and also for bride . . .

I snapped this picture during my first ever real bridal session.

and there in the tiny lefthand corner you can see my background.

My husband.

background (from a photographers perspective): the part of a picture that appears to be in the distance, yet still provides relief to the object in focus

You’re probably thinking . . he’s closer to the camera than the bride is. 

True.  He is.

But, the point is that he’s helping me out . . . he’s working behind the scenes “providing relief” for me, the photographer.  It can be a tremendous amount of work to do a photo shoot alone.  There’s props, equipment, wind, lens, memory card, and battery exchanges . . . and usually a few purses that join the journey as well.  I had 5 new clients this weekend, and he came along to support me, to play my background.  If that doesn’t deserve a blog post I don’t know what does.

We’re newlyweds I guess you could say . . .

married for 6 months now.

We’re both very independent.  And both very different.  So learning how to play the background for one another will be an adventure to say the least . . . but we’ve got our entire lives to practice.

 A lifetime to practice working behind the scenes of one another’s dreams.  A lifetime to learn how to help each other as individual “objects in focus,” while simultaneously posing together, as we create a lifelong & beautiful family portrait.

Kind of reminds me of a song . . one of my favorites by Lecrae.

maybe some of the best lyrics ever written . . .

“Prayin’ the whole world will start embracing stage fright So let me fall back and stop giving my suggestions Cause when I follow my obsessions I end up confessing that I’m not that impressive, Matter of fact I’m who I are, A trail of star dust leading to the Superstar“

 I’ve always loved the picture of playing the background for our savior, Jesus.  But, I think He’s showing me He wants the same role played out in my marriage.

{needs no explanation}

p is also for precious . . so, so precious.  

Have you ever given up on a wish?

You know . . . those eyelash wishes.

Have you ever been blending your eye shadow and notice a little eyelash just about to fall from where it belongs?

And you sort of carelessly wipe it away . . . to wherever.

As I was getting ready to have lunch with my husband yesterday, I did it.

I gave up on a wish.

I just blew it right off my finger without a care.

But right as I did it I thought . . .

“man, I could’ve wished for something real good.”

Silly I know. But really, who doesn’t like to wish?

Maybe for some, they’ve just “grown out of it.”

Maybe you’ve grown out of it.

Don’t you remember growing up with all these dreams . . . easily excited by your hopes and fearless to share them with anyone who’d listen.

When was the last time you really believed in the joy that was certainly ahead of you?

Could it be that wishing and dreaming is actually where we belong?

Like the eyelash that has it’s place.

Could it be that hoping for the best actually gets us closer to what our hearts really desire?

Could wishing be the key to our hopes taking form and our dreams taking flight?

Last year a few wise women spoke into my life . . . they told me to go out on a limb, knowing that I could fly. They told me that I already had in me everything that was necessary. I had been a prisoner to my circumstances for far too long, and I was ready. I was ready to break free from it all. And when I jumped off that limb, I took flight. And then I realized . . . it wasn’t that much about my ability to fly as it was my ability to trust.

You see, yes . . . my dreams are taking flight, and the door to my cage was broken, but it’s Him that’s carrying me. He was already ready to take me where He really wanted me to go . . . but I had to trust Him. I had to hope in him. He wasn’t going to shove me off my “safe little limb” if that’s where I was comfortable. He didn’t want to carry me kicking and fighting Him. He wanted cooperation. He wanted my faith in Him.

It’s not that I never had dreams before now . . . it was that I simply didn’t believe in them.

I believed in a God, but I didn’t believe Him.

To be honest, I didn’t really know Him at all.

I didn’t know what He said when He came and made Himself like us.

Able to talk with us, eat with us, worship with us . . .

dwell among us, be our Immanuel.

To be the most influential “man” that’s ever “lived.”

Yeah maybe wishing on an eyelash is a little silly at 29 years old . . . but isn’t it more silly to give up on your ability to wish and moments that remind you to hope and dream for things that only seem beyond your reach?

I think it is.

He probably does too.

