My Story/ The Blessing of Education and Community

Every so often, my camera acts as a key.

As the main photographer for my children's school magazine, my camera takes me inside the hallways of their school every few months to capture the many wonderful blessings that the children of Coventry Christian School experience.  It is the best!  I stroll from the preschool hallways, up through the lower and middle school classrooms, and even get to spend time with the high school students.  I witness exceptional teaching, fantastic fun, and beautiful lessons, both in and out of the classrooms.

But above all else, I catch glimpses into my own children's education.

It is one of the greatest joys, and fills me with tremendous pride and overwhelming love.

My children are so blessed to call CCS their school.

It is so much more than a school.  It is truly our community, a place where my children are nurtured, loved, and encouraged to be all God is calling them to be.

I am so grateful for this school.

And for the sneak peek I get each season.

It keeps me smiling!

Jen

My Story/ My Baby's Turning TEN!

"Please let me come with you!!"

After weeks on bed rest, I was desperate to get out, even if just for a ten minute trip to the supermarket to get pancake mix for our romantic Valentine's Day dinner of heart shaped pancakes.

"Sure", said Scott, as I waddled back to our bedroom to throw on the only shoes that still fit my swollen feet.  He was standing at the bedroom doorway chatting with me as I sat down to put on the shoes, when WHOOSH!  Water poured all over our bedroom floor.  We both looked at each other and laughed that panic-stricken laugh that says "Holy Shnikes!  This is happening!"

Long story short, 24 hours of labor later, our baby boy was born and we became Mommy and Daddy.  That was 10 years ago today (and tomorrow, which is his birthday).

This year it seems a little more sentimental to me.

My baby is hitting double digits.  He is starting to look so old to me, tall and thin, with features just like his daddy.  Yet, I can still see my baby in those big beautiful brown eyes, and in that tiny dimple when he smiles at me.  My heart melts every time he smiles at me.

My mother always told me that celebrating my kids' birthdays would always be even better than celebrating my own.  She was right.  I love remembering the moments leading up to their births, and sharing it with them.  Scotty still enjoys hearing the story of his birth.

I pray he always will.

I love you more every single day, Scotty boy.

I couldn't be more proud of you.

Keep smiling, my love,

Mom

Happy Autumn from JLP

I love autumn.

A time for sweaters and scarves.

A time for pumpkin picking and mums.

A time for crackling fires and pumpkin pie.

A time to be thankful for so many blessings.

And of course, a time for family portraits.

From our home to yours.

Happy Autumn.

Jen

Where Have I Been? Colorado Family Photography

Nothing like a good vacation to take your "down to the minute" work routine and throw it wonderfully out of sync!  

As some of you might have noticed, my blog posts have been anything but regular this past month.  Well, that's because the Lebo crew is on vacation!  For the past couple of weeks (and a couple more still) we have been driving cross country, enjoying the sights of our beautiful country!  With stops in Indiana, Missouri, and mostly Colorado, we've been enjoying lots of quality family time, and have been having a blast!

I have been enjoying the task of photographing my true loves this month, shooting for the fun of it, not for the job.

Here are a few snaps of what we've been enjoying:

Of course, there are the spectacular views!

 We've been enjoying lots of smiles and laughs!

Lots of splashing around!

I've been enjoying photographing my favorite faces.

Best of all, we've been enjoying lots of hugs and lots of love.

(oh, and more gorgeous views!)

Now Mom, I know what you're going to say- where am I in all these pictures!?  Sorry!  This is what happens when mom is the only one who knows how to use the camera!

We're having a blast making memories and enjoying each other!

Nowhere else I'd rather be than anywhere with these four!

Keep smiling!

We sure are!

Jen

Loving Hill Life: Reason #47

I shared with you recently about how my family does not live the typical daily home life, but how we belong to a wonderfully chaotic life and community called "the boarding school life".  I also mentioned that in coming blog posts, I would share with you some of the special ways that Hill (and boarding school life in general) makes everyday life that much sweeter.

So this morning I thought I'd share a piece of Hill life that brings me particular joy on a daily basis.

This is our Hill gym.  Nothing too fancy, it's your typical high school gym, complete with a couple of gymnasiums, a swimming pool, squash courts, and a pretty cool field house.  

However, there are a few things that make me LOVE this place!

First of all, it's about 200 yards from my front door to this building.

Second, I have my own key, and so I can come in and work out at 6am when no one else in my house (nor most of the Hill homes) is awake.

And third, when I walk into this sweet room each morning, I'm sometimes the only one there!

Now don't get me wrong.  I do love spending my early morning workouts along side some of the fab few- women (and maybe a couple of men) who are up just as early gettin' it done!  Ladies, you know who you are!

But sometimes, it's just so nice to be alone in here.  To have the whole place to myself.  To sweat alone, and work hard alone, and start the day off with power.

And when I walk out of that room, and head back home (just a 2 minute walk- how sweet!) I walk past these amazing Hill School team photos and am inspired by the young athletes who smile back at me.

And sometimes, I'll even stop and smile at two special faces staring back at me and remember the love story of two teacher/coaches who met, fell in love, and got married right here on campus (a blog post for another day), and I'll go home to the wonderful family those two have made together!

And THAT is just one of the many reasons why I love this place!

Keep smiling!

Jen

School Days Are Here Again

How did this happen?

Where did the summer go? Wasn't it just yesterday that we were celebrating the start of another fantastic summer vacation? Why does it always go so fast?

Somehow, here we are again, the kids a little older, the home a little different (Yay for the new home!), and mom a little weepy.

But instead of feeling sad for another summer's passing, I'll choose rather to remember the wonderful things that made this past season so special!

* A super fun swim season for TWO of our kids!

