Motivation for Monday: Your Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2b ~ "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ...a time to plant and a time to uproot."




Farmers work hard. I had no idea how hard until I moved here. There are so many factors that go into growing a good crop. A farmer knows when to plant certain seeds and approximately when he will be able to harvest his crop. There is an order of things. God created this order. The right seed has be planted in the right season. We can purchase apples through out the year, but apples are always best in the fall. It would rather silly for us to light a pumpkin lantern in the spring. Why? Well, the spring is when you plant the pumpkin seeds so that you can harvest your pumpkins in the fall. 
Consider that you are a seed and that God is our Farmer. If He created you to be a pumpkin, a lantern of Jesus' light for the world, then you're season is not the spring. It's the fall. If He created you to be a poinsettia, a festive plant to bring cheer during the dead of winter, then your season is winter, not spring. Our Farmer knows when to till the land to prepare for your time of harvest. He knows that the irrigation of God's Word and the Sun light of Jesus are going to help in our growth. God, our Farmer, created you for a purpose. Don't try to rush it. Your season is coming. Have a blessed Monday!

Bridals + Waiting...

I had the absolute privilege to photograph a beautiful bride on Saturday afternoon in New Bern. One thing about photographing Bridal portraits is that you have to keep these gorgeous images to yourself for the next 3-4 weeks. After editing the Bridal sesh from Saturday, I must admit how excruciating it is not to share them. It'll be worth the wait though, I promise. This bride is stunning. I am totally psyched about her wedding and all the details. It'll be so much fun!
I took some pics of the flora and fauna around the palace gardens. Is there any wonder I chose to post purple ones? lol. I love purple!

Happy Spring!

 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

Song of Songs 2:12 

Pansies & Giveaway Winners

Did you know that flowers have a meaning? When I was a cheerleader in my senior year of high school we had a very special luncheon for all the girls and their mothers to celebrate the ending of a great season. Our cheerleading captain had a huge bouquet of flowers. As she spoke about the victories of our cheer season she began to read off the names and characteristics of each member calling them up to the podium to claim their flower. Along with the flower and characteristic she announced the meaning of each flower we were getting, which corresponded to our characteristic. I felt so special that day. I had no idea that flowers had meanings until that day.
A couple weeks ago I randomly picked up some pansies that were on clearance at Wal-Mart. I bought just enough to line the sidewalk to our front door. They're not perfect, but I so love flowers. The purple and yellow that color the petals of these pansies are just the right amount of contrast. It was a windy day as I sat shoveling dirt and planting flowers. Pansies are so delicate; it surprised me that the petals didn't just fall off with each blow of the wind. I was so proud of my planting job. It's amazing what some flowers can do to the aesthetic of a front yard. I called my grandma to tell her. My grandma used to own a flower shop; she loves flowers too. When I told her what kind of flowers I planted, she sighed. {It was a good sigh.} I asked grandma what she was thinking and she shared such a sweet memory of her grandmother who would always pick pansies and lay them in the pages of her Bible. I am so glad she shared that memory with me. After I got off the phone with grandma, I looked up the meaning of this dainty flower. Pansies mean "loving thoughts".  How fitting. This reminds me to write down the memories and stories my grandma tells me so that I can one day share them with my boys and God-willing, my grandchildren. Thank you for reading. I hope your day is filled with Loving Thoughts.

P.S. Giveaway Winners: You ALL win! Be expecting a little package in the mail by the end of next week. Thank you for entering and thank you for your support. xoxo.

Flowers

Today is my Grandma's birthday. She is so very special to me. Grandma  used to own a flower shop. When mom would pick me and my sister up from school we would go visit her at her flower shop. My sister and I would doodle on the note pads, wonder to the back where all the arrangements were carefully crafted, try to arrange our own from the scraps on the counter. How I loved the fragrant smell of the flowers. I would smell each flower and tried intently to remember the names of them all.
Happy Birthday Grandma. I love you!

Motivation for Monday

{This image is copyright Karrie Drake Photography}

After moving to NC this summer, we took a couple of days here and there to explore the neighboring towns. We visited Plymouth, NC one day and discovered this cool little Civil War Museum with amazing relics. Pictures, flags, guns, you name it. My husband and I enjoy history so much. I hope it is something that will catch on with our boys when they get old enough to appreciate it. Even if it's not, we'll drag them along anyway... ;) There was an old canon outside the museum, so we stopped to take some pictures there. Then I saw these Black-eyed Susans. I love flowers! There was a bunch of them all clustered together. I took a picture and kind of forgot about it. This past week I was looking at old pics and came across July's folder. I clicked to crop and edit the picture. Something in this picture made me want to study it a little longer. Maybe you can see it too...He is always with you.

Isaiah 41:10 ~ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
{emphasis mine}