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Did you know we met ages ago at a MOPS group? Mom’s groups are near and dear to our hearts. That group existed for three years and it changed our lives for the better. Tonight we have the honor of speaking at The Nest to a group of moms at Discovery Church on one of our all time favorite topics, community.

Olivia is absolutely beautiful. Make up is just a

Olivia is absolutely beautiful. Make up is just a bonus! It’s the icing on the cake. I wanted to offer my clients a full princess experience make up, hair and photos. There are only a few days in this life that are all about you. Jen, Olivia’s mom treated Olivia to make up before senior photos. It’s a really fun experience! It was a special day for an amazing young lady!
@chaundrat is one of my favorite make up artists. She does hair too! I want the seniors who come through my photography studio to know they are valuable, worthy, loved, capable, seen and honored! This is how our day of Olivia’s senior photos started. More photos to come!

I’m starting my morning slow. Scott said to me l

I’m starting my morning slow. Scott said to me last night, “You’ve been working hard cutie.” Last night I hopped in bed and Mai & I started Community and laughed. I did dishes and started the laundry this morning. Ordinary things. I took time to make myself a latte and a yogurt parfait topped with fresh fruit. I filled my diffusers with the fragrance of fall.

I have 5 sittings to upload and edit, a talk to wrap up with Michelle and handouts to print. I’m really excited to announce our next Bible Study is going to be on Colossians 1. We are going to do an inductive study and camp out on one chapter for a month. Hil has done some extensive research and I’m formatting the study. I’m almost finished with the first draft. I’m not trying to boast here about how busy I am. The truth is I just added photography back into my life and right now I’m in a major adjustment period. I went from not working to much to having a pretty full time job. I love it and we are shifting. I need to figure out how to balance my time and still connect with my family, take care of myself and keep up with other commitments.

For me I know I’m over booked when I stop exercising. If I can exercise and get time with Jesus those are my indicators that things are back in balance, because those are the first to go.

I have a day today that I am choosing to grind. Grind to me is the behind the scenes work that is not sexy. It’s no shower, hair up, computer work that takes focus and concentration for hours upon hours. It’s a grind. Maybe for you your grind is the laundry today (me too). Maybe your grind is getting your college application closer to ready and taking another swing at those essays. Maybe your grind is showing up in a hard conversation or blowing out your sprinklers before winter comes. Bills and accounting feel like a grind to me too.

Here’s my challenge for you and me:
•Take an hour or two to reset. Take care of yourself and your space.
•Take 30 minutes to exercise as a brain break.
•Take a lunch break with someone you love. Put the work away and connect. Laugh, eat, talk and engage. Invest in a relationship you care about.
•Have grace for yourself and others.
•Make today great.

This is Makayla! Let me tell you a little bit abou

This is Makayla! Let me tell you a little bit about how I know Mak. She and Mai went to high school for a few years together. Mak has come to a Bible study I lead on Monday nights, she’s has worked for me in my Bring My Best shop, and I adore her.

For me as a mom I love getting to know my kid’s friends and their moms too! It’s been sweet to see Makayla in and out of our home over the past few years! I was lucky enough that I got to be here and take her pictures for her senior year too. Shes absolutely stunning! Class of 2021 you are rock stars!

“You are not running away. Sometimes you need to

“You are not running away. Sometimes you need to retreat and regroup. Even the armies in battle retreat and regroup before the get back in the fight. It is okay.” Scott Severn

Write yourself a permission slip! 😁

#worthit

“During SEAL training the students are broken do

“During SEAL training the students are broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy. Every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and is instructed to get through the surfzone and paddle several miles down the coast. In the winter, the surf off San Diego can get to be 8 to 10 feet high and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in. Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke count of the coxswain. Everyone must exert equal effort or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously tossed back on the beach.

For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle. You can't change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.

If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.”
Admiral William H. McRaven

I love you Mailee! My prayer for you is to have a good crew in your boat! I’m proud of you!!!

