Dreamer Contact — Liv Photography

I went through a friendship slump this year.
I found myself categorizing relationships in my life into mentee, peer, or mentor and wound up feeling really lonely because 75% of my relational energy was spent with people younger than me & in a different life stage. (Specially: early college years)
This was super unhealthy. It put way too much pressure on myself, especially when I wasn’t formally someone’s “mentor.” So I’ve been working of valuing the friendship of those younger than me and embracing the fun, not the sense of responsibility I feel to big-sister everyone more than 2 years younger than me.😂
BUT ALSO... friends in a similar life stage are gold. These post-college years are wild, full of weddings and grad school and career beginnings and figuring out how to adult. I’ve needed to prioritize people who are in the thick of it with me too.
We all need a balance of people in our lives. If your only friends are people who are in the same life stage as you, you are missing out. But if none of them are, go out of your way to connect with someone people facing similar challenges.
I’m truly thankful both for my younger friends AND the wonderful, wild women who’ve been in my life for 5+ years sharing this adulthood journey with me. The balance is beautiful.
Does anyone else struggle with this weird categorizing too? Do you tend to have friends younger, the same age(generally), or older than you?
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P.S. Shoutout to @karalidberg & our tea date last week. Thanks for moving back to Fargo - best surprise of 2019 so far😍

Last week, he officially became a pastor.💛
When I was in high school, a youth leader told me that he saw me being a pastor’s wife. I audibly laughed and swore that “I’d never do that to my children!”😂🙈
God laughed back.
When I met Caleb, he had a similar heart for ministry, missions, and nonprofits but he didn’t want to be a pastor. And I thought I scored!
God laughed some more.
The truth is - I did score. I got an awesome husband who loves Jesus and people really well. He is a man of integrity. He is a man of friendship with God. He just so happens to also be a pastor.🤷🏽‍♀️
So I’ll take it. In fact, I’ll rejoice in it!
Did this transition trigger major pain from my 10 year stint as a pastor’s kid? Yep! But I’m so thankful the junk is coming out now, not 10 years down the road. Also so thankful for counseling and a safe place to hash out all my emotions + fears.
God has better things in store than I can comprehend. My past experiences don’t dictate my future. We will have a healthy, thriving marriage and family in the midst of church-work life. In fact, I’m believing that we will be better BECAUSE we were true to this calling than we ever could have been running from it.🙌

“I will see heaven reach down to heal the places hell has marked.”
I wrote this in my journal last summer and oh wow, talk about a prophetic declaration.🙌
Honestly, this last year I HAVE seen wild healing in my life. I have had experiences with God that have been life changing.
It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been perfect. The healing journey is a rollercoaster, not a straight path. I’ll be real honest - God even brought a moment of instant healing from panic attacks, but do you know what? I STILL had to walk out the journey of living in peace, not fear. You still have to do the work to renew your mind. You still have to take care of yourself. You still have to learn and grow and change.
Yet that’s where we find heaven - on the ground surrounded by sweat & mud. We find the divine in the mundane, in the daily choices and in learning to be brave.
Friend, if you are in a place where you need some heart healing, please go for it. All in. The end result of the tough inner work is worth it.
It WILL change everything.
It WILL mark generations.
It WILL bring freedom to the world around you.
ARISE AND SHINE.
It’s what you were made to do.

It’s been a tough week+ with family.
I’ll spare the details, but some situations plain suck. I’ve shed tears and been really angry. I’ve felt at a loss for what I can do to “fix things.” (Answer: I cant fix things. It’s not my job. That’s okay.)
I’ve also been trying to focus on what God IS doing in my family rather than be disappointed by the “unanswered” prayers. My counselor told me last week that I’m handling things way better than I used to - which reminds me that there is progress happening inside of me, even when I don’t see it in the situations.
So I’m celebrating the moments & the little victories - sleepover (including our pictured bedtime tea) with my littlest bro, a youth leader connecting with my guarded introverted jr high brother, my sister making a connection to another girl her age with some similar challenges... there’s hope abounding in the darkest days.
But if you wouldn’t mind praying for my fam, that’d be great! And if you’re in Fargo & this hits your heart, my mom could totally use some meals! She’s a single mom with health issues who has special needs kids AND is a special needs teacher during the day! Uff da!🤪 She has a tough time reaching out for help, but I know she’d really appreciate a community coming around her.💛

High: it’s spring & I chopped my hair which makes me feel sassy & spunky at whole new levels. I’m thankful for resurrection & new life, especially after long winters.
Low: Sometimes death is the only way to new life. Death hurts.
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Guys, I’m experiencing tons of hope lately. I also hurt like hell some days. Healing is not a linear journey. But remember that Jesus isn’t freaked out by messy lives. Jesus is a pro as resurrection. It’s kind of his thing. So let’s bring him the pieces that are dead or need to die & let him bring us back to life.
Who’s in need of a bit of resurrection life? I’m right there with you.💛

Two Caleb posts in a row because today is his BIRTHDAY!!!🎉❤️🤗
Caleb, you are like Caleb from the Bible who was wholehearted enough to scout the land, believe God, and go after the crazy. Not because of confidence in himself, but confidence in his God.
You light up rooms with your enthusiasm, love, and giant smile. Even when you are in the background, you can’t escape connection. You form deep bonds almost instantly with people, every person you meet has a piece of your heart. You don’t just charm people, you care about them.
You are a man after God’s own heart. You pursue the Presence and cultivate it not only in your job & community, but in our home. I love watching you nerd out over who God is - you are endlessly in wonder.
These reasons and so many more leave me humbled and in awe that I get to be your wife. May you feel the delight of the Father today... and the delight of ME!😉 I LOVE YOU!

Fargo, ND based wedding and senior photographer. Roaming the world and telling the stories of your adventures.

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