Leah & Anthony

Meet Leah and Anthony

I don't think I could be more in love with this cute little country engagement session.
I mean everything's straight out of some country song lyrics, what with the tractors and red sundresses and pick up trucks and dandelions (you're probably not going to get any of those references unless you actually listen to country music... but it's pretty self explanatory)
Their daughter Emilia also tagged along and let me tell you, I could probably spend an afternoon just taking photos of her as she wanders around exploring. The most precious little girl ever.
We basically became best friends.
So there's a few a lot of photos of her here today too because I just couldn't resist.

Enjoy the photos of this gorgeous couple, you can definitely tell they're in love.
Can't wait for their wedding this fall!

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Check out more here.
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?
Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com

Ukulele


Originally had some photos I was going to share but the day and its work load got away with me and they're not quite ready yet so I'm saving that post for tomorrow.

Instead I thought I'd let you know that I've been playing lots of ukulele over here lately.
I've been getting the hang of it over the past few months and I'm not too terrible.
I really rather love it actually.

It's still my life's goal to be able to play Beirut's Postcards From Italy.
One day...
One day.


On Writing

 Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney


I write a lot.
I don't really consider myself a writer though.
Mostly because my writing's are more of a personal venture I suppose, not really shared with many people.
They're mostly just random scribblings and doodles of whatever my mind needs to work out or get out at the time.
Or lists of seemingly-unimportant-but-actually-important things.
Or detailed descriptions of problems or events that I'm working on understanding.
Or accounts of moments I don't want to forget.
I've kept a journal pretty consistently since I was eleven. Though technically my first one was at age eight, I hardly kept up with it. Not to mention the sort of things eight year olds write about is hardly deep or meaningful reading material, though it might be fairly amusing.
(I will leave this unexplained and up for creative interpretation)

I think it also just comes with being a documenter.
I love documenting things.
Whether it's in photos or in words.
I like creating things that capture little moments just as I want to remember them.

I mostly write for me though.
Which I think is the way it should be with some of the things you love.
We all have to have something we do for just us.
This is my something.

Things I Love Thursday: Blue Books


I love books. 
I love reading. 
Neither of those things are really much of a secret. 
However I specifically love blue books. 
I have quite a collection in fact. It spans a whole shelf. 
This photo was actually taken three years ago and only shows a small portion of it.
I secretly/not so secretly want to use all my blue books as part of my table centerpieces when I get married one day.
Wouldn't that be fun?
I think so. 

Summer Storms

Photo Cred: Meagan Abell

Yesterday we had one of those all-of-a-sudden-out-of-nowhere thunder storms. 
The kind that interrupts the sunshine and brightness of a day rather rudely and abruptly. 
So abruptly that the sunshine sticks around for a minute or two, even though it's raining, because it's determined to hold out, almost as if to say "hey hold on a sec, I was here first."
The kind that comes with a ferocity and fierceness that sort of make your heart jump a little bit and if you didn't know any better you'd be a little bit frightened by it. 
The kind that you stand on your porch and watch and feel a little bit more alive while doing so. 
The kind that you feel at your very center when the thunder crashes, closer than it normally would be, practically on top of you it seems. 
With a loudness and strength that exhilarates you inside and out. 
That's my favorite kind.
This kind of summer storm.


Abundant Rain

Shot with 35mm film/ Minolta x-700

Let my teaching fall like rain
    and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
    like abundant rain on tender plants.
//Deuteronomy 32:2//

Feeling extra challenged lately. 
In a lot of ways, but primarily to be more open to what God wants to teach me and show me right now. 
To take what he's teaching and showing me and to really meditate on it. 
To write it down, read it over and over, think about it more than once, talk about it, pray about it, feel it all the way through.
With all that I've been learning I feel so very filled, about to burst, but empty and ready for more, all at the same time. 
The fullness is a sort of saturation.
Like plants being soaked all the way through after a rainstorm. 
But with each new day comes a new desire to learn more, a new thirst that needs quenching.
I'm excited about new seasons and new challenges and new opportunities and new answers to new questions.
Just newness in general. 


Chandler + Kiri

Meet Chandler and Kiri.
They're best friends.
Kiri is moving off to Australia soon but before she left, she and Chandler wanted some photos to document their last week together. 
I had heaps of fun wandering around with these two, taking photos as they laughed together about inside jokes and talked about dreams and traveling. They're definitely the cutest! It brought back memories of when I was 17 and me and my best friend dreamed big and talked about traveling and things we wanted to do and be when we "grew up".
It's crazy how time flies sometimes.

Wishing Kiri safe travels and Chandler too when she goes to visit her!
(I'm still trying to convince her to just stick me in her suitcase. I mean come on, Australia?? I wanna go...)

 
 
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Check out more here.
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?
Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com

A Happy List

Shot with 35mm film/ Yaschica 

A Happy List

1. Summer rain storms
2. Nighttime city wandering
3. Summertime by Billie Holiday
4. Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey
5. Those donuts
6. Le long des golfes clairs
Et d'une chanson d'amour
La mer
A berce mon coeur pour la vie
7. Unbirthday Presents
8. Snail mail
9. Feathered arms
10. Those old jeans
11. Freckled knees
12. Packed suitcases
13. Crosswalks

Kourtney and Callie Rose

My dear friends Kourtney and Callie Rose (who is more commonly known by her nickname, "Kalzone") are headed off to Thailand this fall to do some missions work over there for a few months. I'm so very excited for them and can't even wait to hear about all the stories and experiences I know they're going to bring back with them on their return!
These girls are such a blessing in my life. They are both so filled with joy and love and are a constant encouragement to me in so many ways. I just love them to pieces. I know they're going to be open for God to work through them in whatever way He has planned while they're over there. 

We had heaps of fun taking these photos for their support letters and they turned out so cute I figured I'd share them here today and give them a little shout out!
If you feel led to help support them in any way, whether through prayers or financially, feel free to email Kourtney (kourtneyhetrick@gmail.com) for more info or give via paypal through this link.


Love you two so very much! I know God's got some amazing things in store for you and the people you'll be coming into contact with over the next few months. 
"I exhort you."
;)

 Mark 16:15