A Day In the Life With the Hedrick Family

Check out the waves...

2011-01-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, please forgive me for being so behind on posts. I have no excuses to offer, except extreme laziness.

We just wanted to post a couple of videos from North Shore, our favorite place on the island. Apparently, it was everyone else's favorite place yesterday too. It seemed like everyone was out to watch the more than 30 foot waves that took over the beach. It was absolutely gorgeous and I know no video could actually do it justice. What a sight! I think J would have jumped in if we would have let him!

We love it here. It is nice to know we are in the Lord's will and that we finally have a place to call home...for 3 years anyway! More videos and blogging to come soon.

Love all of you!

...Okay, so apparently, at least for now, I am kidding about posting the video. But you can still go check them out on my facebook page HERE.

I love my little man...

2011-01-03T00:50:00.000-08:00

I love my little boy. That seems like such a silly and obvious statement, but it is so very true.

I love his smile. I love his laugh. I love his curious personality and sense of adventure. I love that he sits on my lap and reads the books that I fell in love with as a child, probably just to humor me. I love when he looks at me, with his super long lashes, and says, “Please, Mommy?” I love his luscious little lips that he seldom uses to give me kisses that haven’t been begged for. I love that when he hears a thud that he is not responsible for, that he comes running and yells, “Are you okay, Mommy?”…His genuine love and concern for others amazes me every day.

He brings more joy to Bryan and I then could ever be imagined. I don’t think that there is anything that can prepare you to be a parent. There are so many challenges along the way (and he is only 2, we haven’t even hit the worst of it yet!), but the reward of watching him grow, learn, and explore each day is something that I am thankful for, beyond measure.

This evening, J seemed a little bit upset before bedtime. I still have no idea what was bothering him, but he seemed to need some extra attention. We read him his Bible story and another book. He seemed like he was going to go right to sleep, but screams soon were being echoed in the hallway after we had gone downstairs…I am all about letting kids “cry it out”, but this didn’t seem like that kind of night. I think J needed some extra reassurance that he could count on his parents to be there for him.

So I went upstairs again. Sigh.

When I went upstairs, I felt terrible that I had sighed. He just needed extra hugs and kisses, and someone to tell him it would be alright. He was so sweet…I am sure my pregnant belly was in his way, but he turned and clung to me for dear life. He was afraid that I would leave him again, so when I laid down next to him, he took his little arm and wrapped it around my neck and shoulder. Froggy in one arm and Mommy in the other. If I so much as moved, he grabbed me tighter to ensure that I would stay put.

I pray often for my little one, but tonight, while he held me, I felt the need to pray over him then and there. I cried quietly and prayed over this little man that the Lord has blessed me with. Not just that he would fall asleep, but that he would grow to be a man of God. A man of God that loved his family and would be an example of Christ to those he encountered. I prayed that he would come to know Christ at a young age. And then I took some time to pray for myself.

I feel so inadequate to do the job that I have before me this coming year. Bryan and J are two peas in a pod, and the thought of deployment seems a bit unbearable to think about right now…Maybe my hormones are getting the best of me…I want to be the best mother that I can be for J, and that was my prayer this evening. I prayed that the Lord would grant me the strength to be a rock for J, while his Daddy is doing an important job overseas. I prayed that I, too, would be an example of Christ to both J and his new sibling. And more than that, I prayed that I would please the Lord in doing so.

Our children need prayer and it is our responsibility as parents to offer petitions to the Lord for them. But don’t neglect that parents need prayer too. Parenting is a job that shouldn’t be done without the help of the Lord. Don’t for a second think that you can do it without Him; because that is the moment you have failed both the Lord and your children.

I still don’t feel ready, but maybe that is a good place to be…I only have God to rely on, and there is no better support than that.

Much Love, Jessica

Pearl Harbor

2010-11-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

When we found out that we were moving to Hawaii, the first place that Bryan said he wanted to visit was Pearl Harbor. Bryan and his Papa LOVE military history. They watch films together and go to all of the museums (and have even been known to sneak into exhibits, but that is another story)...but my favorite thing that they do, is that EVERY December 7th, they call and wish each other a Happy Pearl Harbor Day. I don't think that they have missed one since we have been married. Papa even got a call while Bryan was in Iraq haha!

Papa asked me to post photos after our visit and I am just now getting to it, but I wanted to let Bryan and Papa know that you are my favorite veterans and I am proud of what you have done for our country! I love you both...

It was a privilege to visit. I don't think that we realized how overwhelming and emotional the visit would be for us. We only visited the Arizona Memorial, so I am looking forward to going back again. Hopefully this will give Papa another excuse to come and visit!

Much Love,

Jessica

We are here...

2010-10-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

First of all, please forgive me for not keeping up with our family blog! We have no real schedule, and living in a hotel does not always present good internet for blogging opportunities…neither does having a 2 year old that refuses to nap…but that is another blog post for another day!

Most of you reading this are enjoying the beautiful, cool, fall weather. Some of you are already enjoying your fireplaces. Others are enjoying Geig’s apple cider and Buehler’s cider donuts. And I must say that I am completely envious. I must be going through that “feeling sorry for myself” phase today, because I am totally missing home! But, I am attempting to find good replacements for my favorite things to keep me going while I am here…Like Leonard Jr.’s hot malasadas, and the best pineapple I have ever eaten. Not to mention the daily rainbows and the fact that the beach is fifteen minutes away from me. The 85 degree weather is something I will never get used to (fall and spring are my favorite), but at least it isn’t 120 like it was in South Carolina!

