Our Family Portraits.

I was fortunate to rig up my tripod this year so I could capture our family photos.
I really can't express how much my family is woven into the fibers of my heart. They are my everything...

Halloween Portraits 2014

Presenting...

Princess Cinderella:

 Captain Jack Sparrow:

And The Blue Spider Monkey:

On Motherhood.

It's raining tonight--hard--and I love it. I feel like I'm back in Portugal in my upstairs bedroom wrapped in my baby blue fleece blanket and laying over the radiator by my desk. I so dearly miss my room. And to think that I'll never see it again gives me a little lump in my throat.

Today I had a Senior Pictures Photo Session scheduled, but the weather pushed it back a week. And to think only three more photo sessions to go before my "pause." Here is what I posted on my Homespun Photographs Facebook page today:

I have been battling with myself the last few weeks but today I've finally reached a resolution. I need to push the pause button on my beloved Homespun Photographs business. The past few years have been thrilling and full of such good memories with all of my amazing clients. I love capturing your sweet moments and memories, but I have been feeling the tug to treasure more of those memories with my own family as of late. And seeing as my children are getting busier as they get older (which never occurred to me when I just had two little toddlers), this summer and the whole rest of this year is already a flurry. So with that said, I have committed to pausing my photography business until further notice. I will finish out the sessions I have scheduled through June and then begin my leave of absence. Thank you to all who have supported me through this photography journey and have hired me as your photographer. You will always be more than clients--you will remain my dear friends!!

Last year, when I really "opened my business" I did so with the full intent to save every single penny for the boys' missions. With our gigantic graduate school debt that loomed into our future 25 years, I never thought there would be enough for their missions. I prayed long and hard and felt impressed to use my business as a means to pay for this most important goal. Even so, I felt so very burdened with finances last year despite how blessed and fortunate we were.

Then one day last fall the Lord opened up a window that I never thought would open and we found a solution to our school debt that will knock off 15 years of payments. It was a miracle and a very real answer to our heartfelt prayers. And I felt deep down in my heart that this new window that had opened was the Lord's way of telling me that He would provide for my sons' missions--that He had accepted my offering to do all in my power to earn the money, and that it was enough. And ever since that time, I knew that the business I had worked for so long to create, would be put on hold so I could raise my children in the way the Lord has inspired me.

I feel so bittersweet about the whole thing but there is a peace in my heart that assures me I am doing the right thing. I stand in complete awe that I am the mother to 3 beautiful, perfect children from heaven. I feel so very honored that Heavenly Father has gifted me with this incredible, exhilarating stewardship. And I am reverenced at how the Lord has led me along this past year in finding my way as a mother and discovering just how powerful I truly am. Though far from perfect, I now radiate a light that comes from Him and shine it on my family daily.

In short, I have fallen in love with being a mother---hook, line, and sinker---and each new day that I get to spend with them is a delight....

I know it will ever be so.

Family Photos 2013

I am so in love with our family photos this year!!  A few weeks ago, we rushed to get them done and barely made it before we completely ran out of light!  My sweet parents came over and my mom captured all of these beautiful images (my mom, by the way, is where I get my passion for photography).  After a busy few weeks, I finally got around to the post-processing and editing.  I'm posting most of them here, but the size and resolution is better on my photography blog so you're welcome to hop on over there and see them better! (www.homespunphotographs.com)