Spiritual Battles

Top of the mornin' to ya! I hope everyone's weekend went wonderfully.

This weekend consisted of pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Saturday I took the wedding pictures of the lovely Katlyn Goodwin (Mills). Talk about a beautiful bride! (I'll have a photo blog in the near future. Promise!) I then enjoyed some awesome family time. We carved pumpkins, roasted wienies, had us a s'more, played Pictionary Man (hilarious game. If you've never played, you definitely should.), and watched the Cards play some ball! It was a wonderful Saturday. :) Sunday however, was an awakening day for me.

In the Bible, it says that our souls are fought for day and night. Ya know, the old thing about good concurring evil and what not. I hadn't really paid attention or thought about that until this past Sunday. Now, I think about it constantly.

Let me set the scene for you..
It's a Sunday night. Chicken alfredo is deliciously smelling up the room. There are chocolate chip cookies on the coffee table and a bottle of water at my side. We decided to watch a scary movie. To be honest, I should have known better. I'm a big old baby and scary movies give me nightmares. Anyway, we didn't just pick a scary movie... We picked what is supposed to be the scariest movie made thus far. Let me tell you, it was. I have to be honest and say that I did not finish the movie. I was horrified. I think I got about half way through it before I was literally reading my Bible app and almost in tears. (I'm telling you, I'm a baby. Seriously.) 

I don't want this blog to be about me being a baby. The point is that it wasn't God that scared me. It was the devil. This is where the spiritual battle thing comes in. Fear is not of God. God isn't there to scare us, he's actually the opposite. He fights away our fears and helps us overcome. I mean think about it, why would the devil try to scare people that are lost. He knows he already has them in his grasp so he's going to work on the Christians trying to pull them toward him. Giving in to fear is like giving satan the victory. God has already defeated satan. Satan is fighting a lost cause, really. We just have to have the strength to overcome our fears and push through the scary times or the painful times and remember that we have a King on our side, Jesus Christ. We really are descendants of a king (I NEW I was a princess!). Isn't that an amazing thought? It makes me feel like nothing the devil does can hurt me. God is my protector, my friend, my king, and my Heavenly Father. I mean really, with backup like that, what was I scared of in the first place?

It's pretty crazy to think that we have angels all around us fighting day and night for our souls. They help us pick the right things and keep us on the right track. I was thinking about this on Sunday... When I get to Heaven, I want to meet the angel that God gave me. All I know is, He must have given me a pretty strong one!

While I was almost in tears and frantically reading my Bible App, I found some scripture that REALLY gave me peace. In fact, that was what most of the scripture said. That alone was an amazing thing to me! I just happened to be on a chapter in my phone that had so much scripture about peace. Coincidence? I think not. I think that God knows what we need at the exact moment so he puts the right scripture in front of us. So before I end this little blog, I want you to have these things to think about in your scariest times. I hope they give you as much peace as they gave me.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Philippians 4:9

and my personal favorite....
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

I hope those help, I know they really helped me. God knows what he's doing. Just trust him and bury yourself in the word of God. You'll be alright :) Have a wonderful day!

Hump Day Thoughts

Hello, howdy, hey, we're in for a beautiful day! (rhyme made completely by miss Stephanie. Yes, I am lame.) 

So this week is full of new things! Sent out my wedding invites, started a new job (which I LOVE), and participated in my first October festivities! 

First things first, wedding invites were awesome. I thought about spending $200 on pretty little invites that look gorgeous, but then I said to myself "I'm poor. It ain't happenin'!" So I went with a cheaper alternative. I went on this wonderful website called Shutterfly and started searching. To my disappointment there were only "Save the Dates" ........... This place didn't have wedding invitations! So I improvised. I chose a cute little save the date, changed around some of the wording, added some of our wonderful engagement pictures, and VOILA! Wedding invitations! This started out costing me close to $80 (still not a bad price, but I am a bargain shopper.....) I still thought there had to be a way to get these babies cheaper! So google came in handy. All I had to do was search shutterfly coupons and there they were! I got my Invitations for $43! Now if that's not smart shopping I don't know what is! Anyway, if your in the market for wedding invites, this might be for you! Take my advice; when wedding planning, don't think you have to have the most expensive things on the planet. Your day will still be beautiful, even if you got some of your decorations at Wal-Mart, or even the Dollar Store. :) 

Now to the new job. Let me just say.... This place is WONDERFUL! I have just started a new job at 

Diva Envy's Corner here in Lebanon! I have the coolest boss and the sweetest co-workers. Plus all the stuff in the store is AMAZING! I'm a purse addict, so this is like a little glimpse of Heaven. Really though, if you've never been in here, you definitely need to. It's the neatest little store! Plus, you'll see my little face :) 

This weekend was also some fun stuff! Thayer and I ventured with a couple of friends to the Haunted Hill! Let me tell ya, that was an experience! If you like chainsaws, clowns, and gross looking creatures screaming at you then this is your place. I, however, am a big old baby. I always get too scared and probably ruin the fun time for poor Thayer cause I'm always tugging on his arm and screaming. Plus that death grip I have when I'm in fear is probably not too comfortable. We had fun though. Good times with good friends and the man I love, it doesn't get much better! 