We are feeling very blessed. We are able to move into our house this week, a day earlier that we were expecting. Most people here wait at least a couple of months for housing, so I consider our 5 week stay at the Schofield Inn only a small feat in comparison to others’ stays. It has put me into planning mode, so I have been planning out our meals for at least a couple of weeks…I know I am a loser! But I can’t wait to take care of my boys and feed them real food, in a real home! And a routine would be nice too.

Bryan has been enjoying his job so far, so that has been a blessing as well. It is nice that he is finally able to do what the Lord has called Him to do. While this job is going to be very challenging, it is nice to know that we are where the Lord wants us and in His will. You can’t, or at least you shouldn’t, argue with that! We are looking forward to seeing what the rest of our time in Hawaii will bring for our family. Many challenges, of that we are sure!

Please continue to lift Bryan up in prayer, as he prepares to deploy this spring. He has been in contact with the chaplain that he will be replacing when he arrives in Afghanistan, and WOW does he have a tough job ahead of him. He will be preaching, counseling, and doing medical ministry while he is there, and is in charge of a large ministry area. Please pray that the Lord would keep him strengthened and encouraged, in the midst of trials. As much as I hate deployment, it is a relief to me that Bryan will not have us there, so that he can focus on the mission that he has ahead of him.

We love and miss all of our family and friends dearly. We appreciate your support and prayers, and we can’t wait to be with you all again soon! Here are a couple of snapshots that I have taken so far, nothing spectacular, but enjoy anyway…And lots more to come soon!

Much Love, Jessica

It's All Happening So Fast...

2010-08-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

So many things are running through my head right now. I only have 24 more days left in the Continental US. Did I just read that correctly? 24 DAYS...Sweet Moses...

So much has happened this summer already. J and I were able to travel home for my brother's graduation in June, and of course we were able to hang out with my awesome siblings...

My brother, Matt, who is getting ready to enter the "real world"...

My beautiful sister, Lauren, who doesn't know how beautiful she is...

And my brother, Jacob, who makes me laugh harder than anyone I know,

Then I had to buy a new car...by myself...again.

And I tried to sneak the beautiful Miss L in my suitcase...

Then we moved in to our new place...

And met some fabulous new friends with amazing kids...

(Jack's Inn Moms...please note that we will be taking photos shortly, so be prepared! You are not off the hook!)

All of our belongings and our beautiful car on their way to Hawaii...and shortly, we will be as well.

So much change. So much that is unknown. So much that is completely beyond our control. And yet, I have to keep reminding myself that I just need to, "SUCK IT UP, SOLDIER!"

I am moving 4500 miles away from everything that I know and love. I know Bryan will deploy eventually once we get there. We have no house when we arrive. I will be over 2000 miles from any land mass. And yet the Lord tells me this...

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 40:10

And then He tells me this...

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

I have no reason to fear what we are transitioning through right now. I have an amazing Savior that is holding my hand through the whole process. He is my advocate and He loves me enough to never give me anything that I can not handle without Him. And more than that, He has a plan for me! Though this may not be an easy life, or a life that many understand, it is what God has chosen for our family and I will gladly follow His plan for us. And on the days when it may seem impossible or unbearable, I know that I can turn to Him and he will grant me the peace and grace that I need to make it through.

Much Love,

Jessica

Weekend with Halle: Savannah...Part 2

2010-08-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

Savannah was gorgeous, but it was hot and I was sick of carrying my camera at this point, so there are not as many photos...

And I don't know how I managed this, but I did not get a single photo of Halle and I together! Thankfully Halle got this awesome one while we were visiting Paula Deen's store and restaurant...

And to clarify...S.L.U.T.S. stands for Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress haha...

We loved eating at Paula Deen's Restaurant, Lady and Sons, and totally think it was worth waiting an hour in line for. Did I mention that the hour in line was just to get on the list to eat??? We were lucky and were able to eat right away at the bar. Our waiter was awesome!!!!! He was pretty stoked to meet Ernest too...

If you ever get the chance you should eat here!

Halle ate an asparagus sandwich (AMAZING!) and I had her famous pot pie (half of it anyway)...It was delicious. And you can't go to Lady and Sons without getting desert!

Her frozen chocolate mousse pie is to die for and should be called "Death by Chocolate"! I have made this at home and it is incredibly easy. Here is the recipe!

I loved this store too, called Kitchens on the Square. It made me wish I had an unlimited budget! And Halle found an awesome souvenir there for Ryan, whose request was a sword...how funny that she found one...

And some more randomness...

I had a blast, Halle! Thank you for coming to see me...imagine the photos that we could get in Hawaii!

Much love,

Jessica

Weekend with Halle: Charleston...Part 1

2010-08-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

A friend loves at all times…Proverbs 17:17a

What a great reminder from God’s word on how friends are supposed to act. I am more than thankful for my best friend, Halle (or “Howie” as “J” affectionately refers to her), who has always demonstrated this kind of love towards me. I may not be easy to love, but somehow she has managed to still want to hang around me. I think of her more as a sister, than my friend, and love her family like they were my own. We have seen each other through thick and thin, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything! We met in Kindergarten at Christian school and have been best friends ever since. Twenty two years of friendship with Halle has been a fantastic blessing!

