How About Another Photo Session Post??

I will post one when I get home this evening from running errands and stomping through town for a little bit. :)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday. And always remember:

I've had to remind myself this very often lately. (But that is a subject for a whole different post...) I just have to believe that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now, and everything will happen when it is supposed to!

Happy Monday, friends! :)

<3 Emily

Let's Get To Know Each Other..

I'd like to share a handful of things about myself...

Not in any way am I the kind of person that likes to be in the lime light, I just wanted anyone out there that takes the time to read my blog to learn a little more about the person behind the screen! :) And while we are on that subject, thank you so much for wandering over to my little side of the interweb and reading the ramblings that go on here. It means more than you know!!

Well, here goes nothin'

• I am fearlessly & wonderfully made. I believe in God and always will.

• I LOVE where I live. There is a difference in "regions" of the U.S. and although I have always lived in the South, there's absolutely NO PLACE LIKE ALABAMA!!

• If you know anything about Alabama, you know that EVERYONE is either an Alabama fan or a Auburn fan when it comes to College Football....to answer your question, Roll Tide Roll!! 

• Number 4 is my favorite number. :P (This is the 4th bullet so I found that to be a fitting tidbit to share with you at this time..hahaha)

• I have two Labrador Retrievers, Chipper and Paisleigh. Chipper is dark dark chocolate; Paisleigh is silver. They are my children and in the chance that I would have to choose between them or my husband, he would have to go!!! ;) 

• Speaking of that fella--he's great! He loves me more than I deserve, He drives a truck & works very hard to support me. We are in no way the perfect couple, but we love each other very much and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

•  I have recently given up cokes (yes, where I'm from, all carbonated dinks are "coke") and I'm doing pretty good with it, but Sweet Tea is a MAJOR weakness... True Southern Belle here. By the way, Peach Nehi runs a CLOSE SECOND!

• Purple will probably always be my favorite color, but I like all colors really. :)

• I was big into sports when I was growing up. I was never the best, but I always gave it my all. I played softball, volleyball, and basketball. And I liked them in that order. Softball has a way of staying somewhere deep in your heart. I played for 14-15 years and still love it just as much as I did when I first started.

• I have a passion for photography. I love it, really. I will never stop learning and growing in it because it is always changing. How cool is it to be able to freeze time and save memories for the rest of time?? I mean, come on! That is practically superpowers if you ask me! ;) 

• I am SUPER picky about shoes. I love flip flops, but I will not wear/buy just any flip flop just because it's cute...if i can't be comfortable in them all day, I have no desire for them!

• My sense of humor is ridiculous. It's a weird mixture between a disgusting man and a teenage girl that giggles at stuff that most people would think is just silly or annoying. But I love laughing and having a good time. Life is too short to be miserable. BE HAPPY!!

So, I guess that's all for now. Give me some feedback if you took the time to read this post. Did you learn something new about me? Did you like this post at all? Is there anything else you want to know? 

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page!

<3 Emily

Tying A Knot In My Rope

Why is it that I can go days, or even at times weeks, without dwelling on not being able to get pregnant? 

Don't get me wrong, I think about it every time I see a pregnant lady starting to show...or about to pop, or a sweet newborn that has just entered this great big world. But thinking about something and having something completely take over you and enter into your every thought throughout the day are two totally different things.

It's days like today that I am thankful that we are blessed with advanced technology in today's world to where I can connect with people all over the world that are struggling just like me & where thousands of words of inspiration are just a few clicks away. The quote below is one of my favorites. I have seen it before and it is so true in many different circumstances, but it was very fitting today. 

I was talking with my best friend just the other day about stress. I was telling her that I really didn't feel all that stressed, and that I thought I had been doing pretty good about dealing with things that are thrown my way lately....I was so unbelievably wrong. Everything I thought I had dealt with and let go of are jumping up & down and screaming in my face today. I do not like this! But nevertheless, I shall tie my knot, cry my tears, and hang on for dear life. 

<3 Emily

Proving Myself...A Job Interview

There comes a time in everyone's life where you may feel like you have to prove yourself. You may have to prove you are good enough to play first base OR that you deserve a promotion at work. In my case, I am interviewing tomorrow for a job that could be absolutely wonderful. I am really feeling the stress right now to prove myself. 

When we were still living in Louisiana, but knew we would be moving back soon, I began my job search. I was working at a car dealership there, and I probably would not have left my job had Matthew not been getting out of the Army and us moving back to Alabama. But nevertheless, I knew I would be needing a job when we got back, so I began my search. One day when I was walking into the grocery store, my mother-in-law called to tell me about a job she found in the paper that just sounded perfect for me. Only a few days later my mom called and told me about the exact same job. I looked it up online to find out some more information. It sounded perfect, so I sent in my application right away. Turns out there were just a handful of days before the deadline, so I had caught it just in time. The job was basically exactly what I was looking for. It described me to a T. 

