"Some years ago, I came across a poem by George MacDonald titled, 'The Hidden Life'.  It tells the story of an intellectually gifted young Scot who turned his back on a prestigious academic career to return to his aging father and to the family farm.  There he engaged in what MacDonald called, 'ordinary deeds' and 'simple forms of human helpfulness'. His friends lamented what they saw as a waste of his talents. 

Perhaps you too serve in some unnoticed place, doing nothing more than ordinary deeds.  Others might think that's a waste.  But God wastes nothing.  Every act of love rendered for His sake is noted and has eternal consequences.  Every place, no matter how small, is holy ground.  Influence is more than lofty acts and words.  It can be a simple matter of human helpfulness: being present, listening, understanding the need, loving and praying.  This is what turns daily duty into worship and service. 

The apostle Paul challenged the Colossians: 'Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,' and 'do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance' (Col. 3:17, 23-24).  God takes notice and delights in using us."

For me...it's in motherhood.  I think as a society the role of a stay at home mom is definitely looked down upon.  I feel little...serving "behind the scenes" but I have to daily remind myself of these truths. 

God gave me these four boys.  A worldly person says I have these boys because of science and being with my husband.  A woman of faith says, "these boys were gifted to me.  God could have chosen to close my womb but He didn't"

He is raising up a new generation and entrusting Brian 

and I to teach them and instruct them ... to love like Jesus loved.  He came for the sinners and those who killed him...not ONLY for those who loved him. 

I am making a difference...and my time spent with them DOES matter...

If you have time...read some of these blogs...they are great! I highly recommend them!

I too find me homeschooling as looked down upon...but I will continue to speak truth to myself..

http://www.managingyourblessings.com/2012/07/03/dear-new-homeschool-mom-10-things-i-have-to-tell-you/

http://www.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/i-cant-homeschool-because-2/

my new favorite....

https://www.setapartmotherhood.com/

http://mundanefaithfulness.com/

my "good" addiction...

We have so many incredible freedoms ... one I highly take advantage of is the freedom to own bibles and bible resources and I have to admit:

"Hi I am Stacie Berenbrock and I have an addiction to books.  More specifically kids bible books!"

so I thought I would take a moment and talk to you about my "reviews" of these children's bibles and devotionals.

First up The Beginner's Bible.  William read through this whole book his first year home for school.  Then Zak would go through with a pencil and underline his sight words.  This book is incredible and what I love about it is that it doesn't take the cross out.  It leaves it all in there.  The stories are short which is great for your young readers and their attention spans. 

The Jesus Storybook Bible with the caption that says it all, "Every story whispers his name"...Jesus.  This book is written by Sally Lloyd- Jones.  My kids love this book for the illustration.  They loved the color and look of the characters! Again..Jesus is the center as is the Cross!

This is a devotional book...one that I want William to really dive into this year by himself.  He is now 8 and I feel this book is a good source for him.  With devotional titles like "true defender", "wearing the belt of faithfulness", "hold your fire", "A kind of counterattack: wearing the belt of kindness" and so on...great for my little warriors!

A year long devotional that I think is GREAT for the whole family to do.  This is a great breakfast time devotional to get your day started and has great topics that allow you focus on them daily...seems to cover the topics/issues that kids deal with daily...you know...attitude issues ;) .

If you're not familiar with Sarah Young's Jesus calling books I highly suggest you familiarize yourself with them.  They are excellent.  The kids again, LOVE the illustrations in these but also they love how at the end of each story there is a verse and a little "prayer" that seems like Jesus is talking to them.  And of course as the parent I LOVE that Jesus is on every page...because that is the Bible right? A story of redemption..a story of Christ?

This probably my favorite book to read to the kids.  This book is written by Richard and Renee' Stearns and it's a book on the encounters with Christ in a broken world.  Missionary stories where Christ is evidently and incredibly working.  Miracle stories.  Who doesn't love reading those? Again...this is my favorite but it is also a book for me...well aren't they all?

This book is written by Grace Cremer and it is basically a family read-a-loud.  But it's a great story of the evident love of God from "creation to the cross".

Another favorite...okay can you tell I have a problem? no we don't do these all at once but they are great for all different ages.  This one is definitely for the pre-school age.  The Contents is filled with these titles, "grumpy or jumpy?", "helping others", "writing", "being naughty", "listening"...you get my point mom? ;)

Lastly...another one of my favorites because not only is it filled with stories from the bible with great illustration but it is also scattered with missionary stories as well from around the world...