I know that Halle must love me, because she has a tremendous fear of flying, but was still willing to get on a plane and come to South Carolina to see me. We were able to take a weekend and hang out before I move 4500 miles away, to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I figured it would be much easier to get her on a plane to SC than Hawaii, so we gave it a shot. Halle and I were able to visit both Charleston and Savannah, which are gorgeous, little towns! And since I am always with my camera in hand, I was able to get some great photos!

Ernest, Halle's friend, was able to travel with us and get in on some of the photos. He really is a spectacular guy and is looking for that special lady in his life, so if you know of anyone...

I have attached links for all of the great places that we were able to see. I love you, Howie! You are the best and I hope you all enjoy…

Blue Bicycle Books is a great, used and rare book store. The girls here were very helpful!

Cupcake is my new favorite place to get sweets! My Aunt Deanna has been telling me about it for awhile, so when we moved here I was so excited to finally try it (they have 3 stores: Columbia, Mt. Pleasant, and Charleston). They change their flavors daily and are trying to make it on Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. If they do, I hope they make their French Toast Cupcake...It is the most divine cupcake I have ever eaten! And they were so sweet to let Ernest have a cupcake too.

And Robot Candy Company was the cutest, candy shop I have seen in a long time! They have a ton of old fashioned candy and you can purchase by the pound. They also carry a local chocolate from Sweeteeth! It is a fun place to take kids, though don't expect to walk out empty handed. The awesome ladies at this shop did not want their photo taken, but wanted everyone to know that Ernest had stopped by to see them...

And "J" was happy to stop and play for a bit with Ernest at the Riverfront Park. I am sure Ernest was less than pleased, since "J" tried to steal his shoes and eat his foot. I wish we had known that they had sprinklers for everyone to run through...That would have been an awesome photo op...

More to come with some photos from Savannah!

Much Love,

Jessica

On the Spot Studio!

2010-08-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Make sure to check out the sale and contest going on over at On the Spot Studio! They are having a Re-Release Party and everything, including logos, is half off. How awesome is that??? I definitely made a purchase already :-) Share some blog love with On the Spot Studio and you can also qualify to win some great prizes too!

Martha's Vineyard...Better Late than Never!

2010-07-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

In April I had the privilege of being a second shooter for a wedding with my amazing, photographer friend, Ashley. The bride, Amanda, was a friend of mine from high school, and what a beautiful bride she was! She and her husband, Adam, decided to do a destination wedding in Martha's Vineyard...I must admit that it made me insanely jealous! Fabulous location. Fabulous food. Fabulous dress. Fabulous weather. Fabulous couple. What more could they have asked for??? Just wanted to share a few shots from the gorgeous day, and also wanted to thank Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs (the younger version) for letting me be a part of it!

Much Love, Jessica

I Heart Faces...Fix it Friday #63

2010-07-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

I love Fix it Friday...and I am pretty sure that I say that every single time Friday rolls around. It is always such a nice break and great to edit something just for fun. I think this has been one of my favorite Fix It photos to date, though I am so sad I missed last week's! Make sure you go over to I Heart Faces and check out all of the other entries here.

Here is the original photo:

And here are my fixes...

For this I cropped a bit and then used MCP's Skin Cast Blast and one her Color Pop actions.

Then I ran a free action (can't remember where I got it, sorry!) called Sunshine Memories to get this:

Then I played around with AMP's Sepia Vintage, which I really enjoyed:

And of course a black and white:

Thanks for the great photo to work with!

Much Love,

Jessica

I Heart Faces...I Heart My Country

2010-07-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

As I have been thinking about the theme this week, I Heart My Country, I have wondered how many ways this theme could be taken. As much as I would love to have taken a different approach to this, “different” just doesn’t seem to cut it. “I Heart My Country” sits a bit deeper with me and allows me to reflect on the great amount of sacrifice given so that I can even sit here and write this to you.

Pro Deo et Patria…For God and Country, which is the motto of the United States Army Chaplain.

My family and I have recently embarked upon a new journey. My husband, Bryan, who has served in the United States Army Reserves for 8 years, has finished seminary and has entered into Active Duty as a full time Chaplain. This summer we have made the move down to Relaxin’ Jackson in South Carolina for Bryan to complete his training.

We have been blessed to have met many wonderful families here on post that are part of the Chaplaincy. It has been amazing to watch these families bond in such a short period of time, and even more amazing to watch the kids form friendships with each other. We have not signed on for an easy task by being military families. As a matter of fact, less than 1% of the nation is part of our military.

I think I am biased, but our Army Chaplains quite underrated! They go into the field without a weapon and are there to minister to the brave men and women defending our nation. They are there to provide support to our soldiers and be a source of comfort when needed. They pray for our nation, its leaders, and those that defend it. “For God and Country” isn’t just something that is said, but is something that is lived out in our Chaplains lives.

I love the USA. I love everything about it. I love that I am able to vote to elect our country’s leaders. I love that I can choose where I want to worship on Sunday. I love that I can go out with other moms and watch our children play. I love that we get to enjoy corn on the cob and watermelons at picnics on lazy, summer days. I love all the opportunities that America has to offer that can’t be experienced anywhere else. But most of all, I love the freedom that our country has to offer.

