Happy September, friends! This is certainly one of my favorite months of the year. You better believe I’ll be wearing scarves and boots and drinking apple cider, even though it’s probably going to be 80 degrees. I don’t care, because I love the fall! And to be honest, I am ready for September. I need a fresh start.

August was a difficult month for me. I’ve face health challenges that have really slowed me down and forced me to trust the Lord. I didn’t reach a lot of my goals. I didn’t  take 2 swim lessons because I had a sinus infection for 2 weeks. I didn’t learn 2 new worship songs on the guitar, because I had a cyst removed from my wrist and I could not play. I did actually buy a new seat for my roadbike, but I injured my knee on it after riding 6 miles without a proper bike fitting. I’ve given up participating in a triathlon this year (which is hard for me – it was a big 2013 goal) because of my ankle injury. I haven’t run in 2 months, and I love running.  August was challenging, but the Lord has been speaking to me through it all:

Trust me. 
Rest in me.
My strength is made perfect in your weakness.

While August was tough (at one point I had an ankle brace, a wrist brace, I was limping with a bad knee and I had lost my voice!), I am ready for new beginnings. My sister flew in and surprised me for my 5 year celebration, and she and I talked a lot about how we can make the most of this beautiful life. Encouraged by Lara’s #SavorSeptember, Sissy and I made a list of all the ways we can really make the most of this beautiful life we have – starting with this month. So, my September goals are a bit different. It’s all about taking time to do things that will allow me to really savor each moment.

His mercies are new every morning. Hallelujah! Here’s to September!

September Goals

• Read 15 in 12: Wheat Belly

• Be diligent with my ankle’s physical therapy

• (Hopefully) Begin training for my Marathon

• Take a Bubble bath

• Read a Novel

• Eat outside as much as possible

• Pay for someone behind me at Starbucks, whilst enjoying a Pumpkin Spice Latte

• Get a haircut

• Walk or run with Winston at least once a week on the greenway

• Try a new recipe

• Spend 8 days completely free of Social Media

• Go to a Concert

• Take a vacation to the British Virgin Islands to celebrate 5 wonderful years of marriage

• Clean out my guest room

• Host my family for a visit

• Pray with Will regularly

• Rest

• Complete our sugar fast, then enjoy some Goodberry’s 

How will you #SavorSeptember?

Photo above taken by Will with my Contax, when I was shooting with Eric’s

Exciting things are in the works, y’all! This month is going to be a good one. In June, we had team photos done by the amazing Eric Kelley, and we thoroughly enjoyed our 2 day mentor session with him and Lora, all about shooting in film. We were so blessed to work with them! I’m so grateful to call them friends and to have beautiful images that I will treasure the rest of my life. I seriously cannot WAIT to share them with you.  The team photos were for a new site update that is coming this month, with a new logo, full new galleries featuring Elizabeth and Callie’s work, my most recent work in film, as well as lots of other little changes. Beginning in 2014, Callie and Elizabeth will be shooting primarily in digital, and I’ll be shooting primarily in film. Lots of wonderful changes happening. After all these fun updates this month, we’ll be ending August with a fun celebration of 5 years of business. I’d love for you to join us!

All in all, this month is going to be a good one. My dear friend Lara has initiated #intentionalaugust, and I am jumping right on board. Love that. Let’s be intentional about every area of life this month, especially the simple ways we can celebrate life. Who’s with us?

And don’t forget to keep stopping by the blog this month for lots of fun (and potentially embarrassing) updates. We’ll be journeying through the last 5 years of NRP as we lead up to the celebration party on August 30. There will be fun facts, images from my first photoshoots, the craziest things I’ve seen at weddings, and some exciting giveaways. Please leave lots of comments and join in the fun as we laugh and remember the growth I’ve experienced through the years. Stay tuned!

