last thoughts of summer. {dallas, tx engagement & wedding photographer}

It's 66 degrees outside.  My window is pushed open as wide as it will go and I'm sitting cross legged on my bedroom floor with my toes tucked up under me to stay warm.  I'm listening to the sound of my jon schmidt pandora station mingled with the sound of the lawnmower and enjoying the smell of fresh cut grass + my pumpkin spice candle.

I absolutely adore the changing of the seasons.  I was told the other day that you can't call it fall in texas, since the leaves don't actually turn colors and fall, they all just die--apparently autumn is the correct term.  And the slow quiet slip from summer into autumn is my favorite.  Not because I love autumn so much that I can't wait to see summer go...anyone who knows me at all knows that's not true.  But summer obsession aside, autumn is definitely my second favorite time of the year, and I'm happy to see that it's here.

This summer has been particularly sweet.  Not in a my-life-is-perfect sort of way.  But in a my-God-is-gracious kind of way.  These past few months have been the richest, happiest months of my life. This summer has been an adventure, it's been full of new experiences, of stretching scary moments--it's been full of growing up.  Something that has been a little bittersweet, but that I'm mostly ok with :)  I know, I'm 22 years old, surely I've gotten used to the idea of being grown up by now?  But quite honestly, I haven't.  There's a large part of me that still likes to pretend amidst running my own business, traveling all over, and paying bills, that I'm still just a kid.  I do cartwheels in the street sometimes, I shop in the little girls section, (the clothes are so much cheaper!) and I wear ribbons in my hair.

But despite the ribbons and cartwheels, a lot of growing up has happened this summer.  I've made some big decisions.  I've worked on being authentic (being the original person that I was made to be with a unique design and purpose given by the one true Author) and through that I've been stretched thin, scared, and been able to see God's power shine through my weaknesses.  I've seen some friendships come to an end, and new ones begin.  I've been blessed with the greatest (no really, the absolute best of the best) boy in the whole world as my best friend + boy friend, and been grateful a thousand times over for my family and their love.

I've heard it said that Grace is: getting something you don't deserve.  And this summer my full of grace God has given blessing upon blessing...I can't wait to see what this next season will hold.

Happy Autumn!

Much Love,
Jessica Shae

One Word 2011: personal {dallas, tx engagement and wedding photographer}

Words fascinate me. The way a few letters strung together just right can convey a whole feeling or thought when used correctly. I love knowing the history or detailed definition of a word, to help me better grasp just exactly how it's meant to be used. Because, lets face it, in America we tend to use words however we want, and then make them mean whatever we want.

After I'd agreed to do the one word challenge with my Whitney friend and I'd read over what exactly it meant, my mind froze. ONE WORD?? Just one? For a whole year?? I didn't know how I'd ever pick, and what if I picked the wrong one?? But even as I was stressing over how I was going to figure out what my one word was supposed to be God brought to mind something that He'd already been nudging me about over the last 2 weeks. The following conversation in my head went something like this:

"Oh dear, God, really? What's that even supposed to mean??"

"I want you to be _____"

"For a whole year God? That's the one big thing you want me to work on??"

"Yes"

"Well, bring it on"

And then I had to go and look up the exact definition of my word, so I could try and figure out what I was getting into.

Authentic \Au*then"tic\, a. [OE. autentik, OF. autentique, F authentique, L. authenticus: coming from the real author, of original or firsthand authority, Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register.

And

Authentic: conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief and trust.

And I got really really excited about my word :)

I want my life to be characterized by authenticity. I want to be "in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal". I want to be genuine, and what I "purport" to be (side-note. purport: another really cool word you need to look up if you don't know what it means:).

I want my business to be based on who God's made me to be and the specific dreams and goals He's given to me. I don't want to model my business exactly after the most successful photogs out there in the hopes that someday my business will be a carbon copy success like theirs. I don't want to spend so much time figuring out how everyone else is doing it, and forget to spend time figuring out how God might want ME to do it.

I especially love the first part of the definition "coming from the real author, of original or firsthand authority". It made me think of Heb. 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...". To be authentic as a Christian means being like my author, Jesus Christ, and staying true to the things He has shown me to be true. It means not chasing someone else's dreams, or worrying about someone laughing at my decisions. It means diligently seeking Christ about what He would have me do as a whole this year, and what He would have me do each individual day of this year, and then once I have a clear view of what that is, never letting go of it. Even in the face of opposition, taunting, or confusion. It means being open and honest with those closest to me about struggles I'm facing. It means admitting that I can't do it on my own. It means letting people see the real me, not the me I want them to see, or even the me I think they want to see.

Authentic.

It's a scary word.

But it's exciting :) And I'm looking forward to how God uses that word to continue to conform me to the image of His Son this year. And now that y'all know about it, you can help keep me accountable! And if any of you have decided to take part in the one word challenge I'd love to hear about it in the comments! :)

As Jonathan Edwards said, I am "Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live."

Much Love.

Jessica Shae

One Word: personal {dallas, tx engagement and wedding photographer}

Everyone who hates the thought of making, and then 2 months later, breaking a whole bunch of new years resolutions please raise your hand.

Mmmhhhmm. Just as I thought.

For me, a type A over-achiever kind of person, a new years resolution list is something that you HAVE to make, and in order to prove that you're any kind of spiritual or goal oriented person the list needs to be at least 40 points long. Duh. And believe me, every year it stresses me out thinking about what things should be on it, most of which I know I will put down and then 3 weeks later be making myself feel like a failure because I'm not actually following through with them.

This year I have a new idea.

It's not original to me, and I definitely can't take credit for it's brilliance. One of my friends introduced me to it and asked if I would do it with her, but the credit for the creation of the idea goes to this lady - Alece Ronzino.

And what is this brilliant idea, you ask?

O n e W o r d.

Forget the idea of two pages full of things that you will probably forget before the week's out, and ask God for one word. One thing He wants you to focus on. One word that will help shape all of your decisions, and the direction you take over the next year. Maybe you need to start by making a long list, and then slowly read over it trying to see common theme in the things you need to work on to find your one word.

I'm excited about this idea, and I'd love to invite all of you to join me! I've been praying and thinking about what my one word will be, and I'm pretty sure I know what it is. I'd love to have you take part in this challenge and then we can all keep each other accountable and we walk through the next year trying to stick close to the one thing we're supposed to be focusing on.

If you're in I'd love to hear that in the comments, but you don't have to tell me your word yet! I'll be sharing mine at the beginning of next week, after the new year, hopefully that gives each of you time to think through what your word will be.

Credit for this fabulous picture goes to Katie-yo ;)

Much Love.

Jessica Shae