📸 @toddvanfleet 💥

How would you fill this in? God’s love is great

How would you fill this in?

God’s love is greater than...

“Mama, what if???” Then, that’s God’s bes

“Mama, what if???”

Then, that’s God’s best. He will have something better for you.

We have NO IDEA what the future will bring. Don’t make a decision off of a WHAT IF. What if’s are speculations.

What about today? What do you know right now? Make your best decision today. When the future comes and you have new information you can make a new decision.

I keep coming back to Lily’s saying, “That’s future Lily’s problem.” 😂🙌🏽🔥

Ultimately, trust God. Lean into His wisdom, His knowledge, His counsel. Set Him at the center of your life. He will lead you and guide you. He will never leave you. He has your best in mind. God will make it happen if He wants it to happen. You can trust Him. He’s good. He loves you with an everlasting love. He loves the people in your future too.

What if’s can hang us all up.
Take a deep breath.
Write out your fears about the future. Pray over them, present them to God. Ask for His wisdom and help. Ask for His peace about your future.
Get present. What is happening today? What’s the best decision you can make right now for what you know today?
Live present! Enjoy this day God made! Find what you are grateful for today! Let love, joy, and peace find you today.

Tomorrow gives me anxiety too. We just don’t know. But we know God is faithful everyday. His love is bugger than our pain. He’s trustworthy.

If we get real with our what if questions it gets intimate! What if I fail? I lose my job? I can’t get a job? I don’t get into college? My relationship fails? I get hurt? I can’t make it? I fail my kids? I fail my family? What if’s get heavy fast.

Love you. Don’t let that what if rob you of joy today. Write them out to get them out of your brain, on to paper and in front of you.

You got this! I believe in you! Take it a day at a time! Big dreams, small steps. Layers. Building dreams and relationships take time. God Almighty is with you!

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in al

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” —Amelia Earhart

I had the honor of photographing Ella Mahaffie’s senior photos!

I’ve been taking pictures my entire life! It’s a passion of mine. I did it as a full time job for five years when my kids were young and then pick it up now and then.

This year things are changing. I have a bit more time and my phone started lighting up with texts of young adults I love asking if I’d take their senior photos. Kids I’ve been documenting most of their lives as I bring my camera everywhere I go! I was honored. I said, “I would LOVE to take your senior photos.”

On the first day of kindergarten Ella came up to Mailee on the playground and asked, “Do you want to be friends?” Mailee said, “Yes!” The rest is history. They went to the same elementary school, but different middle and high schools. Honestly it was nice to have a friend outside of school for both of them.

Ella calls me “Second mom!” Stacey, Ella’s mom and I have been encouraging each other as parents all these years! We have been through a lot together.

I am starting off my photography business again with a little help from my friends. I’m really thankful. Thanks for trusting me in this precious season of life! I loved being with you on this day! The quote I started with is perfect for you Ella! We will keep killing them with kindness, right Stacey! Love you! I believe in you! You are strong! I love your laugh, it’s contagious! You are a bright and beautiful light in this world!

You are #worthit

“God keeps telling us to be not afraid… to Go

“God keeps telling us to be not afraid… to Go Big!” Bob Goff

And.... I’m terrified to go big. What if I fail? What if I fall and can’t get up? What if no one likes what I am and what I have to offer? I hear balloons popping!

Going big is terrifying. I break down my big dreams I to small steps. Then, I try to convince myself to take the next step. I tell myself I really don’t have too much to lose. I try to calm my pride. Then I just do the thing. Show up. Take the next step.

Dreams are built like a home... one step at a time. It’s built in layers. No house is built by one person. Building a house takes time. There are plans, delays and adjustments along the way. Keep dreaming! Go big. Think layers, steps, houses. Enjoy the process! Life is too short to only live for the end. There are so many beautiful encounters along the way! The difficulties, you will learn from them.

