Coy Family - Center Point Photography

This was my first family lifestyle shoot. Hope you enjoy it! I sure did. I loved being able to capture this family in such a new season of life. Baby Parker was only a few days old when we did our shoot. She and big sis Kennedy did great!  Anyway... Enjoy!

Love you Coy Family!

Garage Sale Friday!

     This is my new weekly post. You may not care but this is one of my favorite hobbies and jobs. I hunt hard to find the best deals out there. It's almost every Friday from 9-10:30am. Me and my little buddies (Lucas and Calvin) head out and start the hunt. We mainly hunt for kids clothes for the upcoming season. Im currently looking for 4t/5t winter clothes and 18month winter clothes. We also find some larger toys. Not small stuff that just collects dust but larger, unique, or very specific things like dump trucks and scoops.  I have purchased many other things. Like Smart TV's, Cozy Coup's, Trampoline, sippy cups, clothes, purses, brand new pottery barn sheets, lamps, dressers, and sooooo much more! For now Ill post a few pictures of things I have gotten in the past and end with my finds from the day!  Hope you find some fun, laughs, and ideas through the tips, tricks, and ideas I have about garage sales.

First tip... Get up and Go! Takes 1hr. Just drive around and hit a few. See if you find anything that works for you. Take $5 and see how far it goes. And ALWAYS ask to pay less.

Here we go!

Cozy Coup $15, Gas Pump $.50, Fire Hat $.25

Swing $5, Cute baby Priceless!

Everything on the wall was garage saled. Just repainted. Maybe $5 total, and the wall decal $7.

Before we headed out for our Friday Garage Sale FUN! All sippy cups garage saled... $.10 each.

Leather chair $5, play house $25, Clothes $1

Window panes on the sides of bed $25, Night stands $15, Canvas $5, Frame above bed $.25, Rocker $25, Footstool $3, and Striped pillow cases along with duvet and sheets that aren't pictured from pottery bard $15, Curtains $8

Shoes $.50, Purse $1, Duvet (listed above)

Bananagrams $1, Plastic play table and chairs $3

Grocery Cart $1.

And todays buy... FREE 18 months sweat pants (were marked as $.25 but she said to just take it), Shirt $1, Camelbak Water bottle perfect condition $.50

Happy Garage sale-ing!!

 

Center Point Photography: Parker Coy Baby Shoot

Sneak peek of this little sweetie! Parker Coy was so easy to shoot and it was such a joy to hang out with her mama. More on the Coy family to come soon. :)

Public Poll...

Life is crazy fast. It feels like just yesterday we were preparing for Lucas to enter into our lives. Now we have a 2.5yr old and a 9month old. CRAZY!  Life drastically changed when they came along. Some culture shock happened but after the shock wore off I realized how much I loved all these changes. They were hard at first but in time you see how God is good in all he does and it is sooooo GOOD. My most favorite job I have ever had is being a mama. God willing, my main profession will alway be Wife/Mommy/Homemaker with a joyful heart.

Lately I have been thinking through this verse:

Proverbs31:16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Before the boys came along we had a pretty successful photography business going on. We shot around 5 weddings a year plus family, engagement, and couples as well.  It was so fun to see one of my business dream come to life. But just as it was taking off, so was our family. I have no regrets in starting my family nor any hesitation to continue the growth of my family but I do consider the Proverbs 31 verse and how I can 'consider a field buy it'. I have been processing many different ventures and which would be the "field" I want to buy.  Evaluating where my time is best spent, listening to the counsel of my husband, and praying for the Lords guidance.  So here's where we are landing... Photography it is. I want to jump back in. Its going to be like starting over from scratch (which is so scary). I have been lazy thus far in trying to revamp it. I have done things here and there but I really want to do it well. Not half done. 

So in the next few weeks we will be revamping it. Colors, style, and maybe a website or whatever else pops up. I want it to be feminine but also classy.  We will see? I plan to just post the shoots into this blog and make it easily accessible in this one spot.  This is some of my inspiration.

So heres the question...

-Should we rename? 

-What should it be?

     *Alissa Hodge

     *Center Point

     *Alissa Ann

     *Hodge

     *Other thoughts?

