Edits

The most satisfying thing in editing is seeing the before and after!

I thought I'd drop in to share a quick B/A of my handsome cousin :)

I've had the afternoon to myself, so I've finally been able to take a huge chunk out of editing. Yay! 

-MarLeahJoy

Seniors 2016

I started out this weekend so drained and just ready to spend one, just one, weekend at home -- for once. To be honest, I would shake my head and wonder why I booked two senior sessions for this weekend. Ha! But I can't explain how much my energy was renewed for both Zac and Karissa's sessions once we got started. We had quite an exciting time at both sessions, and I just could feel myself getting completely in my photo-mode-zone.

{Karissa Senior 2016}

Right before this photo, I had thrown a big rock in the water so Karissa could step on it to get to a little island. Ummm... well, I must have completely forgot that throwing a rock in the water is going to splash. *face palm* Oh my! That's one of those indicators that I am in my "photo-mode-zone". Some of my reasoning goes out the back door when I am focused on getting a particular shot! Thankfully, her dress was made from a material that dries quickly and doesn't show up water spots!!! :P

I got to enjoy Karissa's company again today, since Zac's mom was unable to come. Karissa was a great help in keeping things natural and fun! :) (and so helpful with helping carry all the gear)

{Zachary Senior 2016}

Tea time :)

Just a little out-take from some of the unicycle shots :)

I love this moody shot of him juggling...

On our way back to our vehicles soon after this shot, he even juggled for a cook in a restaurant whose window looked out to the alley. It was such a cool experience because we could tell that we had just lighten that cook's evening by the big smile that appeared on his face :) 

Like I said, these sessions totally renewed my energy level! I came home excited to edit pictures, so I edited more of the other seniors as well :)

{Tessa Senior 2016}

We had many good laughs and so much fun taking these silhouettes of her :)

{Drew Senior 2016}

He's my awesome bassoon-playing cousin! :)

-MarLeahJoy

Currently...

I tend to think of Fall as a relaxed season of my life. Wrong! I am now thinking that winter is probably the most relaxed because I tend to stay in from the cold, don't have so many events to travel to, and certainly don't have a million and one photo sessions to shoot and edit!!!! Hehehe!

I'm not trying to be cynical, because I really do enjoy taking and editing portraits... but I've just been sooo busyyyyy. Lol. I'll give you a sneak peek of what I've been working on. 

And this isn't the end yet. I have two senior shoots this weekend. BUT... those should be the end :)

Then I'll have just a ton of stuff to share. And hopefully after that, I can relax back into some video editing :)

{Tessa Senior 2016}

{Elwell Girls}

{Drew Senior 2016}

{Darren and Kate Engaged}

Another "current" thing in my life I shared about a few blog posts back: learning contentment.

To be honest... contentment isn't the whole key word of what I've been dealing with lately. You could call it extreme agitation and frustration towards circumstances that I've been trying to commit to the Lord, but not completely letting go of. One night last weekend, I came to a breaking point where I couldn't stand the fear of knowing that things most likely would never work out as I would love for them to.

 I had been feeling justified and entitled to my own will because it was simply the natural thing for my personality to want. While talking with my mom over these things, she shared something that was so hard to swallow. She told me that I need to ask the Lord for a new vision on the situation. I don't think I went to bed that night asking for a new vision. I didn't want to see it any other way, but when I awoke Sunday morning... I was embracing the idea a little more. I opened my bible and it fell to Acts 22, which was a beautiful re-iterated some of the same instruction that my mom had already given me.

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

Those verses have been my "rock to stand on" this week! ☺︎ 

-MarLeahJoy

I will arise and follow you over
Savior please, pilot me
Over the waves and through every sorrow
Savior please, pilot me
When I have no more strength left to follow
May your sun rise and lead me on
Over the sea’s, savior pilot me
Fall on my knees, pilot me

Harvest Party

My cousin, Audrey, hosted a Redwall/Harvest party at her cute little house this week. 

There was a wide range of breads, fruits, and pastries. And a coyote leg and some whole fish were even added to the table for tasting.  (I nearly choked on the coyote) D: 

But I had an enjoyable, relaxed evening... and loved talking quietly around a fire late into the night. :)

-MarLeahJoy

Learning Contentment

Some days I feel like no matter how many things I accomplish for other people, how clean I keep the house, how much money I set aside and invest, how many smiles I give out to customers at the bank... it all amounts to no satisfaction. And then I realize... the rest of my life could be like this! I know, I'm being very vulnerable by saying that on a blog for everyone to read. So I'll tell you right now, that I already understand that this is spiritual/emotional battle, and that I mean to come out on top of it - with victory.

This last week has been just pretty "blah", and in hindsight I realize it's because I've been anxiously looking around for something big and exciting to happen. During a time of heart searching this evening, I came across a song that is called "Restless". I mockingly thought, "Oh great! Just such a perfectly fitting song for my life right now..." Well, yes, the song really has some good words about being "restless until I rest in You [God]" But, I really didn't want to hear those words, I wanted to ignore the root of my problem. So I skipped the song on my playlist and kept musing over my gloom.

Not long after that, I was talking with one of my friends who was asking for me to send her some pictures that we had taken together. I started working on the pictures and told her about the way I was feeling, just to see if she had any help. Ironically, in the course of our conversation, she brought up the exact song that I skipped earlier. She quoted the same line of the song that had run through my head maybe an hour earlier. Well, if that isn't an obvious answer from God, I don't know what is :)

She also mentioned something at the last of our conversation about loving our group of friends... And as I started editing these pictures I realized how thankful I am for everything I DO have. (With the #1 thing being such a great group of friends!) :) And not even half of them are in these pictures I'm sharing today. :)

So then - to answer the great question... "What if the rest of my life is a constant battle against restlessness!?"

Well, this evening I've realized that this time in my life is to condition me to be content in whatever state I find myself in.

I'm not saying that I won't ever battle this again, but I'll always know where the victory is; I can always run back to that place and be safe! :) 

Oh, so serious...

Christy pointed her lazer into the camera lens, just to see what it would look like. Kinda creepy... ;P

I just love all my friends! :)

Maybe next time it won't take me a whole week to realize that I should start counting my blessings and just rest and wait ;)

Stay Encouraged

-MarLeahJoy

Fall Camping

I don't think I've ever blogged twice in a day...

But who says you can't, anyway?

I just got back home today from camping out with Audrey and some other girlys. It was just perfect... from the sunset last night, to the fog this morning.

I peeked out of the tent in the morning to see what girls had woke me up, and found Alea and Kiki starting a fire :) Thanks girls! 

And here's the ornery little scoundrel who woke us up in the middle of the night by climbing around on the tent!!! Bad little thing!

And... of course, when I went out to take pictures this morning, the cat had to tag along. But he couldn't walk beside me -- that just wouldn't do at all!! Nope! He walked in-between my feet the whole entire way! Ha...

Does anyone spot Alea out on the island?

Bed head ;)

I'll have to say that this camping trip made me REALLY start to day dream about going backpacking through some of Yosemite.

Alea, Kiki, Audrey, and Tori 

This afternoon I've been working on scraping down the trim in my new room so we can stain, and in just an hour and a half... I'll be heading back to Granby -- just a few miles from our campsite -- for a photo session this evening.

Hope everyone else is having a terrific Saturday.

-MarLeahJoy