81 Memories From 2017

2017 was an eventful and delightful year! I had the privilege of traveling many places and taking photos. From Grand Rapids to Big Rapids. Parks to Bible school campuses. People's back yards to the sidewalk near Planned Parenthood. Windsor, Colorado to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

I got to build so many client relationships! (It's truly one of my very favorite things about being a creative professional, after all!) My mind goes to Esther & Travis, who graced me with the opportunity to take both their engagement photos and wedding day captures. OR my friend Jalyn, who was sweetly willing to be a model for one of my assignments with the Overflow Blog. There are so many more I could name; Jesus truly blessed me with such precious people, whose photo needs I had the opportunity to meet. But...instead of describing each in words here, I have looked through all my photo sessions of the year and selected eighty-one favorite pictures to share with you.

You'll find the lone, picturesque flower. Open fields with a radiant lady, grinning brightly. Families sharing a special moment of togetherness. A bride and groom dancing their wedding day away. An Ellerslie student basking in the Word in text, simultaneously pursuing the Word of God in Person (Jesus). Individuals standing boldly for life outside an abortion clinic. Taila Hartman pouring out her heart in worship to the King of kings at the piano, and many more captures that leave me all the more in awe of the One who gave life to all of it. Jesus alone is worthy. May these photos cause your heart to behold Him more on this March day.

With love,
Cassidy Elaine
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*All photos are property of this business and may not be used without expressed, written permission of Cassidy Elaine and Cassidy Elaine Photography.

Christmastime Caroling at Heritage Clinic for Women

Today is the beginning of March for Life. I couldn't go to DC this year, but I'm "marching" from the sidewalk of 320 this morning.

There are Christians who would say that we shouldn't be doing things "like this;" as in, we should be quiet little believers who only publicly stand against abortion if we're asked to. I must respectfully disagree. Why do we march? Why do we stand? The other day, an angry older man just walking by Heritage Clinic for Women (the abortion clinic I counsel at) came up to my co-counselor and I and basically told us to quit sidewalk counseling. He accused us of harassing women. Sometimes the staff of the clinic gets mad at us. One pro-choice activist even pushed a pro-life counselor into the road earlier this winter in GR. Why keep standing when things like this happen? I didn't get lectured, criticized or talked down about for being pro-life until I got involved with front-line pro-life ministry.

Why is that? I didn't know half as many pro-choice individuals as I know now. Now there are relationships. Sometimes these relationships are difficult, "How are you?" "Don't talk to me." {It doesn't always go that way, but  lately things have been more fierce}. I stand for their lives as well.... They matter to the King of kings too, and are held captive by the enemy. Jesus is the only one who can set them free, and He wants to do so through those who are surrendered fully to Him.

I stand for life today not only because abortion is the brutal murder of a precious child (it very much is!), but also because God is the Giver of Life and not us. He is the Author and Finisher. Who are we to say when a life starts and when it ends? He is worthy of every life He has made. Every person--regardless of age, life situation, etc.--is precious to Him. He went to the Cross for the broken people of this world. He wants to redeem. Will we be His hands and feet to the least of these around us? Will you stand for life? Will you be a voice for those who have none? Can we share His love and a way of escape with the pro-choice crowd?

Since we're talking about pro-life living, here's a throwback to earlier this winter. In December, a local church who has been involved with 40 Days For Life took a trip to carol outside Heritage Clinic for Women. It was a beautiful (and extremely cold) morning of standing together--boldly, yet peacefully--for the vulnerable little lives at risk. I was able to be there along with one of the sidewalk counselors who has been training me this year.

How will 2018 be different in you life, in the area of advocacy? Would you be willing to stand in the gap for those who are at-risk?

Comment below and tell me why you march for life!

My Song In the Night // October at Cassidy Elaine Photography

It's hard to describe all the happenings of such an eventful month. It was packed with many things: intense spiritual warfare, learning to sidewalk counsel, graduating from Ellerslie, shooting two banquets, two family sessions, and a blog assignment. To be fully honest, I have never been one to enjoy fall weather, but this year has been different. The incredible fall colors, light October air, and cozy evenings with a cup of tea made it quite perfect. In the midst of many difficult things happening, the coolness of fall seemed to be a haven of rest. Through the wrestling and issues that arose during October, I was reminded again and again of His perfect, unending faithfulness. He is not finished yet.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. // Psalm 42:8

He is my song in the sorrow, my strength for the battle, my peace in the tempest. What a suitable season for a lesson in His perfection:

"And God is able."
--my journal, October 7th 

"It is not about me and my lack of ability, my personality, my tendencies, or my anything. HE is able. That's what it's about. 'And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work' (2 Corinthians 9:8). 'Always having sufficiency...' Not occasionally or most of the time having enough--ALWAYS. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. I have everything I need--in all things--because He is able and He has provided, to now abound unto every good work."  Ponderings of such were on my mind quite often.

When I choose quotes to fit the photos I market on social media, so often they are drawn out of my personal reading, as it has been this month, in several cases.

1. KATHERINE + ANNIE WESCHE // every hurt laid down

"Allow every hurt and offense to melt at the foot of His Cross, and turn and walk down the hill of Calvary into this world with His Life beating within your surrendered vessel and His light of love shining in your eyes." Annie Wesche, Crucified Living

2. ARTPRIZE + C.S. LEWIS // for His glory

"Don't shine so others can see you! Shine so that through you others can see Him." C.S. Lewis

3. JALYN + AMY CARMICHAEL // where true victory starts

"Sometimes we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. 'I shall never be like that', we feel. But they won through step by step; by little acts of the will, little denials of self, little inward victories, by faithfulness in very little things, they became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps, they only see the accomplishment; but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity that is the work of a moment. So let us take courage; not one of us is too weak to be made more than a conqueror." Amy Carmichael, Edges of His Ways

4. KIERA + ELISABETH ELLIOT // the Gardner loves His Vine

"The Gardner loves the vine, remember that! The pruning is going to lead to fruit bearing, and fruit bearing is going to lead to joy." Elisabeth Elliot

5. TOWNSEND PARK BUDS + CORRIE TEN BOOM // a heavenly perspective on problems

"God wants to take our problems and use them as building material for His miracles." Corrie ten Boom, Tramp For the Lord

6. MR. + MRS. FELKER + UGO BASSI // where suffering and giving meet

"Love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice, and who so suffers most, has most to give." Ugo Bassi, as quoted by Elisabeth Elliot

7. REBEKAH + A VERSE FROM ISAIAH // stayed on Him

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

8. KELSEY + NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTH // thanksgiving & worship in the journey

“Perhaps it’s hard to find much to be thankful for today. Perhaps all you can see is what’s wrong, what hurts, and what others are doing to you. But look above your circumstances, beyond your fears, and ask God to show you what He’s doing in the midst of them… The choice is before us: do we only give glory to God for the part of our lives that’s going the way we want? Or do we worship Him, trust Him, and give Him thanks, just because He is God--regardless of the painful, incomprehensible places we encounter in our journey?” Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

9. THE BIRMINGHAM FAMILY + GETTY MUSIC // our only Solid Rock

"I am safe on this Solid Rock: the Lord is my salvation!" Keith & Kristyn Getty