New Blog Site!!!

Thanks for stopping by the Anderson Way of Life! We have moved our blog over to a different site and would love for you to come visit!!! Check us out at:

www.theandersonwayoflife.com

The Art of Justice

This fall, I had the opportunity to donate some pieces of artwork to the Stanislaus Family Justice Center as a part of a benefit program called "The Art of Justice". The idea was to choose a piece of artwork created by the children who come to the Justice Center and participate in art programs as a means for identifying and working through experiences of injustice. 

As I walked around the room viewing the artwork that had been done by these incredible children, my eye kept catching on a piece done by a 15 year old girl. The exercise is called "Putting Yourself Back Together" and takes children through the practice of identifying the different emotions that they have inside and writing them into different puzzle pieces that are placed inside the outline of a person. 

After having done the exercise, her comment was "I have a lot of angry feelings". 

It is ridiculous how much injustice is in this world and how much happens right around us without us even really taking the time to notice.

I have a lot of angry feelings too.

But my angry feelings aren't because of injustice that has been shown to me. It is because of the injustice that has been shown to others.
And I can't help but feel like I haven't done enough to change that.

I can't imagine how hard it must be to identify all of the emotions and feeling that this girl must have, let alone see her own hurt and brokenness that is a result of someone else's actions. She is so brave. So strong. And she doesn't even know it. 

I hate injustice.
I'm so glad that Jesus does too.

Big Day for the Photographer of the Family!

So...I'm totally going to piggyback on my post from my Jessa Anderson Photography blog...but I'm putting this everywhere because that is just how stinking excited I am.

And because I can. :)

Yes. It is true! I am officially official!

Or at least that is what it feels like. I am so pleased to say that after hours of going through photos and researching "techy" words on google, I OFFICIALLY launched the Jessa Anderson Photography Website today!

So for all of you out there who have been anxious for this day...TADA!!! Consider today a victory and go check it out!

My Life As A Time Lapse

As a kid, I remember watching special videos that my dad made. As a photographer for FOX, this was not a rare occasion. However, this specific video I recall vividly in my mind...and I'm not sure why.

In 1995 St. Louis constructed the Trans World Dome (now known as the Edward Jones Dome) in order to bring the NFL back to the area. I remember my dad spending tons and tons of hours piecing together a time-lapse video of its construction. He was so proud of the result after hours, days, weeks, and months of work. 

I remember watching the video and being proud too.  

I also remember being amazed at seeing something that was built over a long period of time come together in a span of 5 minutes. 

Doesn't it sometimes feel like life is that same way? You work so hard for these huge events in life and then all of a sudden they are over and it feels like you were just living life as a part of a time lapse. 

The last 4 weeks of our lives have felt that. I mean like high speed, crazy outcome, non-stop time lapse. 

Here is a little review. In the last 4 weeks, we have:

• Hosted 1 Student Ministries Fundraiser
• Hosted and ran 2 Adoption Fundraisers
• Completed our Homestudy for Adoption
• Housesat for one of our High School Students
• Had an out of town visitor for a few days
• Successfully put together and completed our High School Mission Trip
• Lead Worship for Sunday Church
• Preached a Sermon
• And a partridge in a pear tree?

I think back and wonder how on earth we fit all of this into our lives (on top of the regular work schedule, photo shoots, bible studies, seminary). When I look back at it, it is just a glimpse of the reality of the time spent to build, construct, and execute the actual events. 

It all happened so fast. 

Now that I have some time to step back and slow down, I look back at the completed month and see the incredible results of all of this madness! 

To list a few...

• Relationships built cross-generationally within our church through raising money for CHIC
• 2 months of prayers and encouragement to get us to the point of completing the first step of our adoption
• $1,700 raised from our Mini Session Photography Fundraiser
• Renewal and Refreshment in old friendships
• Building and deepening in new friendships 
• Seeing the fruits of letting go and trusting God
• Changed lives through service
• Stronger relationships within our student body
• Stirred passion in our hearts for Inner City Missions
• Finding purpose in using our gifts to glorify God 

You can't always see things clearly when you are in the thick of it. Sometimes it takes watching it all pieced together at completion to realize that the whole process...long, daunting, and challenging as it may be...has created something beautiful. Beautiful and lasting.

In the Words of DC Talk

Time is ticking' away...tick tick ticking' away.

You have approximately 19 hours to still sign up for a photo session!

Tick tick tick tick tick.....

Mini Session, Mini Preview

We did our Mini Session Photography Fundraiser this past Saturday and WHOA!!! It was INCREDIBLE!!! We had such a blast creating unique and fun backdrops, capturing some amazing photos, laughing, and getting to know some really incredible families!

Sadly, we had to cancel the afternoon because the weather just got a little too severe...
40 mph winds and horizontal rain don't make for the best photography? Weird.

We did, however, have a great morning and got some fantastic shots before the monsoon rolled in so I thought we would give you all a quick preview! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day!

The best part about all of this is that we get to do it again this weekend!! AH! So, if you didn't get a chance to sign up but want to...let me know! 

Thanks to everyone who did come out this past Saturday and braved the crazy weather with us! We had so much fun and feel so blessed by each of you!  

Location Location Location

I was just informed that this is the first rule of business.

Or as I like to say "Biz-nas." Uh.

Location. Location. Location.

We have our location for our Mini Session Fundraiser and HOLY MOLY...it's going to be legit!! So, if you haven't signed up for a photo session...

GET ON IT!

And if you already have signed up then you have probably been waiting very patiently to know where we will be making all of this magic happen.

Well here is a little preview...

