Hellos from the road!

Hello friendlies!

Thank you each so much for your embraced love and support of my newest venture, Mustard.Seed.Photography. As many of you said, it's been a long time coming and it has really transformed things for me/in me this past week. By week two of it's big debut, I will have completed four/FOUR/fOuR photo.sessions. That's... awesome. I have some special support in my life right now. And the encouragement that pours through this blog/email is a huge part of things. Thank you. In other Mustard.Seed news, I'm ***this*** close to launching my website. I'm debating to whether to launch it 'almost perfect' just to get it up sooner... or be patient to have it 'absolutely perfect.' I can feel some of you rolling your eyes. You know me too well! I have a feeling we both know what I'll choose. ;)

Right now... as I type, I am in the lovely.city.of.Houston for the week. TheHotness has business which means a nice hotel and rental. Which means to me, that I have no floors to clean, meals to prepare, laundry to do... and an invisible house.elf that makes my bed and fluffs my pillows every time I leave. *Confession: I'm not a bed.maker. Seriously--- I always have fresh flowers in my house... I cook from scratch most meal... I sew and knit... all of that. BUT you'll never find a made bed in my house--- scratch that---- You'll ALWAYS find a made bed in my house, because the only time I make them is if people are coming over. Otherwise, they go un.made. BUT I tell you what, a made bed is a special thing... perhaps I'll change my ways?

AND my ten.year.highschool reunion is coming up. Like, next Saturday. *sigh* I'm actually looking forward to it. Odd, I know. But my Rachel/maid of honor is coming in town with her hunk... and my Carla and her hunk are all going. So that means my best girls and their sweeet boys will be together for ONE NIGHT ONLY without children or diaper bags. That alone is enough to get butterflies over. As of today, Thursday, I haven't decided on what to wear. True to form, I'm a procrastinator... and yes, I use my children as an excuse to continue procrastinating. However, I have good intentions for this weekend/week.

Highlights of this week so far:
*The Galleria with the boys... new shoes for James and Jax. So cute. James got a pair of new Chucks... this will be his fourth pair since he was born. I need to take a pic of the size progression... And Jax got a cute little Fox pair of Robeez to match his foxy.winter.wardrobe. :)
*hotel.Black.Out.curtains (as usual)
*Chipotle
*photo.sesh that included kissing Ghandi's feet, mosquito swarms, foxtails... and a rumored Storm.Trooper.
*Date.night with theHotness- and this very*special Cilantro vinaigrette
*a new installment to my GreenErica jewelry. Thanks to this very*very gifted artisan, I have a very envious.and.ample collection of pretties. One word: CITRINE. Hello, love...

Now I'm about to head off to Joann's to gather up some fabric... for... camera.straps? bebe.Madelyn's layette and bebe.gear... what else? Oh, maybe fabric for window treatments? We will see where the fabric takes me...

We will be heading home Friday some time... I've got a newborn shoot this weekend. :)

Peace, love, and momentum.
xo
lmkw

*Mountain.Moving*

I've always felt small. Small in my efforts. Small in my skills. Small.

I love big. I dream big. I try big... but ultimately, at the end of the day... when I'm left alone with my thoughts, I'm still small.

Maybe I'm not alone in this. Maybe we all feel small in some ways... but it doesn't really matter when I evaluate myself. Isn't it funny how we as mothers fall into this trap? Small!?!? Who me!?

Out of my mother's heart a family is born... fed. nurtured. protected.
I educate.
I work.
I correct.
I encourage.
I comfort.
I play.

All of that takes effort... but I hardly notice the effort. Because as a mother, the results of my efforts are so much larger than any sacrifice I have ever made. The bounty found at the end of the day dissolves whatever effort I put forth. My children are my portion, my prize. My family is my harvest. My God is my anchor, my strong tower.

It comes as no surprise here where we play with pencils, that I love photography. It's no secret that I am at home behind the lens and delight in the every.day beautiful I find around me. For years my friends have encouraged me to take that next step with my photography. They've begged, they've bullied, they've pushed me to give myself credit and live out my dream. But I'm small. Remember?

Then six months ago, my heart was stirred. I began to grow. Marcus and I began to sort through much of what this growth was forcing us to consider. God was moving. And as small as we feel, we trust that something greater is at work here. We've committed our hearts to take a step in the name of Faith... hoping, trusting, knowing that a mountain will, in fact, move for us. We've taken that first small step in adopting our daughter.

