Hannah Grace Photography

The weather is finally getting to that sweater wearing, pumpkin carving, boyfriend snuggling crispness, causing me to reconsider my favorite season once again.

And with that, I've finally decided what I want to do with my life.

Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a mommy. I wanted to have a a big family and homeschool my kids, be the best wife I can be and take care of making our family's house always be a home. My last years in highschool, I thought maybe I'd rather be an interior designer, nurse, or even a psychologist. After all, have you ever researched how much a psychologist makes in a year? Putting money on the back burner, I knew I didn't want to have babies just to send them off to Grandma's while I worked all day. I knew there was no amount of money that would cause me to want to miss out on being the mommy I always dreamed of being. So with that, I crossed every full-time work-place career off of the list of where I would go next.

For awhile, I decided on cosmetology. I could go to school, get my license, work in a salon for a few years, then convert a room into an in-home salon when I started having kids. Unfortunately {but fortunately}, the car accident Sebastian and I were in a couple years ago has caused a chronic neck & shoulder injury. When the doctor told me that pursuing cosmetology would be setting myself up for a lifetime of torture {which my mom had already shared with me her same concern...she's wise}, I was disappointed, but I was thankful. Because when I think about it, cosmetology isn't something I'm passionate about. I think it would be fun to learn and convenient to know, but there's absolutely no passion behind my wanting to learn how to chop people's hair off. Consider door closed.

And that brings me to where I am now. Always enjoying taking pictures everywhere I go and constantly having that burning desire to do something both rewarding and fun, I've finally decided on photography. Surprise, surprise, right?

So now, I'm building my portfolio and searching for what I'm good at. I'm learning lighting & posing & editing and I'm trying to soak things in as much as I can.

And here's where you come in! :) I'm fully aware that I'm not at the point of getting a business licence and charging people to take their pictures, but I am needing some guinea pigs to let me photograph them for the sake of me building a portfolio & finding my "specialty". Basically, we'll do a session for free then I'll edit the photos and give you a CD will all of the images on it for you to do whatever you want with. I'm going to ask for $5 just for the cost of the CD, but that's about it! If you like the pictures so much that you want to give anything more, I won't turn it away. :) There will be a lot of investing going into this with equipment and schooling and everything else, but I'm certainly not comfortable charging anyone right now! So if you want to donate toward that, you can, but there's definitely no obligation. :)

That brings me to my last little bit of information. I've heard a few successful {read snobby} photographers say that you shouldn't call yourself a photographer until you've done x, y, and z, and you shouldn't create a facebook page or do any kind of marketing until you're a real-life, business license- owning, money-charging photographer. Personally, I feel like you have to start somewhere and this is where I'm choosing to start.

SO, here's the link to my facebook page {{Hannah Grace Photography}} and if you have any interest in what I'll be doing, you can go ahead and 'like' that page! And I would absolutely love for you to pray for me as I start this journey! And if you have any words of encouragement, I'll take that too. :) I'm basically super duper crazy excited! :)

Clearwater Beach!

On Friday afternoon, my mom, Ryder, and I started our trek to Clearwater Beach, Florida. I always knew traveling with a baby took longer, but I didn't realize it would turn a thirteen and a half hour car ride into an eighteen hour one. :) Fortunately, we had already planned to spend the night somewhere instead of attempting to go straight through. I don't think any of us could have handled that!

When we finally got here, God painted the most perfect strip of a rainbow in the sky. Our hotel room in on the sixth floor and we have a balcony overlooking the gulf, so it's kinda perfect. There are palm trees everywhere and the sun shines brighter than usual it seems. I've never been to a vacation spot in Florida, but I definitely won't mind coming back to this paradise! 

Yesterday, we decided to go to Busch Gardens in Tampa. It was Africa themed and we went on the train ride which took us to see all kinds of fantastic animals. Ryder looooved it! We also went to a Madagascar show and a Sesame Street show which he also loooooved. 

This morning, we got up and went to the pool. Ryder is SUCH a water baby, so he splashed around and had a good time. 

And look at those curls!!! Our week isn't over and we've got some pretty fun things planned. You'll just have to wait and see what those fun things are. ;) 

(Since I know you're sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Calm down, tiger!) 

Prayers for my Grandaddy!

On Tuesday, he came to the heart hospital at Norfolk General to have a heart catheterization to check the blockage he had last year. Before they went back, the doctor noticed that his anemia has gotten much worse and decided against putting a stent in until they could figure out a reason for his drop in numbers. The doctor still went in to check on the blockage and found that the original blockage hasn't gotten any worse (Praise the Lord!), but he has a new 90% blockage.

The blood doctor wasn't worried about possible internal bleeding making his anemia worse. Since Grandaddy has been anemic his whole life, there wasn't much concern about the situation, although he did want to get a bone marrow biopsy to be sure he wasn't missing anything. He did let the other doctor know that it would be okay to go ahead and do a stent.

Yesterday, he went down to get an endoscopy to check and make sure he didn't have any bleeding in the stomach and whatnot, then he went straight to the cath lab to get his stent put in.

Everything seemed to be going well and he was scheduled to go home this morning, but a new doctor came in earlier and said that his platelets are too low to let him leave. He said spending one more day for observation should be enough to put their minds at ease with letting him go home.

I think my poor Grandaddy is just getting so discouraged. My Grama took a bad fall on Sunday morning and had to go back to the ER yesterday, so she hasn't been able to be up here for him and he hasn't been able to be home for her. If you could pray for both of them, we would all be so grateful.

