An Enchanted Senior Photography Shoot

i love when my seniors have something specific in mind for their session.
katherine wanted something that was...like...well, enchanted.
dark and woodsy.
we found the perfect location (after a lot of hard work. turns out weeping willow tress are rather hard to come by around here!)
and katherine wore the perfect dress.
and the rest was history.

this next shot was right after she had almost FALLEN IN THE POND trying to catch a bull frog!!
ha! it was hilarious!

i loved so many shots that i was literally dancing half the session.
or maybe that was because i was jumping over snakes and frogs and brushing away mosquitoes!
either way...it was a lot of fun and katherine was so much fun to be with!
thanks for being the perfect model, kate!

soccer season

i remember packing up my boys when they were 9 months old and 2 years old.
i would pack a cooler with snacks, mittens and hats, a stroller, soccer balls.
i would get them all dressed...right down to my toddlers shin guards and soccer socks.
i would load them in the car and drive 25 minutes to derry to be there at 7:30 for saturday morning soccer.
wow. i was crazy, and literally don't even know how i did it.
adam would leave even earlier to set up the goals, so i was going solo.
and here we are...all these years later and i am still getting ready every saturday morning (and other days!) for soccer!
i must say...it is much easier these days.
i tell the boys to make sure they have everything they need.
i still pack snacks and drinks, but they get their own shin guards on, and put themselves in the car!

i have always loved watching them play, and i don't think that will ever get old!

aj is playing for the middle school boys team, and riley and aj are both playing together on a u12 team that adam is coaching.
both teams are undefeated!

i think i've watched a lot of soccer in my life. and i hope i have a lot more to watch :)
i never want to take for granted the fact that my boys are totally healthy.
so thankful.

mini session mayhem

i had a day of family sessions 2 weekends ago.
i had 8 people sign up, but ended up *only* having 7 families.
let me tell you...with my cRaZiNeSs...that made for a tiring day!
let's just say. i like to jump around a lot!


anyways...it was great to see some familiar faces, and meet some new friends!
we had the sessions at the milk room and the weather was perfect!
here are a few of my favorites from the day!

thank you to all my clients who made this such a fun day!

whoever refreshes others will be refreshed

people tell me all the time how busy i am.
they tell me that they don't know how i do everything i do.

sometimes i think...busy? i mean, i guess.
i don't really think about it.
i just...live. i don't know.

and then sometimes i think...busy? and you don't know the HALF of it!!

i am busy. i do have a lot going on in my life right now, but i just kind of assume that everyone does!
i don't think of my life being all that much different from anyone else's.

being a townsend...or maybe it's from the baxter side - we are just fast people.
like seriously. we talk fast, we walk fast, we cook fast, we read fast, we just do everything fast.
except for drive fast. cuz that would be against the law. :)
i guess i just do a lot of things without really thinking about it.
that can be good, and bad.

this past month, especially, has been really full.
we have a full house. and we have full schedules.

when people ask if we can get together? i literally say...ok! i would love to! i have mondays, wednesdays and fridays open from 1:00-2:00.
unless i happen to have thrown a photo shoot in there..so ya! let's totally get together!

i don't mean to sound like i am tooting my own horn or anything, but i have a lot of people in my life that i feel need me.
i don't know how to type that without it sounding weird.
i just mean that i have a lot of people texting me, and a lot of people meeting me at starbucks (aka my office) and a lot of people asking me for advice.
please don't get me wrong.
i. love. it.
i really do.
i am a total people person, and i love feeling needed.

i also love showing love and enjoy giving advice and praying for people and being there for people.
i don't want it to change, and i hope that whoever is reading this is not thinking...oh, i should probably stop texting her. or, maybe i should cancel that starbucks date with her because she's too busy.
i don't ever want to come across like i am too busy. and i am apologizing to any person who has ever not texted, called or wanted to get together just because it seems like i am too busy. it would break my heart if i knew anyone felt that way about me!

at the same time though...as much as i love to get together with people to refresh them (because that is my goal. to bring every conversation back to the fact that Jesus gives hope and without him, we would be hopeless!) i still need to be refreshed.
and this is why i have been gently reminded this week by a few different people in my family
the importance of getting my own refreshment from God alone.
God alone.
not my work.
not my friends.
not even my husband or my kids.
but God.
i don't know why this is so hard for me to get a hold of lately.

and to be painfully honest.
while i am doing everything so fast.
i am also reading my Bible fast.
i am praying fast.
and i am therefore weakening fast.
and it is not what i want.

it is not what i want.
i can hardly stop the tears right now as i am typing because

i want my life to be different.

and what will make me different is the amount of time i put in to developing and strengthening my relationship with Jesus.
and in my deepest heart of hearts, it is my desire.
but in my fleshly, sinful heart i am just doing everything fast. too fast.
i am writing this as a reminder to YOU to slow down and put your relationship with Jesus at a higher priority.
it will benefit your marriage, your relationships, your joyfulness, your peace...your everything!

i am also writing this as a way for myself to be held accountable. i want you to remind me to spend time with God, and not just talk about him.
i don't think adam would appreciate me going out with my girlfriends every night and telling them how great of a husband i have...if i was choosing to never spend a minute with HIM!

don't let the busyness and craziness of life weaken you, and cause you to cut out time with God.
let it push you to God. let it show you how much you need Him, and can't live without Him.

i love this verse in proverbs that says "whoever refreshes others will be refreshed"
how will i be refreshed?
by going to the spring. the living, powerful, life changing Word of God...
where i get direct refreshment.

what do you have to put down right now, so you can pick up God's Word?
do it. put it down.
and find your refreshment in HIM tonight.  ♥

Senior Photographer I Rye Beach, NH

i met alicia through gina
she wanted to do a beach session as well, and again...
i always welcome that!

she is absolutely beautiful and she is so tiny she gets to shop in the girls department...lucky girl!
We had a super fun time and even got to include her adorable dog and cute little brother in a few shots!

Here are a few of my favorite!

when she did her outfit change, i am pretty sure i did a little dance!
(i have been known to do many strange things like that during my sessions! ha!)
anyways...you might have too if you had seen her outfit!
i loved her dress and actually looked it up on line later to buy it for myself!

thanks for a super fun night, alicia! i loved meeting you and your family!

Senior Photographer I Rye Beach, NH

i met gina through shannon.
she wanted a beach session, and i was more than happy to have an excuse to go to the beach!
rye beach is my favorite and it was a perfect day for it.

i don't know how i am lucky enough to get the most beautiful clients, but gina is gorgeous and a total natural in front of the camera!

here are a few of my favorites!

you were so much fun to hang out with gina! i hope you have an awesome senior year!