You are my Issac. My Moses. In 14 days we will lay you on the alter. Put you in a basket down the river and pray that God would protect you. I’m so thankful for a timeline. God knew my heart needed to be prepared for what’s to come. So for 14 days we will be going on long walks together. I’ll not be focusing on an ounce of work while your awake. We’ll play “I’m gonna get you” to get those belly laughs. We’ll dance and sing to Disney and Hamilton soundtracks. We’ll have 14 more bedtime baths and readings of Goodnight Moon. I’ll rock you as you fall asleep and you’ll soothe yourself by sucking on my shoulder. I’ll enjoy every single smile that you give Jer when you see him across the room. Then, I’ll lay you down on the alter. I’ll place you in the basket. Trusting God with your future. Relying on Him for strength as my home is filled with all the baby things. I’ll probably wake up every four hours with no one to feed. But each day His mercies will be new and I’ll cling to my sovereign God. My Heavenly Father. 
129 days of loving you and you are probably leaving us soon. Everyday we try and live in the moment. Day by day. Nap by nap. So many belly giggles. But then we get a call. It’s like a literal punch on the gut that takes your breath away. You can’t think straight as you hold back tears. One more step in the direction of you leaving. Once a week visitation. Turned to twice a week after one visit. Will overnights be this weekend? Next? How do I fight not grieving you while your still here? How do I not burst into tears as you smile when I come into a room? But then I pause. All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so so good. My heart heals a little. I’ll be okay. She’ll be okay. Because God. Looking back God truly has been so so faithful and good to me through so many hard times. I have no doubt He will be faithful to bring peace and comfort to my soul. I have no doubt He is working this all out for my good for His glory. For this sweet girls good and for His glory. He’s already written the story. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, - 2 Corinthians 4:17 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. - 1 Peter 4:12-13 
“Are you breastfeeding???” A stranger asked me in the line to get into Target. I was taken a back. One because I had a fussy baby on me and two because I hadn’t quite recited what to say to those who would assume this precious baby that was with me was mine. But also I didn’t think THAT would be the first question someone would ask me. I counted it as a weird LA lady who, might I add, proceeded to tell me that as a foster parent I should look into how to trick my body into breastfeeding because that’s what would be best for the little one. True story. One time thing? Maybe. But then just yesterday the first question a stranger asked me when I was with baby girl was if I was breastfeeding! Each of these encounters have made me feel for mamas who have carried children and struggled breastfeeding. That somehow that has become what makes someone a good mom. I can only imagine how triggering those women’s words could have been had they landed on different ears. Since I’m staying home more often, my encounters to share about fostering is usually limited. While these examples may be been extreme I was reminded how easy it is to assume things based on appearances and our experiences. So maybe let’s all learn to do a little less assuming and more question asking when we get to know others! but man, those questions really caught me off guard 😂 
Foster Care. 4 weeks into foster care and the things I anticipated shedding tears over hasn’t been why I have cried. The goal with our sweet girl is reunification and I feel so at peace with that. It’s been a choice to actively meditate that the Lord has a beautiful perfect plan for this sweet girls life. He has worked her broken story into His perfect plan. He has written us into that story in such a small way. The Lord is ALWAYS good. ALWAYS faithful. NEVER making mistakes. But I can honestly say... What I am dreading the most is the day when she is not here and I grieve. Looking back on that sentence I have said those words in my life before. “What I am dreading the most is the day when my dad is not here and I grieve” Those weeks leading up to my dads passing, slowly deteriorating in our family home, anticipating it happening. “Is today the day?” My mind would whisper to my heart as I would awake to another day. I’ve experienced grief. The depths of it. The weight of it. What’s harder is knowing that their will be days when I don’t think about this sweet girl. Just as there are days now where I don’t think about my dad. So while my heart aches knowing what’s to come, I cling to the promises that bind my weary heart together. Each day choosing to step in full confidence that the Lord will provide the peace, strength, and endurance as He as shown me before. May I cherish these days with our sweet girl 💕 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
👉 How do I gain clients?? 👈 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When we talk about how to gain clients what we are really talking about is marketing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In marketing one of the foundational principles is establishing know, like, and trust. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For a potential client to know you they must...well...know you exist. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We can do this through networking either in person or online. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Networking by definition is the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Show up where your "ideal photographer" is but you are doing it strategically and purposefully. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you ever been in a conversation when you know someone is just trying to get something from you and they are not actually interested in developing a relationship? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t be THAT person. 🙄 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Once they know who you are, the next principle is for them to like you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now this isn’t to mean that every. single. photographer. needs to like you, but rather that your ideal photographer likes you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Interact with other photographers' stories! DM them. Comment on their post. Be a friend! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You wouldn’t like someone if they were constantly trying to sell you something all the time. You like people that share common interests as you do! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Finally, for people to trust you, you must be consistent, communicative, and constant. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If your brand is not consistent how can you provide a great client experience? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If your brand is not communicative how can you make sure people know who you are? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If your brand is not constant how can people guarantee that you won’t be there one day and gone the next minute when something more "shiny" comes along. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Building trust is something that comes from taking time to care about the experience you provide once they become an official client. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The Editor's Group Mentorship Program was created to help you feel confident in delivering the best client experience and to be able to show potential clients that they can trust you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Doors will open for the Editor’s GMP on March 18 
The days leading up until today, February 14th, can feel like a time portal. Flash backs of memories of what I was doing, and where I was just a mere 12 yeas ago. Today 12 years ago I woke up to the news my dad had passed away. We knew it was going to happen any day now. It wasn’t a unexpected loss of life. We had a hospital bed set up in our house for him to stay in. I had been home from school for several days, with family, wondering every day is this going to be the day that my world shatters. “Oh God please don’t take my dad home on my brothers birthday” was my prayer from the beginning of February. It would be his 10th birthday. But as the 5th of February came and went. Alan Jackson’s gospel album playing throughout the house. Everyday wondering is this the day. February 14th came, Valentine’s Day. I had been sleeping on the floor for several weeks because for some reason I couldn’t sleep in my bed. So on the floor I laid as my mom woke me up to tell me the news. But after that my memories go dark. I don’t really remember what happened. I do remember sitting outside in the front lawn and just sobbing that day. My aunt holding me letting cry. My best friend and boyfriend came over after school to visit me and watch tv. While these memories still come up every year and I mourn the loss of my earthly father I can’t help in the same breathe have thankfulness. Thankful of the Lords provision in so many ways. Thankful for the church family that he provided me shortly after. Thankful for strength he gave my mom. Thankful for the new family he blessed me with. Thankful that my dad no longer suffers from a disease. Thankful that God is truly a God who is faithful and good in all things and all circumstances. Even through suffering. So while today is often a day I grieve I also celebrate the life once lived and long for the day of eternal glory. 
New York, I never want to leave you 😍🗽 
My last IG post was us in Mammoth in the summer🤷🏻♀️ so here is us in Mammoth in the fall. 🍂🍁 😂 
Mini Vacation in Mammoth for the 4th! 🇺🇸 
I recently started a series on my blog where I share my personal goals for 2019 and monthly progress on how I am working towards those goals. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My May progress and June goals are up on the blog this morning. 🎉💕 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I even included some more photos from the droning with whales and dolphins workshop in the post! 🐬 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #photoeditor #privatephotoeditor #boutiquephotoeditor #cultivatewhatmatters #laracasey #emilyley #simplifiedlife #simplifiedplanner #powersheets #productivityplanner #intentionalliving #goalplanning #purposefulplanner #goalsetting #goalsetting2019 #goalsetter