Most people don’t understand the sacrifices that are made in order to maintain the freedoms that we enjoy. Most people take it for granted and don’t even realize it. But I, for one, am more than thankful for the men and women that go out on a daily basis to defend our beloved country.

To our service members…

You and your families’ sacrifices have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Your time, your work, and your effort is something that should be admired by all. Your bravery and selflessness is something that we should all attain for. Thank you for what you do, and for doing it without asking for anything in return.

Much Love,

Jessica

I love my niece!

2010-07-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed with some FANTASTIC Aunts! I love each of them so much, and am thankful for their very different personalities...each one has been with me through some difficult circumstances, and the Lord really used them to help see me through. So too each of you, thank you!

Aunt Deanna...I am at a bit off a loss. I hope Miss L comes to talk to me the way that we talk! I love you so much, and some days I think I may not have made it in VA if it weren't for you. Who else could I share peanut butter stories with??? And I am pretty sure you are responsible for almost all of my minutes on my phone every month...

Aunt Debbie...You led me to Christ, and I am eternally grateful. Thank you for being such a fantastic example of the godly woman that God wants me to be. You are a wonderful mother and wife, and I hope to be half the person you are.

Aunt Cyndy...I have so many memories of growing up with you! I would get so excited when a trip to KY was announced (even today, it still feels like home to be there). I remember singing ridiculous songs on the way to the mall (which I will teach to Miss L soon!), Glamour Shots, and AWESOME clothes! But more than that, I have watched you go through so much and have seen an amazing transformation. The power of Christ has been evident in your life and I am thankful for your testimony. I am proud of you!

Aunt Pam...my favorite Facebook encourager! Thank you for always lending encouraging words to me. I appreciate that you took time to take care of us while my mom was sick. I may not have appreciated it then, but I know that was a sacrifice, and I appreciate it more now that I am a wife and mom. Thank you for your love for the Lord and your devotion to your family!

Aunt Kate...My photography friend! Thanks for countless hours of talking to me about photoshop, poses, and for encouraging me to get out there. It is nice to do something I love, and I may not have had the courage to do it if not for you. Thanks for all of your newborn advice and for not laughing when I call with ridiculous questions about kids that I feel like I should already know haha.

Aunt Ruby...thanks for sharing Cassie! LOL...I appreciate you letting me vent and for always taking care of us. And I really appreciate your chocolate chip cookie recipe. It makes me feel pretty special to have it. We are going to miss you and now Baby J will have to sleep in old t-shirts because his pajama supplier will be in OH!

Aunt Tiffany...I love you. I know Bryan misses you so much (me too, of course). I am going to miss all of our lawn gatherings at your house haha! And I fully expect a visit so that we can find you the perfect Hawaiian shot glass!

Those were in no particular order by the way!

And with that, I am ending with some beautiful photos of my niece, Miss L. I hope one day we will get to share this awesome bond, no matter how far apart. I love her to pieces! She has a firecracker personality and I can't wait to see how God uses her. She is just the prettiest, little lady I know, and I miss her a ton. Love you L Bug!

And of course, my favorite...

Did I mention how much I also love this tutu??? Check out Nana's Tutus here! Just adorable!

Much Love,

Jessica

A Day at the Zoo...

2010-07-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

It is so nice to have our little family together again. After being separated, for what felt like the longest month ever, Baby J and I were finally able to reunite with Bryan again in Ft. Jackson. One step closer to Hawaii!!! Some days it feels like it will never get here, but I am thankful for all that God is doing here in the mean time with these Chaplains that are training to serve our soldiers.

This past weekend, we decided to go out and enjoy Columbia by taking Baby J to the zoo. We were excited to get out in the "cool" weather, which meant that it was 95 degrees instead of 104! We loved every second and want to return before we leave...All of you Ft. Jackson Moms can check out their site here.

There is nothing better than watching Baby J's little face light up and seeing it full of wonder...of course now that he knows I am trying to capture that, you can see the other face I get! What a ham!!!

What a gorgeous day, though a little bright! Not exactly great for photos, but beautiful none the less...

Every time I ask Bryan what he wants to do when he retires, he tells me that he wants to be the old wise man on the top of the mountain. I gave him the opportunity to show me what he would look like...

Somehow, I think that he might look closer to this...

Does anyone else see the resemblance in the face??? Uncanny...

Bryan was sweet and took us to this great, little pizza place, to end out the day, called "The Pizza Joint"...check them out here! I still miss Luigi's back home, but this will do for now. I would have taken pics of the inside, but I am pretty sure that I gave birth to a child that is half monster and didn't have a chance! I look forward to eating in a restaurant one day where people are no longer staring at me and Bryan haha...

I love my boys! There is nothing better than being with them, and I look forward to it every day...more to come later!

Much Love,

Jessica

Fix It Friday # 61

2010-07-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

I needed a break today, and couldn’t think of anything better to do than Fix It Friday over at I Heart Faces. The photo this week was fun and the girl is gorgeous! So here is the original…

And here is my “recipe” for my fixes…

I cropped it a bit and then I ran the following actions from MCP:

MCP’s Skin Cast Blast
MCP’s Peek A Boo
MCP’s Color Burst

I adjusted these according to my taste and then adjusted the saturation…

Then for a bit hazier look I ran over it with the Coffee Shop’s Johnna’s Memories of Sunshine.

