After Nicholas and Katelyn’s proposal, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and our happy baby. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day with my sweet family. Our little family of three is so much fun!
Oh how I love her.
Seriously. Swooning over this handsome man.
My brother-in-law is engaged to the love of his life, and I couldn’t be more excited for them!!! It was so much fun capturing this precious moment, and even better celebrating with them after she said “yes!” What a joy is was to be a part of their special day. From the rose he grew himself, to the location, to the letter, to ending the night with dancing, Nicholas planned the perfect day for his bride-to-be. I am so thankful for Katelyn, for her heart of gold, and for the way she loves my sweet brother. Congratulations Nicholas and Katelyn! I love you both so much!
Tracking where they were. 
Checking out her bling! 🙂 
Sometimes the weather is perfect and your baby is in the very best mood. Sometimes your grass is over grown and perfectly green. Sometimes you just have to capture it all!
These past few days I have been prayerfully seeking what aspect of Jesus I would like to focus on, in preparation for Easter. I wanted to focus on an aspect of Jesus that I needed more in my own life, and I desperately wanted to be challenged like never before. That’s when the Lord used My Utmost for His Highest in my life once more. The title of today’s devotion is The Determination to Serve, and I was struck hard by the word serve. When is the last time I sought to serve?
Am I willing to serve selflessly? Do I serve without complaint? Is my first choice to serve? Am I willing to serve and give, even to the point of death, just as Christ? Honestly? No.
I am a product of the ME generation. Despite having wonderful examples of service in my life, I rarely seek to serve. My life revolves around me most of the time. I am quick to focus on my blessings, but I so often fail to seek to be a blessing to others. I focus on my time, my plans, and my home, but I fail to focus on areas where I should serve. I no longer want to be associated with my generation. Life all about me is empty, without purpose, and lonely. This is not the life I am called to. This is not the life any believer is called to.
Because our culture is so fixated on ourselves, a heart of service towards others is rare. However, if I am to be more like Jesus, then my heart must seek to put others first, not for their approval, but for His. Oswald Chambers states in My Utmost for His Highest, “When we realize that Jesus Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin, nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust our determination to serve men for His sake.”
Over these next few weeks I will begin the process of shifting my focus. It will not be an easy task to change my thinking, but in order for me to be who God has called me to be, I must seek to serve. I want to have the determination to serve. I want my life to be a picture of selfless giving. If am to be told someday, “Well done my good and faithful servant”, then I need to become a servant of the gospel for the lost, a servant for God’s people, a servant for God’s purpose, and a servant seeking His approval above all else.
I don’t know yet how I am going to accomplish this task of seeking to serve, but I know it starts with a heart, broken of pride, open to a challenge, and filled with love. As I seek to serve, my home will be a sanctuary of worship to my Savior. The TV will be off, social media will be limited, worship music will be on, and everything having to do with our ME culture will be purged from my house. I will spend time in prayer, praying for the lost, praying for the broken, praying for purpose, praying for the determination to serve, even when I don’t want to. I will make time to study the life of Christ, seeking to be more like Him, and thanking Him for His ultimate sacrifice.
“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
Oh how I adore this little valentine of mine! She has grown quite accustomed to our mini photo sessions every day. On one particular day, I decided to put her in her little red bloomers and a fancy bow. For an hour she sat there like a perfect little model, and gave me some of my favorite pictures to date. I am so in love with our Little Star. She brings me so much joy every day, and I am so excited to celebrate the love our family shares! Happy Valentine’s Day y’all!
Hello Friends,
It’s been awhile since I posted, and life has changed so much! I am working on the right words to describe the first three months of my baby girl’s life, but until I come up with the right words, I will update you on my photography business. Since becoming a mom, I have learned the value of simplicity. That is what I intend to do with my photography business.
I will no longer photograph weddings or events as I have learned that I enjoy the interaction with families and clients in a more relaxed and casual setting. I will now have a single price for any session. These sessions will be on location in the Burleson/Fort Worth area, and will range from an hour to an hour and a half. I will then edit up to 50 photos, place them on a disc, and give you the rights to your photos. After I am finished editing your photos, I will post a sneak peek/blog post, and I will send them within 2 weeks of our session. Each session will cost $150.00. However, I will offer multiple mini sessions throughout the year. I will only offer photo sessions two weekends a month, as I would like to spend most weekends with my little family.
Over the past three months, I have enjoyed photographing my sweet baby and working on my craft. I have also invested in some new equipment and have enjoyed reading more in an effort to become a better photographer. After some time away, I am excited to start offering sessions again. If you or someone you know would like to book a session, please send them my way!
Contact Information: ariannafreelen@me.com
As most of you know, Jordan and I are welcoming a baby girl into this world in November. I have sat down many times to write about pregnancy, my visions of motherhood, and everything concerning baby for weeks now, but have never been fully able to express the right thoughts.
