It's been a crazy and beautiful year. Finally getting around to editing some personal work.
Can't wait to get my hands on some of my own family photos. 
Here are a few images from my first July 4th in Olympia, Washington.

As the last diver landed, there were several workers who ran in to prevent the flag from touching the ground.
It was quite a beautiful site to see.
​In many ways I think it could be an excellent challenge: How can we protect the honor of our country? 

I'm never quite sure what to think about these signs.
While I do believe Jesus died for our sins, and rose again to bring us restoration and healing, I associate these signs with picketers and anger.
Albeit, the young lady who was holding this sign was quite calm, and while I didn't talk with her, she looked quite pleasant from afar.

Some of the delightful people from Grapeland, Texas who came up to do missions work  with The Canvas Church.
It was such a blessing to meet them, and serve beside them.

One of my favorite littles getting ready to enjoy some fireworks.

Let the show begin.

I was quite pleased with how these turned out considering I was hand holding my camera.
Maybe next year I'll commit and bring a tripod.
​But sometimes it's nice to simply enjoy the show.

I'm always fascinated by people's use of technology.
Like this man who instead of watching the show was using his phone.
...Which was just like me, using my camera, instead of just enjoying the show with my eyes.
"Hello Mr. Pot, my name is Ms. Kettle."
Or the photo below, as soon as the show was over, all the devices were pulled out. Must check all the places!

 Congratulations Joel and Melissa Swan on the arrival of your baby girl!
 A few weeks ago I was blessed to be able to help document the arrival of A.J. Swan.
Below are some of my favorite images of their birth story.
I love my job. 
Also, with the Swan's blessing, I was able to write a story for Thurston Talk about their amazing nurse, Beth Joanis.
​I'll link it at the bottom once the story is live.

Our evening started at The Birth House and included lots of strolling, stair walking, and squatting.
​Mom had a pleasant demeanor and Dad was a pillar of support.

I couldn't resist nabbing an image highlighting their BUMP.

Mom tried a few drops of Labor Enhancer. Her midwives, Christy and Rachael (who were fantastic), warned Mom it would be gross. 
Her face after taking it is a hoot. It makes me giggle every time. She is such a trooper.

Grandpa was the first to turn in for the night. Eventually Mom and Dad attempted to get some rest too. The rest of us followed suit.

Late the next morning a consensus was made that due to A.J.'s late arrival,
her current positioning, and a few other factors, that it might be best for A.J. and Mom if they transferred to the hospital.
Rachael gave the most encouraging pep talk to Mom and Dad.

Christy accompanied the Swans to help them transition into the hospital setting.
It's great knowing that even though they had to transfer, they were simply leaving one great team for another.

I loved getting to watch Grandma's face throughout the labor.

Grandpa, Mom, Dad, and Grandma all in the same shot.

I absolutely agree with Beth, It is amazing to see the strength and patience of a woman in labor.

Monitoring A.J.'s heartbeat.

It's time!

Welcome to the outside world!

We all made guesses on how much she was going to weigh. I was more than a pound off.
​I'm always impressed by how big and how small they are at the same time!

Upon moving to Washington, Mr. Husband immediately began searching for a new dojo. After numerous calls and visits, he found Aspire Family Fitness & Martial Arts. While we will be continuing our studies in Aikido, for those interested in learning Karate and or Judo, I highly recommend training with Sensei Trance in Tumwater, WA. If you'd like to learn more, you can read an article I wrote on them for Thurston Talk. I love photographing people doing life. See additional photos below.

All of the previous images were shot during their grand opening in April 2016. The following images were taken during one of their Saturday classes. I recently purchased a 28mm lens, and thoroughly enjoyed how much more of the space it allowed me to document. 

I love looking for repetition. Every single person's face was obscured in one way or another. Arms, computer monitor, camera, leaning out of frame. Naturally after capturing that interesting moment, I moved to nab the expected image where you can see their faces as they practice.

A few photos from my time interviewing Sean-David ​McGoran and The Tuned In Academy.

It's easy to feel inspired by SD's passion for music, and love of teaching. 

His style of teaching is relaxed enough for the kids to have fun. 

And serious enough for them to progress as musicians. 

When I said I like to capture personality they saw a photo like the one on the right. 

For the top two images I was a glorified camera on a bipod. Albeit, a knowledgeable, and self aware camera, but not much more. For the group photo I dialed in the settings, placed my camera on a trash can, set the timer, and popped on in. (I’m the one in green. 'Sup?) I mean, it was intentional that I crafted the photos so similarly. I wanted the photos for Mom to look like they belonged together. But these aren't the types of photos I want to be known for creating. 

