Newborn photos

I recently had the pleasure of photographing this little bundle of joy:

Mrs. Purnell recommended me to a friend of her's one day (Thank you!  Thank you!) and the next thing you know I'm in her home taking photos of her precious baby boy.  (Names to be kept anonymous...)

At three weeks old and weighing in at a whooping 5 lbs, he was a perfect little model.

Until he realized his parents (or grandparents!) weren't holding him anymore...

Do you find yourself sympathy smiling?  Me too...

We should have taken this face as a warning...  Soon after he peed on that blanket.

That's just the risk you take with a diaperless newborn!  His mother was smart though and had covered up the chair with the blanket, so we had nothing to worry about. 

Go on about your business little friend.

A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, a dream of possibilities.

His mother's beautiful idea:



This is my favorite:

I don’t know whether they should say “you have a baby” or “the baby has you.”

Such a sweet family!  I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet them and take these photos.  Here's to hoping they enjoy them for years to come!

You know my favorite picture of that day...  Which one is your favorite?!



Discipleship

Disciple:  a fully-devoted follower of Christ;

one who knows Him, walks with Him, and is sent by Him into the world.

Jesus Christ was born, died, rose from the dead, and is alive today. 

He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

I am a follower of Christ - a disciple.   

Therefore I am called to...

...Discipleship:  (see definition of disciple) the actual going into the world to declare and teach the Gospel.

This year, Chris and I have been co-leading small groups at our church.  (Chris has his own group of boys and I'm with the girls - of course.)  Once a week, we study the Bible with some of the most wonderful high school students.  It is one of the most rewarding nights of my week.  I cherish these friendships that God is building.

Once a month, all the leaders of these high school groups get together for what's called "Leadership."  (Self-explanatory title)  This Sunday Chris and I hosted Leadership at our house.  As 25ish of us gathered in the living room, Adam (the youth minister) gave us the 4 C's to none other than Discipleship:

1.  Content - giving Biblical truth to our high school friends in the context of the Gospel and the entire Bible.

2.  Character - teaching and modeling characteristics of Christians; love, perserverence, grace, etc...

3.  Community - learning (and modeling again) how to live with one another in Christian community.  How we love, forgive, encourage, hold accountable, edify, and teach other Jesus believers.

4.  Competencies - the "know how" to study scripture, pray, tithe, etc...  Most importantly though, how to cultivate relationships with Christ.

That's a lot.  A lot of responsibility.  When I'm honest, I know I'm selfish.

And just on Sunday night as I was thinking about how much there is to do, our group was reminded to turn our focus from what we're supposed to do and be and teach and yada yada to wallowing in the Truth.

To WALLOW.  To soak up who He is and who I am because of Him.

I am a sinner, saved by His GRACE... 
Not by anything I've done or will do, but because He saved me.

When we go back to #1 and rest in the content of scripture, Christ will begin to cultivate our relationships with Him.  We'll hear Him more clearly and be able to follow the Holy Spirit (living in us) more.

As Philippians 1:6 was shared: 
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

I was reminded that discipleship isn't about me.  It's about Christ.  He started this in me and has already promised to continue working on it until Jesus comes.

And that truth, my friends, I do have to offer to my high school friends, family, peers, co-workers, strangers, and neighbors.

My beautiful Small Group friends



Purnell Puppies

This blog is going to the dogs!

With faces like this:

I just can't help myself!

That's Tucker.

Here's his brother, Norton:

and their other brother, Rufus:

Brothers from another dog mother, of course.

Here's their real live human Momma:

Mrs. Purnell and Norton.

Last week, Chris and I went over to the Purnell's house to take some photos of their three "babies" - Rufus, Norton, and Tucker.  We love dogs and totally understand how special they are.  When Mrs. Purnell asked me, I couldn't have been more excited!

One of my favorite parts of the day:

"Daddy's home!!"

How cute is that?!

Coming home to a poochie is one of the best things in the world. 

They always seem to be the happiest to see you!

Can you imagine coming home to three?!

What a pose!  He did this one all on his own.  Rocking the electric fence collar.



Tucker loves his Dad.  Follows him around all.the.time.  I think Dad likes Tucker too.

The whole happy family:

All is well until someone gets a wet kiss...

You think dogs will not be in heaven?  I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

One lap is much smaller than two!!

Tucker's look of devotion:

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults.  Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. 

