Today is a special day.  It is my husband, Bryan’s, birthday.  In honor of his birthday, my favorite four and my four favorite people in the whole wide-wide world!  I am TRULY blessed!

My best friend for 26 years, my boyfriend for 25 years, my husband for 21 years….the birthday boy today – Bryan!

 My baby, Leah!  

My first daughter, Janelle, at her recent senior picture session.

My college-boy, much-missed son, Brandon.  You don’t often see him without facial hair, but this happened to be right after wrestling season.

Blessings to you until next time…..

FIND ME AT:

Senior Pictures -  www.thriveseniors.com

Love | Marriage | Baby….Life -  www.thrivecreativestudio.com

Facebook Fanpage:  www.facebook.com/ThriveCreativeStudio

CONTACT ME AT:

email:  heidiabbott@thrivecreativestudio.com

phone:  913.526.9991

Today, I’m just getting right to it…..ta da!  Short and sweet today.

Jaclyn and her horse…wow!   We had an amazing shoot out at Jaclyn’s property including streams, horses and fields.  We ventured a bit down the road and found an old abandoned tractor in some beautiful flowery weeds.  My kind of shoot!

I love shooting at the River Market!  Pumpkins and belly shots; gotta love it!  Josh and Shelby were such a stylish and fun maternity couple and soon you will see a shot from their newborn session.

Who would have guessed that we would have had such a great day for senior pictures in late November?  This is one of my favorites from Courtney’s shoot.

Baptism such an important and special moment in the life of a believer and it is always a joy to me to take pictures of this event at our church. 

Counting ALL my blessings today.   My life would be nothing without the love of God that has been poured over it; it has seeped into every crevous and nothing remains untouched by His goodness.   Thank you for being part of God’s blessing in my life.  I pray that you are experiencing His love today and always!

It was such a beautiful day 18 years ago when Janelle came into my life.  It was one of those crisp autumn days with bright sunshine and a hint of breeze; a perfect day for walking and walking and walking during labor.  I was sent home from the hospital in the morning because there were no beds available that day and I had a way to go.  So, Bryan, my mom and I walked.    We locked ourselves out of our house and Bryan had to break in and then after hours of walking, we had to rush to the hospital.   I wasn’t sure I’d even make it there, but I did and then I had this beautiful, beautiful baby girl.   Almost immediately, she was her own personality.  She never liked to be held too much and weaned herself way before I was ready.  We couldn’t believe that her blue baby eyes just got bluer and bluer and her hair was light and curly.  Oh, she was the prettiest little thing.  She was a bit shy and so when she was “discovered” in a grocery store and asked to come audition for a Charmin commercial, she just couldn’t do it.   She never has liked all that attention; still doesn’t.  She faced a challenge early on after being diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia.  You can see in the pictures in the top and second row, her brace and then her body cast.  She’s not smiling a lot in those pictures, but God touched her and healed her.  The body cast was to be on for 6 to 9 months and after only 6 weeks and a desperate praying momma, she was corrected enough to go back in a brace.  God has such love for this girl!   

So, my baby is 18 today.  I am so proud of her.  She does not even see how much she has going for her and how bright with promise her future is.  She has always had to forge her way with determination and persistence and God has opened up great doors for her to show her how He loves her and how He has gifted her.  She is a funny, creative, compassionate and beautiful young woman.  I love my Janelle.  Happy birthday my girl!

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom” (Isaiah 40:28).

Last night I was helping my daughter, Leah, decide on some topics for her Contemporary Issues class.  Leah is a freshman in high school and has a very compassionate heart and deep conviction in her spirit.    As we looked over the list and searched a bit on the Internet, it was a struggle for me to not become overwhelmed by the immensity of the issues facing our human race.    Looking in my 14 year olds eyes and trying to explain why people care more about saving animals than fighting to defend the life of the unborn child is gut wrenching.   I can’t explain it.  It dumbfounds me.  All of these issues seem insurmountable, unconquerable and enormous when viewed through my human eyes.    Some issues grieve me so.  Some anger me so.  Some perplex me so.  O Lord, help us!

This morning I awoke to recall to mind that God is in control.  God is faithful and true.  He is the everlasting God.  I have the personal testimony of a God in control, who has moved mountains in my life and has never, ever, ever changed…even if I have.  He is the God of this universe.  He is the God of my life.    This song popped up on my ITunes this morning and was a great answer in my spirit to last night’s “issues”.  Listen and read the lyrics.  Be encouraged today!  What ever you are facing, know that God never changes.  God loves you and has a plan.  He already won and He will continue to win.  He is the Victorious One – forever!

One thing I know that I have found
Through all the troubles that surround
You are the Rock that never fails, You never fail

Verse2:

One thing I know that I believe
through every blessing I receive
You are the only One that stays, You always stay

Chorus
You never change, You’re still the same
You are the Everlasting God
You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed
everlasting God

Verse 3:
One thing I know that I have found
Through all the troubles that surround
You are the Rock that never fails, You never fail

Chorus
You never change, You’re still the same
You are the Everlasting God
You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed
everlasting God

Today my baby boy is 20!  Wow!  How in the world did that happen?  It just seems like yesterday that he was dressing up in his Power Rangers costume and karate chopping his little sister.  It just seems like yesterday that he was sitting on my lap reading the Fireman book over and over and over and over.  We still remember the words.  It just seems like yesterday that he was fighting me over wearing the patch over his eye when we found out he was legally blind.  It just seems like yesterday that he was locking our babysitter out of the house while we were out buying our first van.   It seems like just yesterday he was crying over leaving Ohio when the Lord brought us to Kansas.  It seems like just yesterday that we watched with pride as he crossed over that line to score the winning touchdown in the State Championship.  Wow – time flies when you are having fun!    Now, 20 years later, I am flooded with memories and emotion over how blessed a woman I am to have been given such a great son to raise.  He has been a joy.    I don’t know how I got such a respectful, caring and generous son, who has rarely brought us much stress.  I look forward with great anticipation Brandon’s future.  He has vision and purpose and a great head on his shoulders.  I love you Son!