Tennessee seasons seem to change as quickly as the redirected wind. A world covered in a frozen crust quickly thaws, sprouts hundreds of green shoots which quickly spew a thick yellow pollen potent enough to take down a fully grown horse.

This is where we are.

Alongside the new fresh warmth comes the determination to spring clean. . .rid the house of the air that has seemed to re-bake through the heating units all winter. Windows thrown open, the cupboards cleaned out - and the warm clothes packed away for next winter.


I took this photo during the peak week of the budding Bradford pear. Since then the flowers have been replaced with small green leaves, the red buds are in their last few days, and the dogwood trees has started their bloom. Spring sees the most change - seasons within a season. I see our current life chapter as that too - a season within a season. The season began with a newborn. The incredible introduction of life and the adjustment as a bigger family. The season where I learned the depth of love. Days filled with extra smiles and extra diapers. Like the tree blossoming in Spring, I have to be mindful of its quick transformation - holds true for babies too. What was my newborn, with the lingering scent of heaven, soon became my walking toddler who tackles mama for big slobbery kisses! I pay attention, because I've already seen one child turn 3 in what felt like a fast forward of time.

Declan is on the brink of taking more than 3 independent steps. In his mind he sees himself as running and walking like his big sister - so finds himself frustrated with his body that won't cooperate! This spring we've already skipped a few naps for extra playtime and pushed bedtime back so we can swing outside, beneath the sunset. The season we're in has less limitations as far as the children go. They play together - laugh and romp and tear the living room apart. Its fun to watch them both giggle, completely oblivious to us watching them. Almost every evening we load them both onto their tricycles and we peddle them down the road. We're teaching  them to find happiness in each moment, as well as the observation of beauty around us.  We are our children's guides and mentors - and we are doing our best to teach and lead by example. A few days ago I read this, and it hit home because of its truth: 

"Adults are always telling teenagers that these are the best years of your life. But they're not. They are good years. But not the best. The best are the ones after you've found your bride and created a family. The ones you're living right now. Don't forget that."

We're living our best days. Enjoying every life around us, every breath, every sunset. Our contentment comes from appreciating. 

Catch me by the sea, basking in golden glory.

 This image is 100% untouched by any editing tool. It is solely God's filter. I captured this image 2 1/2 years ago. . .our last trip to St George Island. I can get lost in this image - in my mind I can recall walking along that dock, old boards squeaking beneath my bare feet as I made by way to the end. The salty breeze mixed with humidity. Standing quietly as I watched the sun bid its final farewell. . .fish gently break the water's surface, coming up for air. How I wish the moment will last forever. . .

Location: St George Island, Florida. June 2013.

Drag your forefinger west along the Yucatan Peninsula and your finger will eventually pass over this little village. It sits along the coast watching pelicans come and go - as often as the wind whips, and changes direction. The old fisherman's boat is worn from sand, abusive waves, exhausted steps and the wet drag of his net. How many years has this very boat visited this very beach? It rests on this one particular day...tired, or ready for its next adventure? Only the fisherman knows...

A villager's turquoise dream

Exact location: Champoton, Mexico. December 2015.

Images from our frozen tundra.

It would seem we're living in 're-freeze" mode.

Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned Canadian Arctic breeze to freeze your bones in place...nope. This is just fine as long as the wood burning fireplace continues to thaw us out at the end of the day. I have found that the more kids you add to your little village, the more complicated winter becomes. It's a joke among parents that you take 45 minutes to dress everyone in the 525 layers required to prevent pneumonia, but by the time you touch the snow everyone has either lost interest or roasting because the 525th layer was just a little bit too much. Carseats, jackets and little snow mits almost spell chaos. Also, have you ever noticed that the baby's head disappears inside the ever creeping jacket that is insistent on riding upwards...before long their nose is level with the middle of the closed zipper which translates to half way down the jacket. Or perhaps this one - fully winterize yourself and baby to walk out the door, thanks to the slick waterproof material of winter jackets, by the time you grab baby, keys, purse, lunch bags and the kitchen sink, you realize the baby is slicker than a slug and sliding rapidly down your hip. Get to the car and you're at this point walking in full drag mode while attempting to maintain posture. No? Ok, perhaps I am the only one.