{Psalm 37:4}

So the next time you find yourself an eyelash, give it a little blow . . . and just make a wish. Maybe it’s falling from where it belongs so that you won’t have to.

I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

Doing what I love.

With the people I love.

For The One I {LOVE}.

{Psalm 37:4}

While I’m no stranger to giving advice, and while it seems to be usually, and seemlessly rolling off my tongue, it doesn’t mean that I don’t know I need it myself.

I wouldn’t put anything out there I wasn’t trying with all my heart and soul to apply to my own life.

And while I’m an encourager at heart, it doesn’t mean that I don’t need someone else to encourage me from time to time.

Lately has been one of those times.

This afternoon I got up from my nap, which could’ve easily turned into an entire afternoon and evening of doing nothing, and decided to go find something beautiful.

Ten years ago that would have meant buying a new dress and heels for next Friday night to impress the guy who was pretending to “respect my schedule as a single mother” and had planned a night “just for us” in advance.

Twenty years ago that would have meant strapping on my roller blades, hot pink slap bracelet, and finishing off my look with as much aussie mega as I could possibly spray out of that amazingly, purple can.  I’d push myself all the way up the neighborhood hill, with the Texas wind blowing like only the Texas wind does, yet not disrupting a single hair, and across the city into the 7-11 to buy myself a wild-cherry slurpee.

That was beautiful, for me, twenty years ago.

But today beautiful meant something very different.

I needed to be encouraged, and no dress or slurpee was going to accomplish this deep need.

I’m not 10 anymore, and I’m nothing like I was at 20.

Beautiful is no longer defined by something I am, something I wear, or even something I can taste after sneaking away from my dad who said that “No, I couldn’t get a slurpee before dinner.”

Beautiful now, is Him.

Feeling His presence in my life.

It’s the ability to sense Him in His own creation, to see His beauty in even a weed.

So I ended up in this field.  Considering the weeds, and considering me.

Hanging out with butterflies.

Literally.

And as I was soaking up His simplicity and allowing His peace to overtake me,

sometimes I have to get away from all the distractions to feel His presence, 

a butterfly chose me.

He chose me.

And He said, “Yes, Misty, I’m here with you now.

But you know I’m with you always, whether you’re distracted or not.

You may wander, but I never will.”

“And yes, you are beginning to see the beauty in these weeds, but again, as you already know, you’re the one made in MY image.

Know that you are far more beautiful than even these.”

Only The Creator could make a weed so pretty.  And only The Creator really knows what’s pretty in me.

And in you.

Sometimes even the closest people in our lives don’t actually know who we really are.  Sometimes we don’t even fully understand ourselves. 

But He does.

Usually during our time together I pray.  I try not to pray selfishly, but rather for His will, but I’m still as human as human comes.

So instead of my usual conversational prayers, I simply let His air fill my lungs, savored it and exhaled, “ I love you.”

And that was it.

You see . . . He knows me . . . and He knows His plans for me.

. . . which far outweigh even the most profound of my own. 

I’m learning I don’t always need to express my ever-changing perspectives and desires for this seemingly “one life” that I live.

I’m learning a language with Him that goes much deeper, one that penetrates my core.  A language that man made words can’t help foster.

I’m learning how to be still with Him, and I’m beginning to hear how loud He really is in the quiet.

And for now, that’s beautiful.

He’s beautiful.

From slurpees, to heels, to weeds . . . and I’m less than 30 years old.

If He’s taking my breath away now, and using weeds, what’s He got planned five years from now? Thirty years from now?

And in eternity!!?

Imagine looking for a dress for that date!  A date with the one who has more than “respected my schedule” but actually created it Himself.  A date with the one who is truly setting aside time just for us.

Have you ever read Hosea 2:16?

It actually says that one day we will no longer call God our master, but our husband.   I really believe the complete dynamic of the relationships that we have with God now, in this life, are going to be completely changed, like nothing we can fathom on this side of heaven.  And do you know what Hosea means?  It’s actually derived from a root word that means to be saved, to be delivered.

In Hosea 2:19 He actually says, “I will betroth you to me forever.  In steadfast love and mercy.”

