The Secret things Of God

That is the title of the book cathy and I are reading together right now. GREAT book here is a link Well, this year has had many ups and downs. God has been present through them but we have had what I would call now growing pains. I could list all the subjects that we have had to grow through but it might take all day... but you name it I bet we have dealt with it the past 1 year and 8 months that we have been married. But oh my goodness does He know whats best! Growth is worth hard times! And we are thankful He has taken us through them now so that we can have a better life in the future.

Through this time God has answered prayers and provided some amazing encouragers in my life personally! One of those people being Cathy Krueger. (Who would have thought that Stephens mom would one day be one of my best friends!) Cathy stepped into my life at the perfect time and has been nothing short of a blessing to me. Goodness, I don't even know how to say it but just how she relates, understands and encourages me out of harder times is a wonderful support! She has been here for me in some times when I needed a friend the most and I couldn't be more thankful! They have been great friends and really fun to just be with. They have taught me a lot, from relationship advice to cooking advice (how to cut meat the right direction) I just want to take note of what a wonderful friend she has been over these past months! And say that I am so so thankful!

New Beginings

My Grandparents Moved To Lebonon Mo to retire before i was even born. They built there home on Three Acres of Beautiful Land Themselves starting with the garage and then the home. My Grandpa is one amazing man, never had built a home before but followed steps from a book to complete their beautiful home. This past month my grandpa was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's since then they have had to make the decision to leave there home and move to a better place for them in this stage of life. There is no doubt that this was a hard step for them. But through everything, they can do it if they are together. So this past week Grandpa and Grandma H haved moved to Branson. They now stay at an assisted living place here in town that is just perfect for there needs at this time. It has been great to have them closer and all the hard work that mom and aunt val put into making there rooms feel just like home, once you walk in you don't think twice you just feel like you are in there living room again. This has been a big step for them and also for Aunt Val who is in the process of selling her home as well. She just bought a beautiful beautiful condo here in town! Non of this is easy but it sure is great to have them closer! The past couple years have been tough for my grandparents but they have been together and been a strong team. They remain a team today just in a different atmosphere than before.

Surprise

Ok world my mommy turned 60 today!  Crazy I know!  She doesn't look 60 she doesn't act 60 but she had a birthday today!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!  Well dad and I surprised her with a themed photo shoot at the park. Then we took her out to Red Lobster which was a treat for all of us!  I just want to say how thankful I am for my mother! It was so wonderful to spend the day with her!

US is the BEST

I LOVE MY HUBBY! More than anyone else! He is my bestest best friend and the biggest blessing God had blessed me with! Oh how thankful I am for him! This weekend it was his idea to go on a photo shoot to Big Ceader. We did this last year as well if you remember. Despite the hot day the photos turned out stellar cause of my momma who took them for us!  Check a couple out

Progress

Well I want to say that there has been some progress in our home this week!  My hubby has crawled underneath our house and kinda sorta fixed our air conditioning!  Yes it's true what used to be a home of around 87 degrees now gets to be a comfy 78 while we sleep!  You think it can't get better don't you... well  he also fixed our toilet... Our bathroom toilet has not been in service for who knows how long. Well my hubby went to get the parts and spent an adventurous hour or so fixen it! Now I don't want to get to personal but for real it is wonderful to not have to walk across the whole house to use the other bathroom in the morning! SO so wonderful!  Along with these amazing changes we also purchased both a new wardrobe and bedspread making our bedroom now my favorite place to be. Oh and I have been keeping our home extra tidy on a day to day basis so it has overall been a much better place to be!

I Love what I do

Garrett and I have both been so blessed to do what we love to do daily.  I love photography, I love capturing special moments, but most of all I love being able to make that finished package, put a smile on someones face and give them a gift that will last a long time.  I just love it!  I love to hear them say how much they will treasure the photos. I love that, I think that is why I do photos because it is not only an art to me but also a way to get personal with someone and a way I can give a gift that is meaningful. Here is an example of a finished package I did this morning, this family also ordered a book and canvas which are not shown here.

I'm thankful to have a location to work from and for every customer that comes my way it is a joy to meet and get to know them so that I can capture who they are.

We like Homemade Pizza

What more can you say it's just really good!

Almost Summer

We have spent a lot of time at the pool this week. Wednesday we went to my parents pool. Thursday we went to the lake. We were able to go with Phillip to the Hilton Pool and Hot tub on Friday night and chill at the landing. Then we spent Saturday Morning at White Water with miss abby and the afternoon we went back with Phillip. After getting completely waterlogged we went to dinner at Mazzios and then walked the landing and went to starbucks. It's been a relaxing weekend! 

God's Blessings!

Today is the Day that I got MY FIRST CAR!  I went up to Springfield to car shop with Christine in the rain and we found a great deal!  

So Garrett and I went up the next day for a test drive together... It was just the price range we wanted (we didn't have to go up at all) AND much better than we were expecting to find!  Low miles, brand new tires, and orange! The seats lay down completely in the back and front so we can carry things the whole length of the car (like Ikea) We bought it!  It is a Saturn Vue all wheal drive and 4 cylinder. We drove it today and got 25 miles to the gallon in town. We test drove it Tuesday but we waited till Friday to pick it up. So for me it was like three nights of sleeping like a kid on Christmas eve. Oh my goodness I was so so excited this morning when it was finally time to go pick it up!  I had all my CD mixes burned and in a new case, I had a notepad, mileage book, sticky pad, ipod, sunglasses, and an umbrella all ready to put in the car just the second we got it.  Perfectly my mom needed to go up to Springfield so garrett and I were able to ride home together!  We are LOVING it! 