I believe the deadline for applications was sometime in either February or March, and it is now the end of May--so this process has taken quite some time. I went in for a pre-employment test 3 weeks ago. They told us there that everyone that took the test would be offered an interview....all 16 of us. (Hey, at least I could see what I was up against!) The scores from our tests and the scores from our interviews would be added together and we would be placed in order from 1-16. BUT numbers 1, 2, and 3 would be considered equal. So as long as I can get in the top 3 positions, I have a good chance of getting this great job! 

I am nervous. I have studied as much as I can for interviews. I have planned out my attire to the smallest detail. I am stressing myself out. But it is now time to stop worrying and just know that whatever is supposed to happen, will happen. (Shouldn't I know that by now....) I do believe that I would be perfect for this position and would be happy there for a very very long time, but also I know that what is meant to be will be. Whether we understand it at the exact time or not, God has it all planned out. But that still doesn't keep me from wanting this job REALLY BAD!!! 

I will post as soon as I hear some kind of response from the position, but until then I ask for your thoughts and prayers for me for this job. Thank you!

<3 Emily

The [K] Kiddos ((Fort Polk, LA))

Sometimes in life you have the chance to meet people that you know are just GOOD PEOPLE. An example of that for me is the K Family! Momma K is one of the sweetest ladies I have ever had the privilege of working for. And the whole K clan was just plain fun. :) 

Enjoy some of my favorites from their session.

By the way, this is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite pictures EVER!

The love between these two is PRECIOUS!

She looks up to her big brother so much!

I can only imagine all the secrets these two will share throughout their lives...

You can never pass up on a good blackmail pic. :)

I want to thank the K Family for allow me to capture these memories for them.

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Moving HOME

Well, since I am working on the back end of the blog today, I guess I could write another post since it has been so long for me. :) 

We are back in ALABAMA now!!! (insert heavenly choir music now) Lol! I am so glad to be back. Our move back was crazy since I came back with the Uhaul, my 4Runner, our two dogs and all of our stuff a few days before Matthew could leave. Of course I couldn't have gotten it all back by myself without the help of my daddy and his friend that came along to drive one of the extra vehicles. 

We met up in Tallulah, LA where my dad took over the reigns of the Uhaul and his buddy drove my parent's vehicle back. But of course we had to move everything around at a truck stop because my sweet babies would've been freaking out if we would have made them ride in a Uhaul with some strange man..Lol! So everything that was in the back of the 4Runner had to be moved into my parent's ride so that my spoiled rotten dogs could have the whole back to themselves... 

We made it back safely only to find that Matthew, still in Louisiana, had the keys to the lock on the back of the Uhaul.... So, I had no way of getting ANYTHING out!! Luckily, we had to stay in a hotel my last night at Fort Polk, so I had packed a few days worth of clothes in a suitcase which just so happened to be in the 4Runner rather than the Uhaul...I had also kept the dogs food and belongings with me as well!! (He had told me we needed to go ahead and throw it in the back of the Uhaul before we left the hotel) I love when I don't listen to my husband and I end up being right. :) 

But anywho! Matthew made it back a few days later and we got the Uhaul unloaded into the storage building. He got a job driving a truck and has made a few trips to California already since we have moved back. We are both loving being back home!!! Both of our parents live in the same town, so we get to see them both which is great!! 

For some reason I cannot upload any more pictures right now, so I'll leave you with this one. I yelled ROLL TIDE and snapped it as I was crossing into Alabama on my way back. Almost instantly I felt a wave of relief come over me, because I knew I was HOME. 

<3 Emily

Removing the Mask

I have decided to publicly take down the mask that I have been wearing. Although I have known for some time now, I guess I feel that it is time to stop hiding it... 

I am dealing with infertility.

Today is the one year anniversary of me driving down to Louisiana to pick up my husband from the airport. He had been in Kuwait, Iraq, and Germany for most of the first year and a half of our relationship and we were so ready to be together and begin our family--after all, being a mother has always been my biggest goal in life.

Well, after a couple of months of trying I started wondering why we weren't pregnant yet, but just figured that we had not timed it right. So, I started charting and keeping up with all of the "fun" stuff that you are supposed to keep track of when trying to conceive. 

After several more months of negative results, I talked with my doctor and she suggested we go ahead and start some tests to see what was going on. I was pricked and prodded more than I ever want to be in my life. All of a sudden I had what seemed like a million appointments for lab work and tests and honestly, I felt so alone. I almost always have at least one ovarian cyst (which can get very uncomfortable). And evidently I do not ovulate.

A couple of days before Matthew and I moved back to Alabama, I got a call from my OB/GYN. She told me that she was referring me to an Infertility Specialist--how wonderful! My whole life is packed into boxes, and if you have ever moved you know that it is pretty stressful.. news like this is not what we need right now! So I tried to act like it was nothing and put on my big girl panties. Maybe if I didn't talk about it and didn't tell anyone it wouldn't be true, right? Wrong.

