Coming Soon..Christy and Clark!

It’s that time of year again when I normally put up the “Brown Family Picture”.  LOL.  Well I did not get a Brown family picture this year.  Next year I promise!

But I do want to wish everyone a VERY blessed Holiday filled with family, fun and friends.  Please let us ALL remember the reason for the season!

Thank you all for being so loyal through this year and EVERY year.  I feel so very blessed to know you all and I thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart!

But this year (since I am a slacker and have no family picture)  I am going to bless you with something EVEN better.  My friend Lauren Botts is on my blog this year.  I am so proud  to know Lauren.  At the end is a link to Lauren’s blog.  Please you all do yourselves and favor and go read it from time to time.  It will make you feel all warm inside I promise!   I love you Lauren, I know your Mom and Dad are so proud as I am!  Merry Christmas my friend!

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

December 23rd. The day before Christmas Eve. Probably a lot like everyone else’s. Two of us were sprawled out on the floor trying to make sense of all the gifts. Wondering aloud how in the world the children ended up with so much stuff! We were a tangled mess of wrapping paper, ribbons and tape. One of us was in the (very small and not definitely not gourmet) kitchen making two hundred sugar cookies for the kids to decorate on Christmas Eve. From the oven being too small to the cookie sheets being to big. Cooking in Ghana is always a challenge but the sweet smell of home made cookies makes it all worth it.

The conversation turns to questions. We all took turns answering. Favorite Christmas tradition? Mom’s seafood gumbo. Best Christmas gift? John Favorite holiday treat? Ritz crackers with peanut butter centers dipped in chocolate. Worst Christmas gift? Five gallon jug of pork rinds. They were all answered. The final question was; favorite Christmas carol. Let there be Peace on Earth. “I don’t think I know that one.” One of the ladies responded. I sang a few bars and it was confirmed, she did not know that one. Most people don’t. It’s a forgotten Christmas song. Probably because there are no sleigh bells, lyrics filled with holiday jargon or mentions of lowing cattle. More then likely it’s not going to be sung at your Christmas Eve service.

I’ve always been fond of things that are more obscure. For the most part (there are always exceptions) if it’s mainstream or mass produced it’s probably not going to be my favorite. You’ll never see me carrying a Coach bag, wearing Crocs or sporting any sort of jewelry that has a visible high end designer logo on it. (Think the Tiffany heart, Chanel’s interlocking C’s, or Louis Vuitton’s LV logo). It’s just not my style. I’m also guilty of buying something new and having it re-constructed to an even newer and totally unrecognizable version. Point: I like things that are unique, one of a kind and different. Hence the favorite Christmas carol.

Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.

What are you doing to further peace on earth? Okay, okay. Like the song says, let’s start small. What are you doing to further peace in your own life? Your own family? Your workplace, classroom, place of business or church? Don’t be a problem maker, be a peace maker. Even if it’s just in the very moment you are currently in.

To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally!

Oh! That’s my favorite part. To take and LIVE each moment in peace. Read it again and let it sink in. I’ll wait.

Right!? I know! There are some folks out there that are not peaceful. And I’m not talking about inner struggles and personal turmoil lack of peace. I’m talking outwardly expressions and extensive peace-less-ness that slaps others in the face. Sometimes I get antsy, annoyed and anxious and that’s when my lack of peace rears it’s ugly face. Now there is a difference between peace and patience. I can be patient all day long but you’re probably going to know I’m unhappy about it. Peace is different. It’s like Grandma Gladys. Never a harsh word, always soft spoken and a pleasant smile always on her face. She got better and better the older she became. It was the peace. If peace isn’t a major player in our lives then we’re just going to get BITTER with age instead of BETTER.

There are always reasons to lose your peace. But there is one huge reason not to. the peace that transcends all understanding. Take some time this Christmas to focus on that Peace. Cling to Him. I pray for my actions and reactions to be controlled by peace. So that others will see my peace and know my Peace.

I hope you and yours have a phenomenal Christmas. Focus on the peace and the purpose of the holiday season. Know that all the way in Ghana children are having Christmas in a peaceful environment, off the streets. The same children are enjoying presents, food and the joy of feeling love because of you and your support. This is the Christmas all other Christmases will be compared to. Thank you for helping me get here.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
Blessings!

Lauren Botts
laurenleighann@gmail.com

http://southerncontradiction.wordpress.com/

Hey y’all this is Luker, just helping Patsy out with the post from Nicolette and Mike’s wedding this past weekend. I will warn you now, I’m not the animated blogger that the great “Patsy Brown” is, but….. the good news is she will return next week.

I can’t say enough how sweet this couple was, and of course just a joy to work with! The ceremony and reception really celebrated the love these two have for each other. I am proud to say that I was there to whiteness Mike’s mother take part in her son’s big day. Mrs. Yeager was diagnosed with Leukemia just a short while back and was not given more than a week to live. By the grace of God and many prayers, she was there with close family and friends to watch her son get married… just AWESOME! Y’all were nothing short of perfect, and I’m so honored to have been apart your day! Thanks so much and we wish you many years of happiness.

