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“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” {Joshua 1:8} The other day I was reading this passage; I had already been contemplating the question, ‘What is success?’ and this started me thinking even more. I mean we can all figure out the world’s definition of being successful. If we have a good job [and we’re on top of the corporate ladder], we drive a Caddy or a BMW [or a Ferrari], we have lots of investments and a huge house. But what I was wondering is, what is success supposed to look like for the Christian.Unconsciously, before I starting really thinking about all this, my view of success was finishing what you’ve begun. And although in some cases that can be true, I can think of some circumstances where that idea held me back from doing what I was supposed to be doing. At one point last spring, I felt the need to quit a job that I had only been working at for less than two months. For a while before I quit, and even after, I struggled with the…
Read MoreI know I’ve blogged about these two before. But I really love them. And they are truly two spots of joy in my day… as I’m writing this, every so often Fuzz runs into my room and pears over my desk to give me a kiss. Oooh how happy is that. And so…. you get to see more pictures of these little cuties. Hopefully they make you smile a little of how much I do! This. just makes my day. Petie loves anything to do with hair… which explains why she’s wearing three “hebands” My little man. She likes to hug him. On her own terms ;) It’s interesting watching twins grow up.. they really love each other. The other day I was listening to Kate [while she was supposed to be taking a nap] telling a story about “da bear outide! Jijah, toot it! Jijah toot it! While Elijah was now where in the room. And then they got a little crazy…. And a little goofy…. But they settled down because they like the camera. Fuzz’s “camera face” Awwwwww This one has to be one of my favorites. It’s just so classic. Although this one comes pretty close……. Personalities coming out…… Playing with their big bro… Apparently she didn’t want a kiss…. she wiped it off. He was pretty…
Read MoreThis video combines thoughtful narrative, inspiring quotes, gorgeous video and awesome waves. My favorite quote: “I may only scrape a living, but at leasts it’s a living worth scraping”. Watch it and be inspired to see life in the little things, “angles, lines of perspective, a slow turn of the head, the blink of an eye, subtle glimpses of magic of a photograph past by…” DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.
Read MoreSo, I’m pretty sure people who live in MN will think I’m crazy. And a couple days I would have thought this too…. but the other night I was struck with the fact that I’m actually *thankful* for the darkness of winter. For a couple reasons. One: [and the reasoning behind this post] Is the fact that we see things that we wouldn’t otherwise see… Lights on the street at night, beautiful stars, gorgeous early sunsets, cozy nights that would have been spent outside if we didn’t have early darkness. I got to a basketball game early and had some time to kill, and was struck by how much prettier our town is at night, with all the lights. That’s when I realized that instead of hating it… I’m actually going to try enjoy it! And then the other reason: If we *didn’t* have the darkness and the short days and long nights, we just wouldn’t appreciate the long days and all the lovely light of the summer. :-) So, remember to enjoy everything this winter! ~Kelley
Read More{Image taken for LDPS – Self Portraits, check out the other submissions!} [I wrote these notes in my journal from my dad’s sharing on a Sunday, a few days before my last post on good stories. When I wrote that post I was having a hard time dreaming, and seeing the future. So it was good for me to go back and read this today. I hope it encourages you as well! We serve a HUGE God, and we shouldn’t be afraid to dream] “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” [Psalm 37:4]Dreams shouldn’t be limited by your flesh. Fear to dream often shows immaturity, a fear of man or a fear of failure, because in reality the dreams aren’t ours, they are God’s and it’s up to Him if they are finished, or if they are redirected. Don’t be embarrassed to share your dreams; it’s not failure if God decides for you not to go there. It might not be His will. But if you don’t set your dreams high, nothing will ever happen. What is in your heart? Where do you want to go? If you don’t reach for something, you will never go anywhere. God can stop your dreams, He can re-direct them, or show you that they aren’t for you,…
Read MoreSo I know this is supposed to be Saturday Sharing.. but I’ve been a little absent from this blog.. and I decided to share some of my heart today [so it’s technically “Saturday Sharing” right?] Anyway, it’s been an interesting month. In both good ways and bad. I wanted to share something that I wrote in my journal last night that God told me. I decided to go out skating late last night after working and we had a good talk. Every good story has conflict. We learned this in Photoj, they teach it in writing classes, it’s what makes the story. No conflict, no plot, no excitement. I wanted an adventure, but in reality I didn’t want the conflict. I wanted excitement, but I really didn’t want the hard stuff. Sometimes… I feel like I’m swimming against the current. Like one step forward, two steps back. My Zenfolio account balance tells the story… up $20, down to -6… up again… down again. It’s what I feel like the rest of my business is doing.. and sometimes the rest of my life. When I pictured an adventure, I see in my mind overcoming the world, climbing mountains, warring against LIFE. But when the world looks me in th eye, and when real life comes tearing around the corner I don’t…
Read More*This is pretty much my first attempt at creative writing. I’ve been feeling the urge to push myself in my writing lately, and so I’m going to try to write “just to write” more often. I’m not sure what I feel about this story… but it was fun! You’ll probably be seeing some more creative writing coming up…* Ahh, what could be better than sitting on a shelf; pristine, new, solid and colorful? Unless it’s sprinting down the sidewalk watching the sunrise. I started on a shelf at MJ’s sports store in the mall. Well, really I started at a factory, but that’s the uninteresting part of my life when I was just as all the others. Not long after arriving there I started my life’s adventure when I was bought by an orthodontist named Dana, just after New Years. Dana was one of those, shall we call them “resolution runners”. You know, the kind that runs right after new years? And, needless to say, I didn’t last long. She’d bought one of the best of my kind, and yet I sat in the closet. A few words are all that are needed to describe the “place of no use”…. Aka the very darkest parts of the closet. Somewhere around…
Read MoreMy brothers complain that there are plenty of pictures of my sisters… and none of them… so I’m going to change that! :-) I’ve been meaning to play around with my flash off camera more, so the other day when it was really cold out and we had no place to go…. we camped out in the basement for a shoot. It was cold down there, but I think it was worth it…. First, you’ve got to see what it looked like. [We have fun together] And… the results of all that crazyness! :) {I really like this picture, not sure why, but I do…} {A fav} {Another one} {Total “Mark look”} {I think this is my favorite} {My bro is fabulous} {He’s just really easy in front of the camera.. and he’s fun!} {Cute? Yes.} And now…. you get to see the blast we Kozy kids have on a photoshoot…. Ready? haha { REFLECTOR BOY [known in another life and Thomas] and the “need-a-larger-reflector-grab a mattress} {Of course the rockstar needed a picture with the Reflector Boy} {Thomas’ turn!} {playing with the speed light.. not sure *what* we were trying to accomplish} {Hahah, he’s so cute… but his poor ears! :) } {Not much comment for this one…} {Cool picture, very cool picture} {Why isn’t it taking the…
Read MoreMy red “snow” jacket. And my blue wool coat. My black fleecy. All of ’em keep me warm and comfy :-) [To be perfectly honest… I really didn’t want to write this post today. Because… I *don’t* love winter right now. Today it was a high of -7, and it’s supposed to stay that way until next Tuesday, where we *might* get into the 20s. {Sigh} Butttt that’s what this post is all about, recognizing the beauty of winter here! I do know I’d miss it like crazy if I didn’t have.. so I’d better enjoy it while it lasts. I hope you guys are too! Stay warm!]
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Hi, I'm Kelley, a MN portrait and wedding photographer located in the greater Brainerd Lakes Area. Welcome to my photography blog!