August Goals

• 15 in 12 : Read The Art of Possibility and The Meaning of Marriage

• Launch website update + new galleries*

• Let my ankle heal. (I’ve had to completely stop running and postpone signing up for a triathlon because it’s still swollen from my fall. This will be my hardest goal! I’m so ready to get back out there!)

• Take 2 swim lessons

• Learn 2 new worship songs on the guitar

• Have a girls weekend in the mountains celebrating my sister’s bday

• Buy a new seat for my roadbike*

• Have an adult sleepover with the youth leaders

• Begin a month-long sugar fast

• Attend an adventure dinner party

• Shoot lots of film

• Photograph 3 weddings & attend 1

• Host a 5 year celebration for Nancy Ray Photography at Sola (PS. You’re invited!)

Here’s to #intentionalaugust!

Winner of the Contentment Challenge Giveaway : Kathryn!
Email me your shoe size and I’ll order your pair of Sseko Sandals! 

I woke up this morning at 5:30am feeling so refreshed after a full day of rest. Goodness I’m learning that rest is so, so important. Today is a new day, a new week, a new month. We’ve made it halfway through the year (high fives!), and I’m so grateful for all that I’ve experienced and accomplished so far. I have to be honest – June was crazy. I traveled to Myrtle Beach SC, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Charlottesville VA, Nashville TN, Wilmington, Cary and Pittsboro (twice). Last week, we took 26 kids to summer camp, then photographed a rehearsal dinner and 2 weddings… all in the span of 6 days. I was so exhausted, but that 1 day of rest gave me exactly what I needed to feel refreshed once again.

Don’t get me wrong – I love love love my life! It’s busy and crazy and hectic and fun and so, so rewarding. Will and I both love to work hard and hustle, then rest well and intentionally relax. That’s why I love July! With no weddings scheduled, I’m ready to head to the beach and simply celebrate life. And make some homemade peach ice cream. Hallelujah.

Another thing I love about July? It means we are officially halfway through 2013, and it’s time to stop and re-assess my 2013 goals. I’m happy to say I’m right on track!

2013 Goals I’ve Completed:
- Run an official half marathon
- Purchase and learn to ride a Roadbike
- Host a Dinner Party
- Be a 6am morning person (5 out of 7 days/week)
- Complete the Whole 30
- Expand my business [outsource more]
- Change the way we shop for groceries (ie: local, organic, farmers market, whole foods)
- Be intentional with rest

2013 Goals I have yet to accomplish:
- Learn to play the guitar well (Needing lots of practice!)
- Complete a sprint triathlon
- Learn Calligraphy (I still need lots of practice here, too!)
- Celebrate our 5th Anniversary in style! (Trip scheduled for September)
- Become completely comfortable shooting in film (I am very, very close to this being my reality. Once I get my camera fixed, I think I’ll move this into the “accomplished” list!)
- Mentor a group of girls at church
- Read 15 Books in 12 Months
- Be intentional with rest (While I’ve somewhat succeeded at this the first half of the year, I still feel I have far to go. Implementing lots of rest is something that doesn’t come naturally to myself or Will, but it will be so important the last half of this year since it’s our busiest season.)

And the key to making those yearly goals happen? Breaking them down to monthly goals! …

July Goals

• 15 in 12 : Read His Excellency: George Washington
  (My new tradition: read the biography of a founding father each year in July! Last year I read John Adams)

• Shoot zero weddings and relax. Very thankful for this month of recovery!

• Enjoy Beaufort and Myrtle Beach with family

• Make homemade peach ice cream

• Buy a pair of Sseko Sandals

• Go to the Farmer’s Market

• Launch new website galleries

• Take 2 swim lessons

• Share the love of Jesus with the people of Nicaragua as Will and I lead a group of 30 students and adults

• Play the guitar for fun

• Really sign up for a triathlon, or make up my own. My schedule’s crazy. I’m having a difficult time finding one that isn’t on a wedding weekend!

• Buy a new seat for my road bike (recommendations welcome!)

Here’s a wonderful July, and a fulfilling last half of 2013!