could it be? | personal

Wow, spring really is right around the corner! I feel like I should buy that groundhog some cookies (or nuts and bark). :) There is a pear tree right outside my office window and it is the first to bloom every year (and it smells horribly). I glanced out of my office window on Sunday after the rain had passed and noticed little bits of green growing on it. Happiness!

I waited until the sun peeked yesterday morning to take a few pictures. I tried all day yesterday to get these pictures up on the blog, but we had a little adventure with our dogs and instead I spent the day driving around to vets offices and running other unexpected errands. Ah, life with dogs.

I just wanted to share how I am so excited that spring is almost here! :)

For fun, I put a few of these full-res images online for you to download and use as desktop wallpaper if you'd like. Just click over to the gallery here.

Gratituesday: Spring is in the air| and I'm late

Gratituesday is a weekly blog post (that I try to keep up with) I got involved with over here. You should join, too! If you do, be sure to let me know in the comments as I would love to read what you write about. So I promised myself that I would complete 52 consecutive weeks of Graitutesday posts this year.

I really, really want to do this. But even just seven weeks in I've already had a few that were posted a day or two late. Honestly, I am okay with that. However, the last thing I want to do is completely skip a week... that would ruin the whole consecutive idea. So this is just me trying to stay caught up (in a weird, sort of skewed way).

Today's gratitutesday post is 6 days late so I'll be back tomorrow with another one, right on time!

Last week I was especially grateful for the little burst of spring that showed up. It came just in time for me, giving me the opportunity to open all of my windows and doors and let the winter air out of my house!

It was a great pick-me-up for the winter blues I seem to have been experiencing. :)

(Ahhh... and I'm grateful for such a short and sweet gratituesday post.)

What are you grateful for this week?

Gratituesday: the birds are singing

Gratituesday is a weekly blog post (that I try to keep up with) I got involved with over here. You should join, too! If you do, be sure to let me know in the comments as I would love to read what you write about. On Sunday I woke up pretty early (like 6am early) so I sat down at my computer to churn out some work before everyone else woke up (my dad was visiting). As I was sitting there working away, I heard a few birds singing outside. The sound made my heart smile so big! Is this it? Is spring just around the corner? Apparently the groundhog says so!

I know we all experience a winter funk, but I think I redefined the low for myself last week. All I can say is that I am so glad that week is over, that I still have friends (hah, seriously), the birds are singing, and that spring is right around the corner. Altogether, I feel completely refreshed and encouraged (and really loved).

Okay the birds didn't do all of that... but they really did lift my spirits a bit and so far I've heard them singing both mornings since Sunday, so I hope they are back for good!

So this week... I am grateful for another simple thing... the singing birds.

What about you? What are you grateful for this week?

Angie & Chad | Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer

While taking a short rest during their reception, I overheard a wedding guest say "He really is a great guy. He totally deserves someone like Angie." Ya'll, that statement right there completely sums up this couple. Good Great people. Totally, completely, utterly in love. Angie was glowing from head to toe all day and Chad couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Yet, somehow, they managed to make their day about their family and friends. They spent their reception celebrating, loving, and thanking all of the people who have watched them grow up and grow together. It was joyful.

My sister and I, along with the lovely Rachel Clarke, all had an absolutely wonderful time at this wedding. It was beautiful and truly full of joy. I am so excited for Angie and Chad and am actually a little bit sad that it's all over. But hopefully I will see them again in the future for some fun family sessions. :)

Here's a sneak peek of their most lovely day:

I love this one that Rachel captured:

Another great one by Rachel: