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mission monday: what’s this life for?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

deep title. I know.  but I was going for the subject of purpose and the song crept in my head (can’t remember who its by now) with the lyrics “what’s this life for”.  So we are going with it but I promise this probably won’t be as deep as the title :)

–

So I have realized that I have about 1.2 million things swirling around my head at the moment (thanks to a January packed with Imaging, Dane, and other random things) and I sit down to write and I can’t get anything out because its all so jumbled.  So, today I’m picking one thing that I’m chewing on.

–

Again, mission mondays are just a random things going on in my brain.  I like to share them here to get them out, share a little of me personally, and maybe inspire someone to think on these things as well. no preachy preachy, literally just my thoughts…more for me to help process:)

–

So, purpose.  why am i here? its the constant question on my mind.  always. am I where I’m supposed to be?

growing up my only true goal was to be happy.  thats it.  that still is my only goal.  whether my life is in a small house here in knoxville running my business or living in a hut overseas.  I truly am ok with any and all as long as I am happy and know that I’m where I am supposed to be.

but I struggle with knowing that I am where I’m supposed to be.  struggle with being content where I am rather than always looking forward.

This month something happened.  slowly, not sure when and where.  but I became content.  content right now, with life.

Content that I am where I need to be and that I need to make the best of it now in order to get to where I want to be.  What good is today if you throw it out in an effort to get to tomorrow?

So today I enjoyed my life.  I made the most of it.  Yes, I’m looking forward to the future; yes, God is definitely not done and I know I’m not where I’ll end up in any way but. I.am.content.

here is one of the sources of my contentment:)

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7 comments

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February 8, 2010 - 4:26 am bernadette hoyt - true words....to be content = happiness. love the pic of those blue eyes and rosy cheeks. thanks for hanging with your dad this week.

February 8, 2010 - 7:31 am Stacey Lund - Great post! Love the picture.

February 8, 2010 - 9:52 am Leia - this is a great post! And love the picture!

February 8, 2010 - 1:00 pm Rhonda Imbeault - Great post! No mistaking who this childs mama is!

February 8, 2010 - 2:04 pm evie - It's nice to read that you found a sense of contentment, even if it snuck up on you like that!! Awesome post!

February 8, 2010 - 5:05 pm charlotte stringer - WOW! She is beautiful.. she looks like her Mommy!

February 8, 2010 - 7:21 pm Becky - Love her!! She is adorable and how could you not be content looking at that smile!!! Beautiful

God and Dane

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

So a few weeks ago I was talking to a fellow awesome photographer friend that just was having one of those days/weeks that we all sometimes have.  a hard one.  one where we wonder what the heck are we doing.  I recommended reading Dane’s book, Fast Track Photographer, because it just puts everything into perspective really.  I texted her the next day to see how she was and her response “getting through it.  God and Dane” :)

Last week I had the privilege to meet Dane at his workshop in Florida.  Lifechanging, fun, informative, hopeful, moving, and magical are words that come to mind.  Equally as amazing was all the great girls I got to meet and develop friendships with.  Can’t wait to see where God and Dane lead us:)

We had a photo shoot with Amanda and Colton in the GORGEOUS Florida sun! Seriously, why do I live in Knoxville, TN again? :)   Here are some of my faves…well, alot of my faves.

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February 3, 2010 - 9:24 pm Abby - Shannon - these are awesome pictures! It was so awesome meeting you last week and I have to agree and recommend Dane's book and workshop to everyone!

February 3, 2010 - 9:48 pm Scarlett Lillian - AWESOME pics! You captured the light soooo beautifully Shannon!! So fun to meet you! Keep in touch all the way up there in Tennessee, you hear? :-)

February 4, 2010 - 6:04 am Lindsay - Oh love the pics!

February 4, 2010 - 6:58 am Christie Lacy - Oh Shannon! these are fantastic! I met Dane once at his free fast track talk and he truly is inspiring! I am positive that you came away with a new and refreshed outlook on your business!

February 4, 2010 - 6:39 pm carrianne - these are amazing. Love the interaction!! I have an engagement session coming up next month and will use these as inspiration. thank you!

February 5, 2010 - 8:13 pm Amber Debyah - LOVE the second shot!!!!

February 5, 2010 - 8:28 pm Heather Georger - Lovely shots girl!!! Wowza!

February 6, 2010 - 1:46 am Gillian - Stunning STUNNING as always!!!

February 6, 2010 - 7:52 pm Sharon Miller - I love the shot with the guitar in the doorway.

February 7, 2010 - 7:39 am Stacey Lund - Love the interaction. I am sure they will adore these. Great work.

February 7, 2010 - 10:05 pm Amber Rhodes-Lapoint - Ohmygod, Shannon, I am always in awe of your work. LOVE these, love the light, the color, everything!

February 8, 2010 - 11:23 am Meredith - these are AWESOME... LOOOOOOOVE them!! Wish I had shots like this of my hubby and I

a blog funk

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I love to blog.  as in, I would do it even if it were private and just for me.  It helps me document life, sparks creativity, and just get stuff on paper.  Kind of like how journaling and scrapbooking used to be.  This is my online scrapbook:)

Well, lately I have been in a blog funk.  I’m not sure why.  I have stuff that I could blog.  I have stuff that I could document.  And heck, I need the creative outlet:) Yet, blog funk is a go. And I have some awesome stuff to share too:) But I’m afraid if I blog about it with my funk I won’t do it justice.

So today I thought I would just put it out there and also list some exciting things that I need to blog, in hopes that inspiration hits.  I think getting some stuff off my to do list today may help clear my head a little too:)

Things that deserve a blog…and will get one by golly! Must get out of funk!

  • how Dane Sanders changed my life
  • why I need to live at Ikea
  • Why some very lucky men are getting awesome Valentine’s Day presents from their girls! (I’m not sharing sneak peeks until after V-day just to be on the safe side…don’t want to spoil the surprise! )
  • my life in pictures

happy blogging!

Shannon

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Posted in personal

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3 comments

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February 3, 2010 - 4:28 pm Marie - You have blogger-block.

February 7, 2010 - 7:36 am Stacey Lund - I can not believe you are in a blog funk. I always enjoy reading your blog so much. Hurry up, and snap out of it. LOL

February 7, 2010 - 10:06 pm Amber Rhodes-Lapoint - ugh! I'm in the exact same funk, good topics to chew on though...I'm interested in the why I should live at Ikea post, LOVE IKEA. :D

ENFP/ISTJ

Monday, February 1, 2010

Brad is:

  • moderately expressed introvert
  • moderately expressed sensing personality
  • slightly expressed thinking personality
  • slightly expressed judging personality

I am:

  • moderately expressed extravert
  • moderately expressed intuitive personality
  • distinctively expressed feeling personality
  • slightly expressed perceiving personality

so we are polar opposite in other words…according to Myer-Briggs:) No wonder there is always an issue with me throwing clothes on the floor …lol! But as Brad and I decided tonight, we balance each other well and just have to remember that we are opposites when the little things drive us crazy:)

_________

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February 2, 2010 - 2:09 am Gillian - Well they do say opposites attract! My husband is an introvert too and wouldn't you know it - I'm a total extrovert! LOL

February 2, 2010 - 6:49 am bernadette hoyt - i am so glad that brad is my moderately, yet slightly distinctive son in law!!! and you both work perfectly yet crazily together!!

February 2, 2010 - 12:08 pm Schona Kessler - Gotta love opposites! I agree with the balancing eachother out...it works out nicely.

February 2, 2010 - 10:35 pm Tyjuana Hill-Smith - That's my husband and me too...total opposites!

