Hello world

Here it is, my beautiful little gummy bear baby! I got to see it move and got to see the heart beat, it was the most beautiful and amazing thing I have ever seen!

I feel truly blessed with the most beautiful gift any women could recieve from our Father in Heaven, to be the mother of my child. I have always wanted to be a wife and mother and now my time has come, and I feel very blessed with the most amazing husband my best friend, and now we have the greatest most amazing gift coming in July!

So, here you go my wonderful blog reader's here is baby gummy bear at 9 weeks and 6days.

Alex & Niki are married

Well, Alex & Niki have been married since August 2008 but I have been a little behind on some of my editing. While going there some of there photos that I took for fun, not as there photographer but as a friend, I began to cry. Seeing there love for each other and seeing them grow in there relationship has been a true journey for them. Watching Niki dance with her father brought tears to my eye's knowing how much love her father has for her and the journey they have gone through together was very touching.

Alex & Niki I pray many years of blessing over you two, and I look forward to the new journey the Lord is taking you two on. It has been a honor to be your friend and see you both grow deeper in your faith and love for the Lord and each other!

So, with that here are a few of my favorites from Alex & Niki's wedding, I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do.

New season in life

Wow, so much has happened in the past few months. I got married to my best friend and we are now expecting our first angel July 5th, 2009, and are over joyed and truly blessed! I was the leading top photographer at the studio I was working at in Indiana and now I am back in my own business focusing on families, newborn babies and children, and senior pictures. There is just something about capturing that little yawn in a newborn or that first smile. I have always had a heart for children so I know this is right where I need to be, and with my own little blessing on the way what perfect way to spend time behind my camera.
I'm loving being pregnant besides the morning sickness but it's truly the most beautiful and amazing gift any women could ever receive. I look forward to holding our bundle of joy in July and being able to share him or her with you all through the wonderful moments I will capture through my passion of photography.

Mishawaka here I come

That's right, I'm coming Mishawaka!

I drove what seems like a VERY LONG 2 1/2 hour drive at 7am this morning to Mishawaka to get last minute things done before the big move on Monday. I am excited to say that I am going to be roomming with 4 awesome girls...I'm the only Jona. There are two Ruth's and two Stephanie's, how crazy is that? :)

I'm excited to get to know them all a bit better, and I'm excited to be working at my old job again and going to school for cosmotology to offer more for you (my clients).

Thank you all dearly for your love and support. Clients in Michigan you can still book me for your events...And people of Mishawaka be sure to email me about your upcoming events.

Also, here is a little teaser of some modeling photos that are to be posted in the next few days.

I Twitter

Yup, that's right...I Twitter.
I gave in and got a Twitter account. I update on so many sites now theses days it's almost enough to make someone crazy. I have Myspace, Facebook, this blog, and now Twitter. I guess now that I really think about it, it's not really THAT bad.

On another note...I'm almost done packing and ready to move to Indiana. I go down tomorrow to get everything taken care of before the big move on Monday. I'm really excited! Thank you all so very much for your prayers!

Also, Yesturday was my little sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Brittany!!! She's growing up so fast!

New things

In less than a year I will be able to offer you make-up and hair in your package style. With me moving down to Indiana I will be going to cosmotology school. So I can offer a bit more talent to your photos. I have always loved doing hair and make-up along with photography, so, with being able to offer all three loves it will make for GREAT photos!

Be sure to be on the look out for up-coming blogs! With this new beginning in my life of me moving away I have also did a new beginning in my look. I have cut my hair and colored it dark! I will post some self portraits in the days to come.

Much love blog readers! Thank you for all your support!

Moving

Good news...I will be moving to Mishawaka, Indiana in about two weeks, and Jona Lee Photography will still be running and would love to book your next big event.
Bad news...I will be 2 1/2 hours away from Lansing and from all of you.

Please keep me in your prayers for guidance and for safe travels, and that I get everything figured out down there.
Thank you very much!

Blessings

True Love

I have one of those Chicken soup for the soul Bibles where there are little stories through out the Bible and there is one that will never stop reaching out to my heart. For the past few years the Lord has been showing me the meaning of what True Love is by putting older couples in my life or by showing me scriptures.
Two years ago I came accross this story in my Bible, this story has become to mean allot to me because of a couple the Lord has put in my path that is struggling much of the same as this couple in the story but far more complicated then the the story I'm going to share from the Bible.