And for the last photo I simply converted it to black and white and adjusted some of the color tones to add more contrast.

It was so nice to stop and do something to break up editing for a bit! Make sure to head over to I Heart Faces and check out the other amazing entries!

Much Love,

Jessica

CONGRATULATIONS, BRYAN!!!

2010-05-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to blog and brag on my husband!

Sometimes if feels like we have been in the "Burg" for an eternity...other days, Bryan and I look at each other in disbelief at all that God has done in such a short amount of time. We have experienced so much here, both good and bad, and though we would never trade our time here, it is a bit of a relief to know that our journey has come to an end. We have been in a "waiting place" for the past five and half years, so we are thankful that God made His plan for us very clear as soon as Bryan was coming upon his last semester at Liberty.

I am so proud of Bryan and all that he has accomplished. I don't know how he managed to do all that he did here, except by extra helpings of God's grace. His days here consisted of waking up and going out to the backyard to work at the shop (squeezing in quiet time with God before mayhem began), coming in for lunch and studying, going back to work, then coming home to study some more. For a year, he was also planning out 3 lessons a week for teens at church, plus doing his military weekends...all the while still managing to maintain a 4.0 GPA, earn the rank of Staff Sergeant, help me at home, be a great husband, and fantastic daddy to Baby J. He never complained about being tired or having too much to do, but just continued to push ahead, knowing that God had great things in store for him.

So, for you Bryan...

Thank you for all that you have done for Baby J and I. You have been such a wonderful provider for us and I am forever grateful that you have allowed me to stay at home with our beautiful boy . You have no idea how much I appreciate you and I know that I do not tell you enough. You are one of the hardest working men that I have ever seen, and I know that the Lord is going to use you in amazing ways, and already is. Thank you for being such a great spiritual leader both inside and outside of the home. I praise God that you are the one that Baby J has to look up to. I pray that I will live up to the expectations that God has for me to be the excellent wife that you deserve. How blessed am I that the Lord gave me such a wonderful gift?!

Congratulations, my Love, on completing seminary and completing it well. Your desire to learn about our Savior, should be an example to all of us to study God's Word fervently, to know and understand it, and to share it with those whom God places on our path.

All of My Love to You,

Jessica

Fix It Friday #54

2010-05-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's Fix It Friday over at I Heart Faces again! I used Photoshop CS4 as my editing program and all of the actions I used this week were from Jodi at MCP Actions. Make sure you go check out the other entries here!

Most of the actions I used either came from the All in the Details Set or the Complete Workflow Set. I chose not to edit out the cute little spots on his face since I have a little guy myself and I know all the bumps and bruises have a story behind them! This little guy is just gorgeous!!!

Before...

After...

Enjoy your weekend!

Much Love,

Jessica

I Heart Faces..."Celebrating Mom"

2010-05-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

This week over at I Heart Faces they are celebrating moms...what a tough, but rewarding job!

I am entering a photo of my friend, Cindi, and her SIX children! I don't know how she manages, but she works and homeschools all of her kids, plus she is actively involved at her church...And yet somehow she is always full of energy. She told me once that she thought I had the personality to handle a big family, which I took as a huge compliment, but just thinking of all that she would have to accomplish in a day makes me tired!!!

Yesterday she woke up to signs all over the house from her children telling her all the reasons why they love and appreciate her...and here is a cute photo of them showing her that love...

Don't forget to check out the other entries here!

Much Love,

Jessica

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

~Proverbs 31: 25-31

I remember vividly the day that I found out I was pregnant with Baby J. It was a total and utter shock. I had been getting sick at work for several days, and since I worked at a daycare, the thought that it was because I was pregnant never entered my mind. Someone suggested that I should take a pregnancy test, so reluctantly I went to grab one on my lunch break. To my surprise, the result was positive. I ran down to my boss, showed her the test and asked if I could run home.

I called Bryan on my way to the house and told him to come outside. I handed him the test, and I specifically remember him looking at me and asking, “What is this???” When he turned it over, he saw that it said “Pregnant”, and he developed a huge grin on his face. What an exciting moment that God had allowed us to share…

I had been told that I would have a hard time carrying a baby from my Doctor back in Ohio. I had multiple cysts and some major imbalances in my hormone levels (I am sure those of you that know me would never guess that from all of my random crying haha), so they told me that getting pregnant would be the easy part. Within a day of taking that test, the bleeding began.

Thankfully, the doctor’s office got me in for an appointment early the next morning. I had an ultrasound and was able to see our baby at 5 ½ weeks. Everything looked great and we were able to see our little peanut swimming around. They helped reassure me that everything would be fine and they would keep a close eye on everything. October 9th would become my due date.

The bleeding turned into spotting and eventually stopped. I was blessed with morning sickness for the first 6 months of pregnancy…though this may not seem like much of a blessing (and I know I complained most of the time it was going on), it was a good sign to know that my pregnancy hormone levels were really high, being a constant reassurance that our little one would be okay. Just a couple months later, after some high blood pressure, twice weekly visits for stress tests to monitor Baby J and I, and bed rest, it was finally time for our little one to enter the world.

