{can you spare $1? :: the elders' african adoption}

meet my beautiful friend wynne elder.

i had the pleasure of meeting wynne in dallas, tx in 2010 at the love affair photography workshop.  wynne is one of the most fun, loving beautiful souls i've met.  she's a photographer, Jesus lover, loves all things camp, and she has a heart for africa and orphans that is SO inspiring!!  i would be lying if i said i wasn't jealous of the fact that she went to africa 3 TIMES last year. i digress...  ;)

when i think of people that leak Jesus to all those around her, wynne is definitely on that list.  joy simply flows from her being.

wynne and her husband have decided to adopt their first child from africa, who they've already named camp elder after their love of camp, and we have a chance to help!  

let's face it...  the reality is that the cost of adoption is very expensive and not everyone is called to it, but why not help out the ones who do feel called and are willing to say "yes"???
 
give1save1 is an organization that's set up simply to help with the cost of adoption.  it's easy.  every week they're sponsoring a family and you give a $1 ... YES JUST ONE (OR 10:) ...to bless their socks off and help with their adoption.  how easy is that?  it's life giving folks!

take look at the elder's story and please take the time to give $1 this week

it's our way to do what james 1:27 calls pure religion

{religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: 

to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, 

and to keep oneself unstained from the world. james 1:27}

{GIVE TODAY BY CLICKING HERE}

{aw}

{noah & allie}

just because it makes my heart happy

{women's.wellness.weekend :: ymca camp harrison}

hello all!  i just have to preface this blog post to say that this season of life for me has been and will continue to be crazy busy, but has been such a joy at the same time!  unfortunately the blogging has been sporadic, but i hope you've enjoyed it nonetheless.  one day i'll get back to blogging consistently.  promise.

today though i want to share with you my 1st attempt at video.  this is a small marketing piece that the charlotte ymca will be using to market their {women's.wellness.weekend}

i have a long way to go on my video skills, but thanks to the expertise over at storyrealing, they made it a great story!  enjoy and if you're in the charlotte or surrounding area, this was an AWESOME weekend and i highly suggest that you grab your mom, your sister, your closest friends... WHOEVER!! ... and sign up ASAP!

{enjoy}

{YMCA.women's.wellness.weekend.shoot}

have i mentioned i'm trying my hand at video? 

well i am!  the awesome guys over at storyrealing.com have taken me under their wing and are teaching me a new tool for my crafty tool box and i am grateful.  not only am i getting to use my passion for photo and video, but this weekend will take me back to my passion for the YMCA.  i worked for the YMCA for 6 years before, during, and after college in different capacities and just love the organization and what it stands for.

today i'm headed to YMCA Camp Harrison for the Women's Wellness Weekend. i'll be there to capture photo and video of all the fun.  everything from good friends, lots of laughs, yoga, horseback riding, and just some awesome women escaping the city to enjoy a beautiful weekend in the NC mountains. 

ladies if you're in the Charlotte, NC area, you should definitely check out one of the upcoming weekends and get a few of your friends together to enjoy the beautiful NC mountains and practice wellness together.

if you have kids, make sure you sign them up for camp this summer at Camp Harrison!  check out this little promo i helped shoot for the Dude Ranch at Camp Harrison. 

{happy.friday}

aw

{Beech.Mountain.Ski.Weekend} FEB:2011

{merry.christmas.2010...video style}

Merry Christmas friends!  It's a white and snowy one here in NC the day after and we are loving it!   I decided on Christmas Eve after talking with some friends early in the week, that it was silly that I didn't know how to use the video capabilities of my radtastic camera so after a little practicing around the house, I spent the day yesterday taking some video of our Christmas day and capturing everything I love about the day.  Then taught myself how to use iMovie today to edit it... and for my first try I have to say that I LOVE how it turned out!!

{enjoy}

{merry christmas}

there's not much sweeter than the Christmas story being told in the words of children.

and it doesn't hurt that they have AWESOME accents...

{MERRY CHRISTMAS}

{john mark mcmillan in concert}

this past friday night i got the awesome opportunity to see john mark mcmillan perform a free show at the visulite here in charlotte, nc.  seriously... his album hit #13 on itunes last week during it's release AND he plays free shows.  love this guy!  he's one of the few of us that can say we're true locals... born and raised... here in charlotte.  the hospital that he was born at, as well as myself, is truly a matter of yards away from the venue.  it was amazing and inspiring, to say the least, to see the local community's love and support blantantly expressed at his show!  to see john truly love the Lord through his music and not sell short, but hold strong to who he is as an artist is refreshing and i think everyone at the concert felt that.  here are a few of my shots and i got the whole (10 minute) of "How He Loves" on video.  notice how everyone was fully engaged in this song.  oh man, i LOVE live music! :)

John Mark McMillan - "How He Loves" - Live at the Visulite 7.9.2010 from April Walker on Vimeo.

{happy.wednesday}
aw