Photo of the Week 6/5-6/12

it's been harder on me since we have returned from the States.  it's almost like i forgot for a short time just what life is like for the majority of the people living here.  everywhere i look i see hungry kids, hurting families and satan's strongholds.  like my eyes have been opened...again.

even though i know God doesn't want me to stay in this place, it's still a good place to be.  to be reminded that we are on a battlefield.  we are waging war against the most deceptive army known to man.  we are fighting for little souls that don't even know yet why we are fighting.

little souls like hers.

as i watched her in her teenage mom's arms i tried hard not to feel hopeless for her.  wondering what on earth i could possibly do to change her circumstances, to keep her from following the broken path ninety-nine percent of her friends will.  God reminded me that i am armed with the strongest weapon available to anyone.  a weapon that our enemies will never possess.  a weapon that heals the wounded, saves the lost and brings justice to God's people.

i can pray for her.  i can battle satan in a spiritual realm that so many people forget they are able to tap into.  will you join me?  will you pray for this little one to stand apart from the crowd?  will you pray that she will have supernatural abilities to fend of temptation and live a life radically for Christ?

God is calling us to to stand in the gap for His people, especially the ones who are unable to defend themselves.  could you imagine this little one fighting satan on her own?  she needs me.  she needs us.  she needs the body of Christ.

Photo of the Week - 5.29-6.5

hello there, you little dominican beauty...

i know God has a plan for you.  plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  to give you hope and a future.  my prayer for you is that you find your identity in Christ; not in boys, clothes, or the things of this world.

remember this time, your youth, and the things that make you smile.  remember the freedom and the little things that make this time in your life so carefree.

keep putting flowers in your hair, just for the fun of it.  keep dancing with your friends in the street, just because you can.  keep walking through that church door, reminding yourself of a big God who cares so deeply for you.

i don't know your circumstances but i know that you are a child of Him who wants to do immeasurably more than you could dream or imagine.  let Him.  let Him use you for His kingdom.  let Him mold you and shape you.  let Him take control and show you His way...because, after all, it is the best way you can take.

you are the future generation of a culture that is going to radically change this island.  you are God's solution.  He has chosen you to be a part of a revolution.

you are a warrior even at your young age.

The Perez Family

I had another opportunity to photograph one of the missionary families. If you've spent time on our blog before, you would have seen there faces many times!

It's been fun to know them through their engagement, wedding and then with children. And what a unique opportunity I've had to photograph all those special milestones here and here and here. (I also photographed their wedding but can't seem to find that post!) Enjoy their most recent pictures and their awesomely, energetic toddlers! Woo...have they got their hands full!

my favorite from the day

sweet Stella, we became fast friends this day! i loved finally having some time with these girls!

the adorably rambunctious, Amelia!

can you tell which one's which? they are much easier to keep straight in person (amelia-left; stella-right)

The Leach Family + Colton turns One

i never knew being a missionary was in my cards. i always wanted to have my own studio. take pictures of families and kids and engagements. i thought when god called me to the mission field i'd have to give up all that. little did i know god would bless me with opportunities beyond what i could ever dream up myself.

i work (and i use that term loosely because we actually do life together) with a group of amazing people. couples, families, singles...we are a tightly knit group of friends, a family really. so when sunshine and eric asked if i could take some pictures for them, i was so excited.

i have done some other missionaries' pictures before. i love doing it. i love being able to balance my job and my love of photographing people, right where they are in life. sunshine and eric's son, colton, turned one in september. so we did a little combined one-year shoot and a family shoot. it was so much fun and sunshine and eric are incredible parents. i loved watching their little family through my lens. enjoy!

can you say, baby model?

this was a total accident, and i totally love it!

The Rogers Family

still catching up on posts from our crazy, awesome summer. and one of the families i got to photograph was the rogers family. i've taken their photos several times before and it has been so fun watching their kids grow up. jeff and vicki are missionaries that mike and i work with. they are currently stateside and come down several times a year to encourage their supporting church's on their mission trips and do ministry in the country they love.

i had a quick opportunity while they were here in the dominican to photograph them and their kids. and let me tell you, this family is one of the easiest families to photograph. the kids are always chill, they smile, the smirk, they grin...they make my job easy! enjoy!

hey there, sweet ella!

sophi and raena

My Little Minino

Most days he's crying. He either was spanked for doing something wrong or just crying because he's still just a baby. Either way, when I see his giant tears rolling down his little cheeks it gets me every time.

I don't know if I'm the only one he has a "special" bond with or if other people feel it with him too but there's something about that little Minino that makes you feel like you're the most loved person in the world.

He's pretty neglected. His mom just turned 20 and he has 5-year old and 1-year old brothers. I suppose its not easy to raise three kids when you're still a kid yourself. Either way, he is starving for attention most of the time. Most people think he's awnry and a trouble-maker but that just makes me love him more. He's feisty, he almost has to be to survive the older boys picking on him all the time.

He almost always has a bump or a scrape or a bruise and has already knocked out one of his front teeth. He eats entirely too much candy and drinks way too much soda for a toddler. But those things are just accessible where he lives.

But when he sees me, he smiles. Sometimes he likes to pretend that he's not going to smile and it makes him smile even bigger. And sure enough, before long I have this tiny 2-year olds arms wrapped around my neck. I'd squeeze him harder if I didn't think I'd break him.

He's so capable of love and is so in need of more of it. Sometimes I forget that I'm supposed to be doing my job because I get lost in loving this little boy. And sometimes I don't want to put him down and say good-bye because I know it will be three or four more days before I return. Even sometimes, I feel guilty that I love him so much because I have my own son that is about his age. But its almost because of Landon that I can love Minino like I do.

So today, as me and my little guy sat on the stairs leading up to the church he put his little hand in mine. I thought, "Would it be cheesy to take a picture of this right now?" I opted for a "no" and shot it quickly before he decided to take it away.

Now I have a reminder of the love of a little boy that steals my heart weekly and makes me want to be a better mom to my own little boy.

A rare photograph...

Since I am usually behind the lens, it's a rare thing to get a photo of myself. But today I was playing with Minino (my favorite little guy from the Hole) and another one of our missionaries, my friend Lisa, grabbed my camera and started snapping away. So I just had to post one of the photos because it was such a great couple minutes with my little friend. Thanks Lisa!