* Fantastic, lazy days at the YMCA pool!

* Watching Mike conquer his fear of water and become a little fish!

* Moving into a new house... truly our home!

* Two fantastic trips to the beach to see different friends!

* A short but sweet visit to Grandma and Grandpa's in New England.

* A big boy's 3rd birthday!

* Celebrating 10 years of marriage with the greatest guy on earth.

* Photographing an overwhelming number of wonderful families who wanted to help pay tribute to an amazing CCS friend.

* Scotty's first time at sleep away camp!

* Summer Olympics, shared now with our kids who were old enough to love it too!

* Lots of lazy, laughter-filled days with the 4 loves of my life.

I will miss my 4 loves today for sure (they all started school on the same day!), but look forward to an autumn of travel soccer, gymnastics, cross country meets, and gorgeous photo sessions. As long as I've got these faces smiling at me, every season is the best!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Our Special Visit

A few weeks ago, we had a very special visit from a very special someone. Aunt Dani came to see us during her visit from New Zealand! She came with some super fun treats for the kids to open up and enjoy, but the most special treat she brought was not yet ready to play with!

Aunt Dani is pregnant with cousin Lebo #1, and it was so fun for the kids (especially Brady girl) to spend time with Aunt Dani, to feel baby kicking, and to hear all about baby details- what the baby's name could be, whether we think it's a girl or boy (Brady hopes girl, Scotty hopes boy- of course!), and whether baby will have gorgeous red hair like his/her momma! The kids loved relishing in the joy of their new cousin.

But I think I had the most fun because, of course, I had to steal Aunt Dani away and capture a few portraits of her in this special and oh so beautiful season. It was super fun and very special for me to take these photographs, as that is my little niece or nephew growing in there. It was a very special gift for me to take these and I had a wonderful time.

Aunt Dani is now back in New Zealand with Uncle Ned (we miss you guys!), but we are all looking forward to another visit, next time from all three of them! We cannot wait to smother Baby Lebo with hugs, kisses, and lots of love! And you can be sure that when that time comes, I'll have my camera with me!

We love you Baby Lebo and your mommy and daddy too! We can't wait to meet you!

Love,

Aunt Jen

True Beauty

My niece and I have begun the most wonderful tradition. Every time we see each other (which is not nearly as often as I would like since they live in southern Florida and we live up here in PA) we have a special morning out together, just the two of us. We go somewhere new, have a super fun photo session, and then have breakfast together (or lunch if the morning passes us by). It is one of the highlights of our visits to Florida, and I'm not sure what I enjoy more, shooting this beautiful young lady out in the gorgeous Naples environment, or spending time talking and laughing with this amazing person who just yesterday was this little baby girl who called me "J".

Here are a few of my favorites from our most recent morning out last month. But first, a quick snap of who she once was! This was taken about 7 years ago. Too funny!

Thankfully, my photography has improved over the years to do justice to the beauty that she exudes.

This was the last shot we took, as I dropped her off at school for her basketball game. My guess is that this would be her favorite one, as it truly exemplifies the athletic, natural, simple girl that she is. The scripture seems to fit the image, and I hoped it would remind her of the promise of God's presence and power in her life.

Hannah, may you never doubt your beauty. It comes from your eyes, your smile, and your precious heart. You are one of the greatest blessings of my life. You make all those years of hanging out with your dad worth it! Hee hee!

(JK Billy!)

Keep smiling,

Aunt Jen

3 Simple Joys

I am trying to be more aware of the simple joys around me every day, and it might be particularly good for me to do so today, with all this dreary rain! I encourage you to join with me! It would take all of 2 minutes to come up with a list of 3 simple joys in your life. And I'm sure you'd agree, the more time spent on this challenge, the longer the list grows.

Here are my 3 simple joys today:

1. The joy of my children's faces as they start another year of school. It amazes me how Scott and I could create three kids who are so different! So wonderful, each in their own way.

2. The joy of day 1 at the school my children attend, Coventry Christian School, and the feeling it gives me to leave my children in such good hands, surrounded by such wonderful people!

3. The joy of knowing the One who has blessed me with three precious children and one special school- and so much more!

What are your 3 simple joys today? Share them with me. Share them with everyone!

Have a wonderful day!

Jen

Farewell, Sweet Summer Days

I know you are experiencing it too. The school supply list is almost completely checked off, the kids are either already back to school, or headed back in a few days, and the long and lazy days of summer are pretty much behind us. If you're anything like me, you fluctuate moment to moment from feeling excited to be in a routine again to feeling your heart break at the thought of an empty house next week.

This summer was fantastic wasn't it? Did you spend it at the shore or did you head somewhere shady and quiet? Was it filled with summer camps and squeals at the local pool, or with hikes in the mountains and evenings under the stars? Our days were wonderful, filled with so much laughter!

We became fans of a new family sport! (the next Michael Phelps perhaps?)

We delighted in our patriotism!

And we enjoyed savoring our sweet teeth! (some more than others, ahem, Scotty boy)

We were captivated by the beautiful sights! (though we were, of course, too chicken to partake)

We took advantage of a great new hairstyle and a crazy photographer mom! (He's getting too old, don't you think?)

We made some wonderful new friends! (Everyone, meet Kit...

...and Monkey)

We goofed around doing some old tricks! (She's been doing this since she was two)

And wow! We learned some new tricks too! Go, Scotty, go!

We celebrated the birthday of someone very special! (Lord, please help us through the twos!)

But, best of all, we I savored the blessing of my beautiful children and my precious husband- even if he is a Sox fan!

What were the highlights of your summer? I'd love to hear your stories!

Farewell, sweet summer! Welcome, fantastic fall!

Jen