Here is a slide show of the photos I shot of the family while at our annual family reunion in Galveston at the beginning of July. The weather was actually surprisingly nice. It was cooler in Galveston than it was in Dallas. Strange! Brian and I were there for about 2-3 days, while everyone else was there for about 4. We’ve been out of town a lot recently, so it was nice to even get to visit for a long weekend (and have that Friday off of work!) Our wonderful family friend offered us her beach house for the long weekend. It’s our usual retreat in Galveston- She’s so nice to always let us borrow it!!
I’ve heard this song several times on the radio and recently heard an interview with Britt Nicole discussing this song she wrote, “The Lost Get Found.” Her story that triggered her to write this song was very similar to mine and I’m sure many of yours. Do you ever get that feeling (as if God is trying to signal to you) that you should go talk to a particular person/stranger in public? I get that a lot and I pass it up because I let “fear of man” invade my thinking and before you know it, my opportunity to make conversation or help out a stranger has passed. This song describes why we shouldn’t let those situations pass, but that we should do everything that we can to let our light shine, and possibly make what seems to us like a tiny difference to what may seem as a huge difference in someone else’s day. I like how Britt’s lyrics mention: ” Don’t let your fire burn out ‘Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe…..Why don’t you rise up now?……Don’t be afraid to stand out……That’s how the lost get found”
This is SO true. It’s becoming more and more rare that people LOVE at all times these days. Of course your close friends may display love to you, but how often does a complete stranger help you out or show love to you? This is just one of many reasons Christianity gets a bad rep. We compartmentalize our LOVE for others/the world when it’s convenient to us. We shouldn’t bottle this up, we shouldn’t be afraid to share it with others.
Here are the lyrics to the entire song “The Lost Get Found“ -Enjoy.
Hello my friend
I remember when you were
So alive with your wide eyes
Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen
Now you say that it ain’t worth stayin’
You wanna run but you’re hesitatin’
I’m talkin’ to me
Don’t let your lights go down
Don’t let your fire burn out
‘Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don’t you rise up now?
Don’t be afraid to stand out
That’s how the lost get found
The lost get found
So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There’s a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
There’s a girl on the streets, she’s cryin’
There’s a man whose faith is dyin’
Love is calling you
Don’t let your lights go down
Don’t let your fire burn out
‘Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don’t you rise up now?
Don’t be afraid to stand out
That’s how the lost get found
The lost get found
Why do we go with the flow
Or take an easier road?
Why are we playin’ it safe?
Love came to show us the way
Love is a chance we should take
I’m movin’ out of the way
Don’t let your lights go down
Don’t let your fire burn out
‘Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
(Stand out)
Don’t let your lights go down
Don’t let your fire burn out
(Stand out)
‘Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don’t you rise up now?
Don’t be afraid to stand out
That’s how the lost get found
The lost get found
So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There’s a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
Mother Theresa has shared so much wisdom and has been one of the most quoted individuals in the world. I was cleaning/deleting a lot of documents from my computer today and came across this quote I saved a while back. It’s just too good not to share. What shes says is so true. It is so much easier to “love” those far away and give money to charities, but to love difficult people in our families and those close to us isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it’s what we are called to do as Christians. I have to constantly remind myself to slow down and enjoy/love those around me; it is too easy to get caught up in the world. It all starts in the home. We are conditioned to think that “Oh, it’s OK if I don’t provide all the love and teaching that I can in my home, because others out in the world will do that for me… in school… the work place… the children’s ministry at the church, etc..” That’s our responsibility as family, and we need to remember that it all starts in the home. This is something very close to my heart and I hope that my future husband and I can embody this to each other and (God willing) our future family. We are excited to have family dinners, family traditions, family devotional time, etc…
“Jesus taught us how to forgive out of love, how to forget out of humility. So let us examine our hearts and see if there is any unforgiven hurt — any unforgotten bitterness! It is easy to love those who are far away. It isn’t always easy to love those who are right next to us. It is easier to offer food to the hungry than to answer the lonely suffering of someone who lacks love right in one’s own family. The world today is upside down because there is so very little love in the home, and in family life. We have no time for each other. Everybody is in such a terrible rush, and so anxious … and in the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.” -Mother Theresa
Wow- I haven’t posted anything in more than a month! That’s one of my longest records. There are several reasons I am wayyyyy behind on blogging… here are a couple, and I will try to post a blog about each of these reasons in the coming weeks. Some of these are reasons I’m behind, some are future topics I will try to blog about… enjoy.
