Tuesday Around Town

Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy

Oliver Springs, Tennessee

Principal - Mr. Nathan Barker

Assistant Principals - Mr. Carl Broscious & Mrs. Kendra Walls

Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy (MPCA) will always hold a special place in my heart. It was where I attended school for a few years, it was where I was given the first opportunity to teach and it will be where I send my children one day. MPCA offers grades Kindergarten-12th Grade and is continually growing and helping families in our commnity train their children with Christian education.

From the Mount Pisgah Christian Academy website ...

"Mount Pisgah Christian Academy (MPCA) operates as a ministry of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. MPCA operates with a statement of faith consisting of Bible doctrines that will be taught and maintained. The Academy will assist parents in their responsibility (Deut. 6:6-7) in conforming their children into "the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). As the home, church, and Academy work together, God's plan for each child will be discovered. Our entire Academy program is designed to help parents fulfill this command of God and to lead their children to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and continual growth in Him. The Bible is the basis for our education and is the foundation of the ministry of this Academy. Without God's Word, there can be not true learning.

Our desire is to give the maximum knowledge of Christian living in light of God's Word, "that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18).  Even though knowledge is factually the same for the believer and unbeliever, no subject can be taught in its truth if its Originator is ignored. Our teachers are determined to help each parent "train up a child in the way he should go..." as they are instructed in Pro. 22:6. Our standards and regulations are in effect to help us do things decently and for our school to be pleasing to God."

For more information on Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy you can contact them by phone at 865-435-4831, by e-mail, or on Facebook! You can also visit their website, www.mpcapatriots.com.

Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy's staff is like no other teaching staff you'll find. Not only are they well educated and prepared to teach their students, they also incorporate God's word into every aspect of their curriculum. MPCA uses the A-Beka and Bob Jones curriculum. Each class begins their morning with Bible class and prayer.

MPCA Elementary Staff

Mrs. Amanda Barker

Ms. Bethany Frederick

Ms. Becky Taylor

Mr. James Petty

Mrs. Kendra Walls

MPCA Junior High and High School Staff

Mrs. Tracy Webster

Mrs. Janet Johnson

Mrs. Charlotte Adcox 

Mrs. Donna Campbell

Mrs. Leah Powers

Mr. Carl Broscious

Mr. Nathan Barker

Ms. Shannon Trull

Special Area Teachers

Mrs. Beth Whedbee

Mrs. Sandy Petty

Not only does MPCA excel in academics but also in sports. They offer both boys and girls basketball and cheerleading.

Congratulations to the MPCA Varsity Patriots on their TAACS Regional Championship! The Patriots will be competing for the fourth year in a row at the TAACS State Tournament. However, this year they will be entering the tourny with a #1 seed. Show them so love and support by leaving comments on this blog post or on their Facebook page! Go Patriots!

Spring Session Availability Update

Since the birthday post special offer expires tonight at midnight, I thought I'd give an update on my availability for upcoming months. Remember, you must book your session by tonight for a date before May 31st. Your special offer is $20 off a full session or $10 off a mini-session.

Mini-Session Availability at Knoxville Botanical Gardens

March 24th - 10:45am

March 25th - 2pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 4pm 

Spring Session Availabilty

February 25th @ Knoxville Botanical Gardens

February 26th @ Oak Ridge UT Arboretum

March 10th @ 11am, Oak Ridge UT Arboretum

April 21st @ Oak Ridge UT Arboretum

April 22nd @  3pm, Cedar Hill Park - Oak Ridge

May 6th @ Oak Ridge UT Arboretum

May 19th @ Location TBA

May 20th @ Oak Ridge UT Arboretum

Book your session today!

Chris & Jennifer

Chris and Jennifer were the last mini-session on that blustery, cold day. They took advantage of the Sweetheart Mini-Sessions to have some "engagement" photos made for their vow renewal in August. They also brought along their two little blessings Hailey & Hannah who pretty much looked like marshmallow kids with their coats on and their parent's coats on too.

