When words fail...

So much has happened and has been seen in the last few days that I don't even know where to begin. This experience is surreal and completely overwhelming. I don't think I will be able to process any of this until I get back. I want to share a few pictures. Even these don't begin to share with you what my eyes have seen (oh my God...I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it). I have taken over 1000 images in the last two days. Here are a few...

The first 3 images are from the VBS we did in Sukha. We were the first white people to enter this village, not to mention the first white people these people have ever seen. It was a beautiful mess! Fabulously chaotic as Mark called it on the Hillside Mission blog. We were told that this was a little bit of a dangerous area for us but God had His hand over our time there. When we left and got back into cell phone range someone called David and told him that 3 men on a motorcycle showed up demanding to know who we were and what we were doing there. Like I said, God had us covered. ;) (P.S. Mom & Dad, I feel perfectly safe & at peace in Mark & David's hands so don't let that worry you.)






Roofing "tiles" made out of mud. This one's for my Daddy! ;)


Most of the images you'll see on my blog while I'm gone are straight our of camera and probably shot our of the car window as we are driving. Haha!

Breathtaking.



Check out the Hillside Mission blog for more details of what we're doing. Btw, we have been eating Chinese food a lot since we've been here. That's just funny to me...but most amazing chinese I have ever tasted!

Leaving on a jet plane...

Our team heads out in less than 24 hours! I'm doing last minute preparation and hanging out with Ella today. She keeps saying she wants to "go to India with you, Mama". I'm gonna miss that girl! I appreciate you all for committing to pray for us while we are away and don't forget to check out the Hillside Missions blog (click on the link on the right). I really hope to be able to update everyone with fabulous photos while we are in India.

I wanted to leave you with images from a few sessions I'm working on right now. These were the first sessions of 2009 and some of my favorite sessions EVER! The first image is from the Fitch Family Session, the second from the Stallwitz Family, and the last two from Abigail's newborn session. I can't wait to show you more of these images (when I get back)! Grace & peace to you all until next time!

India

If you'll remember, back in August I posted this. Well, it's here! I leave for India in 5 days! Planning for this trip has brought about excitement, fear, tears, laughter, anxiety, etc. But it's here and there's no turning back. ;) I'm so excited for this adventure, I'm excited for the many ways that the Lord is going to stretch me, the time I'm going to get to spend with some of my favorite woman, and for the photographic opportunities. One of the main things we will be doing over there is a women's retreat for 200ish woman...some of which have already started traveling to the retreat location from their homes on foot. What an experience this is going to be! I feel completely underprepared but I just keep quoting this scripture:

Jeremiah 1:5-8
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Many of you have already committed to pray for myself and the others as we are in India. One request I have is that you not only lift the team up in your prayers but also our families. This would mean so much to all of us, especially those of us with small children who aren't used to being away from their Mommies. ;) Also pray for the woman & children we will be meeting and sharing the gospel with. My biggest prayer is that we will not get lost in translation. :) Your prayers really do mean more than you know! Here is a simple little breakdown of our itinerary so you can have something a little more specific to pray for each day.

Jan 15-16 Fly from Amarillo>Dallas>Chicago >New Delhi, arrive 9:30pm on the 16th
Jan 17 Early morning flight to Jabalpur...visit girl's orphanage & worship in pm with house church leaders...overnight in Jabalpur at hotel
Jan 18 Drive to Sakha...church and 1/2 day VBS in Sakha village...drive to Damoh...overnight in Damoh
Jan 19 AM tour of Mid India Christian Missions...PM 1/2 day VBS in Ghandigram
Jan 20 AM 1/2 day VBS in Hatta...PM r&r
Jan 21 All day trip to Khajuraho temples
Jan 22-24 Damoh Women's Retreat...theme: Esther--It's Tough Being a Woman
Jan 24 Overnight train to Agra
Jan 25 Early AM trip to Taj Mahal & Red Fort; shopping; train trip to New Delhi--sightseeing
Jan 26 Republic Day parade & sightseeing in New Delhi
Jan 27 Return flight to Chicago>Dallas>Amarillo

The team blog (link found on the right) will be updated as much as possible. I am also hoping to be able to update you all through this blog and even post photos as much as possible. I'll post again before we depart on the 15th!

Murphree Family

My dear friend, Tiffney, asked me to photograph her family and ended up being my last session of 2008. Jeremy & I met Bradey & Tiffney shortly after joining the fabulous congregation at HCC. We were invited to be a part of a small group in September (I think) of 2007 and didn't really know anybody. We quickly became great friends with all 7 couples in that small group and have been immensely blessed by their presence in our lives. We share a special "bond" (they're gonna laugh at this...I hope) which has made our connection run a bit deeper or maybe just a bit differently than the rest of the couples in the group. (Although I do LOVE each and every other couple dearly!!!) I feel like Tiffney & I have just started our journey of friendship and so far it has been wonderful.

Bradey & Tiffney have the sweetest little red head I've ever met. Adi is just so much fun to be around. She makes us laugh a lot. I had fun photographing her but as you can see in that last image she had had enough of me in her face by the end of our session. I can't wait to photograph my sweet friends again! Love you guys!!!















The last shot of the day (so sad!):

Last Wedding of 2008

I 2nd-shot a winter wedding with Courtney on Dec. 20th in Dallas...the last wedding of 2008! Here are some fun images from the day. The girls were a lot of fun and I love that they threw "snow" for the grand exit. Btw, the cake was super yummy!