Amanda Mae Steele

Whew - where has November gone?! I'm starting to lose track of the family sessions I've done and the sets I've been on at my "big girl job" - and I love it! However, life is still life warts and all. There are good times and growing times to be had ("growing" is the nice way of saying tough - or even downright crappy if we're being honest here!) and this season is a pretty healthy mixture of both. I'm thankful for the joy and healing that comes from being able to do what I l

Okay, newbie here - I had no idea how much work - and FUN - mini-sessions could be! I'm so glad I had a few breaks in between but I'll DEFINITELY be packing a lot more snacks next time. WHEW! I am so grateful to live in a city where autumn is a "thing". However, stunning fall in Nashville is a bit short-lived. The six years we've lived here I've noticed a pattern - the trees change color overnight, a big storm comes along and blows/washes all the leaves away, and before we kn

Yesterday I received a text from a good friend saying, "Good morning! Thinking of you and praying for you today!" I thought that was sweet and Lord knows I can always use prayer. Then one of the volunteers I work with asked me shortly thereafter, "How are you doing today?" His tone sounded more concerned than usual which was a little odd. "Should I not be ok?" I thought to myself. "OHHH YEAH... I forgot! It's Mother's Day!" I said. He chuckled, "Well, I guess that's good that

I love living in Franklin where there are distinct seasons, a huge contrast from growing up in San Francisco where (at least in our part of town) the season was basically year-round fog with a two week Indian summer if we were lucky. Winter is always the hardest for me as I struggle to enjoy and be patient with the cold air and dead trees. Even though I know spring always comes after with the promise of new life, it's still a struggle - but it's also a sweet surprise every ti

I hadn't heard of Sanibel Island until recent years, when our family was raving about it. They invited us to join them on spring break this April and Nick and I couldn't say no to visiting the "Shell Capital of the World"! There's something about the beach that just speaks to me. I know it sounds cheesy - but when I walked along the beautiful (Yet at times painful! Shells are sharp!) coastline, I felt so loved and cared for. I have never seen so many shells in my life and to