Nicole's Birthday Video

And here is the video clip promised in the last post.   Nicole and I enjoyed celebrating her birthday at some of our favorite spots in downtown Chicago.

Enjoy!

 

Nicole's Birthday

On this day, my dear Nicole had her first birthday with me as a married couple.  

We celebrated by spending an evening in Chicago (our favorite city) and hopefully I will be posting a short video soon of some of the places we visited. :)

I have to say that after 4 and a half months with this wonderful lady, life couldn't be better and she blesses me every day with her cheerful spirit, hard work and wonderful thoughtfulness.

Her godly mentality and sweet spirit challenges me to be a better person every day and I love her with all my heart.  I can't wait to spend many more birthdays with her as my wife.

Thank you for being such a virtuous woman Nicole.   I love you, forever and always!

Snow Day!

After a whole year of almost no snow, we didn't quite know how to handle all this white stuff!

 We just had to go outside and play in it. :)

 My beautiful bride, making the snow look good!

Not very intimidating, but awfully cute! ;)

 The snow was so perfect for packing, we had Mr. Leroy built in short order.

I tried getting him to shovel, but he was better at leaning on it than using it.

 

Hope you enjoyed the abundant snow today as much as we did!

Cantigny Park:Naperville, IL

I came across these photos from our honeymoon and realized that I had never posted them.

Cantigny Park was beautiful in the fall and Jack and I dream of shooting a wedding there someday!

{Linking up to Mosaic Monday, go over here to view more mosaics}

This photograph was just begging to be made into a scripture print and I chose this verse in honor of a family friend who is battling her second round of cancer.

Visit to Iowa

When we were asked to come shoot a wedding out in Iowa, we took the opportunity to stop in for a few days and spend some quality time with some of the best grandparents in the world! :)

Thank you for letting us stop by and share a few meals and a good time talking with you both, we love you dearly!

Already can't wait to see you again! ;)

Happy Valentine's Day

Sometimes when I stop and really ponder the events in my 25 years, 

when I look at the man God has led me to and the wonderful life we are making together,

I can't help but weep silently and pray,

Thank you Lord.

God is so very good to me and at times I really wonder, 

Why?

Why me, Lord?

Today I am celebrating my first Valentine's as a married woman.

Just 16 months ago, I was not even dating and I thought marriage would never come for me.

And here I want to say for single girls, Trust God.  I know it is something we hear over 

and over again and maybe it seems like your time will never come.  But take it from me,

all those years of waiting, will seem like a blur of time once you find your Mr. Wonderful.

It is soooo worth the wait, when we do let go of our desires and trust.  About two years

I was discouraged and my father wrote me an email that I will forever cherish.

1. Put God first-do not pine after things you do not have ,rejoice in the things you do have.
2. Faith, this is a little word yet it is the single most important thing in our Christian life. Nicole either we believe God or we don't
The Bible says he knows when a sparrow falls to the ground how much more does he care for us.We as humans cannot understand Gods way and his thoughts, but we must realize He Loves us and wants the best for us.Faith is trusting and believing that God will bring it to pass.
3.Pray,Pray,Pray--Ask God what He wants you to do,and where he wants you to be,we like to plan our lives out like we write in our datebooks,but God is the one you need to allow to write on the tablet of your heart.Maybe I am stupid,but I believe if you ask God to reveal to you His will He will do it. Therefore once you know what His will is for your life you can live each day in peace knowing God has spoke to you and told you what he has for you.Again Pray,Pray, spend a little more time in prayer and God will speak to you loud and clear,
4.Work,Work,Work,--I do not mean at Wee Care or making jewelery or taking pictures, I mean in spiritual things give more to your bus really get a burden for the kids, give more to your Sunday school you have no idea how much these kids look to you.Nicole I believe if you keep focused on the things of God and forget about your needs and desires God will then drop a blessing in your lap that will amaze you.

I took my Father's advice to heart and you know what?

He was right!

God's blessing of Jack still amazes me and I don't ever, ever want to get over it.

Happy Valentines to all, but especially the single girls...you are in my prayers.

Snow Pictures!

We have had barely any snow this year and while we were up north visiting the family, we were blessed with a beautiful snowfall.

We needed a few portraits for a project anyway, so we ran outside and braved the freezing temperatures to get a few shots.

 And even though we are the photographers, we like to give up our camera once in awhile and get some of our own special memories captured too! ;)