Dear Blog are you there? It's me Candice.

I am in the process of having someone design me a new blog so I have been waiting to post on my much anticipated new blog. But tonight fills me with the need to process thoughts and life. Yes if you read this blog I am a photographer and this was designed for me to share my recent shoots of clients but now I enjoy posting shoots and sharing my thoughts on being a wife, a mother, photographer, business owner and attempting the status of "super woman".
My favorite part of being a wedding photographer is watching two people in love dedicating their lives to each other. I love the moment in the ceremony when they both give one another that special look that is meant only for them. Thinking back to my own wedding, my face hurt from smiling the whole day, but no matter how sore my face was there was nothing in this world that could take that smile off my face. I remember the dreams we shared how I wanted to go to nurse anesthetist school and Josh was applying for pharmacy school. We moved into our first house and sorta got the boot less than 6 months later right before Christmas. We even had to tear down our tree before we had the chance to unwrap a single gift. Our amazing friends allowed us to stay in their house since it was on the market but the only problem was they had taken all the appliances with them when they moved and I mean everything including the microwave. Less than 2 weeks into our stay the water pipes froze and we had no water for over a week so we had to get up SUPER early to find a place to shower before heading to work and school. For 2 months we ate fast food and meals that should never have been prepared with a crock pot. But even through it all we didnt have a care in the world because we had each other and we had love. Looking back all I can do is laugh at how naive we were.

Giving Praise through the storms

I love the moments leading up to a Spring Thunder Storm. When I was a little girl my mom and I would cuddle up on the couch with a blanket and open the blinds to watch as the storm would make its way to our house. All of my senses just become alive and stimulated. The sudden change in temperature, the breeze on my face, the roll of thunder, and beautiful lightning just makes me feel so alive. I could see the clouds rolling in so after putting Noah to bed, I just snuck out on the back porch and cuddled up in a chair and enjoyed the moment. Sitting there I began to think back on the storms I have faced in life. Many times I have prayed and just felt like God wasn't listening but now looking back I am so thankful for His unanswered prayers. During college I was in a very unhealthy relationship and used to pray for God to make it work but He had much bigger plans for me. As the storm continued to roll in, it begin to rain and as the drops of rain landed on my skin I realized how God uses the storms of our lives to bring us closer to Him and the rain cleanses us of our burdens. I am just so thankful that God carries our burdens for us if we will only ask.

Love Dare day 10- Love is Unconditional

Today's Dare: Love is Unconditional
Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse- something that proves (to you and them) that your love is based on your choice and nothing else. Wash her car. Clean the kitchen. Buy his favorite dessert. Fold the laundry. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

This book is so powerful! If you have been following along with the dares I highly suggest buying the book too. There has been so much change going on in our lives lately that has both stressed us completely out but at the same time brought us closer. We had made the decision to sale our house but then 6 days later realized this just is not the time. I am trying to cut back at work and have met some road blocks. At first it is so easy to become upset and let others get under skin but finally after a great romantic dinner with my fabulous husband I have come to understand that my God is great and I am not going to let people bring me down to their level. Today's reason discussed the reasons why we love our spouse and I can simply say josh just makes me a better person and I love him for just being Him.

Love Dare Day 9- Love Makes Good Impressions

Today's Dare: Love Makes Good Impressions
Think of a specific way you'd like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.
Today's dare seems simple enough but the reading in the book was wonderful. I am a smiler I always have been and i hope I always continue to be. I have laugh lines at the tender age of 27 but I have earned them and enjoy knowing they are there because I have laughed and laughed hard pretty much daily. Even when I am down I can usually hide it while in public and I keep that smile on my face, but the person who can see right through me is of course Joshua. He is the one person who sees me at my worst and continues to love me. When reflecting on today's challenge I thought of a hundred different ways I should be greeting that man of my dreams. When we first got married and I would hear his car pull into the driveway I would jump up along with our huge white furry dog and we would both run out to meet our guy on the porch. Now I don't think I even get up to unlock the door at times. But this will all be changing as of right now! I love when he calls me to just say I love you or those unexpected visits at work. Think back to when you and your spouse were just dating and the little things you did and lets start doing them again, place a card on their car window while their working or my personal favorite, show up with a nice hot beverage from starbucks. You know what they like so take 5 minutes to make them smile.

On your Mark, get Set, Lets Run!

Please hold me accountable! I WILL be running the Decker's Creek half marathon June 5th. If you are interested in joining in let me know. I am starting the 10 week traning in 50 minutes :0. I have a 10 week training program that I think looks pretty good so I am going to give it a try. I will keep everyone posted on how I am doing (good or bad). Time to get my run on!

Love Dare Day 8- Love is not Jealous

I am pretty much over a month behind and each night I would lay in bed thinking how I would restart my love dare journey but then the next day it would once again be pushed aside. So here we go again and I apologize to all of you who have been doing the dares with me but hold me accountable and we will finish all 40 days together!
Today's Dare:
Determine to become your spouse's biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

This is an area I struggle with, Last summer Josh joined a country club and played golf frequently. He loves golf and I knew that when we got married, golfing is actually how we met. But for some reason each time he wanted to go I would pout or throw myself a pity party and just wanted him to stay home with me. This chapter made me realize that at times I just need to put my big girl pants on and stop thinking about myself.