I went looking for something beautiful this afternoon,

something to encourage me,

and while I don’t think I found it myself, I know He found me.

Misty Dawn / Owner & Photographer

{Live Your Passions} is more than just a photography business, it’s my way of life, and photography is just a piece.

As you’ll come to know, it’s very improtant to me that we all carve out space in our lives to live out the passions we are given by The Creator of our worlds.

I am passionate.

I am passionate about people.

I am passionate about eternity.

I am passionate about love.

 I love details.

I love capturing the best ones.

and then sharing them with their owner.

And I love to write.

Here at {Live Your Passions} you’ll find my passions, and some of yours as well.

If you’re considering photography services, I’d like you to know that being chosen as your photographer is more than just another business transaction for me.

For me, it’s an honor.

An honor to be trusted with the responsibility, and privilege, of finding the very best of moments that often get passed over, unless captured in a photograph, to be cherished time and time again.

For me, it’s about providing memories.

The best ones.

I hope that something you find here today will inspire you.

If it does, please consider subscribing.

(you can find a link to subscirbe, via email, at the bottom of this page)

Your interest and support warms my heart!

This is Sarah.

And if any little one I know is going to be living their passions,

it’s her.

Sarah is 7 years old, and she’s had a camera in her hands for most of those years.  She has a passion for photography already and her mom does an incredible job making sure she has the tools she needs to develop that skill and her eye for photography.

I was discussing future plans with her mom to create and sell art one day.  Sarah jumped right in and said, “I can do that!”

“I can sell art right now, let me see that camera.”

So of course I gave it to her.  I put the little strap around her neck and she began taking photos of her own and showing me the screen,

“See, I could sell this one!”

“That’ll be $20 please,” she said confidently.

What inspiration!  What drive!

What if we all attacked our passions like Sarah! 

At what point do we begin to let the day to day “responsibilities” in life take us over to the point that we loose our original dreams?  The dreams that kept us alive and excited about the world around us, the possibilities and joys that truly are everywhere, if we would just be still long enough to see them.  When does that happen?  When do we loose that instinctual and electric drive?

But even more importantly than when, why?

Is it because we loose the confidence?

Is it because we start believing lies, like “I just don’t have the time.”

Is it because we get just get tired?

Could it be that the “tiredness” is really just a sadness that has come as a result of letting who you really are slip away . . .

Last September I gave up every solid thing in my life, every “responsible” thing to pursue photography as a career and I spent every last penny I owned to buy my camera.  Every penny.

It was a risk.

Many wouldn’t have taken it.

But everything is ok.  I’m ok.  Life is ok.

I’m re-energized.  Re-focused.  And happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.

I get to work with so many different people, and even more than photography, I love people.  This path is perfect for me.

And maybe it’s perfect for Sarah.  Maybe I’ll make her my little 7 year old assistant.  And maybe one day she’ll own a photography business all her own.

But for now she is dreaming, and rightfully so.

She’s dreaming big, and so should you be.

To say she adored her time in the bluebonnets would be an absolute understatement.  I remember her asking her mom if she could just stay there in the field forever.  How sweet is that?!

I remember thinking at that particular moment that I’m always the one behind the camera watching and waiting for my client’s most precious moments, so I promised myself I’d come back, on the other side of the camera, and just play.

To come back and enjoy the bluebonnets, just like Sarah.

To just play.  To just dream.  And dream big, like Sarah.

{and I did by the way}

For those of you that are following the {Live Your Passions} blog, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

I’m still in awe over what a gift it has been to go from single-motherhood, leaving behind all the struggle and panic that role entails, to THIS!   To an opportunity to be home and available for my daughter, my husband, our home, my friends, and to begin this beautiful journey of photography.

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be meeting with another professional photographer next week.  She’s offered to help mentor me and teach me a few new things.  I’m super excited, because I feel like it’s time to take it up another level.

