The Walls Girls

I love, love photographing these three sweet girls. Adyson, Hadley and Kaylynn are so much fun to be around and soooo photogenic! Not too mention they are so stylish! This session Mommy jumped in a few photos with them. Kendra is such a sweet lady. She is one of my dearest friends and I am so thankful to have her in my life.

We headed over to the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge while they were on Spring Break and got some great shots. They were a little more hyper than usual ;) Nonetheless, their beautiful smiles and personalities really shine in the photos.

Thank-you Kendra for allowing me the priviledge of photographing your sweet girls. I enjoy every minute I get to spend with you and your family!

Remember, leave a comment (20 comments win!) on this blog post so Kendra can pick out her favorite photo for a FREE 5x7.

Life is so Short!

This week I will attend a funeral of a young man I was suppose to take photos of this weekend. As soon as I heard the news of the accident early this morning my heart was so heavy for this young man and his family and all who were involved. Later in the morning I saw his Mother's post on Facebook that told us all that her sweet son had went home to be with the Lord.

I can not imagine the grief and devestation this Mom, and the rest of the family, must be feeling. I can not imagine watching my son take his last breath here on Earth. Thankfully though, when this young man took his last breath in that hospital room this morning his next breath was in the pressence of Jesus! The family has stated that their son was a Christian and what joy and hope it must give them to know they will see him again and they will be able to spend all eterenity with him and our Savior.

Life is so short and can change in the blink of an eye. This weekend his Mom was suppose to have a mini-session with her precious children. Instead, she will be placing one of those precious children into a grave. Please pray for the Brady Walls family as they go through what is probably the most difficult and trying times of their lives. Help me pray that God will comfort them, He will hide them under His precious wings and that He will give them the strength they need to face this life without Brady.

Take a moment to hug your kids a little tighter today. We are never promised tomorrow or even the next minute. Then take time to evaluate your life and heart. If you were to die today do you know that you would spend eternity in Heaven with the one who so willingly died on the cross for your sins? The answer is simple - yes or no. There is no gray area. If you do not know where you'll spend eternity please get that settled today before it's eternally too late. You can mesage or email me at anytime. Or if you'd like to talk with a pastor or preacher you can always call 865.435.7782 (Mt. Pisgah BaptistChurch) and ask to speak to someone who can show you how to spend eternity in Heaven. Life is too short not to know without a shadow of a doubt where you will spend eternity.

Please remember to pray for Eric and Juanita Walls, Brady's siblings, his family, his classmates, his friends and for all who knew him.

God's Love Story

I am so excited for you to read this story! It seems like a story line straight out of a movie. However, this love story is very real. I first met Raquel a few years ago when my husband and I were just dating. Scott and her husband, Earl, attended and graduated Crown College together in 2007. She has such a sweet spirit and I wish I could spend more time with her but the distance between our families seems to keep us a part. Although we may not see each other often, the Dunn family is always in our prayers and we truly appreciate their friendship. I am so thankful Raquel is allowing me to share this part of her life with you. Enjoy this installment of "God's Love Story".

(Photo taken from Raquel's Facebook page)

The "One"

I recently took part in a wedding, a very beautiful and godly wedding. It was beyond apparent that GOD had written their love story. Obviously, it took me back to my own story and the search for the proverbial "one". We all look for that "one"...the "one"...the "one" our hearts desire, the "one" who's our so called soulmate...the "one" we were meant for. In my search for the "one" I found more than I'd ever bargained for and I don't mean Earl.

It was January 2001 and I'd known for about a year that Earl was the man that I was supposed to marry, or the "one" if you will. At that point of my faith walk, I began focusing on when this was all going to come to pass. When would GOD give me my hearts desire? When would HE show Earl what HE'd already shown me? Why was it taking so long? I just couldn't understand GOD's plan and to be honest, I really didn't like it. At that point I'd been waiting so long (or so I thought). I'd spent the last year not dating and not looking for the "one" because I'd was sure I'd found him.

To say I was tired was an understatement. I just wanted to marry the "one" and move in the blissful life that I knew GOD had for us. After all, that's what every little girl dreams of, "Happily Ever After". However, what happened over the next couple of months was anything but that. My friendship with Earl at the time was deteriorating, which made it seem even more impossible to believe that GOD had given me such clear direction on the "one". I remember thinking, if we're barely speaking, how are we going to end up together? With my faith waning, I began to search for answers and I knew the only way to find them was to hit my knees.

That night as I began to pray, tears flowed from the depths of my soul. With every teardrop, I felt more and more confounded within my soul. Every sob carried a question...Why? Why did I have to wait? Why couldn't he see I was the "one"? Was he really the "one" I was made for?

And then it happened...it was as real as anything I've ever experienced in my life...right then, I knew GOD was hurting as much as I was. I felt HIS presence so strongly that I could see myself lying in HIS comforting hands in a pool of tears. And while I know GOD doesn't speak audibly, HE did that night. HE spoke these words into my heart.

"No Raquel, he isn't the "one". I AM."

For the first time in my life, it was so clear. GOD was the "ONE"...HE IS THE "ONE". We were all made for HIM and no one else. This idea that we all have a soulmate is true, but we're all looking in the wrong place because our soulmate isn't of this world...HE's of a spiritual world.

I found the "ONE". I found HIM on my knees, during a cold winter night, in a tiny mobile home nestled in a holler deep within the mountains of Southwest Virginia and I was only 13 years old, and I know I've found my "Happily Ever After" no matter what.

Have you found the "ONE"?

Did you Miss Me?

