Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Sun, the Moon, & the Stars....

The Sun, the Moon, & the Stars were definitely lined up. God is soooo good. He totally gives us the desires of our hearts even when we are least expecting it. I have been wanting ALL of Swiss Miss Designs Haus card & album templates by Amy Wenzel for a couple of years now but just haven't had the funds to get them. When I saw that Leah with Go{4}Pro was hosting this giveaway I was excited but not too excited as I am not one of those people who wins things. So I said a little prayer and followed the giveaway rules.
Then Wednesday morning I got the biggest surprise when I opened up my email. My eyes could not believe what I saw before me. Could it be true? Me, the winner? Somebody pinch me. I let out a loud scream of joy. My heart melted and it totally made my day.
I cannot wait to design my first album with Amy's awesome templates.

There is another cool part to this story. I was winner number 18. So What!, you say? Well this was just the icing on the cake for me. 18 is a very special number for me. Read here for more details. I believe this was God's extra little thumbprint to remind me to give Him the glory!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Go{4}Pro & Swiss Miss Designs Haus by Amy Wenzel

"I want templates from Swiss Miss at swissmissdesignhaus.com and I'm going 4 it at @go4ProPhotos / go4prophotos.com – YOU CAN WIN TOO!"

I am a sucker for giveaways especially when it's things I absolutely love. Thanks to the generous Swiss Miss Designs Haus by Amy Wenzel and to Go{4}Pro for sponsoring it. Check these links out and give them back some love.
If by chance the sun and the moon and the stars are perfectly lined up and I am the random winner please contact me at my email: danielle@foreverkeep.com.

I am crossing my fingers...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Glowing Candice

We recently moved into a great neighborhood. It is a pretty quiet area with beautiful landscapes in every direction of our house. One of our favorite things is that we live on a cul-de-sac that only has houses on one side of the street so our views from the front and backyard are beautiful. But our most favorite thing is that we our surrounded with great neighbors. It is such a nice change from our old place. We have had fun getting to know them and recently I got the chance to photograph our neighbor Candice who is now 11 weeks pregnant with their first child.
Hogan and Candice are an adorable couple. Hogan is serving in the Marines and has the kindest heart ever. He recently got back from his deployment in Iraq. They are finally getting a chance to enjoy each other as they hadn't been married too long before he had to leave. We were so excited when they told us of their good news. They are going to make wonderful parents.

I am going to shoot a Maternity Session in a few months when she is really showing but I thought it would be fun to casually document her progress monthly. Here is a few shots of Candice at 11 weeks.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tuesdays with Danny

Amy Wenzel giveaway.

I love the ocean or a beautiful sunset. I love my family & friends. I love to travel. I love to scrapbook. I love photography & the way it stops time from erasing. I love helping a stranger in need or my 90 year old grandmother. I love my husband and "my boys" Mac & Jonas. But most importantly I love my Saviour Jesus Christ & what He did for me on the cross.
Jeremiah 29:11 is the motto to my business & I strive to live by this daily. It is even imprinted on the back of my business card to share with others. All these things are my passions. My inspiration to be different. Different than what the world sells us on being. To be less motivated by money and more focused on helping others. Less of ME. To be be an example. I am so thankful God has blessed me with the opportunity to do this through my photography business. Through my lens I am able to connect with others in ways I never thought possible. My camera is the tool used to infect others with Christ's love in me & it excites me knowing I can be used to change others lives.
I have been battling a chronic illness for about 10 years now and I was completely moved when I first read David's story. Simply through his unshakable faith & positive spirit. And from Amy's raw, real words in sharing your story. I find inspiration in your words to look past my obstacles, to trust in God's sovereignty & make a difference in spite of. To rejoice in it.
This is why winning this giveaway would be so special. I started my business in 2008 & have shot a variety of venues & I have found portrait photography to be the best platform to be an inspiration to others in this intimate setting. I want to further my skills and techniques so that I can have more confidence and better energy to give back to my clients. I thank you for challenging me to be a better person. I thank you for being YOU and I pray one day I am blessed to meet you. God has big plans for you and David. With Love, Danielle

Thanks Iheartfaces for hosting Amy's Giveaway and for the amazing things you do for photographers. IHeartYou!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Tuesdays With Danny