Lord willing, he will be discharged tomorrow. Just pray that he's able to get a step ahead. And pray for my Grama, too. She's in a lot of pain and just wants her hubby back.

Thank you! :)

To Love > To Judge

I want to take a second not to argue, judge, or condemn, but to say one thing that seems to be getting trampled on.

"...He that is without sin amoung you, let him first cast a stone at her." 

And that's where we'll begin. 

Personally, I feel that when people, Christian or not, speak on their beliefs on different subjects, everyone points fingers, throws punches, and accuses that person of judging. Sometimes, that person has opened their mouth with the sole purpose to judge someone else, but not always. I think more people need to sit down and think about the motives of the other before judging that they're judging. Are you still with me? 

Homosexuality is a hot topic right now so obviously it's going to be talked about. I'm not going to go into how I feel about it, you can read about that {{here}}, but I think that too many people are going about this the wrong way on both ends of the line. I've read articles where people call themselves Christians and then condemn gay people saying that God doesn't love them; that they've committed too bad of a sin. Then there are people who call themselves Christians and are actively gay - supporting everyone and everything that goes along with that lifestyle. 

I want to tell you that, as a Christian, you shouldn't hate anyone. We've been called to show Christ's love to everyone. Not only the church-going, Bible-believing, do-nothing-wrong Christians. 

***NEWS FLASH***

We're all sinners. Every one of us. Just because we sin differently than others, it doesn't make us any better than them. I'm not a homosexual, but I can tell you that I've lied. I've cheated, I've disobeyed my parents, I've sinned galore. Thank the Lord that I can ask and be forgiven of my sins! In God's eyes, a sin is a sin. There isn't a sin you can commit that is 'too bad to be forgiven'. Our God is a merciful and loving God. 

There is a laundry list of sins that each and every one of us can roll out. People need to stop treating others as if they themselves are perfect. 

I'm not a homosexual so maybe that does make it easier for me to give all the reasons the Bible says it's wrong, but I'm walking on the same ground everyone else is. I have so much I need to work on as a person and as a Christian. 

I don't feel like sharing the Gospel on different situations {actually, every} is wrong, but we as Christians need to be careful not to put ourselves higher than those we're trying to help. We're all on the same line, not higher and not lower, we all  make mistakes, and we can all be forgiven. 

I am 100% against homosexuality just as I'm against divorce, pre-marital sex, alcoholism, lying, cheating, and the list goes on, but I am in no way against the person who commits those things. It comes back to the saying "Hate the sin, not the sinner". 

Like I said, we've been called to love. To show Christ's love to a broken and hurting world. Telling someone God doesn't love them because of something they've done is absolutely wrong. If that were the case, He wouldn't love any of us. But thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord that that isn't the case! 

Jesus Christ is standing at the door of heart knocking, just waiting for that invitation to come inside and live there forever. He died for you and me, and no matter how far you've gone off the straight and narrow path He's paved for us, He's waiting with opened arms for you to come running to Him. 

Accept that free gift of salvation. It's the best gift you'll ever receive.

Romans 10:9-16

Grama & Grandaddy & Birthdays & Love

I just wanted to give a super quick update and ask for some prayer!

My Grandaddy has been in the hospital since last Friday evening and they are still in the test running stage. So far, we know he has polminary fibrosis (sp?) (the bottom half of his lungs have hardened). There is also something off with his blood, his heart, and his spleen. Lord willing, they'll be able to get him figured out and taken care of. Praise the Lord he went to the hospital when he did! If he had waited any longer, the doctors said there's no way he would have made it. Thankful to God for sparing my Grandaddy's life once again.

Earlier, I took Ryder by there so he could see his Pop Pop on his first birthday. After visiting for a bit, I walked downstairs, down some halls, and into the emergency room...to see......my Grama. Yes, my Grama. She fell this morning, hit her head, and really tore up her arm and hip. We're still waiting to see whats happening with that, but it was absolutely heart breaking. I left my Grandaddy's room with, "Tell your Grama I love her and I'm so sorry I can't be down there with her." and then left Grama's room with, "Make sure you tell your Grandaddy that I love him." And I did. And he cried. And it broke my heart some more.

So if you get a chance, send a prayer up for my sweet grandparents. It's so hard for them to not be able to be there for each other.

Oh, and thank you for the birthday wishes! I've had happier days, but that's alright. :) I'm about to go shopping with my fantastic boyfriend, so I'm POSITIVE that'll brighten up the mood. Retail therapy & the guy I love.

Win-Win.

Unintentional Yet Beautiful

Today, my brother {who is now on the bike patrol} was going to be riding by our house with lots of other people. With this being our first time seeing him on the bikes {only his second day on the unit}, I naturally grabbed my camera and we all went outside. Unfortunately, I don't have permission to share the fantastic picture of my brother because he thinks he looks too goofy. :) I beg to differ.

Before and after they rode by, my mom and I took random pictures that ended up turning into a pretty cute photoshoot.

Side note : I just want to say THANK YOU to these parents of mine. They are such a blessing and the most Godly examples I could have. They just celebrated 27 years of marriage and they've made a wonderful picture of how a marriage should be. They aren't perfect and they've certainly had their ups & downs, but over all, they've showed the boys & I that marriage is forever and it's always worth it. I'm so thankful that their love for each other has continued to grow, but I'm even more thankful that their love for the Lord is even greater than their love for each other. Mom & Dad, thanks for being so wonderful. You're truly the best of the best of the best & I love you so much!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

Photo Cred : My Momma!

What a stud muffin. 

And on that last picture, two misquotes landed right on my sweet nephew's face. :)

So thankful for cameras to capture these precious moments.