It was just a fun day!

These last three photos are the all-around women's and men's winners and the little sweetheart who was a big part of the inspiration of our courageous leader, Grant, to organize this race.

Congratulations to all the participants! Grant, you did an amazing job! And thank you so much to Ian from She Is Safe for traveling all the way from Atlanta to run and share your vision with us! We were so honored to host you in our home. We really enjoyed the inspiring discussions!

See all the race photos here!

She Is Safe is a ministry that aids at risk girls and women across the world, with a focus on those who are or could become human trafficking victims.

I just loved this feature from Ruche in honor of mothers everywhere.

I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon with the Edwards family in downtown Kinston and I couldn't wait to put up a sneak peek. This is one of my faves with all the ladies of the family! Aren't they gorgeous?!

There's more...coming soon!

May is a busy month! Lots of celebrations – Mother’s Day, our anniversary and my birthday (the last two are on the same day). There is a lot of pressure on Josiah this month.

There are also some exciting events coming up! In less than two weeks, I will be seeing Wicked in Durham! I am so excited. I love musicals and I love the music from Wicked. I can not wait to see it performed live!

We also have the Run to Rescue in just three weeks! If you are interested in running, walking, volunteering or sponsoring, please contact me!

I wanted to give y’all a glimpse of how big my two babies are getting! Dec is almost crawling. He does that thing when he gets on all fours and rocks back and forth. It’s better than what he had been doing – smooshing his face into the ground and screaming because his arms wouldn’t coordinate with his legs. Mckenna astounds us everyday with things she says and how she says them. She is just like a mini adult. She loves dresses and wants to wear one everyday.They keep us laughing and smiling and very very busy!

Here are my goals for May. I’m keeping it light since portrait and wedding season is in high gear. Hopefully I’ll have some portraits up for you soon!

• Update my website portfolio (this is way overdo!)
• Work on Three eleven Photography branding
• Start my business binder
• Memorize I Peter 4:7-11
• Go see Wicked!
• Photograph the Run to Rescue!
• Read II Samuel, I & II Kings, I Chronicles

Thank you for reading! If you have goals for May, please share in the comments below. Let’s motivate each other!

I also love hosting tea. It is work, I'm not going to lie, which is the reason I've only hosted tea once. I'd like to do it more, but who has time for that, really. I wish I did, but I tend to over invite people to events, so it becomes way too huge. Maybe I should open a tearoom... (I'll add that to my list of ideas for businesses). Or maybe, I should just invite fewer people - that's far less fun, though.

We are hosting a small group for a dinner this week and I have decided to serve High Tea (aka Savory Tea or Meat Tea - this is not a tea made from meat - haha! It's a meal served in early evening in the traditional tea fashion with several courses and tea sandwiches - yum!).

We'll see how it goes. I kind of think I'm crazy trying to do this on a weeknight, but we'll see. They're all good friends so they won't judge.

Anyway, I was so excited to get Ruche's latest DIY magazine. It has some delightful ideas that can be incorporated into a tea, home decor, or DIY wedding reception decor if you're thinking of having an English tea themed wedding. Go take a peek here. I want to try the tiered dessert tray. I've also seen it made with plates and candlestick holders. So cute!

This is a page from the latest DIY magazine from Ruche

Speaking of messes, yesterday I did some Spring-cleaning. I love Spring-cleaning, well, not the window scrubbing Spring-cleaning, but the getting rid of clutter Spring-cleaning. There are several times a year when I get the itch to declutter. We have too much stuff! And we have to find places for all that stuff. There never seems to be enough places, or the right categories for all that stuff.

It all just gives me anxiety – which is magnified when I don’t get enough sleep. It seems like the stuff comes in faster than I can get rid of it - especially paper.  Whoever said that the paper business is going to be obsolete soon should come to my house.

And don’t even get me started on digital files, downloads, emails, etc.

In essence all that stuff is just a distraction and a burden. It hogs our attention and focus from what is real and important – God and other people. Join me in simplifying life, and get rid of that clutter. We CAN live with less.

What’s the solution? Well, I haven’t found one yet. Do you have any ideas?

There’s a blog that I read to help curb some of my anxiety about all that stuff – Small Notebook. Yesterday’s post is a great one for those of us hanging on to sentimental possessions (my hand is up).

