Growing up a lot...

This afternoon we had one of Katie's new friends over for lunch and a play date -- we walked in the house and immediately they were off for Katie's room.... I called them down for lunch and without a glance back they were off again for a couple hours.  American Girl dolls and imaginary play -- the world couldn't be more sweet... welcome to our lives 'G' - it was a blessing having you here!

Growing up.

Thank you.

This afternoon on our way into the neighborhood, I pulled over reluctantly and turned off the ignition. Our mailbox is one of 16 small, locked boxes at the front of the development and it always seems that its the last thing I want to do as my kids are tired and restless and we all just want to be home... I can usually hear the sigh or groan come from the back seat of the van as I slow and pull to the right.

I hear ya, kids. I hear ya.

Today I opened our little box and leaned over to peek in and gauge how likely it would be that things would fall out of my hands, catch wind and sail off down the sidewalk... its subconscious but its routine. And during that thoughtful moment, I sometimes get a glimpse of a pink or Hallmark looking card and suddenly am motivated to grab everything haphazardly and sift through the mess whilst walking around the front of the van. Today was one of those days... there were THREE Hallmarkish things in the box along with bills and coupons.

With sound judgment I held tight to all the mail in my hand as I walked seeing that the wind had picked up... but I walked with a bit of a skip to my step! I hopped in the driver's seat and begin leafing through the pile... the first was a thick, cream-colored package from the HERB FARM RESTAURANT with a handwritten address on the front... I felt myself begin to believe for a minute that it looked like a Gift Certificate - yet I took a deep breath and with only half of my thoughts accounted for began looking through the rest of the pile... one was a birthday card for Katie and the other was a birthday invite for Katie. I smiled a big smile as I gave her the news that she had mail and turned on the ignition... the 100 yards to our house was a bit of a blur as I continued hypothesizing about what would be in that HERB FARM envelope.

I parked, opened the sliding doors, unbuckled Ben and went around back to open the hitch and grab the hideously yellow Grocery Outlet sacks out of the back of the van. I set them all against the long white wall in the entryway and went back for the mail -- trying to contain my deepest wishes from overtaking my rational decision making I ordered the kids to put their shoes in the shoe closet and make their way upstairs for naps and quiet time... it was then that I sat down and opened the taco shell of newspaper ads, revealing my exciting cream-colored HERB FARM envelope. I reached in, picked it up and flipped it over and tore the top open...

I started shaking as I read -- and then I started crying. You may think that its silly, you may think I'm a bit emotional and all that is fine -- but for me, this was more than a generous gift. This was well-thought through, it was extravagant, it was time alone with my husband of 10 YEARS this month... and it was from my oldest friend who will be with me until the day I die. This gift said more than 'here's a lovely dinner at one of Seattle's most elegant restaurants and an evening in a Suite with Kyle' -- it said, 'Krista, I love you and cherish you. Kyle and Krista, you mean more to us than you will ever know and we are happy to serve the Lord alongside you in this life. God bless you.'

Thank you so much. Thank you so so so much.

God bless you.

Going to PRINTS

Its been something I've wanted to do for a long time -- from offering a DVD of images to clients to offering PRINTS only... and now I'm on the hunt for a print lab... here are the images I'm sending off tomorrow for one print-test --

I'M SO EXCITED!

Cannot wait for the results.

Happy Birthday, Katie-bug!

This morning we rolled out of bed -- some less excited to roll out than I... I couldn't WAIT!  In 60 minutes we would be leaving for Katie's FIRST horse-back riding lesson at Graystone Stables in Snohomish, WA.  I had spoken with Chris Uyyek from the Equestrian Center and she had been so personable -- I knew it would be a wonderful fit for Katie... and Katie had absolutely NO IDEA.

We ate breakfast and opened two birthday presents -- one was a book for drawing all different types of horses and the other was a pair of black cowgirl boots... I bit my tongue before I spilled the beans - something Chris praised me for when I arrived at the stables...

Here is our morning in pics -- Katie was thrilled and on our way home we explained to her that this gift is from Mom and Dad as well as Grandpa and Grandma Berges AND Grandpa and Grandma Schei... she raised her eyebrows, and with a look of 'ah-ha! now i understand!' she explained what she thought had happened... oh! Since you and Dad haven't had much money, but you knew I loved horses, Grandpa and Grandma Berges and Grandpa and Grandma Schei gave you lots of money to pay for horse riding lessons for me?!  And then when I'm done - cause I have four more as part of my birthday gift - you and Dad will talk about if you have money for more horse riding lessons!

I chuckled and agreed that, "yes, in short, that's exactly right Katie-bug.  Happy Birthday!"

Katie learned how to bring the horse from its stable to the area where Scooter would be groomed and prepared for riding -- she got to brush and clean his nails... she learned about tack and how to put it on with all its loops and buckles... then she walked with Chris out to the arena and climbed on.

