Osterland All Stars

This is my 2nd year with most of these guys and I just ADORE them!! My best friend's son is #13 and is just like a son to me!! So we follow them around and cheer them on!! I have learned to truly love shooting baseball-- but it did take some work to get half way decent at it!!
These guys play so well together and got along great in the dug-out- that it was just a fun time all around! They have grown so much in just a year- I can not wait to see them in the years to come!
These parents are also some of the sweetest, most supportive baseball parents I have ever worked with-- including the ones from last year!
This is just a tiny sampling of all that I took that weekend.

TO SEE MORE: Go to the top of this blog and click on GALLERY-- but it is NOT a direct link, scroll down just a little and it will say GALLERY again and the direct link will be below that. It is very simple, but often overlooked =)

On the gallery site scroll down to Osterland and there are tons of pics!

If you see some you'd like to order- write down the portrait number-- not the slide number. You can call me or email me-- just click on contact me above and it will take you to my email.

The gallery expires in 60 days usually 30- but since there are soo many pics I am extending it)-- so PLEASE have your orders placed by then. I AM NOT guaranteeing these pictures after 60 days. You can also make an appointment to come by the house.

The top 2 pictures are samples the KEEPSAKES. I will be glad to make one of your child-- just email me and let me know!! I can also do one that is neatly lined up instead of scattered looking like these, if you prefer.

I had a great time with these guys! Thank you all so much for making me feel so welcome!! =)))

Promise of Joy:
Our only power and success comes from God.
2 Corinthians 3:5

We all strive to be successful- just like this young baseball team. But the only true success does come from God. There are many success stories about people that do not have a relationship with Christ-- but those stories will fade away and one day be forgotten. The successes that will count for ETERNITY are those that bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. Let's live for the eternity-- not for the here and now!

Rafe- 3 months

I get so aggravated at those sideways pictures!! I am so sorry!! I don't know why some do that-- they're not that way on my screen-- and I don't know how to fix it! urgh!! Hope you have a flip-top head! haha!! =D

This precious baby boy has changed so much!! Babies truly are miracles. They grow so fast and are just perfect-- we really serve an awesome God!
I had a good time with little Rafe. We had a few interruptions-- and the 100+ degree weather did not help!! But he is a sweetie and did everything a 3 month old could do =)

I love seeing the changes every 3 months-- it really touches me-- and makes me miss my small babies! I remember how difficult it was and feeling like it would be that way forever... but oh my goodness, how wrong I was!! People tell you it flies by- but you just can't imagine it until you've lived it. Cherish every moment-- even the difficult ones.

Promise of Joy:
Those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
This scripture says so much!! And I have noticed that if someone listened in to my conversations, I would sound like a broken record. I know that the answer to everything... marriage, hardships with your children, in your job, loss of a loved one... everything... is to seek God! REALLY seek God. Put your faith in Him and ask for His wisdom, His guidance. That truly is the "secret" to a "happy" life!! So many are missing the big picture. Very little that goes on this life is real. You take absolutely nothing with you when you leave. If you can get your life in connection with Jesus Christ... then you will experience true happiness that has never been found anywhere else!! I always tell my youth we were born with a Christ-shaped hole-- and you try to plug it up with everything -- but we still feel the huge gaping hole, which makes us miserable. Until we accept Christ as our Savior... then that hole is filled-- and so are our lives!! What is your Christ-shaped hole being stuffed with??

The Lowe's

Where do I even begin describing this wonderful, fun, precious family?!?
I guess at the beginning (from my point of you, anyway =)
The Mom and I go all the way back to kindergarten. I distinctly remember sharing my mermaid toy with my friend,Shannon. We were together every single year from that point on-- along with about 28 of our favorite people. We all got together recently (because of the very sad loss of one of those special friends) and it was so strange to listen to others have the exact same memories as me-- Same teachers, same friends, same events, same goofball stories!! I had forgotten what it was like to be so BONDED with a group!! To be so blessed!!

Then after college, I was hired for my first teaching job- and there was ...Shannon!! I was so excited! I had a wonderful time seeing her do what she was so stinkin' good at-- and she's still going strong!

While we were teaching together she married the man of her dreams-- and now look at their gorgeous family!! I hated that T.J. couldn't be with us for these pictures-- but he is an important and busy man flying an F-16 fighter jet defending our freedom!! So we will excuse him this once!! haha!! But man-- with Nick there he was sure there in spirit-- his mini-me!!

So I was truly HONORED when Shannon asked me to take her family (minus 1) portraits! And sooo excited because that meant I'd get to spend time with her and her little men! And it was wonderful! Those guys are each so different- and her younger one acted just like my boy-- plum silly. Shannon nor I know where they get that from?!??!! haha!! (Truth is... we were BOTH dubbed by Mrs. Jackson in 3rd grade as the class clownS)-- ssshhhh!!! =D

When Mitch got there he loved being around them and asked me when we could see them again. Then about fell out when I told him they live in a foreign country!!!
So it was so very exciting- I had a fabulous time-- and just wish we had more time. And it was, of course, 1000 degrees out and we were melting.

But Shannon- I hope I lived up to your expectations! This is NOT all of them. This is just your sneak peek of my favorites. I will let you know when I have the others where you can see them!

Love and miss you!!

Promise of Joy:
May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
This is my prayer for you and your family, sweet friend. Thank you for sacrificing being with your family here, for your husband to defend my freedom. I am so proud of everything you guys have accomplished together. I know the Lord has His hand on you- and I will be praying that He keeps it there! =)

McAlisters

Wow-- soooo sorry it has taken me so long to blog this sneak peek!! Seems like everything has happened since I took these!! Plus football ads have kept me hopping!

I have been looking forward to photographing this family for a while! But man.. it was soooooo HOT!!! We would have to take cool down breaks! But everyone stayed in great spirits and we trooped along there for a couple of hours! I had a great time!! It's a challenge with so many younger children-- but Itruly enjoyed it! I love big families- and am so surprised that I don't have one myself! It was fun!!

I hope you like them, K. There are many more that I am working on that are not on here-- they will be posted to the gallery later. I will let ya know when! Thank you so much for trusting me with your family portraits. I loved spending the morning with you!

Promise of Joy:
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1John 4:18

Let your actions speak louder than your words!! Walk the walk, not just talk the talk. There is always someone watching.