As for the {Spring Giveaway}, there’s a day and a half left to enter, I’d love your continued support in posting the following link on FACEBOOK, or TWITTER.  The prizes are pretty awesome if you ask me!  I’m looking forward to future giveaways as well, expecting they’ll be even better!

http://liveyourpassions.org/2012/03/14/spring-giveaway/

 My main purpose for the giveaways is to gain a following on this blog, rather than using facebook as my primary advertising medium.  I prefer showcasing my work {HERE} because the image quality holds true to my work, but with facebook there is a lot of quality lost.  Plus, I want to reward my supporters with exciting and fun gifts as well.  I could always create a typical photography page, but I want my work to be more than just a site of pictures.  Some might say it’s not “as professional” to incorporate my personal blog with my professional work.  But for now, this is what I want.  This is what I feel led to build.

Again, thank you all so much for every bit of support you have shown me!  Without friends like you, I’m not sure I could continue to make this happen.  Each day I’m getting new emails, new clients and new opportunities to grow not only this business, but my own talent.  Each time I shoot I get a little better.  And it’s your referrals that are making this happen for me.  I absolutely couldn’t do it without your support.

{LOVE} & (((hugs)))

Misty Dawn

P.S. Here’s a little peak into last Friday’s Vintage Texas Wedding . . .

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start TODAY and make a new ending.”

some of you were following {Live Your Passions} at the beginning of the year when we were talking about what we could STOP doing, instead only of things we could START doing, like we typically do each year as we make resolutions for ourselves.

i thought the STOPS were definitely worth revisiting, cause if you’re anything like me, i need to be reminded sometimes.  to re-visit old lessons learned.  to re-forgive.  to re-inspire myself . . . to sharpen up.

so here they are again, 21 things to STOP doing this year.

#1 Stop trying to be someone you’re not. (this can be a huge challenge in a world that advertises so much, in a world that screams be this, be that, do this, do that; but you are you, and you are special, & the people that matter already know that)

#2 Stop thinking you’re not ready!!! (Nobody ever feels 100% ready. And since most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, unfortunately we just won’t always feel totally comfortable at first)

#3 STOP being offended. (Start being merciful! Be more amazed that you’re forgiven, than that you’ve been wronged. Living life from an angle of humility brings an incredible amount of peace that can’t even be described! Besides, who really wants to walk around with an inflated sense of self?)

‎#4 STOP being envious. this one probably tops the list of ickiest bad habits of our generation. television and the internet expose us to the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and most of us, whether we admit it or not, want to be somewhat like them. envy lends to a sense of dissatisfaction with our own lives. people are not happy because they want more than they have. but when they get more, the envy has already made rotten their bones and they just end up increasing their desires and their “wants.” this year, kick envy to the curb. be satisfied with what you have & enjoy what is already yours.

#5 STOP trying to buy happiness. the things that truly satisfy are FREE – love, laughter, friendship, freedom . . the list could go on and on.

#6 STOP chasing the wrong things, and you’ll give the {RIGHT} things a chance to catch you ♥

‎#7 STOP doing so much. the perfect time to rest is when you don’t have time for it.

‎#8 STOP following the path of least resistance, rather do something EXTRAORDINARY (Life is not easy, especially when you set your goals high) don’t take the easy way out. hard work pays off.

‎#9 STOP putting your own needs last. losing yourself in the process of loving others too much, isn’t going to help anyone. as with any other area, balance is best. if there was ever a moment to follow your {PASSION} and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

‎#10 STOP thinking of your health as merely a physical thing. your health is much more than a number on the scale, or a measure of your energy levels. take the time to take care for your emotions, and spiritual needs as well.

‎#11 STOP giving the past power it doesn’t have. move forward in the confidence that the best is yet to come, BECAUSE IT IS.

‎#12 STOP overlooking the details. if you slow down long enough, you’ll see that there is breath taking beauty in the smallest of moments.

‎#13 STOP assuming things. good communication is difficult enough. ask more questions instead.

#14 STOP waiting til later . . . “Forever is composed of now’s.” Emily D

‎#15 STOP putting your own needs last. do more of what makes YOU happy.

