Radiant, his bride

I love weddings. During this month, Nan and I gave my sister Mary a wedding shower. We were so thrilled at the turn out. A comment from one of the guests, "it was a 'Pinterest-like' shower." Pinterest really was our source for all the ideas that went into the shower. It is so helpful to have! My hope is that Mary enjoyed herself and it was relaxing for her.

Nan preparing for the shower

Andrew, eating lunch before he and the other guys are kicked out of the house

The beautiful bride opening her many gifts

Molly, Mary and Grace. (Best friends since kindergarten)

Cousin Alain and Aunt Sarah

Mary holding Ela, Lauren, Claire, Nan, Mom holding Piper and me

 I've had a lot of fun helping Mary with preparations for the wedding. I've loved finding myself a bridesmaid dress and attending multiple showers in Mary's honor. I am thrilled for her. Having all this wedding stuff in our house gets me excited for the one to come in May but it also gets me anxious for my own. There is so much excitement involved, excitement building up as it leads to the big day.

 I can say I can't wait for my own but yet I can and still do. 

Being called to the mission field, I have a feeling I may be waiting even longer...who knows.

Lovable Claire!

Two gorgeous women!

There was no food left, a great sign!

Goofing off  instead of cleaning up

Props for He Said She Said

Bon Voyage!

Friends, Amy and Serina

Gigi holding Piper

 It was always my dream to marry pretty young and be a wife and mother. Letting go of those dreams isn't easy especially at this time. I've never been too set on getting a career, trying to 'impact the world.' I really think the simple yet hard things Christ has shown us, losing your life for Him, loving others as you would love yourself, pouring yourself out are the things that change this world. Marriage is meant to be just that. And it amazing, this example God left us. As much as I would love to marry my high school sweet heart after graduation it is evident God is leading us in different directions right now, to different countries in fact. A wedding will have to wait a long time. Being his own design, weddings are a clear reflection of our relationship with Christ. Knowing I have that already, helps calm me and provides for me the strength I need not to envy or to pity myself. In such gracious ways God has shown me his unending devotion, he has been the true love of my life. No effort of my own could have made this become a reality in my life, it is all Him. The beautiful design of marriage on earth just mirrors the remarkable marriage we have with Jesus Christ. I cherish this beautiful description from a book I read last year written by Sarah Mally. I love this for myself and I love this for Mary. In each way it is for all of us.

The relationship of man and wife and the relationship of Christ and his bride.

1. Both relationships are permanent.


2. Both are intimate.


3. Both require waiting-waiting for a wedding, waiting for Christ's return.


4. Both are based on love and commitment.


5. In both, the two become one-husband and wife become one flesh; those who are saved become members of Christ's body (Eph. 5:29-31, John 17:21).


6. Both are covenants and formed by vows Marriage- "I do" Salvation-"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus (Rom. 10:9)


7. Both are exclusive. They are not shared by another-no adultery, no idolatry.


8. Both have a starting moment. When you were born in the world, you were neither married nor saved. Marriage requires a ceremony; salvation requires a decision.


9. Both relationships make us complete


10. Both have a wedding/marriage supper-a wedding banquet on earth, the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Rev. 19).


11. Both are sealed with a sign-marriage with a ring, salvation with the Holy Spirit.


12. Both have an authority structure, a head to the relationship to whom the other desires to submit-the wife submits to her husband as the believer submits to Christ.


13. In both, even though there is an authority structure, the relationship is based on a friendship-" I have called you friends" (John 15:15)


14. In both, the groom must leave his home. Christ left His Father in order to come to earth and win His bride. A man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife (Eph.5:31)


15. In both relationships, the head is the initiator.


16. Both require a sacrificial love on the part of the head. A husband is commanded to love as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25)


17. In both, the head is the provider and protector.


18. In both, the husband prepares a residence-a man provides a home on earth, Christ provides a home in heaven.


19. In both relationships, the bride becomes beautiful by a submissive spirit and inner qualities of godliness (I Peter 3:1-6)


20. In both, the bride's exclusive desire is to please and serve her head.


21. In both, the bride becomes radiant with joy


22. Both relationships grow sweeter with time.


23. In both relationships, each owns the other. "I an my beloved 's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Sol. 6:3, I Cor. 7:4)


24. In both relationships, each fills the other's heart (Psalm 139:17, Col. 1 :27)


25. Both relationships provide a "satisfaction" that can be found nowhere else. We are satisfied by a relationship with God and by being in His presence. Likewise, we are satisfied by our spouse, even just by being in their presence.