Through the Eyes of Love

Susan entered the hospital room with flowers in her hand and a lump in her throat. She had traveled from California to see her best friend, Natalie, who was dying from a rare form of brain cancer. Susan knew this would be the last time she would see Natalie, and she had prepared herself for the worst.
Susan approached Natalie's bedside, barely recognizing the vibrant woman she once knew. Natalie's eyes were closed, her breathing powered by machines, her full face gaunt, her cheeks sunken, her porcelain skin now a jaundiced yellow. Could this be the same Natalie who had hiked the Grand Canyon with her husband, Alford, only a year before? The sight took Susan so by surprise that she could barely catch her breath.
"Susan?"
Susan turned to see Natalie's devoted husband enter the room. "Al, hi..." Susan hugged him and began to cry. Al smiled at Susan, thinking about the fact that Susan had introduced him to Natalie during college. Natalie and Al's courtship was quick, and they were married before the end of their senior year. They shared so many of the same interests: traveling, skiing, and scouring flea markets for quirky antiques to decorate the houses they rehabbed together.
Al and Susan sat at Natalie's bedside, Al taking Natalie's fragile hand.
"I can't believe it," Susan sighed. "She was in remission for five years, and now...you're incredible to stay by her side like this."
Al shook his head, "My place is by my bride," he said, interwining Natalie's skeletal fingers with his own. "She inspires me. She always surprised me, you know? Those mystery trips she'd take me on, the birthdays...I could never suprise her; she was always one step ahead of me.
"I told her when she finished her doctorate in art, we'd buy that sports car we'd always wanted. Something candy-apple red, convertable, real fast. But she couldn't finish the degree because she got so sick. So the last time Natalie was released from the hospital, I decided I could finally catch her off guard. I went out and bought a red two- door convertible!
"When they wheeled Natalie to the curb, I pulled up with the top down, and her face lit up...she could've powered the whole city with the wattage coming from her smile. The orderlies had to lift her up and lower her into the seat because she'd lost so much control of her muscles. But she didn't care, she just kept laughing, shaking her head, saying she couldn't believe it!
"Susan, you should have seen her. I took the rural roads west of town and raced the car as fast as I could. The wind was furious, blowing her hair around. Her cheeks got a little color to them when the sun hit her face. Her eyes sparkled. She was in heaven.
"When she was getting sick, vomiting every night, just aching, I'd do what I could to make her comfortable. Then I'd remind her of driving those back roads, and I'd see her face relax, and she'd look at me the same way did when we first met, with that little girl look."

Susan looked again to the corpse-like body laying on the hospital bed and felt the tears well up. She couldn't see past the physical ravage of the cancer to recall Natalie's vibrancy, her sparkling smile and eyes. As Susan watched Al sit with Natalie gently adjusting her hospital gown and fixing the pillows behind her head, a memory came rushing back to her. She saw Natalie standing at the altar on her wedding day, staring into Al's eyes as they recited their vows. Al's love and devotion to Natalie was so complete that even the waste of cancer couldn't change his vision of the woman he still called "his bride." Susan watched as Al tenderly brushed a stray hair from Natalie's pale brow and whispered, "Isn't she beautiful? I love her so much!"
------------------------------
That is true love to me! Did you hear that last part: "Al's love and devotion to Natalie was so complete that even the waste of cancer couldn't change his vision of the woman he still called "HIS BRIDE." That is amazing!
In the book of Song of Songs is a poem about a lover and his bride. He sees her with the eyes of love, and she cherishes him with a heart of joy. That kind of love can never be put out, even by great hardship. "Many waters cannot quench love; neither can rivers drown it." (song of songs 8:7)

As the Lord to show you the meaning of true love.

Waiting

The sight of a bride on her wedding day is breathtaking, the beautiful white dress and the bright bouquet of flowers, and the tears of joy.
A few years ago a good friend of mine got married to her best friend, at the reception I stood off to the side while she through the bouquet. She turned around to see who caught it, and she saw me holding the bouquet. Tears rolled down our cheek and she whispered in my ear, "You're next!" I have not forgotten those words. That was almost 3 years ago (maybe less), I've seen many of our friends get married since then and those words still grace my thoughts. The truth is that I'm still waiting, and much waiting is probably still yet to come. Many of us have the desire to love and to be loved- the perfect love that needs no boundaries, because it originates in and is governed by the Author of Love. We long for the day when we say "I do" to leave our father and mother so we can fully give ourselves to one person without needing to hold back any of our being. But now i s not that time, so we wait!

