Little Carlos {7 days new}

Hello. I am just now settling down to the computer to post my last session. Monday morning I spent a good part of the day with Little Carlos. He is a beautiful baby boy with dark thick hair that already parts to one side...{giggle}. He was such a sweetie. He was awake and asleep all at just the right times. I was able to snap some snuggly sleeping pics and some wide eyed ones too. I really enjoyed spending time with this family. They have such a warm welcoming home.
I was so tickled to see Ashley's maternity pictures around the house too. It means so much to me when my client-friends enjoy the images from our session together. You can see her maternity session here.
Thank you M Family for inviting me to be a part of this sweet and beautiful time in your lives. Congratulations! Carlos is a beautiful blessing. Enjoy every moment.

Motivation for Monday: Light of the World

John 8:12 ~ When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

My husband has been telling me that the sunrises on the beach are phenomenal and that I should go check it out one morning while he is at home. Most weekend days I am so tired from the week that I just want to sleep in, you know what I mean?  Well, I did end up going to the beach last weekend, after all it is maybe a mile from our house. I brought my camera because I was expecting God to perform for me. I mean, since I got out of bed and drove down to the beach I wanted to see a dramatic and beautiful sunrise. It was down right cold outside, but I waited. I walked around for a while and found some stray drift wood that washed up on the shore. Still waiting for the Artist to perform, I walked the drift wood to my car. The time ticked on, the sun was surely rising, but what I saw was disappointing me. The sky was severely overcast and the only color that I saw was on the horizon. I was missing the sunrise because the clouds we in the way. Man! I got up out of bed for this...
I heard the Lord speak to my heart. He said, "Karrie, be still. Stop moving and look up." So, I looked up in the sky. I still see dark clouds, but this time I noticed that little rays of lighted color started to show through the dense clouds. The Lord spoke to me again. "I am able to use the darkness. You will see My Light shine through at the darkest point. I will penetrate the thick darkness. You will have hope & strength. Remain in Me." All I had to do was stop looking at the obstacle, which in this case was the clouds. I had to look beyond the darkness to see the lighted color of the sunrise. I began to see with my eyes and with my heart what God was telling.
Everyone's darkness is different. Finances, unemployment, the loss of a loved one, health issues, guilt, any kind of doubt, any type of uncertainty, maybe even depression itself is your darkness. God is able to use it to glorify Himself in your life and through your situation. He is able to provide everything you need. He is able to heal. He is able to move the mountains of doubt into the deep ocean. Trust in Him. He will show up you just have to look beyond your darkness. Love you friend. Be encouraged today!

Motivation for Monday & A Father's Wise Words

Julian wanted a "Big Toy Robot Godzilla" for Christmas. He reminded my husband & I often. When he ate a new food, he mentioned Big Toy Robot Godzilla. When he was sharing, he mentioned Big Toy Robot Godzilla. He wanted to see a picture of it on the computer whenever Beau or I would check our email. He asked so much that we finally just printed a picture of it to put on his wall in his room. Beau & I looked and looked for this toy and bought it for Julian to open for Christmas. Then after we bought the toy, we would laugh knowing that he was going to get it, but he had to wait until Christmas. Julian was very persistent.

The Lord has brought 2 things to mind when thinking about this memory with Julian:
1. Think about how much you love your children and the extent you would go to make them happy.
2. Think about how persistent Julian was with his desire of the Big Toy Robot Godzilla. He asked until he
    received it.

I am BLOWN AWAY by the places and times God speaks to me and my husband regarding our children, our marriage, and our daily walk with Him. I have wondered how much God really loves me. I know what the Bible says. I hear what pastors and facilitators tell me the Bible says. I want it to be tangible. This weekend God used my husband to speak to me. Beau shared with me a very tender revelation he heard from God in his quiet time. "Think of how much you love your sons. Your love for them isn't even a tenth of how much I love you." Whoa! Dude! Not even a tenth. I can feel, hug, kiss, hold, and say "I love you" to my son and he can reciprocate. This is the tangible love God has given me to experience a greater love than myself. If God has given you a help mate, friend, sibling, parent, child, even a pet, that is a tangible love that He has given to you. He can do all things; He can love you through anyone or anything He chooses.
Now, about Julian's persistence. He didn't stop asking until he received what he wanted. It made me ponder my prayer life. How often I pray. What I pray about. How often I've stopped being persistent in prayer because I don't see what I want coming. I give up. The Bible is clear about the benefits of hope and the importance of persistent prayer. I've been convicted to revisit my prayer list and prioritize it and make it more a priority.
I want to share 2 verses today that came from my devotional Jesus Calling.


1. Romans 12:12 ~ Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

2. Romans 15:13 ~ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may
                          overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I hope you have a blessed Monday!

Motivation for Monday

Good Morning & Happy Monday!
The first Monday of 2012. I hope that this year is blessed one for you and your loved ones.
As I was pondering the post for today, 3 words kept coming to my mind: faith, hope, love.
There are 4 verses in the Bible that talk about faith, hope, and love together.

They are:
1) I Corinthians 13:13 ~ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


2) Colossians 1:5 ~ the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that 
     you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel


3) I Thessalonians 1:3 ~ We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith,
     your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.


4) I Thessalonians 5:8 ~ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a 
    breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.


I just love that the greatest of these is LOVE. God IS Love. Love covers over a multitude of sin. We love because He first loved us. Love is the greatest because God is the greatest of all! I hope you feel how great God is and how great His Love is for you this year. May you have a healthy & happy 2012! Love to you ~ xoxo

Be Mine: Valentine Session (T & C)

Hello! Meet my sweet friend Tammy and her beautiful daughter, Carly. This mommy & me session was an idea I had at the beginning of December and I'm so glad that these two were game! I love being by the water just as the sun is setting. Yesterday was no exception. The wintery weather stayed at bay, so to speak, and we had a great time playing at the beach. I just love the closeness between this mama & daughter. They are the funniest, most loving duo. Thank you both for sharing this vision of love with me. I love you both!

If you are inspired, stay tuned for the Be Mine: Valentine Mini-Session post. Valentine's Day is the perfect time to surprise your loved ones with the timeless gift of portraits. The Be Mine: Valentine Mini-Sessions will be posted tomorrow. Let's capture the Love!

Be Mine: Valentine Mini-Sessions

Please Contact ME! if you are interested in the Be Mine: Valentine Mini-Sessions. Details on location and times will be shared when you call to book an appointment. If you want to see a little sneak peek of a Valentine session I shot with a mama & daughter, click here! I would love to talk with you about capturing your lovely memories. 

2012!

Happy New Year!
Last night we went to a friend's house for some New Year's Eve festivities, fellowship, and food. I had taken this family's photos in the fall. They mentioned to me that they gifted the prints they purchased from our session and gave them to family members for Christmas. They had their family photographs from our session displayed so beautifully in frames on the wall. It touched my heart and made me so happy that they are enjoying their family portraits and have shared them with their extended family. This is exactly the feeling I want to evoke from each session. Family moments and memories deserve to be captured, framed, and enjoyed.
I am so excited to see what this year will bring. I know for sure you will be seeing a few weddings this year from Karrie Drake Photography, which makes me super happy. Preserving beginnings & in-betweens will still be my motto...every stage of life is worth capturing.
And because all posts need a pic, here is the latest fine art print. This was taken in Windsor, NC at a little historic schoolhouse.
May your 2012 be a blessed year!