February 7, 2010 - 7:35 am Stacey Lund - Good thing opposites attract!

hotel living

Saturday, January 30, 2010

This week I have been in Florida with the lenabeans and nana.  I was attending one of the most amazing workshops ever (much more on that later!) while the two of them lounged at the beach.  This was Lena’s first big long trip in a car and not a plane since she was about 10 weeks old so we weren’t sure how she would do.  She is a little energy bunny:) Apparently the girl was born to travel though.  She did GREAT! Loved every minute of it and never complained about getting out once.

So yesterday we said goodbye to the beach and nice weather and made our way north.

Now, my husband has a probably unstable relationship with the weather channel.  He loves it.  No, like it is on ALL the time and he just sits, watches it and quotes Jim Cantore.  Please tell me I’m not the only person whose hubby does that:)

So I get a call saying “Jim Cantore is heading to Nashville, you know this is going to be a good one!” So apparently when Jim heads your way you are getting hit with some kind of weather disaster!  So we decided to hit up Ikea and stay in Atlanta for the night so as not to brave the weather in the dark.  Lena was happy with that decision:)

So we are now home and getting our Ikea purchases put together. My mind is going 100 miles an hour with everything awesome I learned…can’t wait!

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January 30, 2010 - 5:17 pm Renee Whiting - How could she not be loving this? Laying in a big comfy bed, watching a movie, eating some popcorn and sippin' on her sippy cup. I'd say life is good!

January 31, 2010 - 6:12 am Stacey Lund - Looks like she is having the time of her life.

January 31, 2010 - 8:52 am Becky - it looks like she is having a wonderful vacation!! {too bad about the bump on her head}

January 31, 2010 - 10:29 pm Manuella Pararas-Hulbert - She looks so comfy and I think she was born to travel,lol.

February 1, 2010 - 12:23 pm Amber Wiseman - Looks like a vacation at it's best!!!! Rest and Relaxation!!!

February 1, 2010 - 12:58 pm sarah henderson - LMBO! Usually what we hear down here is "Jim Cantore, please GO AWAY!" because it's true. If he is in town, it's gonna be a doozie.

February 1, 2010 - 1:33 pm Summer - Looks like u guys r having a fun little adventure!! She defintely looks like she's have a blast! The only one I know who is obsessed with the weather channel is my hubby's grandma! :)

February 1, 2010 - 1:39 pm Sue Ann - I didn't realize you were so close to me!!! Give me a shout out if you are ever in ATL again!! Glad you had a great trip! I still have yet to go to an Ikea. I'm betting it will do really bad things to my cc account so I stay away...

February 1, 2010 - 1:50 pm Rhonda Imbeault - awww how cute. I love hanging out in bed watching movies

February 1, 2010 - 2:04 pm evie - I can't wait to hear all about the conference! I'm glad to hear that Lena was a good traveler. That certainly makes any trip infinitely more pleasant!

February 1, 2010 - 2:11 pm Leia - Oh yes, Jim, we don't like him much around the coast! lol!! But I do love him as a weather man!! Cannot wait to hear more about the conference though!

February 1, 2010 - 3:03 pm Amber Debyah - Can't wait to hear more about it!!

February 1, 2010 - 7:38 pm Kayla Renckly - sounds fun! can't wait to hear more!

February 1, 2010 - 9:12 pm Petra King - aww to be a kid again...this is the life! Poor boo boo xx

February 1, 2010 - 10:25 pm charlotte stringer - Wow! What a life! Love it! She has everything she needs!

February 1, 2010 - 11:30 pm Jeannette Chirinos G - she really looks relax lol I envy her (in a very good way) I wish I can be like her just for a fe hours :P

roadtrippin’

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

today we set off to jacksonville. 3 girls, lots of toys in an effort to keep the Lenabean entertained, some chickfila in our bellies, and manymany stops.

oh, and one backtrack by a few exits to make sure we got a starbucks fix.

