Hello, Loved Ones!

I am very thankful for another wonderful weekend with my family!

On Saturday, we celebrated my dad's birthday! 

(Doesn't he look positively THRILLED about his lovely cake!?)

It was a wonderful afternoon/evening full of playing outside, eating, laughing, more playing outside, and a fire in the fire pit to top it all off!

Monkey Boy in his natural habitat.

Sweet Baby Dave

Max and the Birthday Boy

Grandma getting some sweet love!

Can you tell who kind of stole the evening? He usually does.

The boys are just at such a fun age. You can't help but shower them with attention and love. 

Two adorable little peas in a pod! 

My mother prepared these AMAZING steaks, fresh from the butcher! Such an amazing birthday meal. 

Not to mention the roasted corn! DEELISH.

The handsome birthday boy himself. 

Whoops! How did these pictures of my gorgeous cat, Pasha get in there!? Must have slipped.

ANYWAY, that was yesterday. And today was Mother's Day! 

I printed out some pictures of the boys for my mom, and she cried. 

And so did I. 

We do that a lot. 

Oh well. 

ANYWAY, I spent the weekend thanking the Lord for my amazing parents. 

My father, in all his wisdom and gentility, and my mother with her grace and beauty. 

A blessed woman am I.

Adonis and I have a lot going on at the moment...just the thousands of little things that are piling up on top of each other. 

I mean, we always have a lot going on...doesn't everyone?

But we are really entering into a crazy, hectic, expensive, tight, stressful time. 

It's ok, though. We are 

in the calm before the storm, so-to-speak. So we are taking this opportunity to just pray and prepare and pack (we are moving in a few weeks...)

It's just a lot. 

So...say a little prayer!

We are happy and God is good. 

You are jewels. 

With so much love, 

Lacy Joy

Sheet Shoot

Hello, Lovely Ones.

This weekend was absolutely amazing here in Virginia Beach. 

Sunday was 70 degrees and sunny...the perfect weather to grab some teacups, floral sheets, and some pretty ladies (my sister, Madison and our best friend, Liz) and head to the park for a Sheet Shoot!

I took some really sheety pictures, if I do say so myself!

(That was a bit cheeky, I know...I couldn't resist. Forgive me. I'm still a lady.)

Here's a few pictures from the shoot!

It was 2 straight hours of laughing, as it always is when I get with these two. 

Aren't they GORGEOUS!?

Even though we had an AMAZING day, we were still missing out fourth wheel, Hannah Lynn, my younger sister who will be home from college in a couple of short weeks! FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER! I anticipate lots more amazing, impromptu photoshoots!!

It was also so amazing to get back behind the camera. I felt right at home. 

I'm actually feeling a little less confident about my abilities...it's been a long time. And I need to learn Lughtroom 4 better. 

ANYWAY, I hope you enjoy the pictures! They're so springy and summery and peacefully pretty. 

I hope you feel the same. 

With so much love, 

Lacy Joy

A Joy Restored

Hello, my few precious readers.
I know it's been a while since I have written here, but TRUST ME when I say that is is not for lack of trying.
We recently got a new computer--a WONDERFUL new iMac that is powerful and lovely and happily magically huge and lovely.
But we were having some problems connecting it to Wifi, which meant we had this new toy and couldn't really use it. So torturous.
All is well now--it's working and we are so blessed to have it--we know it is a luxury and we are SO thankful to have been blessed with it!

Having this new computer means more to me than just being able to check Facebook on a bigger screen, though.
For me, it means the birth of a new era.
A joy restored.
A new chance.

It means that now, for the first time in years, I have the ability and the tools to really explore and fall in love with photography all over again.
And trust me--I fully intend to.

I have not been taking pictures for about two years--I had the camera and the God-given talent and desire, but not a computer or editing software.
(Plus, I shot a wedding and it was really a nightmare and it scared me aware from my camera for a while. I shouldn't have let it, but I did.)
So even though taking pictures is a huge pare of my heart and life, I just...stopped.

For a while.


And I was sad.
For a while.

But now I'm back.
My camera hasn't left my side, and that's the way it should be.
(On a minor-but-related note, I went thrifting with my mom today and found an amazing, adorable $70 camera bag for $4.)

I am thrilled to be back behind the camera.

I have lots more to share.
But it's late.
My bed is calling my name.
And so is my husband.

You are precious, and the King is enthralled by your beauty.


With so much love,
Lacy

The Winds, They Are a-Changin'!

Things are happening here in the Agha household!

I have a few interesting/exciting things to share.

ONE.
I had surgery.

 On my hand.
I had...let me see if I can remember this...
"a mass excised from left index finger base."
Basically I had a cyst removed.
From my finger.
Ew.
But it was even more "ew" when it was in my body! UNDER MY SKIN!
And...it was growing.
So OUT WITH THE OLD!
Well, out with the cysts.

Anywho, all is well with that...I'm healing nicely, although a little helpless at times. Even though I'm not left handed, I still need lots of help from my sweet husband. And he is more than willing to help. He has served me so sweetly this week. I thank God for him.