~George Eliot

Rufus has a reputation...  of not being so nice.  But Mr. Rufus - I think you're a real softy on the inside.  He looks as pretty as a picture and did a perfect job on Thursday night.  :)

Ever want to figure out how to make really strange and funny noises?

Get behind a camera and try to make three dogs look your way.

These dogs bring such joy to the Purnell's!  You can see it on their faces...  so precious.

One last photo for the road:

This is Mr. Purnell's chair where he sits with the puppies every night.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Purnell, for asking me to photograph the five of you! 

It is always a pleasure.

PS:  Thanks as well to Mr. Connell, my partner in crime, who found he could also make a lot of different/weird/strange noises that night!



Chilton lady

In a quest for some old photos,

I have stumbled into a genealogy search.

[Feel free to wonder if I'm really 80 years old.  Mr. Connell already thinks I must be at heart.]

One limb up the family tree is the Chilton line.  Several people have already done a ton of research, so all I have to do now is fine the puzzle pieces to the other limbs.

My favorite part of all of this?

Finding gems just like this one:

There's just something about this photo I keep looking at...  the composition is beautiful...  the ducks (??)...  the woman...  the old home...  and even that there's a shirt hanging on the line at the top of the picture.

There are so many people in our (you included) family lines.  and we're just a piece of

God's big puzzle.

It's fasinating to me.

Macy plays ball

Little tennis balls are the best for dogs with little mouths.

and our little poochie can't wait to catch them.

this hallway is ideal.

nothing (like a glass top table) for her to run in to.  and it has a small rug for traction.

She's not the best at dropping the ball back at your feet.

But she will drop it.  Just 2 inches away from your reach.

Once it's back in my hands, she's the most attentive girl.

I'll hold it up until she can barely stand it...

until she's doing a little dance and talking to me.

but I'll wait until she shows me her little teeth.

then it's take off.

This will go on and on...

until she lays on the floor out of breath...

and happy as can be.

Our little poochie.

PS:  Here's a great deal to help out those in Japan.  I can't imagine what they're going through...

 



Birmingham weekend

Katie, Baby Charley, and Chris

Baby Charley. 

How innocent and unknowing he is.

Through the years, Charley will be told all about his uncle Tripp... 

how much Tripp loved him...  how he always called him "Charles"...

...and I always want to remember just how God used this little one to bring a sliver of peace into a mourning family during such a devastating weekend.  

That God uses a sweet child to bring comfort.

Charley may be little, but his role is so big.

Super Bowl

Back in January, Chris and I had a few people over to watch the Super Bowl.

And yes, I do understand that was about 1.5 months ago.  I got a little behind, so stick with me here.  I normally have a disease that makes me post these in the accurate order, but I'm stepping out there and seeing what happens here.

Brooke holding baby Luke and Jennifer  {I think this was 2 weeks after Jenn had Luke!  Doesn't she look great?  That's Adam in the background with his hand in the chip bag.}

The Packers had a date with the Steelers, so Chris sent out an email sometime the week before the game.  We were having a party and he told people to spread the word.  We weren't sure how many people would be there, so I just tripled the chili recipe and everyone brought some yummy food with them.  It was a perfect amount!

Mr. Connell and I both love having people over and luckily, we've got a group of friends who love getting together.  Our home is the Lord's and we want to be honoring to him with it.  Granted, we were watching the Super Bowl and not a sermon, but we believe welcoming friends and family, who we do life with, into our home is honoring to Him.

That above photo happens every time we have people over!  Somehow the men end up in the living room and the women find ourselves in the kitchen.

Women in the kitchen.

It's probably because the men hog the seats in the living room.  :) 

Well, for the most part (there are some lady exceptions), the game means more to the guys, so it's understandable.  And we don't have enough chairs for everyone...  But I have been known to watch a game or two, so if I do get the itch, Mr. Connell should probably just prepare his lap.

Ladies left to right:  top-Allison, Emily, Brooke, Yegi, Jennifer (look closely and you'll see baby Luke), Emily, Me, and Cameron.  Bottom-Katie, Laura, and Staci.  I think the bottom row looks 3D. 

Looking around seeing people we love enjoying theirselves makes the preparation worth it. 

Did I say something about the Super Bowl?  The reason for our party?

Oh yes.  And the Packers took home the victory! 

Go Aaron Rodgers!

(That name dropping was to impress my Mr. Connell.  He'll be proud I remembered!)