July 10 on 10 | Camping at Indian Boundary

Hi friends! I wanted to share a little this month in our 10 on 10 about our recent family camping trip to Indian Boundary. First of all, I have no idea how in the world I have never been to this beautiful place before. A sweet friend told me about it a year ago and I tucked it in my memory for the future. Thankfully, we made it happen a few weeks ago on a whim right after campgrounds in Tennessee opened back up. We stayed in the A-loop on the water which I highly recommend because our site was right on the water and our kids basically spent most of the time there running back and forth from the lake to the campsite to warm up by the fire. There’s a little beach area that’s a short hike away but we only went there the last day because the kids wanted to play in the sand. Otherwise we were happy as clams to have our own little private inlet to the lake right by our site. The water was clear and shallow for a long way out making it perfect for littles and bigs.

On our second day there, we drove the Cherohala Skyway to Huckleberry Knob just a few miles past the North Carolina border. The skyway itself is beautiful with scenic pull offs around every bend. We were ooooohing and aaahhhhhing the whole drive. We listened to worship music as we drove through the mountains. It only felt appropriate to worship our Creator as we got to see so much beauty in His creation. The hike to Huckleberry Knob was pretty short, about 2.5 miles roundtrip, and SO beautiful. There were lots of wildflowers in bloom and if you go later in the summer there are tons of wild blueberry plants along the trail. The knob gives you 360 degree mountain views and is a great place for a picnic. We watched a rainstorm in the distance and eventually got caught up in it on the last bit of our hike back to the car. Thankfully everyone thought it was a blast and sweet memories were made. :)

When we got back to our campsite, we went to the camp store and rented a paddle board for the day. We had so much fun exploring the lake, checking out the carp and jumping off the board together. Every evening we topped off the day by walking a bit of the 3 mile trail that goes around the entire lake.

On our way home, we stopped at Tellico Grains Bakery which was DELISH! I had one of the best reuben’s I’ve ever eaten and we also helped the kids polish off their wood fired oven pizzas. Tellico Plains is the cutest little town and we left talking about how much we’d love to rent a cabin on the river some time soon. We will definitely be back to Indian Boundary! My kids all said it was one of their favorite trips we’ve ever taken together!

Be sure to follow around the circle by heading over to Fort McMurray Lifestyle Photographer Melissa Richard is up to this month!

For my photographer friends these were mostly taken on my Rollieflex 2.8e with Portra 160 rated at 320 and pushed a stop as well as Ektar 100 and a couple of Portra 400. The black and white is taken with my Canon 1v with Kodak Tri-x400.

Life at home during Quarantine | Knoxville Family Photographer

It has been a long time since I did a personal blog post and what better time than now. Like many of you, this time has held so many mixed emotions for our family. So much has changed, yet so much has remained the same. We’ve always been homeschooling but we lost the ability to gather with our friends and family, which bring lots of life to us. That has felt sad but we’ve also gained so much more meaningful time together with fewer distractions and less busyness. We’ve enjoyed the sweetness of having my husband Aaron at home with us. Spending time in the mornings with him reading the Bible and discussing the application with him has been really sweet and comforting. Not to mention how I’ve loved to escape to his office when I felt overwhelmed during the day. lol. It’s been nice to have him here. Although it hasn’t exactly been easy, it’s been nice to enjoy a simpler life these past few weeks. I have thought so much about how it’s felt like a nod to my own childhood. I’ve missed photographing clients but I’ve spent a lot of time documenting the life of my own family during this time. As I put this post together, these photographs were precious reminders of the beauty of this time, my life at home with the children, the simplicity of it all and for that I am so so grateful. I hope you enjoy these little reminders as much as I did. Blessings friends.

I’ve been part of a beautiful group of women over the past few years that came together each month to share some of our favorite lifestyle of our families from the month. We haven’t participated for several months but felt the desire to come together again to share during this historical time. Please make your way around the circle by starting with Kalamazoo Michigan Photographer Sara Rypma and make your way around the circle.

Daugherty Family at home | Knoxville Family Photographer

“What is done in love is done well.” -Vincent VanGogh

I got to meet Ali earlier this year at a gathering of local photographers. I sat across from her and listened as she spoke about her family with joyful tears running down her cheeks and how having her son had changed everything for her. So, it was my privilege to photograph her in her home and pull up a chair with a front row seat and spend time time documenting the beauty of this family. What a blessing your family is sweet Ali. <3

July 10 on 10 >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Photographer

Yay! It's time for another 10 on 10! I missed last month so I included a few extra photos this month. Our summer has been busy like everyone's. Swimming and lots of play outside. We've taken a much needed break from homeschool for the past few weeks to recharge our batteries but we're ready to get back at it. Well I am anyway, haha! I hope you guys are having a great summer! Please continue on around the circle and visit my friend Kristi's post. Her use of color and thoughtful composition draw me in every time! Go see for yourself!

Ellie turns 5

Today our biggest girl turned 5. 4 to 5 is such a big change. I feel like at the start of this year, she was just beginning to leave toddlerhood behind and now she's a little girl. Oh my Ellie. She is so very full to the brim with life. She wakes up beaming and shines till bedtime. Her name means shining light and that is truly what she is.

She has always been the one that has challenged me most in parenting and although, I'll be totally honest, at times that has been really hard, the Lord has used her in my life so many times to show me His unending love and grace towards me. 

Last night when I tucked her into bed, I told her about how at that time 5 years ago, I was in labor with her and how relieved I was to finally hold her in my arms and how I cried when I met her because I loved her so very much. How she smiled all the time as a baby and would squeal with joy in her crib when she woke up from naps. She just lit up as I told that little love story to her. We are so very thankful for you Ellie. Our shining light. 

"You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  “As for God, his way is perfect:  The Lord’s word is flawless;  he shields all who take refuge in him." 2 Samuel 22:29-31

November 10 on 10

It's time again for this months 10 on 10 lifestyle blog circle. I am so thankful for this circle of crazy talented women. Every month I am reminded to share some of my favorite image and here lately this has been the only way I've shared personal images on my blog so I'm so grateful to be a part of this circle. Plus these ladies are crazy talented. Follow your way around the circle after viewing my images by starting with my friend Charlotte's gorgeous Autumn post.  

This month was busy for us because of my business ramping up for the fall season but we managed to steal away several times as a family and enjoy each other and friends and family. So thankful for these days with my family. Hope you guys are having a great Autumn and season of Thanksgiving!

Our Gender Reveal!!!

So, I had sun drenched dreams for this gender reveal but alas, it’s gloomy and freezing out today so we opted for a little corner in our bedroom today after nap time to take our photos. And by the way, waking your 2 year old up early from her nap to tell her we are going to eat ice cream in Mommy’s room was LOTS of fun! This morning we got to see our 3rd sweet little baby for the very first time on ultrasound. The third time is no less exciting than the first. It is still amazing to see their sweet, tiny features. Still amazing to watch them moving around for the first time. Still amazing that God chose me to be bear and raise this little life. I cannot wait to hold this little one in my arms.

So, without further ado, here is our gender reveal….

IT’S A BOY!!! We are so excited. Beck was thrilled and Ellie just wanted to know where her little sister would be, haha!

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed are those who trust in Him”  -Psalm 34:8