Always Remembered

Yesterday made 3 years since my poppaw went home to be with his Heavenly Father. I find it hard sometimes to focus on the life he lived while not being overwhelmed by how he left. He was truly the first person that I had loved that left this world and I just wasn't ready. Many of you know my Grandpa was the only Father I ever had an he was a GREAT one! We never really said many words but we just had an unspoken bond. My poppaw walked me down the aisle the day I married Josh and I remember right before the ceremony everyone else had already walked out and we were standing on the steps. I was so nervous and excited that I don't remember half the things he said but he just wrapped his arm around me and told me to calm down, don't be nervous everything is going to be fine. I just wish Noah would have been able to have those same wonderful arms around his shoulders and experience my poppaw teaching him how to trout fish. I know we will see each other again and that provides comfort during the pain. Here is a slideshow of images my mommaw had and I thought I would share the life of the most amazing man I know.

Free to be ME!

I love how God allows me to "mess" up over and over again before he finally gets bored with watching me make the same mistakes and steps in to show me the way. I have heard our preacher talk on how people will associate their faith with their good deeds but I never thought I was one of those people that fell into this category. Each morning I wake up get ready for work, drink my coffee and I am just so full of life and energy and I think today is THE day it is going to be great but then 830 rolls around and I loose all my pep and excitement and even begin to grumble about silly things at work. 330 can't come quick enough and I am dying to punch out and just head home but I feel like I have failed for the day. I wasn't that happy girl that I told myself I would be today and I said that curse word when I shouldn't have. These acts are what I have been measuring myself with and worse it is how I thought God was measuring me. Each evening I have literally beat myself up over the areas where I feel like I have failed during the day and make promises that tomorrow I am going to be a better person. With expectations like this it is only natural to fail. I am just thankful God doesn't measure his love for me based on good deeds and it is ok to just be ME. I love this song and it just makes me happy that God loves me for who I am. Yes I am a perfectionist and wish I weren't but God sees past this and no matter if I grumble or become negative he loves me for me.

Introducing Baby Mayla

We have anticipated that arrival of baby Mayla for 9 months!! She finally blessed us with her arrival on January 30! Ashley is already transitioning into the motherhood role and she is a natural! Congratulations to you guys!

Bedtime Prayers

I will admit that as a little girl I slept in my moms bed way longer than I probably should have. Even the nights when I would attempt to be a big girl, I would start out in my bed but always ended up with mom by morning. I loved how at night once we hopped in bed she would snuggle me tight and instead of saying our nightime prayers we would sing them. Noah is finially at the point where he doesn't scream when we put him down for the night so I have been so blessed to begin this same tradition with my little guy. So for the past few weeks each night when I lay him down I sing his bedtime prayers to him and top it off with a kiss. Tonight Josh laid him down while I was cleaning up the kitchen and at first I thought he was just talking to Noah but I walked over to the steps and my heart melted as I heard Josh singing Noah his bedtime prayers. These are the little moments that make me stop and just thank God for his blessings.

Love Dare Day 7- Love Believes the Best

Today's Dare:
For today's dare, get two sheets of peper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose and plan for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for hving this characteristic.

Love Dare- Day 6- Love is not Irritable

There is plenty of snow and from what I have heard there will be plenty more coming. We have lost power, cable and internet off and on since Saturday. This puts us a little behind on the Love Dare Challenge but we will just pick up where we left off today on day 6.
Todays Dare:
Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list of areas where you need to add Margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.
This is a perfect dare for me, I have never been able to tell others no which always leaves me stetching myself a little too thin. I need to challenge myself to place my priorities 1.) God 2.) Family 3.) work. I often let work move its way up to that number one slot.

Justin + Amber + Baby = Family

I had the pleasure of meeting Amber and Justin to document this new chapter in their lives. The past 2 maternity shoots I have done, both couples are waiting the their babies are born to find out the sex. I have no idea how you guys do it, I can't even keep a surpise for longer than 2 days. This couple is beautiful on the inside and out and I know they are going to be such a happy family, Congratulations to you both and thank you for allowing me to capture this moment of life.