Well before I end this little diary of my week, I'll give you some scripture to think on! 

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice." Philippians 4:4 

As Christians, we're supposed to rejoice in the Lord. That can mean anything from singing your heart out until your neighbors ears bleed, to telling someone about the good works of Jesus Christ. See what you can do today to rejoice in the Lord. That's my challenge for you! God gave you this beautiful life, choose to live it for him. I promise, things will go a lot easier with him by your side. Have a blessed day and enjoy the lovely sunshine! 

P.S. It's HUMP DAY! WOOP WOOP! 

Waiting.

Today I went with my sister to her baby doctor appointment. We had the drive to Springfield but that was fine because we both enjoy singing at the top of our lungs. Here's a few songs that I have decided would be road trip friendly. 

Your Love is like a River by Third Day 

We won't be Shaken by Building 149

Hello my name is by Matthew West 

Never gonna leave this bed by maroon 5 

She will be loved by maroon 5 

One more night by maroon 5 

These songs are pretty fast paced (except for "she will be loved") and are sure to keep you going on long drives. 

The best part of the day though was during our shopping. Jess had to get a tooth pulled this past week so she's not able to drink out of a straw. So while we were at Starbucks getting a yummy fill of caffeine and caramel, we forgot that she wouldn't be able to drink her frappacino from her straw. The result was that I had to drink it down really fast so she could take the lid off and slurp it down. This worked, but I got one heck of a brain freeze. 

And that brings us to this evening. With tomorrow being my bachelorette party, we've been busy making goodies for favors this afternoon. Maybe I'll make a blog about bachelorette parties tomorrow. Hmmm.... :) 

Today's verse is short and simple, but it packs a lot of truth to it as well. "For ye are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:20  

Isnt that so true though? Without God, what is our glory and joy? I know I wouldn't have any of the two without him. He can be your best friend. All it takes is a little faith. :)

This day was full of delicious food (Olive Garden), lots of laughs, and shopping till dropping. I love the days I get to spend with my family and I'm so fortunate to be able to say I know mine cares. 

Well, have a wonderful evening. XOXO, stephanie :) 

Oh my lanta..

Oh my lanta it has been a while since I last made myself take the time to sit down and blog. Here's a few things that have been going down in my little life. 

1. I got engaged to the man who swept me off my feet 3 and a half years ago! 

Yup, that's the date. Got engaged in July, getting hitched in November. And let me tell ya, I couldn't be happier. :) 

 2. I'm going to be an Aunt!  

I couldn't be more excited for my sweet sister! Congrats Jess :)

P.S. It's a boy! 

3. I have been UNBELIEVABLY blessed and busy with my photography! 

Since May of 2013 I have bought a camera, started taking pictures, editing until my eye balls want to fall out, scheduling like crazy, and trying to think of ways to make this whole photography fiasco something more than just a "side hobby." 
Everyone has a dream or a wish. So I'm thinking, why in the world wouldn't I try to make mine come true? No, I'm not in college planning on making buckets of money, but I'm enjoying what I do every single day. And lets face it, life is too stinking short to waste your time doing things you hate everyday. 
Anyway, enough about that. Here's a little peak at what the highlights of this new career have been like. 

Those little beauties are my wonderful sister and brother-in-law.
They were sort of like my ultimate test. I took their pictures just shortly after I got my camera and they were my first album uploaded to my photography page. I was in LOVE with this photo. It's my favorite of the bunch.





These GORGEOUS people are truly some of the sweetest people on the planet. They are seriously a picture-perfect family. They were so great and their little girl was just darling! So full of personality!

HERE COMES THE BRIDE<3

This beautiful bride was the calmest person I have ever met. I can only hope that on my wedding day I am as cool, calm, and collected as her. We had a wonderful time even though I was scared to death. This was my first wedding and I was sweating bullets. I am SO grateful that they chose me to take their wedding photos. They were a great first experience and I loved this wedding album.

I also got to take some pictures of this gorgeous lady getting ready for the ceremony! Doesn't she look stunning?! This woman should be a model, seriously. So jealous. I had such a great time with her and her bridesmaids while they got ready for her special day. Thanks again for choosing me. Really, I loved it!

Wanna see more of my photos? Here's the link to my page! 

www.facebook.com/throughmylensphotographybystephanie

I had planned on doing more with this tonight, but my internet is hating me right now (as usual) and I gotta be up bright and early in the morning. So I leave you with this bible verse that I just read. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

Man does God know what I need to read when I open that book (or look on my cell phone Bible). And I hope that the scripture above speaks to you like it did me.

Well, I hope I haven't completely bored you to death. Have a blessed night and sweet dreams! Love, Stephanie.