Jersey Shore

Hey friends!

Last week I got to check another destination off the travel bucket list... New Jersey and New York City! My friends Kelly and Reb live up in Jersey and about an hour from NYC, and so I had to take a post-graduation trip to visit. PLUS, we were planning our friend Sarah's secret engagement in NYC, which I'll share about in my next post! 

Monday and Tuesday were spent in NJ, where Kelly showed me around her school and the beach. The weather was so beautiful all week, and I was actually cold the first couple of days because I'm a southern wimp. I loved the beaches, because I had never been to the beach when it was "cold;" and it was a nice change from going to the beach and feeling like I'll burn alive because of the heat. 

What Could Have Been

Geaux Garcia Photography

The other day I was driving back to Baton Rouge from Lake Charles, and thinking about what my number one piece of advice is to anyone... and it's that your life will never turn out like you think it will, and that it's okay. 

You can have big, beautiful, good dreams and plans for your life... sometimes they come to fruition and sometimes they don't. Something I have learned is that even if those good things don't come to pass, it doesn't mean the alternative is "bad." Your life may look different than you imagined; but it is okay because it will still be good, and God is still in the midst of it.

But I know that it doesn't always feel okay when your life goes through unexpected change. 

Lately I have been wrestling with a lot of mixed emotions upon graduating and a whirlwind of change. As I was praying and thinking about these things, I felt in my spirit words that I think bring relief to the need to have it all together.

And those words are that it's okay to mourn the what-could-have-been's. 

Spring Seniors, Vol. 5: Alaina G.

Hey friends!

Comin' at ya again with the senior pictures of my new friend Alaina! I had so much fun taking this girl's pictures... the weather was lovely as usual, and it was my first time getting photos with Mike, our live on-campus mascot! Alaina and her mom were super sweet and made our shoot relaxed and fun. 

It's so sweet getting to take photos for people in the same stage of life as I am... I get to capture the excitement of those on the verge of the rest of their lives! 

Congratulations, Alaina! See ya @ the PMAC!

Spring Seniors, Vol. 4: Brooke B.

Wow, friends, I'm so excited to share this session with you because it's of one of my closest and oldest friends, Brooke!

Brooke and I have been besties literally our entire lives... our dads work together; so we lived in Austin together, moved to Lake Charles together, and now both go to LSU. I can't imagine my life without Brooke because she has always been a part of it. 

Brooke is kind and passionate and has the biggest heart. She feels things with her whole being and will never hesitate to pray or offer words of encouragement in a less-than situation. God has used her in my life in so many ways, and it will be weird to graduate and be separated indefinitely for the first time in our lives. It is bittersweet, but I have peace in my heart because I know that a friendship that has been built over literally 22 years will not easily crumble. Our friendship is rare and special, but I know that it is weathered and strong. 

Brooke is going to Southeast Asia this summer to serve Jesus and love on the people there! If you would like to support her trip, please let me know! I'm so excited for all that God has planned for this girl.