Resurrection & New Life

The title of this post is probably a little misleading. It consists of two very deep, meaningful elements of the Christian faith, but that's not what this post is about. Today, it is about the resurrection of this blog and the new life I've come to experience over this extremely dynamic last year. Here's a quick timeline refresher:

• May 30, 2008 - got engaged
• July 10, 2008 - quit my job as a teacher @ PHS
• August 30, 2008 - got married
• September 5, 2008 - went to Europe (extended honeymoon!)
• September 17, 2008 - returned from honeymoon
• September 22, 2008 - moved to Troy where Fred started his new job
• November 2, 2008 - found out I was pregnant
• February 2, 2008 - started a full-time, temporary position as a school secretary at Red Hill
• May 30, 2009 - became a full-time homemaker (and a VERY pregnant one, at that)
• June 29, 2009 - delivered my first-born, a healthy baby boy, Dean
• July 18, 2009 - went "back to work" as a photographer, this was my 1st of 4 weddings in 6 weeks
• September 25, 2009 - started working again @ Red Hill, this time once a week as art teacher

Needless to say, I have experienced a lot of change this year and have been learning the art of "adjustment." There are many little lessons that all combine to prove our mastery of adjustment... one of which is that we will never be fully ready, fully able, or fully adjusted to the extent that we can handle what is next. Whether the circumstances thrown our way are good, bad, or ugly, we can only find rest and true peace in adjusting through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus' friendship that loves us through circumstances of all kinds, His constant reminder that "I AM," and Oh, How He loves us.

Some things have been harder than others to adjust to, but I know that I can keep learning and growing alongside God, which is a great blessing to me.

A Break.

This may sound strange, but the kind of "break" I am talking about doesn't involve resting, relaxing, getting away, or avoiding work in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it's the opposite.

I finally got a big break in looking for some substitute teaching work! That's right, I got a call back today from a third-party sub-hiring company that set me up with a gig at Woodmont Academy Thursday and Friday this week, with a promise to call later this week to set up more opportunities for the near future.

You may think I'm crazy for wanting to work so badly, and even crazier for being excited about substitute teaching, but it's totally what I've been looking for. Fred's job pays our bills, but this will be a huge help to our family, ESPECIALLY around the holiday season. We have no plans to go overboard with lots of lavish gifts, but we both really desire to give a few things to our close loved ones, and to give to those less fortunate. All that being said, I MUST GIVE THANKS!

The Lord allowed me gifts and talents and patience for teaching, He then provided for me a steady job over the past three years that educated, challenged, and matured me in ways I never thought possible. Now, His provision of this simple little job brings me joy once again for the gift of a job, of a special little purpose, of a way to serve and honor others, and as a way to provide for others' many needs. I am so excited and so grateful to have a reason to wake up at 6 a.m. on Thursday!

Freeze Tagged

I've been talking up a big game about this video that I found some time ago on YouTube. I loved the subversive yet respectful nature of this group of people, banding together to "stick it to the man" (or just have a good time) with a laugh. Enjoy!

Our New House

It's been a month and a half since we moved in, but we FINALLY got our living room furniture this week. Which means...
I can finally post some pictures of our new digs! Here are a few, taken through my fisheye lens in hopes that you can see much more of the room in each view.

Our living room, with the new furniture.

The kitchen.

Our tranquil bedroom.

The classy grey & clean blue bathroom.

The spare bedroom & office.

Prayer for Healing

We received news a week ago that my great aunt Gerrie recently found out she has a brain tumor. Aunt Gerrie is a devoted wife, loving mother, faithful pastor's wife, phenomenal Christian speaker, and now an accomplished writer. Whenever I think of Aunt Gerrie, I picture a fun-loving, vivacious woman who gratefully keeps Jesus Christ as her Lord & savior of her life. I admire her very much, and am asking for prayers from anybody who may occasionally still check in on this blog. She and my great uncle Clyde are in high hopes of a full healing, and for those interested, they can follow this blog, kept updated by their daughter Lori.

"Oy vey!" We are love you and we're praying for you Aunt Gerrie & Uncle Clyde!

Photo Website

Hey all!

Be sure to click on this link to check out my Smugmug website, a gallery site that features a few of the senior portraits, engagements, and weddings that I have shot. You can click through thumbnails, or click to enlarge them if you want. You can even vote for the ones you like & dislike, so I know what people are looking for!

The best part is that you can order prints & products through this website. The beauty of it lies in the fact that you only choose the images that you want, and then get to choose the size and paper you want it printed on. Other products such as mugs, t-shirts, aprons, canvases, coasters, and much more are also available for print.

PLEASE take time to check it out. It has helped my business tremendously.

Now I'm off to find the post office in my new town... There are a lot of things you just don't think of when you move!

MARRIED! and more.

Well this is a little note to let you all know that I DID get married on August 30 to the best husband I'll ever have, Mr. Fred Betcher (III). We have spent the last few weeks in wedded bliss and on our honeymoon, in Ludington and Europe. It was a BLAST. As soon as I sift through all of our thousands (yes, THOUSANDS) of photos, I'll be sure to post a few from all of the places we visited. I might post in the style of a friend whose recent trip to Sweden was published in daily increments. I loved reading it, learned a lot about the places she & her husband visited, and was stunned by her gorgeous shots and angles of the various locations.

For now, I must concentrate on packing, moving, and shooting a very special wedding this weekend. I have the privilege of seeing not just two people become one this weekend, but two families become one. God has truly blessed the couple and their children with a second chance at love and family - something He designed and protects in love.