At first, I really wanted to make one with a blue background and white embroidery, but I would have had to make a trip to JoAnn’s, so I challenged myself to do this project using only materials I already had.  I’ve never done embroidery before, but found some tutorials online, and used a “split stitch” to do the lettering.  I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

I think crafting while drinking tea and watching old episodes of “Road to Avonlea” (my favorite childhood tv show) is the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

www.loveletterphotography.net

Please check it out!

I am planning on keeping all my professional photography stuff on the new website and this blog will go back to just being my personal blog for family and friends.

I’m really excited and hopefull that Loveletter Photography will continue to grow.  I feel blessed to be able to pursue something that I love.

Most of the time, I am failing at contentment, patience and trust.  But I’m trying.  And God is teaching me.

While some of my “bigger” prayers have gone unanswered for now, I am so thankful for the smaller ones that He has lovingly responded to. In particular: encouragement. I pray every day for encouragement to get through that day.  And He has been so faithful and kind to me.

Here are a few things that have encouraged me this week.:

“Therefore, we do not lose heart.   Though outwardly, we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

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“If the ships of prayer do not speedily return, it is because they are heavily loaded with blessings. When prayer is not immediately answered, it will be all the sweeter when the answer arrives. Prayer, like fruit, is ripened by hanging longer on the tree.” -unknown (via this amazing blog)

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“God never witholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God’s refusals are always merciful- severe mercies at times, but mercies all the same. God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.” - Elisabeth Elliott (via my sister-in-law, Danielle)

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“If you don’t like the picture of your life, guess what?  God’s not done with it yet.” - Kim Meeder (on this broadcast)

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

- – How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (a favorite hymn of mine)

Most of their bars only have a few ingredients listed on the package – and no sweeteners or preservatives.  They have flavors like “Apple Pie” and “Cashew Cookie” and they are a great breakfast on the go.   I often pack them in my camera bag on days that I am shooting a wedding and will need some quick and easy fuel.  I think they are kind of expensive though – at our grocery store, they are around $2.00 a bar.  So I decided to try and make my own.  I found some tutorials online, and found a couple for my very favorite flavor – Cherry Pie!

You just need three ingredients: dried cherries, unsalted roasted almonds and dates, as well as a food processor.

You start by grinding up 1 cup of almonds until they have a sandy consistency.

Remove the almonds, and put a cup of cherries and a cup and a half of dates into the food processor.

Process until it forms a ball.  Add the almonds back in and process, adding a little bit of water (I added a teaspoon) if it seems dry.

You should have a nice ball that looks like this:

Press the ball into a bread pan (I used a 9 x 5 inch pan) lined with wax paper.

Let sit out for a few hours to dry the bars up a little bit.  Cut them into 8 bars, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate!

I’m so excited about how easy they are.  I didn’t calculate out the cost, but another website estimated .35/.40 cents a bar and that sounds about right to me.  I’m excited to experiment with some other flavors.

Homemade Cherry Lärabars

1 cup unsalted, roasted almonds
1 cup dried cherries
1 1/2 cup dates

Put almonds in food processor. Process until the almonds are “sandy”. Put the almonds in a bowl.

Put cherries and dates into food processor. Process until pureed. Add almonds back in. Process, adding water if needed. (I used 1 teaspoon). The “dough” should create a ball in the food processor.

Press dough ball in a bread pan, lined with wax paper. Leave the pan out for a few hours to dry out the bars. Cut into 8 bars, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to eat.

* I’ve been busy with Loveletter Photography! I haven’t posted much on here, but please check out my facebook page for photos and updates. (Hopefully I’ll get caught up on sharing those shoots on here with you one of these days).  At times it feels overwhelming to be running a photography business and working full-time, but I am excited that starting in April, I will only be working at my office job 4 days a week.  I’m excited to have that extra day to photo-edit, clean my house, garden, do errands, etc!

* I went on a whirlwind trip to South Carolina in the beginning of March to see two of Funnel’s brothers graduate from the Marine Corps.  Funnel wasn’t able to come unfortunately, but I had a great time with his family.  We were able to tour Parris Island, see my old friend Ann, go to the beach for the afternoon, and spend some quality time with Zac and Micah.  I’m so proud of those boys! (Oh!  And I was able to read “The Hunger Games” on the ride down!)  You can see a video I made of our trip here.

