These sisters called and booked months in advance. They knew when they would be in town visiting their parents and scheduled for that and wanted to have their parents in some photos as well. So we did two family sessions and added the parents in as well. It went great and I had a wonderful time. It is such a small world because the daughters and their husbands live close to Memphis. I met Amber years ago when she lived in Vicksburg and her parents owned a shop there. At the time I was going through my Cancer battle and Amber’s mom was a cancer survivor and she lifted me up in prayer. I never knew that I would be photographing them years later. I am not even sure how Amber and her sister found out about me, but I feel so blessed to have been able to photograph these beautiful families.
Here are a few from their sessions. Hope ya’ll enjoy!
Words of Wisdom: PRAY; PRAY; PRAY; PRAY; PRAY; PRAY
I am so glad the election is over and now we know who to pray for specifically. These are some things I did not base my vote on: a) the color of one’s skin b) because everyone else was voting for this one or that one c) because I am registered to vote a particular party and d) because someone told me I should vote for this one or that one. I based my vote on my values as a Christian and who I thought would lead our country in a more “Christ like” way.
I am not here on earth to please people and to do what is pleasing to the people of the world. I am here to please my Lord, my Savior. He gave His one and only son for me and I owe Him so much more than I could ever give back.
I am concerned about those that are lost. That includes those that claim to be Christians but do not know Christ and what He stands for. Anyone can claim to be a Christian but actions speak louder than words.
I know I woke up yesterday morning praying for our nation and prayed so hard that my energy was zapped for the day. I praise God, and know He has a great plan.
What scares me is those that want to straddle the fence. You are either for God or against Him. There is no middle. You are either saved or lost. You are either in or out.
I want to pray for all those that are lost and I pray that they find Jesus no matter what it takes.
“Every bump in every rocky road represents a divine crossroad in our life–an opportunity to decide whether we will grow in grace and deepen our faith, or not. We can choose to take what might appear to be a wider, smoother road but which ultimately leads to a less noble place. Or we can take the narrower, harder road, the one to which God has clearly called us” (Matthew 7:13-14) (Turning Points magazine & devotional).
Thanks & God Bless!
Some scriptures: 1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according tohis riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before you were formed in the body of your mother I had knowledge of you, and before your birth I made you holy…..
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Romans 1: 27-28 And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing. And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right…..
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Nehemiah 13:2 Because they did not give the children of Israel bread and water when they came to them, but got Balaam to put a curse on them: though the curse was turned into a blessing by our God.
Genesis 12 2-3 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you.???
Matthew 6:31-34 So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:19-20 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themseles and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Romans 14: 11-12 As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
In closing Jesus cares so much about the salvation of lost souls and the spiritual growth of believers that He has asked us not to just sit back and enjoy our own relationship with the Lord but, out of love and compassion for others, to take our spiritual knowledge and the gift of eternal life to a world in need. (Turning points magazine and devotional).
God Bless!!
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jmelcena is the name of my friend Joni’s new business. She has started making these awesome scarves and I just love them and love photographing people wearing them. Of course my daughter modeled one for me and I was able to talk one of my senior girls in to modeling one for me as well. I am going to do up some advertising cards for Joni and needed a few photos. I am planning on having some of these to use in sessions and she is making some summer weight one’s as well. I am so excited for her and what God is doing in her life. She is a Godly woman and I am just soooo excited about how He has lead her to do these and I know she gives Him the glory for it. If you are interested in ordering a scarf, I am going to list her information here and you can contact her. Please let her know how you heard about j. melcena. I am hoping I can help her out by sending her some folks. 
Vanessa Diel Photography 
