A Chico State Weddding: Greg and Hillary

Greg and HillaryJune 14th, 2014 Bidwell Presbyterian, Chico State BMU "You are, and always have been, my dream..." -Nicolas Sparks Meeting Greg and Hillary and getting to be a part of their wedding day, has been such a privilege for us. These two love well; not only one another, but the people around them. They have waited years for each other.  We know that these two are going to set the world on fire through their kindness, joy and influence.

And the reception was a beautiful celebration of their love with lots of family and friends...

our path

The longer I live, the more I learn this:

Our life isn't about finding the straightest path with the least resistance. Our life is about experiencing and knowing a faithful God.

This past year, Kenny and I have walked through some confusing and challenging times. During these times, I had to believe, that God redeems. He redeems our hearts and our dreams and sometimes, He redeems our circumstances.

That's what happened to us.

We are really excited to share that we will be moving to Portland, Oregon. In God's amazing plan, Kenny has been given the opportunity to join the staff at A Jesus Church. He will be working alongside some incredible people and doing what he loves. We are humbled and honored and so thankful.  God has been working behind the scenes for many years to prepare us for this move. He is faithful.

As for photography, I will finish up my weddings here in California and travel for a few of the remaining. I will continue to book a limited amount of weddings along the west coast for the coming years. I still love photography. I also love ministry. And I love my family deeply. This is where I will focus most of my time.

With all my heart, I believe nothing was wasted in this past season of our lives. God is so much bigger than our plans and our dreams and our happiness. He is always plotting for our joy. Deep, true joy that is only found in Him.

Please stay in touch. There are many adventures to come! Much Love friends, K and K and p : )

Chico Engagement Session: Taylor and Rachel

Taylor and RachelMay 2014 Chico Engagement Session "You are my greatest adventure..." -Anonymous Taylor and Rachel are genuine, kind and creative people. We have been absolutely blessed to know them and cannot wait for their summer wedding.

Nine years

Thank you Kenny for letting me stand beside you for the last nine years as your wife.Thank you for letting me stand next to you for the last thirteen years as your friend. Thank you for letting me stand with you, this past year, as a parent to sweet Parker.

Our story has been full of adventure, heartache, joy, and laughter. Through it all, you have shown me Great love.

Thank you so much for creating a crazy, beautiful, redemptive life with me.  Happy Anniversary Stone. You are my hero.

Style Me Prettty Feature and Chardonnay Wedding: Taylor and Kayla

Taylor and KaylaJuly 2013 Chardonnay Golf and Country Club, Napa, California "I have found the one whom my soul loves." -Song of Solomon Taylor and Kayla are the kind of people you wish you knew all your life. They love people well, are deeply generous and and together, they are making a difference in this world. We are so honored to know them and to have been a part of this beautiful wedding day. Also, thank you to Style Me Pretty for featuring this wedding today.

This family is seriously amazing. They just love each other so well.

Like always, Chardonnay was just a stunning backdrop for photos.

The details for their tent reception were stunning

And the party, was just the best. And many thanks to Style Me Pretty for featuring this beautiful wedding today

Chico Senior Session: Krissi

KrissiClass of 2014 Chico, California "She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails." -Elizabeth Edwards Krissi is courageous, beautiful and resilient. She has battled fiercely this year and through it all, God is weaving a beautiful story of redemption. I am very honored to know Krissi.

Sweet Napa Engagement: Jason and Jenn

Jason and JennMay 2014 Napa, California "Till I loved, I never lived enough..." -Emily Dickenson This month, we will photograph Jason and Jenn's wedding. They have waited patiently for each other for so long and we could not be more honored to witness their love. Jason and Jenn, you are amazing people and we love your joy!

A Skylake Garden Wedding: Miles and Kristen

Miles and KristenSeptember 2013 Skylake Gardens "Love is like the wind, you can’t see it, but you can feel it." -Nicholas Sparks So thankful for Miles and Kristen. They are fiercely loyal people who love deeply. It was such an honor to be a part of their beautiful and meaningful day.

And many thanks to Style Me Pretty for featuring their beautiful wedding today.

Happy Birthday Parker

One year ago today, I met you.

I actually first saw you through the windows of the nursery. Your birth-dad invited me in and let me hold you: A moment I will never forget. You had the sweetest face. And I think you even gave me a half smile. I helped the nurses bathe you for the first time. You hardly cried and stole my heart.

