom's do I put pressure on myself, guilt myself, worry and wonder about how I am impacting my children.

So today we took time away from my long to-do list to do something special that my kids enjoy. We simply went to the field down behind our subdivision to feed the ponies some apples. It wasn't anything monumental. It didn't require planning or take up much of our time. You should have seen their faces though. And there it was...one of those moments of bliss. You know what? I'm not super-mom. (I'm pretty sure there is no such thing.) We aren't a perfect family. My house isn't perfect. Sometimes I throw my desserts away! But through it all, there are just enough blissful moments to make it all so worth it. 

Let the Journey Begin

I have always believed that you should be careful when you use the words "always" and "never." Though I believe this, I am guilty of using them carelessly at times. Over the span of my life I have had the privilege to travel out of the US on three separate missions trips to Mexico, Portugal, and The Dominican Republic. All three trips taught me amazing things. However, I was sick on the last two and I developed quite a bit of anxiety about leaving the country ever again. I told people that it wasn't for me... I would never travel out of the country again and I would be perfectly content. Then God. Oh, how He loves to challenge us and stretch us. A few days ago a friend of mine sent me a text saying that she would like me to consider traveling with her family to Haiti. I immediately thought no, but said I would pray about it. I would be so far away from my family, I could get sick again, I would have to raise a lot of money, and my summer is already so full. All of the reasons not to go were on the tip of my tongue. The funny thing is, I couldn't shake the thought. I couldn't get it out of my head. Soon, it wasn't just in my head, but it was taking root in my heart. So, with a very nervous feeling in my stomach but complete peace about my decision, I am stepping out on faith and July 21 through 29 of this summer I will be taking a journey to Haiti.

During the trip I will be staying at this orphanage in the village of Camatin and ministering to the girls who live here. Preston Cunningham, who is organizing this trip, travels here often to serve. Not only that, but he and his family are adopting two girls from Haiti. They have been in the process for almost two years. After a long uphill battle to bring the girls to the US this trip could finally be that victorious homecoming for these girls! Please pray intently that this will happen. From what I understand there have been many bumps in the road and the process is nearing completion but has yet to be finalized.

For those little girls that will remain in Camatin we will love on them, tell that about Jesus' love for them, and help to make their home at the orphanage a better place in whatever way needed. We will also be building a house for the woman in the picture below. She is the grandmother of one of the girls being adopted by the Cunninghams. In addition we will distribute food to those in need, serve in the local church, and hike to nearby villages to help meet needs as pointed out to us by the church leaders.

Most of you know that God has really blessed my photography business. This trip will be an awesome opportunity give back and to use that part of my life to glorify God and draw peoples eyes to a need that they might not see otherwise. And, oh my goodness, I cannot wait to share it all with you right here on this blog! I will also hope to be right there with my camera if Redjina and Jesula finally get to step off of that plane on to US soil to be able to capture the joy that their family experiences and preserve that amazing moment for them! I want to be a blessing to them in that way because they have given so much over the past two years to show the love of Jesus to these girls and the other orphans and people there in Camatin.

I will be purchasing my plane tickets this week and I ask that you would pray for me as I raise my support. If any of you are interested in supporting me financially I would be so grateful! Please send me a private message via Facebook or to leahnicolephoto@yahoo.com and I will send you a self-addressed, stamped envelope for your gift. I will also need a prayer team! Travel to this part of the world does not come without risk so I covet your prayers for health and safety, but even more importantly I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus while I'm there. If you are interested in praying for me while I am on this trip and receiving updates and specific prayer requests between now and then please message me as well!  Even though there are butterflies in my stomach, I am already grateful for this chance to be a part of something much bigger than myself. Never say never... Let the journey begin.

*All photos are property of Preston Cunningham and are used by permission.

Vacation Anticipation

 

Aaahh, the anticipation of vacation. The countdowns, the planning, the packing...its half of the fun! In just a little over 24 hours we will be making our way to sunny Florida for a week of family fun in Orlando. (I asked Landon to give me an excited face and that is what I got.) The kids are so excited and I really couldn't sleep last night just because of excitement and the lists I had going in my mind.

Normally we vacation a bit later in the spring so I am truly looking forward to being poolside when its sunny and just 75 degree! (Notice I said PoolSIDE...if the kids want someone IN the pool they'll need to talk to their Dad about that.) Thank goodness for heated pools right? Here Savannah is excitedly sharing that there is just one more day in our countdown.

I have a lot of important decisions to make before we leave...you know really crucial stuff like what color to paint my toenails and how many pairs of flip flops to take... Decisions decisions...

One thing that seems odd is not having printed paperwork everywhere. My planning has all been done online so I have it all on my Kindle. Yay for technology! Condo confirmation, Disney details, maps, a couple of good books, and a music playlist - all here in one place.