It says in the Bible 25 times in the book of Psalms that King David waited for the Lord he wrote, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning" (Psalm 130:5-6) "How long must your servant wait? I wait for your salvation, O Lord" (Psalm 119:84, 116). God called David a man after God's own heart. David said, "My soul waits, and in his word I put my hope (Psalm 130:5). I wait...O Lord, and I follow your commands" (Psalm 119:166). While David waited for the Lord to reveal the future, he obeyed the commands that God had given him for the present.

That's what we are called to do as we wait for marriage. As we wait for God to reveal the one he has planned for us, we are to obey his commands and prepare ourselves for our future husband. As we wait, we are to follow the commands that he has revealed to us through the Scripture. Unfortunately, this is easier said then done. How was it that David was able to wait for God's timing? Psalm 27:13-14 gives us the answer: "I am still CONFIDENT of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." David trusted the Lord to do what was best. We, too, can trust the promises of the Lord. We can know that the Lord will work all things out for our good and for his glory!

Even though marriage is not our ultimate hope or source of completion in life, the dream is still close to our hearts. We must never forget that while we are waiting the Lord is working in us and in our future spouse preparing us. "Wait for the Lord," sisters in Christ. "Be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

What IS Beauty?

This is something that everyone women struggles with BEAUTY. I recently found an articel in Brio&Beyona about "What is Beauty anyways?" by Kimberly Rae Thigpen. She talks about the different ways women around the world do to look beautiful.

Like in Bangladesh in order for a women to look beautiful she would go to a cooking fire, get some coal and color all her teeth black. Every women wants to look beautiful and we all have our own ways of looking pretty. Kimberly also explaned a few more countries in there ways of looking beautiful, "for some, beautiful is stretching your earlobes down to your shoulders. For others, it means slicing their faces or backs and then rubbing salt into the cuts so they bubble into designs." Ok, to me that does not sound fun!

"In some parts of Asia, girls smear bleach creams on their faces to make them look whiter. In Thailand, women stack gold rings around their necks more and more until their shoulders have squished down and their heads are stretched high above their bodies." That sounds painful! But all these women do this because it is considered beautiful in there country. The bigger the lip, the more jewels, the higher the head the more beautiful you are.

In Africa the Surma people start their beauty around the age of 20. The tribe will make a cut in the lower lip so that a little round clay piece will stretch the hole to make it bigger. The bigger the lip the more beautiful you are. If the women was to take the piece out her lip would hang past her chin.

But you may be thinking, "these women are crazy for doing this to them selves." When really we Americans do some really crazy things to our bodies our selves to look beautiful. How many Americans do you think have gotten skin cancer because they want to look tan all year around? According to the American Cancer Society Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 59,940 causes of skin cancer in 2007 and most of the 10,850 is deaths due to skin cancer each year. How many women have died from plastic surgery, being cut to change something they don't like about themselves? In America we have fake hair, fake face, fake body, fake smile, you can pretty much get anything you want done to you fake and that's how to be beautiful. Many women look through magazines and think they have to look like the women in the magazine to feel loved and beautiful. That's not true! The world is lying to you about what is beautiful. The world is telling you to NOT accept yourself and God made you to be. The world is saying you can't be who you are. God knew what he was doing when he made you.
You don't have to look like barbie to be pretty, by the way barbie was plastic. Everyone is going to get wrinkels someday, and you know what!?! That is beautiful!!!
I once came accross a photo on JpgMag.com of a women with stretch marks on her belly (I wish I could find it to share with you), as her caption she wrote "every mark is for every move you made, every mark is for every kick, every mark is for every breath you took within me..." That is beautiful!

Do you want to know the way of looking beautiful? Because I will tell you where you will find it...You will find in God's word, The Bible. God has a definition of beauty for every women no matter what her culture is in the world. It's a beauty that radiates from the inside out, and it delights the eyes of the Lord and the lives of people it touches.
The Bible says that Esther was a beautiful women, but had competition for the crown. What was it about Esther that made her different, a difference that caught the king's eye?
1. She loved the Lord
2. She took advice from her elders that she trusted. (Esther 2:20)
3. She wasn't all about her looks, Esther was herself. (Esther 2:15)
4. She was smart.
5. She cared more about doing what was right then being attractive and liked. She risked her own life to save the lives of her people. (Esther 4:11-16)
Esther's beauty is a true example of the verse in Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised."