"While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." -Tit. 2:13

Paleo Hot Apple Crumble

Paleo Hot Apple Crumble

I am excited that it is officially Spring! Flowers, Easter, warmer weather, fresh leaves and blossoms on trees, sunshine, weddings, prom...basically as a photographer, my dream season!
But the other day I was craving a very Autumn-like recipe. Possibly, the reason for this is that it is still cold outside and I like to have warm desserts on cold days.
So I made a paleo version of hot apple crumble that my family can eat. Due to different health problems for everyone, paleo is the eating lifestyle we've chosen to follow. Whether you eat Paleo or not, I consider this recipe to be just as good if not more so than your regular apple crumble. Enjoy!

Paleo Hot Apple Crumble

Ingredients

• 1.5 cup almond flour (to make: grind sliced almonds in food processor)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar plus 1 tbsp (for non paleo version use brown sugar)
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
•  1 tbsp cold coconut oil (non paleo-use butter)
• 2 tbsp milk of choice
• 2 cups peeled, chopped apple (8oz)
• 2 tsp arrowroot ( or cornstarch)
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup (or agave)                                       1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Stir together the first eight ingredients, mixing very well and mashing with a fork. Scoop 2/3 of the dough into a 4×7, oiled glass dish (or any small pan), and press down firmly. In a separate bowl, stir together the other ingredients. Layer them into the pan, then top with the rest of the dough from the first pan and press down a bit. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 F, then cool at least 30 minutes before serving. 

I thought I would include some pictures from last year, during the apple season, since they kind of go with my theme here. Below is my sister, Nan and my niece, Ela picking apples.

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour,
Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

A Good Start

The new year has taken off fast for me. Already well into February, there have been some changes, some ups and some downs but overall there have been plenty of good times, good times worth writing about.

To name just a few...

We (Mom, my sister Nan and I) went to visit my sister, Lauren and her husband Jered where they live in Georgia. Not to mention my two adorable little nieces, Ela and Piper to whom they belong. We stayed a week and hung out at the house, at the park and at Jered's office. I brought my school along and did as much as I could while at the same time playing with a hyper two year old!

During that week we hiked Allatoona Pass, a favorite place to go with the family and be surrounded by nature and history. I've included some pictures of it below. 

The Battle of Allatoona Pass, was fought 

October 5, 1864, in Bartow County, Georgia. 

This is what it looked like at that time

 compared to how it looks now.

This month our sew & so club met again and we made these: fabric flowers! The process is pretty neat, we cut out our flower shapes then burn the edges, holding them over the flame of a candle.

Though Jack(on the far left) is not apart of the club we let him be apart of the picture :)

Art classes have started with my sister Claire! 

In this picture, we are doing a little exercise where we look at the object we are drawing without looking down at our paper. You can see how bad I am at that.

We had a great time!

No, this is not one my artworks actually but my one and only Valentine from Ian! Ian is a seven year old I watch with my sister Nan on Thursdays.

It's supposed to be me holding a flower in one hand, a machete in the other.

Breakfast in bed on my Birthday! 

The 15th of February, my birthday, Nan and mom had to do some more shopping and I had a make-up lesson with my piano teacher, Mrs. Cox. So they dropped me off at piano and Gabe picked me up. There were ballons, presents and a big card in his truck waiting for me. It was a great surprise! He took me to Whole Foods and we got a couple green smoothies (he was willing to try one!) then we walked around the bog gardens until it was time to go home. Upon arriving home I found my grandparents there and my sister Mary and her fiance Andrew! We had a good night of just family :)

The awkward process of singing happy birthday

Also, another exciting and long awaited moment of this month is Nan having just gotten her braces off!!!

She looks beautiful and so old!

Lastly, I've been working on these cards of my photography. I'm selling them online to raise money for a mission trip I will be taking in June to Jamaica!

If you're interested in buying some visit my shop online!

Click Here

or type in URL

www.dontpaintthepeas.etsy.com

God has blessed me tremendously, I am looking forward to this year and each day he brings my way!