HAPPINESS>excuses

‎#16 STOP failing to prioritize. failing to plan is planning to fail. set aside time to plan out what you want most out of your life, and then commit to your plans. you won’t fulfill everything, but you’ll accomplish more than you even believe you can. shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. ♥

‎#17 STOP letting other people bring you down. commit to your standards, and don’t let those who refuse to raise theirs bring YOU down.

‎#18 STOP avoiding the truth. deal with what needs dealing, and everything and every person in your life will be better for it.

#19 STOP that nasty habit. whatever it is.

‎#20 STOP getting so worked up. haven’t you noticed by now the highs and lows of life are inevitable? there isn’t anything you can do about the lows . . . except try to minimize the pain.

#21 STOP ignoring strangers. especially the ones you pass on a regular basis. get to know the people in your life on a deeper level. maybe it’s a coworker. maybe it’s the greeter at your grocery store that always tells [you] hi. maybe it’s the crossing guard at your children’s school. maybe it’s your mailman. whoever it is [and you know who they are] get to know them better.

how often do you run across a sincerely good heart?

i try to take almost every opportunity I have to get to know people.  anyone really.

i remember even when i was younger and hanging out at Cowboys [a country western dancehall] . . .  I was always more interested in the lonely girl’s story than the cute cowboy who wanted to dance.

everyone has a story.

and i’ve never met anyone who didn’t really want to share it.

people are just starving for sincere conversation these days . . . and it suits me just fine cause I’m starving to hear them.

ANYWAY! . . . this is Robin.

i adore her.

she’s “one of those.”

one of those with a sincerely good heart.

i had the opportunity to take a little road trip with her down to Georgetown, Texas to meet up with her fiancé.

casual conversation can take off quick between two women who care deeply about this world.  it seemed like the second we took off was just seconds from our arrival in Georgetown.

i would’ve enjoyed plenty more hours talking over her history with her.  why she is the way she is.  why she does the things she does.  what makes her heart beat.

{and how she knew that Mike was the one for her}

i’m so glad that our paths have crossed.

i’m so glad there are women like Robin out there.

{so the challenge this week is} meet someone new, or actually get to know someone you already know.   maybe a coworker you’ve known for years, but only by name.  listen to their story.

this is my daughter.

she came a little early, at least that’s what everyone, including myself, thought.

but with each passing day, as i watch her grow and grow and grow,

i realize that she is the very reason that i grow and grow and grow.

i realize how perfectly timed she really was . . .

how perfectly timed i was . . .

and how perfectly timed you were.

scripture tells us that we were knit together in our mother’s womb.  {Psalm 139:13} and that we are His workmanship. {Ephesians 2:10}

we weren’t planted.  a switch didn’t flip.  a magical wand wasn’t waved over our mother’s belly button.

but rather we were knit together, and designed.

designed with an outcome in mind. {Jeremiah 1:5}

my daughter was designed.

i was designed.

and so were you.

if that doesn’t take your breath away, i’m not sure what will.

scripture says that even before this time of design in the womb we were known.  known.

i’m not exactly sure what this really means, that we were known before we were even born.  but i do know that it feels good.  it’s comforting.  it’s inspiring.  and it’s certainly an indescribable security  that the creator of our world also created me.  that He created her as well.

i have to believe that He had great purpose in her early arrival.

she is my core; and the entire wake of my life is the trail of my role as her mom.

there isn’t a road i have traveled just because.  it all stems from the fact that i am a mom.  even meeting Jesus.  i remember getting to know the creator of life as He was creating life in me.

so here she is . . my blessing in disguise.

i hope one day that she’ll truly know the workmanship that she is, that you are, and that i am.

