Photographing December 11

Kissing under the mistletoe...you know there's an app for that. #jmchristmasdays 
Happy Sunday!

Photographing December 10th

*Feel free to play along in our Photographing December Project. We're only a week in! The list is here. Let me know if you do because I want to see your pictures! Email me: juliannamorlet@gmail.com

Christmas shopping online has changed my life. I bought nearly everyone's presents online this year and I feel like a champ. Saved money, saved gas, and I feel like I'm getting a present too when the packages arrive! #winning

Photographing December 9th

Totally illegally taking a pass on today's photo. (Had to happen sometime right?) Should have planned a little more ahead.
We're in Santa Monica right now and there are NO Christmas lights to be found. Absurd? I think so.
However, I have LOVED seeing your light pictures today. So festive!


I'd like to take this time to remind you that you can play on Twitter or Instagram too! Just tag your photos with #jmchristmasday so we can see them. 


Here's the list in case you forgot it. 


Also, if you didn't get to read Bronte's story yesterday (below), please do so today. This precious baby is a miracle. 


-JM

Photographing December 8th

These pictures bring me to tears. 

A couple months ago, our friend Emily went into pre-term labor. Like PRE-pre-term labor. Baby Bronte was born at 29 weeks gestation and her making past a couple days was very slim. For nearly a month, Emily and her husband couldn't even hold their baby girl. She was too small, too exposed, and too fragile. 

Her story went viral on Facebook and the family started a blog to keep everyone updated. There were people praying everywhere for this little girl. In the last month or so, Baby Bronte started showing signs of healing and growth and the doctors said she might be well enough to go home by Christmas! Then Monday, Em posted they were coming home this week!

Because Emily delivered so early, she never had a baby shower. However, living in the community of girlfriends that we do, we all rushed, posted, called, and planned to get the Graebner home ready for them by the time they got home. I cannot tell you how overwhelmed with gratitude I was by the response from so many people! Floods of money, clothes, swings, car seats, diapers, wipies, bottles, everything you can think of for a newborn was provided to this family. 

So that's what I photographed today: Community. These photos represent a community of people who decided to be the Church and welcome home a weary family with celebration and provision. 

Dang it I'm crying again! So amazing. 

So dear Graebners, you are loved. So so very much. 

Love,

Your Church Family. 

***Read Brontee's full story here. 

Photographing December 7th

*Feel free to play along in our Photographing December Project. We're only a week in! The list is here. Let me know if you do because I want to see your pictures! Email me: juliannamorlet@gmail.com

We got so many of these cute little ornaments for wedding presents and at first I thought about given them away to other friends who had gotten married the same year as us. But then, as I was developing pictures, I realized we have so many cute/funny/memorable moments from that first year that I wanted to use all of them! So I did. This is my favorite one. 


Our first Christmas we did bought a live tree. We figured every couple has to experience a live tree at least once. And we were right. Only once. haha. No more live trees for the Mo's. Too much maintenance and mess and it didn't even smell! I swear they spray that scent on the lot...


Happy day 7! Drink some cocoa today, it's chilly. 

Photographing December 6th

*Feel free to play along in our Photographing December Project. The list is here. Let me know if you do because I want to see your pictures! Email me: juliannamorlet@gmail.com

#Starbucks.
This is just my first cup of the day. [I'm not sure why I'm glowing red in this pic...] The "home" cup from my little coffee maker in my bedroom. Yes, I have a coffee maker in my room because it serves as a little mini incentive to get my booty out of bed. 


My second cup was on my way to my Tuesday morning staff meetings; or as I tweeted earlier, the Christian SNL [but barely Christian]. Everyone at staff has Starbucks on Tuesday mornings, minus our worship leader. He drinks Capri Suns. 


I LOVED seeing all your Starbucks pictures today :) Can't wait to see the ones with your baristas! haha. 


Happy Tuesday.

Photographing December 5th

*Feel free to play along in our Photographing December Project. The list is here. Let me know if you do because I want to see your pictures! Email me: juliannamorlet@gmail.com

Pajamas are the most coziest part of Christmas. My Mom gets us new ones every Christmas for the next year. It's kind of a tradition now. We all know we're getting jammies from Mom. One year, she even made all the boys home-made flannel pajama bottoms. Ty still wears them :) If you haven't bought new comfy pajamas in a while, go get some. You won't regret it. 


Also, if you are on twitter or instagram, we're Photographing December over there too. Just search "themorlets" and tag your pics with #jmchristmasdays.  

Photographing December 4th

*Feel free to play along in our Photographing December Project. The list is here. Let me know if you do because I want to see your pictures! Email me: juliannamorlet@gmail.com

Christmas trees are a funny tradition.

We go to home depot, or buy a fake one at WalMart, and put a bunch of glittery items hanging from string. Then we take ribbon, holly, garlands, and velvet bows and sparse them about. All in the name of Christmas.

Don't get me wrong, it's one of my favorite parts about Christmas. But it's definitely silly. 

Who came up with the idea for a pine tree anyways? Why not a Maple tree or a Cyprus? 

Anyways, happy December 4th! Can't wait to see all of your trees! 

Love,

JM

Photographing December 3rd

Scarves. They make me feel comfy and remind me that it really is Winter time. [As much as Winter time can be in Cali.] 


I remember my first year of college, I was attending a school in Grand Rapids, MI and on the first snowfall of the year I ran into the dorm hallway squealing like a little girl! I'd never lived in snow before! I assumed we got a "snow day" and class was cancelled, but when I went back in and my roommate was gathering her books, she smirked at me and said, "Oh sister, you have so much to learn about the midwest." Yup, they go to school, even when it snows. 


That's what scarves remind me of. 

Photographing December 2nd

*Feel free to play along in our Photographing December Project. The list is here. Let me know if you do because I want to see your pictures! Email me: juliannamorlet@gmail.com

The nativity scene in our home is in a snow globe. I love snow globes. In this one, the town of Bethlehem is bustling around the bottom and spins when you wind it up.  I love the contrast between the bustling city and Jesus' family sitting sweetly above, symbolizing how life went on that night and day Jesus was born. Few people had the opportunity of knowing exactly who that crying child in the barn was. 


But those that did, worshipped Him. 
Oh come let us adore Him, oh come let us adore Him...

Photographing December 1st

Setting up Christmas is my favorite. Opening up those plastic bins and seeing all the wonderful treasures from years before. Most of our ornaments and decor is from the dollar store, except for a few choice pieces which have been passed down in our families. But those are for another day .


Are you Photographing December? Here's the list I created for this project. Email me your blog or Instagram link because I want to see! juliannamorlet@gmail.com


Happy December friends! If you're in Cali, don't get blown away...
Love,
JM

Photographing December List

My Photographing December Project starts tomorrow.

^Here's the list if you want to join. Of course, feel free to change up the days, use your own picture ideas, and skip :) This is mine, but you can customize it to your life. Have fun and make sure to email me your blog URL so I can see your pictures too! My email address is juliannamorlet@gmail.com 

Happy Photographing! 

Love,

JM

Photographing December Project

As the new girl to the world of amateur photography I read on multiple sites that the more you play around with pictures and settings and lighting and subjects, the faster you'll get better. Now, let's get this straight, I'm not aiming to be a photographer. Just a girl who wants to take her own blog pictures.


With that,  I am starting this photo project for the month of December. 

I've made a list with a specific shot to take for each day and I'll post it here. Also, I'll post the list on November 30 for any of you who want to join me. All I ask is that you credit your project back here. 


It's gonna be fun! 


Happy Tuesday! Eat some tacos. 


Love,
JM