Author Archives: 365 days of marriage

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About 365 days of marriage

I started this blog in April of 2011. At the time, Bret and I were wedding photographers and it was a way to share how marriage is more about the day to day and so much more than the wedding day itself. For about 5 years, I blogged about the joys and sorrows of the Christian walk, marriage, work, family and friends. I’ve blogged every day since a few weeks after I started. In May of 2015, we photographed our last wedding. Now, I have become passionate about simplicity, particularly in marriage, Christianity, business, travel and life. For a number of reasons, we have become minimalists. I’ve found that having simplicity makes life so much deeper, refreshing and joyful. I hope that this blog will help others see the benefits of living simply.

Day 1153 – Rocky Point Beach and Park in Essex Maryland

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Today I wanted to share the picture from Rocky Point Beach and Park in Essex Maryland I took a few days ago.

I only got one shot because it was almost about to rain and we had taken a ton of pictures already that day.

Anyways, I was very surprised by this place! I’d never heard of it and it’s AMAZING! A beach, picnic tables, spots to fish. Just beautiful! I can’t wait to photograph here!

While we were leaving, I told Bret I really want to start actually looking into places around Maryland because it really is a neat state!

Day 1152 – Bret’s Musings on the Most Inspiring Thing He Saw in Texas

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“Hi again everyone! I want to tell about an inspiring experience I had while in Texas. The last race of the race day was a 15k, which is 9.3 miles. During the race, it started pouring. The dirt in that part of Texas is mainly clay, so when it gets wet, it’s a mess. So, not only had it rained pretty well the night before, it got even worse. It was bad: windy, slippery, dark skies, and a bunch of lightning and thunder. It was so bad in fact that almost everyone at the race, runners and workers left the event before half of the runners from the last race were done. But it was the lady in last place that impressed me. She was probably at least 30 minutes behind the next person, basically, a long way back there.

Now, usually we start cleaning up during the last race, but not this time. Everyone that was left, which was mainly a few workers and vendors, and the family of this lady, were huddled under a tent, futilely trying to stay dry, eating to pass the time, while they waited for her to come to the finish. Since it was pouring, there wasn’t much work we could do, or wanted to for that matter. So, I started driving a four wheeler around the course, picking up the cups from the water stations. As I caught up to the lady, I yelled, “You are awesome!” She laughed and replied, “Well, I can’t not finish at this point.” At that point, I think she was about 2 miles from finishing. Also at that point, I think every other runner was done. What also really impressed me was that a guy was walking with her. I don’t know if he was her boyfriend or husband, but I was really happy to see a guy supporting his girl like that. Much of the time she was walking, but she did run some, and I know that she was still doing some of the obstacles.

To tell you how bad it was out there, after I dropped off the trash and came to the tent that everyone was huddled under, they applauded me for being out there. I was a little embarrassed. As I started eating a turkey leg, the lady approached the last obstacle just before the finish line. I was so impressed by her determination that I wanted to run and finish with her. So, I caught up to her, gave her a high five, crawled through the last mud pit, and finished the race with her. Everyone who runs it gets a dog tag that, I think says Rebel Race, but in my opinion, she already had the best reward. Honestly, I was more impressed with her determination and perseverance than that of the person that finished first. In fact, you know what? I don’t even remember who finished first. But I do remember the lady that didn’t give up.”

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Day 1151 – Gunpowder Falls State Park – Big Gunpowder Falls Section in Perry Hall MD

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Here are the shots I promised from Gunpowder Falls State Park – Big Gunpowder Falls Section.

What I love most about this spot is how easy it is to get to, driving and walking wise. We barely walked a quarter of a mile to take all of these shots. I’d also like to try running here one day. Nice flat path and BEAUTIFUL scenery.

Day 1150 – Wedding Venue – Deer Creek Overlook in Street Maryland

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Today I wanted to share the pictures that we took at Deer Creek Overlook with Brian and Rebekah!

This is the gazebo on a really nice large field, they’ll be having their ceremony here. Starting to pray for a nice, non-rain kind of day already!

There are rocking chairs EVERYWHERE! They overlook the field!

You know you have a fun wedding couple when…..they play the hand slap game instead of practicing first look shots like their photographer asked them to! 😉

I’m thinking they didn’t take the first look test shot too seriously either….

Then we walked down to Deer Creek to see what we could find down there!

This is the “I don’t like getting my picture taken, I never know what to do with my hands, raptor hands” shot.

Then they tried to get away from us so we’d stop taking their picture. 🙂

Bret wasn’t too happy about this, so he photo bombed their picture.

Day 1149 – The Best Day We’ve Had So Far

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Today was really the best day Bret and I have experienced so far. I mean, there have been a ton of good days, to be sure, but this was one of those….wow, this just gets better and better!

First, the sermon was AWESOME at church. It was on Luke 14:12-24 and the parable of the great banquet. There were a few things that really stuck out to me… first that Jesus is the master of the awkward moment. How he would ask questions that got to the heart of the matter and made people really uncomfortable. I mean, how comfortable are you with your sin? It doesn’t mean he’s trying to be a jerk and leave people in that uncomfortableness, it’s out of love to help us grow. It made me want to grow in making people uncomfortable like that.

Then we met up with Brian and Rebekah, our October 6th couple. We had lunch and then went to their venue, Deer Creek Overlook. We had so many awesome ideas for photographs and just had a super fun time getting to know each other.

After that, Bret and I headed down to Gunpowder Falls State Park – Big Gunpowder Falls Section off Bel Air Road. We’ll be taking engagement/family portraits for Kevin and Caitlin, our March 16th couple, there on Saturday.

The last location we scouted was Rocky Point Beach and Park in Essex. We’ll be taking engagement portraits for Jason and Jennifer, our April 13th couple, in a few weeks.

I will post pictures from each location over the next few days…mostly because I didn’t want to overwhelm you with so many pictures!!

We were driving home and at the end of Rocky Point Road and saw a sign for Island View Waterfront Cafe. I pointed it out in a “hey, look at that, isn’t that neat?” and he said, “let’s go!” We don’t really go out a lot, so I was SUPER excited about it!

We got seats outside and this was our view…

It was just perfect. But then the wind picked up and we felt a few drops…but hoped it would pass…sadly, it started to rain, so we moved inside and this was our view!

I ordered cream of crab soup and it was amazing! One thing I notice in cream of crab soup is if there are “flour clumps that you think are crab.” I think that’s the WORST feeling….you think you’re getting this awesome lump of crab meat and ew no!! There were NO flour clumps! The soup was the perfect amount of creamy, but not too thick. There was a lot of big pieces of crab. AND (this is truly the BEST part of this restaurant) along with the regular salt and pepper shakers…there were OLD BAY SHAKERS on EVERY table! AH! As soon as I finished the soup I wished I had ordered a bowl instead of a cup. Ah! I washed it all down with a Fat Tire.

My meal was a shrimp salad sandwich on a croissant with lettuce and tomato! I also ordered mashed potatoes instead of fries. Old Bay on top of that was just perfect!

Another highlight was seeing two families that arrived and left BY BOAT. How cool is that??

If you’re interested in checking them out (which you TOTALLY should), here’s the specials they had listed on the door outside…I know I’ll be going back for those $1 and $2 crabs!