2 of about 600 pics from the wedding

Ok-- so I told you I was excited. I took over 600+ pictures at the wedding I helped shoot in association with Krista Noorman of A Pictures Worth Photography. There are sooo many more... but these are a few of my favorites off the bat-- first of them walking down the aisle after the ceremony. Just look at the JOY on their faces. Second is a great kiss... they were such a cute fun couple. This is Melissa & Gabe-- you will certainly see more of them.

still looking-- makin progress!

Ok-- so the photography thing will be a go once I get a job. That way we have some gaurenteed money coming in before we go and get some things to get the Photograpy stuff going. For the last two days I have been sick (yep again). I am finally getting a voice back today. I have applied for several jobs... we will see if anything shows up. A couple days ago I sent some emails to some day care centers that I know of around here. Yesterday I got an email back saying enrollment is up and they are looking for staff-- whoever I had emailed was passing my resume along. I think that's a good sign. I got an email from spectrum health today saying that one of the unit secretary jobs I had applied for at the hospital had been filled- bummer. I applied for some more at GVSU and am planning on going up there tomorrow to check up on the status of things. Maybe I will email some kids from the group I used to lead who go there now. That might put a smile on my face to see them.

I am glad I am feeling better and hoping to get lots done now that I can breath and talk again. I know it will come together-- I just feel like time/ money is running short. I was reminded the other day that sometimes God gives you what you need just when you need it and you have to trust in that process... not in plan ahead timing! This is a real stretch for me.

Hope all of you are having a good week. If I haven't answered your calls it's cause I have either been sleeping or without sound (aka a voice).

ck

What's holdin me back?

Ok-- anyone who knows me knows that I always have my camera with me and I am love capturing relationships, & life on film. It's a dream of mine to be a Professional Photographer & Ryan and I have been talkin about it for a while- but I hope it becomes a reality soon.... If you know me you know I dive in-- I don't just get my feet wet. Well I am ready to dive. I know I have some things to learn- but I learn best by soaking in something. So much of photography comes natural to me. And what's holding me back? I am sure I can find some people who would let me shoot them, their kids, their family. I need to build up a portfolio / gallery. (not that I don't have a million photos on my computer right now) So this is me-- pretending to not be a poser but ready to dive. If you know anyone who wants their picture-- let me know. Once I meet with Krista I will have the pics from the wedding we shot (I can't wait to play around with those). But til then here's to the dream in my heart becoming a reality. Here's to ck photography. Here's to capturing life!

honestly seeking- GOD

As many of you know my faith has been challenged over the past few months.... knowing there is a God but wondering if there are any people out there who really long to live in the realities he calls us to. Yesterday Maria posted about wanting to experience the theory of God and his realness, love, grace, and truth (or at least that's how I interpreted her post). I realized that so many times I have done just what she is talking about-- borrowing from the beliefs and experiences of God's truth and faith in other peoples lives cause it's not real to me in that moment. I think those are the things that have pulled my faith through in those times-- but so many times you want something real yourself. Last night after driving home from my interview with the family (which isn't going to work out) I heard a song that I have never heard before and it was like the prayer in my heart that I needed. So I sung it lound (as lound as my horse voice can go right now). Here are the lyrics.

Real To Me
(Nichole Nordeman)

Every time I try to find you
Every road comes back around
Just another hoop to jump through
Another mile of covered ground

I am weary of the answers
More theory and cliche�
They raise the letter of the law like a banner
'Til you're small and far away

All the questions in my head
Are from my heart instead

Be real to me now
That's all I'm asking
Be real to me now

Every scribe and every scholar
No winners in this debate
Everybody seems to stand up taller
When you're easy to explain

I don't need to know what I don't know
Just got to let it go

Be real to me now
That's all I'm asking
Be real somehow
More than anything
More than anything

So lay down the sword
And put away the doctrine
Love a little more, love a little more
'Cause everybody's broken

It's not about the rules to me-- it's not about the text book answer-- it's about seeing God truthfully and vividly in my life. In my actions. In my relationships. In His presence. I know He's here-- I'm just asking for him to show himself in this time of wondering what next. What do I do with my life that will pay the bills and honor you? What do I do besides trust-- what's my role-- what direction should I be looking for a job? So many questions I know He has a plan I just want him to reveil it and himself to me in ways that will rebuild and repair my beleif in all things that come from Love, grace and truth.

Our new place

Here they are the long anticipated (and only asked for once by maria) pictures! For some reason it doesn't look as homie in the pics-- but I really like how it all turned out.

This is what it looked like when we first moved our stuff in... a little crazy!


The rest are our Guest room, our bedroom, the lovely dressers I painted (which are on the wall across from our bed), the kitchen & the living room. The basement (aka, the scrap room and office) are coming when that gets done... soon hopefully.