Jordan and I desperately wanted a baby- 36 weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about my desire to be a mom, the fears I had about never getting to be one, and learning how to fully trust God’s plan. It is by no coincidence, that I am 36 weeks pregnant now. I had to give all of my fears and desires to the Lord before He would make me a mommy. Getting pregnant had to happen in His timing, not my own!
These past 36 weeks have been nothing short of pure bliss. I was blessed with an easy first trimester, 3 bouts of morning sickness was about it! For the second trimester, I was in a nesting mood! With the help of my precious mama, my house has been organized and the nursery has been painted. Jordan and I ordered our nursery furniture as soon as we found out we were having a girl, and have put it all together! I could not be more pleased with how everything has turned out. And with the third trimester, I have loved watching my belly grow and feeling her kicks and hiccups!
Starting in August, the nursery was brought to life with the gifts from all of our showers. My former place of work threw me a surprise going away party/ baby shower. Each person from our bank took the time to add their own special detail to the shower. I had never felt more loved by a place of work in my whole life.
August also brought the gift of my best friend and maternity photographer, Ariana, into town. Air literally came from San Diego just to take my maternity pictures! We had never really spent time as just us (because we have 8 other best friends!) before, and I must say, after spending a week with her, I have come to not only love her more as my friend, but also as a woman seeking the Lord! Air, you will never know just how much your visit meant to me!
September started with the trip of a lifetime to The Happiest Place on Earth! This was Jordan’s first time to Disney World, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We spent the week with my parents, visited every park multiple times, and ended up falling even more in love. Perhaps my favorite part of the trip was being able to pick out our daughter’s first Christmas gift! It is so much fun being a parent. After our trip to Disney, Jordan and I came home and then left again to spend a week in Lubbock. We celebrated my 24th birthday and were showered with so much love from Southcrest! I was actually born while my dad worked at Southcrest many years ago, and to be showered with love from the same people who showered my mama with love 24 years ago was such a blessing. I will forever cherish the memories made during my week in Lubbock!
October has been such a wonderful month so far! Our home church here in Burleson began the month by showering us with gifts to where the nursery has been finished! Now we just lack a beautiful baby girl, and her photos in frames! Each person who has hosted a shower, or given a gift to our sweet girl has blessed us more than they will ever know. I feel so honored to bring a baby into a community of people who already love her so much!
This past weekend, Jordan and I finally had a weekend open to do whatever we wanted! I really just needed some time with my precious husband! We spent a day in Dallas enjoying the beautiful fall foliage at the Arboretum, made our baby’s mobile, slept in, and spent some time with church friends. We have finished our birth class, and are busy finishing the last few things around the house in preparation for our sweet girl. These past few years as just us have been a dream. Together we have moved, traveled, bought a home, started a mini-farm, fought, laughed, and grown to love each other even more. As we prepare to bring our sweet girl into this world, I pray we will be parents of prayer, parents who seek God’s face before all else, and parents who create a home of peace and harmony. This pregnancy has been one of the highlights of my life. I have enjoyed every second, every kick, and even the little aches that come from our growing baby. As this time in my life comes to an end, I cannot help but give all praise to the Giver of Life! Thank you Lord for this precious gift! 4 weeks until we meet our beautiful baby girl!
If you have watched any portion of the news in the last few weeks you will have heard of the Banning Bossy campaign. Banning Bossy is a push by women to take the word “bossy” and its condescending message out of American vocabulary.
Personally, I agree with this campaign. I agree with removing this word from my own vocabulary, and I agree that I have seen and felt this word do more harm than good.
However, I do not agree with replacing this word with more synonyms. Words like “assertive” and “bold” only mask the sting of the word bossy. They are the politically correct way of stating a woman is bossy or worse yet a female dog. In a world where women constantly feel the need to empower themselves simply replacing a word does nothing, a change of perspective must come as well.
As a woman with a will stronger than that of ten men, but more importantly as a woman seeking Christ, I believe Christian women need to step out and push for women of character, not just women of strength. My strong-will is no good if I don’t have the character and moral compass of a woman who loves Jesus. My words of boldness are spoken in vain if they are not spoken out of the inspiration of the spirit. My actions of standing out do no good if it is only for my gain, not for Christ’s.
The Bible is full of women of strength; Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Rahab, and Mary have shown us how to be bold women changing the world out of obedience to their Creator. They spoke when prompted, acted at the right time, and ultimately glorified their Creator when their job was done.
