Memories and Melodies: The New Blog!

Hey everybody!

First of all, I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you (friends and strangers alike!) who have followed my photography blog over the past almost-two-years. Thank you for your encouragement and for all of you who asked me to take your pictures! :)

It's been a wonderfully fun journey and I've learned so much. Photography will always be one of my favorite things. :)

But a few weeks ago I had an idea.

"This photography business thing just doesn't seem to be working...I mean, nobody is asking me to take pictures for them. Maybe I should give that up... But wait! Maybe I could start a new blog! About photography, yes, but also about music! And whatever else I want to write about, like things I'm learning from God's Word that I think would be encouraging to others!"

And I did indeed start a new blog. The first post is up!

So head over, pull up a chair, and you just might want to sit a spell!

Rebekah Hope | Memories and Melodies from the Mississippi Coast

Because of Jesus,
Rebekah

Fortenberry Family | Gulfport, Mississippi Children and Family Photography

I was so excited when Mrs. Shannon asked me to take pictures for her family! They are so much fun to be with and they have a great big backyard to take pictures in. The sun was just going down when we took these so the light was beautiful. The boys' facial expressions cracked me up!!

Hope you enjoy these pictures of this sweet family!





























Runaway brother!

Because of Jesus,

Rebekah

It's supposed to be cold outside... | Personal

...but today, it was seventy-five degrees. Oh, well, that's the kind of weather we get in December in south Mississippi. (I, for one, don't mind it at all- I'm already missing summer!)

One of the benefits of living down here is that flowers bloom in the winter time! Yes, seriously, you northerners (if any of you ever read this blog) should be jealous. We've got several sasanqua bushes in our front yard, and as soon as the weather gets a little bit colder, they burst into bloom. So of course I took some pictures, and thought you would enjoy them!

Our great big Bradford Pear tree has turned a dozen different shades of orange and brown- it's about the only fall color we have down here, but it's beautiful!

(we hang several ears of Indian corn on our front door in the fall- the light shining on it was so pretty!)

Remember the last post, where I showed you the mandolin I was borrowing? Well, I was practicing it one night a few weeks ago, and, next thing you know, my family was telling me that I had to either give it back or practice outside or get a different one that sounded better.  (It's a really inexpensive mandolin and it sounded terrible. To them, at least. I didn't care- I was having too much fun playing it!)

Anyways, I did some research and found out about this one...from The Mandolin Hut...and ordered it...and a couple of days before Thanksgiving, it arrived. 

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you...my Kentucky mandolin!

(Hey! There's me!)

  The finish is just beautiful- so clear you can see yourself in it! :)


  Not only does it look beautiful, it sounds beautiful, too- so clear and bright! I've had such fun learning how to play it...maybe one of these days I'll learn something well enough to make a video to show you. :)  
Speaking of videos...a few weeks ago I happily discovered the wonderful music-making duo of Drew and Ellie Holcomb...and I thought you would enjoy them, too!

Last but not least...it's impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit when you watch this!

That's it for now- check back soon, though, 'cause I've got a couple of photoshoots lined up for this week!!! :)

Because of Jesus,
Rebekah

Nathan & Joanna | First Anniversary portraits {Biloxi, Mississippi portrait photography}

Have you ever met people, and even though it's the first time you've ever been around them, you feel like you've known them for years? That's how we felt when we met Nathan and Joanna. They started coming to our church this summer and we've had the most wonderful time getting to know them. They have been such a blessing to us! We're so sad they're going to have to move later this year but we're trying to really enjoy these last couple of months with them. :)

Nathan and Joanna are celebrating their first anniversary- today, in fact! I was so excited when Joanna recently asked me to "just take a few pictures for us!" I laughed because, if you know me, you know I don't just take a few pictures! It's usually more like several dozen or maybe even a couple hundred!

I met them at the beautiful new Biloxi Visitor's Center, right across the highway from the iconic Biloxi Lighthouse. I've been by there a couple times over the last few months and knew it'd be the perfect place for pictures- it certainly turned out great for this shoot!

Here are some of my favorites- hope you enjoy them!



















  They recently found out they're expecting their first little one! So happy and excited for them. :)





  The first time I ever walked in the visitor's center, my jaw dropped. This staircase is gorgeous (I wish I'd gotten a full-length picture to show you!) and the light streaming through the windows is even more beautiful.


















Thank you so much, Nathan and Joanna, for asking me to take pictures for you! Congratulations on your first anniversary- may the LORD bless you with many more wonderful years together!

Because of Jesus,

Rebekah