If someone wants photos like that: There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. To each their own. I strongly encourage anyone who only wants those types of photos to ask for a camera and tripod for Christmas. If you ask, I’ll even help you pick one out next year. (The rest of this year is for my family and loved ones.) Or you can totally hire someone who is passionate about posed photos. You just can't hire me to shoot like that. There is way more that goes into being a photographer than just a fancy camera. But if it comes down to you spending the money for me to take posed photos, or you spending money to buy a camera: I don't want the money, anymore, so buy yourself a camera. Cameras are great. People being interested in photography is super. I hope you have fun and love the images you create!

*Me* shooting like that, is not good for *me.* It isn’t good for my artistic soul, which I’ve previously been ripping up with every non-descript press of the shutter. ​And it isn't what I want to do with my business.

And YES!, to helping preserve memories for years to come.
​
I am SO EXCITED. SO EXCITED!!!! about the improvements I’ll be making in 2016.
 Hope you have a wonderful time with friends and family!

Birth is by far my favorite.

Everyone is real.

Sure, there's a lot of pain. But there's also so much love. So much compassion.

And then there's life. A new, tiny, squishy little life.

Tenderness.

A craving to connect.

Sharing joy with loved ones far away.

Taking care of each other.

So many snuggles.

Affectionate gazes.

And worth it every time.

​I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Dettloff, one of my very favorite couples. 

​A year ago we were hot gluing pink ribbon to silk flowers, filling mason jars with photo memories, celebrating the start of a lifelong journey, and eating some of the best wedding cake EVER! (Seriously, if you weren’t there, you missed out.)

​They officially hit their first anniversary on November 8th, 2015. Congratulations! 

​There are many, many, many, ..., many reasons this couple make a fabulous team. 

​One of the more fun being their mutual love of gaming.

“Now THAT’s one for the scrapbook.”

​First of all: Congratulations J for arriving to your senior year!

​Much like birthdays, every school year is a milestone marker that the Lord has blessed us with another year of life. They are something to be grateful for, celebrated, and used wisely. 

​Next, A little back story: Mom first hired me to photograph her eldest child’s senior photos a few years ago. She was so pleased with the session that she made comment about wishing I could photograph her other children's senior photos as well.

​Married to a military man I, sadly, didn’t think this would be an option. 

​But lo and behold, a few years later I found myself back in NC when her older son was upon his senior year.

​So when it worked out to photograph J, her youngest child, I was so excited! A gigantic, albeit metaphorical, check mark was put next to this session. Three for three!

​Working with the Mauk family has been a breeze. They’re all so chill and pretty easy to talk with. 

I’m excited to hear updates about J and his siblings from Mom during the coming years.

It started with a trip to Germany, and by trip I mean Zach had orders to train in Germany from late September through early December 2014. Coupled with our friends leaving, to start The Canvas Church, a week after he left. 

I was able to spend time with the Tindall family while Zach was in Germany. (See earlier posts.) We knew we loved the ministry God had called the Tindalls to, and wanted to help support it anyway we could. Mainly prayer, financial support, and sharing about TCC ministry. (Links below!) During the two months there, I was increasingly convinced we needed to join TCC in a much more permanent way than serving from afar.

My last day in the Tindall apartment I remember waking up around 4 am, alarm free, with an over whelming desire to pray Zach would know where to lead us. Utterly convinced he needed to visit Tumwater, WA for himself, but no idea how in the world we would afford it.

Does God answer prayer? Absolutely. Sometimes the answer is, "No," others it's, "Not now," and still other times His reply is a resounding, "YES!" A few short December hours later, Delta was offering me $1,000 voucher to take a flight later that night. (Why yes, I will gladly accept the opportunity to spend another day with the Tindalls AND visit them in the future!) It was a huge blessing for Zach and I to head their way in June this year. He was able to see the ministry in person, get familiar with the area, and ask questions in real time. 

I'm sure some of you are thinking, "This was supposed to be about North Carolina. How is this about North Carolina?" Great question! The Lord’s provision of such a large voucher allowed us to visit Washington, and for there to be enough left over for me to visit North Carolina. I am very, very thankful for the Lord’s generosity to see my family, and friends, before we move to Tumwater in 2016. I’ll be heading to North Carolina near the middle of October for what might be the last time for several years, or ever. Who knows? I have no idea when we’ll make it back to North Carolina after we move to the Pacific Northwest. We’ll certainly work towards, and continue to pray God grants us, that pleasure in the future. But it isn’t something we’ve been promised. God is good regardless.

The Canvas Church, like all Churches, is in need of Christians to partner with them:
-- Prayerfully, --
-- Financially, --
-- and In Person--
If you have a love for those who have never heard the Gospel, please consider partnering with The Canvas Church in one, or all, of these ways. For more information check out their Partnership page.

For those of you who're interested, here are my two previous posts about WA.