-I would love to know your thoughts. What you are looking for in a photographer? Cost?

Thanks Friends! Lord willing we will continue on this path and have a fun "field" to tend to. 

Center Point Photography: Brazil to Columbus

 I did a family shoot last week and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out! This family was relocated here 2 years ago from Brazil. They are being relocated back to Brazil this week. We were connected to each other by a sweet friend and I can see how God has his hand in it all. I have a special place in my heart for Brazil because that is where me and my hubby met. We were on a mission trip there many years ago. So as we walked around during our shoot it was so fun to talk about my experience in Brazil and their experience here in Columbus. I am so thankful they allowed me to enter into their lives and capture their family before you move back to there home in Brazil.

Here are just a few that just made me smile.

Hope you enjoyed!

Mothers Day 2014

    Checking my heart on mothers day seems weird. It feels like I should just embrace it. That this is MY day. I give every other day of the year and this is my day to take. To "pass" the torch, relax, take the day off, absorb all the praise for what it takes to be a mother. Ah, just saying that makes me want to pat myself on the back. Last year Tyler was sick on mothers day. I wasn't upset at the time and was trying to take the humble road. But this entire past year as hard days came and when, trials of being a mommy where real, and exhaustion from the endless hours of work without ever getting to clock out, I thought to myself, "Not this year!" Im going to not take the humble road and really take full advantage of mothers day next year. This is hard work and I deserve ONE DAY." (Im not kidding or exaggerating, I really did say and think this many times over)

    A part of me laughs when I write this. I can't believe I remember last mothers day so clearly. But another part of me is sad. I can't believe I had held this grudge for so long. And for what purpose. Why do I deserve or long for this one day. I think there is real reason to celebrate mothers. God created us for great works, deed, labors, and this great task of being a mommy. Praise the Lord for mothers. But this isn't to be a selfish day. Its to be a day to celebrate and reflect on the goodness that it is to be a mama. Not the longing for a break from it all. As hard of a task that it is to be a mommy I don't want to have an ungrateful heart for the children God has gifted to be. And they thoughts and words I was say what ultimately saying I deserve a day all to myself. I hope you don't hear me saying that moms don't need a break. Thats not my heart.  (I personally need to take time away often. Our family has worked it out so I get a few hours one day a week just to myself. To refresh, refuel, have fun, and meet with my sweet Jesus uninterrupted. Its proven to be a huge benefit to my heart.)

 
    So what does God say about women and mommies in the bible? (After all "Mothers Day" is a cultural holiday not a God given right.) God calls women specifically mothers to be servants, comforters, gentle, caretakers, affectionate, tender, sharing of our lives, and to guide hearts to the feet of Jesus. So what should this one day look like. It should be a party. To celebrate mommies all around the world. It should be about mommies reflecting on all the blessings, joy, and daily ups and downs that draw their hearts and their children's heart closer to Jesus. Its not a day for mommies to be selfish and expect special treatment. Im convinced that a heart that is joyful to serve others at the cost of them truly giving of their lives is reaping mounds and mounds of rewards in heaven. From this day forward I hope to make Mothers Day a day to praise GOD for making mothers, allowing me to be a mother, and reflecting on the mighty task God has set before myself and other mothers. To take time to pray and ask God to give mothers the strength to fight the good fight and to lean SOLEY on Christ.

  

This is my charm necklace that my boys got me this year for Mothers Day. Sweet reminder of the joy it is to be a mommy and sweet to know Lucas helped put it together.

Here are a few verses that were helpful in my studying about motherhood and all GOD calls me to...

Deuteronomy 5:16

‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Proverbs 29:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

Isaiah 66:10-13

Joy in Jerusalem’s Future

“Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her;
Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her,
 That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
That you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”
 For thus says the Lord, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
And you will [a]be nursed, you will be carried on the [b]hip and fondled on the knees.“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Matthew 12:46-50 

46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”[a] 48 But [b]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Thessalonians 2:7-8

7 But we [a]proved to be [b]gentle [c]among you, as a nursing mother [d]tenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own[e]lives, because you had become [f]very dear to us.