Gratitude

I love snow storms when I can enjoy them from the comforts of my own home and not be on call at the hospital, which is exactly what this weekend it for me! Today was a slow day at the hospital but one encounter has been on my mind all day. When my grandpa was sick it meant so much for me to pray with him before he would go to surgery. This is not a practice I witness often these days with families but today was different. Before we took our patient for her procedure her dad wanted to have prayer, so we told them to have at it while we bowed our heads. As this father prayed for his daughter and just gave praise to God for their many blessings he then begin to pray for her nurses. As I stood there with my head bowed I was humbled that this man that doesn't know me is praying for me and for God to just give me the wisdom to help take care and protect his daughter. There really are no words to describe the power of prayer. Often people will state "oh we are praying for you" and I'm not sure how to word this politely but you just just know they are only saying what sounds nice. I am going to think about family and friends tonight and pick out one person to pray for each day for 30 days. I encourage you to give this a try. I can't describe how awesome it felt today to have that father praying for me, someone he doesn't know. So take it one step farther, tell that person at the end that you have been praying for them or write it down each day (that you prayed for them and what you prayed for) and then give them the paper. Remember the power of prayer!
For those of you doing the love dare with me. I really did not want to do today's dare. The idea of Josh telling me 3 things I do that irritate him made me feel vulnerable and a little insecure. So while we were laying on the couch watching Noah play and just talking I asked him to give me 3 things I do that make hime uncomfortable or irritated. His response was unexpected, he looked at me and calmly said "nothing" so then I started to name my bad habits. "Well how about how I leave my photography stuff everywhere around the house?" then Josh began to justify my actions for me. He responded, "honey your just busy and working so hard, what would that say about me if I didn't support you, I love you." He is definitely my better half and I had to laugh tonight when my Aunt Amanda said you guys are just good for each other kinda like peanut butter and jelly.

The Love Dare- Day 5 Love is not rude

Good Morning everyone!! What a crazy start to the weekend. They have already called off school in Morgantown and are expecting several inches of snow! I am so excited for the snow and a chance to take some amazing "couples" pictures tomorrow.
Today's Dare:
Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attcking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.
To be honest I am really not looking forward to this one. I'm curious as to waht three things Josh will tell me but I know I will have a hard time not justying my actions. so, even if your feelings get hurt just remember this is to help you grow stronger together. Good luck and stat safe this weekend.

Love Dare Day 4 - Love is Thoughtful

Hey guys, I am soo sorry this post is a little late today but I have been in meetings all morning and getting ready to start another one here in a minute so this is going to be brief ofr no.

Today's Dare:
Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Good luck and by the way, Josh LOVED his gift yesterday!

Love

Ok, I have never really liked Valentines Day, I don't really have a reason for why I don't like it but I just don't. I have always thought you should tell that special person you love them everyday not just Valentines Day. Sunday my To Do list was getting out of control so Josh took Noah to out and they went to grab dinner but when they returned I was surprised with a beautiful Orchid!!

This is just another reason I am so thankful for having such a great husband! When I am stressed out with work and everyday life he always seems to bring me back to reality. Today is only the 3rd day of the love dare but I am having so much fun with this. I mentioned yesterday how much Josh loves to have his back rubbed so today I went to the Waterfront spa today and bought him not only a massage but a massage sample. I have never had a massage but I know he is going to love this! he gets 3 different 50min massages (swedish, stone therapy, and deep tissue). Josh went to the WVU game tonight and I can't wait for him to get home so I can surpise him! Hope you guys all had a great day and look forward to tommorrow's dare.

Love Dare Day 3- Love is not selfish

Hope everyone did well yesterday with your dares. Josh and I stayed up late watching "Lost" so by the time we went to bed it was past our bedtimes, so I turned over and asked, "would you like me to rub your back?" In his half sleep state he replied, "no I'm alright." So I really didn't complete my dare but I did try, kinda.
Today's topic is Love is not selfish.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor - Romans 12:10
Now for today's dare:
Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It's hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says "I was thinking of you today."
This one should be fun, I have no idea what I am going to buy Josh. Let me know what you guys all buy.

Love Dare Day 2- Love is Kind

Ok, so hopefully everyone had a great first day and didn't say anything negative to your spouse yesterday! So here is today's dare.
"In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness."
This one should be quite simple, I know Josh loves to have his back rubbed and I HATE to do it but today this will be my very unexpected act of kindess. Let me know how this is working for you guys.

The Love Dare - Day 1

First off, I am so excited to experience this with each of you that sent me an email saying you were in. I am posting the dare here on the blog but then I will also send you a little more infor via email today. So for the first day the topic is Love is Patient.
Today's Dare: The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

Sounds simple enough, let me know how you guys do with it.

Fabulous Valentines!!!!

Ok Ladies, Valentines Day is just around the corner and this is the year to Blow his socks off!! Typically you go out to dinner, rent a movie, and receive some flowers but what do you get him?? You probably bought him a little stuffed Elephant with a red heart that he has kept in his sock drawer because he doesn't want to hurt your feelings... that's all going to change this year! Show him just how much you love him with a gift he will treasure for years to come. This year surprise him with a fabulous self portrait of YOU!!! I am launching a Valentines Boudoir special, put on your tallest stilettos, favorite lingerie and top it off with some glittery jewels. I am only accepting 10 shoots from now til the first weekend of February so hurry up and email to reserve your spot. Feel free to invite your best girlfriends and lets celebrate just how fabulous you are. Special price is 250 which includes shoot, edited images on CD, 50 print credit and of course a bottle of champagne to top your special night off. Be Bold, Be Beautiful and give him a gift to remember!