This year I've been doing a lot of reflection and self discovery in an effort to identify my gifts. I've carefully selected inspirational writers, bloggers and speakers to invest my "free" time in. I've spoken to God more, sought him in my every day - and found him gently whistling through the crispy winter leaves, or shining through the pink and purple clouds that caress the setting sun. He has woken me at 3am, asking me to listen...to pay attention. Last weekend I attended the IF Gathering 2016 - and it was incredible! I'm realizing more and more than I cannot pour from an empty cup...so events like the IF, inspirational speakers like Dale Partridge and photographers that inspire me and up lift me - they help fill my cup so I have more to give.

Through my journey I am reminded time and time again that it's words and photographs that make my heart skip a beat. God has strategically placed them in my life to use and enjoy, and then ultimately bless. I've taken almost 2 years off from photography... mainly because of time and the current chapter of my life. BUT I do know that one day I will return to professional photography. I want to continue to richly bless those smiling for my shutter. I learned quickly that a photograph can show our generation how incredible they are, and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. A true gift, and a beautiful one at that! I want to show this generation that they have worth - they just have to believe in themselves - love themselves through self confidence. Through my self discovery and preparation to use my gifts, I've been gathering inspiration from the photography world and was encouraged by several photographers to submit my work to Shoot and Share 2016. I was nervous to have my photographs shown alongside those I count more skilled than I. Out of nowhere I received an email from a world renown photographer that I have followed for a couple years now, and he said this to me "We know how nerve-racking it can be, and we want to encourage you to put yourself out there. You never know what will happen. Head over to the contest site and get brave and enter your 50 photographs today. Once you do, you'll receive your very own badge of courage". So I did. And here is my badge of courage!

What if I fail? Oh, but darling, what if you fly? - Shoot and Share 2016

So, voting begins February 15th. 185,000+ photographs represent over 7,000 photographers. 50 of those are mine. If you'd like to join the movement and vote for your favorite, here is the link: Shoot and Share 2016.

Wishing all my fellow photographers the best of luck! Especially my own cousin - Shaun Edwards!

Stare into the near horizon and you'll visualize the wild mustangs galloping along the mesa top. We let our eyes feast on this view in 2006. We were newly married, exploring this world together. . .

Where The Wild Mustangs Roamed

Legend has it this point was used as a natural corral for wild mustangs. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land leading on to the point (seen along the middle of my photograph). The neck, which is only 30 yards wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. The cowboys then hand selected their horses, letting the rest run free. One time, for an unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River - just 2000 feet below.

Exact location: Dead Horse Point State Park, Elevation 5,900 feet

We woke up to snow two mornings this week. While I love waking up to rain, waking up to a quiet white earth is better - by far! It only took me about 30 minutes of minor bribery to get Chloe on the sled, but once she'd figured out that it really was FUN, it took more bribery to get her back in the house - where it was toasty and warm!

A Cast of Deserted Beauty 2010

I have hundreds of photos I'd label my favorite - and this is one of them. In fact we currently have this photograph printed and on display in our home. This was a photograph taken on an impromptu trip to Nevada in 2010. We stopped off a Red Rock Canyon, outside of Las Vegas - and it was one of the most incredible sights I've seen, especially at sunset. Each evening the fading sun casts its final light across the Mojave Desert - setting it on fire. While my photograph only captures a small hint of the Red Rocks to the right, it was the valley in which it overlooks that caught my attention.

Silhouette 2016

As we pull our of our driveway, our view looks west. The setting sun falls on this field differently each evening. I captured this photograph very recently when a dense fog settled over our valley before sunset. It was truly a sight!

Tree Top Grazing Zimbabwe. 2012

In 2012 Jon and I travelled to my home country, Zimbabwe. It was a very significant trip for many reasons - two of them being Jon's first trip to Africa, and my first time home in 12 years. Our family gave us the royal treatment - and this image was captured during our first few days there. If I close my eyes I can relive this encounter like it was today. We stayed at a game reserve for a couple of days - a genuine safari experience that oozed the African Adventure.

One of our favorite memories.

Specific location: Antelope Park, Gweru.