The family that owns the Tulip Farm on the corner of Claribel and Oakdale are letting us use their 90 year old barn (including a tractor and their farm) to snap some incredible pictures of children and families for our fundraiser! 

This means the possibilities are endless! With the backgrounds we are making and the natural backgrounds that just happen to already be there...

This is basically going to be the best photo op experience next to an African Safari or an afternoon with Bieber. 

And better yet (than Bieber? I know!) there is still time to sign up! So call me or email me if you haven't already! 

We can't wait till Saturday!

Gearing Up

Oh my. What is the date? With the mixture of church fundraisers, photo sessions, mission trip planning, housesitting, and finishing up all of our last steps for our home study....

I have completely neglected this little blog. Poor guy.

But now that I have a some-what rainy day and nothing to do (for approximately 12 hours), I can confidently say that I am back!

And we are TOTALLY gearing up...for A LOT!
We have exactly 6 days until our last home study meeting and exactly 7 days until our Mini Session Fundraiser! Oh geez.

Last night, a few incredible ladies came over to help put together some of the backgrounds that we are making for the Mini Sessions. We got one background completed and parts of another...but mostly, we spent time laughing, talking life around a great spread of food, and enjoying each other's creativity and wisdom. It was soul filling at its finest!

And although I didn't get any pictures of the hotties working...I captured a few of what we did and a couple shots of my models showing off how awesome the background looks when you snap a photo!

Thanks ladies for your help!! I'm so excited for next weekend!

Fundraiser Announcement!

I am so excited to announce our first Mini Session Fundraiser! This is seriously something that I have been looking forward to doing for so long!

As many of you know, we are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. It is a long, exciting, and crazy process but we can't wait to see how our family will be changed and formed through it!

In order for us to be able to adopt, we need help in a lot of ways...one of them being financially. So, we have put our brains together and taken advice from some great fiends and come up with fun and creative ways to fundraise!

And so, without further delay...I would like to introduce our very first...

CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINI SESSIONS!!!

This is how it works...
We have set aside one day, Saturday, March 31st, to set up a studio of amazing backgrounds for great chances to capture beautiful moments of your children and your family all together! The cost is $100 (at total steal if you ask me!) for a 20 minute session with one of two photographers. You will receive a High Resolution Disc of 25-35 of the best pictures of your child or family!

So how can you be a part of it?!
It is so easy!

1. Email me at jessa.n.anderson@gmail.com to sign up for a time slot any time between 9am-4pm on Saturday, March 31st!

2. If you are not in the area or don't have children but would like to purchase a session for someone...that is totally possible! Just let me know who and we can make it happen!

3. We will email you with the specifics about the location and time slot!

These Mini Session are not only a great way to capture wonderful and fun pictures of your children or family, but a beautiful cause in supporting adoption and care for orphans!

So don't delay! And thank you in advance for your support!

The Heyse Girls and Company!

Over the break, we had the awesome chance to sneak out of the house while we were in St. Louis to do a mini photo shoot of the Heyse Girls, their husbands, and the man, the myth, and the legend - Taft! We came up with the idea as a gift to my parents for Christmas...MAJOR SUCCESS!!

The 7 of us ended up at the park where Erik and I had our wedding reception and snapped a few great shots of each couple and Tmaster-flex! (It helps when you have two photographers in the family!) I would have to say...the most amazing part was that it only took us about 15 minutes to pick out the pictures we wanted to put in the frame! If you know any of the Heyse girls...you know that this is basically a miracle!

My parents loved the gift, even shed a few tears, and we have some great captured moments to look back on from Christmas 2011! I seriously feel like I am blessed with the best family in the world!

28

Wow. 28. Really?

Although the years have passed quickly...I know that, Lord willing, I have so many more to look forward to.

In reflection of these past years, I honestly have to say that I feel so blessed. I have the most incredible husband in the world, the most encouraging and loyal friends, and family that supports and loves me through everything. I don't think there is anything that I could or would change.

So, if you are reading this and you are a part of my life...thank you. Thank you for all you have done to shape me, build me, encourage me, challenge me, and guide me into the person that I am today!

On that note..here is how I spent my 28th birthday! Enjoying my most favorite things in the world...my husband, my sweet pup, my camera, and the Lord's incredible creation!

I'm so grateful for a husband who understands just what I need on my birthday!

AND....We are off!!!

So...I finally got around to making a blog just for the pictures that I have been taking so that I don't have to keep posting them on here!

If you are interested, check it out!

jessaandersonphotography.blogspot.com

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive, encouraging, and allowed me to follow you around with my camera!

Family Cheer!

Just wanted to share a few pictures of my most recent family photo shoots! They were each so beautiful and filled with so much love and joy. Those are the greatest things to capture on a camera!

Thanks to the Lee and McKenzie families for letting me take you into orchards and abandoned railways and walk through parks filled with who knows what walking around in the leaves! I'm so thankful for both families and the blessing they are to so many!

The Lee Family

The McKenzie Family

Take A Photo.

3 Girls and A Camera

I had the awesome privilege of adventuring with three incredible ladies this Saturday to capture some snapshots of friendship at its finest!

Ellie, Shannon, and Meghan were not only great models for my photo practice...but truly brought so much joy to my heart as I caught precious moments and exchanges between these three best friends! It was beautiful to see laughter, joy, and love between these girls!

Thank you to you, ladies, for letting me in on a moment in your world as we tromped through forests and orchards!

"My friends remind me, by their very steadfastness, that truth, goodness, and beauty exist in the world, and that no matter what, there are and always will be, people loving people through thick and thin."