carin + danny

December 17, 2019

two years today

I was new to the neighborhood. I was called to teach the laurels (YW church group age 16-18). Mary was in my class. We always ended with a closing prayer. I would ask for a volunteer. There was a pause and then Mary volunteered. The only reason Mary hesitated was because she had said it…
December 1, 2019

advent calendar: Christmas books

We have had this tradition since our girls were small. Sometime before December 1st (usually November 30th…and sometimes the morning of the 1st), I wrap 25 books from our Christmas picture book collection. I generally buy a few each year, some have been gifts we have received, a few I have even bought at a…
November 26, 2019

WONDER & SILENCE

I was taught a powerful lesson this Sunday. A young man, who I admire so much, was giving a talk during our church service. His subject was prayer. He stated how many prayers we would have said at that point of the day on a Sunday morning. I can’t remember the number he used—but I…
November 25, 2019

create a dream: an apartment complex

My husband Danny read daily from his vision board, OWN A 10PLEX. His vision became a reality when our dear friends decided to sell their apartments. It is a complex that houses 10 families…55 and older. It has been a lot of work for him. He spends every Saturday there, especially in the warm months,…
November 11, 2019

100 day challenge: round two

I finished my 100 day challenge. I challenged myself to go without sugar (desserts, candy, ice cream, chocolate, etc…) for 100 days. I posted about it here and here. My last day of the challenge was on October 30th. I hadn’t planned for Halloween day to arrive in celebration of the end, but it did.…
October 15, 2019

J + J + the cutest Winston you will ever meet

The very best part of choosing to be a photographer over 14 years ago, is the friends it’s brought into my life. Some of those friends have been in front of my lens, others a seat in my classroom and others (fellow photographers) shooting alongside me. Many of you fall under one of those categories-and…
October 14, 2019

poverty doesn’t define me.

I recently finished the book YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY by Jen Sincero. I loved the book. (If swearing isn’t your thing, know that there is plenty of it in this book.) I gained so much insight, and it has given weeks (if not months!) of journaling|self reflecting work to go through. One…
October 3, 2019

picking apples
September 24, 2019

6 benefits of quitting sugar

I am over half way into my 100 DAY CHALLENGE that I shared yesterday. I don’t want it to end, which is crazy…because you don’t know anyone who loves ice cream and chocolate more than me. But this challenge has created a shift in me that I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR. I want to share…
September 24, 2019

quitting sugar

I was tired…physically tired, YES, but even more tired of the excuses. ‘If it is dark chocolate-it’s good for me’ ‘what is a life without ice cream…or cookies? ‘I’ll start Monday’ ‘Is it really that bad?’ ‘Can I be a good mom if I don’t make homemade cookies? ‘I don’t want to be obsessive or…