Instead of a world full of loud, independent, assertive women, we need a world of confident women. We need women who aren’t afraid to be different, women who speak with kindness, and who act out of humility. We need women who are nurturing in the midst of tragedy, who are organized in the midst of chaos, and put the needs of others before themselves. We need women who will boldly step out and fight for life, fight for a woman’s God-given role in the home, and will motivate and inspire the very best from their families. We need women of intelligence and discipline to do what needs to be done when no one else can. We need women who understand the value of a soft-spoken word, and a gentle touch, women who are meek and yet filled with Divine strength. Ultimately, we need a world of women of character- a world of velvet bricks, and steel magnolias.
At the end of the day, I want to be known for my obedience to Jesus, my love of my husband and our family, and for my character and how it is lived out every day of my life. I want to be a woman who is respected not from what I say or do, but from the way in which I carry the cross of Christ throughout every part of my life.
For those “bossy” girls out there, be different, be a woman who seeks Jesus above all else- Your strength only comes from Him.
My wonderful examples of women of character.
My Velvet Brick of a Mama. She has taught me life’s most important lessons.
Writing is a true therapy for me. I am not always gushing to write something, but when I am inspired I must take the time to sit down and pen what is in my heart. Often times I succeed at writing when I feel led, but learning to write as a discipline has been something I have been working on. When 2014 started I had the goal of writing one post a week. I love reading weekly blog posts and I love to write so I figured I should give it a try. Yet, here we are six weeks into the new year and I have already failed at one of my resolutions. This week will change that. My goal for the weekly blog posts is to virtually bring you into my living room as my friend. I want you to feel as though we are sitting there drinking a glass of sweet tea as a pie bakes in the oven, sharing our joys and sorrows.
This past October, I visited my mom’s hometown, with my mom, sister, aunt, and granny. While in Henderson we visited one of my Granny’s friends, Lillian. As I walked into her home I was greeted with the smell of a fresh-baked pumpkin pie, along with a sweet southern embrace. While sharing our pie we talked about our various lives, where we had gone and what we had done. Of the seven women present, five of them had experienced tremendous loss in some way. Some had lost children, others their husbands, and yet they continued to be women of unconditional joy and faith. As I sat there observing their moments of tears and laughter, I couldn’t help but to wish for the same.
Our culture is so caught up in running to the next thing, having the perfect life, and filling our time with more stuff that we forget to stop, share a piece of pie and catch up on life. We’d rather text than talk on the phone. We’d rather look at instagram than experience life with others. We’d rather catch up on the latest news on Facebook than invite people into our home. We have no problem sharing the happy things on social media, but we will not dare look vulnerable or share our sorrows with others. I don’t want to be like that any longer. I want to be open with others, letting them see the good, the bad, and the ugly. I want others to feel at home in my presence, not like they must have it all together. At the end of it all I want to be a portrait of God’s grace, sharing with others that when I have fallen, my Savior has picked me up. Therefore, even if life becomes routine, I will seek to use this blog as a means of worshipping God in the midst of monotony. In times of joy I will share His wonderful blessings, and in times of sorrow, I will share of His life-altering lessons and the peace only He can give.
After our cruise last June, Jordan and I felt called to begin trying to start a family. So far, eight months later, it still hasn’t happened. I know for some eight months seems like nothing compared to eight years, but I have begun to have an understanding of the monthly heartbreak that comes after a negative test comes back. I want nothing more than to be a mother. I breathe, eat, sleep all things motherhood right now. It is all I think about! I have given up cokes and sugar (for the most part), brought yoga into my daily routine, and disciplined myself to wake up with Jordan so I can get things done around the house before he gets home. Jordan and I have specifically gotten our finances in order so that we may be ready when a baby does come. I daydream of how I will tell Jordan, our families, and the world when the time comes, and I pin all things baby when I have a few minutes to spare. Yet despite all of my “preparation”, God has not answered my prayer.
After getting a few negative tests, I began to get jealous of all the happy moms and pregnant ladies around me. I began to rush God’s timing for my own desires. I would only pray really hard when the time would come for a test, and when it came back negative I would cry out of disappointment. Up until January this was a cyclical series of emotions. While at church one day I felt so convicted for my attitude. I felt ashamed for not trusting God’s timing and for attempting to rush His perfect plan. I was so convicted I walked up to the altar of the church, and just as Hannah poured her heart before the Lord (1 Samuel 1:10-16), I surrendered my desire for motherhood to Him.
This act of surrendering my greatest desire to the Lord has by no means been easy. My sinful nature pushes me to rush this time. I want to blow past all of this waiting instead of savoring each moment as a gift. Despite my impatience, God has me in this season of waiting for a reason. I must completely and fully trust Him. 1 Samuel 1:20, according to the ESV version, says that Hannah conceived a child in due time. The Bible does not tell us when exactly this happened, but it did happen in God’s timing. When God was finished preparing Hannah for the miracle of a child He answered her prayer. I believe the same will happen for me. I often feel as though I am ready now, but ultimately God says I am not. I need to trust Him and His timing more, and I need to desire Him more than I desire a child. Above all, I do not want to waste this time any longer.