I was 9 days past my due date when they finally brought me into be induced. The thought of being induced was not appealing to me in the slightest, so my doctor started with a cream that helped get contractions started. Within an hour of the cream being applied, my water broke and things started progressing naturally, so I never had to use the pitocin. My family had come from Ohio to be with us, so Bryan called them at 4 a.m. to let them know that I was at 5 cm. They started getting ready and about an hour later Bryan called to tell them I was at 9 ½ cm…I am sure that is probably the fastest that my family has ever gotten ready at one time . When babies are ready to come out, they are READY! So after 9 hours of laboring, and only 20 minutes of pushing (did I mention that they made me breathe through 2 contractions before they let me push him out…pure evil), our little one arrived!

Baby J came into the world on October 18th at 6:26 a.m., and weighed in at 9 lbs, 11 oz., 22 inches long…a pure bundle of joy!

At times, I still cannot believe that God chose for me to be a mother. I quoted from Proverbs 31 at the beginning of this post. Though I know I fall short of being that particular woman, it is a great reminder of what I need to be striving for to be the best mother and wife that I can be for Bryan and Baby J. I don’t think that anyone can ever prepare you for what you are about to face with motherhood, but it definitely brings new challenges every day. I count it all joy to be blessed with both of my boys, and am so thankful that I am the one that gets to take care of them on a daily basis. Our time in Virginia has flown by. What a blessing to see Baby J grow and develop over the past year and a half…even this week he has been making huge strides in talking! I was picking up in the living room yesterday and he pulled on my shirt and asked me to “read a book”…totally random and out of the blue for someone that pretends he can’t talk haha…

Motherhood is not always easy, but it is the most rewarding job that God has given. So many women have been such an inspiration to me as I have watched them mother their own children, and I am thankful for the example that they have been in my life. To you, ladies, I wish you the happiest of Mother’s Day. Thank you for being a blessing to me, but more importantly to your children. May we all strive to be the example that God has given us in His word…

Much Love,

Jessica

Fix it Friday #53

2010-05-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

It is Fix It Friday over at I Heart Faces Again!

Here is this week's Fix It Photo...

And here are my fixes...

Here is a list of what I did to edit the picture...

1. Ran a quick defog from Holly over at Pink Ink Studios

2. Sharpened/Brightened Eyes from the Pioneer Woman

3. Peek A Boo from MCP Action

4. Touch of Light from MCP Actions

5. Touch of Color from MCP Actions

6. Magic Skin from MCP Actions

7. Quiet the Noise from MCP Actions

8. A Berries and Cream Overlay from AMP on the second photo and Take Action on Cancer Awareness from MCP on the third

Most of these actions are fully adjustable to suit your taste. Feel free to critique and make sure to check out the other entries here!

Much Love,

Jessica

Mother's Day Giveaway

2010-05-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Pink Ink Studios Giveaway!

2010-05-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

I entered to win Carrie’s entire store at @pinkinkstudios.com valued at over $1,300! www.facebook.com/PinkInkStudios for further details!

I love Pink Ink Studios! They have so many AWESOME and AFFORDABLE resources for photographers and I just couldn't pass up entering in this giveaway. Make sure you take the time to go check out Pink Ink Studios here and look at Carrie's store here. Thanks for this amazing giveaway, Carrie!

Fix It Friday at I Heart Faces...

2010-04-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

It is "Fix it Friday" over at I Heart Faces today! Here was today's photo to fix...

And here are my fixes...

I cropped out some of the image, and then ran an action to lighten up the photo from Paint the Moon. Next I ran Color Explosion from MCP Actions (photo1). Then I ran an action called Rusty Vintage with Haze from Kelly Haddad (photo 2). And lastly I used The Pioneer Woman's PW B & W (photo 3). Of course, all of these actions were fully adjustable, so I played around with them to achieve the look I wanted...feel free to critique! I want to keep getting better, so suggestions are welcome! I love Fix It Friday's...Make sure to go check out all of the other entries here, and enjoy your weekend!

Much Love, Jessica

Week 17 at I Heart Faces...ALL SMILES!

2010-04-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

The photo challenge this week over at I Heart Faces is ALL SMILES! I had the privelage of taking this sweet family's photos a couple of weeks ago, and as soon as I saw the challenge I knew that this was the photo I wanted to enter. I met this family through church, and the mom, Kim, also has a sweet blog that she recently started that you can check out here. Enjoy and hope that you will go check out the other great entries over at I Heart Faces!

Much Love, Jessica

Another Great Giveaway...

2010-04-22T05:38:00.000-07:00

Since we are still poor seminary students, free giveaways really tickle my fancy! Willette Designs is having another great giveaway on her blog for photographers. This week it is a set of SUPER CUTE headbands for infant/newborn shoots from Erin Johnson. Make sure to go and check out these ladies fabulous blogs! I really want to buy some of those headbands from Erin Johnson myself! Thanks again for yet another great giveaway!

Great Giveaway on The Savvy Photographer!

2010-04-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

The Savvy Photographer is giving away a Platinum Subscription to The Shoppe Designs! I absolutely love this site, so please go and check it out if you have the chance. She has the best resources and marketing ideas. The Shoppe Designs is another great resource place for photographers, so what bliss to hear that they have teamed up together for this giveaway.

Willette Designs...

2010-04-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

I love Willette Designs! She offers great marketing materials for photographers, as well as great posing guides...I can not wait to order them soon. This weekend she has a fantastic giveaway for a free 5x5 album from Color Inc. (a great photo lab) and also some free 5x5 cover templates! Make sure to go check out her site here and her shop here!

ENJOY!!!

