A Photographers' Heart

Marc got a job!

2010-11-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

So many good things have been happening lately. Marc has been unemployed for 3 years..and while it has been amazing to see God bless us through photography, it's really nice for him to have a job. I am so very proud of him. He created the change he wanted to make in his life when he went on a job interview a fee weeks ago. The company was hiring for a computer techy position and Marc really wanted a new career path. So the jist of it is that he went out there and say, 'I can do your computer work, but this is really want you to hire me for'....so he proceeded to tell them what he could do for them, and they hired him!! It took some guts, but he is so happy with his new job. He got offered another job yesterday and he turned it down. He's really happy where he is at this new job and feels that God really wants him there. So many blessings!

God DOES use me and God DOES hear me

2010-07-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am really going to try to update more often. God has been doing so many things in my life to show me that He hears me. For instance...I have been looking for some wooden chairs so that I can paint and grunge up a bit for my photography props. Every one I saw was just way out of my price range..and when I did see one I could afford I didn't have the money for it. A few weeks ago I passed by a house for sale, and out on the curb were 3 chairs that were perfect for me!! What a blessing that was! I was waited on the Lord and He provided...

But my BIG story is this..
I have been photographing a precious family for 3 years now. They have totally blessed me. When I go and drop portraits off at their house it is the most peaceful experience. I rarely walk into someone's home and have peace come over me, but with this family I do. 'B' is one of the most amazing mothers I have ever met.
Well I had shown her a gorgoeus picture I took I of my daughte and when she saw it, she said she wanted one just like it of her daughter. So we did the session and she said, 'You have given me what I have always wanted". That really blessed me. That's why I do this.. so that I can bless others with images of thier children/family that they will always remember. At the time, all she could afford was an 8x10. I knew in my heart she truely wanted a larger one. The sad thing was that somehow those images just disappeared. I knew I didn't delete them, but suddenly they were gone..just vanished!! Several months ago a friend of mine wanted to order her Easter portriats, and when I opened up her folder, there were the missing images! It was just God.. I don't know how they got there. Well, my lab was doing a buy 1 get 1 free sale..and God knows I have a ton of pictures of my own children LOL... I felt very strongly that I was supposed to get this image of her daugther in a 16x20. It had been on my heart for awhile, and this was the perfect opportunity.
So I called "B" and told her I was coming over to give her back a frame she had left with me...and I had my 'surprise' with me..
When I showed up and gave it to her, she jumped and screamed and cried for joy. I was so amazed.. Her story was that she had really wanted that picture, and had it on a list of things she wanted. She was very clear that it was just things, just material things.... but that it was a desire . She turned that desire over to the Lord earlier in the week about getting that picture and told no one.. It was just between her and God.. and then I showed up later in the week with that very portrait she wanted!!! What an amazing testimony for us all.. that when we cast all our cares upon the Lord and give Him the desires of our heart, He will bless us with the very thing we desire. For me, it showed me that I DO hear from God. My biggest prayer is that God will use me, and He did use me in her life. She shared some things with me that I really needed to hear. Things that God wanted me to know..she had no idea that her very testimony would be a seed in my life. God is so good and faithful to bless us and give us our desires..even if it is JUST things. He wants us to enjoy the life He has given us and have those things we desire and when we give those wants and desires back to Him for Him to bless us with, it's even more precious and more meaningful then if we had tried on our on accord to have them....Needless to say I was cloud 9 all day that God chose to use in me such a mighty way..

My heart breaks..

2010-01-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I posted. We went through not having the internet for awhile. You don't realze how dependent you are on technology till you don't have it.
I wish I felt more like writing...but the truth is that there is so much going on that I don't know where to begin. I know God is in control of it all so I try to keep a positive head. As a photographer I have photographed joys and pains in the last few months. I have done several maternity sessions and a few births...some happy, some sad. The saddest most heart wrenching session I have ever done was in September. My friend had known for a very long time that her precious Vivian would not live to grow up and become a young woman. She wouldn't get to see her take her first steps or celebrate her first birthday. We all prayed that God would give them time with thier baby once she was born and He did. Vivian lived 15 hours, and in those 15 hours she lived an entire lifetime. We heard her sing, we saw her smile, she met all her the people who love her. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. When I look back at her precious pictures I realize WHY I do what I do. I helped a family have memories of their beautiful precious baby. I have put together an album for her parents...here are several of the pages I did. Vivian's parents asked that I share her story. Vivian was born with a condition called anacephaly.. it's a neural tube defect where the brain does not completely form. Here are images of precious Vivian Marie...