Today we had breakfast with a very special couple in our life, Fred and Pat. My parents have known them for over 30 years and they have watched me grow up.
Recently Tony and I have been able to spend time with them reminiscing in old stories, sharing in new ones, and sharing in some laughter and tears. We know it isn't by accident that we have crossed each other's paths again in life. God's perfect plan never ceases to amaze me.
This is especially important to us as you see Fred was diagnosed with the terrible disease of Alzheimer's several years ago. Fred is a wonderful, loving, sensitive man who brings joy to anyone who comes into contact with him. He just has this way about him that makes you want to just give him a big hug and sit and listen to his stories and experiences in life for hours at a time. He is so interesting and wise.
Tony and I look forward to every opportunity we get to be around him and Pat. Their faith is strong and through this new chapter in their lives they are pressing forward with smiles as to what God has in store for them. I admire their strength and positive focus they have on holding on to every last moment and memory Fred still has rather than focusing on what short term memory he is losing.
They have been married 54 years and are such an example of what I want to be like when I get older. Wise and graceful!

Losing my grandmother to this disease , I feel especially sympathetic to what they are going through and hope we can add something to their lives as they do to ours. So today I dedicate this post to Fred & Pat. We love you and are here for you! Love, Tony & Danielle

Monday, March 8, 2010

Challenge for the week

Today was a perfect Sunday. We got to sleep in with our boys Mac & Jonas all curled up next to us. Then we rushed off to the late service at church and prepared our hearts for what the Lord had in store for us. Boy, was it refreshing. Worship was a.m.a.z.i.n.g.!! Romantic time with our precious Lord and Savior. Then communion, then our message.
It was about "Marriage" and our priorities. God first! Spouse second! Pastor John gave us a challenge for the next seven days: to hold each others hands and just simply pray together. What a great way to start our week. I pray for balance with my priorities as they so easily get off track. The beauty of a new day, a fresh start!
May you have a blessed week.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

"Are We Going To Just Keep Pretending?"

Happy 4th Dating Anniversary. Our favorite of them all. Where has the time flown off to? Remembering back to March 4th, 2006 puts the biggest smile on my face. The long drive, the bread incident, the long open raw talks, our innocent friendship. Our Serendipitous meeting that was planned all along but we just hadn't got the memo yet. The unexpected. My "keeping it real". "ARE WE GOING TO JUST KEEP PRETENDING?"
Isn't it crazy the roller coaster that life brings but knowing we are strapped in side by side together somehow makes it so much less scarier. Knowing that together with the help of our precious heavenly Father we can get through the ride of life.You complete me and I love hitting these milestones with you. I cannot wait to grow old with you.
I love you with ALL my heart.
Love, Danny aka The bread monster

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Tuesdays With Danny

I am a deep thinker. An over analyzer really. I am that girl that asks why about everything. I have been this way since I was a little girl. I can remember being 5 years old and my Godfather, Syl would sit me down on his knee and ask me well "have you had a little chat with yourself today?". I have a photo of me on his knee on my dresser to remind me about all my little chats with myself. Every time I look at this photo I can still hear his voice, I can still hear my thoughts. The thoughts and questions about life. The why's that often times would go unanswered. I am learning to live with it. With the many unanswered questions. I am learning to realize that sometimes it just doesn't matter. I am learning to let go, to not waste energy on things I cannot change. But I am also learning that all these questions and thoughts are simply just life. It is teaching me to have more faith.

I recently finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. I couldn't put this book down. Through tears, laughter and joy I was inspired. I was reminded of being five years old and having "little chats with myself". The thoughts and inspirations that this book brought to me gave me an idea to start Tuesdays with Danny (my childhood nickname) and put myself out there to cyberspace. To make me crawl out of my little hole and take chances. To "Fail Forward". It will be a window into my world of thoughts, things and people that inspire me. Ramblings of my "little chats with myself".
Syl, I dedicate this first Tuesday's with Danny post to you. For always being there for me since I was a "little papoose". Your words of wisdom, love, and utter belief in me no matter what have played an important role in who I am today. I am so thankful and blessed to have you in my life. I love you very much. Love always, Your one and only "Danny"