New year... new beginnings. Each new year is usually followed by New Year's resolutions. I have never been big on resolutions. They usually end within the first month of the year. However, this year was a little different. My little family is facing a few big changes. One of those changes is giving this whole business venture a real go. Not a 100%, since my job is currently the stable income for our family. But, most of our free time is split between me taking photos, Charles learning new media skills, photo editing and attempting to organize all the things you don't think of when you start a business.  

As we reach the second month of the year my first resolution in a long time seems to be working out pretty well. My goal for this year is to try and have at least two shoots a month, and once a month challenge myself with a photo scavenger hunt. I know that with anything in life the only way to grow is to test your skills, knowledge and learn new things. I pray and hope for a year of just that. 

I look forward to the many people this year will allow me to share life with. And for the many moments I will get to share with you. I am blessed with a gift beyond measure, time spent making people laugh, capturing some wonderful moments with them and growing in relationship with each of them along the way.

Through the last month I was able to do two full sessions, one mini session and one snow/night scavenger hunt. Keeping up with my goals for the year and two of which are shared on this post. Two handsome young men and an amazing and very funny family. I love the time I am spending with people!

This year also holds a bit of uncertainty. God is bigger than those things I don't understand. One of which is my husband having to seek additional employment. I knew rather quickly a few years ago when God placed  him as the children's pastor at our church it would be a perfect fit. It truly has been. Unfortunately, the economy has not left our church unaffected. We face a shortfall and we are prayerfully seeking what God's wants of us in this time. We know He will provide. Even through the confusion, He is there. 

Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today"

As the second month of the year begins, may I concentrate each day one at a time on the Lord first and foremost and second on what He is asking of me that day. Prayerfully I step into a new month. Taking one day at a time and hoping for a month of opportunities to share more time and more captured moments. 

For much of the Northwest the visit from winter has not been a pleasant one. Lots of snow, then ice and now rain upon more rain. I loved the ability to spend a random weekday home with my wonderful family. Watching Chloe, my daughter, really experience snow for the first time was exciting. Through the eyes of a child, if you pay attention, you can learn a lot. After our day together I started thinking about simplicity. How a simple day of being snowed in made my heart overflow. God didn't make life complicated, but in today's world, we sure have. I think that is one of the things about taking photos I truly love, there are things about photography that can be complicated, but when I am looking through a lens, life is simple. It is beautiful. The cold, the snow, the ice, it was beautiful.  

I have been trying to challenge myself a bit with the idea of blogging. I know it will not only help me share some amazing experiences with some unique and special people, but I am hoping it will also stretch me and help me grow. Grow and become a better photographer. Stretch me in thinking about the things the Lord's put before me. I have often struggled with putting my thoughts in order. But, maybe... just maybe, I have found a way to help with that...


Remember the simple things. They can bring life into perspective. 

Psalms 119:130 
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.

To blog or not to blog, that has been my question. From that question I have been led to many other questions. Ones like... What to blog? How to blog? Why? Seem like pretty generic questions in retrospect. But I have often struggled with keeping journals and composing my messy thoughts. Why would this round be any different? Well, I tell myself, do you want to be able to spend more time with you family? Yes, of course! My internal thoughts then remind me that I can't create more time, but maybe someday this new path I find myself on may lead to things that may allow that to happen. With this inner contemplation in mind I begin. 

Who am I? My name is April Elizabeth Wilder. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am a sister. I am a friend. I am a photographer. All of what I am revolves around relationships. I have learned in my short life that without relationships you have nothing. Most importantly without Christ many of the relationships I hold dear would be meaningless. He gives meaning to life, to love... to everything. And I am grateful for a Creator that would sacrifice so much for me. I often struggle with sharing how blessed I feel to others. I try to think through my words and use them wisely. Sometimes I think to long... and my opportunity seems to pass. I think photography has been a gift in which the Lord has allowed me to show some of His awe inspiring creation. I have been blessed to have many people ask me to capture images of themselves or their families. An honor I pray to repay by offering each person images of the time we spent together. Ones that to my eye, show the beauty God has knit into each and every one of us. 

I don't believe this blog will remain only photos. Or reflections of my time together with people from my photo sessions. I believe it is intended to do much more. I believe it is a tool for me to show the world more closely the beauty the Lord has worked into each of our lives. Beauty in the world around us, beauty in the Words He has written and beauty in the people around us. With that, let this adventure begin. I look forward to where it may lead. Who I am to become in Him. Care to join me?