Don't let the world tell you your not beautiful. I had a friend once tell me when I was down on my self image that when we look at other people and think "Oh, she is really pretty I wish I could like her." there is other women thinking the same about you. Be Beautiful! Be who God made you to be, love yourself. Don't make the "beautiful" of our world what it's all about because that's not the true beauty, that's just temporary. Be God's definition of Beautiful! It's allot less painful. You need to be who YOU are. Are you following the crowd's definition of what it takes to be beautiful or are you following God's? Know that you ARE loved and you ARE beautiful. Be sure to read Psalm 139 and try to memorize it. Confidence gives you a beautiful glow! Just remember challenges are attractive to guys. If you're showing your body, you're advertising it, not accentuating your beauty.
You're not ment to blend in with everyone else, your ment to shine bright like the brightest start in the night sky. Your ment to be the brightest flower in the wild flowers. You're ment to be unique and original, in other words, being your self is the most beautiful thing.
It doesn't matter who has hurt you in the past or in the present, you are still loved by someone who loves you more then you will ever know and calls you beautiful! It doesn't matter what you have done, the Lord still calls you His beloved. It doesn't matter how big that scar is, the Lord kisses it with love and beauty! The Lord sees everything about you as beautiful! I'm starting to believe all the physical things I've complained about (my height, my weight, my scars) are all the things about me that the Lord loves.
Remember that Jesus loves you with an everlasting love! (Jeremiah 31:3) He has called you out from the darkness into freedom. (Psalm 107:4)

I'm going to dare all you women to be beautiful. Not in the way the world sees beauty but in the way God sees Beauty. I dare you to let the Lords love shine from your heart so bright! Be that brightest star in the night sky! Be the brightest colored flower in the field. You were originated in the mind of God; woven and spun into the living, beautiful masterpiece you are! Ladies YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! Let the World see the TRUE beauty!

Crown of Jewels

I'm a Princess!

I'm not only a Princess, I'm a Princess becoming a Queen.
I got to thinking the other day about something my mom would tell me and my little sister growing up when ever we did something good, "Jesus is in heaven looking down rejoicing over you, you just got a jewel on your crown in heaven!"

I have a righteous crown in heaven, this crown I await for is a FREE gift! This crown I await for isn't for sale. It's not sitting somewhere in my closet. And it definitely has nothing to do with my own achievements in life.
The crown I await for is a FREE gift from God... given unexpected, and out of love. This crown will only fit a certain kind of Princess- one who is a daughter of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.

Your probably asking yourself "How can I say I'm a Princess, a daughter of Jesus Christ?" It's because "to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God!" (John 1:12-13)

I may not live in a castle, I may not dress like royalty in gowns of the finest cloth, or go to big fancy events, but I am still a Princess! Second Timothy 4:8 says, "Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

For years I have been seeking to find the meaning of "Your a princess becoming a Queen!" which was a word a good friend of mine gave me. I will probably seek the meaning of it until the day I come before the Lord and he places that crown on my head. But until that day I will be content to know that I AM the heir to a crown that is ment for me, and when I see the King, I'll bow before him and lay my crown at his feet.

Congratulations Melissa & Raph

I met Melissa and Raph last year for there engagement session. They braved the freezing cold weather and still you could see there love for each other through there little jitters of trying to warm up.

This time when I met with Melissa and Raph there was thunder, lightning, rain, and hail. But that didn't stop the day! By the end of the ceremony it cleared up for some great photos!

Melissa & Raph (and family) sorry it took so long to post the photos of your beautiful wedding day! I pray for many years of happiness and many blessing's to you guys on your wonderful journey together! Hope you enjoy a few of my favorite photos!!!

Behind

Wow, So, I'm a little behind on my blogging. I have so much to show you and tell you!!!
So, today is a little bit of catch up with blogging and editing. There will be many posting's in the next few days of the shoots I have done in the last month. Wedding's, models, and more!!! So, be sure to keep your eye open and time for comments. I love to hear from my blog readers!

Many blessing's

Beautiful gift from God

This past weekend I got a chance to see my friends baby...A beautiful 5 week old gift from God! I sat there holding her in the park looking at her as she sleeps, and praying many blessings over her and her future.

I remember when she was still in her mom's belly and I would always talk to her, say little prayers, and try to get her to move. One time I think I got her a little mad because she ither punched or kicked my hand.

This baby is going to be an amazing child of God, she has the most amazing parents to raise her! Liesl and Nathaniel- Thank you SO very much for allowing me to hold and pray for your beautiful blessing! You guys have blessed my life so much since I've met you, you are truly an encouragement to me and my walk with the Lord!

Also, I want to thank you for allowing me to show off your BEAUTIFUL baby!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the photos, I'm sure there will be many more to come!