Go big. Trust God. He’s got His eye on you. Ask Him to give you His dream for you and help you walk in it. I think He can dream a lot bigger than I ever could.
#worthit

Have you seen the Draw Your Future Ted Talk by Pat

Have you seen the Draw Your Future Ted Talk by Patti Dobrowolski? I dare you to watch it AND grab a paper and do it!

She has you draw your current life in black and white on one side of the page. Your dream life in color on the right side of the page. Then write three small steps to get from one side to the other. I dare you! If you’ve done it, do it again! If you want send me your picture! Tell me about it! You can send me your picture and I’ll mail it back to you in a year! That would be fun! It’s the coolest!

Patti is in a yellow shirt in this Ted Talk. Search it up! Give yourself 45 minutes to watch and draw. I can’t wait to hear all about it! You will need paper, pencil, colored markers, crayons, or pencils, a device to watch the talk and 45 minutes to do it all! I believe in you! Bring those dreams into reality one step at a time! Your dreams are #worthit

It’s like having film in your camera...develop the photos. Make your dreams a reality! Yes! You can! #dreambig #takesmallsteps #drawyourfuture

Hey! Did you hear? I’m opening up my photo busin

Hey! Did you hear? I’m opening up my photo business again.

Why? I have space for it! My kids are older. I started loving photography in high school. That passion has never quit in me. I’m just slowly reentering. I bought a new camera. That’s a huge investment for me and one I’ve been needing to make if I want to keep after this professionally. I did it!

I’m horrible at business. I’m more of a people person than a business person.

In light of that, here’s my first bad business announcement;)

If you know of anyone who honestly cannot afford senior photos, I’m happy to take them. I won’t do a full shoot, but I’m happy to go to McKay lake and take a few great photos for the yearbook and for their memories. I have never wanted to only serve those who can afford it but everyone regardless of their financial situation. That’s hard to do. It’s not a great business financial plan, but it is my heart. I’m putting it out there. Send them to me. I’ll get it done. ❤️

Most of the time I charge for photos sessions. It is my business and it costs me time and sheesh, I could use some help covering that new baby I bought! I’m always holding the tension of loving people, using my talents, and running a business.

📸 This photo of me was taken by my photographer buddy @kimlebrowncreative she’s awesome! Love her style! (And her friendship)

This photo makes me emotional. It represents gener

This photo makes me emotional. It represents generations of investment in spiritual mentorship (discipleship). So much of mentoring we pick up by living life together.

Here’s why it make me emotional. I was 21 in college when I met Glen and Jeanie Hougen. That’s when I met Scott too! Ashton was 3 years old at the time. I was a junior at The University of Colorado. They led a collegiate ministry called The Navigators. Glen, in an academic way taught me about Jesus. He’s a great teacher & it’s no surprise to me Ashton is now excelling in her teaching career.

Glen taught us about discipleship. It’s how Jesus taught the 12 disciples. The 12 went with him. It was on the job training. We learned the effectiveness of investing in a few who can go and train others.

When Scott and I had kids, I didn’t want just anyone to babysit our kids. I wanted a person who was not only a great sitter, but also had a heart for Jesus and wanted to mentor my kids and point them to Jesus too. We our sitters became like family. I’d mentor them, they’d mentor our kids. It was on the job training. We did life together. We talk about life, Jesus, and the gospel as we go.

The picture gets wider. Tanner’s sister mentored Ashton in high school. I needed a partner at work and Ashton said, “Hire Lindsay! She mentored me, just like you did. You will love her.” The common theme is people who love Jesus and invest in loving people. Not perfect! We are in it by grace, through faith.

Scott and I saw a Christ centered marriage in Glen and Jeanie in college. That made an impact on our marriage. Now Tanner & Ashton asked us to mentor them in their marriage. Scott officiated their wedding. As we left the wedding that night all of our kids in their own way said, “I want a marriage like that.” The vision is caught.

