I love adventures.
Especially with amazing friends!

Over half of our team from Colombia [it helps that four are in one family] met up in St. Louis over the weekend to catch up, make memories and spend quality time! It was an incredible time. Seriously. From delightful piano recitals to squishing in cars... fudge and food to walks around the park... from random public swimming pools [weird stories] to surviving the heat... uncontrollable laughter and long [very long] deep conversations... watching Captain America and quoting movies. How nice it was to get to know each other outside of missions. Sometimes it can be a little awkward getting together with people you've only met once in another situation, but this was absolutely not the case. There is something amazing about being "family in Jesus". 

I am so thankful for these people. For life and friendship in Jesus...

Meanwhile, I'm sure you are wondering what happened with the photo essay contest... I ended up winning second place (I lost 1st place by 5 votes, so it was super close!) and therefore have $200 more dollars towards another missions trip! So that is super exciting. Yeah, more adventures in the future... YES. 

Another random adventure occurred before leaving on Saturday for MO... on Friday evening was our yearly banquet for Life for Life Centers. My amazing cousin Ben [also one of my best friends] drove down from Chicago, last minute to come with since we had an extra ticket!!! I called him at about 1pm and he asked me three questions: "Where is it? What time is it? What color are you wearing?" Four hours later, he was in downtown Indianapolis, looking so sharp and matching me! Yeah, he is amazing. I am so thankful for him. My dress was also special, it was one I designed that my friend Robin sewed for me, so that was very special. I love it. 

Life is continuing to move forward at a rate faster than I can keep up with so it seems, yet I am learning to abide and rest and take everything one day at a time. My health continues to be a challenge and yet, Jesus is working. Life has so many questions... yet, Jesus has answers. My heart wonders and waits and watches... and I lift my eyes to Jesus. 

Today, John Piper posted something that really changed my heart. If you want some conviction and need of a kleenex, watch this ten minute video.

"When God is magnified, fear is gone." - Dr. James MacDonald

-KM  

The Banquet::

Gary and Christy Ripperger... two of the most precious people I know. 

Adventures in St. Louis::

Happy... May!! Wait, whaaattt? Since when!? Wow... is anyone else feeling like its still March, let alone April? Somehow, April just disappeared! Now May is here and going to completely fly by as May usually does. Graduations, Weddings, weekend trips, Senior shoots, lovely weather, etc. Yeah, its going to be June before we know it and then trip to England!! Ahh! Just one thing at a time. The last few weeks I've continued to work on my ever-growing-to-do-lists and am slowly but surely making progress. Today I think it is working on tackling writing all my thank you notes... [60+] someone laughingly said it was good preparation for "wedding thank you's". Oh, goodness. 

How delightful it has been to have images to edit again... I think I probably said that already, but it is worth saying again. I love capturing and then creating beautiful images. My favorites are couples in love... but second favorites are most assuredly Seniors! It's not only fun to get to spend-one-on-one time learning about them, but capturing who they are, discovering their personality and excitement because of graduation! 

My shoot with Olivia, was no exception. What a fun and laughter-filled few hours! ♥ 
I met Olivia several years ago, she was in one of the musicals I directed... we always enjoyed good conversations together. I so appreciated Olivia's heart for Jesus, missions, serving others and being real. 

Olivia loves to have fun, she smiles a lot and enjoys life thoroughly!! :) This is obviously reflected in her Senior pictures. When Olivia emailed me about using her "art" work in her Senior pictures and possibly setting up a "gallery" in the woods, I was doing happy dances on the SPOT! Can we do that? Of course we can!! It was a blast. I love it when my clients get super creative about their shoots. Thanks for the amazing time, Olivia. You were a complete natural! 

"Every command God gives you is to protect you from second best." - Chip Ingram

-KM 

Aw, time goes by too quickly! 
Wayyyyy too quickly. My birthday-baby-girl Selena is ONE now! Yeahhh. I know.

A few weeks after her birthday, we got together to take her one-year-old pictures. It is still amazing to me how much little ones change and how fast. Selena says words now, she is walking, she has a little attitude and a precious heart... she is hilarious and quite darling. Robin has been teaching her "sign language" for certain words like: please, more, thank you. Which is so fun for me, since we did that with my littlest-brother. Ahhh, the memories. Selena was in a squirmy mood on our shoot, but we still managed to capture some rather darling moments, don't you think? *smiles*

It was also very special to be able to attend the baby dedication for Selena at church a few weeks ago. I cried. Yes. I did. 
I am reminded what a blessing and gift life is. How much one life can change countless others around it. 

Enjoy the last of Selena's Baby.ness images... 

"I believe prayerless Christians are the most dangerous thing of our time." - Corrie ten Boom

-KM