Most Recent Sessions

Here are a few from my most recent sessions: (sorry they are huge too lazy to resize!!)
Remember her?

Here she is 4 months later



Here is one of mom and dad anxiously awaiting:



Here is another before:

With another beautiful after (its okay to call baby boys beautiful right?)





And in case you forgot about the most beautiful girl in the world (biased, I know)

Heres what she thought of hunting for easter eggs (it was chaotic, I handed her a few lol):

Here I Sit

What an eventful few days! Here I sit on my bed at home in Oklahoma. This weekend we were suppose to go to MO for a youth conference that Justin's brother's church hosts. We were planning to take 5 youth and travel with our Pastor and his family. Well the forecast was calling for snow so we cancelled the youth trip and Justin and I left Thursday night and went to his parents house in Southern Illinois and we got up Friday and traveled to SW Missouri.

We stayed at a lodge on Pomme De Terre Lake. (sorry no pics, I barely had time to take pictures of Kyla) The room had a dock overlooking the lake. Had it of been warmer out it would have been very nice. The conference served over 210 kids and it was a good weekend. Justin taught an application session on unshakable faith. I was unable to attend but he said it went well!

We have not even seen a flake of snow this whole trip.

However back at home in Louisville that is another story. Most places got 8-12 inches! Since I have been gone our worship ministers wife had their baby and our pastors wife broke her collarbone in 3 places. I would ask your prayer for both families!

been busy...

Have you been wondering where I have been? Well, I have been crafting like a crazy woman.

First I made Kyla this Cherry Dress, don't look closely there is a lot wrong with it. She will look cute nonetheless!



There is a baby shower tomorrow night for a friend of mine from church and I made her (as is my custom now) a wrap (see www.mobywrap.com for the general idea)

A wall hang, where the card is she can put a picture

hairbows, most likely for the future:

And a Taggies Blanket:


It was fun to make the stuff for the shower. Hope she likes it!

We are leaving this weekend for Missouri. We are attending a youth conference that Justins brother is putting on. Then I am going to OK for a few days. Mom will bring me back since she is coming for Spring Break! Fun times, but very busy!

God's Pruning Knife

from Grace Gems...

God's pruning knife

(Thomas Watson, "The Spiritual Vine")

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so
that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2

God's love to the elect branches, appears in His
pruning them. He prunes them by affliction. We
are apt to think that when God afflicts us, that He
does not love us. Affliction is God's pruning knife.
He prunes us to make us bring forth the peaceable
fruit of righteousness, Hebrews 12:11. God would
rather have the branches bleed—than be barren.
All this is done in love. It is God's love, that He will
rather lop and prune the branches—than let them
grow wild.

God's love to the elect branches, also appears in His
transplanting them to heaven. The branches of Christ
will thrive best when they are transplanted; because
then they will grow in a better soil.

Christ desires to have all His elect branches, which are
scattered up and down in the world—to be with Him.
"Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with
Me where I am." John 17:24. The elect will never be
happy—until they are transplanted to the heavenly
garden. In heaven, there will be no bramble to tear
the vine branches; none of the red dragon's brood.
Then all the branches will be sweetly united in love.
Then they shall grow in the sunshine of God's
countenance. In this life, the elect branches partake of
God's grace; hereafter, they shall partake of His glory!

Doing it all...

I have so many things that I want to "do"

note: these are in no particular order

I want to continue to better my photography skills
I want to continue to craft (sewing and etc)
I want to LEARN how to play my guitar (all it does now is collect dust)
I want to LEARN and live greener
I want to teach my daughter to walk in the way of the Lord
I want to cook food daily
I want to be a good friend
I want to keep my house clean
I want to honor my husband
I want to grow deeper in communion with God
I want to have a garden
I want to cloth diaper
I want to read more books
I want to write more
I want to work harder in all things
I want to be more thrifty
I want to scrapbook, getting caught up would be GREAT

What is amazing is that in all of these things I am content! I am so thankful God has given me these desires, hobbies, passions to use for His glory. Now I just have to seek his glory in these things.

At the same time I think I need to narrow down my list of things I want to do so that I am not torn when I do have some free time! What do you enjoy doing? How do you decide what to do?

Most Recent Sessions

I realized I haven't shared a few of my favorites:

Lunar Eclipse

Well because it is frigid outside I think I am done. Here was my best attempt, using the side of the charcoaler, a jiffy cornbread box and two old guidepost books!





It is pretty cool to watch! Justin comes home and asks why I have to coats on and I tell him because I have been outside watching the Lunar Eclipse. He says "I thought the moon looked funny!" Oh how I love him!

