Photos to come later. :)
So for now–turn up the volume, click on the HD link, full-screen it, and enjoy.
We were honored to be your wedding photographers, Brent & Karesse! We love you both!!
“He has the best smile, doesn’t he?” The sun began to tuck away for the evening on the seemingly deserted campus as she looked over at her best friend who had joined us for the shoot.
I’ve known Brent and Karesse for about four years now from our church. I think it was about two years ago that Karesse and I were chatting in the church parking lot one night as she walked over to her little blue car and said, “SO, I like someone… it’s Brent.” I remember responding with something like, “NO. WHAT? WHAAAAT?? Well. Actually. That makes sense–he’s a great guy that knows how to treat a girl well.”
How did I know this? Because we all saw it in the way he took care of his sister: his best friend, Amy (who happens to also be Karesse’s best friend). You may remember that Amy and I are also friends and that she helped me out when I hosted my other friend, BreeAnn’s 21st birthday brunch at our flat. Through our many sweet conversations, I feel like I know Brent well (sorry, Brent–no trash-talking, I swear!). I know that he looks out for his sister like a bodyguard. I know that he questions any one of his friends that take an interest in her (cuz she’s gorgeous. duh.). I know that he knows how to represent for Jesus at a crowded party by loving others. And I know that he will probably always let his sister win in an arm-wrestling match.
I don’t know about you–but this speaks VOLUMES to me. Brent and Amy have always reminded me of my own brother and myself. We are suuuuper close in age (only fourteen months apart), and we can talk to each other about anything and everything. Growing up, he was and still is one of my best friends. BUT–he would NEVER let me win at ANYTHING. So, I can appreciate that brother/sister team. And from that I can glean that Brent will be the same way with Karesse–he will let her win arm-wrestling matches for the rest of their lives.
Congratulations, Brent and Karesse!! Tuan and I love you both so very much, and can’t wait for your big day!
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“And thank You for a house full
of people I love. Amen.”
-Ward Elliot Hour
OK. So, I’ve been M.I.A. for this reason: I can’t seem to figure out how to both a) work out for at least an hour & b) write a blog post in the same morning. So, if you find no blog post from me on a weekday, maybe cheer me on? Cause, I no longer need to take a break in between my 45-minutes of cardio. Yey-uh.
In the meantime, I do have LOTS to share. But today, it will be the recent photos Tuan and I took of one of our favorite families–the Atchisons. Jeff is (sort of) my boss, but he and Geneva have definitely become close friends to us.
The first time I met the Atchisons was back in 2008. I had moved back home after graduating from Biola University with what felt like nobody wanting to talk to me about anything other than my upcoming wedding, and I had grown SO tired of it I (“Because there’s MORE TO LIFE than just my wedding colors,” I’d said at their dinner table). At the time, Jeff and Geneva had been hosting the college Bible study in their home. It was potluck night, and it was my first time attending. Let’s just say, I was a little emotional and scared off a few potential friends with my dramatic plea for friends. You heard me. Before a group of young-adult strangers, I begged for friends. (Are you cringing yet? Because I am.)
But that’s another story for another time. :)
We have been blessed by Jeff and Geneva in so many ways (we even did our pre-marital counseling with them a few years ago!), so we were excited to be able to bless them back with some sweet family photos. AND because it was Geneva’s birthday, we started the day off with a birthday brunch at the Flat, and then Tuan and I babysat the kids while mommy & daddy went out on an afternoon date! We absolutely LOVE these five, and we are SOOOO lucky to have them in our lives. :)
The Atchison Five.
this is what they do together.
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Oh, Happy Day. :)
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this one just makes me laugh. :)
and this one makes me smile. love these two.
LOVE you guys! And Happy birthday, G!!
For more photos, check out their SLIDESHOW. (music written and recorded by Mr. Jeff Atchison!! –it just happened to be the best fit for the photos. :) )
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“It’s called a ‘morning bun.’ Did you know that? It’s not just a cinnamon roll without icing, it has its own name!”
I think that’s fun! Because we all have our own names. I’m currently reading through the book of Genesis, and love that part about Adam naming all the animals in the garden of Eden. Lucky.
Sorry I haven’t had a post in days… Tuan and I were both really sick with sinus infections. I even had to stay home from work for a few days just so I wouldn’t get anyone else sick. On Thursday, I barely had a voice for most of the day. Sort of a bummer because, when I can’t sing along to something in the car or while washing dishes, the time goes by much slower.
Speaking of time going by slowly, I got a chance to experience that last week during my mini-hiatus. Sure, I was not at work for fear of getting my office-mates sick, but I still had errands to run around town (like going to the doctor, getting blood work done, picking up prescriptions, stopping by the brand new bakery inside our local Fresh & Easy store to pick up my morning bun. ;) ). Anyways, I’m slowly learning the practice of simply being. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to really enjoy it, but I am thankful.
A few weeks ago, I had mentioned that I went to alma mater, Biola University, for a conference entitled “SabbathSoul”. The entire half-week’s study was based around the topic of the Sabbath. Should we still keep it? Do we have to? Why is it emphasized so much in the Old Testament and not so much afterwards? How do modern-day Jews practice the Sabbath today?
I took down notes like a maniac in those hours. I devoured as much as I could then, and now I’m bringing them back up to chew on them some more again… and again… and again…
One thing that stirred me up at a soul-level was being confronted with this fact: I am the creation; not the Creator. Simple, right? That’s like, the first thing we learn about us and God–He made it all… us included.
But what happens when we stop creating? What if, for one day each week, we intentionally worked around NOT creating anything so we could truly rest and simply be? I don’t know about you, but I live and work around a calendar and a list of to-do’s. And in those two things, I am constantly creating… Whether its dinner, or clean laundry, a good grade, or a paycheck (so to speak), I feel like I run my day. As if I hold my own time in my own hands.