10 hours later we arrived.  it was dark, right after sunset, but our first stop was the ocean.

because when you have a two year old in the back seat who has said all day “i go to ocean” how can you tell her its really going to be tomorrow.

so we found a little access to the beach, parked illegally, and made our way in the dark across a small boardwalk.

**

Lena hit the sand, teetered on it, and held up her hand to her ear and went “what that sound” in amazement.

her last trip to the ocean was at 10 weeks old so this was her first “real” trip, one that she can react to.

With Mr. Moon big and bright, a beautiful breeze and not a cloud in the sky we ran to see the waves

and even found a few shells:)

it was a good day.

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January 26, 2010 - 10:37 pm Becky - I love that you took her to the ocean!! She will talk about it for-EVER!!! (great photo - love the Dora!)

January 27, 2010 - 4:57 am Gillian - Awww pudding child!! ♥

January 27, 2010 - 10:19 am Ginny - I still get excited about that first glimpse of the ocean. It sounds like you guys are having a blast!

January 27, 2010 - 12:56 pm Amber Debyah - Hope you are having a wonderful time!

January 27, 2010 - 5:40 pm Lindsay - So glad Lena got to see the ocean! Hope you all are having fun. I know that I don't like sand or really the sun due to my insane allergy to it, but sitting here in frigid Wisconsin (it got really really frigid this week), I'm very jealous! Someday we'll come along since Indie does have to see the ocean at some point. :)

January 27, 2010 - 9:20 pm Tyjuana Hill-Smith - Awww...the ocean! Oh how I wish I were there too! Have fun!

January 28, 2010 - 8:07 pm Sharon Miller - She looks so cute with her Dora band aid. How exciting to see the ocean under the moon.

January 31, 2010 - 6:17 am Stacey Lund - Sounds like the little one, will have a great time.

February 7, 2010 - 10:08 pm Amber Rhodes-Lapoint - she's so cute...looks like you had a marvelous time! yay

out.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Nana, Lena, and I are roadtripping it down to the Sunshine State tomorrow for a workshop on my end and a little beach and sand time for Nana and Lena. Lena has been running around all day telling everyone “I go to ocean” :)

We are stopping at Ikea on the way home, be still my heart! My closet will thank me as well since I have clothes piled up in it since we got rid of our dressers last week on Craigslist:) Not too mention my OCD husband who is coping better than expected with his clothes being in a box.

I’ll have my computer and phone with me, so feel free to contact me if needed!

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January 26, 2010 - 6:13 am bernadette hoyt - ready or not....here we come!! weather looks good for us!

January 26, 2010 - 6:16 am Lindsay - have fun! Sorry I couldn't make it... Darn work!

January 26, 2010 - 7:18 am Jeannette Chirinos G - oh have fun

January 26, 2010 - 10:05 am Becky - Have fun girls!!! Ikea: Watch OUt!!!!!

January 26, 2010 - 1:06 pm Amber Debyah - Where in FL will you be? I am in Tampa!

January 26, 2010 - 3:53 pm Kayla Renckly - have fun and take lots of pictures!

January 26, 2010 - 8:55 pm shannon kelley - Thanks everyone! Amber, I'll be in Jacksonville but maybe next time we'll have to hit up Tampa:)

January 26, 2010 - 9:07 pm Kristin C. - I so enjoyed our session yesterday! I am so excited about the pictures. I will email you our tree guy information soon. Hope Fl. is a great time and fun even though you are working too. Remember not too much caffine before IKEA.

January 31, 2010 - 6:18 am Stacey Lund - Sounds like fun!

five on friday: the haiti edition

Friday, January 22, 2010

I realized this morning IT’S FRIDAY! And we are overdue for a five on friday post now that the holidays, the contests, and the wedding week are behind us. So I couldn’t bring myself to do any other five post other than haiti. Because everything else seemed so silly and trivial in comparison.