I've pushed it down and tried to believe it isn't true. But it is.. This is how God has planned my life right now. I have to embrace it and try my best to be understanding. Seeing so many people around me who are pregnant or with their children can be hard sometimes, because I want what they have more than anything in the world. I love other people's children, I always have. But I would really LOVE to have at least one of my own. 

We have some big decisions to make as to what the next steps to take will be, so I ask that you pray for us and pray that God will give me a peace of mind in what to do so that His will will be done and so that hopefully my dream will come true. I try to stay positive, but I still have some pretty hard days, and I'm sure they will get worse as time goes on, but I know I have a great group of friends and family that are there for me through it all. 

These two quotes/verses are my daily reminders to trust in Him. 

<3 Emily

Can't.Slip.Yet!

Okay, I started this blog and promised myself I would KEEP IT UP! I have been back & forth with myself for a few weeks on whether to write certain things on my blog and I think I am using my indecisiveness as an excuse not to blog at all!! 

NOT GOOD.

But I am here now to catch you up on a few things going on here at Emily Wise Photography:

1. We have less than a week until we will be living in Alabama again!

2. I found a wonderful new software that I am working on getting everything set up in and I think it will help me to stay organized and stay in touch with my clients in a more efficient way!

3. I am going crazy with all the boxes everywhere in my house.

4. I am going crazy not working everyday. It wouldn't be so bad if I had sessions to go to and edit, but since I cut off all sessions for this area about a month ago, (with one exception from a very loyal client that asked me to do her daughter's 2 year-old pictures) I am all caught up with that stuff for now.

5. I am just going crazy...

*I will try to take plenty of pics during the move and do a post about it after we get everything into storage next Tuesday.*

I am super excited to get back to my home state and be around my family & friends. Our journey to Fort Polk was great, but I do hate missing my sister's many games and all the things going on with everyone back home. I will miss all of the wonderful people I met down here in good ol' Louisiana and the great times we shared! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who took me in and accepted me as their own even though we were in the enemy's territory (Alabama vs LSU is a BIG DEAL in College Football) Haha!

What good is a blog post without a picture? Here is one teaser from the two year-old session I told you about earlier. :)

www.facebook.com/EmilyWisePhotography

Sweet Baby [C] ((Fort Polk, LA))

The B Family scheduled their shoot with me from a referral from another client. I just want to take a second to say I ABSOLUTELY adore when I get a call or message saying, "Hi Emily, this is so-and-so and we were sent to you through so-and-so." Thank you to everyone who has ever told someone about me! It makes my heart smile!!! 

In fact, it makes my heart smile almost as much as newborn babies do! This sweet little fella relaxed most of the session, but didn't really sleep all that much. (Which is fine with me--just look at how beautiful those eyes are!) I just LOVED getting to hold him and cuddle with him. 

Enjoy!

Let him sleep for when he wakes, he will move mountains.

To schedule your own session, contact Emily at:

EmilyWisePhotography@gmail.com

OR

www.facebook.com/EmilyWisePhotography

MOTHER'S DAY CONTEST 2013 ((HARTSELLE, AL))

With Mother's Day quickly approaching, I wanted to do something special. Why not do a contest for a FREE SESSION! 

*The session is for a mother and her child/children. Age doesn't matter!*

Mothers are, more often than not, what holds a family together. And so often mothers are left out of family pictures because they are the ones taking the pictures. 

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...  Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.  Her sons rise up and call her blessed.  Her husband also praises her:  Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!  Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. 

 ~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30~

HOW TO ENTER??

Send a photo of any mom that you know. It can be you, your mom, wife, daughter, sister,  friend, whoever!!! Just email the photo to ( emilywisephotography@gmail.com ) with a description of why the mom you sent in should win. I will post each photo and description onto the Emily Wise Photography Facebook page in a folder titled "Mother's Day Contest"

HOW TO WIN??

Get your friends and family to LIKE Emily Wise Photography on Facebook and then LIKE your photo! Tell everyone you know to vote for you so that you have a better chance at winning! I will close the "polls" on MONDAY, APRIL 8th at 10:00 PM! 

WHAT YOU COULD WIN:

A FREE session with Emily Wise Photography at the location of your choice* + a CD with 10-15 edited images from our time together + ONE 8 x 10 print from your session (Did I mention it's FREE????)

*The location must be in the Hartselle area. If it is outside of the Hartselle area, a travel fee may apply.

Go HERE to Vote!!

The [K] Family ((Fort Polk, LA))--Emily Wise Photography

I'm always so excited when a client returns. I know there are countless photographers to choose from, but knowing that they come back to me is one of the things that makes me most happy! (Just so you know) Lol

When Mrs. K asked me to do some photos of her little family before Mr. K deployed, I was honored. Although I am surrounded by families torn apart from deployments, friends pulled away from yet another PCS, and wives lonely from another training on a daily basis, it still gets to me. Military families are very near and dear to my heart! I've been there, and will always tip my hat to those who serve!

We had a great time and made the session fun & light-hearted. 

She is such a beautiful little girl! And always so stylish!

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