I sat in the nursery everyday and held you when I could. While I didn't know if you would be our child, I knew I loved you. I knew you were one special little boy. And I knew that if God gave me the chance to be your Mom, it would be a dream come true.

Three days later, I walked into the nursery one last time. Kenny and I held hands and we nearly ran to your cradle. We picked you up and held on tight. And then we cried. For you. For us. For your birthparents. They had asked us to adopt you.

Parker, adoption is the hardest decision anyone can ever make. It is full of great sacrifice and the deepest love. We hope you always know that. Your birthparents are heroes.

For the very first time, that evening, we got to call you family, you were our son. And that was the best moment of our lives. We never dreamed God would write a story this amazing and let us be a part of it. You are such a gift.

I am so grateful for the chance to be your Mom.

Happy, Happy Birthday sweet boy! I know you are only one, but your life has already touched a lot of people. There are great things ahead and I can't wait to see them unfold for you.

We love you Parker William. We love you so much. Happy 1st Birthday!!

When God says no to a dream, or two, or three....

I am a dreamer. Truly.I feel like that's just the way God has wired me. I am a visionary. I see life as one big opportunity to do things: To do great things.

And this season, for some reason, I feel like every time God gives me a new dream, it just doesn't work or He closes the door. It's confusing and at times, really painful. Yet as I'm in this place of processing disappointments, I am learning to find purpose in the broken dreams.

Broken dreams build our patience. They test our resilience. They keep us humble. Broken dreams have the ability to change us. They can crush us. They can motivate us. Or they can re-align our hearts over and over again with the will of God. Broken dreams deepen our faith. And eventually, they lead us to God's best.

In the process, our hearts are changed and awakened to what is most important in life. God redeems broken dreams.

I know in my soul, that someday soon, God will bring a dream to fruition in our lives and it will be beautiful. It will make sense of all the broken dreams. And it will be evidence that God is always, always working behind the scenes, in a hundred different ways, for His glory and our good.

I pray you keep dreaming. Don't lose heart. God is faithful. Kimberly

Chico Engagement Session: Greg and Hillary

Greg and HillaryMarch 2014 Chico, CA "It was a million, tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together..." -Sleepless in Seattle Greg and Hillary are beautiful people. Their love and joy is contagious. We are so grateful to get the chance to know them and cannot wait for their June wedding.

A San Francisco Engagement: Matt and Angela

Matt and AngelaMarch 2014 Jewish Contemporary Museum and Yerba Buena Gardens "When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled, because you knew..." -William Shakespeare We feel incredibly blessed to work with Matt and Angela. They are sweet, kind and trustworthy people; the kind of people that you hope to have as friends. We just appreciate them so much.

The Mess

The common thread of my life this past year has been risk. And if I'm being honest, sometimes that seems a little too messy; too uncertain. I'd rather have a predictable, easy life.But  lately I've been realizing that this messy life actually sets the stage for something beautiful:

The mess reveals my humanity: That I'll never be perfect. That despite my efforts to be a great Mom, I will fail Parker often. That even though Kenny and I have a pretty sweet relationship, there will always be tension. We are broken people. And genuine relationships will always be hard work. The mess makes me see that I am not in control. Life won't be pain free. Life will always change. Risk is inevitable, whether we want to accept that or not. Mostly, the mess creates in me an ache for Hope.

You see, all of the sudden we crave purpose outside of perfecting our little lives. We decide that there has to be more. In the middle of this imperfect world, I have found a perfect, unchanging God who redeems all of my mess and gives me purpose and hope. Great hope.

praying for you friends, Kimberly

This photo was taken by our sweet friend, Bethany. It was a season in our life where Kenny and I first starting sensing that God was asking us to dream a little bigger, and since that time, life has always been a little crazier and a lot more meaningful. 

An Old Sugar Mill Wedding: Sean and nicole

Sean and NicoleJanuary 24th, 2014 “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ― Dr. Seuss First of all, you should know that Nicole has watched our little Parker for the last nine months. She has played with him and loved him every time we were at a wedding. We love Nicole and we don't really know what we will do without her. And then, there's Sean and Nicole. Together, they make others feel totally loved and totally free to be themselves. Their wedding day was a testament to the kind of people they are. Amazing. Beautiful.  And so fun.