I’ve made myself not watch CNN and not get wrapped up in this because I’m the type that takes things overboard (who, me!) and would be planning to catch a flight down there. I did mention to Brad that I was sure there was some Haitian babies that needed us but, no dice. yet. :) But in the midst of it all, I still want to honor what is going on and do a small part to give back, even if I can’t be on the ground there helping in person.

So that is what our five is today. Five ways to give back and impact a country and people in dire need of it. But before you even give back, pray. Pray for the people, those hurt and impacted by this and for those on the ground helping and administering aid. That in itself is worth more than anything.

1: So, CNN was banned but Don Miller got me! He posted this video about World Vision and I knew I had to watch. To wrap my heart around it and, even though I can’t be there or do too much, I can do something.

2: A blog I have been reading of some missionaries that live in Haiti and were there when this happened: http://ourlifeinhaiti.blogspot.com/ give you a great insight and non-media look into the devastation. Plus it gives you some specific prayer requests.

3: Oh, social media. You have changed our lives forever. When I really stop and think of how far we have come in the past even 5 years, its kind of scary, but good. Raising money via texting, tweeting and retweeting about it, posting on your facebook ways to help. This is such an awesome new phenomenon! So I’m sure you have heard about it but Text 90999 with the word “Haiti” as your message and you’ll instantly donate $10 to the American Red Cross. Plus you can post this on your facebook and/or twitter too to spread the word!

4: Love 89 has set up way to donate to Compassion on their website. Super easy and 100% trustworthy that your money is being used for good. I have had the privilege to see a Compassion project in action in Ecuador and work hand in hand with the kids and families they are impacting and it is one of the most influential things I have ever witnessed in the world! This organization is changing lives no doubt about it and the awesome thing is, you can to!

5: Another awesome way to give back and get a little something amazing from Etsy:) Go to Hearts for Haiti to buy a donated item. 100% of the money will go to Doctors without Borders. Super cute stuff on there that is screaming to be an awesome Valentine’s Day gift!

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Posted in five on fridays, missions | Tags: , , ,

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14 comments

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January 22, 2010 - 2:25 pm Marie - You. are. awesome!

January 22, 2010 - 11:54 pm Schona Kessler - This is a wonderful post!

January 23, 2010 - 12:04 am Meredith - FABULOUS Post.. You Rock!!

January 23, 2010 - 1:05 am Charlotte Stringer - Thank you for this post! My heart goes out to them!!

January 23, 2010 - 10:12 am Lindsay - I told Eric it was about to be like brangelina's house here if I watched many more news stories :)

January 24, 2010 - 10:35 pm Manuella Pararas-Hulbert - Such a wonderful and touching post, thank you for reminding us how lucky we are and how much we should help those in need.

January 25, 2010 - 6:09 am Stacey Lund - Great Post!

January 25, 2010 - 10:29 am Amber Wiseman - Thank you for such an outstanding post...

January 25, 2010 - 10:47 am sarah henderson - What a fabulous post! Great info and reminders and I too can't watch the news. I will for short spurts but my heart is aching and I get so frustrated that I can't be there helping. There is things we can be doing from home though.

January 25, 2010 - 11:30 am Leia - Wow! What a great post and so informative. I, too, do not watch the news, I cannot bring myself to look and see all the destruction and damage. I am, however, so very proud of my Country right now, the amazing things America is doing, that we don't have to be, is just amazing and awesome! I am definitely praying for those over there! Thanks for the awesome information!

January 25, 2010 - 11:48 am evie - Very moving post, Shannon! The news is indeed hard to watch because of the helpless feeling that washes over me. I've donated money to the cause but that never feels like enough! Like Leia said, it's inspiring to see so many people there helping with what they can.

January 25, 2010 - 1:26 pm Rhonda Imbeault - awesome post!

January 25, 2010 - 11:21 pm Summer - What a wonderful post!! Lots of good info in it!! My heart breaks for the people of Hati!

January 26, 2010 - 3:53 pm Kayla Renckly - I love your 5 posts but this one was great-providing great info to help out the people of Haiti