There’s a popular saying right now that ‘you are the sum of the five people you hang out with the most.’ The closest people to us will influence us and we will influence them. Here you see generations of spiritual mentorship, part of our village. Life is hard and we are kind of a mess! We need each other to lean on and celebrate!

Real love, the Bible says, instinctively desires p

Real love, the Bible says, instinctively desires permanence.
Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

“In sharp contrast with our culture, the Bible teaches that the essence of marriage is a sacrificial commitment to the good of the other. That means that love is more fundamentally action than emotion. But in talking this way, there is a danger of falling into the opposite error that characterized many ancient and traditional societies. It is possible to see marriage as merely a social transaction, a way of doing your duty to family, tribe and society. Traditional societies made the family the ultimate value in life, and so marriage was a mere transaction that helped your family's interest. By contrast, contemporary Western societies make the individual's happiness the ultimate value, and so marriage becomes primarily an experience of romantic fulfillment. But the Bible sees GOD as the supreme good - not the individual or the family - and that gives us a view of marriage that intimately unites feelings AND duty, passion AND promise. That is because at the heart of the Biblical idea of marriage is the covenant.”
Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

Shout out to @hunterbrownphoto for these amazing 📸

“”What starts here changes the world.” Ever

“”What starts here changes the world.”

Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — that's Navy talk for bed.

It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALs, but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.

And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

“Make Your Bed”
by Admiral William H. McRaven

I love you @maileejenn I am proud of you! You are doing great! Keep making the best decisions you can a day at a time. When you get new information, you can make a new decision. Love, grace, mercy, faith and a peace that surpasses all understanding with you always. Make your bed😉😅❤️

This photo is by 📸 @toddvanfleet
This beautiful girl is created by God. Thanking God for you.
You are #worthit

Guess what happened on the senior photo shoot? We

Guess what happened on the senior photo shoot? We forgot the one dress, the one thing we got just for this day! So, it was Aunt Hope to the rescue! She chose save the day by to shifting her dinner plans (thanks and sorry everybody), get in my house, drive really really far and deliver the dress! It was a complete act of service. We LOVE YOU! It takes a village. We don’t have it all together, not even close.

I got your back when things are falling through the cracks.

Thanks for being there when we needed you in little things like a dress and big things too! We LOVE YOU @hopesusanjohnson

Mom life is right here behind the scenes. It’s a

Mom life is right here behind the scenes. It’s a huge honor to watch this young life take shape. I think being a wife to Scott and mom is the greatest honor, responsibility and joy of my life. Especially doing it all with God and allowing God to shape and grow me through the process. I had NO IDEA what I was in for when I held this baby in my arms.

A wise woman just said to me, “Jen you are entering a new phase. Your kids are going to move out and become their own person. You get to learn to like and become friends with who God made them to be. Soon, you start to learn from them. It’s hard work. Do the work! It’s worth it! You will have to trust God now more than ever with your kids. Enjoy each one for who they are. They are not meant to be like you, just like you are different from your parents they are made to be unique. Enjoy who they are, learn from them, trust, and grow. It’s a challenging time as a parent. Do the hard work.”

It seems to me that God is not through with me yet! It’s really hard letting our baby grow up and it’s exactly what what we have been raising them to do.

Mailee, being your mom a privilege and an honor. I LOVE YOU MAILEE! We will cheer you on every step of the way and we will always be in the background if you ever need a safe place to rest your wings. We are proud of you! Loving you is #worthit you are so very loved!

I’m reminded Mai wasn’t made for my glory, but for God’s glory. That may seem like a silly thing to say, but sometimes I want to keep her with me forever! Ha!

Loving is freedom! Loving is faithful, loyal and peace keeping too.

I believe in you.

