{May Goals}

April showers bring spring flowers, but what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!

It's a silly joke and I'm a girl that appreciates a silly joke. Life's too serious already not to have a good laugh every now and then, am I right?

As I was thinking about a new month, and new goals, my mind went right to marathon runners. Specifically my SG pal Sam. She and hundreds of other fierce competitors woke up early on Sunday, willing their minds and bodies for the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in DC.

Talk about goal setting! On a very rare occasion does someone just show up on race day, throw on a bib and knock out 13.1 miles. Instead, there have been weeks and months of intense training, perseverance and stick-to-it-ness to log all those practice miles.

And the runners were awesome. hey moved each foot with deliberation, arms propelling them forward and eyes fixed on their goal: the finish line. I just finished reading Jon Acuff's Quitter and y'all, it has so many challenging points in regards to setting goals - whether personal or spiritual or physical. He says:

"I want us to be a generation of finishers. I want us to be a generation of people who follow through and sew the last stitch or give the final keynote or write the last chapter."

So who's with me? Here are things I want to work diligently toward and finish this month:

May Goals

>> Read Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot (OK, finish reading. I'm already a few chapters in!)
>> Have LMP logo designed! (carryover from April; had to reschedule)
>> Continue only checking email 3x a day max (not including sending out emails, communicating back and forth for personal/work).
>> Continue memorizing a Scripture verse weekly with my Small Group, plus review all past verses
>> Faithfully serve and invest in my SG ladies
>> Knock out details in LMP business plan + pricing package
>> Write 3 things I'm thankful in my Gratefulness journal each day
>> Ask the Lord for an opportunity to encourage or serve someone every day

What are your goals this month? What are you aiming for?

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." {Philippians 3:14}

a trip to holland

Two weekends ago, Mr. D and I made our way to Holland in Haymarket. Not the country itself (although my family have a quick layover stop in the Netherlands when I was 13. Oh, the teen years.). We jumped in the car and made our way to the cute town of Haymarket, Va., where Burnside Farms has all the tulips a girl could ask for.

If you're looking for a fun Saturday afternoon day trip, it's so worth the drive. Gorgeous rows of red, yellow and purple (my favorite!) flowers stretched across the farm. ​We loved exploring the brightly dotted land and picking a few stems to bring home.

I put together two vases with the tulips we had picked. Such a cheery reminder of God's splendor and beauty every time I walked by them. ​

Here's to a day of fresh flowers and sunshine!

little timoun

​Jesus loves the little children

​Today this sweet face was on my mind.

We only met briefly during my trip to Haiti last August but her beautiful smile ​radiated through my camera lens. 

With a team nine of us women from our church), we spent a week partnering with MOH Haiti, serving alongside them through Vacation Bible School, village ministry time and transporting supplies to build latrines. 

Their country has faced so many struggles, so much heartache in the recent years. What I anticipated to be a sorrowful, tear-filled trip did not occur. Yes, there were tears. But where there could have been sadness, there was joy. In a remote village in the middle of the Haitian countryside, there was hope. 

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." {Psalm 33:18-20}

God made it abundantly clear to me last summer that HE had been at work and was at work in a place of brokenness. Through the men, women and children seeking His face, He was bringing restoration and life eternal. 

​These are just a few of the precious faces I met during our time in Titanyen.

sunrise cherry blossom session

​When it comes to checking out the beautiful pink blooms that DC's tidal basin shows off each spring, there's no messing around. We photographers are caffeinated, packed up and ready to capture the cherry blossoms even before the first rays of dawn come sneaking above the Potomac.

The fantastic Sam Reho and I got to shoot together (April Goal - checked off!) the day before she and other runners laced up for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. So proud of her race running and loved the chance to enjoy the beauty of God's creation with such a sweet friend and wonderful sister in Christ. 

​Interested in scheduling a personal, bridal or engagement portrait session? Drop me a line at lorinmariephotography{at}gmail.com so we can begin the the process to capture the essence of your love and your life through photos.

Have a lovely Monday! ​

front porch friday

"They say a kitchen is the heart of a house, but I believe the porch is its soul. From the very steps, you knew if you were welcome or not, knew everything you needed to know about the people inside." {Rick Bragg, Southern Living}

Welcome to the first of many front porch Fridays where I'll be posting some of my favorite people, places, ideas, things. Y'all come on over, have a seat, stay awhile. ​

source

Today's favorite: giraffe prints.​ And the girl that designed them. So two favorites!

​Ashleigh Carter, my insanely talented roommate/former coworker buddy, designs, illustrates & sketches these beautiful pieces that remind you how much we serve a God who have given us creativity and art as ways to reflect His glory.

The splendor of the Creator is so evident in her life & I'm truly blessed with a capital B in our late night conversations & early morning talks. Several of her giraffe & other fun illustrations were featured in a reception at old town Alexandria's Revel boutique, styled by our event guru Simply Jolleen.  

The little guys on the left have bow ties on. Bow ties on a giraffe?? Can't get enough.

Hello Spring is on display through May ​29th. Head over to Revel to pick up Ashleigh's illustrations (postcards, pillows and more) plus bright West Coast looks handpicked by shop owner Francesca. 

Happy weekend!​