Just like the other couples, Chris and Jennifer were troopers and braved the cold without much complaining ;) They were however, the only couple that I took photos of inside the Convention Center - not many, but a few! It was so warm in there. Despite the freezing temperatures, you could obviously tell that the McKinneys were completely in love. We had such a great time.

Here's a few of Mr. and Mrs. McKinney's photos from the Sweetheart Mini-Session. I can't wait to photograph your vow renewal in August - I believe it will be much warmer by then ;)

Their oldest daughter, Hailey, posed them for this photo. I may have a little assistant on my hands!

Chris couldn't remember where they shared their first kiss! He was the only man the entire day to hold up a blank paper, lol.

Check out their video on the Memories & Blessings' Facebook page.

*20 Comments = Free Photo*

Scripture Sunday

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The most quoted verse in the Bible is John 3:16. It's also one of the first verses you probably  memorized as a child. It seems so elementary, yet so powerful!

Now that I am a mother, and have a son of my own, this verse is that much more amazing. God loved this world, full of sinners, so much that he willingly gave his Son to die for us so we could be in Heaven with Him one day. His only son! I don't know that I could willingly allow Eli to die for a bunch of sinners. Could you give your son up?

God knew we were sinners and could not enter a perfect and sinless Heaven the way we were. So He gave the ultimate sacrifice so we could have the opportunity to be with Him throughout all eternity.

This verse also states that all we have to do as sinners is believe on Him and we will receive everlasting life. That's it - just believe. No works are involved! God gave us the simplest yet most wonderful gift - we just have to believe and accept it.

If you have any questions on how you can accept this great gift, please feel free to contact me. I'd love to share the wonderful love of God with you!

And the Winner Is ...

Thank-you for all the entries and for all the kind words. I pray that my photo business has been and will continue to be a blessing to each of you. Here is a list of the numbers I gave everyone for the drawing.

1. Alley

2. Deborah Lyttle

3. Stephanie Arnold

4. Lillian Cox

5. LuAnn Hileman

6. Kara Grifith

7. Katy Trentham

8. Kristy Duncan

9. Valerie Duggar

10. Shawnte Stansberry

11. Andrea Parton

12. Ashley

13. Mitzi Vanosdale

14. Stella Clark

15. Tammy Crowe

16. Jessica Carter

17. Marie Brown

18. Laura Summers

19. Marie-Ann Carney

20. Jillian Diden

21. Samantha Hollifield

22. Frances Henderson

23. Haven Jenkins

24. Rose Maxwell

25. Ashley Schubert

Once again, thank-you to everyone for entering our birthday contest. Each participant will be gifted $20 off a full session or $10 off of a mini-session. This discount may not be combined with any other offer (or on any sessions already booked) - and must be used on or before May 31, 2012.  You must also get your session on my calendar before February 20, 2012 (Monday). Again, your session must be on my calendar before February 20th and must take place before May 31st. Please contact me via my website, www.memoriesblessings.com, my email, memoriesblessings@yahoo.com, or on Facebook to book your session. Don't forget that Easter is early this year, April 8th, and I only have a few openings left before then. I do have some openings for the Spring mini-sessions at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens on March 24th and 25th. I look forward to hearing from each of you and getting your session booked for the spring!

Now for the big winners. I used random.org to pick the winner for the FREE Spring Mini-Session and for the half-priced Spring Mini-Session. Drumroll please ...............

The winner of the FREE Spring Mini-Session on March 24th or March 25th at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens ~

#11, Andrea Parton

The winner of the half-priced Spring Mini-Session on March 24th or March 25th at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens ~

#23 - Haven Jenkins

Congratulations to all our big winners! Remember, the deadlines for using your special offer! I look forward to hearing from you and thank-you for a wonderful two years! I look forward to the next two years and more!

