An Old Passion Reignited...

I'm a week late posting this but for good reason.  I've taken up a new hobby, well, it's not all that new actually.  I was given a camera at the age of 5 but was never really taught the ins and outs of photography.  I've ALWAYS LOVED taking pictures, but they never quite turned out how I hoped.  In January, I FINALLY bought a digital camera before my big trip to India.  That's where my passion for photography was re-ignited.  

I've also been blessed with a roomie that knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to taking photos.  She happens to do it on the side as a hobby/business.  I've learned a LOT from her this past year just watching her and seeing the different angles, learning the 3/4's rule, etc.  I wanted her to come out and take pictures of Amy and the girls...she said "Alecia, you totally have the eye and technique, you just need to borrow my camera!"  So, she graciously entrusted me with her VERY expensive camera to shoot some pics of the girls.  

We headed out to Woodward Park and I was snapping away.

"Now, why does that make you take a long time to post?!?!" you ask.  

Well, Andreia (the roomie) has also been teaching me how to edit photos with photoshop.  I've been editing a few pictures every night. 

Here are just a few of my favorite girls in photos:

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The Lee Wedding

Me & the flower girl Nina (another

one I babysit)- 

She's got the awkward

smile going on.  

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Laura, Nina & Chris

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Kim & Lawrence

Congratulations!

Planting Flowers

I've wanted to make my front and back porch 

look pretty, soooo I enlisted my very talented

friend, Leah & her adorable daughter, Cora

to help me pick out pots and flowers.

Our day started with a pedicure, then went to

Lowe's & Wal-Mart for pots and flowers.

Cora helped me put the soil in the pots

Leah worked her magic planting the flowers

The Finished Product

I took this picture- I LOVE the morning

sun on my plants...It makes me smile every morning!

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35

Matt wanted to get together for prayer

one more time before the group went their 

separate ways.

Joel, Katy, Inez, Christine, Matt & I got together

and just talked about areas we needed prayer.

We took turns sitting in the middle of the 

group and prayed for one another.

It was a sweet time.

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Inez, Christine, Matt, Katy & Me

Hair Update!!!

It's official...I've gotten addicted to 

experimenting with my hair.

I got it cut a little shorter and added highlights

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Just added to the Sassy!

Lunch with a Dear Friend

Donna & I met and college and she's been 

a GREAT friend and an amazing spiritual

confidant.  I can count on her to be my 

prayer warrior.  She's an amazing friend,

great wife and mother.  Thanks for the example!

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Donna K & Grant

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Grant- Mischievous 

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Donna 4 DAYS before delivering....

Crazy, I know!

Keeping With Tradition

This is where it all began

Retreat- The Newbies go to Sonic and hang

out in Matt's truck- Each year at 

Retreat we try to make the same little 

trip to Sonic

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Three years later...we're all a little older

and a LOT closer

Thanks for the Memories Guys!  Love you MUCHO!

The "Retreat"

The Dude Ranch...don't hate!

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International Night

Sheba, Christine, Me & Babitha

In our India Garb 

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Cathie's reaction when she saw Lori

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Cathie & Lori

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Every year we have our annual work "retreat"...we seriously need a vacation after the "retreat". This is when we welcome the new Interns and the 3rd years graduate and move on to the real world or mission field.  It was a fun time...I didn't get much sleep but it was great to relive fun moments shared and meet up with old friends.  Lori, who started at Image the same year the 3rd years started, moved to another program 7 months into their first year.  She and I had maintained our friendship and we decided to surprise everyone with her....that was such a hard secret to keep!!!  But worth it.

It's a sad time, having to say good bye to my friends that will be scattering all over the world. I'm blessed to have had them in my life for a season.  

Blessings to you all as you pursue God's call on your life.

Christine is MARRIED!!!!

The Bride & Groom

Christine and Andrew

You might recognize that girl singing if you

watched American Idol last season,

that's Alaina Whitaker- best friend of the bride

The Girls- Cara is in the yellow, sister of the bride

Cara told Andrew in her toast that they're a package 

deal- he not only gets Christine but they come with her 

I thought that was cute.

Congrats Christine & Andrew!

Seriously.....I'll Post for Real....SOON!!!!

I know, I know....I'm totally behind on all my blogging...I've been super busy.  But I had to share these two sites with you that I do believe I'm in LOVE with....all my creative friends will have a hay day looking at these sites.  The first on is from a photographer that I go to church with, Ashley Ann....she has lots of fun ideas for summer fun with the kiddos (If I had kiddos these are things I would do with them).  She also has fun crafty things to do.

The other site is Design* Sponge, a fun DIY design site....soooo cute and full of clever ideas.

I do believe Amanda & Amy, in particular, will enjoy both of these sites!

Happy Browsing!

The Bachelorette Finale....

GO JASON!!!

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I have so many other things I need to blog about right now but.....
I'm SOOOO ready for the finale and I hope so badly that she picks Jason...he's so sweet and wonderful!

I'm having a girls night to watch the finale...talking during commercials ONLY!!! :-D My adorable friend Amanda, who by the way didn't watch the show until I was at her house one Monday night and I had forgotten to set the VCR (Yes I still have a VCR- I also have DVR but I don't get local channels on it- How crazy and ridicoulous is that?!?!). Needless to say, I've had numerous phone calls during commercials, and after each episode since! I LOVE IT!!! So, Amanda & I decided that we MUST have a girls night to watch the finale...I'll post pictures when it's all said and done.

Hope...

At Bible study this evening our leader shared a story about the Stanfield family.  Their story is tragic but hopeful which is something that only the Lord gives us...Hope within tragedy.  I was very encouraged by this particular story and wanted to share it with others.  

"Lord, give us wisdom not to waste this."

This speaks volumes to me.  As Christians we will face many trials but don't waste those trials asking why me instead, get on your knees before the Lord and learn who He is in that trial or particular moment and allow Him to move in your life like never before. 

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