There you have it...my opinion for what it's worth on some really great bible/devotionals for kids!

Prices on the books above (all found at Christian book stores or amazon)

The Beginner's Bible - $16.99

The Jesus Storybook Bible - $16.99

God's Mighty Warrior Devotional - $16.99

Grace for the Moments - $15.99

God Before Me God Above Me - $20.99

He Walks Among Us - $19.99

God and Me - $19.99

God's Love for You - $19.99

Jesus Calling - $16.99

the little BIG joys in life...

they bring me so.....much.....JOY

lets talk light....

If you're a photographer I'd say it's safe to say that you may be a tad obsessed with light.  

You know that one raging ball of fire that is mysterious and incredible and honestly when setting indescribable...yes...I'm obsessed with that.  I cannot look at a sunset and just think something so detailed, gorgeous and big happened by chance...I look at it and see a great Almighty and Powerful God behind the bold colors of pink, orange, blues, purples, yellows and reds.

As a photographer if you're not obsessed with the light that radiates from the sun...consider it...study it...it may change your business ;). 

Light is also a preference in photography.  Some photographers are all natural light photographers and some use artificial lighting because they don't like shadows.  In MY opinion and in MY business I let shadows define you.  The light creates shadows and sometimes they are harsh and ugly but other times they are dramatic and tell a story.  You can control these shadows by what time of the day you decide to get out and start shooting!

When a client comes to me I try to communicate when the best time for shooting would be.  In the summer and in the morning you need to have really ambitious clients that are willing to get up and get at 'em...you should start shooting no later than 8 but to get that gorgeous morning light in a big field...you better be ready by 6:30AM!  Obviously this time changes as the days grow shorter as does the sunset time.  It also depends on weather...is it cloudy or clear? All things to consider.  I wanted to give you my tips and visuals when shooting for sunset light on a clear day.  There is a big difference in time and I think you'll see it ;)

I had my boat mini-session's not too long ago.  The first family started at 6:30

At 6:30 in the summer in Michigan the sun is still pretty high.  You can work with it but you will have shadows...if the shadows are harsh then you'll want to position the sun behind your subject. The sun is high causing some "blow outs" in the picture...

These images are still gorgeous and you still have some sunflare but there is also a blue hue in the trees and the water is a little too bright and there is a harsh ring of light around the subjects if you zoom in real close.  Not things to worry about too much but things to definitely consider if you plan on shooting in an open background.  

If I were to get in the front of the boat and have my subjects look at me the entire right side of their faces would be white from the sun...so I move around them and even above them to avoid a blow out on their faces (which you can kind of see on their legs).

So we move to a shaded area and still back light (meaning the sun is directly behind your subject).  This is my favorite.  Yes I love big open fields and beaches with a pretty sky and beautiful light...but I love to find where the light is peeking through the trees and capture it!

This session took place from 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm.  Still too high for me!

Around 7:30 the sun was at that perfect height to give you haze and sun flare in every single picture.  Not every client likes that so I try my best to get away from that as well but here are some examples with it...

This is one of my favorite looks...sun flare everywhere! 

But just to appease the clients  I moved them to an open shade area away from the sun.  The sun is now basically behind me and to the right in this next picture...

As you can see too at this time...the lake isn't as blown out and the trees are greener and more visible.

Now...8 o' clock.  On a clear day in Michigan 8 o'clock is a great time to start shooting...however with young kids it's extremely hard.  This is also only a good time to start with an hour session...not a senior session or an extended family session that will take longer than one hour.  The sun is golden, softer and starting to hide behind those trees just a tad but not enough where it still offers a gorgeous sun flare.

Here the sun is behind them and to the left...you can see it towards the left of the picture on the girls' hair...

In these two pictures the sun is behind them...giving these pictures a pretty glow!

In this image above the sun is behind me again and to my right...this is the PERFECT light in my opinion because it lights my subject but there are no bright blotchy light speckles on him and the lake and trees are their true color!

Again...moving into the trees to find that perfect sun peeking through to shine on my subject.  I personally like to get low and sway from side to side until the light hits them perfectly...I don't mind blowing out the subject a little to let that light truly come through..like the above picture her hair is blown out a little...

Gorgeous...the sun has finally peeked behind the trees...highlighting the tops of the trees with a gorgeous orange light and back lighting the subjects with the same breathtaking glow.

...just my opinions on light.  

Maybe next time I'll get into silhouettes ;)