It's been 4 whole days since I've last blogged!! I know you missed seeing a blog post from Memories & Blessings pop up on your Facebook feed. I have been busy, busy and seem to be getting farther behind :( I know I say this all the time, but I can't thank you enough for your patience and understanding when receiving your photos. This time of year is crazy busy (so blessed and thankful, by the way)! Can you believe April is almost over? I just finished up shooting the MPCA Formal along with their class photos, Kindergarten graduation photos and K4 graduation photos. I am so blessed and honored they allow me to photograph their events each year. I love working up there!

May 2012 is going to be full of awesomeness - is that word? I'm doing Mommy and Me mini-sessions, some maternity sessions and lots of family sessions in between. Plus, lots of my new babies I get to photograph are due this month and the coming month of June! Then starting tomorrow, each Sunday's blog post will be written by a guest blogger. She has an amazing God-written love story that she recently shared on her personal blog and has so graciously said I could post her story on my blog. You're going to love it and each week you're going to want more of the story! She is an amazing writer and I am so excited to share her love story. The second thing I'm thrilled about is May's "From the Heart" story in our Memories & Blessings newsletter. You're not going to want to miss reading this sweet lady's story. You will be blessed!

Be on the lookout over the next few days for more posts about sessions and videos. They'll be flooding your Facebook feeds soon. Oh, and on a side note - once Memories & Blessings Photography gets to 1200 fans there will be a giveaway :)

Can You Just Stay This Little, Forever?

On April 24, 2011, Easter morning, my husband and I welcomed our sweet, precious baby girl into the world. Brianna Robyn Burnham was born at 8:20am and has been the light of our lives ever since. She makes every day more beautiful with her sweet little smile.

As I sit her at the computer this afternoon on April 24, 2012 a little tear comes to my eyes because I can't a year has already gone by. I don't think you ever realize the meaning of the phrase "time goes by too fast" until you have children. Seems just like yesterday I was telling Scott I was pregnant, via a pic message of my pregnancy test, and now here we are celebrating Brianna's first birthday.

As we were tucking in our kids the other night, Scott asked Brianna - "Can you just stay this little forever?" Of course, she just smiled and reached to give Daddy a big kiss. We want them to stay little so we can cherish each little moment. We want them to still needs us, still love us the way they do right now. We love the hugs, the kisses, and the theory that Mommy and Daddy knows everything and that we'll never let anything bad happen to them. But growing up is what kids do. Soon the hugs and kisses will be minimum, and only if their friends aren't close by, and they will now know everything and heartbreaks and other scars will occur. How do we know this? Because it's what we did to our own parents. We didn't stay little forever - we grew up!

Brianna is learning so many new things each day and I can't wait to see what she is going to accomplish with her life. Because I know God has big things planned for our little lady. So in closing, Happy Birthday to my sweet baby girl Brianna Robyn. I love you more and more each day! I love you in the morning and in the afternoon - I love you in the evening and underneath the moon!

April 24, 2011

April 2011 ~ Newborn Photos

July 2011 ~ 3 Months Old

October 2011 ~ 6 Months Old

January 2012 ~ 9 Months Old

April 2012 ~ 1 Year Old

Shannon

When Shannon first approached me about doing some photos for her I super excited. I had been looking on Pinterest and seeing all these great poses for a 20-something girl but no one that age had asked for photos. Shannon was exactly the girl I was looking for! We had the opportunity to photograph on the property she is living on which is both beautiful and soooo in the country! She had told me about the barn, fences and fields prior to the session then when I showed up and she was in a sundress and cowboy boots I was so super-duper excited!!

Shannon was so much fun to work with and the camera loved her smile! She looked simply beautiful and again the backdrop was beautiful as well. There is fewer things more beautiful than Dutch Valley! Leave her some love so she can earn a FREE 5x7 photo of her choice.

Here's a few of Shannon that I loved!

Every girl needs a pet cow, lol.

The White Family

Last summer when I first photographed the White family, Myranda told me afterwards that they were trying to get pregnant again and would let me know when it happened so we could do maternity photos. I was so excited to see the announcement on Facebook and even more excited when they announced they were not only being blessed with one little baby but TWO babies! As soon as I saw the news I immediately turned to Pinterest to look to newborn twin photos :)

We met up when Myranda was about 27 weeks pregnant with her two precious baby girls. Kylee, her and Korey's oldest child, was as cute as ever and was so excited about becoming a big sister. Myranda was a trooper and did everything I asked. I always hate to ask Mommy-to-be's to lay on the ground but those are some of the cutest poses. I loved the fact that in all of the photos of Myranda and Korey looking at each other they really look so in love with each other. What a blessing! Those three little girls are lucky to have them as parents.

Keep on the look out for some great twin newborn photos in a few months! But for now, here's a few of my favorites from the White's maternity session. Congratulations Korey and Myrand (and Kylee) - I can't wait to meet little Kinzlee and Khloee!

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The Graham Family

This family came all the way from Benton, Arkansas just to have family photos made with Memories & Blessings Photography! Well, not really, but I was so happy that they made time for me on their vacation. I first met this family when I did the entire Graham family's photos back in the summer. There were around 35 Grahams total at that session so this session of just 4 was a piece of cake :)

I was so excited to get to know Jamie a little bit while they were in and enjoyed hearing her speak in our Sunday School class. She has such a sweet spirit and you can't help but enjoy being around her. Brandon and the kids were just as great to be around as the Mommy in the family. Those kids were so fun and too cute! They are such a beautiful family (inside and out) and I was so thankful I got to spend some time with them and capture some great photos for them in the process!

Thank-you Brandon, Jamie, Colton and Callie for making me a part of your vacation plans! Hope to see you again soon!

My favorite!

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