So can you guess where we are moving?

2010-04-06T20:35:00.001-07:00

Bryan and I got married knowing that we had a long road ahead of us before life could really start. We were really young when we got married and both wanted to finish school. We have always had big plans, but knew that God needed us to do some things before they could happen. Well, after a 15 month deployment in Iraq, Bryan finishing 4 different degrees, a move to VA for seminary, a beautiful baby boy, and almost 6 years later, God has finally decided to place in full time ministry.

Bryan has always felt the Lord’s leading in pursuing full time ministry since he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 14. He entered the army at 17, while he was still in high school, and felt God’s calling into the chaplaincy. His deployment to Iraq only furthered his desire to serve God in this capacity. Though we had talked about other types of ministry, none seemed more fitting with the talents and gifts that God had given Bryan. I can’t say that I have always been big on the idea of active duty, but through many hard lessons I have learned that it is a lot easier when you just do what God wants you to do instead of following after your own desires.

Bryan, being only 24 at the time of submitting his Chaplaincy Packet, was told that he had only a 30% chance of being accepted onto active duty. He would have been given more of chance if he had submitted for Chaplaincy in the Reserves, but we knew that this was either going to be a career or that we would be done with the military when Bryan’s Reserve Contract was up. Besides, we knew if that was where God wanted to place us then He would make it clear. It is a good place to be when you are in a situation where the answer is either yes or no. Ministry is a huge decision and we wanted to make sure that we were in Lord’s will. We left it in God’s hands and waited for the board to meet to make their decisions.

In mid December, Bryan and I were having a particularly awful day. Several events had occurred within a week’s time, and we were both distraught. In the Target parking lot, Bryan received a call from Maryland while we were discussing everything that had been going on. When Bryan answered his eyes lit up, and at that moment I knew that God had answered us. God had placed us on Active Duty. Now to wait for the assignment…

This past week, Bryan received an email asking if we would mind being placed in a particular assignment. This assignment is not one that is given to first time chaplains. So again, we told them that if God wanted us there, then He would place us there. We did not want to be the ones to say no to what God had for us, so we waited and today we received our orders. So…if you want to come and visit us, you will have to buy a plane ticket to….

HAWAII!!!!

Isn’t God funny and wonderful? I am sure our next assignment will be in Alaska or Ft. Sill, OK, but until then I am going to enjoy God’s beautiful creation in the middle of the Pacific!

ALOHA with Much Love,

Jessica

Happy Resurrection Sunday...

2010-04-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen (Luke 24:5b-6a)...

What a great reminder today of the sweet salvation that is available to us through Jesus Christ! I am so thankful that my Savior chose to die for me, in spite of me, and did not stay in the tomb, but conquered death to save me from my sins. This gift is for all that want to receive it!

Praise God for His mercy and grace that He extends to us daily. Enjoy your Easter and remember why we celebrate it...

Blessings and Love,
Jessica

Anna and Justin...

2010-04-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

I just entered a photo of Justin and Anna at I Heart Faces this past week and wanted to post a few more photos from their mini engagement session. They are about to get married this June and are seeking the Lord's direction in ministry. I appreciate that they are always so willing to let me practice, and I am pretty sure that Anna is responsible for about half of the actuations on my camera haha...

Justin and Anna, I am so excited to see all that God has in store for you! Keep Christ at the center of your marriage and He will make His will clear for you <3

Much Love, Jessica

I Heart Faces Week 13-Dramatic Black and White

2010-03-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

This week over at I Heart Faces is centered around Dramatic Black and White Photos...Black and White is my favorite!!! I took a black and white film class in college and loved every second of it. It has such a classic, vintage feel to it and helps create a real emotional tone in an image. Make sure to go take a look at all of the AMAZING entries that have been posted this week!

This is a photo of my friend Anna, and her fiance, Justin. They are set to get married this June and then are looking to enter into full time ministry. I am so excited to see where the Lord takes them! They are such a sweet and funny couple...

Austen and Erik...

2010-03-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

I had the privelage of taking some engagement photos for one of our former youth group members, Austen, and her fiance Erik...seriously, how old am I that I am doing things like this??? Austen is one of the sweetest girls I know, and I know that she is going to be an excellent wife and mother someday. I am so thankful that this couple loves the Lord and desires His will for their lives. They plan on pursuing full time ministry, and I am so excited to see where the Lord takes them!

Much Love, Jessica

Fix it Friday at I Heart Faces...

2010-03-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Every Friday at I Heart Faces they do something called "Fix It Friday". They offer an image taken by someone else, and give you the chance to "fix" or edit it how you please. It is a great way to practice editing images. Being a self taught Photoshopper, this is a really great thing for me to try. I know that Angie and Amy said to leave nice comments, but please feel free to offer constructive criticism here! I need it! So, here is the original image...

And here are my attempts to "fix" it...though it was a very cute SOOC shot...

I forgot to write down the "recipe" that I used, but my editing program is Photoshop CS4. I know that I ran a quick defog, then used a few actions from MCP Actions, including Color Burst, Touch of Light/Darkness, and on the top photo I used Take Action on Cancer Awareness.

I have really enjoyed my first week at I Heart Faces! Thanks for all the great comments!

