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Easy Gift Idea for Under $2! Potted Plant

Looking for a special gift for a special someone, that doesn’t break the bank? Check out this potted plant idea! Cost is less than $2! This would be an ideal gift for teachers, coworkers, students, neighbors, friends… really, who doesn’t like a fresh flower? Even if you’re crunched for time, you can easily put this together in a couple minutes, and it’s a gift that will last for months! We assembled about 30 of them to use as a little gift to celebrate Easter.

We purchased Snapdragon flowers to use as our potted plant, because they’re hardy enough to endure colder spring temps. 

We found 15 little peat pots for less than $4, and the potted plant can be placed in the ground with pot and all! 

Pick up a pack of pencils from the dollar store, download this printable sheet (or design your own if you don’t want Easter tags), and you have simple instruction flags to insert into each plant.

It’s such a joy to be able to give a little “thinking of you” gift, or to share a little something to celebrate a special holiday! 

NEW Release | 30 Tips for Perfect Family Photos eBook

The date has arrived for the photo session, and you and your client have met at the appointed location. You watch as your client’s family unloads from their mini-van. All sorts of “what if” scenarios run through your mind. You begin to have a surge of fear run through you. Where do you begin?

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I love my family. I grew up having pictures of everyday life taken all the time. The 8-year-old has a funny hairdo. We take a picture of it. Dad is working on a plumbing project under the kitchen sink with a toddler trying to help. We take a picture of it. The 5-year-old climbs into the dryer: not quite what we consider normal, or acceptable, but memorable nonetheless, so…you guess it. We take a picture of it.

We take pictures of everything: of our house in all four seasons of the year; of the fort made in the yard; of the little girls playing dress-up and re-enacting a wedding; of the young people working tirelessly on their computers; of the land-clearing project in the backyard; of the dessert that was made for supper last night; of….every day happenings in every day life.

All of this to say, family is important to me, and so are pictures. Why? Well, for me it goes deeper than just finding pleasure in taking pictures. For me, it is enjoying the family God gave me. It is living in the moment. It is savoring the beauty God has placed around me in the precious lives I get to watch grow up around me.

All too often, a family doesn’t take time to capture the moments. The joys of family-life are overlooked. With the increase of technology, cameras are readily available, and are now being carried in almost everyone’s pocket on their cell phone. We should take advantage of this technology, taking dominion of it, and using it to encourage the body of Christ.

I’ve had a hard time finding conservative, wholesome resources that I can recommend to other Christian photographers who ask me about tips for photographing families and children. Because of this, the Lord laid this project on my heart, and then He gave me the main points to start with. I took that to mean I should write. Then James Staddon of Lenspiration graciously offered to partner with us on the project. After years of waiting, the vision has become a reality. May Jesus Christ be praised!

Maybe you’re a homeschool mom with a point-n-shoot camera. Maybe you’re a student with an SLR. Maybe you don’t own a camera of your own yet, but are still interested in photographing people. Whoever you are, whatever phase of life you may be in, and whatever equipment you may or may not have, I hope this little book will be a blessing to you and will give you fresh ideas. I am not an expert; just a photography enthusiast with a heart for the family and a desire to capture the present to preserve it for the future.

 

Click here to purchase the 30 Tips for Perfect Family Photos eBook, with a new release price of only $6.00!

Lyon & Healy Lever Harp for Sale

We are selling our Lyon & Healy Troubadour III, age unknown. The soundboard and levers were replaced in 2015. The rest of the harp is in like-new condition, and is structurally sound. This harp has a beautiful lever harp tone – clear, vibrant, and it carries well. It would make an excellent student instrument or gig harp. We are asking $3200.

Feel free to contact us with additional questions.

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Engagement Pictures

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I love taking pictures (as you probably know by now), but it’s an indescribable delight to take pictures of two people who are in love. Especially when it’s my sister.

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This precious couple has chosen, for the glory of God, to not have physical contact prior to their wedding day, so my job as photographer is to create images that have a look of connection without contact. One great way to do this is with large letters that spell “LOVE,” or by using chalkboards with special messages written on them. I also like using the ampersand for a new way to say “this person + this person = new couple!” So exciting. I rejoice in the work of the Lord in Daniel & Kathryn’s lives and the many blessings He has bestowed upon us and them. God is so good.

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Pictures with the {E} Family

This was a fun photo shoot! Packed with people, we enjoyed thinking creatively about how to pose them, trying to form as many triangles in the image as possible. We also had fun using photo props, like the galvanized tubs. And my handy black cloth was a must-have, since the grass was still slightly wet from the early morning dew.

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9 people….and 9 dogs

As a photographer whose heart is in family photography, I love taking pictures of people. Yes, large groups of people present it’s challenges (and make me all the more thankful for editing programs), but I still enjoy it. But when you have a large group of people, and a large group of dogs, it makes for an even more exciting picture time! Thankfully, we didn’t have to use the self timer or remote, because Mom took the pictures for us. With gnats abounding, puppies squirming, sunshine streaming, and laughter sounding, we’re thankful for fast shutter speeds to optimize the prospects of getting a picture with everyone’s eyes open and all the puppies in the proper position! Fun times, indeed.

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It’s been quite the family project to raise these little animals (that aren’t staying so little very long). The Creator has beautifully made each of His creations to glorify Him. The instincts and natural processes of a mother dog with her litter is no exception, and they are marvelous to behold.

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We, too, have been created for a specific purpose: to glorify the Lord, and to enjoy Him for ever. How will you choose to embrace the day He’s given to you, with the responsibilities and challenges He ordains? May we be faithful, even in the little, seemingly mundane tasks of each day, for the purpose of glorifying our Creator.

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“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” – Psalm 150:6

[There are still a few puppies available. Contact us for more info!}

German Shepherd Puppies–Update

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Thought all of our readers would enjoy a German Shepherd puppy update, since the little four-legged critters are growing in size and personality every day. Their playful antics make us laugh as they chase each other around, playing games of hide-n-seek, and discover new toys.

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Some excited owners have made their selection, but there are still a few German Shepherd puppies left who are eagerly awaiting their time to be chosen. For more information on these beautiful dogs, click here or contact us.

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A Day at the Biltmore House & Gardens

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During the HEAV Convention in June, we were blessed to vend right beside a dear lady named Kat representing the Biltmore House in Ashville, NC. Before leaving the convention, she surprised us all and gave us free one-day passes to tour the house and gardens!

As a special birthday celebration later in July, we had an open Saturday and decided to go – and because of Kat’s generosity, we were even able to include Mom’s sister and her family in the fun! What a delightful day! The Lord gave us beautiful weather, sweet fellowship, and precious memories as we learned more about the history of this intriguing mansion and marveled at the beauty of our Creator’s handiwork.

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IMG_6116-JLStudios-150725Sisters <3

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