Ok-- that took forever (does anyone else have a problem getting blogger to put pics where you want in your post!!). Anyway... we want to eventually get more colorful pillows for the window seat and the couch. But this is where we are a week after ariving here. :)

I have my meeting with the family tomorrow-- pray it goes well. I think I have the job-- it's just a matter of if they can pay me enough for us to live.

Other than unpacking- we really haven't been doing much else. I will be glad to get a job and get a schedule back-- I am so unproductive when it comes to not having anything that I "have" to do. Anyway-- I hope you enjoy the pics.

Erin S & Sandy- I miss you guys and you will have to come visit our humble little home!

ck

getting settled, finding our way around.

We are getting settled. Things are coming together. I got the dressers painted and more boxes unpacked! Erin came over yesterday for my birthday and brought me yummy chocolate soy ice cream and super cute magnets for my fridge! (still no pics, I promise they are coming!)

Today Ryan and I drove to Grand Valley State University (where he is taking classes). It was move in day so a bit chaotic but fun to see the energy around a college campus coming together for fall! We are trying to find some curtains for the kitchen... easier said than done!

My birthday was good-- thanks for all the well wishes from SJ'ers & Blog readers! I don't feel any older and certainly don't feel any wiser.

I am going to meet Laura and her family (the people I might nanny for) on Saturday. We talked for an hour and 1/2 on Monday night and seemed to hit it off well! We are just praying it will pay enough for what we need. They pay for daycare for the 2 now and I would do more with them since we will be at their home and stuff! Anyway, pray it works out!

hmmm, not much else going on. Eager to get back to scrappin and get my space all set up-- it's the last thing to set up. I am almost to the point where I can do that!

I think that's it. Updates later and hope to have the pics to post!
ck

I might have a job!!

Ok folks! I knew God had something in store, and this might be it. Carmen (who I used to nanny for when I lived in Holland) gave my name to a co-worker who has 20 month old twins. She emailed me last week and I shot her an email back last night. I called her tonight and we talked for an hour and half!! She sounds like an awesome mom, lady, friend. Her twins (Zach and Kathryn) are 20 months old and Zach has Epilepsy. He only has sezures once every 2-3 months but the medicines don't seem to be helping... they are looking into the surgery that removes part of the brain that causes the seizures, but haven't made a final decision. I can't even imagine that! Anyway, it sounds like a situation I would love. Some teaching, play dates, activities, and weekends off!! 8-5 M-F..... I don't know what it pays though-- that is the make or brake deal! It has to pay the bills cause once Ryan is in school-- we are living on my salery alone!

Pray it all works out, for both sides-- I am going over there Saturday afternoon.
Til then-- I will continue to unpack.

Oh yea and tomorrow when I wake up I will be 30!!!!! UH!!!
ck

We made it!

Hey everyone--

We made it! I don't have pics yet... well I do have pics but I can't get them on the computer just yet! We are unpacking and getting settled! I love it! I think it's going to take forever to get unpacked here. We have had the same set up as far as what was in what room before and now we are down to one bathroom, a guest room that is just a guest room not an office too, and a basement that's a office and studio! Can't wait to get all settled!

Thanks for the comments on the girls! They are pretty stinkin cute! Yes K does look just like Ryan (my brother, not my husband).

I will post some pics soon. I have a refinishing/painting project to do yet but I am sooooo excited for how warm and cozy our bedroom is becoming. I always wanted a bedroom that is a "retreat".

Anyway. I gotta get back to packin. Talk to you all soon!

ck

The girls

I picked the girls up from daycare for the last time yesterday. I was trying to help Ellie understand, but she wasn't gettin it. She was like yea, I like when you pick me up. Then when I said this was the last time though she started to cry and tell me (with a sad cryish face) I don't like when you go home. When I tried to go last night she sat on my feet and wrapped her arms around my legs. MAN- she's makin it even harder. Tonight is my last night. Tomorrow we take the cars up and sign the lease then come back and Thursday packin the truck.

Anyway-- I have been workin on this present for H (my SIL). I was trying to put together a story board for her of the girls, but didn't have a good one of the two of them til yesterday. Here is how it all happened. . . I got E out of the car first and told her to go wait in the garage while I got K out. Well there was a biker coming on the sidewalk and she moved and next thing I know she is sittin in the grass (indian style) with her big yellow hat on (this girl LOVES to wear hats) and her back pack on. Her elbows on her knees and hands on her chin. I was like (idea light bulb) I gotta get a pic of this. Well I didn't catch that one by the time I got my camera out-- but I sat K right next to her (man they love each other). Here is the result.

Boxes.... can't wait to open them again

GRRRR- blogger isn't loading the pic
(ok imagine a picture of lots of boxes)

Here is a glimpse of what our living room looks like right now. BOXES!!! We sold the entertainment center!! The girl is coming to get it tomorrow! I can't wait to unpack and get everything all set up. I have to laugh, I just had the conversation with a friend the other day about how Ry and I are so different when it comes to moving-- 1) I like to move, he hates it. 2) I am on a mission when I am packing- he is very in depth and engineer like when he packs. 3) Once we get there, yea I will be tired-- but I am all about unloading and settin up... he could live out of boxes for months.

