Behind the Scenes: My Life Verse

 {art available here}

{art available here}

{art available here}

As promised from my previous post, a peek inside my personal life verse. I have created it in 2 styles: both my vintage style & Words to Move You {subway art with an elegant twist} style. 

The entire prayer by Paul for the church of Ephesus sums up the best parts of life: to truly KNOW the love of God {ie: feel it in your heart; experience it day by day; allow it to sink in to the depths of your soul & satisfy you} & to give Him glory {to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can even ask or imagine! THIS is our God!}

For my vintage style photography, I chose to photograph the branches of trees as they are ultimately rooted & intricate creating beautiful shapes & lines. I looked up & through the branches to also emphasize the vast sky & opening above of the limitless love which is from Heaven & so large.

For my subway style art, I chose red for the piece speaking of God's love & simplified the wording to get to the one of the major points of the passage. For the art speaking of God's glory I chose blue to symbolize the sky as in other passages it states that the heavens declare the glory of God & I personally often think of the beautiful wide skies. {but you can pick ANY color of art your heart desires!}

We have used this Scripture at our wedding & all 3 of our children's baby dedications. If we experience the love of God in our marriage & if our children accept and understand the love of God in their own lives, well.... what could be better than that?!

Grace & Peace,

Julie

Behind the Scenes: You are Loved

{Art reads: YOU ARE LOVED more than you'll ever know}

There is a Savior, a Redeemer who loves you more than you'll ever know.

Not only is it difficult for us to understand the true depth of His love, even more than that, it is often hard for us to accept it.

{Art available here}

I created this piece not only to be a reminder of truth for my children {both to declare my love for them, but more importantly, God's love for them!}, but also a reminder for me.

My life verse is Ephesians 3:14-21 : Paul's prayer for the church of Ephesus that they would KNOW the love of Christ. Feel it. Experience it. Revel in it.

I hope you know it too and receive it for yourself! Allow His love to fill you!

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Sunshine Girl & Her Golden Birthday

 My Sunshine Girl recently had her golden birthday: she turned 8 on June 8th. I love her to pieces and she continually amazes me as to who she is & who she is becoming. She continues to be my model extraordinaire and looking back over these years I cannot believe how time has flown. I will never forget bringing her home from the hospital on a beautiful June day to see my first roses blooming. So every year it's our tradition to look in the backyard to see when the roses are alive. She is such a beautiful little girl both inside and out, just one reason she is my sunshine.

 Her birthday also landed on our soccer team's last game for the season so I surprised her with 8 yellow balloons.

 One fun thing about my Sunshine Girl is to observe what a combo she is of me & her daddy: she LOVES soccer & art. All she wanted for her birthday was a REAL easel so she could draw & paint.
{That & a pair of roller skates!}

 Her first sketch was titled: Lonely Dandelion.

 Like her Daddy, she loves to eat & LOVES comic books. {note the batgirl shirt she is wearing} I love her random dinner questions about Wolverine or Thor or Batman, etc... as if she's been thinking about them all day long. This year she carried an Avengers lunchbox to school & had no problem at all with some of the girls scoffing at her. She is confident in her own unique self.

Below is some of my art of which she is the star, 

most of these are when she was 4 years old!

{art available here}

Happy Birthday my Sunshine Girl! I love you so much!

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Sweet One Year Old {Downers Grove Photography}

Oh, the sweetness of a one year old baby girl! I love how she gazed around in wonder at the big world around her. Everything so new to discover. How she so patiently allowed us to have fun photographing her. How she lit up with smiles at my own kids as they dropped by the session. Such pure joy & light!

May you always know how cherished you are.

Grace & Peace,
Julie