God's Glamour Girl

2009-08-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

God's Glamour Girl
By Jacqueline J. Overpeck
Guest Columnist

CBN.com –

A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket picking up doughnuts for work when Glamour magazine caught my eye. Renee Zellweger was the cover girl. She had on the softest pink dress. Her fair skin melted into the satin. The look was iridescent. She was radiant. I wish I glowed like a star, I whined to myself.
In addition to a feature story on Zellweger, Glamour promised a list of the 50 most glamorous womenof 2009. Very interesting, I thought to myself. Who are the 50 most glamorous women of 2009 and how did they qualify? I couldn’t resist, so I bought a copy.
Later that day, I gobbled up my new magazine. I chewed every meaty-morsel from cover to cover.

The 50 most glamorous women of 2009 included Reese Witherspoon for her likeability and legs, Jennifer Aniston for her Cali-girl style, Beyonce Knowles for oozing glamour, Gywneth Paltrow for her natural fashion ease, Katie Holmes for being both sophisticated and cool, and 45 other women for being femme fatales.
After reading the article, I closed the magazine and threw it on the floor. I felt empty. I had just feasted on a five-course meal that served up the best of Hollywood , yet I was still starving. Even with all the cream cheese couture, there wasn’t enough ruffly substance to satisfy my appetite. I needed some real food, something that would stick to my ribs.

Reaching for my Bible, I flipped to Matthew 5:6.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. (King James Version)
“Lord,” I prayed. “I want to be filled with the kind of beauty you admire.”

The Qualities of God’s Glamour Girl
Who is God’s glamour girl and what are her admirable qualities?
According to Scripture, she is:

G – Gorgeous inside and out
She fears the Lord knowing He is the source of all good things.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

L – Laughter
She’s isn’t afraid to laugh out loud and she looks for ways to encourage others.
…the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10

A – All about adoration
She’s got a heart for applauding her King. She loves to praise and worship her God.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 100:1-2

M – Mercy
Her heart is full of compassion and her hands are ready to serve.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

O – Original
She’s uniquely herself. She places her whole life in God’s hands--knowing as His creation she already shines like a star.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…
Psalm 139:13-14

U – Understanding
She has a ravenous appetite for wisdom and she loves to read the Bible. She’s thirsty for truth and delights in understanding the mysteries of God.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Proverbs 24:3-4

R – Righteousness
She keeps herself pure. She desires to be an untarnished vessel for God’s anointing to flow through. Nothing is more important to God’s Glamour Girl than establishing heaven’s kingdom on earth.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long.
Psalm 71:14-15

TRUE GLAMOUR
God’s glamour girl is gorgeous inside and out. She’s filled with laughter.
She has a song in her heart. Mercy springs from her spirit.
She’s totally original. Her Bible is handy.
She uses her unique gifts and talents to share the saving message of Jesus with the world.

The Confident Christian Woman
Be encouraged, glamour girl! You belong to the Most High God. As His daughter you live by another standard than one Hollywood and the fashion magazines portray. Heaven is your eternal home and you are astounding in unearthly beauty. With your life surrendered to Jesus you sparkle with radiance thatRodeo Drive wishes it had! You are spiritually savvy and God has created you to be exquisite in Him.
The more you sit at His feet, the more His image will be seen in you. He is love. How does anything else compare to that? Seriously, what could be more attractive than love?
The next time you look in the mirror, please don’t compromise your heart by comparing yourself to anyone else. There’s no one like you. Be confident in Christ. He created you to be beautiful beyondBeverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard.
How about a deal? If you stop longing for the life of Anne Hathaway and let her admire the princess in you, I’ll forget reasoning how I might be like Renee Zellweger and let her admire God’s radiance in me! Agreed?