Bad Mommy Award

I am so thankful that God cares for our children even more than we do and that He is ALWAYS on His throne!

Tonight Kyla and I were at Hancocks fabrics. Having a good time as we usually do when we are out and about. She was in the cart seat in her cover thingy my mom made just checking things out. I was looking at something on the wall and I heard her fussing.. I turned to see what she was doing and all I saw (in slow motion, mind you) was her falling out of the cart onto the floor. She landed on her back and just look stunned. She was silent for a second and then she started crying. I, of course, scooped her up quickly and calmed her down in about a minute. She was fine. I kept her inside to check her eyes and make sure they were dilating and such and also to feel for her bump. It was coming out like it should. I took her out to the car and we sat in the back seat for a few. The minute I hit the door my tears started rolling. I am so thankful she is okay but feel awful that it happened. So what do you so when you don't know what to do? Call mom. So I called my mom and she just affirmed all the things I knew to check for and also told me I fell out of a cart once. Like mother like daughter I suppose.Kyla appears to be fine. She has played, smiled, and acted like herself. I kept her up for about 3 hours after the fact just to make sure.

But today I get the bad mommy award!

Tutu Tastic!!

Go this in the mail today and did a quick snap! I cannot wait to do some more professional pics in it!

The Surprise

Because I cannot keep a surprise very long and I knew I couldn't wait for two weeks here is what the other thing I made. They are pincushions.
The brown and black is mine (the first one), the one that is pink and black was for my pastors wife, the other was the surprise for my mom. Not much of a surprise but none the less I think it is cute!




So I was pretty proud of my surprise for mom but then she told me she had a surprise too... hers blows mine out of the water.



I asked her if I could have her old serger and she got me a new one instead. I am so blessed by this, I cannot even begin to put it into words!! Thanks mom!!

Sewed up!

I love the internet! Recently I have been surfing many many craft blogs! I have been so inspired I have made a few things! One of the main things I made I cannot post yet because I want it to be a surprise. I have been sewing a lot. I also gave a go at hand embroidering and did this:



Its a little ratty looking but not bad for my first try. I need to get buttons for the four corners I have 3 so I need one more. I am going to hang this on the wall with her 9 month pictures which should be in this week. I have really been enjoying being crafty. I am going to make a headband soon, that should be interesting.

In other news, I played sports for most of my life and never had a busted lip... I have had a baby for 9 months and today she got me good. I thought it was ironic.

Well it is late and I should most definatly go get some sleep. Especially since I didn't lastnight!

Have a great day in worship with fellow believers!

9 months old

I cannot believe she is 9 months old. It took her 9 months to bake and that fely like FOREVER! But, these 9 months have flown!
Here is a few of Kyla's 9 month pic

Happy Valentines Day

Today I am delighted..

I am in awe of the love my gracious father has bestowed to me, a foolish sinner!
I am in awe of the love I can have for someone I have known for 9 months, 18 technically!
I am in awe of the love my husband demonstrates to me daily!


Heres to a happy valentines day!

Hats, spoons, ribbon and bows!

I am estatic to report Kyla is feeling much better! Fever has been gone for over 36 hours! YEA! although she is now very cranky and extra clingy!!

So today we decided to venture outside of the house. I went to the church for awhile and then we went to wal-mart.

I needed to pick up a few things. One of those things being toddler silverware. Miss Independant thinks she needs to feed herself EVERYTHING so why not give it a shot. This is the result...




While we were at walmart Kyla lost her ever so cute stocking hat! Thankfully after retracing our steps we found it in the arts and crafts. That was the last place I remember her fiddling with the velcro. I was thankful to find it because stocking caps are no longer "in season"

I also got a container to organize my ribbon. I am stoked to make be a little more organized so that I can better make my girl and other lil girls some homemade bows!

So here is a picture to summarize our day...

Living Greener

With Kyla being sick I have wanted to find a way to disenfect her toys but not have to use chemicals to do it (since she puts them in her mouth). I found a recipe using water and vinegar. So that got me thinking about attempting to live a little more greener. I am not sure of what we can do but I am certain there are things that can be done. I am often amazed at the trash we generate and there are only three of us!! I was considering moving away from using papertowels and napkins and only using cloth unless maybe when we have company. I think switching to HE lightbulbs is a good idea but we have OODLES of lightbulbs so maybe when they all burn out.

I think as I use up my commercial cleaning supplies I am going to make some of my own. They are a fraction of the cost. I need to shop at Aldies to save money anyways. Maybe I will not use so many plastic bags.

Any thoughts, are you doing anything in particular? Read any good books or know of any good links?