* Funnel & I attended “The Night of Warmth,” a fundraiser for Ethiopian Orphan Relief, at the end of February.  Some of my friends helped plan the event and almost all of our friends from church were there.  It was a really fun evening of food, drinks, music, and a silent & live auction.  Over $17,000 was raised! We are already excited for next year’s event.  Pictured below is the little doll we bid on and won – I love him!

* I’ve barely had time to sew (boooooo!) but I was able to add two borders to one of my “Children at Play” quilts I started a couple months ago.  I just love this fabric line!  I hope I can do more sewing this spring!

* On the cooking/baking front, I’ve been trying some new recipes, but not too many stand out enough that I would make them again.  I have a blank cookbook that I jot down recipes in, but only if I really love the recipe and would add it to our regular meal rotation, and I haven’t added too many lately.  Last night, I made Our Best Bites’ Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce and Funnel and I both thought it was really tasty.  I think that one may go on the cookbook, maybe after I tweak it a bit.  Does anyone have any go-to recipes I should try? (Below are some cakepops I made for a friend’s shower.)

* It has been unseasonably warm here in Ohio, and I am loving every second of it.  It is amazing how much happier I feel when the weather is nice and I can feel the sun on my skin.  I’ve been taking some walks around the neighborhood.  I especially love it in the mornings when I can hear the gibbons across the street.

* Next Thursday is my birthday and it’s the first birthday that I’ve taken the day off of work.  I am calling it “Jen day” and Funnel and I are going to spend the whole day going on adventures and doing all the things I love to do.  My list of possible ideas include going to Rising Park, seeing “The Hunger Games”, wearing fake eyelashes, visiting the Westerville “beach”, going on a donut run, walking around Otterbein, frisbee golfing,  and buying a pet bunny.  I put that last thing on the list as a joke, but I also am kind of serious.

I thought I would end this long post with a verse that has encouraged me lately:
“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself ‘the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him”
- – Lamentations 3:22-24

Here are a few photos from the past couple of weeks:

(Photos: homemade Valentines made by my mother-in-law, sister-in-laws and myself, post-it note heart on our living room wall, Starbucks stamped with a little message, sugar cookies I made for my work’s Valentine’s Day party, and Valentine’s gifts exchanged with Mr. Frederick).

I’m working on two “charm quilts”made out of Sarah Jane’s “Children at Play” line.  I just ordered additional fabric today for a border and for the back piece for each of them.  They are small quilts and I think they would be cute hung in a child’s room or a nursery:

I started this runner for the top of our dresser:

And with the extra strips I cut, I was able to make two striped pillows.  Here’s one of them on our living room couch:

Sewing is good for my soul.

I could make a list of a thousand things I love about the great state of Ohio, but what I hate most of all is the winter.  It’s dark and gloomy and cold. I feel like I can never get warm enough, even after a long, hot shower and getting into my most flannelest pajamas.

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I’ve been keeping semi-busy with photographing little babies.  Here’s a favorite photo from each of my last three jobs (full posts coming soon, promise.):

Claire’s newborn shoot:

Lucy’s first birthday party:

Jack’s three month shoot:

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“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I made this little Christmas tree garland with some scrap green and red fabric I had and a spool of red and white baker’s twine that I bought on etsy:

Funnel bought this goomba hat with his Gamestop Power-up Reward points.  I think it’s so cute.  Maybe I’ll be a goomba for Halloween next year:

Last night, Funnel & I went on a much needed date – Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo.  We bundled up, made a pit stop at Starbucks, and spent the evening looking at all the Christmas lights and animals.  I only took a few photos -and NONE of Funnel & I or the lights .  I’m a bad photographer.

This afternoon, I baked some Christmas cookies –  peanut butter blossoms (with Reeses cups instead of kisses) for Funnel to take to work tommorow:

And here is my list of Christmas movies I’ve watched so far:
Christmas Vacation
Elf
Love Actually
Miracle on 34th Street

One week until Christmas – I can’t wait!