A california winter wedding: Matt and Katie

Matt and KatieJanuary 4, 2014 Chico, California "There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice." -F Scott Fitzgerald Thank you Matt and Katie for letting us into your beautiful story. We can't help but see that you are strong, talented people, who are going to do great things in this world.

the vision behind our work

"We do not merely want to see beauty, we want to become part of it…"-CS Lewis

Stories from the past year

I shouldn't expect that life will always make sense. God calls us to walk roads of joy and pain; He gives us the good and the hard. And all of these things work together to change us, and in the process, give us a life with great purpose and meaning. As we look back on 2013, it was a life changing, full year:

*Adopting Parker has been the most amazing thing that has happened to Kenny and I. My dreams of what our adoption story would be, don't even compare to what God unfolded in front of our eyes. We are deeply grateful. And we would do it again, in a heartbeat.

*Losing my Grandpa and Janee, within a couple months of one another, has totally impacted my life.  All of the sudden you realize just how short life is and there is no time to waste. Both of their stories have changed eternity and I am so grateful for the chance to know them.

*At the end of each year, I am so amazed that God would let me make a living doing what I love and meeting the best of people along the way. We photographed nineteen weddings in six months. It was such a gift.

*So many of our clients not only invested in our work, they invested in our story. You wouldn't believe the people who came to meet Parker after we adopted him. Our clients showered us with gifts and love. Thank you friends. Your generosity inspires us.

*Walking through a very confusing and hurtful season at the church, which ended in another great loss for our family, has been very hard. It's changed us, taught us so much.

*I still can't believe that my sister doesn't live in Chico anymore. I hated seeing them leave. Makes you realize that life changes quickly and the time we have with people is what matters most. So grateful for the best sister a girl could ask for.

*And because of all that happened, we have been given more time together, as a family of three. Working with Kenny, Parker alongside us, is a huge blessing. I love it.

A lot has changed this year. A lot has changed me. More than ever, I am ready for a new year; and hopeful for new seasons and stories.

Thank you for being a part of our crazy, crazy life this past year. much love friends, K and K and P

Thank you friends

We are overwhelmed with gratitude as we look back on 2013. We worked with amazing, generous people who have unforgettable stories.All we can say is thank you: Thank you for hiring us. Thank you for letting us capture some of the sweetest moments of your life. Thank you for your kindness and support. Thank you for being genuine. Thank you for laughing at our jokes and listening to our stories. Thank you for telling us your stories.

It has been life changing year and we walked the path with the best of clients. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Jens and Megan Private Estate Reception

Brett and Devon Lord Hill Farms

Brian and Antonia Family Estate

Jonathan and Gisel Grass Valley

Tyler and Charlotte White Ranch

Sam and Sara Patrick Ranch

Levi and Tanna Honker Bay

Luke and Megan Los Altos History Museum

Ryan and Kathryn White Ranch

Austin and Emily Long Creek Winery

Taylor and Kayla Chardonnay Golf Club

Kyle and Denny Shaffer Ranch

Jason and Ali Madison Bear Garden

Spencer and Shirley Long Meadow Ranch, Grgich Hills Estate

Miles and Kristen Skylake Gardens

Ryan and Sheri Canyon Oaks Country Club

Kevin and Katy The White House

Keaton and Ashton Gale Vineyards

Cody and Katie Shaffer Ranch

Too powerful not to share

After showing up in my news feed for a few days, I finally took the time to watch this video. And now, I have to share it.

Abigail was a photographer; a beautiful person with a beautiful legacy. Her words are incredibly powerful: They are full of life and joy, in the midst of pain and sadness.

May you be inspired and moved by her words. Her joy and peace are deeply grounded in her soul. And God is using this girl, far beyond her brief life here.

Today, I am so humbled by this.

7.5 months

We are seven and a half months into our life as a family of three.And not a day goes by, that I don't feel reassured, with all my heart, that adoption was the perfect thing for us.

Adoption ushered us into parenthood, with the most beautiful gift of Parker. Adoption extended our family, with Parker's birthparents and their families as well. It's quite amazing. Adoption took our breath away. Looking Parker's birthparents in the eyes, as they entrusted us with their son, is the most humbling, bittersweet, miraculous, and breathtaking thing that has ever happened to us. Adoption is a beautiful exchange of trust. Adoption is exciting. Adoption is complicated. Adoption is life giving. Adoption has stirred my heart; to dream about what God will do with our future. Because whether we admit it or not, adoption is needed.

In our country alone, there are more than 400,000 children in foster care. Over 100,00 children are waiting to be adopted today; waiting to be loved for the rest of their life.

At the end of the day, adoption is a gift to us, more than anyone else. It has given us perspective, brought us to our knees, and impacted our understanding of love. Adoption has changed our lives forever.