this was that day (even though caleb really didn’t care for it. he’s a southern california boy at heart.)

( this year, i have decided to join a group of very talented photographers for a monthly little project called 10 on 10. the challenge of this project is to collect 10 images that i shoot in one day in the past month to tell a small story. please head over to Ketti Phillips | Seattle Family Photographer and see her 10 on 10 for this month.

but there were times when i missed having my own place. a place where i and the kids can really call home.

ben and i have been going back and forth on finding the right rental for us. the emotional roller coaster we went through was…huge. we searched for hundreds of properties online, visited a handful of possible abodes. we talked about where we should and shouldn’t compromise; we even almost settled for anything. during this whole time we prayed and asked for guidance and direction. but it seemed all our prayers went nowhere.

until i realized sometimes his answer doesn’t come in ways we expect.

sometimes his silence is his answer.

be still and know that i am god. so simple, yet so hard.

then in the least way we expected, he provided. not only did he provide, everything about our new home is perfect. the perfect size, the perfect location, the perfect neighborhood. it was perfect for us.

meanwhile….we have moved in with my in-laws once again. they have been a wonderful blessing. they took us 5 in during the summer when the hurricane hit and when the power was cut off from the farm. now that we are in the transition to move in and settle into our new home, they have so graciously provided a temporary shelter for us. these pictures are from the first day we moved out of the farm. this is our life. on this day, caleb was struck with some kind of stomach bug. there was no elegant wallpaper, no pretty window dressing, no eye-catching furniture. with our stuff still packed in multiple boxes (that are literally all over this tiny 2-bedroom place), i know i will want to remember this. and i can’t complain.  i have a roof over my head, food to eat when i am hungry, and i get to spend time with my beautiful children and ben everyday. my heavenly father has provided every little thing in my life. and i know i will look back one day at this seemingly difficult time and be grateful.

i have learned yet again to be still.

it was young love.

sweet love.

i forgot what it was like until i was put in a place that forced me to remember those fond memories.

this is sarah‘s little brother eric, who was born and raised in new jersey. just a few days prior to our meeting, he had asked sweet kelly to spend the rest of her life with him. two days before they returned home to texas for school, sarah informed me that he and kelly were here in new jersey, only 25 minutes away. we communicated and set up everything for the next day. 24 hours later, we went out shooting in the cold.

it was 25 degrees plus windchill.

we even had some fresh coffee before we began, but my face was still numb. i couldn’t feel my fingers and i wasn’t able to speak well.

nevertheless, it was enough for them.

their love was on fire; they kept each other warm.

young love, sweet love.

as i am sitting here typing in the cold right next to the fire, i can’t help but get excited for the thought that sarah and i will see these two again on their big day in december, in a warmer TEXAS!! yeehaw!

but for now, on this freezing cold day, here’s kelly + eric.

( this year, i have decided to join a group of very talented photographers for a monthly little project called 10 on 10. the challenge of this project is to collect 10 images that i shoot in one day in the past month to tell a story. please head over to Kellie Hatcher | Maui Family Photographer to see her 10 on 10 for january.)