His workmanship.

wildflowers, indian paintbrushes & Texas bluebonnets!

all inclusive mini package includes {session, cd & print release)

{2 OPTIONS} vintage blooms or regular color blooms

vintage bloom locations:

or regular color bloom locations:

contact: liveyour.passions@ymail.com to request a 30 minute time slot and preferred city {7 days a week 8am-7pm)

these blooms don’t last long!  and sessions book quickly!

and just like that we have more time in our days to play.  at least it seems that way.  we could always get up earlier to play, but I guess it’s just easier [and more fun] to find our joys in the afternoon & evening than it is at 6am.

so seemingly overnight begins the season that for me means golden skin, less clothes, afternoons of reading by the pool, sunsets on the boat with friends, bluebonnets, patios, picnics, volleyball

& basically anything fun i can find outside.

so what are you going to be doing more of this year?  what is it that you love?  what brings your soul genuine pleasure?

not confusing entertainment with pleasure now . . . busy doesn’t always mean happy.

is there an instrument you need to pull out of the closet?  an old friend you need to make more time with?  a class you need to take?  who says a degree means you’re done learning?  maybe there’s a book you need to read? probably ten.

what are you going to do to make this year different than the last five?  and not just different, but better.  richer.

we’ve all heard that like wine, life gets better with age.

but surely that can only be true if like wine, you are delicate and specific in how you age.  delicate and specific in how you spend your days.

wine is precisely maintained.  your life should be no different.

like wine, our lives should increase in richness, and become increasingly more smooth; with an aroma that grows more beautiful, not less, overtime.

homework: do more of what makes YOU deeply satisfied

[and if you “don’t have time”]

make time

last weekend i had the opportunity to head south.

for a couple of reasons.

one) photography,

two) my daughter’s little sister was celebrating her birthday.

i snapped this photo as the girls were goofing off.  when i found it a few days ago, as i was going through the masses of images taken that weekend, i was overcome with a sense of thankfulness.  i’m always thankful for this woman, but I rarely just sit in that thankfulness and enjoy it.  life gets busy.  we get distracted.

i get distracted.

broken families are a norm for our generation.  so it’s common to hear people say things like “my daughter’s sister.”

but as common as this is,

i think it’s very uncommon that a mother can feel so comfortable when her children are away and staying under the care of someone else, staying in the care of another mother.

while our names are the same,

Misty and Misty,

we are  opposites to say the least.

yet we share something as identical as our first names, a sincere passion that allows our daughters to grow up together, as sisters, despite the many reasons they could have been separated.

rather than putting distance between our differences, we brought closer the similarities, our daughters.

our daughters are sisters.  that’s all that matters.

and i am thankful for this woman that treats mine as her own.  i am thankful for the opposite pace of life she lives that allows my daughter to experience more.

city,  and country

because of this woman – my heart and soul, my daughter, has double the dose of motherly love.   

so as I sat and adored over this picture, a thought popped into my mind

[if you haven’t seen Into the wild, see it]

i immediately went to her facebook page . .

and the next morning I saw this . .

so i ask myself . . .

how often do we just sit and bask in our thankfulness?

is it enough?

 and even then, when we do . .

how often do we share it with the source?

kindness really is contagious.

and appreciation really can re-inspire someone all over again.

homework: grab a jar of kindness from the pantry, open it, get your butter knife and start spreading.

Love each other, as I have loved you.  Lay down your lives for one another, as I have laid mine down for you.  Establish your roots in love, and at all times be thankful.  Love, Jesus

Wasn’t it just New Year’s?  like a few weeks or so ago . . . . wow!

I must say though, so far 2012 has been nothing but kind.  My husband and I have both turned another year older, experienced our first Valentine’s Day as a married duo, I’ve fallen in love with fresh baby spinach and feta, my daughter chopped most of her hair off, we’ve settled into our temporary home while we search for our more permanent home, and I’ve begun booking this year’s maternity sessions and weddings. All is more than well.

So while the months continue to pass like the weeks used to, I’m going to hold on and embrace all of what is 2012.  I’m going to savor the highs which are always there so long as my eyes are open to them, and learn as much as possible from the inevitable lows that are happening less frequently as I face my part in them.  As 2012 continues, and more of my path is laid, my only path, I look forward expectantly to smoother, and more beautiful stones, to brighter days and warmer nights, and many friends to journey by my side.

Goodnight March 1.

We had the lovely privilege of helping The Shine Project make tons of blankets for the homeless this morning.

Thank you Ashley for organizing this event, and A Little Artsy for providing a beautiful space for us to work!

Scripture is drenched with a burden for the homeless, and if you’re one of those who are drenched in scripture . . .

you know the burden, because you share it.

