I’m going to be honest — I’ve had a hard time coming up with something to write for this post. I mean, these words above and the words in this song basically speak for themselves. Jesus is everything! Jesus is everything to me and everything I need. He came and died for me, for you, for everyone. God has been showing me over and over again this week just how unworthy I am. I don’t deserve his most perfect love and grace. I’m so imperfect, but through that imperfection I’m seeing and understanding that love in such a real and true way. Friends, he is the light in this dark world, he is the hope to the hopeless, and he is everything we could ever need or want. For there is no sweeter name than the name of Jesus!

Song: No Sweeter Name

Artist: Kari Jobe

Album: Kari Jobe

Thanks Mike & Kate for such an awesome session! Super excited to capture your special day in just a few short weeks!

Be sure to check out Kate’s blog here. Last week she posted a few of her favorite images from the session and also talked about how glad she was that she did an engagement session. Loved hearing her thoughts on the engagement session! You can find that post here.

I’m so thankful for your day of birth. I’m thankful for your life. I’m thankful that you chose me to spend the rest of your life with. I’m thankful for the way that you love me selflessly everyday. I’m thankful that God has given you the ability to dream and dream BIG! I’m thankful that you live your life to display God’s glory. Thank you for laughing with me. Thank you for being you! I love you to the moon and back! I hope you have a wonderful day!

(pics by white loft studio)

I wrote this song based on the following two passages of the Bible: Luke 17:7-10 and Luke 7:36-50. I was a member of an artists community in college, and one of our challenges at the end of the semester was to produce art based on the Luke 17 passage. Out of that passage I was led to Luke 7 and the story of the woman who anointed Jesus at the house of a Pharisee. What a captivating story — this woman, who is introduced as a sinner, seeks out Jesus…why? I would like to think that she had heard much about him and not only his mighty deeds, but also the forgiveness he extended to sinners. She was aware of her own sin, and she needed mercy, she needed grace, she needed Jesus.

Too often I walk around feeling so entitled, so unaware of the mercy and grace I’ve been extended, as if I have done something to merit my salvation. Have I? No. Not one bit. I am unworthy. I am this woman, the sinner who is also in desperate need of the forgiveness of Christ.

This song is the recognition of that need and of the undeserved love of Jesus poured out on me. He came into the world to save sinners, so in response I take the posture of the Luke 7 woman, and worship the Worthy One.

- Kristin

P.S. Shout out to my cousin, David Schroder, for the amazing production of this song!

May Goals

- buy cork board to finish my wall design behind my desk. I’m gonna use the cork board to pin design inspirations, pretty pictures, fun notes from friends, ect.
- hire a designer to design a print that includes the list of things that “fire me up”. I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone else. haha! I’ll be sure to post it when it’s finished!
- celebrate Chris’ (my hubby) cinco de mayo birthday with friends! I’m so excited for yummy mexican food & margaritas this weekend! : )
- attend Blogshop with Kristin in NYC!! YAY!
- kick off busy wedding season on May 18th!
- do a giveaway this month on the blog. Just wait till you see what I’m giving away!
- shoot a few rolls of film just for fun this month. I’m thinking NYC & pretty spring flowers!

Thanks Bekah & Paul for being such amazing models for me! Let’s do it again soon!

Fuji 400h – Indie Film Lab

Everything that happened this past week is difficult to put into words. For those of us who live in Boston, I don’t believe we will ever forget where we were, what we felt, and the questions we asked. We had no choice but to face the reality that our world is broken and hurting. Every day felt heavy.

Yet every day, the song below was played on repeat wherever I went, because I needed reminding of the hope I have. I needed to cling to truth and the promise that God works all things for good, even though it’s difficult to see at the moment how that actually works. Joseph from the Bible faced many hardships in his lifetime, yet he says this to those (i.e. his very own brothers) who inflicted suffering, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph believed and understood that God doesn’t waste anything, not even the most painful trials of life.

The lyrics above were sung over and over again last week, at the top of my lungs and as a prayer over our city. I am learning, like Joseph, that God wastes nothing, and he always, ALWAYS, works everything out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). He is a promise keeper and he reigns forever. This is how we find hope in the midst of tragedy, and I will wait patiently to see how He does it in Boston.

- Kristin

Song: Nothing Is Wasted

Artist: Elevation Worship

Album: Nothing Is Wasted