But I am excited to be in our new HOME! I will certainly post pics when we get there!

The wedding I helped with on Saturday was a blast - it made me remember what a blast our wedding night was and how awesome it was. The bride (Melissa) danced to an awesome song with her dad-- it's called "I loved her first". Wow--- it's hard to take pics when you are tearing up. Anyway-- I don't have the pics yet. Kris (the photographer) is going to burn me a CD of all my shots and I will get to play with them. I will be sure and share some when I get them. Thanks again Kris for asking me to help it was a blast!

Well- gotta get back to packing!
ck

Blessings, Blessings.

OK- so you all know that we have had a crazy few months! But over the past month God has really pulled things together and made all things good- great in many instances. Another blessing just landed. Kris Noorman is a photographer on the west side of the state. We have been talking back and forth over email about photo stuff-- she mostly does weddings. She travels all over shooting weddings (here is her site Krista Noorman.) She is going to be in Jackson this weekend shooting a wedding and her assistant just threw out her back. And she asked me! I am SOOOO honored!! I can't wait. She even would let me use her camera. OH MAN-- I sound like I just won the lotto or something- but really this is so fun for me. Photography would be my dream job.

I got tons of packing done today- otherwise I might be more hesitant-- however I think this is an opportunity not to pass up-- so even then I don't know if I would have said no. Anyway- I will let you know how it goes.

Anyway. Talk to you all later.
ck

boxes boxes boxes & an entertainment center

Soooo still packin (I feel like we've been doing that forever). But we have this huge entertainment center that we ARE NOT moving. We want to sell it but don't have much time. I think we are going to put signs around the Apt. complex. But for someone to look at it and get it out will be a pain--- cause the place is a mess.

But we can't leave it here! I wish I could ship it to someone!

ck

Please click on this link!

Ok-- Ryan volunteers to do promotional stuff for the Christian music and entertainment production company "milkmoney promotions". They are doing a contest right now that we can win a LCD tv. SOOOOOO- click on the link. (no worries it won't put you on any bad spam lists or something.)

http://www.thesecondchancemovie.com/_site/mediaplayer/index.php?id=b7fe1e457ba2944407cddcef29a2e2f9

It's about a new movie called "Second Chance" It looks decent. It's got Michael W. Smith in it. You don't have to look at the promotional stuff-- you just have to click on it. :) Thanks. You can do it from any computer-- only once from each. So if you are at home click- at work click-- have multiple computers---- click click click!

Thanks!

ck

Josh Blue, saying goodbye, and other randomness

It's a day of saying goodbyes. I saw Sandy and Emily and I had coffee one last time time today before we move. Ryan and I are power packin tonight. He works everyday til we move. Things are lookin pretty bare around here- except for the living room which is packed high with boxes and a mess with miscilanious stuff.

I am so excited to get it all there- put the house all together- decorate and make it "home". Maybe that's why I love moving so much. Although it's getting old since we have moved 2 times in a year. But I love the new start of things. I love the opportunity to create a new space. I love best of all that our new house has a whole basement that I get as a Scrappin studio. :) Horray- can't wait for that.

Oh and my favorite comic from Last comic standing Won. Josh Blue-- this guy is awesome-- so many things he has to overcome and yet he has a confidence and humor about life that most people dream of. I wish him the best of luck (not that he reads my blog-and would care if I wished him luck). Anyway...

Not much else is new....boxes, mess, and busy moving stuff.
thanks for checkin in.
ck

craziness

It's craziness around here. Ryan and I are getting everything in order for our move... which is a lot of things to get in order. We have made some purchases (washer, dryer, microwave)- essential things for the home. We feel like home owners- but we will be renting.... none the less exciting & probably more hoops to jump through. We are trying to get all the best deals on everything- so we have been to so many stores and so many places it's crazy--- but in the end it will all pay off.

Anyway- we are busy putting all things in order. I will post pics of our crazy mess of boxes later.
Hope all is well with everyone!

ck

Congrats to my hubby

Ok-- so my hubby and I are very different when it comes to school. He is a genius (maybe not really - but it comes easy to him and he's good at it) and, I am..... well-- I'm creative!!

But big congrats to him because back in June he took the PCAT's (which are like MCAT's) for pharmacy school and.......

He scored in the 96th percentile!!!! Everyone at CVS (the pharmacy where he works now) is astonished!! I guess it's like super rare-- well yea-- it's the 96th percentile!

Anyway- We are super pumped and I am super proud of him. We are looking into scholarships. But we aren't worried at all about him getting into Pharmacy school- everyone one has told him with that and his 3.7 GPA in Pre-pharmacy classes.... he can pretty much pick whatever school he wants.

Anyway-- that's the latest blessing in our lives. Other than that we are packing and getting ready to move- still looking for a job.

ck