Eddie & Katy

You know those romantic movies were two teenagers fall in love and then while they're growing up go through some up and downs but at the end of the movie they live happily ever after? Well, that is Eddie and Katy. These high school sweethearts have been together since they were 15 and 16 years old! I attended high school with Eddie and Katy and remember them being so sweet and have such fond memories of them. I can also remember thinking back in 2002 that were really in love, not puppy love but real love, and that they would end up being together forever. Looks like I was right!

I know that they have had their up and downs, and who hasn't, but I also know that they always end up finding that with each other is where they belong. I am so thankful that God gave them to each other - they are such a sweet couple. Thank-you Eddie and Katy for always giving me the opportunity to capture your sweet memories. I am so honored to call you my clients but even more thankful and blessed to all you my friends!

Check out Eddie and Katy's Sweetheart mini-session.



The couple's video has been posted on the Memories & Blessings Facebook page.

*Don't forget, 20 comments = FREE photo*

Happy Birthday Memories & Blessings!

Two years ago this month God so graciously allowed me the opportunity to begin Memories & Blessings Photography. The time has just seemed to fly by. Throughout the past two years I have had the opportunity to meet so many new people that I would've never had the honor of meeting if it weren't for Memories & Blessings Photography. I am so thankful for each client I have had and am thankful for the ones I will have in the coming years.

Photography has always been a love of mine. When I was in high school I had the opportunity to be the Photo Editor of my yearbook and even had the chance to be on the sidelines for sporting events and take photos. It was a great learning experience for me. Through my college years I dabbled in photography some more but it wasn't until my parents bought me a Nikon D50 that my love of photos grew into something more. I began taking photos for families in my church and was able to make a little extra money.

While I finished up college the photography thing kind of went on the backburner. I had a broken lense and couldn't afford to fix it or buy a new one - so I just concentrated on school and my new love, my now husband. Once I graduated, I began teaching at a local Christian school, which I thank God for constantly. Teaching has always been my passion and I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to live out a dream of mine by being in the classroom.

After teaching for a year, my son Eli was born. I knew that teaching would now have to be given up for the time being and I needed and wanted to be home with my baby. As always, God provided financially and took care of our family, while we were living on my husband's income alone. My parents once again provided me the opportunity to pick up photography again, when Christmas rolled around. It was Eli's first Christmas and I didn't have a camera to capture it with. They purchased the lense for my D50 that I had been missing. One of the best Christmas presents ever! I was so happy to be able to photograph my precious baby boy's first Christmas - with an awesome lense ;)

The new year came around, 2010, and after people began seeing photos of Eli on Facebook I received some inquiries about taking photos. I sat down one evening in February of 2010 and made a business Facebook page. I thought long and hard about a name for my photography and Memories & Blessings came to my mind. That's what I wanted my business to be about - capturing people's memories and their blessings. Plus, my initials are MB so it just seemed to fit :) I remember smiling when I left the computer screen and headed to bed. I poked my hubby and said "I think I just started a business." I didn't know how much God was going to bless me or my business but I knew I wanted to take a leap of faith and try it out. Much to my surprise within the first week of Memories & Blessings Photography being on Facebook I had about five inquiries.

Since that night in February of 2010, I have photographed around 250 sessions and 7 weddings. I am so honored and humbled that people choose me, out of all the photographers in our area, to capture their memories. I love watching people's kids grow up! I love witnessing two people make sacred vowes in front of their family and God, vowes that say they will love each other forever no matter the circumstances. I love seeing a family with the newest member of their family. I love seeing the joy on the parent's faces during a maternity session. I love being a part of my client's lives, even if it's just for that hour. I count it a huge honor and responsibility that you allow me to photograph your sweet families.

In honor of Memories & Blessings Photography's birthday - each comment on the blog or on the link to the blog on our Facebook page will receive a small token of my appreciation. At the end of the night, I will give each comment a number and then use random.org to pick a number to win a Spring mini-session on March 24th at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and then I'll pick another number to win a half-priced mini-session on the same date.

Thank-you again for allowing me the opportunity to "Capture God's Blessings in Your Life!"

Truly Blessed,

Megan