Church: Sacred Heart Cathedral

Reception: Penneli’s Italian Restaurant

Band: THE band…Clark and Company!

Flowers: Fiore

Rings: Jewelers Trade Shop

Catering: Classic City Catering

Make-up: Skin

Cake: Betty Weber

Event Planning: Dana Goodman Weddings

Dress: Bridal Loft Pensacola

Oh wow, what a beautiful, wonderful, fun night.  Nicole was simply just stunning and Adam, hubba, hubba right?  <wink>  The best part of my job is the people I surround myself with and I love surrounding myself with this group of people.  I have seen this group many, many times and each and every time is so wonderful!   Thank you all for always thinking of me.  I have a lot of images to show so I won’t go on and on like I usually do but know that your big day was AWESOME and we enjoyed ourselves so much.

Now, on to the show.

Oh, first up I have a NEW assistant.  NO, Luker is not gone he is still mine but he had his own wedding this day and I have started training Hillary Clarke!  She is a doll with a amazing eye and the sweetest personality in the whole world.  Everyone loves her already.  What is wrong with me training this cute young things right?  Thank you Hillary, you did a wonderful job!

We started at the Lee House!   LOL, yes as a matter of fact I have been at the Lee house with Norma and Pat six weekends in a row.  LOL.  I LOVE IT!  Thank you Norma and Dr. Pat, as always you are the PERFECT host and hostess!

Ceremony was at Old Christ Church!  You just have to love this place right?

Now, I usually tell yall all about the flowers and such…Nicole did EVERYTHING!  I am thinking Mrs. Thang might have a been a wedding planner in a former life…or maybe future?  LOL.  She did the flowers, the favors, the decorating the wedding wands, the EVERYTHING!  It was wonderful.  Man, I wish I had some of that fudge right now come to think of it.  LOL.

Reception was held at 600 south and over in the courtyard at New World.  It was so pretty!

Ok, so a new band that I am totally in love with.  Yes, I KNOW you all think I am some groupie but seriously…LOVE ME SOME OCEAN STREET BAND!   Do yourself a favor and give them a listen!  Love em!

Oh and let me not forget the super cool cake from none other than our very own OH SNAP!  YUMMO!

Thanks again yall, so fun!

Here they are again…cute as ever but growing way too fast.  It makes me sad to see all my little ones grow so fast.  Soon, I will be shooting their Sr images and weddings.  LOL…I can hope right?

So as you probably already have read from the next post Pensacola had their very own little “extreme makeover”  put on by the good people at megankevents!  Well I had the pleasure of meeting quite a few people yesterday.  You all already know how much we LOVE Style downtown right?  Well I also had the pleasure of meeting John Dye!  O M G!  Prepare yourselves ladies and gents John is just the BEST!  Love, love, love him already.  If any of my brides are in need of a amazing, wonderful, funny makeup artist, well John is your man.

First up is John and then Kelly and Shannon, a few of the amazing girls at Style.  ON that note Kelly I knew I knew you.  You were just at one of my beautiful brides weddings a few weeks ago at Lee House right?  LOL!   Great to see you!

Yeap, that is right the winner is Barbara Brown.  Did anyone see the Extreme Makeover here in Pensacola last night on T.V.?  Well the good people over at Megan K Events put on their own little show and it was just amazing!   I was proud to be a part of it.  I will let you all read more about Barbara and her hubby over at Megan’s page.   There were MANY, MANY people involved and I must say Pensacola is the best place in the world.  We have so many giving, caring and just fun people here in our little town and I am VERY proud to know so many of them.   Thank you Megan for including me.  You did a fabulous job!

So now a few pictures of the beautifully put together Barbara!  God bless you Barbara!  Stay tuned for many more…

Total sweetness, total fun time.  I love doing these kind of shoots.  I live with 3 boys so anytime I can have a little “girl” time it’s always fun and Jessi was no exception.  She had a ball and so did me and her Grandma!  Thanks for thinking of me yall.  I can’t wait to see yall again!  Special thanks to my dear friend Katie for referring me to Jessi and Virgina!  I should have known it was going to be fun huh?  <wink>

I just don’t see this family enough.  I cannot believe Cooper is already five…blows my mind that I was there when his Mommy and Daddy were married, there while Mommy was pregnant , there when he came home from hospital…I just love my clients/FRIENDS!  Thank yall for always being so loyal and loving!  God Bless!

So 9 years ago I had been in business about a minute.  LOL.  Maybe a little longer but this beautiful couple came to me to shoot their wedding and it was fabulous!  I mean really, look how cute.  Now, these cute people have had two of the cutest little ones.   I just cannot tell yall what it means to me that you have trusted me for so long.  I am humbled and amazed!  God Bless yall!  It was so great seeing you all!