Thanksgiving Thoughts

Yes, Thanksgiving, anyone who’s gone to school and listened in History class knows about how this holiday started. But yet we forget or we don’t understand, what truly was going on. You see “Thanksgiving” means “overflowing with gratitude to the point that you have to give thanks.” And they had so much gratitude that they set aside an entire day to celebrate and express it. They had made it so far and they were hopeful and joyous about what was to come even though they knew it would be a tough road ahead.
Now fast-forward almost four-hundred years and Thanksgiving is nothing more then a day to get together with family, if that in some homes. I’m not saying a family focus is bad, in fact I believe that family should be very high on our list of priorities all the time. The whole point of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for what you have, even when you don’t think you have a lot, and family should be one of the things your thankful for, even if you don’t think you have that great of a family. Some one once said “There is always someone worse off then you,” and it’s very true.
So my suggestion this Holiday season is to try and rethink what you do for Thanksgiving, maybe go and volunteer at a soup kitchen, or ask everyone around your table to share what they are most thankful for. Or maybe you invite someone you know doesn’t have anyone to spend the holiday with, to join you and your family. Maybe you do a couple of these ideas or all of them; perhaps you come up with your own ideas. I know I’m going to do a few of these and I’m also going to writing a thank you notes to some of the people that mean the most to me, I’m going to tell them why I’m thankful for them. Let’s make this Thanksgiving not about us, or food, but about whom it really should be about, the one who gave us everything we have, God. For He deserves all our thanks-giving.

Laura

Laura is quiet and reserved, but I soon discovered she was quite at home in nature, and had a quiet playful side. We apparently chose quite the day for taking pictures, the park we went to was full of Photographers, all of us dancing around each other, to get our pictures without disrupting any one else. None of use could blame any of the others for coming to the same park it was absolutely beautiful, with vibrant colors from the trees; every shot had such great added possibility. Laura has what I call a quiet strength, she’s cute but when you look in her eyes you can tell there is something more. And there is so much more. Laura plans on going into Forensic Science, sure we’ve all seen them on TV and its strongly dramatized but she plans on doing the real thing. Talk to her for five minutes and you too will know she is more them smart enough, and quite cut out for the task. And I for one would want her on my side if I was ever falsely accused of murder.

You can find more of her pictures at; http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=175585&id=149661450766&ref=mf

Kyndra's Story

They say if you want to get to know some one you should go right to the source. Kyndra is my first “My Story” session so I’ll let her tell you about herself.

"I like a WIDE variety of things, but I think they all have one thing in common. Creativity. I like to make things, with my hands, with my voice, with my movements, I love it all! I like to figure things out and look at stuff differently. I don’t usually like to be normal.

I’m pretty unusual as it is. My family takes care of Goats and Llamas. We shear them every year and then I make yarn our of the Fleeces. I can decide whatever shape, size, and color to make the yarn. Then I can take my creation and weave it, knit it, felt or crochet it, I love the endless possibilities!

And it doesn’t just end with animal hair; I love people hair too! Especially the curly stuff! I cut my brother’s and sister’s hair all the time, usually on the back deck. There I have a beautiful view of the countryside that surrounds my home.

Lots of wide, open space filled with animals, creeks and beautiful trees! You’ll have to come visit some time in the fall, right when all of the trees change colors. It’s gorgeous! I’ve painted many pictures of fields surrounded by colorful trees and brush. That’s right! I pain and draw too! Ever since I was little, I’ve been sketching and doodling all over the place. It was just one small step from drawing to painting. And what description of me would be complete without MUSIC? All kinds of music! Jazz, Classical, 80’s, Christian, Piano, Classic Rock, Broadway, you name it. Something about music just gets me “right there.” It moves me. Somebody once said, “When words fail, music speaks” and I couldn’t have said it any better myself.

I love old movies, because not only is there music, but there’s also dancing! You can not watch Gene Kelly or Fred Estaire without wishing they’d ask you to join them!

I also like to bake. Nothing is better than the look on people’s face when they small that fresh baked apple pie on a cold fall day or getting your sister covered in flour while baking cookies. J It reminds me of family- of community.

Speaking of family, where would I be without mine? I love my big family. They’re such a bunch of Goons! I have two younger brothers and two younger sisters, an older sister and (of course) Mom and Dad. Each of us might be a bit of a troublemaker when we’re alone, but boy look out when we get together!!

I like to read books with my younger sisters. One of our favorite series’ is “The Chronicles of Narnia.” The girls will stop me in the middle of the chapter to ask all sorts of questions. Though it ends up taking us all of story time for just one chapter, we spend some precious moments together reading those books that I’ll never forget.

Thought I love all of these things, there in one thing I strive to love above all- my God. He gave me these talents and all of the people in my life. His grace has amazed me and carried me when I couldn’t stand. He saved me from myself and I would be nothing without him. He gives me the freedom to Laugh, to cry, to give hugs, and to love the people he has put in my path. In these coming years I want to stay close by his side and pursue the dreams that he reveals to me always resting in the fact that wherever I am, I am right in his arms.

Thanks for reading!!"

Love, Kyndra


For more Pictures look us up on Facebook.

