Life is one of the greatest gifts and the future can be one of the biggest distractions from our today. Whether we are dreaming or worrying, if we let it, those things can steal from the moment that God has given us right here, right now. And in these now moments are treasure to be discovered. This is where life happens. Here are seven simple reminders that can pull you into your today.

There is this look on the face of a newborn as they sleep where it is almost as if they have surrendered to complete peace. It is almost like in that very moment you wonder if God might be hugging them. And sometimes even as we get older and as we age, as we sleep, we still hold that exact same expression.

Family photos are truly timeless and such a great keepsake for future generations.  Getting the family together to take those perfect portraits can turn into chaos if not approached correctly. There is usually a lot more to consider when it comes to a family photoshoot since there are members of all ages, which means that there is some extra coordination involved.

Time is a mystery. In one glance, you’re wanting to rush the seconds that make up a minute, so that you’ll get to the moment you’ve been waiting for, and in the next, you’re holding the hand of your son, wondering how he grew up so fast.

There is something about fall that feels like a new beginning, that makes us come alive a little more. One of the incredible things about what I do is being able to go on location. I have had the most amazing experiences with families, whether we are running through a field, walking down a path or dipping our feet in the cool lake water, it is a beautiful thing to see families come alive in how they interact with one another, how they are in their very element.

There is something that happens the first time you hold your sweet baby in your arms. You’re never the same. You’re changed. Suddenly, your life shifts from being mostly about you to all about the little life that you’re now holding. And in the midst of such a radical change, you’re in love. You are completely in love. You would trade in the sleeping in and all those beautiful inconveniences, for the pure delight of knowing and loving this little one.

We live in this culture of “get it done” and “do it fast.” We hustle and run through our days while our to-do lists outstretch our minutes and our days become like flurries. Have you felt it? Do you know it? Do you know the pressure to be all things to all people? And have you felt the fast-paced busyness of life get heavy on your soul?

The other day, I held the sweetest newborn in my arms. It made me think. It is a beautiful and brave season to be newly born. You’ve entered the world and everything, literally everything, is brand new. Your entire life story is unwritten. It is completely for the seizing and the revealing; who you’ll be, what you’ll do, where you’ll go is undecided. It is to be written. The possibility of that is beautiful.

They say you sound more friendly on the phone if you smile when you answer, and that you’re more approachable with a smile. In today’s world, it is so easy to rush, reaching to cross the next thing off the checklist that it is easy to forget the little things. It is so easy to even forget the joy of a smile. When you’re with your kids, when your husband comes home from a long day, when you feel frustrated, when nothing seems to be going right; just try to smile. 

Family is likely one of the most powerful forces in the entire world. And there are things about it that make it that way. Though for each of us, family is different; it is still home, it is  a place to belong and it is that place where we fit in perfectly.Family is knowing that no one could ever take your place. It is that spot where you are completely irreplaceable. It is that sweet place where you belong in all of your heart and personality and spunk; where you get to be unashamedly yourself every single day.

I will never forget the feeling in my heart when I found out that you were here, that you were alive, that you were growing on the inside of my swelling stomach. I won’t forget the look of joy and celebration on people’s faces as we told them with their gasps, and tears and squeals, as if you were the biggest gift. Because you are.

It's impossible to look through the images in this post and not smile. It's a fact - Old English Sheepdog puppies are adorable. I believe a well behaved dog can absolutely improve family life.My youngest child is 7 years old. My kids don't need help with as much as they used to. It seemed like a great time to introduce a gentle puppy into the mix.