And then, sure enough- little by little, that mountain has begun to move.

I may be small, but my God isn't. My heart isn't. My love isn't. My FAITH isn't.

It's time for me to be honest with myself. No more feelings of doubt. No more feelings of inadequacy. Because of Him, I'm much much more. And because of her- I have to be more. I can't stand by with idle hands while we work through this long journey of adoption. My Mothers.Heart won't let me do that. I need to be BIGGER than that... So you know what? I will.

With an open heart and an full.measure of inspiration, Mustard.Seed.Photography is born. (!!!)

I am a Believer, a Mother, a Photographer on a mission to move mountains by capturing and documenting the overwhelming bounty of the blessings all around us. I specialize in natural.light photography and am specifically passionate about finding the beauty in women.bebies.children. and family portraiture.









(I'll be changing my blog format soon, in order to better display my images... until then, you can click on the photo for a *somewhat* higher quality image.)

Why now? Ah! Because lately I have found courage in the most unlikely places. There is an orphan girl somewhere in this world that was meant for our family. I am a gifted photographer... and Mustard.Seed Photography is dedicated to bring her home. :)

*As I type this, I'm totally tethered to the ground... for years I've had this burning desire to pursue my passion in photography. And now, thanks to a handful of the best friends a girl could have and a God who created me with Purpose- I am living my dream. !!! (seriously, picture me with my crazy red and blonde spikey hair floating in the air with a fat littleDuckling on my hip... tied to the ground... while the Chicken and Dumplins simmer away on the stove.) That's me! :)

If you would like to participate in my journey of Faith and would like Mustard.Seed Photography to capture the blessings in your life, please contact me. My website will follow shortly... I can always be reached at my email: lmkwhitty@yahoo.com

Peace, love, and moving.mountains!
xo
lmkw

Happy Halloween!

I've got exactly 16 minutes to blog before my lemon squares start calling me from the oven! I doubt I can stick to that time.limit...

Thank you all *so.much* for your kind comments and emails. I.was.just.floored with all the response! The best part was when I looked at each comment/commentor and those that sent email well.wishes, it was astounding how each person added something new to encourage me. I have the best readers and the very best friends. Thank you thank you. TheHotness even got in on the fun... he was keeping an eye on things from work. We've printed out the post and each comment and email. Each of you that sent your love... those who have and will continue to follow us in this process, are a part of our daughter's story. One day, I'll show her where her journey began... and you will be there. From the bottom of my mother's heart, thank you.

I will be putting together an adoption blog here in the coming weeks for me to record our process... I'll keep yall posted! Yipee! *Gots so much more to say---

but remember the lemon squares? Yeah, let me get on with it.

Here are a few pics I'm anxious to post today! Happy Halloween!
I love celebrating little things with my boys. I love James' nature to just dive into things and have fun... These pics were taken last night as we carved up our pumpkin. I'll be back laters to reveal our extra special costumes and our fun.festivities.







:)

Okay, got to grab those squares...

Peace, love, and pumpkin.seeds.
xo
lmkw

You've got to start somewhere!

My original plan was to keep this under wraps for the better part of a year. I mean, lots can happen in a year. However, this weekend has really been amazing... and I'm beginning to think that this isn't as intimidating as I thought it was just six weeks ago.

I've re.worked our game plan and have decided to share this tid.bit here as I play with the pencils. Why?

Because:
1. The more I mention it to friends and family, the more really valuable information comes our way. And y'all knowing me like you do- I'm the research queen. I eat that stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! :) The more I run my mouth, the more valuable help we are receiving!

2. Google searching can only bring us so far- this process needs a personal touch. I need to network with other families who have been where we are right now... to encourage us on this journey.

3. I covet your prayers!!! (!!!)

4. I can't keep a secret to save my life. Especially when it means this much to me. :)

***To many many of you- this will not be 'news' to you.

Here goes:
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ready?
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For the next handful of months, Marcus and I are committing ourselves through prayer to seek God's will in our lives to pursue International Adoption. !!! Right? :)

Why?

*It has always been an embraced idea when we considered the anatomy of our family.
*Those of you that knew me as a girl, know it has always been a part of my heart.
*With the birth of Jackson, God has transformed our view on family. Raising our boys makes us crazy happy... even in the toughest times, we are just short of delirious. Well, basically. :) Our love is big... there is more to our family. We can feel it.
*Jackson has shown us that our family is definitely bigger than two.
*All children are gifts from God. All of them. God willing, I plan on mothering the mother.less.