Today has been spent making last minute preparations. After a lot of searching and not having any luck finding a cute pair of denim shorts at a good price (its just a bit too early in the season for sales!) I decided to make my own today. I plan to make the cuff semi-permanent with some Heat-n-Bond. Gotta love a good pair of cutoff shorts!

Now my bags are packed... Since I was packing for three of us I did a little bit each day this week so it hasn't been too overwhelming. I can't believe I'm actually done early! Okay, so this isn't my actual suitcase...Its just much prettier than mine...

Here is my actual suitcase. Landon and I are both packed in one but Savannah got her own. I hope to update my blog with photos throughout the week but you know how it is once you get away, so if I don't return for a week, you know where I'll be be...soaking up some sun or chatting with Cinderella!

Picture It

This is one of those posts that I planned to get done before Christmas, but it just didn't happen in the holiday craziness. It goes very appropriately with what is on my mind tonight though. These amazing family photos were taken by Candace Wilson who is a Knoxville photographer whose work I follow and love. Candace is truly talented as you can see. I am so sad to admit that this was our first professional family photo since before Savannah was born. It was long overdue and I am so glad we did it! The picture below was the one I used for our Christmas cards. The fall colors were so beautiful. I'm ready for spring and beautiful backdrops for portraits once again!

My own little photography business is starting to pick back up as I schedule sessions for March and April. I am also venturing into the world of wedding photography with nervousness and excitement! I have been planning and researching like crazy, and tomorrow I am very excited to be meeting with Lori Hensley for some mentoring! Lori is another extremely talented local photographer who does amazing work. I want to do the best work that I can for my clients so I'm going to spend this year learning as much as I can and making every effort to improve myself. I am super excited about what 2012 holds for Leah Nicole Photo. I have a lot of hopes and dreams and right now I can just picture it...

As always, thank you so much for your constant support and encouragement. So many of you comment on my photos and your kind words make me feel so blessed and encouraged to keep improving. To see more of our family photos on Candace Wilson's blog and check out more of her work follow this link! Thanks to her for these gorgeous memories!

Super Bowl in Sweats

Super Bowl Sunday...I was trying to recall, I believe its been about 5 years since the last time I went to a Super Bowl party. Sounds about right since Landon is five years old! When you have kids if you actually want to watch the game (or the commercials...you know) you stay home where they have their toys, their rooms, their beds. That's where my kids are as I type this post and take in the second half of Super Bowl XLVI. I've gotta admit, I'm pretty content to be taking it in in my favorite pair of sweats and a t-shirt! The kids did get to see some of the game.

Savannah loved the National Anthem and always likes cheerleaders! Landon picks the Patriots to win. One special super bowl memory of mine is Landon's first... He came home from his 11 day hospital stay the day before the Super Bowl! Whenever this day rolls around I always recall that year when not only were the Colts playing, but I also got to spend it cuddling my baby boy for the first time at home.

I did, of course make some special snacks for the occasion. I thought I would share those with you as both were really good and worth trying. The first was a Pinterest discovery, and this was my first time making it.

Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Puffs. I love using my Kindle to view recipes when I'm trying something I found online.

These puffs were really yummy and not difficult to make. You'll need a mini-muffin pan. I didn't have one but found one for only $4 at Walmart. I've been wanting one to make some mini-cupcakes anyway!

You use mini pepperoni for the recipe. Are they cute or what? Why is everything cute when its small?

Its a lot like a pizza muffin mix! And the results are great. Serve them with some warmed pizza sauce - great appetizer for a party or just for a family night. You can find the recipe here at "Plain Chicken."

The Buffalo Chicken Dip seemed to be a popular choice this year! I love all things Buffalo and this recipe is delicious!

I am going to link the recipe, but you should know I tweaked it just a little bit. Instead of ranch dressing I used Blue Cheese (you've just gotta with Buffalo!) I also added some fresh celery. I wish I had put even more in the dip. I loved that addition.  Also, I would have preferred to use rotisserie chicken. I think the flavor would be better. However, Walmart's Deli was out of them by the time I got there today.

My only complaint is that the recipe wasn't spicy enough for me. I would probably prefer more hot sauce. For those of  you who like it mild - you'll really enjoy this version of the dip!  You can find the recipe here from Taste of Home.

I also made a pecan apple dip for dessert, but it was just a mix that I had. (That is my finished pottery that I made, by the way! Isn't it pretty with the color and glaze?)

I was happy with my snacks, happy in my sweats, and over-all content to be watching this Super Bowl while blogging away.

One more thing before I go! A link to my favorite Super Bowl commercial (I think its adorable and hilarious!) I have a little boy who really enjoys this as well. Even if you saw it tonight, its worth watching again. Happy Sunday. Hope yours was super!