So, for this season of waiting, I will love Jesus more. I will cherish the time I have with Jordan as just the two of us. I will work hard to be healthy and fit for when a blessing comes my way. I will snuggle with my pups while they are still my fur-babies. I will spend Saturdays photographing life on our little farm. I will be motivated to persevere through my job and school. I will dream up new ways to improve our home. I will plant gardens, travel, sing, read, and write. I will spend this time of in-between, experiencing the very best of life. When I feel as though I am beginning to slip, I will remember God’s Word- “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
I know this has been a lot to read and take in, and I thank you for taking the time to read a part of my life. If you are in the same boat as me, know that you are not alone at any point of this process. I hope that you were encouraged in some way and I hope that we all will truly learn the depth of Proverbs 3:5-6.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6
Here are a few pictures from our little farm:
A beautiful cardinal in one of our front trees.
Our lab, Breck, patiently waiting for Jordan’s command to come.
Jordan and the dogs playing in the background.
My favorite flowers, and favorite weekly pick-me-up from my thoughtful husband.
Little birds at our feeder.
My bird watching partner, Brisket.
Female cardinal at the feeder.
Lately I have seen quite a few ladies share a post on my Facebook feed titled “23 Things To Do Instead Of Getting Engaged Before You’re 23”, and I must admit the article offended me quite a bit, as well as made me shake my head towards the stupidity of the suggestions. What bothered me most was the fact the ladies who claim to follow Christ were posting it with words plastered above it such as, “truth”, “a must read”, “every single lady must read this!” As I dove into the article I noticed that her entire premise was off base. Yes, the divorce rate among those who marry young is pathetic. Yes, divorce has become a mere “hit it and quit it” excuse for a big day all about the bride. What she fails to understand is that for those of us who have gotten married young (21 for me!), and who claim to follow Christ, divorce has never been apart of our vocabulary. Divorce simply has never been an option, nor will it ever be, and this should be the mentality of ALL believers.
The writer goes on to say that we are not our parents generation nor our grandparents for that matter. But I must ask, they all got married young, pursued careers, defied societal expectations, valued family, and maintained a sense of morality in American culture. Of those things just mentioned, what is so bad? Perhaps if we sought to be more like them our world would be a much better place. I, for one, love the idea of being a young mom, I love the idea of experiencing as much of life as possible with the love of my life, and I love everything about being married. I am not confined to this picket fence, settled down lifestyle; instead I have the freedom to grow alongside the one I love, to build a legacy with him, and see the world through a lovers eyes. What a blessing it is to be married! It is not a ball and chain, and it’s not the imprisonment of everything I ever hoped to be! Sure we don’t have the money to fly all over the world because we own a home, maintain a steady job, and all those other things, but it has by no means kept us from experiencing the best parts of life.
As I read through her list I realized that her suggestions were merely the ramblings of an 18 year old stuck in a 23 year olds body. In essence she wants nothing to do with responsibility. She wants to travel, explore new religions, make out with random people, and focus merely on herself. As a Christian, life can never be so selfish. As a woman after God’s own heart, we are to have a passion for Him and for his people. We are called to serve strangers, not make out with them. We are called to go in order to proclaim Christ’s name, not for our own selfish gain. We are called to view our bodies as a temple, not to fill it with junk and pose naked for the world to see. We are called to honor our parents, not to disappoint them. We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, not to fill our minds with false teaching. We are called to be different, not trendy, hipster, prepster or anything -ster. If more Christians chose to be different from the rest of the world, perhaps the divorce rates would be different. Perhaps, we, as believers, would be taken more seriously.
Ladies who call yourselves Christians, do not be fooled by the ramblings of a non-believer. Ultimately, she is lonely and tired of being single as well. If she weren’t she wouldn’t have written such condescending words towards those who are married so young. Sure, in a few years I hope to have a family. I won’t be as thin as I used to be, and I hope to be pregnant. But I will be living in accordance with God’s will for my life. I will have a husband that is only devoted to me, and children whom I will be blessed to nurture and teach. As she states in her article, you are responsible for your own happiness, but what she fails to state is that, as a believer, you are also responsible for following God’s Word and allowing Him to direct your life, not the whims of the world.
All in all, BE DIFFERENT! Go and do what God has called you to do with wild abandonment. Place your trust in HIS plan for your life. Let Him bring that amazing man into your life and show you all He has for you. If He doesn’t have Mr. Right come your way anytime soon, then just pursue intimacy with your Savior, that’s all he wants. As someone who did get married at 21, take it from me, you will never miss out on the beauty of life. Only the best lies ahead!
Choosing. 