I’m not saying I think calendars and to-do lists should be done away with (I wouldn’t get a thing done without either of them), but what if, for at least a few minutes or even for an hour each week, we just sat on a bench and did nothing but worshipped God by simply being–by simply resting in His presence? No cup of coffee in hand, no journal, no book to read, no music playing softly in the background to create (there’s that word again) a mood or atmosphere….
I did that for a few moments last week as I was running around town with a list of errands in hand. At the doctor’s office, I found myself sitting on the table waiting for her to enter the room. I sat there and stared out the window. I refused to allow my mind to wander back onto my lists and calendars. I simply sat and stared. Listened to the quiet. Watched the wind outside move the branches, knowing that Someone Else was moving them and was also with me.
In those few moments I got to sit with my Jesus as we both stared out the window. I, the creation. He, the Creator.
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“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and, almost immediately, my mind is in another place.
Sometimes, I wake up and my heart is in Lesotho.
I’ve had moments when I’d let my mind linger on a memory of our short time in Africa this past summer.
I remember the little boy (maybe two or three years old) I held on my hip as he pressed his cheek against my cheek.
He didn’t say anything.
He just… put his arm around my neck and leaned in, our faces touching.
I feel that sometimes.
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“The year was 1993. Janet Reno was the first female Attorney General in United States history; and Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jesse, Lisa, and Screech graduated from Bayside High to move onto the college years. And Shannon and Joel were just two high school students who had a crush on each other.”
“If we only knew what was to come,” Shannon writes beneath a photo of her and Joel at church camp in ’93. Three beautiful daughters and 18 years later, they are happily married and still best friends. Here are the photos below to prove it:
meet the shulzes. :)
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"Ah, the craziness of our family!" -Shannon <3
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oh, you guys... <3
These five will be moving soon, and we will miss them! But we all know God’s got something great planned for this fun family.
Oh, and here’s that photo I mentioned. ;)
Now and Then.
“They were the first ones to allow to us to take their family photos–EVER.”
I can’t believe it was only two-and-a-half years ago that we purchased our very first DSLR camera. I can’t believe it’s only been THAT LONG since discovering my passion for this “photography stuff”.
Back then, I was just a girl with her fiancee’s camera. I shot with only one setting (auto–no flash, thanks), and only used the two lenses the camera came with. At that time, I only knew two things I preferred when it came to taking photos: #1 I don’t like using the flash and #2 I do like focusing the lens manually (it made me feel suuuuuuper pro).
I knew nothing about lighting, aperture, ISO, or shutter speed (not that I know a WHOLE lot about them now) …but I did know that I had fun, and figured there wouldn’t be any harm in practicing and learning some stuff.
Back in 2009, our good friends, Lucas and Faith, came out to Ventura to visit us and have their pictures taken. Here’s how those turned out:
Isaiah and Alyssa.
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faith and lucas.
This past weekend, they came to visit us again to help us celebrate my mom’s birthday. two years later, I hope I learned somethin’.
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isaiah.
alyssa.
I’m finding I’m still just a girl with a camera. But now, I’m a girl with a camera and a passion.
faith, alyssa, and newest addition: Makayla Anuhea. :)
“Great is Thy faithfulness… Great is Thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see!”
…And this morning, God’s faithfulness came in the form of a simple, yet deliciously rewarding breakfast recipe. I’ve just recently discovered the Breakfast Bachelor’s blog, and the cool thing is we share the same love for breakfast!
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I thought I loved oatmeal already. I love making it on the stove with the “old fashioned” oats as my coffee brewed and dripped. There’s something calming about stirring it in the pot with a wooden spoon and carefully adding just the right amount of organic brown sugar, a dash of cinnamon, a splash of milk, or a teaspoon of honey… whatever I’m feeling like for the day. The bests breakfasts come with an open Bible in front of me with my Louis & Ella pandora station playing in the background. We grew up eating oatmeal for breakfast, so it reminds me of home, my mum, getting ready for school in the morning, the buzz of our small kitchen t.v. tuned into the morning news, and arriving at the table too late–my oatmeal no longer warm and gooey but cold and solid. Luckily, this recipe calls for that. Pan-seared oatcakes with mixed berries syrup, everyone!
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Breakfast reminds me to slow down. To sit and simply be with my Jesus. I often connect with my best friends over a cup of great coffee–so, why not meet with my Best Friend in the same manner?
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“…All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”
“It was the kind of wedding you would easily envy–simple, but elegant. Hip, yet timeless… And two best friends tying the knot.”
The weather? Warm and sunny with just the right amount of breeze to keep you from being uncomfortable. The sounds? Two guys singing harmonies in Hawaiian as they each played a ukulele. The setting? A Santa Barbara beach… but you felt like you were in Hawaii. I literally felt like I was at an expensive Hawaiian luau.
After five years of being together, Craig and Kirin are absolutely convinced that they are meant for each other. I had such a great time shooting their engagement photos at the Ventura County Fair, and I just knew that their wedding would be even more fun because they would be surrounded by the people that love them most. I was reminded of the warmth I felt when I was asked to take pictures of the flower girl’s birthday (Craig’s niece). Fellow photographers, if there’s one piece of advice I can give it would be this: the easiest people to photograph are the ones that love each other deeply. And obviously, photographing this family was a cinch. ;)
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flower girl and grandma. :)
You, Kirin, are a STUNNING bride.
bridesmaids toast the bride.
anticipation.
classy bride.
luau.
and it begins. :)
the best friends a bride could ask for. :)
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Kirin's mom and grandma still walking her down the aisle.
grandma and grandbaby.
hula.
let's run away together.
bridals. :)
laughin'.
<3