#worthit

“Mailee, do the Mailee!” It was so fun seeing

“Mailee, do the Mailee!” It was so fun seeing these two work together! As a mom this is one of those historical moments, senior pictures! I teared up a few times. It was an honor to have @toddvanfleet behind the camera. He’s a masterful creative! I’m always learning from him! Check out his work at @tvfdesigns

Todd THANK YOU for making this day even more special. You are like family to our family! Mai you are gorgeous! That heart of yours is gold.

I absolutely love @lindsayjoyartistry work as a ma

I absolutely love @lindsayjoyartistry work as a make up artist! 🔥

Mailee I love you! I’m documenting Mailee’s senior year, 2020. It’s the year of the pandemic and it’s kind of crazy across the nation and throughout the world.

We invited Mailee’s friend and mentor to do her make up for her senior photos. It made the day a little extra special having Lindsay and Spencer (her husband) join us this day. Spencer photo bombs one of these shots. I had a chance to get to know Spencer a little more today and he blew me out of the water. He asks great questions. He was asking Mailee about her new boyfriend Tucker and he said, “Mailee do you feel like he respects you?” He was like a loving big brother leaning in and asking good questions. These make up sessions are about so much more than outward beauty. We always get to the heart and truly check in with each other. Lindsay and Spencer had a 2020 wedding during the pandemic and work has shifted in this season too. We love the Boykos and here we are together seeing Mai through another one of those American Culture days, senior pictures. Lindsay isn’t just a make up artist to us, she and Spencer are like family. This isn’t just about looking pretty, it’s in sweet moments like this that we keep pointing each other to Jesus. Make up by someone like your big sis is super fun, but the love in this season and the constant reminder that your worth is found in Christ alone is a blessing.

“No matter what’s on the outside, your body shape, whether you ever wear an ounce of makeup in your life, your weight, the clothes you wear, the texture of your hair… YOU are beautifully and wonderfully made in the image of our perfect Savior. He spent time crafting you, ALL of you, to be a reflection of His perfect beauty. YOU image and reflect your Heavenly Father PERFECTLY!!!! The stuff we do on the outside to feel confident and beautiful is just a bonus.” Lindsay Rae Boyko

(Swipe to find Spencer’s photo bomb?🤣)

Flashback to 8th grade and Mailee is serving at th

Flashback to 8th grade and Mailee is serving at the food drive at church. She meets Lindsay a student ministry leader and they become fast friends. These pictures are taken just before Mailee’s senior pictures. Lindsay and her husband and her husband came over and we talked around the table as Lindsay did Mailee’s make up. Lindsay is like a big sister to Mailee. She also happens to be an incredibly make up artist. If you ever need someone, I highly recommend @lindsayjoyartistry

Lindsay continues to mentor Mailee and invest in her life throughout high school. High school is rough sometimes and having a big sister to mentor through high school ROCKS!!!

What does mentorship look like? It’s intentional connection to learn and grow. How does that look? It’s simple really and it is purposeful. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Hopefully it’s fun! It looks like this: mentorship is lunch now and then, a text here and there, and invitations for opportunities to grow spiritually.

Lindsay points Mai to Jesus and helps her lay deep roots in her identity and worth being found in being an image bearer of God and a child of God.

In mentorship conversations range from relationships, to academics, to babysitting, to choir, to worship, to family, to friendships, to college and marriage. It’s about life and God.

A Mentor is someone just a little further ahead on the trail and for us it’s important that the person ahead is pointing you to Jesus. The younger person plays a role here too. The younger person needs to be teachable, faithful to show up, authentic, and a learner who wants to follow God.

Mentorship doesn’t need a huge title either. It can be as simple as a lunch now and then with someone you want to learn from. The cool thing about mentorship is the mentor and the mentee both learn and grow towards God. That’s awesome work of the Holy Spirit.

Our family loves Lindsay too and we try to invest in her beautiful life as she invests in ours.

We called to she if she wanted to do Mailee’s make up for her senior photos. It’s a big day and we invite Lindsay to all our big days. She’s like family! Thanks for being with us @lindsayraeboyko we love you.

#worthit

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