NEXT!
The Lord has been SO faithful and did a really cool thing for us the other day...
Basically we were looking at this really great apartment, but we had to be put on a waiting list.
The lovely people at the apartment complex told us that it could be MONTHS before anything opened up, but they would let us know as soon as something did.
As soon as we left that meeting, we began to pray a powerful prayer--that the Lord, if it was His will, would provide an apartment for us very soon--the very next day, even. Because He is a big God, and He can do big things. This we know.

SO...(can you guess where this is going?)
The next day, I was home alone recovering from cyst-surgery,
with my cat, Pasha

 and I got a phone call from the APARTMENT LADIES!! Apparently, right after we had left their office the day before, an apartment opened up! Just as we had been praying!
Just a little reminder that He is powerful.
Pray powerful prayers.
So we move in in June!!
IT HAS A DISHWASHER!!
It's the small things in life, people.

Anyway, we are also gearing up for Adonis to start summer classes, and we are taking some trips this summer...so change is in the air, which always means that God is moving. Which is terribly exciting.

Well, I've got to go--headed to a Native-American themed tea-party/journaling party. (I have the most creative friends!)
Pictures to follow!

With so much love!
Lacy Joy

Oh Happy Day!

HAPPY SATURDAY!

First and foremost, I hope that everyone was able to enjoy this beautiful, beautiful day!
It was sunny and warm, but not hot...it was cool and crisp but not cold.
Perfect.

I spent the morning apartment hunting with my husband.
We are hoping to find something a little bit closer to...well, everything. workfamilyschool.
OH THAT REMINDS ME!
I have some exciting, even if not so surprising, news!!
ADONIS GOT ACCEPTED INTO REGENT!!
We are so excited.
He is so, so brilliantly smart...and I'm not just saying that. I'm very excited for him to have this opportunity.

So anyway.
Apartment hunting.
Somewhat successful...we're on a waiting list...I'll let you know how that goes.

Then we went to the Chrysler Museum of art...they have an AMAZING exhibit, called 30 Americans (check it out here http://www.chrysler.org/exhibitions/current/)
We spent time with lovely friends.

We came back to my in-laws, and while my husband stayed inside and finished our taxes (what a good man), I meandered outside and watched my in-laws, Edmond and Youhanna, do some gardening.
They have, all together, 4 amazingly fruitful green thumbs. Their little yard and flower beds are overflowing with life and color and greenery that has been lovingly tended to and built throughout the years. They were simply delightful to watch and listen to...adoring the lovely flowers that were in bloom, planning for next years garden, bickering teasingly with one another...I followed behind them listening, laughing, and loving them quietly. They are two of the sweetest, most sincere, most humble people I know. I am beyond blessed to have them in my life...for the REST of my life! They have been through so much in their life...they fled Lebanon as refugees...they have had to leave their home with just the clothes on their backs THREE TIMES due to persecution they endured while living there. (Someday, I'll divulge a little more of their history to you...it's a long, remarkable story.)
Anyway...they're lovely.

THEN...I got to take my favorite people in the world...my two nephews...to the park. Oh joy of joys!!They were so happy to be out in the sunshine and playing.
Their names are Max and Copeland. Max (featured here) and 3, and Copeland is one and a half.
They are the jewels of my heart.
Max calls me "Honey"...and I will do absolutely EVERYTHING in my power to make the name stick for the rest of my life.
It kills me every time I hear it.
Honey!
Have you ever heard anything cuter!?

(a dear friend of mine surprised me with this necklace...I love it so much.)

Anyway, my day was...
fruitful
restful
productive
fulfilling
happy

I hope you all had a lovely, lovely, lovely day as well.

With so much love,
Lacy Joy

New Blog!

Well, here we go again!
A new blog!
I have been so inspired by so many lovely women out there who have used this avenue to create and share so much amazing, lovely art...you all have given me a lot to live up to, but I would love to give it a try!!

A little about myself:
My name is Lacy Joy (and the newest addition to my name) Agha.
I am a newlywed (well...I'm not really sure at which point you STOP being a newlywed...we've been married for about 9 months...so I guess I'll leave it up to you! Newly-or not-so-newlyweds.)
My husband's name is Adonis (pronounced "A-dough-niece"...but we shall hitherto for refer to him as simply "Ado". Because I only use his whole name when he's in trouble, and we don't want to confuse him.)
He is a very lovely young man. And I love him very much. I'm proud to call him mine, plus he makes great arm-candy.

I have a cat.
He's fat and his name is Pasha.

We live in a little-bit-too-small apartment in Virginia Beach.
Although we hope to be acquiring more space in a bigger place soon, I have still managed to work a little magic and make our first little apartment together cute and special...although I can't say I'll miss it much when we're gone.

I am a preschool teacher to a bunch of lively, lovely, naughty, smart 4- and 5-year-olds.
They keep me on my toes, and I like to think I keep them on theirs.
I am in LOVE with what I do. I am so blessed and fulfilled through my work, and that is only by the grace of God.

THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ON THIS BLOG:
1. Preschool, crafty, kidsy stuff. Like projects I do with my kids.
2. Some of my photography. (Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you...I take pictures.)
3. The daily goings-on of my little life.
4. Things that inspire me.
5. Things that I hope to inspire you.

Well, stay tuned.
I can't promise to be punctual, consistent, or frequent...but I promise to try!
I hope you enjoy what you find here. I know that I will enjoy sharing it!

With so much love,
Lacy Joy