It's almost midnight and I'm watching You've Got Mail on Oxygen. I just love this movie.
And speaking of mail, we've gotten some amazing mail the last week or so. A new mobile for Gray's crib from Abbie, a HANDMADE (knit) blanket for Grayson from Lindsey, postcards from Canada, a card+surprise from Fern, muffins from Laura and dinner from Emily. Life is good and man do we have some good family+friends+clients surrounding us! Thanks everyone... I may not have called or written but I appreciate your kindness in ways you just can't imagine. Thank you.
And speaking of loving life, was I speaking of that? Anyway, it was a good day. A good good day.
Started out at The Belles of Christmas brunch at our church. My good friend Angie was in charge this year and I helped her with the decoration and sales of a Christmas mix I created. What do you do to decorate on a budget?
You use antique jars from your collection at home (plus the homes of a few others!), ask for free branches at a local tree lot and have your dad (or Angie's FIL) cut them for you, fill the jars with split peas (when in doubt, use split peas!) and finish with some ribbon! Easy and cheap!
It was a great morning spent with amazing women eating too much food! Look at that buffet table!
You've gotta love a potluck!
And I am in love with this shot I got of my friend Tara (hi Tara!) today... isn't she so beautiful???
It's not a great shot technically at all but captures her sweet spirit perfectly!
And the morning was topped off by an inspiring speech by our past reverend, Rev. Susie Skinner. I've known her my entire life and just love her!
I won't go into her entire talk, b/c I still have MORE photos to share and would love to be in bed before 1am tonight, but I want to share a piece of it. At the end of her talk she passed out lyrics to an Amy Grant song and played it for us. By the end I was in tears. This verse is what put me over the edge:
"Do you wonder as you watch my face if a wiser one should have had my place? But I offer all I am, For the mercy of your plan. Help me be strong. Help me be. Help me."
The song is about Mary carrying Jesus but that verse spoke to me on such a personal level. When you look at your children, in their perfect imperfection, don't you wonder if God made a mistake blessing you with their little lives? I feel so unworthy. What did I deserve to have such great kids?
Anyway, it was a good morning.
Then I ran home, said hi to the girls, fed Grayson and ran out again to a chilly photo shoot at the AB Brewery. In my head I imagined us walking around all the old buildings but everything was gated off. We ever got kicked out of a few places! In the end we still got some great shots even though it's not what I expected! Thanks so much Lynn and Glen and little Gus (are you in LOVE with his name???)! I loved getting to hang out with you guys this afternoon! And I hope Gus, who is getting a cold, feels better soon!
There is a St. Louis landmark down by the Brewery called Gus' Pretzels and so OF COURSE we had to go there and give little Gus a pretzel! I love this look on Glen's face!
In the lobby of the Brewery there was a big Christmas tree with giant ornaments... love that I was able to catch them playing!
And of course I had to try it myself!
So I started this post last night and finished it this morning. And rather than take the time to go back and change things so you think I wrote it all this morning I'm being Sunday morning lazy instead.
TODAY: Chris isn't feeling good now, headache and sore throat. Hoping he doesn't get really sick this week. We have lunch at C's Grandpa's house and then I have my photo shoot with baby Cale. I have another infant shoot tomorrow with baby Carter! So many babies being born! Love it!
If you're skipping church and being lazy too I hope you enjoy your morning!