(there are at least a hundred other reasons... but you get the drift.)

When?

Well, right now, we are prayerfully seeking God's will in this. Just in the past three days, 3 new 'doors' have been open to us in this process. No suprise there, right? We plan on enjoying Jackson's first year on this planet without the 'urgency' of navigating the paper.trail. During that time, we plan on continuing our networking, education, planning, and praying. God willing, that will bring us to officially applying this time next year, give or take.

The basics?
As of now, we are considering Ethiopia and Taiwan. But we are still open to educating ourselves about all the options...

So that's that!

***If you yourself have navigated the adoption process to bring your child home, please let me know. If you know someone you can 'link' me up to that has built their families through adoption, please let me know. PLEASE! If anything is clear so far- this takes TIME... a true test of patience. My profile will lead you to my email address, or just comment here. *Thanks in advance.

*And for my friends who have spoken up with support and advice, thank you SO much. Y'all give me so much courage. :)

Peace, love, and Journeys.
xo
lmkw

Have you noticed...

...that the best season of all is here?












Of course you have!

:)

Peace, love, and nutmeg.
xo
lmkw

...All is Love...

Hello friends!

We are back from our little sweethearts.getaway. It truly takes parents of two to really make the most of such a quick trip! We weren't gone long, but we savored every minute together. We celebrated how far we have come, solidified where we are going, and really evaluated in what ways we could grow our marriage for ourselves and our boys.

We both have admitted that something is going on with us... in our lives... in our marriage. God has gripped our hearts and is growing us in ways we hadn't expected. I had been feeling it... and he has too. It was so nice to come together, join hearts, and open ourselves up to the opportunities we feel led to explore. I know this sounds cryptic. My apologies. But God has good things in store for us and our little family... and in His proper time, all will be revealed. But for now, we are praying, seeking, and resting in His guidance.

As I've always said, *October is for lovers.* I feel soaked through with love and abundance! As a couple, we've been given more than our fair share and are exploring all the possibilities on how to share that Plenty with others. All signs are pointing to stepping outside our comfort zone and making a difference in the name of Love. I'm so excited about embracing our future and prayerfully stepping out in Faith trusting that all will work together for the good according to His purpose...

I want to share this song with you. For me, it is the Ultimate.Love.Song. It leaves me wrecked and dizzy. How humbling it is to be His beloved.


*I'll be posting pics from the concert soon.ish!

Til then,

Peace, love, and ShowHope.
xo
lmkw

Yes, please.

I'm crazy excited about a little.teeny.tiny.thing that's coming up for me and theHotness.

See, at the end of this month, we will be celebrating our 6th wedding anny. And to be perfectly honest, I love piling up these years together. We are just shy of it being a decade since we first started dating!

I plan on professing my ridiculous love and affection for this boy soon.ish. But for now, the immediate plans:

He surprised me with tickets to the new U2 tour around... my birthday? Or something like that. This will be my second time to see them in concert-- I was very pregnant with James and was on bed.rest the last time. After much begging, my doctor allowed me to go... I jumped, danced, screamed like a crazed.teenager... except a knocked up one who contracted the whole time. It was great. I can't wait to experience it again. The concert is this Wednesday night!


I fell in love with their music in the sixth grade. While my daddy spoon fed me Cat Stevens and The Beatles, Danyelle was fast at work rocking my world with The Indigo Girls and U2. All that messy right.of.passage.teenangst.stuff worked out through brilliant music. I can remember waking up at 3:30am to listen to U2's Live in Sarajevo concert. I detached my stereo speakers and pulled then under the covers with me. You could here bombs going off in the background behind the music. Powerful. And then came the activism...


Now? I'm married to theHotness. He's what dreams are made of and deep into the business of spoiling his little.wife. :) To sweeten this deal, he surprised me by booking us a suite at Hotel Derek there in Houston. I've always wanted to stay there. SUCH a treat for me.




We plan on eating at a Tapas Restaurant before the concert... then maybe martinis afterward. We'll see. Either way, I hope we come home to a view of Houston's beautiful skyline lit up against an inky Black. *Magics*

We are so tickled to be getting away. I plan on flirting and soaking up all his attention... :) So here's to an early little anniversary rendezvous!


Peace, love, and The Edge.
xo
lmkw