Enjoy the pics...

Summerland Style

It was a wonderful end of the week -- I met with Nia Sayers, owner of Summerland Style, and we combined our efforts designing and photographing her lovely vignettes.  We met on her personal property just outside of Bellingham, WA and brainstormed, photographed, ate and laughed... she is so talented -- here's a shot of the piece I dream of having a room in my house for... currently, I'm beginning to create a home that would beautifully match her pieces.  A little backwards maybe, but they are well worth it... then I'll be able to use my home as a backdrop for everything Summerland Style offers.  (fingers crossed)

More pics to come in the future...

Isaiah was born into wealth...

I received image left from my husband this morning... this was his view upon awaking.  As he meets with a client in LA amidst the wealth and status of celebrities, I find myself thinking of (not to mention dreaming of) his whereabouts and the people that he just might be joining up with during this project...

Why?  BECAUSE its foreign and fun and full of opportunity to be out from under where we've been!  What do you mean 'why?!'  All that the normal person might look at and begin to dream of... if not, than ok -- I admit to being a little star-struck.

This morning I hopped in the car - not in a hurried fashion, mind you!  But in a well thought out and ready to take on the world kind of fashion... although unshowered, I still felt just as productive as anyone else.  Katie was dropped at April's and I was with two boys - two boys who were excited to have 'class' and be as big as Katie who is now in Kindergarten.  Two boys who were bound to be confident and self-sufficient and ready to break free from their Mom who was also ready to break free from 'Mom'.

The boys were shuttled into their respective rooms and I walked the 50 yards to the bible study class of 200 women... ahhhh... the hymns, the teaching leader, the laughter, and the Spirit in the room was refreshing.  I continued to think of my husband and what he might be up to down in LA...

The principles for today were so appropriate considering the stark contrast between our family's financial struggles and what Kyle's working amongst at this moment - it kept my heart lined up with that of what Jesus would have for us... wealth is not bad; but the abandonment of faith in God due to that wealth is disastrous -- (deep breath)

Principle I: a consistent lifestyle combined with steady convictions can profoundly influence a culture.
Principle II: unguarded prosperity leads to self-reliance and abandonment of faith in God.
Principle III: God's word is both reliable and eternal with a message of hope for today.

My God knows the words that speak to my heart at every moment...

Isaiah was born into wealth -- its not a bad thing... he continued to be obedient to his Father.  Regardless of the status we find ourselves in - the utmost importance is our obedience to our Father.

 

Give me sweet simplicity...

The recent weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind, a lot of begging God to reveal to me His truth and further discernment and a whole lot of God revealing that truth to me.

This morning Kyle and I decided to take our family down to Church on the Hill on Capitol Hill in Seattle - the community there has been lifting us up in prayer for a couple years now as we've ventured into this idea of 'home church' and what it is God is having us do with that.  As parts of our community have been called to attend elsewhere, I fight the battle to stay the course and continue to simply obey.  I feel lonely, and considering the circumstances in our life, am feeling pained and without answers.  God has shown me His faithfulness over and over and I grope to hold onto that day in and day out.

When we arrived at CHILL this morning, we were greeted with open arms and words of encouragement.  Eyes looked on us as the pastor brought to their attention that we were in attendance with them - God spoke through him as he stood up in the midst of the Balagan Theater on Capitol Hill, and with his white t-shirt and jeans on, he opened his bible to the 24th chapter of Genesis and began reading.  No power point, no childrens church, nothing that would impress anyone who didn't just want to be with Jesus... and it felt so good.  It felt simple and beautiful.

When we were done reading through the entire 24th chapter of Genesis, we began to worship -- we sang the song 'Jesus Cast a Look on Me' and I had never heard it before: please listen to the snippet... I want to sit here and revel in its words.

After the sermon, we followed the pastor's son out the theater... up the stairs... out the front doors of the building... down the sidewalk of E. Pike St... and into the doors of the neighboring toy store.  This is a weekly ritual for little Elijah as his parents teach him what it is to love those God's brought to you and begin preaching the Word wherever we are.  Its not for us to know the time that God will reveal himself to these toy shop owners and workers - but they know that every Sunday at Noon, little Eli will come racing through the door eager to be a part of their day and excited to share with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

My prayer is that Kyle and I would continue to seek the simplicity of obedience just as Rebekah did when Abraham's servant came to take her home to Isaac.  I want to say to people, 'I don't know why... God just said that we're supposed to and I know that he is fulfilling his original promise.'

Edmonds Beach - Birthday and Anniversary Shoot

On the way to the beach, the clouds became big and billowy... the sunset broke through and the rain subsided. Tonight was beautiful and this family was such a joy to be with... two sisters, their Mom and Dad's 40th Anniversary, their husbands and children - one of who just turned a year old. Three generations played on the beach for 90 minutes while I watched from behind the camera...

God bless you all.

FIRST DAY of School.