They think it is

the flu....

my poor baby! Here fever was over 104 degrees so the Doctor wanted to see her. She shows no symtoms of anything yet so they pricked her toe and she has a viral infection which they believe is the flu. Could take 7-10 days to run its course! So we are alternating tylenol and motrin!

Pray for her, and for us! Thanks!

Superbowl Sunday

This is what we did during the superbowl...




had a baby with a fever over 100.00 so far it has only got to 102.3. We missed our friends at the Superbowl party but she is worth it! :)

Updated Website

Alright! I could use some feedback from all my faithful readers lol :)

I updated the website and would love to hear thoughts. What are my "weakest" images. I need to narrow down my galleries. I have a friend (Thanks Heather) who is going to proof my text sections. Anythink else I should add or fix. I know I have one sentance that makes no sense. I am just waiting to get all the corrections before I re upload.

Thanks guys!

Kara Guffey Photography

2 weeks down...

Well Justin has been at his new job now for two weeks. It has been an adjustment but he loves it! We are so thankful for God providing this opportunity!

Miss Kyla is doing all sorts of new things all the time. She is doing the nose wrinkle again and I LOVE IT! She claps with me and is mimicking me more often when we play. There are not to many things in life that are better than cuddling with your kiddos and playing on the floor with them.

Photography is good. I am ready for it to get warmer outside so I can do a little more outdoors. That does not stop me from taking WAY to many pictures of Miss K though.

Been reading through Galatians lately and let me tell you how refreshing Grace is!

Be encouraged today that God has began a good work and HE will complete it!

Milk-White

(Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Supper" from Grace Gems)

"The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin!"
1 John 1:7

Christ's blood is a CLEANSING blood.

As the merit of Christ's blood pacifies God—so the
virtue of it purifies us. Christ's blood is heaven's bath.
It is a laver to wash in. It washes a crimson sinner—
milk-white!

The Word of God is a looking-glass to show us our
spots—and the blood of Christ is a fountain to wash
them away! "On that day a fountain will be opened
—to cleanse them from all their sins and defilement!"
Zechariah 13:1

But this blood will not wash—if it is mingled with
anything. If we mingle our good works with Christ's
blood—it will not wash. Let Christ's blood be pure and
unmixed—and there is no spot which it cannot wash
away! It purged out Noah's drunkenness—and Lot's
incest!

The fine art of...

packing a Honda Civic!




After a lot of hours, many good times, and one over stuffed car. We are home!

Few new ones of Kyla!

So I came across a link to enter your baby in the cutest baby contest with Regis and Kelly. Justin and mom think I should... I am not sure. The hard thing would be to pick a picture!!!! What do you think? Any favorites?

The belt is mine. A gift I received as a little girl. The red baby legs I made usings womens knee highs! I have a few more pair to make! Are they not the cutest things ever!!

OKC Bombing Memorial

We visited the bombing memorial while visiting in OKC. Here are a few pics.
About the bombing, April 19, 1995 at 9:02 am a Bomb went off in the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building. Killing 168 men, women, and children. There is a gate on each end of the reflecting pool. One says 9:01 representing the innocence of the city and the other says 9:03 represents the time that everything changed in OKC and around the world. There is a shallow reflecting pool. The chairs represent the people who were killed. The smaller chairs are for the children. The tree is called the survivor tree. It withstood the blast. My mom was telling me that when OKC had really bad ice the city did everything they could to keep that tree alive and well because of its signifigance.

These pictures were taken during the day.. at night time the memorial is beautiful!! There is more to it all. If you are interested check out:]
When I was in Middle School we went to the bombing within weeks of the incident. I tried to dig up some pictures but cannot find any. It was crazy and I think this memorial is a great way to remember the destruction and devastation of the lives that were lost. I have never been to NYC so I cannot imagine what ground zero would be like!

Thanks for looking!!

2008 and beyond...

It has been a whirlwind holiday season! We are in Oklahoma visiting family after spending a few days in Illinois. It has been a good break to enjoy one another, Miss K and our families.

I am sitting in bed watching a documentry on the Klu Klux Klan and fiddling with pictures on my computer. I am going to attempt to do a 365 of Miss K this year!! I know you think I probably take one of her everyday but I don't EVERY day.. just most. I am also going to challenge myself to do 52 (one a week) of creative shots. Something other than faces :) I think I have my first one so we will see. Join flickr! It is a lot of fun and you can keep up with my little projects.

I am really getting into sewing!!! I made a few blankets for Christmas and have made Kyla a few things. I like it better than scrapbooking because there is FAR less involved (not as much stuff to clean up). It is fun!!

Want to share a few pictures with you: One of Miss Kyla from today,and one in front of a christmas tree. The others are of 4 generations.







I hope your holidays were grand!