She said YES!

Today I ventured to Vina, Ca with the most amazing couple, and it was a great day! First, let me move back about four or five years. I met Lauren when my husband and I started dating. She was the most gentle, sweet, caring and loving person. Lauren has the kind of faith that is inspiring, encouraging and motivating. Our friendship grew over the years, she was a person I could trust with anything, and always greeted me with such a contagious and warming smile. As with all my friends I prayed for a very worthy man to come and sweep her off her feet. To challenge her faith, show her love, and support her beyond measure. At dinner one night she mentioned over and over this Danny fella. I could see the look in her eye when she talked about him, a look of admiration. So right there my prayer switched, that Danny would be come Laurens ‘one and only’. Praise God, Danny and Lauren have been dating for about a year now… and as of last friday, they are soon to be wed!!! I was so blessed when Lauren stood up on the alter as a bridesmaid when Matt and I got married. However I feel equally as blessed to be allowed the privilege of capturing the special moments of their engagement and wedding.
It was so fun today to watch them interact. They are so clearly in love, and its contagious. I admire the way these two have dated. They have developed a true deep friendship over the past year, something every relationship should be build upon. Removing all things that could become distractions. So yes, today I was privilege to witness and capture their first kiss in public. Contrary to popular belief of an engagement session, our time was not filled with all mushy-gushy stuff.. throughout our session they were creative, spunky and fun. I loved every moment of it!!!
Laruen I am so happy for you, and thankful for your years of friendship. Danny, you have a great bride-to-be and I am so thankful that the Lord answered prayer, blessing her with a strong man like you. I cannot wait to watch your guy’s marriage grow! God Bless. Enjoy….

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:1-4

Dinner for Two…

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day, that you felt loved, cared for, and appreciated. Although I am a romantic at heart, I have begun to think that Valentines Day is a “hallmark holiday”. The restaurants are over crowded, money is spent, flowers are bought and die, and the pressure to show the most special time. It seems that acts of kindness and a little spark of romance should take place everyday in a relationship. We should not only tell each other but show one-another how much love we have daily. Life gets busy, with work, shopping, meetings, cleaning, errands and so much more, and we often take advantage of what is right in front of us. Showing and giving love to those around us. My goal as a wife, daughter, sister and friend is to continually give love.

I have married the world’s best husband. He is truly my best friend. Someone I can tell all my fears, hopes, ambitions and doubts to… he listens (as best any man can, haha) and offers love. My husband was such a support during the trials of nursing school, he is my unrealistic optimist who can brighten my moods and challenges my outlook, he inspires me to grow deeper in my faith, and most of all he loves me unconditionally. I love him so very much, and these past eight months have been unbelievable. I have been inspired to grow as a person constantly, to adapt to a life shared with someone, and learned to love in ways I never thought before.

Since I am still a romantic, yesterday I decided to be a domestic house-wife and attempt to spoil my husband. I spent the day cleaning, organizing and straightening our home. A clean home is a happy home… After the home was clean, I messed it up again. For our valentines day meal, I decided to make homemade raviolis, from scratch! Yes, egg yoke, flour, cheese, mushrooms, water, olive oil and my favorite stand mixer. It was quite the process… lets just say flour was everywhere, the kitchen-aid shorts the power in the kitchen (all mixing occurs on the living room floor), sticky dough, gooey cheese, lop-sided ravioli's… but surprisingly lots of fun and they tasted good too!

Thank You Matt for being an amazing Husband. You are loved! Bon Appetite.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:9

Calder and Baylor Session

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have always been enthralled with babies. The younger the better. The little fingers, toes, puffy lips and even their cries have such a special place in my heart. I think babies are truly gifts from above. God creates them perfectly. Perfectly tiny, innocent, special and pure. So I jump at the opportunity to capture the special time when a new life is brought home.
Four weeks ago, Calder welcomed home his baby brother Baylor. Calder is all boy… loves being active, outside in the dirt, collecting sticks and did I mention he is active?!? However he is the sweetest big brother. He has learned to say his little brother’s name along with many, many other words. It was so fun to spend time with him. Baylor is as cute as a button, he has the coolest hair and captivating eyes. He was awake and alert for the whole photo session, and only got mad at my constant moving and rearranging once. I was truly blessed by my time spent with these two little boys… Thank you Greer and Jordan for allowing me the privilege of capturing this special time in your lives.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Finally Complete…

As you can tell from my last few days of posting… much of my time these last few days has gone to editing photos from my weekend with Addison. To switch things up, I decided to create a video to present all of her photo’s to you. I really just can’t get enough of this time in her life. There is something so captivating about watching children of this age, everything is a new experience and their curious nature is painted is all of their faces.
Life is something special. Life is emotional; the happy, the sad, the in-between. My goal as a photographer is to bring a smile, tear, or some other type of emotion to life through my pictures. That is what photography is, freezing a moment in time. Capturing that moment in such a way that it is filled with pure, raw emotion. I hope these pictures bring you joy, hope and a smile to your face. Enjoy!
(you will want to pause the music at the bottom of the blog before playing the video)

Untitled from jenee harvey on Vimeo.

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15

One Year Photo Session Preview

I had the pleasure of photographing not only Addison’s Birthday party… but her “one year old” photos as well. We went to a path behind her house where there were patches of grass and a nice little walk-way, which was perfect for this girl on the move. She is at an age of exploration, independence, and curiosity; soaking up life like a sponge. I love this time in a child’s life. They have started to develop their own personality and that makes child photography so fun for me. Addison is one of the easiest little ones to photograph because there is always a smile on her face. So I have lots, and lots and lots of photos to edit. I have only just begun but had to share a few of my favorites with you…

“When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.” Proverbs 6:22

It’s a First Birthday…..

On February 4th, 2010 Addison Nicole Rogers was welcomed to the world. One year later we are celebrating such a special little girl. All that has happens in the first year of life is astonishing. Learning to roll, sit, walk, eat solid foods, make noise, learn words, and develop a special personality. All that growth is what makes a first birthday so special. A true celebration of the little life that God has blessed us with. Addison is one of the happiest little girls I have ever been around. She is always smiling, laughing, or screeching out of excitement. I was so blessed to spend her birthday with her and take part in her birthday party as well. Happy 1st Birthday Addison, you are loved!

A time to celebrate..

 

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6