Glory to God in the highest

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Luke 2:8-14

HO HO HO is out

So times they are a changin! We visited Santa again today at the mall. First of all what ever happened to great Santa visits where they really talk to your child and then maybe get a picture with him. Nowadays it is all about the perfect picture. They hold your child off from sitting in Santa's lap until the people before you finish their purchase, no wonder there is a long line to see Santa. It was our turn and of course it took the lady in front of us with two kids forever to get the kids both looking. It was so annoying with everyone yelling at the kids making funny noises and faces, and this is coming from a children's photographer. I am sure Santa must be driven up the wall by these crazy parents. So while she was selecting her pictures I asked Santa if Kyndal could come over. He said they like to wait so that the kids don't get upset before the picture is taken. I said we are just there for a visit and he said okay. Kyndal sat and he asked her if she wanted a doll, she said she wanted a little red car. She gave him a hug and I asked if he could give us a Ho Ho Ho. He gave us a little one kind of under his breath and said that Ho Ho Ho is out now because it has become an ethnic term. Huh? Okay so I know we were in Antioch, but come-on... HO HO HO IS OUT????

So one more complaint. $12 for a 5x7 with Santa. That is what I charge for a 5x7 and I am a custom photographer that spends anywhere from 1.5 - 2 hours with each child.

Family Tradition

I have been very contemplative this Christmas and Thanksgiving. I have observed many people getting into the Holidays by being "Thankful" for what they have and decorating their houses for Christmas and sending out their fabulous Holiday cards. I have been wondering about those who are not Christians, not Christ Followers, and what the meaning of Christmas is for them. We all know that Christmas is to celebrate the Birth of Christ Jesus, but why has that been forgotten? If you are not a Christ Follower and don't understand what that means, then why are you celebrating Christmas? Trust me, we were one of those people when I grew up. Celebrating Christmas, but I can tell you know we did not really know what it meant then. I think what it boils down to is Family Tradition. We have them too, family traditions. Yes family is to be celebrated and traditions to be carried on generation after generation, but that is not the reason for this Holiday. Please don't forget the meaning of this Holiday.

I would love to hear from everyone what Christmas means to you.

It's a Wonderful Life - Prayer Changes Things

Bret and I went out last Friday and went to the Lamplighter's Theater in Smyrna to see "It's a Wonderful Life". It was a very neat play, it was actually an old Live Radio Show rendition of "It's a Wonderful Life" The actors played radio actors playing the different characters. They made the sound effects themselves, which was pretty neat and funny. We were the live studio audience of the show.

We had a great time, and I will leave you with this:

Prayer Changes Things

Clarence says "Prayers, when they're heartfelt, they're mighty powerful missiles." When you cry out like George Bailey and say "God. God. If you're up there and can hear, I'm at the end of my rope. Show me the way, God." He will. God showed George the value he had given him and what a difference that he had made in the lives of those around him. God longs to show you that you are wonderfully and fearfully made and that you were designed to fill a hole in the lives of those around you like no one else can.

gephyrophobia

Here were are watching Charlie Brown Christmas (well Bret and Kyndal are anyway) and we learned something!! The fear I have of crossing bridges has a name, it is called gephyrophobia.

I googled it and this is what I found, the keyword here is irrational!

"Fear of crossing bridges: An abnormal and persistent fear of crossing bridges. Sufferers of this phobia experience undue anxiety even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their fear may result partly from the fear of enclosure (claustrophobia) or the fear of heights (acrophobia). Phobic drivers may worry about being in an accident in busy traffic or losing control of their vehicles. High bridges over waterways and gorges can be especially intimidating, as can be very long or very narrow bridges.
Fear of crossing bridges is a relatively common phobia although most people with it do not know they have something called "gephyrophobia." However, the derivation of the word "gephyrophobia" is perfectly straightforward (if you know Greek); it is derived from the Greek words "gephyra" (bridge) and "phobos" (fear)."

By the way it is pronounced j -eye- ra -phobia. Thanks Doctor Lucy!

I survived

We went to the Opryland Hotel and the Opry Mills Mall this Saturday after shooting two sessions that day. It is our yearly tradition. We see the lights and then we go to the mall to eat and shop. Seriously, if you brave this during the holiday season they should give you a sticker when you leave that says I survived Opry/Mills. We actually went earlier than usual this year, so I can imagine what it will be like in a week or two. Is the economy really bad?? We couldn't tell on Saturday. Like it happens every year, we got lost in the hotel.... Well we didn't really get lost this time like last year, but we did make a wrong turn once. We were also starving by the time we got to the food court to eat, I mean forget about the 85 minute wait at the Aquarium restaurant. We didn't even really get time to shop, but then again we rarely ever buy anything at OpryMills when we go. I really should plan better next year, bring some snacks, make sure we know where we are going, go earlier in the day. Kyndal did have fun though (check out her blog later for the fun part). I am sure we will be excited to go again next year, it is a holiday tradition after all.

Thanksgiving

I have heard so many people during Thanksgiving giving thanks for so many things... family, friends..... on and on. But I ask this, who are you giving thanks to? You never say thank-you any other time with out it being directed to someone right? I know who I am thanking for my many blessings, do you?

Subscribe

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog to get the blog posts by email. The box is on the right --------------->

New Blog

I needed a new place to post my thoughts and to express another side of myself. Not as Kyndal's mom or Kristin the Photographer, but as Kristin Noel Aune.... a Christian... a wife... a mother... a college graduate... a business woman... a leader... a follower... a McConaha.

What a perfect time of year to start this blog, considering the meaning of my name....

Kristin means "Christ Follower"
Noel simply means "Christmas"

Love to All,
Kristin Noel Aune