This gorgeous springtime weather we’ve been experiencing in Virginia is reminding me that often change is a really good thing…Sometimes I’m resistant to change because I get comfortable in a certain season or doing something a certain way…part of me loves winter and I’m already missing the fact that I can’t wear my favorite scarves anymore without sweating…but the weather for this weekends wedding was positively AMAZING. Until last week I forgot what it was like to do a shoot without having frozen fingers at the end of it. I’m so excited for all of the goodness that will be making it’s way to the blog soon! I still have a few shoots from our time in Georgia to share with you, plus a sweet Norfolk engagement session, and a BEAUTIFUL outdoor wedding from this past weekend. For now, heres a few sneaks!

Speaking of change, yesterday Ryan and I spent the whole day relaxing. After the Connect Retreat we are trying to change a few things in our lives to create more balance. Yesterday, I did ZERO work aside from making sure Dan and Caitlin’s wedding was backed up in three places, and I think I might just be getting the hang of this whole balance thing. We spent the day walking around the outdoor mall, hanging out with friends, and we laid in the hammock in our backyard (margaritas in hand) and listened to a sermon from one of our favorite pastors, Andy Stanley, about having breathing room in your life. I listened closely to his wise words as I breathed in the spring air and looked up at the pretty blue sky: “There’s a difference between standard of living and quality of life. You can raise your standard of living with debt. You raise your quality of life with discipline. Creating breathing room may lower your standard of living but it’s going to improve your quality of life. Your time is your life. As your time goes, so goes your life.”

It takes discipline to relax and slow down, to be happier with less…sometimes less is the secret to more…having less packed into my schedule means more time to spend with my husband + friends and family, more time to devote to each of the couples that I work with, and more time to actually enjoy life. Don’t let too much busyness or too many commitments steal your life! I don’t know about you, but I’ve let it do that before and life is so much better when you leave breathing room. When you’re not racing from one thing to the next because your life is too packed. Of course some seasons of life are naturally going to be busier than others…but rest is crucial to success in life. That space between how much you take on and your limits is where so much life + joy can be found.

Happy Monday! I can’t wait to share more of these gorgeous couples soon!