Many blessing's to your little family!

Just like an angel!She is SO beautiful!

Congratulations Dan & Nicole!

This was a wedding long awaited, a wedding that brought people from accross the country, a wedding that brought families together to become one big happy family.

Dan & Nicole met almost 8 years ago when Nicole was a exchange student from Germany. They met on a summer night and the rest was history.

Dan & Nicole I will have the rest of your photos ready for you in a few more weeks...But for now here is a little tease for you.

Walk for LIFE

This Saturday I am taking a walk! I'm walking a walk that will forever change my life, a walk that I have longed to walk since I was a little girl when I found out my great grandmother died from Surface Epithelium Ovarian Cancer. She struggled with years of pain but when the doctors found the cause of the pain it was too late.
Ever since that day I have longed to work with the American Cancer Society and walk beside many men and women through there journey to uplift and encourage.
Just this past week or so my friend Scarlett Lillian discovered her father has lung cancer and 6 months to a year to live. My heart broke for her and her family, but then I began to rejoice because this is a way of Satan trying to get the Victory but what he doesn't know is that he has already lost this battle. The Lord has the Victory!!!! I couldn't help but to have tears of joy when I began to read Johnny's blog...Johnny is staying strong, and keeping his eyes focused on the Lord. Scarlett's family has battled cancer many of times, her mother's battle of breast Cancer, Scarlett's own scare of breast cancer, and now her father's battle of lung cancer.
So, I'm not only walking this walk for my great grandmother but for many who are unable to walk beside me in this walk for LIFE!

Those of you who read my blog please be sure to lift Johnny and his family up in your prayer's...Thank you!

Blessing's

Consideration

Dearest blog readers,

I recieved a letter in the mail today from Cambridge saying, "Dear Jona, It is my pleasure to inform you that you are being considered for the inclusion into the 2008/2009 Cambridge Who's Who Among Executive and Professional Women "Honors Edition" of the registry.
The 2008/2009 edition of the registry will include biographies of our country's most accomplished women. Recognition of this kind is an honor shared by thousands of executive and professional women throughout America each year. Inclusion is considered by many as the single highest mark of achievement."

OK, so, I don't know how this happend really but it is a God thing. I went to the site because I almost didn't believe that it was true, but it is very much true!

So, yours truely is being considered for something HUGE!!!! I will be sure to keep you updated, also Jona Lee Photography website to come in the near future!!!

Blessing's

Love Birds

I ran into some good friends at the wedding I shot last weekend (photos coming soon) and they allowed me to capture there love for each other with my camera. Derek and Lindsey are the cutest couple I know, you can see the Lord is really moving in there relationship. I knew Derek before I knew Lindsey because I met Derek when I was in school at Great Lakes Christian College. When I left college I started going to Visions Christian Night Club where I then met Lindsey. Well, that was like 2 1/2 years ago and now Derek and Lindsey are dating. They met while playing volleyball, and God continues to pour into there relationship. Jason and I have had the privlage of going out with them to lunch and we had a blast.

But here are there photos...more to come of them again some time in the future be sure to keep your eyes open for this very lovely couple!!!

This is probably my favorite photo of them!!!

Derek & Lindsey Thank you for allowing me to capture your love for one another. Love you guys, and don't forget we need to set a date to go golfing.

Cardboard Testimony

This morning I woke to read one of my favorite photographer's blog by Scarlett Lillian. Recently her father was diagnosed with lung cancer and as an encouragement her friend sent her a video (the video posted below). It got me thinking of what my cardboard testimony would say "Satan almost had the victory of my depression, suicide, abuse, and eating disorder." and on the back "But with the grace of the Lord, the Lord got the VICTORY and I'm SET FREE!"
I'm set free by the blood of the lamb! I'm sitting in the coffee shop watching the video for the fourth time and trying very hard to hold the tears back.

If you guys could keep Scarlett and her family in your prayers.
Scarlett, you and your family are in my prayers!

Be sure to check out the video.

Blessing's

(ok, well I can't figure out how to post the video on here so, here is the link)

Glamour Girl

My friend Rhonda just celebrated her 6th year anniversary with her husband. A few weeks ago she came to me asking for me to take some glamour photos of her for her husband.
I had a great time working with Rhonda she was so much fun and really easy to work with.

So, with that said here are a few of my favorites

Happy Anniversary Rhonda and Jason! I pray for many more years of love and that you find something new in each other that makes you fall in love all over again. I pray for many years of blessing's and happiness!