Family

What is family? For everyone that question has a different answer even to two people in the same family. To me family gathers around each other maybe not all the time but when there together there happy to be with everyone. Sure sometimes there are fights and disagreements, but they just make the sweet times sweeter. And I have to say I had a great time photographing this family. To be perfectly honest I was a little scared when I heard how many people would be there, I’d never worked with that many people other than at a Wedding, and at a Wedding everyone’s focused on the Bride and Groom, and not normally the photographer. But as soon as I arrived at the quaint house in the country I started to realize I had nothing to worry about. They all made me feel right at home as if I was and had been part of the family for a long time. So thank you for you cooperation and welcoming hearts.

To see more pictures got to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=166579&id=149661450766&saved#/album.php?aid=166579&id=149661450766

Emma

I got to photograph this little girl for an hour, which ended up being more then enough time, because she was so well behaved. She didn’t fusing at all, even after falling over and bumping her head a few times. She wasn’t quite able to hold her self up well so I tried to use things to prop her up. We still wanted to get some pictures of her holding herself up so I’d get her into position lean back and take a few shots wile she slowly tip over to her right, it was absolutely adorable. After a little wile we got into a routine of setting up snapping a few pictures quickly, catching her before she fell over, and doing it all over again. I tried to keep the props soft and cute for her pictures and Emma seamed to think I did rather well, when I put out the fur she kept running her hands over it, and she played with the blankets between most of the picture taking. Don't forget to look for more pictures on Facebook.

Forslund and Hohler Wedding

This was my third Wedding, but it was the first time I worked with another Photographer. Melissa (The Bride) had already asked the other Photographer if she would do the Wedding. The other Photographer wanted there to be two of use instead of just her. So Melissa asked me to come and shoot as well. At the Wedding I did the girls getting ready, and the rings, then we split off and I took the pictures of the Groom and his family along with the Groomsmen while the other Photographer did the Bride. Then we got back together for the Ceremony, and then we were off the Reception.

Everything was so beautiful and I was glad to see so many people enjoying themselves at the Reception, dancing. Melissa’s Brother does Brake Dancing and that went over very well, because soon after all the little kids started rolling on the floor trying to imitate him, thinking that was all he was doing. I had a great time, filled with joy and laughter. And Happy Tears.

Natures Hold

Nature; it’s just something we take for granted. But if we take the time to pause and look closely we would see that it is a blessing. Like I’ve said before I love nature. But even I forget to see it as a blessing sometimes. Well a few weeks ago I took the time to go out and enjoy it. I took my camera with me and captured some of my favorite images up to this point. My family keeps bees so I was able to get pictures of some of them as well. Their dance as they go from flower to flower is so graceful and beautiful, that it would take the best dancer in the world to be a lovely as they are.

Why don't you try and do the same?

And if you’d like come back here and share with me what blessed you when you did.

New This Year

Written with Light Photography is starting a new thing this year for seniors. We’re calling it “Tell Your Story.” What’s going on for the seniors who want to be a part of this is, you write out your story and we take pictures that go along with it, usually three to five pictures. Then your story and the pictures are put together into a story board that’s uniquely you.

If you’re a senior and you’d like to be a part of this here are some story examples to help you write your story.

My story is thankfully mine, I love life, and try to enjoy every minute of it. You see, I am an Artist. “What kind of Artist?” you may ask. Well that depends on when you ask me. The two prominent ones are Writing and Photography. I love writing because it’s a way for me to release my emotions. And I love photography because I wish to touch people even when I can’t be with them, and I hope my images do that. I do what I do, hoping to inspire people. And speaking of inspiration, I love it. I know everyone is inspired by different things but I am inspired by music, and photography. I love music that takes me other places and makes me want to dance. Yes, I love to dance as well. And if you ever see me when music moves me I am somewhat sorry, for I do not dance well, but I do enjoy it. I love Photography because I love feeling emotions rush through me as I look at a picture. And I love it even more when I am inspired to write the Photographer and thank him or her for the experience. So if you can’t tell I am somewhat of a hopeless romantic and that which has hold of my heart is a passionate love of life and the God that gave it to me.

~ Amanda

Hi, my name is Amanda. I love all kinds of art. In fact it is very hard for me to choose a favorite. I love Music because that’s how I relax. I love Photography because it inspires me. I love Dance because it makes me wish I could join them. I love Drawings and Paintings, because it gives me something to marvel at. I love Movies because they often involve another art I love, Costume Designing. And I love The Written Word because it so often is able to express how I feel better then I can.

I have a passion for music, not a day goes by that I don’t listen, sing or hum something. I don’t think there is anyone who’s met me that doesn’t know I love Photography, since I usually have a camera around my neck and if I don’t I’m usually talking about Photography in one form or another. I don’t play Sports or an Instrument any more. But I’m okay with that. I work with the Youth Group at my Church as a Small Group Leader. And let me say if you ever have extra energy to burn and want to learn a lot in a short amount of time Volunteer for a year to work with Middle Schoolers. You will be shocked.

~ Amanda

Things to Include in Your Story

Hobbies

Sports/Instruments you play

What inspires you

And anything else that makes you, you.