chriseldaphotography.com

Henry. Whitney. Fiona | Amarillo Children’s Photographer

chriselda — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:08:29 +0000

as part of a mother’s day surprise, i met with Charlotte and Farrar to photograph their children.

presssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssshous!

Henry and Whitney are siblings. and very much enjoy being openly sweet and loving toward each other :-p

and you all remember fiona…

ack! gimme her!

Charlotte and Farrar – thank you for bring your children to me! they made my day so much brighter and i can’t think of a better way to spend my afternoon!

be infinitely blessed

Walton Family

chriselda — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:13:04 +0000

Lila and her parents met with me a few weeks ago to celebrate Lylah’s ONE YEAR birthday! She is just as adorable as they make ‘em!

Farrah, Ethan and Lylah… thank you for spending your afternoon with me! i can’t remember the last time i laughed so much and so easily! you are all such a sweet family and i feel blessed to have captured this sweet time in your lives!

Brittany | class of 2012

chriselda — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:08:30 +0000

something about brittany made me take a step back and just watch her . she has a very dynamic personality and sense of self. i love these sweet and whimsical photos that highlight her senior year of high school!

brittany – you are just as beautiful on the surface as you are inside. thank you for sharing your afternoon and laughter with me! i know you will far surpass your potential!

be ininitely blessed

Singing forever young!

chriselda — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:00:41 +0000

let’s rejoice in the beautiful game

and together at the end of the day, we all say

when i get older. i will be stronger. they’ll call me “freedom” just like a wavin’ flag

so wave your flag!

this morning… a year from the day we laid my brother to rest…

this morning… Mother’s day

i ran my third half marathon

in honor of the strides my brother took in the 19 yeas of his life. in celebration of the obstacles he overcame. and the great race that he finally completed.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” —– 2 Timothy 4:7

be infinitely blessed

Team Hoyt

chriselda — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:08:05 +0000

yesterday evening, i was able to attend the presentation of Team Hoyt!

this has been one of the most uplifting stories i have ever heard!

Team Hoyt consists of two souls: Dick and Rick Hoyt.

Rick was born to Dick and Judy Hoyt and was diagnosed with a disability that would make it impossible for him to live a “normal” life.

“In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”

what a beautiful story. and what a beautiful father - fulfilling, in the flesh, the promise that our father in heaven gives us – to carry us through. to give us rest.

what a beautiful story.

be infinitely blessed

8×8 May

chriselda — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:08:00 +0000

this day. celebrates one year of your eternal life.

for every tear that has fallen from our eyes. for every second we spend missing you… we also have a million moments of rejoicing that you are in Heaven. that you are no longer in pain. and that you are up there watching over us lovingly. we carry with us your smile. your determination and your unwavering committment to your family. your Lord. and your faith.

thank you. for setting the bar so high for us… that we will spend the rest of our days living our lives accordingly so that we will be able to see you face to face again.

“I close my eyes and i see your face. If home is where my heart is, then i’m out of place. Lord give us strenth to make it through somehow… i’ve never been more homesick than now“

be infinitely blessed

Where the Hurt and the Healer Collide

chriselda — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:08:27 +0000

this week’s posts were written some time in advance and scheduled to post on their own. as i felt that this week would be a particularly hard one as we approached the one year marker of my little brother’s passing. I cannot sit here and honestly tell you that i have been strong. nor that i have been particularly healthy in my grieving. or that my personal struggle didn’t (doesn’t) still paralyze me. but what i can tell you is that there has been a beautiful glory in this whole process. i have learned and re-learned things about myself and my faith that i had abandoned or forgotten.

this week is particularly difficult for us emotionally… but then again… so is everyday. so theses posts aren’t meant to come across as a cry for help or an attention seeker. but rather … an expression of vulnerability that might be able to help someone else.

Bear with me when/if the blog takes a more personal and emotional note. but rest assured that this time is dedicated in reflection, hope and self-strengthening. I know that many of use face battles that are bigger than the ones i’ve experienced. smaller than i have experienced. and … guess what… God is there. in the big things and the small things. he is equally present and wants to know about the small things too.