You all are that and more. Never let the enemy tell you otherwise! Much love to you from my heart.

Cast all your cares...

2009-08-19T15:41:00.001-07:00

Marc has been unemployed for going on 2 years. Anyone that is going through unemployment knows how taxing it can be. Financial issues can tear marriages apart. Praise God that Marc and I are protected from that. We have gotten stronger through all of this and I have maintained my peace.... After a while of being unemployed we decided that maybe we should do photography full time. Photography is so much fun for us. We love it.. but there are some months it doesn't work out so well. We have decided that Marc will go back to work full time. I have so much peace about this decision. However, the interviews aren't going so well. He has only gotten 2 phone calls for interviews. We know that God is in control and He will take care of us. God is allowing us to go through this for a reason. I am not sure why, yet. But I hope to find out soon. Yes, we are going through a tough time, but I have so much peace in the midst of all this. God said he would take care of us.. I know that no matter how bad things get, God is in control. My attitude, and praise will determine the end result. It's not that God can't make things better with a bad attitude...but things don't last as long when you praise Him even in the bad times. They pass so much more quickly. Praising God puts focus on Him and away from us. We are to praise Him in the good times and the bad times. We are not to worry about tomorrow, because we don't even have that promise, but what we do have is today...the very special present from the Lord. Your bad attitude does nothing but to lead to bitterness and depression. At that point it is so hard to focus on the Lord and how HE is going to bring you through this. There is no testimony without a test... He knows what we need, and when we need it. Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22..
He takes care of the birds and the flowers, He will take care of us as well..

God's desire....

2009-08-18T22:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago in church a friend of mine got up to give her testimony. She has a desire to start a christian dance company. When I say dance company, she does have a strong desire to start her own studio one day, but at this time what she wants is to start a small group of people who dance for the Lord at different venues. She was praying about it and a little concerned that this dream could be difficult to achieve if at all. God spoke to her and told her that the desires that are in her are because HE gave them to her and that when she makes HIS dreams HERS, she will have the desires of her heart. I was so touched by that word. I felt Jaimie's testimony was something I was meant to hear that day. I often struggle with own dreams and I wonder almost daily if MY dreams are HIS dreams for my life. It's been on my mind so much that I scrapped a layout about it. I want to make sure that the dreams I have for myself not only line up with the word of God, but are HIS dreams for my life....

Joshua's new smile...

2009-08-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Joshua lost his top tooth last week, and we knew the one beside it would fall out next. Well, it fell yesterday. We were swimming at the lake and all of a sudden Joshua comes to me and says, 'here', and then runs off.. It was so funny because I didn't know what he was handing me 'till he was gone. He is soooooooooo stinkin' cute. I just love this stage. Their snaggle tooth smiles are the best, and it's very temporary. It's the beginning of a much bigger step in the lives. It makes me sad to see something from his baby-hood leave him, but it is something that must happen. We love photographing this stage in all the kids we photograph. It's something to always be remembered..and it's very special, too. Here are a few of my little man's new smile....

A wonderful bakery

2009-03-29T11:16:00.001-07:00

One of my wonderful and cherished friends shared with me that she has a dream of starting a bakery. I don't know if I can share the concept in this journal, or the name she has chosen, but just know it's wonderful concept. Her heart's desire is so amazing that it could have only come from God. I know you are probably thinking that bakeries are a dime a dozen, but not this one. I was so touched by her idea and the reasonings behind it. I continue to pray that the timing will present itself and she have the desires of her heart.

First Post

2009-03-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

This is my first post for Photographers Heart. I decided that I needed a place to journal and share my heart. I meet so many wonderful people doing what I do. God has placed me in this business for such a time as this. He has used me in so many ways to bless others, but I also get blessed in return. It's not uncommon for people to share thier hearts, thoughts and desires with me, or to even let me know what's going on in their lives..

So today I just want to remind myself of Jeremiah 29:11, that God has a plan and purpose for my life, and for everything that is going on in it. His grace and mercy is enough to get me through. I will keep my eyes upon Him and look to no one else for my needs. He has promised to take care of me. His word does return void..