Captured Moments

Our Purpose

2011-02-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I struggle with what exactly my purpose in life is. Is it being a mom? Is it being a wife? Is it being a photographer? None of these sum up my true purpose. I feel that everyone's purpose in life is to bring God glory. That's the very reason we were created. I know that so often my life does the exact opposite when I am being selfish, angry or worldly. I want God to be glorified in my life. I want to have a closer walk with him. So often, in life, we tend to get very discouraged because our live did not turn out like we planned. God's plans are far better than our plans because he can see bigger and farther than we can. I am so glad that he has plans to prosper us and use us for his glory. What can we do to bring God glory in our lives today? We must first start by spending time at his feet and adoring his face. After this, we must spend time in his Word. Then, we must be OBEDIENT to what he tells us. Let's start living out our purpose because there are people all around us that need to see the light of JESUS in us.

Snow Days

2011-01-21T15:06:00.001-08:00

We took a drive and Chloe was amazed by the snow last week! i love this picture of her! It reminds me that we should be childlike and be amazed by the simple things! Thank you, Lord, for giving me my kids to remind me of this!

Fruitful or Busy?

2011-01-18T06:51:00.000-08:00

I love to hear Dr. Charles Stanley preach so my DVR is set to record him. The message he just preached on was very powerful! He asked us were we being fruitful or being busy. Reflecting on this very important question I realize that my answer is not what I would like it to be. I am busy-super busy but I am not being very fruitful. I spend too much time watching TV, on the computer and other unimportant things that are not helping to advance the Kingdom of God! I plan on changing that because I do not want to waste the time that God has blessed me with to do his will. Our Sunday School lesson was about this very same topic so I believe that God is talking to me regarding this. So today instead of doing what AMY wants to do I will seek GOD and ask him what he wants me to do. Not my will, Lord, but yours!

Project 365

2011-01-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

I purchased the Project 365 kit last year! I think it is an absolutely wonderful idea. I love Becky Higgins' approach to scrapbooking. I take a ton of pics and with such a busy life I do not get to scrap as many of them as I would like. This kit allows me to do that. I am so excited about this project. I have started my album and will post pics soon as I work on it throughout this year. If you want to keep a current record of your photos and memories easily, click on the Project 365 button on the side of this blog to learn more. Have a super day snowed in with your loved ones.

The Many Blessings of 2010

2011-01-10T20:58:00.000-08:00

2010 started out for us with a very big surprise. Shortly after the year began we found out that we were going to have another little bundle of joy! We were totally shocked! Chloe was 10 months when we found out! I was overwhelmed with the news of another baby. My biggest fear was that Chloe would feel ignored or unloved. Dean reassured me that Chloe would not let anyone "take her place" as the "baby". Little did I know at the time but that was so true.
We celebrated Chloe's 1st birthday in March. Our family and friends helped us to celebrate this special day. Brandon is a wonderful big brother and was the "clown". He performed a little "magic show" and made animal balloons for the kids. Chloe was so cute when she buried her face in her little cake and did not come up for the longest time. She had her face buried, looking around at everyone while she ate her cake. She was probably just thrilled that she was getting to "feed herself". It was a wonderful day! She is our little princess!

Elias turned 6 in May. It is so hard to believe that my little baby is growing up so fast. He is such a sweet, compassionate little boy. He played basketball, golf and t-ball in 2010. Thus far, golf is the only sport that he likes. He has the sweetest singing voice and loves to dance. He is such a blessing to us!

In July, Jaden turned 10. I can not believe how fast my little girl is growing up- It breaks my heart! She had been asking for a certain doll since the beginning of the year. There are matching outfits for the Dollie & Me doll & little girl. I figured that would be the last baby doll she would want so we got it for her. She was so happy. Of course, Chloe tried to claim her doll.

On October 4th, our family welcomed Colby Daon Woodell into the world. He was 9lb. 12 oz, 21 and a half inches. What a beautiful, sweet blessing this baby has been to us. He is a very happy baby with one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever laid my eyes on. Of course, it has been an adjustment having a 5th child in our family. Dean jokes that we are having trouble adjusting to this 5th child and he can't figure it out.LOL. We have never had two so close in age but with God's help WE CAN DO ALL THINGS!

Our very dear friend, Charlie's mother was called home by the Lord in October. Shirlene Davis was a precious Saint of God! She will be greatly missed. Her Godly wisdom and love for the Lord were so evident in her life. I will miss her so much but I have faith that I will see her again one day! I am so very thanful that God has given her beautiful family A Peace that Surpasses All Understanding.

In December, Brandon turned 18. The whole week was an emotional roller coaster for me. The postpartum hormones had me in a bind. I cried so much that week. It was just so sad to know that my little baby had grown up before I even realized it. The words of that song, "Don't Blink" are so true. We threw him a big birthday bash. His Godmother, Adrienne and Auntie Nicole came in from Virginia to celebrate this special event. Our close family friend, Charlie, also came in from out of town. It was wonderful to have our special friends and family here for this joyous occasion. I made a ridiculously long slideshow for him. I sang "Always be a child" by Ray Boltz to Brandon. After the first line in the song I had to stop I was crying so hard. I was able to pull it together and finish singing halfway through the song. At the end of the slideshow , Brandon came and hugged me and told me he loved me which made all the hard work totally worth it. After the party, we had about 7 of his friends stay over. So thankful that Brandon is a good kid with good friends. I am so thankful God blessed me with this child.

