Animal Christmas Photos 2013

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with my own animals, so it's only natural that I seek out friendships with other like minded people. This year I was able to do Christmas pictures for two of my friends (well, friends/sister ;)). We set out to make chumps of our pets, and I think we succeeded :)!

I've toyed with the idea of offering pet sessions at Christmas time, and I wish I would have thought about it more this year! Although, I guess between launching a new business and taking a theology class this fall...I've been a little busy! I had a great idea just now though. Christmas Pet mini sessions, where all proceeds go to a rescue organization or local shelter. WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS SOONER?!? Now I have to wait a whole year. ORRRR, I could do it for Valentine's Day?! I don't know. I come up with these ideas and then I have no idea if people would actually book. But if the fee was donation only, maybe? Thanks for being my business partner internet world, help me!

Anyways, let me give you what you really came here for: Adorable and Awkward Animal Christmas Photos.

First up, Maxwell Hall!

Then we have the lovely Sophie Girl:

Hitting the Egg Nog a little hard this year...

Can you believe somebody would just drop her off on the side of the road?!

Lastly, from the Hall clan, is Gus. I'm not shy in calling out my favorites. Gus is my favorite!

Quite the jokester

Yet also a serious business man.

Next up we have Kristi, Milo and Usta!

Milo is basically a living prop that will endure anything.

I just....don't know.

Had to sneak a few people pictures in there because I love these shots of Kristi!

And finally, just a few of my own kitty, Rigs. He was sleeping and I just picked him up and laid him under the tree. He wasn't pleased, but he endured. I love his hateful little face.

- Bethany

A Bucket List

My mind can be really active at times. I think of things and then quickly forget them. Earlier this week I decided to start a Word document cataloging my bucket list. Maybe I will update this post, or maybe every once in a while I will write a new post about my updated list! Here's hoping I can start marking some of these off :)

My Bucket List:

Own a horse, why

See Orca Whales in the wild, why

Live in another country, why

Work at a prison, why

Go on a hot air balloon ride in upstate New York, why

Yep, that's all I've got right now! And to explain the root of some of these I am including links! And because every post is better with a picture...

I would love to hear some of your bucket list items!

- Bethany

Photo Friday

My friend Sarah runs a super cute blog and asked me to be a part of her Photo Friday Blog Linkup she's cohosting! So, here's a post full of pictures :) Something I'm sure you wouldn't expect from me ;) haha.

A few weeks ago I got a bunch of prints made to put in photo albums and once I received them, I was embarrassed by the amount of pictures of Riggins I had and not ONE of my other pets. I have two cats and one dog but you wouldn't know it by my pictures! So this week I made myself take more pictures of the other two :) Walter White is the white cat...obviously. Mosely is our coonhound mix and Riggins is the black and white cat (my clear favorite).

- Bethany

Serving Life | Documentary

I just watched this documentary and cannot recommend it enough. In the past I have not been a huge documentary fan, but I'm realizing half of that was just because I didn't want the responsibility of the knowledge. It's hard to have awareness, it creates responsibility and change in your actions. Which aren't fun things most of the time for me!

Serving Life is on Netflix right now, it's 1hr and 25 minutes long but flies by. It's filmed in a Louisiana maximum security prison at Angola, where the average sentence is more than 90 years. With such long sentences, most of these guys will die in prison. Serving Life documents a hospice program where the inmates care for their dying fellow inmates. It proves to serve as a personal rehabilitation for these prisoners and is heartwarming to see the growth and change that people, even murderers and rapists, are capable of. I have always been anti death penalty, and this only further confirms my stance. People CAN change. Leave the justice and wrath to God. He is a just and righteous God, justice is not ours to take. We are to give grace, provide support and kindness for everyone. 

I've always felt this weird compassion for inmates, I know not all of them want to change, but many of them do. They just need the opportunities to use their humanity. I feel empowered to find a way to do my part with this community, after a quick google search I came upon Prison Fellowship. It seems like a good place to start! I will update as I come across anymore resources. 

I would love to know if there is anyone else out there that feels a similar way? And if you have any tips on how I can get involved? Feel free to email me at bbbjones@gmail.com!

- Bethany

ps- some other notable mentions for documentaries are Blackfish and Chasing Ice. Do you have any recommendations?

Sights and Sounds of Christmas 2013

I think this was my favorite year ever of attending Sights and Sounds :D We had so much fun and it was FREEZING. Like, literally 25 degrees with wind. Our friends Ashley and Brandon were in town and so Friday night we all bundled up and headed out! Kristi and Maggie and Jake all met us there. Now, if you have ever been to S&S, you know about The Biscuits. The campfire biscuits alone are the reason to attend. You get them warm and then doctor them up with butter and honey. Um, yeah. It's delicious!

I was debating whether or not to bring along the big camera, but I'm so glad I did. I am going to LOVE looking back on all of these memories :) The year it really felt like Christmas in Texas!

I am so lucky with the girl friends God has given me this year. These relationships are so important to me!

The glorious biscuits....They may not look like much, but you have no idea.

Biscuit love.

I told Levi he looked like Ryan Atwood in this outfit :)

I can't wait until next year :) I love my town!