Proverbs 31 - Description of a Worthy Woman

An excellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far above jewels.The heart of her husband trusts in her,And he will have no lack of gain.She does him good and not evilAll the days of her life.She looks for wool and flaxAnd works with her [h]hands [i]in delight.She is like merchant ships;She brings her food from afar.She rises also while it is still nightAnd gives food to her householdAnd [j]portions to her maidens.She considers a field and buys it;From [k]her earnings she plants a vineyard.She girds [l]herself with strengthAnd makes her arms strong.She senses that her gain is good;Her lamp does not go out at night.She stretches out her hands to the distaff,And her [m]hands grasp the spindle.She [n]extends her hand to the poor,And she stretches out her hands to the needy.She is not afraid of the snow for her household,For all her household are clothed with scarlet.She makes coverings for herself;Her clothing is fine linen and purple.Her husband is known in the gates,When he sits among the elders of the land.She makes linen garments and sells them,And [o]supplies belts to the [p]tradesmen.Strength and dignity are her clothing,And she smiles at the [q]future.She opens her mouth in wisdom,And the [r]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.She looks well to the ways of her household,And does not eat the bread of idleness.Her children rise up and bless her;Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:“Many daughters have done nobly,But you excel them all.”Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who [s]fears the Lord, she shall be praised.Give her the [t]product of her hands,And let her works praise her in the gates.

Enjoy your time with your mother and praise the Lord for all mothers do!

Did you say Bible Diet?

     So lately I have been evaluating the things my family is putting in their bodies. I don't want to blindly go where ever the wind takes me. I also don't want to make a trendy decision. I want to throughly evaluate, research, pray, and surrender a decision to the Lord. I want to read my bible learn about their foods and health. 

     I am currently investigating essential oils. Some say it's a trendy choice but I see it as a natural, safe, biblical option.  So far we have used a lot of lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and orange. So far it has helped with my chronic leg pain, and with teething. We will see where this takes use. They hope is to have as little medicines from a drug store as possible. 

Mark 6:13
And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. 

Or here are a list of all the verses that have oil in them. 

     Im also evaluating foods. Organic, natural, real food, local, grass feed, cage free, the list goes on. Is it worth it? It cost a significant amount more to eat REAL FOOD! Crazy. Are foods that are not organic or natural but with preservatives, hormones, GMOs, and who knows what else bad enough that we need to make a dramatic permanent switch. I see that there is so much mystery in the foods we buy at the grocery store and I can't trust what some unknown person that is making them. For me I am daily becoming more and more convinced to make the switch because I LOVE MY FAMILY and I want to be a good stewart over our bodies. Here is a link to a diet I'm looking into... Bible Diet. Yes, I did just say Bible Diet.

Anyway, here are some verses on food.

Isaiah 55:2

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Oh such a long list of verses to go through as a word bible study of Food in the bible. 

    And the last big topic I am evaluating, researching, reading, and praying through is vaccines. I know, this is a huge topic and one Im not going to go into much detail on because I don't want to anger or cause division but its a serious question. Are vaccines safe, biblical, good, or a necessity? Im investigating ingredients, changes in health patterns in the US since vaccines, and honestly leaning on the Lord for guidance in this area. I will never even hint at saying I have it all figured out, or that there is a clear effect of vaccines on our bodies. I just feel it is my duty as a steward of my body and my children's bodies to do the research.

Psalm 41:3

The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

Or here is a word search on health... here

Illness...Here

Sickness... Here

     I must now say that I know that illness and disease are in the world and that is a real thing. The fall in the Garden of Eden DID happen, and sin HAS entered into the world.  I am sooooooooo beyond thankful for doctors, my family doctor, and the health professionals. I believe these people are truly gifted with compassion and knowledge to help us make informed decisions on our health. I also think that ultimately our health choices are between us and the Lord and that he gave us doctors only to aid in making our decision not to rule over our decision. 

     Well there it is, my beginnings of a long journey into surrendering my health and my families health to Jesus. And considering all His ways so that he can be LORD over all. By His grace we will walk and His mercy we will trust in Jesus alone.