Yesterday I received our CD of pictures in the mail from Cheyenne from Shots by Cheyenne.  If you haven’t heard me sing her photography praises enough, well then just hang tight and you will.  She’s amazing.  And she’s quick.  And she nails it…every time.  I love how she captures our family on that day in time.  It’s always just right and even if everyone’s not looking or smiling or not even looking somewhat normal, I still love the pictures.  They are ALWAYS just sooooo us…and that is totally perfect to me…Every.Single.Time.

I literally cried while scrolling through all the pictures and laughed and then cried some more.  I have so many I want to share, but today I thought I would highlight Harper.

I made a resolution this year that I would have more professional pictures taken and all the years following.  I got on Cheyenne’s books asap last year to make sure I followed through.  I should probably go ahead and book 2014, but don’t want to scare Cheyenne away just yet.

I take pictures all the time, but there is nothing that compares to letting someone else take the reigns and shoot our family all together.  I could never have gotten these shots on my own and as incredible as Cheyenne did.  For that I would pay over and over and over again.  Cheyenne and her talent are priceless to me and our family.  Absolutely.

Off my professional photography soap box and onto Harper:  I’m kind of hung up on her right now.  I guess because she’s finishing up kindergarten this week and she is just getting so big and it makes my heart super sad and super excited to see who God is molding her into.  I usually take Harper to school in the morning and I always pray out loud for her day as we drive through the car rider line.  Yesterday morning I started praying for her day and thanking God for such an amazing kindergarten year and for blessing us with Mrs. Tanner and I immediately just started to bawl and then Harper started crying too.  I felt so bad that I had helped push her towards tears, but she told me how much she was going to miss Mrs. Tanner and what a good year she had had and my heart was just so full.  How blessed we have been this year with an awesome school and teacher.  We really hit the jack pot.  She wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands, smiled and jumped out of the van.  She loves school and I just pray so hard she will keep that love and keep her joy.

When I saw these pictures of us last night I immediately noticed and fell in love with Harper’s joy…that’s all I could think about.  That is Harper.  Our ever running Harper quote is, “She’s just happy to be here.”

I want to freeze time right now.  She is growing so big and so strong.  She is changing right before our eyes and I just want to pour into her and invest in her.  I want her to know that being just her will always be just enough for God.  That’s all He wants her to be.  I want her to know that she is truly beautiful because God created her and there is no one else like her.  I want her to know that God looks on the heart…and that’s what He most adores.  I want her to know that He is crazy about her and in hot pursuit after her heart.  I want her to know that being kind and loving and compassionate and generous is far more important than being first or smartest or prettiest or having the most of anything.  I kind of want to hide her away from the world and keep her pure and innocent, but I know God designed her to step out and change the world and not for me to keep.

I’m having to constantly remind myself that she really isn’t mine, but God’s.  He has His plans for her…He created her…He intricately and purposefully designed her.  What an honor Josh and I have.  Today as her mom I am humbled…like crazy, crazy humbled…to be her mom.  To have a chance to sit and watch His plans unfold for her and try my hardest to invest in her as God would have me as her Mom.  Goodness.  And I’m praying like mad that she keeps her Joy!

Happy Tuesday.