Our God is so magnificent that he can knows each star in the sky, prayer in our heart, doubt in our mind, tear from our eye and hair on our head.

how amazing is that?!

there has been a song on repeat in my car. home. heart. and mind. it’s a song about healing. and the time where you see your hurt and pain but you still have comfort in the arms and promise of God. It’s a very small spectrum but it’s powerful. it’s where the hurt and the HEARLER collide…by MercyMe

when grace is ushered is in for good. and all our scars are understood. when mercy takes its rightful place. and all these questions fade away. when out of weakness we must BOW, and hear you say, “it’s over now!”

i love my brother today.

be infinitely blessed

The Written Word

chriselda — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:00:19 +0000

the first time my mom took me to the library, i walked in and looked around. then my seven year old body seemed to barely contain itself and refrain from bursting into a million pieces of glittery confetti!

“mom! look at all of these boooooooks! these people must be REALLY smart!”

and thus began my love affair with the written word. as a teen, i read many books ranging from education to poetry to romance. the kind that was probably WAY beyond my comprehension – but i read them anyway. devouring each and every word. i couldn’t read enough. i was made fun of. i was criticized. and then made fun of some more.

my favorite teacher, Ms. Black, was my English teacher and my Creative Writing Teacher. What she did for my imagination, obesession, and love for reading, writing and thinking can never be repaid. Our required reading spanned Shakespeare and other greats.

In college, i read just as much, being an English Major.

when my career in photography began, my reading shifted to marketing books. business books. magazines. and then… just articles. and then i realized… reading facebook stauts updates does NOT qualify as “reading” no matter HOW LENGTHY those things can get!

this saddened me because i had always been such an avid reader and felt like a part of me was going hungry. often saying that “adults should have required reading” … i decidedly carved out time before bed each night to read. for fun. and for no reason at all.

i remember it all. the familiar sound of my fingers touching the pages. the way the binding smells. the way my reading voice gets raspy and sounds like i’m speaking through a curtain. i remember how impatient i am – reading the last few pages of a book after reading the first chapter - so that i know how it ends before i invest. i remember how i write my name on the inside of every book with the date i read it. i remember how each character became my friend. or enemy. the way i clung to the books - curling up with them nightly. or while in a waiting room.

my self-imposed required reading has done so much for me recently. it has resucitated my mental stability and health. clearing out my own implosive thoughts and making way for the lofty, dream, imaginative words and thoughts of others.

I encourage you to make some time to read for pleasure

be well read. and be blessed.

Happy Sink-o

chriselda — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:55:44 +0000

Happy Sink-o de Mayo, everyone!

i apologize if you’re my friend and i sent you a text this morning

thinking i was funny and all….

be safe. and be blessed

Wounded Warrior | Amarillo, TX

chriselda — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:42 +0000

first and foremost… i want to say THANK YOU to the men and women who serve our country. fearlessly. tirelessly. bravely. valiantly.

secondly – let me just say that Amarillo amazes me with their hospitality and ability to come together as a community to encourage and uplift others the way they do. Earlier this week, i joined hundreds of people in our community as they took time out of their work day and lives to welcome the Wounded Warriors arriving at the airport to join President George Bush for the Warrior 100K in Palo Duro Canyon.

i am overwhelmed by those that made signs with their names. provided them with blankets. meals. transportation. and those that came out to show their support and appreciation for these men and women.

I joined my new friends from the Funspired Website and helped them capture the arrivals as well as the hospitality of our community! Funspired is a weekly newsletter that highlights upcoming events in our area- so make sure you subscribe and like their Facebook Page!

i love that the kids showed their patriotism and made posters!

Mayor Paul Harpole welcoming the troops!

of course, we are forever indebted to our military for their efforts and unwavering contribution to our freedom and country! we hope you enjoyed your stay in Amarillo and your bike ride through the Canyon!

to see more photos from the arrivals, please visit the Complete Gallery!

be blessed!!!!!