I’m in the process of transitioning jobs (the Lord is mighty gracious & sure does provide quickly!), which means my brain’s been wacko & working long hours to quickly adjust.
Brian and I went on a family vacation with my Dad to Hawaii for week!
My friend Whitney got married!
Brian and I got engaged a little over a month ago, so I’ve been planning the BIG things lately, and we’re getting things squared away/set up for pre-marital counseling & mentors!
Brian and I went on a weekend trip to Galveston for my annual (maternal side) family reunion.
I got the new iPHone 3Gs- what a great device.
I’ve been transitioning my LIFE over to everything GOOGLE in the past month (Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Voice, etc..) personal & business!
I had a new logo/identity concept designed for my new Photography Site!! My goal is to have the new site live before November. All that’s waiting on the photo libraries & copy/text for the site. This takes more time than you think- ugh.
I’m about to go on a weekend trip to NOLA for a friend’s Bachelorette party.
These are just a few reasons I’ve been behind on blogging, or just simply trying to enjoy my time away from the computer after work or on the weekends during my recently even more crazy schedule. I will have photos from most of these events/reasons, etc… Thanks for bearing with me Happy July!
I had the privilege to shoot the engagement photos for Abbi Martin & Geoff Ice a couple weekends ago in Fort Worth. I go “way back” with the Ice family… I went to TCU with both Geoff and his older brother, Jamey, and I’m also a big fan of their band: G.R.O . I’ve done some of their family photos, and Sarah Ice’s senior photos, and some of the band’s in-studio recording sessions, and a few other gigs for them. It is such a blessing having people trust you enough to take their photos (repeatedly!!) Not to mention, everyone of them in the Ice family is such a blast and a blessing! I’m always very exciting any time I get a call from them requesting a photo shoot, because I know it’s going to be a good time.
Anyway, I shot Abbi & Geoff’s engagement photos in Fort Worth, TX a couple weekends ago and had a great time. I’ve had some pretty bad luck with weather and outdoor/on location photo shoots recently (this quarter) and luckily it was not rainy, stormy, or anything like that. Just dreadfully HOT. We were all drenched in sweat 30 minutes into the shoot. We shot for about 3 hours at various locations around Fort Worth. Abbi and Geoff have good taste in locations, because they were places I used to spend a lot of time when I previously lived in Fort Worth. It was nice to end the shoot in the big fountain at the Kimball Art Museum. *Sigh*
Here is a video/ slide show of some hand selected images that I put together from their shoot. They make a very beautiful & artistic couple. Enjoy!
I made my first photo slide show on anitmoto.com and it came out nicely… However, it’s a little bit too fast for my liking, but overall it was quick and easy to create. I will be using this tool more often! Click on the slide show to view… enjoy! Photos are from Sarah Ice’s Senior photos back in March I believe. We shot them in Fort Worth, TX, and photos were shot by (me) Lauren Ratliff Photography.
Gosh, I have not been so great about updating my blog lately… I have been pretty busy with other things. Obviously from the title & photo, Brian and I are engaged! Wooohoo!! We’ve dated for about 2 years and are ready to get married. He proposed to me in the sanctuary of our church on Saturday evening of Memorial Day weekend. He’s such a gentleman (ladies- don’t settle for less!) and pretty close with my family so, of course he asked both my dad and step dad’s permission prior to his proposal. My mom just happened to come into town and went to church with us and witnessed the whole thing. It was neat having her there to see it all and take photos, etc.. It was so special that Brian proposed IN our church, because it has been such a monumental part/foundation of our relationship. So many great things have happened to us/for us over the past 2 years regarding involvement at the church. It will be a great memory/story to share with the kids/grand kids in the future.