Christmas was so sweet this year. We were surrounded with family and friends. Our children are healthy and happy. My husband loves me even though he is not the very affectionate type. There were many gifts exchanged but the greatest gifts ever were the GRACE & MERCY that Jesus gave us when he died on the cross at Calvary! Thank you Jesus! That is my Journey Back into 2010. I know it's not complete with all the pics. There will be more to come.

Elias reading the Christmas story from his new Bible that Grandma Angie & Papa bought him for Christmas. Brandon, Jaden & Elias took turns reading Luke's account of the birth of Jesus!

I love my Babies so much!

I am so thankful to still have my grandfather, Mr. Herbert Hoover Lloyd, with us! I thank God for his wisdom and his love! What a jewel he is!

Colby's First Christmas! What a precious, sweet little boy he is!

I am blessed beyond measure! This was a wonderful Christmas and being with my husband and kids was the best part because at the end of the day Family is what it is all about! God Bless!

A little bit of Christmas

2011-01-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

I am glad I am not a paid blogger because I would definitely be fired. Life has been crazy and I am promising myself to do better. So I am going to backtrack into 2010 a bit for my own personal self. Here are some of the Christmas photos from 2010.

This is our annual Christmas Woodell Family Portrait.

My five beautiful children that I am so proud to call mine.
I am so glad God chose me to be their MOM!

Families are Forever!!

2010-08-02T14:52:00.001-07:00

We went to the beach recently and I did some pics of the kids because I have always wanted some nice portraits of the kids on the beach. ENJOY!

Senior Pics

2010-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

I have done quite a few Senior Photo Shoots over the last few months! They are fun! I love working with teenagers because they are so full of life!

Long Time, No Post

2010-08-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I probably should not even have a blog because it has been a year since I last posted. Life has been so crazy. We are going to be blessed with another addition to our family. He is due on September 20th. Chloe just turned 1 in March so this was a big surprise for us. We are super excited to meet him! There has been so much change over the last year in our lives. Change can be scary as well as exciting. I know it is all a part of life! I have been struggling with a lot of personal issues the past couple of months- Not sure if it's an identity crisis or what- There's a restlessness deep within me that is crying out for something but not sure what it is!
Maybe it will be revealed to me soon. LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE!

2009-07-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

2009-07-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

life

2009-07-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

My life is so crazy and I do not take near enough time to reflect on the many blessings God has placed before me. Tonight I went to the wedding rehearsal for a dear friend of mine and afterwards we went out to eat and then back to her mom's house for pie and laughs. I had so much fun. Then back home to my family whom I love dearly. I always enjoy having a small break from my kids but miss them like crazy while I am away. I have been so busy doing what's necessary and needful that I have not taken time to smell the roses along the way. I have forgotten to find joy in my life in the midst of the piles of laundry, my crying newborn(who wants mommy and noone else),my 2 middle kids(who fight like cats and dogs most of the time). So I just want praise God right now for entrusting me with such an awesome responsibility. I know my little Chloe will grow up way too fast just as my other children are and I will miss these days and wish I could bring them back. Lord, fill me with JOY!

Almost Time

2009-02-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I just returned from the Dr. I am 35+ weeks pregnant. He said it could be anytime- I am in so much pain- I felt good Sunday and was able to go to church(first time since Christmas)and I was so happy to be there- I have missed church so much- So hopefully soon I will be back to my old self after our new little blessing arrives- Her name will be Chloe Grace- I just had to include GRACE because that is what I live under each day- The GRACE and MERCY of our Precious Savior!
So this weekend I participated in my first Cyber Crop Challenge- There were 15 challenges- I was only able to do 5 but I won for my JESUS LOVES ME layout- I am so excited- I am a member of the yahoo group Faith_Based_Pages which hosted the Crop. I am new to Faithbooking and I love it- I want to leave my children and grandchildren proof of my testimony in words and pictures. If you have not tried Faithbooking yet, just go for it because it is another awesome way to testify of God's love and mercy he gives us so freely. Well, I will close this novel now! God Bless You!

SNOW DAY

2009-01-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

This is awesome- We have actually had snow two years in a row. Too cool-because we hardly ever get snow here. My kids loved it- I did when I was a kid- We got snow where I grew up- lots of it- every winter. So I was not feeling well- but I got dressed to get some pics of them in the snow- I just hate I did not get to play- Maybe next time- Have a blessed day!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas was beyond blessed. I was not feeling well but it was still wonderful. Family is so precious. The older I get the more I realize that important fact. The kids were super excited this Christmas. I made slideshows of past Christmas pictures for all our family members. They loved them. I think that wa a wonderful way to share all the photos I have taken over the years with everyone.

My Family- I am so BLESSED!

2008-11-24T08:56:00.001-08:00

Be Thankful

2008-11-24T04:33:00.000-08:00

Okay I am so new to this- So here goes- As with most people it seems to be a financially trying time. So everytime I sit down to pay bills I get depressed. So last night I opened an e-mail devotional from Charles Stanley and the scripture was to give thanks in all things for this is the will of God concerning you. Then about an hour later I was flipping through the tv and a preacher was on with the very same message so I know that the LORD was trying to get a point across to me. He is so good at correcting us. So I am going to try to keep a thankful attitude no matter what the circumstances because he is still GOD and I am his child. BE THANKFUL IN ALL THINGS!

2008-08-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, one and all! I am Amy Woodell- a wife, mother of 3 and one on the way, Christian, Photographer and Scrapbooker!