lady lennon

A friend of mine from our hometown has recently started a blog that I think is worth checking out.  She gave birth to her second child, a little angel girl named Lennon, on March 24th.  Since then, her family has been riding the roller coaster of emotions that comes with a new baby plus some extras—Down’s Syndrome and an AV canal (heart defect).  She has written two posts so far that brought me to tears.  I cannot wait to see what she writes next. 

Check it out here and say a prayer for Lady Lennon and her family.

our nature walk

A few weeks back Justin came in from walking Bobo and told me he saw some duck eggs down by the lake.  A few days later we saw that the eggs had been destroyed/eaten by some animal or something.  But then just a few days ago Justin saw 5 baby ducks swimming around in the lake… some of them survived!!!

We went to walk Bobo today, and I took the camera.  We ended up seeing ducks, turtles, birds, and squirrels.  A nature walk in our own “backyard”.

momma duck:

daddy duck:

baby duck (1 of 5):

turtles:

Bobo scaring turtles away:

random bird:

   pretty flower:

 

and my handsome hubby (I made him sit still so I could capture those baby blues):

 

:)

21 years…

I can’t believe that today makes 21 years that I have been a sister!  I honestly do not remember the day my sister was born, but I do cherish countless memories of us growing up together.  Being 4 1/2 years apart, we did our fair share of fighting.. but overall she is one of the very best friends I could ask for! 

I love you, sister!

I hope you have a super happy birthday and enjoy your little getaway this weekend.  :)  I can’t wait til you get back so I can give you your gift and take some new pics of you and Miss Ava!

snail mail

I love getting mail when it’s not some sort of bill.  Recently I’ve had a few good things in my mailbox.

1- my first round of business cards.  they look decent, but not professional, so i’m working on round 2!

2- my passport!!!  yay!  this is one of many “steps of faith” we have taken while preparing to pursue ministry.  i’m very excited that whenever my time comes to travel for missions, i will be ready!

3- hudson’s birth announcement!  lacey took some of the pictures from the shoot i did of hudson and designed this announcement.  he is just so precious!  love the card, and it’s so much cooler to me because i took the pics!  :)

blog hopping

I’ve participated a few times in Pixel Perfect’s Before and After Blog Hop, but this week is more exciting because there is a prize!  Please stop by and vote for me if you like my photo!

I’m using a photo from the recent senior shoot I did with my friend Lyndsey…

before:

after:

I used CS3!

new!

Over the past few weeks I’ve been meaning to make a couple small posts about some new stuff.. so I decided to roll it all into one.

First of all, my dad-in-law donated an iphone to me at the beginning of last month.  I think it was much needed.  I have been loving it. 

***What are the best apps?****

Then I decided to order a new cover for the phone.  I just knew I couldn’t spend much money.  My great friend Lacey helped me find one for twenty cents! Haha.. can’t beat that! 

While Justin was in El Salvador for missions, he wanted to bring me a surprise/souvenir.  The gift he got me is perfect.  I had been storing my necklaces on the bathroom doorknobs.  Each and every time the door was opened or closed, it was accompanied by the sound of about 15 necklaces clanking together.  And on top of that, they were always tangled!

The gift…

I love that it say’s “El Salvador”.  We will always remember that it came from his very first missions trip as he stepped into his calling.  Very cool.  And I love that it keeps me a tad more organized! 

This past weekend my friend Jenna’s parents came into town.  We just love them, and they love us like family.  We all went to lunch together, then the girls and Dustin headed out for some shopping!  Mrs. Ann graciously bought me a much needed new purse!  I was pumped!

I LOVE getting new stuff, especially gifts.  It just feels good.  But I have to say that lately I have been really struggling with conviction over not wanting, or feeling like I “need”, material stuff.  It will all fade away.  I try to remember that, but it’s not always easy.

lyndsey

I posted a few pictures of Lyndsey on the other blog… check it out!

anticipation

In the past week or so, Justin has really been on me about getting into my photography more.  He really feels like it’s a “God thing”.  I know that I love it, but just don’t know how to get started. 

Then yesterday I was listening to a sermon on CD while driving to work.  The speaker made one comment that stuck with me.  It was along the lines of, “Jesus is not going to get in your boat.  You have to step out of the boat [walk on water].”  HELLO, Melissa!!!  Gotta have FAITH!

That got me thinking, and then Justin and I talked about it some more when he got home from work last night.  We decided to go ahead and purchase a domain for my photography blog.  The web address is now www.melissaperkinsphotography.com.

No more .blogspot.com!!!  Yay!  I like the simplicity and think it will be easier for people to remember.

I also went ahead and ordered some very simple, very cheap business cards.  I used a picture from Hudson’s newborn shoot and included very basic contact info.  I hope they turn out good! 

Justin works with a part time wedding photographer.  This guy said he would pass out my cards to his clients and other people he comes in contact with.  Also, we would just pass them out to friends and family so they can help spread the word. 

As of right now, I have one tentative client in the Dallas area.  Everyone else is in Louisiana, which makes things a little difficult.  I LOVE taking pictures for the people I know in LA, but the driving + gas money is not the ideal situation.

Anyway, just wanted to post because I’m excited!!!  

catch up

Justin and I traveled to West Monroe super late Thursday night for Easter weekend.  I’m so glad we both got to go because at first we didn’t think Justin could take off work.

Friday I was super excited to spend some time with one of my “adopted” families. Lacey, Lauren, Momma Shannon, and of course Hudson!  I got to hold that precious baby boy, and he slept the whole time I was there.

 

Later on Friday I met up with a childhood friend of mine, Lyndsey, to take some pictures for her graduation.  Hopefully I’ll have some on my other blog by the end of the week.  :)

Saturday we had a little family time on the golf course with Justin’s dad and sister.  The weather was gorgeous, so I had fun playing photographer.. haha!

Sunday was Easter!  We went to church in our home church’s brand new worship center.  It was the first service there, and that place was amazing. 

After church we had lunch with Justin’s dad’s side, then headed to visit my dad and Mamaw.   My daddy brought one of his granddaughters that has a major crush on Justin.  She is adorable and was so happy to see us (well, Justin. ha!)

Spring time is fabulous.. hope it sticks around a while before summer comes!  I am NOT ready for another Texas summer!!!

 

good friday

I have a very busy day ahead of me, but I cannot stop thinking about the cross.  Today is a good day for us.  It’s a great day.  But for Him, it was an awful, terrible, no good, very bad day.  I cannot even begin to imagine what agony He went through in the hours leading up to the arrest, the beatings, the mockings, the thorns, the nails. 

That is LOVE.  Love like I cannot really even fathom. 

Thank You, Jesus, for taking on all of my pain and my suffering and my sin.  I do not deserve such a precious gift, but because You loved me… because You loved us.  Wow.

I like what a friend of mine said, “behold the Lamb of God!!! Not behold a church...Not behold a bunny...Not behold a denomination...Behold the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the one that takes the sins of the world away. Jesus suffered, bled and died to bring us clean before a Holy True Just God. Jesus is the way, truth and life and no one will go to the father except through Him.(John 14:6)”

Let’s not forget what Easter is really all about.  It’s certainly not new clothes, dyed eggs, or a big bunny that delivers baskets full of chocolate. 

It’s all about a Redeeming Savior that delivers us from our wretchedness.