Remember Christ This Christmas

As Christmas approaches, we get all wrapped up in busy schedules, parties, diet postponements, friends and family, shopping, etc. But, why does the world pause for this holiday? How could a birthday be celebrated throughout the world if it wasn't a significant birth? This was the baby who's birth was anticipated for thousands of years. This baby was brought into the world for the purpose of shedding His blood on the cross to pay for our sins, so that we could spend eternity with God.  Christmas is a celebration of God's fulfilled promise -- the savior of all men who call on Jesus' name. It is a beautiful thing!

I know that for me, I find myself thinking about how I can gain something from the Christmas season (fun, food, friends, etc.). This is wrong. The purpose of Chistmas is to give, not receive. That's what God did when He gave His own Son, who's life was charactarized by giving. Jesus gave up heaven (literally) and being served by angels, and He became the lowest form of man: a servant.

I love this song. It paints such vivid pictures of what Jesus came to earth for.

"Mary Did You Know"[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

So, when you see things like this that make Christmas festive and even more beautiful, remember the reason we are celebrating in the first place. Remember Christ this Christmas, because that is who it's all about!

Merry Christmas y'all!

~Bethany Truth





Friend Frenzy {Free Portriat Give-Away!}

This Christmas season I'm going to be giving away a FREE portrait package to anyone and everyone who introduces at least five friends to Bethany Truth Photography either on Facebook or my blog.* That means at least five of your friends have to either "Like" my Facebook fan page or become a follower of my blog and mention that you sent them, and you will WIN a free portrait session and your full resolution pictures on a disc! Deadline for friends entering the Friend Frenzy is Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2010).

So tell your friends, and receive a Christmas present from me!

*Free portrait sessions will be held in the McKinney/Frisco area.

~Bethany Truth

Get-Away {Great Wolf Lodge}

Merry Chirstmas!!! I hope you are having a fun and memorable Christmas season. I'm so grateful that, even during this busy time of year, you are taking the time to read my blog. It is so encouraging to me to go to the "Stats" section of my blog dashboard and see how many are reading my blog! It keeps me going!

In early November, my dad and those brothers who were old enough to carry a gun went hunting in Fredericksburg, TX. So, us girls (and little boys) tried to think of something fun to do. We thought and thought, but my mom was the one to come up with the idea of going to Great Wolf Lodge. Apparently, a few years ago when we were at the ice exhibit at the Gaylord Texan (which was right across the street), my mom overheard another mom talking about the amazing indoor water park at "the Lodge." So, we decided to go there, but because of our busy schedule, we were only able to stay two days and one night. I thought, "That's almost not worth the trouble." Yeah, . . . haha. We were worn out! Both days the water park was open until 9pm, both nights we left the water park at 6. We were sore and exhausted. It was awesome! The big water slides that were our favorites were about eight stories up. I think I climbed a total of 263 stories in two days! But, it was loads of fun! And, much to our suprise, we came home to a freezer-full of deer. The boys shot eight deer, including a 10-point buck that Kiah shot! We are supposed to go back to the Lodge for a 3-day stay sometime early next year. : D

So, here is a peak into what our short get-away was like. Only once, did I get my camera dangerously close to the water, but it was worth it. :) I'll admit, I was tempted to take my camera with me down on one of the water slides. :-X  I think that I will take a disposable camera with me next time I go to the lodge so that I can do more fun and daring stuff. Enjoy!






I love the architecture of this building. I don't know why. Maybe the colors?




The Howling Tornado!!!




Relaxing in the hot tub.




Cutie








He's drowning Sissy!!!




Have a holly, jolly CHRISTmas!

~Bethany Truth

The Holidays

I hope all of my readers are having a wonderful Christmas season. It was shock for me to hear Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. I don't know why, but it seemed to be too early for it. Maybe it seemed so soon because this was the first year in 13 years for me not to be taking music lessons, and when you take music lessons, you are preparing Christmas music in October. Anyway, I think I'm getting into the Christmas spirit now. :)

Thanksgiving was a relaxing holiday for me and my family. The weekend before Thanksgiving, we were at the Andres' farm having an old fashioned Thanksgiving celebration around the campfire (some of these pics were taken there). We played baseball, took a hay ride around the farm, ate, played some more baseball, sang around the campfire and shared some things we were grateful for, and played some more baseball. It was a fun day.

On Thanksgiving day, we had some family and friends over for a huge feast. And, like always, the feast was reheated and reheated and reheated until it could be reheated no more. But, it was sooo good, even for the fourth and fifth time. :D  My cousin and cousin-in-law taught some of us how to play Hearts that day. It's a new favorite of mine!

On Friday, we went to the nearest forest (the local tree lot) and got the most perfect Douglas Fir Christmas tree I've ever seen. (Keep in mind, I do live in Texas; I haven't seen that many. lol) We stayed up late decorating and listening to Christmas music. And no, I didn't go shopping on Black Friday. I would much rather be sitting by a warm fire, drinking hot chocolate, and decorating the tree rather than fighting crowds and traffic. But, I admire those of you who get out there and are determined to get those bargains.

These are just a few of my 1,000 pictures I've taken over the last couple of weeks. I'm going to post more soon.

I haven't been very consistant lately with posting on my blog, but I'm determined to start posting at least once a week again. :)













Have a blessed CHRISTmas season filled with hugs and hot chocolate!

"Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling; and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever. Amen."

~Bethany Truth

Portraits {Mary-Kathryn}

On Wednesday, I went to a workshop put on by friend and wedding photographer, Jessica Shae (http://www.jessicashaeblog.com/). I love Jessica's work, so when I heard that she was doing a one-day workshop, I told her to sign me up! We had tons of fun!

First, we went to Jessica's house and talked about starting and running a business, Photoshop and Lightroom, etc. Then, we went to Chick-fil-A. : )   After that, we went on a photo shoot, which is what these pictures are from. We were assigned to someone to do a portrait session with. I got Mary-Kathryn! I had never met Mary-Kathryn before the workshop, and I was so excited that I got to do her photos. She is fun and likes bold colors. We both share a love for Kohls!!! She has such a sweet personality, and I look forward to keeping in touch with her!

Jessica also took pictures of each one of us. : D  Next, we went to a library and edited our photos. Then, we watched Jessica do an "engagement" shoot. The couple was already married, but Jessica decided to set it up like an engagement shoot so that we could see how she interacts with a couple that is in love. ; )Then we went to Chipotle, then to a frozen yogurt place.

All that to say, I had a great time and I got some great pictures of Mary-Kathryn. Thanks for being such an awesome model, Mary-Kathryn! And, thank you Jessica for investing in the lives of up-and-coming photographers! And, thanks, fellow students for making it a fun day!!!

~Bethany Truth