Todd + Angel — Vilonia Arkansas Wedding Photographer

“If we shed tears, they are not tears of mourning, but of happiness.”  He said as he fought hard to hide the emotion in his strong voice. 

The phrase spoken by Angel’s father resounded in my mind the rest of the afternoon.  I haven’t known this family for years.  And I still don’t know most of their names.  But for one brief moment in time, I felt as if I were one of them.  I felt as if I had known this couple for years.  And I cried.  For less than twelve hours I was privilaged to have the best seat in the house to watch what is quite possibly one of the most emotional wedding ceremonies I have ever seen.  And one of the most beautiful.   

Though the small Mars Hill church was packed to the brink, I’m almost positive there was not a dry eye in the whole building when photos of their lives set to music played on the screen in the front of the room.  I don’t see how one person could say that when only four people sang “Jesus Let Us Come To Know You” they didn’t get a small glimpse of what Heaven’s singing would be like. 

To Todd and Angel, thank you so much for allowing me to share in your special day.  I hope you have a wonderful trip and a wonderful beginning to your new lives together.   Here’s your sneak peek!

Angel’s Bridals—which will be on the bloggity blog soon!

Ten Days and Technical Difficulties

Because of technical difficulties this weekend, I was unable to announce the winner of the awkward family photo contest.  Which I will remedy now.  Congratulations Brenna G!  You have won a 20$ gift certificate to Cassie Jones Photography to be used towards a session or prints! 

And now, continuing on as if nothing ever happened, day four. 

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Re-write your favorite Christmas Carol (just the first verse will do) into something light hearted/humorous.  Email me at cassie@cassiejonesphotography.net for your chance to win day four’s prize!

‘Tis The Season of Awkwardness

Day Three is here!  Congratulations to Machelle VanReenen on winning a free mini session! 

We all have them.  You know, those photos where the timer is set and everyone is watching the flashing as the seconds tick by on the camera.  The dreaded timer pictures.  The ones where everyone is dressed up in scary sweaters from grandmother Olga and no body is actually ready when the camera takes the picture.  Celebrating this meaningful tradition, I’ve decided that day three’s giveaway will be judged on awkwardness.  Send in your awkward christmas or just awkward family photos to cassie@cassiejonesphotography.net !  Good luck!

Day 02. — Ten Days of Giveaways

Congratulations to Kiefer!  You have won a free session for the ugliest sweater! 

Day 02:

Is a writing prompt.  On the Cassie Jones Photography facebook wall will be a status: “You know it’s cold when…” leave a comment below it to finish the sentence.  Example: “You know it’s cold when your mocha turns into a frappe before you can get the window back up.”  You may also leave your comments here, in the comments section of this post.

My favorite witty response wins Day Two’s prize! 

I will stop accepting comments at noon tomorrow and the winner will be announced shortly after. 

Good luck!

You can also find instructions here: www.tendays.cassiejonesphotography.net

Ten Days of Giveaways

So–its my normal morning routine.  I’m driving to work, dancing to Lady Gaga, and the genius hidden deep within me comes out for a single solitary moment.  Ten days until Christmas.  Despite the fact that I have several gifts to get and wrap along with shooting two weddings this weekend, I”m totally pumped about it.  And I wanted to do something.  For you.

And then I remembered that days and giveaways kind of rhyme.  And for a second, I felt like a rapper.  But only for a second.

Ten days of giveaways.  That could be fun, I think to myself.  So, taking inspiration on this Inspiration Wednesday from yesterdays takcy christmas sweater post– the first of the ten giveaways.  Please email me at cassie@cassiejonesphotography.net  your photo of your ugliest Christmas sweater along with your name, phone number, and address (in case you win the prize!)  I will post some on facebook because I will get too excited and think some of them are ugly enough to share.  So, don’t put your face in it if you don’t want your identity seen! 

I will stop taking entries tomorrow at noon, when the 9th day giveaway will be announced.  So I’m giving you a head start today. 

The prize?    What fun would unwrapping a gift be if I told you what it was?

Silly.  It’s Christmas.  Freal. 

But I promise it’s good. 

Tacky Christmas Sweaters

{Please read in the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” for full dramatic effect.}

[Clears throat.]

On the twelfth day of Christmas,  bunco group met and had:

 12 girls a laughing, 11 types of food, lots of cameras flashing, we played dirty santa, ornaments exchanged, lots of ”Bunco!” screaming, purple tiara wearing, AND WORE TACKY SWEATERS, four sets of dice, three card tables, two bunco sisters and one very precious baby Hunter.

Yes.  I am fully aware that I am a nerd.  A bunco nerd. 

“You have to wear this sweater,” Jennifer said to me when she found out she couldn’t go.  “It’s just too ugly not to be there.”  Jennifer had found an ugly sweater from Heath and Hannah to wear to our Christmas bunco, but then found out that her husband’s Christmas party was the same night.  So she gets the good wife award which is shaped like an apron to hang on her kitchen wall.  And the good friend award because she passed on the glory to me of the ugliest Christmas sweater I’ve ever seen.  It urps Christmas. 

Photo: compliments of Hannah Alexander-Carpenter.  Stolen from: Facebook. 

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Because it’s a two-blog-post kind of day.  And because it’s exactly 12 days until Christmas.

Every year on this day, I would rush out of bed (actually on time) and race down the stairs.  Under the tree would be a red bag (which I still have) with the words written in gold glitter glue “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” 

There were twelve things in it.  A tradition my grandparents started when I was too little to really remember and didn’t stop until I was nearly married.  Every day for twelve days I would find in the bag an assortment of  small boxes with a number on each one telling me which day to open it on.  I would shake them, rattle them, try to figure out what was inside, and often times I kinda admit would slit the tape on the box so carefully that it could be replaced and appear as if nothing was ever amiss.  However, Nana always put things in boxes she could find.  So the element of surprise was always there and I eventually gave up with the tape slitting thing.  Given the fact that it was never once successful.

I don’t remember what the gifts were.  Some were ornaments, some where special things that I still have.  But the gifts weren’t that important, in the long run.  The memories were.  And I’ll always hold dear to my heart the special things my grandparents have done for me.  Like letting me skate in the living room.  And stay up way too late.  And eat cookie dough with our fingers.  And laughter.  Lots and lots of laughter.