By the way, Brian did a wonderful job with the ring!! He met with several jewelers before getting exactly what he wanted. VERY nicely done, I must say.
So… looks like we’ve got a wedding to plan!! We’re getting married at Briscoe Manor in March 2010. It’s such a beautiful place near where I grew up, and seems to fit both our tastes. Boy oh boy, is it amazing how fast wedding costs add up! Yikes! It’s quite a blessing having my parents help, though.
Since I’m an avid blogger/tweeter about my experiences, I will most likely be blogging about my wedding planning. It still hasn’t really sunk in that I’m planning a wedding or getting married, but it probably will once I’m actually walking down the aisle or am actually married.
I’m pretty sure God is really challenging me with problem solving regarding my past hand full of photo shoots. The last 3 on-location shoots I’ve had, have resulted in CRAZY weather, which we’ve had to work around THAT day due to time constraints/deadlines. It usually results in some great shots, but takes a lot of hard work to get them.
This photo shoot was for a good friend, Emerald, and her new (designed by her) t-shirt line. She provided a wonderful group of girls to model her stuff, and they were a lot of fun to work with. We had a great plan to do some outdoor shots all throughout the photo district in Dallas, but literally 20 minutes after we get there and begin to set up equipment, racks of clothes, a makeup area, etc… it was a torrential down pour!!! As we were driving to our Plan B location to do the shoot, we got news of tornadoes in the area, the cowboys practice “bubble” building caved in, etc… It was pretty crazy! We picked a place that had some occasional covered spots, and some porch areas where we could have quick cover if it rained, which it did rain for the entire rest of the day. We started at 3 Pm and didn’t finish until about 9 PM that night.
Soon you’ll be able to check out the entire Summer Catalog (which she wanted me to provide her “selective color” edited photos), on her site: www.jadestylefashion.com
These first couple of shots are of me shooting throughout the day, shot by my friend (and assistant for the day) Kelsey!
One of our Lead Maverick Reseller Partners, NarrowSearch, (formerly known as Narrow Casting Marketing), joined forces with Switch Creative Group. They had an amazing “wedding” party to celebrate the joining of two great companies. Talk about a dream home/office! They have a cute colorful little house in the popular Dallas Uptown area. Not only was the place adorable, but the party itself was so wonderful! They had drinks, BBQ, a lamb petting zoo (yes, you read correctly), mini-buttons to support either the “bride” (Switch Creative) or the “groom” (NarrowSearch), live music (which was perfect), and yummy snacks. The weather happened to be just perfect to top it off! It has been such a joy to work with the NarrowSearch team as one of our best Lead Maverick Reseller Partners! Not only do they resell/manage a ton of LM accounts, their work (Switch Creative’s) is beautiful! And naturally, I DID spill BBQ sauce on my white skirt before I even sat down to eat my cute little BBQ sandwich. Here are some photos I shot of the cute party.
I’ve been a little behind on blogging lately. My blog posts have mostly been saturated with posting photos from recent photo gigs/events, etc.. and not much “writing.” But that’s ok with me- it means I’m taking more pictures! Here are some photos from a wedding I helped Carissa Byers shoot. It was a fun wedding that flew by. The couple was very relaxed and easy going, which made our job fun! It was a lot of fun shooting with Carissa and she produces some really beautiful images!! My job was to shoot the guys/groom getting ready before hand at the groom’s house (while the girls dressed at a different location), and basically document the men the rest of the day. I have to admit, it wasn’t as much fun as shooting girls getting ready. Surprisingly enough it took the guys a whopping 30 minutes to get showered/dressed. They also don’t have as many “accessories” to get detailed shots of. Bummer- but they were still fun to talk with and take photos of! I got to hear about past bachelor parties, sports stats, previous groomsmen’s weddings, etc.. The ceremony was at the beautiful Cathedral Guadalupe Church in Downtown Dallas, followed by the reception at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas.
Happy July!