 It drives so great, the turning radius is my favorite part.  It's so pretty too!  So tonight was our Date Night so garrett had this awesome Idea, we picked up subway and then drove down to the dam backed in to a perfect spot and sat in the back of our new suv and had a picnic while we watched the tons of water fall.  

Small Group at the Trueloves

We decided to take a week off from our new study and just have a party with our small group : )  The trueloves had us all over to there house and we had a bond fire in the backyard! Complete with hotdogs chips soda smores and ice cream. They are awesome friends!  We are very blessed to get to have such great people to do small group with every week! 

baby coming soon!

I got to go down with mom dad and Aunt val to arkadelphia this weekend for jack jacks dedication and lori's baby shower.  It was so great to see my sister!

 There is a baby coming soon so we had a party at lori's church!  Our theme was backyard baby so we had picnic baskets and table clothes, clothes line with all lori's baby clothes and pic hanging on them and sandwiches, dip and cupcakes.

Gorgeous night!

We had our date night this week and went down to the landing to cantina laredos. We sat on the patio by the fire and water. We had one of our very first dates here. It was a absolutely gorgeous night to sit outside. We got a LOT of cheese dip too so it was great!  We walked the landing and then went to Starbucks which was so so fun!  It was just so relaxing and again just perfect outside. We shared a carmel frapp and went through some cards we got from church answering questions about it... it was really fun! We had such a wonderful time together tonight!

Sundays

Oh goodness today was wonderful! After church and lunch we went up to Springfield with Luke and Christine we went to the mall and shopped and then went down town.  We ate outside cause it was so nice!  and then just walked around... and of course stopped by the mud house to get a grasshopper.  It was just a gorgeous inspiring fun day with friends and each other! 

Date Night

It was a friday night, our date night!  Wonderful food is a must because we almost always go to Panda house!  After that we got to go visit our little new nephew and hold him for the very first time!  He's just so little.  Then we headed out to our "secret" evening activity... garrett started driving past the high road and on this long curvy middle of no where kinda road... about half way in garrett said... Oh I forgot to remind you to wear socks. I just started laughing that just made the night more fun so we went to walmart and got some new socks for me : )  Then ended up of course at bowling!  Which I have been wanting to do so long! It was lots of fun!

Elijah Loy Vanderpool

Today is a very special day! Today Elijah Loy Vanderpool was born! We have a new nephew!  We got to see him super briefly today at the hospital!  

Today abb and I have got to hang out while mommy daddy and new baby brother are at the hospital.  We have have lots of fun! Painting nails, playing in the yard, cleaning up, and watching movies I love the girly!

IKEA! Oh yes!

We did it mom garrett and I drove 8 hours to meet Lori Donnie and Jack in Frisco TX so we could all go to IKEA together!  We stayed at a really fun hotel called Aloft and everything was so modern and fun.  Lori Donnie and Jack met us there in the morning before we went to Ikea.  

We then went to Ikea for the whole rest of the day!  Garrett and I got a new kitchen table a new rug and a bookcase for our home. Garrett got a new desk and shelf with doors for his office.  It was so exciting and we are so blessed and love all our stuff!  We ate lunch while we were there they have the best meatballs!  It was really fun! 

here is a pic of our new table and chairs and our bookcase : )

Spring? are you here?

Today was just a great beautiful day!  First of all the weather... it was so perfect!  We worked this morning I finished up editing a photo shoot and got started on another as well as kept up with VanderNet for the morning.  My parents are back in town after going to Hawaii so we got some subway sandwiches and went to the walking trail of 76 to eat just the 4 of us at a picnic table.  It was so beautiful!  Mom and I also got to start planning Loris baby shower!  It's going to be so so cool!  I can hardly hold back from uploading the invite I got to design today but I want it to be a surprise for my big sis!

our NinJa!

We are now the new oweners of a Nija blender! Its only the ultimate slushi maker of all times! Come on over we will make u a drink!

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Our Official Awesome Double Date

After Church this morning we grabbed Subway and went to the lake and had a picnic with Luke and Christine.  We walked the trail by the lake... the boys through rocks in the water while we ate. While we were walking garrett warned Luke by telling him to "brace himself" because christine was going to jump on his back... it was funny! 

I almost forgot that we came back after that and watched a movie. Then we tried to figure out what we were going to do for forever... so we went to the one and the only starbucks in town now.  Then decided we were going to eat some leftovers from my mommy's party the night before.  Christine made us drinks with her amazing blender.  It was all delicious!  Then we decided to let the boys be with there computers... and we made art! (christine said her life was now complete because she made art with me) It was a wonderful WONDERFUL day!

A Winter Walk

We got invited to Paul and Cathy's home for dinner to celebrate Stephanie's Birthday because every one she had invited couldn't come because of the weather.  They just recently moved into a new home close to us so we could walk there from our house.  It took us only about 20 min. Oh my goodness the snow was so beautiful!  Garrett and I enjoyed it so much because it was coming down pretty hard and everything was white!  We got to eat the best chicken fettuccine of all time and hang out with amazing friends including Christine and Luke too!  Great Great night!