Much Love, Jessica

Week 12...I Heart Faces-Angles

2010-03-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

This week the challenge over at I Heart Faces dealt with angles and for the first time I have finally decided to enter. I love reading this blog and looking at all of the fabulous faces that people post each week, so if you get a chance make sure to head over there and check out the other awesome entries.

I am entering a photo of some great girls I know that are best friends, Lauren and Anna. These girls are so much fun to photograph! They have been a blessing to me and I am so glad to know them...so, here are my favorite freckled friends...

I love you, ladies!

Much Love,

Jessica

I LOVE YOU MATT!!!

2010-03-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Well the past two and a half years here in VA have been crazy and hectic...We are waiting to find out where we are moving and it has become a major stressor for me. I have an energetic 17 month old that never stops. I am in school and study whenever my little guy lets me. And I am trying to be a good wife in the midst of it all. Well, yesterday, I forgot to be a good sister...

I got caught up taking care of Josiah, who has been running a high fever (It finally broke, so thank you for all the prayers), teaching a quick class to homeschoolers, and then running to my math class, only to run right back home to a screaming baby. So, when my brother called me today and asked what I did yesterday, I was really caught off guard, and realized at that moment that I had forgotten to call and say....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATT JR.!!!

I completely forgot to wish my brother a happy birthday, so now I am announcing it to the whole world that my little brother is now a legal adult!

I love you, Matt, and hope you know what a blessing you are to everyone around you. You have a very giving heart and I am so thankful that I have the privelage of being your sister. Can't wait to see where the Lord takes you in the near future as you get ready to graduate and join the Marines...though I would really love for you to stick around and play guitar, so that I can meet famous people! I am really proud of you...and also really sorry haha...

And so my siblings don't feel left out...Lauren and Jacob, I LOVE YOU TOO!

Ahhh...The Savvy Photographer

2010-03-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how I stumbled upon this blog, but I read it every day! The Savvy Photographer offers a wealth of resources for photographers and gives fantastic marketing ideas. They are having a great giveaway right now for The Mommy and Me Posing Guide and Marketing Set from Kelly Willette. Make sure to check them both out and browse their fantastic site!

Adam Barnes' Photography Workshop

2010-03-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending Adam Barnes’ Workshop on the Art of Photographing Children. Adam Barnes is a well known photographer throughout Virginia and is known for his unique style. He has been featured in wedding magazines and has a true gift for capturing emotion. He works alongside a great staff, including his wife, Lauren, and also Kelli, Whitney, and Kristen. They all truly made this day enjoyable! Being able to be surrounded by others that appreciate God’s blessings and who bring that out in their work was what made my day. It was great to be able to practice and get hands on experience. I am hoping that we may still be close by in fall so that I can attend his next workshop! Make sure you go check out his work here...

And, first, I want to say thank you to my amazing husband, Bryan, who after working full time all week and attending seminary full time (while maintaining a 4.0…I love bragging on him!), supports me to go out and do stuff like this while he stays home to watch “J”. He is such a blessing and I am beyond thankful for all that he does for “J” and me!

Secondly, thanks so much to everyone at Adam Barnes’ Fine Art Photography for a great workshop! I really appreciated that you took the time to personally interact with everyone and to make sure that all questions were answered.

Lastly, thank you to God and these parents that made these BEAUTIFUL children! WOW!

Much Love, Jessica

Amazement Square...

2010-03-12T18:43:00.000-08:00

We are blessed to live near Amazement Square, a great children's museum in Lynchburg. Bryan has drill this weekend, so we decided to celebrate our family weekend a bit early and take "J" there to run around. He is still a bit too young for most of the exhibits, but he still had a great time...is there anything better than running around and being able to play with whatever you want?! He loves playing with his daddy, so it was great to get some photos of them playing together and having a good time...Watching them play together is one of my favorite things to see. There is no doubt about how much "J" loves his daddy!

I love this last image...This age has been my favorite so far. His curiosity is sparked and he is into EVERYTHING! I am so glad that the Lord blessed Bryan and I with such a fantastic kid...it doesn't get any better than this!

Here goes nothing...

2010-03-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

Wow...I have talked about doing this for awhile, so here it goes...

My name is Jess and this is my first blogging experience, so bear with me! This blog is meant to serve two purposes.

First, this blog is a way for me to keep in touch with family and friends as we prepare to move around the country, while my husband serves as an active duty military chaplain. Not exactly an easy life, but something that we are both so excited that God has called us to. I am so thankful for all of our service members and the sacrifice that they and their families are willing to make, so what an honor it is that God has called us to serve them in full time ministry. I can't wait to find out where our first duty station is! We should find out next month, but until then, the suspense is KILLING me! This year is going to bring a lot of changes, so I am thankful that God already knows what is going to happen, as I am a planner and have been able to make NO plans thus far...I am sure that God has a lot to teach me in the upcoming months.

And secondly, this blog is a way for me to become better at photography. I have developed a real love for it over the past year and a half...Since baby "J" was born, I have not been able to put down my Nikon. And thankfully people have been asking me to take their photos for them, which allows for me to get out there practice, so hopefully some day this could turn into something bigger than I expected. But for now I will continue to build my portfolio and see where God takes me. I am hoping to enter weekly photo challenges at http://www.iheartfaces.com/ and continue to photograph family and friends.

Well, this was a longer post than I thought it would be, so thanks for listening...Can't wait to keep you posted about where God takes the Hedrick Family from here!

Much Love,

Jessica