One thing that helps me with the paper influx – I don’t let that junk mail even enter the house. On you way from the mailbox, I stop at the herbie (that’s the trash bin or recycle bin you take to the street), and throw away anything that is not important. I even open my mail and throw away the envelopes I don’t need. I pay most bills online.

Please share your wisdom in the comments below. We all need help with this!

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to hear the founder and president of She is Safe, Michele Rickett speak about her ministry, and I have never been the same. Some of the facts and statistics she shared with us shattered my idea of the world around us.  It is just horrible. Horrible. Millions of girls are being discarded like animals, or even worse.

But there is hope. She is Safe is working to save these girls. A small group at our church is organizing a Trail Run/ Walk to raise money for She is Safe.

Watch this video. Please. Watch it.

Then, consider helping us raise money to support She is Safe by being a runner, walker or sponsor at the Run to Rescue in Kinston on May 19, 2012.  You can see more info on the facebook page here, and you can register here (http://www.active.com/running/kinston-nc/the-run-to-rescue-2012).

If you can’t be involved in this event, just go to www.SheIsSafe.org and donate. You will literally save a life. If you would like more info, please contact me.

Leave a comment below if this video made an impact on you and you want to do something about it.

I have not had much time to think lately, but I have had a lot of talks. Talks with others and myself. Thinking to myself is different than talks with myself. Thoughts are more rambling and free, but talks are succinct and motivating, actually, more commanding. Kind of like locker room talks or team huddles. I seem to be having a lot of these with myself lately.

Maybe its because we’ve been watching a lot of college basketball. I am an Ohio State fan and I really enjoy watching Aaron Craft play. (For those who bleed Carolina blue, he reminds me of Tyler Hansbrough.) He is full of energy and a little bit of desperation. He knows what he has to do and doesn’t care what happens to him when he does it – he lays it all out there on the court. That energy is transferred to the other players. I just love that. It is so inspirational. I want that energy and that drive.

But there is a reason basketball games are only 40 minutes long. No one can operate at that capacity 24/7, for most of us its not even possible for 8/5. We need rest, we need downtime, and we need motivational speeches – times to just listen and be inspired.

This balance of preparation, rest and action are key when running a home business. In order to reach goals, all three of these must have a place in everyday life. Its like a career athlete, he starts out at a young age on a pee-wee team and, sure, his dream is to one day win the NCAA National Championship, but right now he must focus on the fundamentals.

Running a business is so similar. I start with a dream – this is my ultimate goal for my business? Now, how do I get there? I break it down into years, months and then days. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance, and the earlier this is realized, the better.

On Saturday, I had a transformational pep talk with myself (now… who doesn’t do this?). One question arose and it really hit me: “How badly do I want this?”  I realized later that two other questions must come after the first: 1. What will I have to give up? 2. Is it worth it? And I am a Christian, so there’s always the ultimate question that must precede all others: Is this what God wants for me?

So… how badly do you want your dream?

Here are my April Goals. The ones crossed out are March’s accomplished goals.

Edit and deliver all School Picture Day proofs

Clear out my desk (I have got to do this!)

Update my website portfolio (ditto!)

“Build” an awesome new desk

Put up new shelves in my office

Organize the laundry room

Work on Three eleven Photography branding

Take a photo every day

Memorize Psalm 31:3-4 (Memorize 12 Bible passages this year)

Read Judges through II Kings (Read the Bible in a Year)

Escape to the beach with Josiah for our anniversary

Seasoned readers of the Three Eleven Photography blog are very familiar with Ruche. If I could buy one of everything in their store, I would. If you like delicate, feminine and vintage-style clothing, accessories or home goods, you will fall in love with Ruche. It’s as simple as that.

I was ecstatic (to say the least) when they announced their new bridal line. The bridal gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses are very affordable and simply gorgeous. They have a very eclectic collection. A gown for every wedding, including formal wedding gowns, fun reception dresses and exit dresses.

Let’s have a little fun. Whether you’re married or not, pick out the dresses you would choose from this Lookbook to try on for your wedding and put them in a comment below. After I hear a couple of yours, I’ll tell you mine.

So take a minute and soak in the loveliness of their lookbook. You may want to hop over to the site and look at their everyday-wear too.