I’ll never forget in Matthew where Jesus says that whatever is done, is done to Him.  When we serve those in need, we serve Him.  And when we ignore those in need, we ignore Him.  It hurts my heart deeply that so many can ignore the needs that are all around us, and it hurts my heart even more deeply when people fall for lies like “making blankets doesn’t really matter,” or contributing $5 to a cause “doesn’t really help the situation,” and worst of all – the lie that they shouldn’t help those who have the opportunity to help themselves, and that everyone has the same chances in life.

The TRUTH is that making blankets does matter, especially to the 200 individuals who are going wrap themselves thankfully in the blankets we made.

And the TRUTH is that $5 really does help. Your $5 may be the very $5 that provides a single mom with the baby wipes she needed that week.  It could be that very package of baby wipes DONATED BY YOU, given to some random friend on facebook who was requesting toiletries for single parents, and then distributed back to that single mom on a day when the stress was just about to break her.  Just about to lead her into the deception that is – using her body for easy money, “so she could be home more with her children.”  That $5 box of baby wipes could be the $5 that provided the very HOPE she needed that day.  The hope that someone does care.  That people will help.  That she isn’t alone.   That GOD IS ACTIVE in even her life.

Let us love.

Let us love as often, and as hard as we possibly can.

In action, not just in our hearts.

1 John 3:11, Romans 13:8, 1 John 4:7, Galatians 5:13, 1 John 3:18, Ephesians 5:2, Romans 12:9, Hebrews 13:1, John 13:34, John 13:35, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 Peter 2:17, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Colossians 3:14, 1 Corinthians 16:14  . . . and many more.

Homework: Help.  It matters.  It matters every single time.

Learning how to create a blog button!  How awesome is this?!

(this button directs to the blogsite)

Having a blog button will allow my lovely blogging friends to advertise my blog and will increase the traffic to liveyourpassions.org!

10:27pm Fingers crossed, let’s hope this works!

10:35pm Well . . . the first try was a bummer, but hey at least the image showed up . . . it just didn’t direct correctly . . .

let’s try this again.

10:46pm Thanks to my sweet hubby helping me locate a random ” in the code, the button works!

and this one should direct to the facebook page . .

This is Jennifer.

We all know mothers that love their children.

And we all know mothers that love their children.

Jennifer is the second type.

The intense love for her son is unmistakeable.

Jennifer, if you could leave just one imprint in the heart and mind of you son, what would it be?

A legacy.  I would want him to remember my faith in the Lord.  I would want him to remember my devotion to him.  But above all, I’d just want him to know Jesus Christ.

What is the most rewarding part of being a mother?

I love the scripture that talks about children being a heritage from the Lord, a reward.

The role of the mother is sacred, truly life’s greatest blessing.

What are you most passionate about?

People.  And being a mother.

Tell us, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

You’ve got to make the most out of your life NOW, exactly where you are.  Don’t wait for that degree or those credentials.  Don’t wait around for more money, or even a person to really start living life.  Life is now, and we should live it to the fullest regardless of our circumstances.

What would you say is the hardest part about being a mother?

Trust.  Trusting the Lord completely, and with all that I am, has been a challenge I’m not very proud to admit.  Trust is hard when it comes to your children, but ultimately I know that the Lord has plans for my son that are far better than mine could ever be.

Life can be brutal.

Where do you find your inspiration during the darker times?

My son inspires me.  My journals.  When life throws it’s curve balls, sometimes it helps me to look back over the months, or even years, to see where God has brought me.

Jennifer,

 the spirit of the love of Jesus is flowing through you so obviously, and your son is blessed beyond the description words would allow.  Just as you know that the Lord has plans for your son, rest in the certainty that He has plans for you as well.  Hold tight to the promise He’s given {Jeremiah 29:11} that He has plans to prosper you, and your son, to give your family  hope, and a future!  You have clearly been called, according to His purposes, and we know that in all things, because you love Him, He is working all things together for your good.  All things.

Homework:  Trust the Lord.  For whatever that circumstance is right now that you are uncertain, trust.