Memories, Dreams, and Reflections 2013

Before we move forward into a new year, it is often good to take a look back.  Thanks to Ashley for hosting Memories, Dreams, and Reflections once again so I can do that and share it with you.

{me}

Yep, this is me.

{i love you - part one}

{i love you - part two}

As you can see, I couldn't share just one for this prompt.  In fact, there are many more I could share.

{still laughing}

They keep me laughing.

{winter wonderland}

Playing in the snow with Keira.

{birthday}

My baby turned 8 this December.  He loved the soccer cake my friend, Laura, made for him.

{friends}

Me with two of my very good friends, Jenn and Kiersten.  We worked together on our school's Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

{i was inspired}

I was inspired by my friend Sarah Halstead to try this shot during a last-minute Christmas photo session.

{spring fever}

Pretty spring blossoms.  Something I'm looking forward to now that we are in the middle of winter.

{travel or vacation}

Doug, the boys, and I visited Pymatuning this summer to see the fish.  They were both gross and cool at the same time.

{summer days}

The summer of 2013 was pretty wet and rainy.  But we did have a few hot days when my friend, Jenn (pictured above in the friends prompt), invited us over to swim in their pool.

{a day in my life}

Almost every day we listen to Alex read and/or we look at a book with him.  This time was Daddy's turn.

{all smiles}

These boys crack me up.

{autumn harvest}

A shot of my three not-so-littles during a walk this autumn.

{family or home}

My friend, Laura, (not the one who makes cakes :) ) took our family photos this September.  I think it was about 82 degrees that day and we were all sweating, but she got some great shots of us anyway.  :)

{celebrate!}

Keira isn't really celebrating anything in this photo, but you wouldn't know that if I hadn't told you.  :)

{let's do it again ...}

During our mini summer vacation, we went to Seven Springs to do some summer tubing.  It was a blast!  We can't wait to go again in 2014.  This time with Keira, who was on a missions trip when we went.  (One of the workers took this shot of us with my little pocket camera.)

{i miss you}

We didn't get a chance to raise any Monarchs this year.  I really missed that.  It is remarkable watching the caterpillars transform into the gorgeous butterflies.  (This photo is from 2012.)

{beautiful}

Alyssa, one of the seniors I had the privilege to photograph this year, is not just beautiful on the outside.

{dress up}

Keira got all dressed up for the Homecoming dance this year.  She looks so grown up!

{macro}

This was a tough one to narrow down, especially since I invested in a macro lens this year and got lots of use out of it.

{holidays}

Our Christmas tree went up a little later than usual this year, but our holidays were still wonderful.  Alex loves putting the ornaments on the tree.  The past couple years the kids have put all the ornaments on the tree without my help.

{my favorite}

Picking one favorite photo from 2013 was tough, but I kept coming back to this one.  We had a fun impromptu photo shoot downtown back in May.  I captured several fun shots of my kids.

{don't ever change}

Another one from that photo shoot.  My kids are so fun-loving and crazy sometimes.  I hope they never change!

{just because .. so there!}

I didn't share any photos of Honey yet, so ...

{hopes and dreams}

I have so many hopes and dreams (goals) for 2014 - not just for myself but for my family as well - it is hard to pick just one.  But one of them is for my photography business to double in 2014.  2013 was better than I could have ever imagined and am so grateful to everyone who trusted me to capture their memories.  God willing, 2014 will be even better.  This photo is my current header on my Facebook page, Kimberly Vensel Photography.  I'd love for you to go over and give my page a 'like'.

Just for fun, if you'd like to take a look at the prior years' Memories, Dreams, & Reflections ...
2012
2011

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I know some famous people :)

Just recently, two people I know personally had books published.  


The first is my friend Laura's husband, Mike.  He wrote this awesome children's book called I Love You All the Time.

It is a fantastic book about how Daddies love their kids no matter what ... when they are sleeping or awake, when the listen and when they don't, when they are quiet and when they are loud, etc.  It is ultimately about how God loves us no matter what.  Nothing we do can change the way God feels about us!

The illustrations in the book are wonderful!  The kids pictured look just like Mike and Laura's two kids, right down to their clothes and they way they sleep in their beds.  What a great gift for Liza and Jason to have!

This book would make a great Father's Day gift. *hint hint, nudge nudge* You can check it out and order from:

Inspiring Voices

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

If you'd like to know more about the book, Laura has a page on her blog dedicated to it.  <-- Just click there for more information!

The other book recently published from someone I know is Ruby's Road by Lorraine Martin (aka Rainey).  

Rainey blogs at Sunshine on Rainey Days and just tonight wrote about how the book came to be.

I just got Rainey's book and have just begun to read it, so I'll give you the synopsis from the back cover.

Ruby Mast, a sullen high school senior, views her life as shallow and wishes for something more.  One night she hears a noise coming from the kitchen.  Surprisingly she is confronted by a tiny man whose name is Ammond.  He is prince of a land called Star End and has become lost on a quest to save his sister, Fiodella, from an evil wizard.  Ruby, thirsty for adventure, asks to accompany him on his journey.  Neither youth knows what lies before them, but through their trials, they will have to decide whether to rely on each other or completely fall apart, failing their mission and possibly losing their lives.

It is geared toward young adults and sounds like a fun book to read.  I read chapter one tonight and am looking forward to reading more.  Just because it is geared towards young adults doesn't mean I can't read it, right?  :)

To order Rainey's book, go to lulu.com.

Do you know anyone personally who has published a book?  I'd love to hear about it!

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Friend of God

There is a song that we sing in church called "I am a Friend of God."  We've been singing it for a while and I never really gave it much thought.  I enjoyed the song and always sing along, but it didn't really speak to me until recently when Alex was watching a Scooby Doo movie.


Huh?!


Stay with me now.  There is a connection.  Really.  :)


There's a line in the movie that Shaggy says ... "Friends don't quit."


I didn't really watch the movie, so I'm not sure exactly what he was talking about.  I assume that Fred, Daphne, and Velma were in a pickle - being held hostage by some ghost-like creature - and Shaggy was trying to convince the cowardly Scooby Doo to go with him to save them.  Typical Scooby Doo plot.


By the way, did you know they had last names (Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy)?  I just looked them up on Answers.com.  Do you know what they are?  There's no prize or anything.  Just wondering if anyone knows.  :)  


Anyway, I'm getting off topic, so you'll have to head over and read them for yourself if you are interested.


Back to my point ...


Jesus says in John 15:13-17 (emphasis added by me)... Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is my command: Love each other.


If friends don't quit ... and God is my friend ... and God promises in His word to never leave me or forsake me ... then how could I possibly quit on God?  How can I continue to disappoint Him with my selfishness and my disobedience and my apathy?


There needs to be a change in my life.  God has been working on me, speaking to my heart.  Convicting me in areas that need change.  I am surrendering.  I am willing.  And with His help, I will become the person He wants me to be.


A friend of God.


Please pray for me.

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