I’m tired, my jeans are wet up to my behind, I have sand in my socks…but I had a blast with Mark & Jill today.  They worked me so hard!

Mark & Jill are getting married in August in their home state, but wanted some engagement photos of where they live & play now.  So we headed to trusty ol’ Downtown Annapolis.  It’s the first super deliciously warm weekend in a bit, so everyone and their dog was out too.  After we found parking spots – which is a big deal in Annapolis – we headed down some side streets for more privacy and pizzazz.  If you’ve every been down these streets you’ll know what I mean.  The houses are literally dozens of different bright and glorious colors. Not to mention the city has so much character.  Then we headed over to Jonas Green Park and got some sweet shots in the evening sun.

Enjoy your preview Mark & Jill!  I can’t wait to finish the rest…

It will be two weeks tomorrow since Joe & Jacque became husband and wife…and I’m finally doing their “official” wedding blog!  My wonderful friend Heather agreed to so graciously assist me on this wedding, and I’m so grateful!

Jacque & Joe couldn’t have ordered up a more perfect day for their wedding.  They began their journey at the United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland.  If you’ve ever been to a Naval Academy wedding, you know those things move like clockwork!  There’s about 30 minutes for one wedding, they shuffle you out one door as guests for the next wedding shuffle in the next door, and 30 minutes later the next wedding begins!  I have to give huge props to the ladies & gentlemen at the Chapel who make those miracles happen!  Jacque & Joe’s wedding was the first wedding of the day, so luckily we had a bit more restful time before their ceremony began.

Everyone who’s seen her picture nailed it on the head – Jacque is a stunning bride.  She was so sweet and excited to become Joe’s wife.  And Joe!  What a guy!  He just beamed with love for her as she came down the aisle with her father.  They were a wonderful picture to see.  And I’m so glad they let Heather and I share in their day.

Okay…so enough babbling.  Just get to the pictures!  Here are Jacque & Joe…

(My friends are gonna hate me for posting these photos, but who cares!)

So, what’s with the title of this post?  I didn’t even fully know what Lent was until this past Sunday at church!  I know, I’m 28 years old and still didn’t know!  Anyways, the above statement, “Give it up for Lent,” is something I remember my good friend Gina saying quite often during the lenten season.  Gina was one of the many wonderful friends I was so blessed to be able to hang out with during high school.  We were thick as thieves, always at one another’s houses.  I distinctly remember, and I hope correctly, that when one of us would wish for something, or complain we didn’t have something, Gina would so kindly say, “Ah, give it up for lent!”  All I knew was that Lent was when my other friends would not have chocolate or coffee or something they usually ate for 40 days.

However, this past Sunday, my pastor, Keith Peck, explained Lent in such a way that made its meaning and purpose very clear to me.  He explained Lent as giving up something we rely on, something that makes our heart happy, something that we focus on more than Christ.  And in giving up that thing, we are better able to realize our need for Christ.  Here’s the kicker:  His challenge was to give up gossip for lent!  When you think about it, it sounds pretty easy.  However, when you put it the way Keith did, it’s gonna be tough!  He said, “I challenge you to fast from speaking about another person who is not in your presence with a negative intent, no matter if it is true or not. To only speak of people who are not in your presence in a positive light.”  Ouch!  That hurts because I know I am very guilty of talking about others in my nice sounding way, but with my ill meaning intentions hidden beneath the surface.  I am going to try to take on this challenge.  It’ll be my first observation of Lent.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  (Pray.)

I have to end with one more funny old photo of me and my friends.  Here we all are at the prom.

Consequently, Bryan, the dude in the middle, married Hannah, the girl to your left.  And in case you couldn’t tell, I’m the girl on your far left, in the dark blue dress.