Family pictures...

I got to take some pictures of the Hensleys earlier this month.... seriously a joy! 

With all the transition, I knew it would take me a few weeks to get them edited and shared, but I'm happy to report, the disc is going in the mail today!!

And I posted more pictures from the shoot over at OrganicMuse.com.

Finally, an update...

It’s already week two and we’re getting settled.
Jeremy is full speed ahead with school, and I am adjusting to a big new Bookland! :)
Some phone pics to give you a glimpse of our time here so far…



downtown Raleigh & our first bike ride to campus…



Jeremy’s studio class & his grad school initiation project (as we fondly refer to it:)…

city traffic & my new work home…

NC tags, our first G-family skype session, & supper on the couch like good college kids! :)

We love you guys!

We definitely miss the comforts and familiar faces & places of home, but we’re thankful for the adventure ahead…

Thanks for stopping by! ;)

How can this be??

We learned yesterday morning that a dear friend lost her three year old little boy to a tragic gun accident!!

My heart is broken in a thousand pieces for this mom.

I had to choke back tears while ringing people up at Bookland last night. And this morning in church I had to constantly divert my thoughts not to break down into sobs for her.

Apparently she & her fiance were standing by the car when he picked up a hand gun that was inadvertently left in the vehicle.

I can't imagine the horror! I need to sob and mourn for his lost life... For this mom that has been robbed of seeing her boy grow to manhood... For the love between she and her fiance that is forever changed.

What will happen now?

Will she cling to the Lord or clinch her fists?

Will she ever stop mourning?

Can God's love and comfort be this big?

Surely it can!
(Lord, help my unbelief!)

Can you comfort this mother?

Can you be her refuge and strong tower?

Can you restore & heal a wound this deep?

I know you are mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1). I know your arm is not too short and your ears are not dull (Isaiah 59:1). I know you give good gifts to your children (Matthew 7:11) and give us beauty from ashes and a garment of praise instead of mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

Please comfort. Please restore. Please be as big as your word says you are. Thank you for hope and faith! Thank you for your love- especially now when we cannot make sense of the pain & sorrow around us! Please comfort this mom as only you can. Please use us to shine your light and be your hands and feet in a hurting world.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:28-31

(this pic is from a set we took in 2008 when T was almost one)

Miss you, MB...

Miss you, Ocean...


Miss you, Back Porch...


Miss you, Kitty...


Miss you, Kitchen table (& packing mess)...


Miss you Friends & Family...


We're getting all settled in here, but we miss you more than ever! ♥

Raleigh: day 1

Moving day (yesterday) went well.

And now... it's on. 

J. is at orientation and I am at the library (bumming internet since ours won't be turned on for two weeks:).

Our stuff is mostly unpacked.

Our place is lovely.

And now it's time to find our way around this town....

I've google-mapped the essentials (walmart, trader joes, sam's, and work)!!

Crazy starting this new chapter. Good crazy though. 

Leaving our families & friends (and the ocean) were the hardest parts, but we're praying that as we step out that new & excellent fruit will be cultivated in our lives and in the lives of those we love! ♥♥

Hope you're blessed today and embarking on new adventures of your own.
♥

Sayonaras...

These last few weeks have been filled with lots of 'see-ya-laters'.. It's been awesome and oh so sad.

I know this new chapter will bring new friendships and adventures, but I can't help but think of how dearly I'll miss these treasures!!!

cousin-week 2011

nephew Cade... (8 weeks)

oh, Sister... I'm not saying bye to you!

Here we go!!

Staycation 2011

Cousin-week is here and we are soaking it up!!!

Many adventures to be had this week..

Then it's off to Raleigh we go!!
♥ ♥

Photog-certificate...

Last week I had my last of three photography classes at HGTC.

These pictures were part of my portfolio... Glad to get some good feedback and learn more about the field.

Getting a photography job of some kind still seems too good to be true! 

But maybe it's not... 

Maybe Raleigh will have a continue-learning-and-growing-photog-job just for me! ♥