All the Toys Are Hers

"Come on in! We're getting ready for a wedding!"
(I bid on a photography package at a recent auction on a session with professional photographer Brenda Thornton. 
One of the things I got do during this session was to shadow Brenda on a pre-wedding shoot. These are some of the photos I took that day.)

This is Smokey Joe, the bride's beautiful dog. And that is her gorgeous wedding gown that he is posing so perfectly on.

Of course we might need a little encouragement - hahaha! Actually not, although this was a cool idea of the bride's.
You will notice several toys in these photos - for the most part they all belong to the bride. I think this shotgun was actually her father's.

Once you are to this point, you need a gorgeous wedding gown, . . .

. . . a really elegant pair of shoes, . . .

. . .  and a beautiful bouquet.

Smokey Joe seems to have given his seal of approval on this match :).

I mentioned toys. This particular toy belongs to the bride. She is a captain with the state highway patrol.

These are far and away the best props for any wedding shoot I've been involved in!

I don't think the groom is intimidated one little bit - hehehe!

Also the bride's. And Smokey Joe is right at home in that little basket!

This awesome ride belongs to the bride's parents. Beautiful!
Brenda was recreating a photograph they took of the bride standing beside this car when she was a little girl.

Not sure who the harvester belonged to, but it was spectacular. Shiny and brand new looking - pristine condition. A perfect ride!


These were taken in the bride's back yard. Just gorgeous!


Then we were off to the chapel. And it was beautiful!
What a wonderful location for a wedding!

I loved the architecture! So beautiful.

I know that any shot Brenda took in front of these windows will look totally different from this one.
She knows what she's doing, whereas I had no idea how to shoot like this,
but I still like the way it turned out.

Another one of her parents' cars.

Our old courthouse, of great significance to her family.

This as an incredible pre-wedding shoot. Brenda, thanks so much for letting me shadow you on this trip. And thanks to the bride and groom for allowing me to tag along. You are such a wonderful couple! I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the actual wedding. May God richly bless your marriage and bring you much joy!

Getting Ready Takes .. a Moment? or a Lifetime?

"A mother's children are portraits of herself."

"A mother holds her children's hands for a while, their hearts forever."

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." Marion C. Garretty.

Behold: He Knocks

Ask, and it shall be given you;

Seek, and ye shall find;

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20

Glorious View

I feel like I am failing my blog if I don't post something every couple days - lol! Here is one last shot from the seminary campus in Wake Forest, North Carolina. I shot this from inside the chapel on campus. I am hoping with my black background on this page - the black borders around the window will fade out into the blog page and all you will see is the window. Now to check and see if it worked .....

Click This Stained Beauty to Show in Full Screen

You know I am always on the lookout for great crosses and stained glass. Well, here's my latest find. This window is located in Christian Family Chapel (I believe that's the right name) in Jacksonville. Our speech and debate chapter meets there. We had our awards program last week in the sanctuary. That's where I found this beautiful window that I wanted to share with you. No sage words to share, just a beautiful window that looks its best when you click on it and look at it in full screen. Well, actually it does remind me of these verses:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

~ John 15:1-2,5 ~

The Beauty of the Cross

The Communicators For Christ Masters Conference was held in Austin, Texas. Classes and activities were held at Crestview Baptist Church. As you know, I am always looking for unusual crosses to show here at The Shadow of the Cross. Well, Crestview had some beautiful ones and here they are.

This cross is actually photoshopped a bit. The photo below shows what it really looked like, hanging over the choir pit. I literally had to climb over some construction stuff, paint cans, and a bunch of other junk to get to it.
They also had all these awesome stained-glass windows.

Yes, these crosses are beautiful. When I see the cross, I see Christ. I see what He did for me. I see forgiveness, and love, and a future. What do you see?

Topper Play

I had forgotten about this topper. Awhile back I traveled around neighboring communities taking photos of different crosses that I liked. I thought since I named my blog The Shadow of the Cross, it should have some cross shots on it somewhere. So I got some cool photos, learned a bit about some different churches, and I joined that with some other pics I already had. What I came up with were some sample blog toppers. I found this one tonight as I was flipping through old computer files. Click on the photo and it should open up in full screen. What do you think about this one? Do you recognize where any of these were taken?

Stained Glass Gospel - Show & Tell Friday

Today is Show & Tell Friday at Kelli's. You can check it out here.

I have always loved stained glass windows. I recently combined that love with photography. I am combining this post with one I listed a couple days ago, but first, here are three photos I took at Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky. My daughter is planning on attending Boyce in a couple years. The third shot includes Kali.

My earlier post:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ~ Luke 2:8-11 ~

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
~ John 10:9-11,14 ~

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

~ John 17:14-18 ~

He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

~ Luke 22:41-42 ~

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
~ Isaiah 53:5-6 ~

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

~ I Thessalonians 5:28 ~
* * * * * * * *

These beautiful stained glass windows can be seen in the Kilarney Baptist Church, Winter Park, Florida. As I looked at them, I noticed they told a story if you followed them around the sanctuary, starting with the nativity, as I am sure they were meant to. I pulled some of my favorite scriptures to go with them. I hope you enjoy this gospel message shared through stained glass. I loved it and found it to be so beautiful.

Please visit Kelli's to see other Show & Tells.