How many other posts are out there about the first day of school... I wonder.

Here are the customary FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN shots:

Katie is off to Kindergarten!

William is angrily? off to Pre-K in the Castle Room!

A God who provides more than our basic need.

Last week I watched Katie as she pulled on a pair of her favorite pants -- they were her third favorite originally and have moved to first chair - the first and second favorites were on their way to being too-tight-capris and therefore are being consigned at The Jack and Jill Sale next month.

As she pulled them on, the hem of the pants continued to rise.  She heaved them over her teeny little hip-bones and buttoned them.  She carefully zipped them up over the ballet leotard that she was wearing and smiled at me sweetly...  satisfied with the hem hitting right at her ankles she ran off - I stared at her ankles with weariness.  I appreciate her ability to make an outfit out of most anything in her closet and I wouldn't say a thing about her high-waters -- but most anything in her closet has dwindled to very little and its due to one of two reasons.  Either she doesn't wear it enough and I can give it away OR there just isn't the money to go buy a bunch of clothes right now and the good sales are few and far between... the eager shopper finds the deals.  I am not an eager shopper -- in fact, I don't much enjoy shopping because my taste outweighs my budget; therefore, we just make do with whatever we can find for pennies on the dollar of what I'd like to spend!  And again, I don't enjoy shopping so I don't just happen upon the deals like the eager shopper may...

All that being said, whilst Katie danced around in her ballet outfit and high-water pants without a care in the world, I was thinking about the coming year and the need for her to have a handful more 'appropriate' clothes than a single ballet outfit and a couple pairs of leggings -- sounds like a bit of a stretch but that's all she likes to wear!  It must be comfortable and without much maintenance... funny coming from her.

Today I was sitting at Starbucks on Seattle Hill Rd editing images and having time to myself and my phone rang.  It was {name} and I answered the call eager to talk to her!  She and I had met about 6 months ago in line at Fred Meyer and we just, I don't know, 'hit it off'.  We chatted and laughed and went out separate ways that day -- it wasn't until our third unexpected meeting (Azul in Mill Creek Town Centre) that we threw up our hands and said, 'we should be friends!'  So we exchanged numbers and have since been trying to get our kids together -- we've now settled on sitting down just the two of us over a glass of wine and getting started with our friendship since the kids will now be in school... we'll get them together one of these days... the kids will find out they want to be together all the time and before we know it we'll have 'known them for years' - they are a wonderful family.

'Hi {name}!  How are you?!'  They had just arrived home from Silverwood in Coeur d Alene, Idaho, and she found herself cleaning out the girls' closets.  Her oldest is going into 1st grade and has a bunch of clothes that she no longer fits into...

'What size does Katie wear?'

'Between 5 and 6x, depending on the brand...'  She had unloaded the closet and found that since all of her close friends have boys there was no one to hand them down to so she called me!  I about started crying and explained to her that she was such an answer to prayer and that through her God was providing for us -- we talked a little more and I decided to make my way over to her house after I was done working to pick up the clothes.

What I expected to be one, maybe two, grocery bags of clothes for Katie was actually two large, black garbage bags of beautiful clothes... and not only that, clothes Katie's STYLE -- comfortable and fit; layered and warm.  Things she can wear in the heat of summer but with the addition of leggings and a matching sweater, she can wear it in the dead of winter!  Skirts with tags still on and matching blouses!  Beautiful clothes from Pumpkin Patch, The Childrens Place and the like... I couldn't have dreamed of such provision.  My friend helped me out to the car and we dropped them into the trunk... I closed it and walked around the side of the car where I hugged her and thanked her again -- what a blessing she and her family was in that moment and for the next couple of years!  Sizes 6 and 7 filled those garbage bags!  Not to mention an adorable insulated rain jacket -- one of the things on my list for Katie this Fall... perfect.  Just perfect.

On my way home I was crying and thanking God for such provision -- would I have been just as grateful had He provided us with a $100 gift card to Fred Meyer where I could buy tank tops, sweaters and leggings to extend the wear on a lot of Katie's clothes?  Yes!  So WHY was I so overwhelmed with the abundance and quality of clothing that was now in my trunk?  What was it that made me believe He wanted to show me something different than just simple provision?!  There's got to be something in this moment that He wants me to hear!

His love is extravagant.

Take a moment to listen to this song by Casting Crowns -- its saying exactly what He wants me to hear today.  If you know me, I'm not one to appreciate today's Top Christian songs as they dull my sense of what's cool and help enable a sense of cheap grace and give off a stupid-happy Christian smell of one who doesn't necessarily care for the God they claim to worship but are just excited they have something to fight for.  YET, in spite of my usual disregard for all things Christian music, this was the song that I was trying to remember as I drove home today - I hadn't heard it in probably 10 years.

His love is extravagant from the moment his creation began to the moment we are with him in eternity.

I want to be loved by no other than Him.