Thanksgiving 09'

We spent Thanksgiving in Columbus, Ohio. Melissa's Mom's side lives there and boy do i have some cute cousins. They are so fun to be around and as you can see they are not shy in front of a camera. One of our cousins Paula has leukemia and is undergoing treatment right now and has one more round to go. She is a senior in high school and her faith and attitude have been amazing to see in such a young woman. Please pray for her and her family.

McCrae Farm - Eutaw, Al

Just spent this last weekend with the students at The Church at Tuscaloosa. We had the Advance weekend at McCrae Farm in Eutaw, AL. This place is unbelievable here are a couple pics that are pretty stunning.

BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF TUSCALOOSA

I just recently started working with BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS of Tuscaloosa. I can't express in words how amazing it has been. For the longest time I have wanted to give back to my community in a powerful way and to me nothing is more impacting then investing relationally in someone. My friend Amy Jo works with BBBS and we were talking about what an impact it would make if 100 students were partnered with a mentor in the community. That changes lives - that would change a school - that would change our community.

When you look at the human body and how complex it all is - I see a designer. Then I think about how I am unique and different from any other person in the world. Now i wonder why so many of us who are unique and special settle to live such ordinary lives. The only thing you can leave behind is legacy and influence. Make your mark by joining with me and thousands of others and become a big brother or big sister today.

Go to their website www.bbbsa.org or email Amy Jo:amyjo@bbbswestal.org

Meet my brother from a different mother: Ray.
He loves football, his dogs, and getting his picture taken - what a ridiculously good looking brother i have.

My New Blog Venture - The Local Joint

I love discovering new local joints that have amazing food or products. There is just something about a family owned and local business that separates it from a national chain. As a local business owner the hardest thing when we started was getting our name and what we do out there.

I decided to combine my passions for local businesses and photography and feature the places that i shop and love here in tuscaloosa.

I started a blog called "THE LOCAL JOINT." that will feature one or two local businesses each week.

If you know of a great local business or own a local business and want to get featured send me an email at bookleephotography@gmail.com.

The first local joint we featured is CELEBRATIONS BAKERY

WANT TO WIN A 6" CAKE FROM CELEBRATIONS BAKERY??

JUST LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST AND WE WILL RANDOMLY SELECT A WINNER.

I love fall.

We had a pumpkin carving at the hoffman house the other day. I love fall - putting on a sweatshirt and jeans is the perfect outfit for comfortable living. The drive from here to nashville is killer with the leaves changing. And best of all college football saturdays.

Family Visit

It was so great to have my family in town this last weekend. They were such troopers driving all the way from Michigan. We mostly just hung around the house - on Saturday we went to the parade and tailgated with some great friends of ours. We miss them already.

Catlayst Conference - Atlanta Event Photographer

Every year I get a chance to go to Catalyst conference in Atlanta, Georgia for young leaders. Jeff Shinabarger a great friend of mine is on the creative team for Catalyst. Jeff also started gift carder giver we helped run the booth. This years conference was incredible - i loved hearing from one of my favorite guys Tony Dungy - who is from my hometown of Jackson, Mi. Here are a couple names that I think you need to check out: Rob Bell, Matt Chandler, and Zach Williams.

Also if you are in the Atl area you should drop by the varsity - it is a grease pit but the environment is really cool.

More than Shoes.

Want to take a minute to introduce you to a recent purchase and organization i am partnering with this month.

Think about the shoes you are wearing. How many miles have you walked in them? What are some of the stories and places your feet have taken you?

We want to be the type of person that is mindful of the decisions and paths we walk. We want our feet to bring beautiful news to people all around the world.

Soles4souls - is an organization where you send in gently worn shoes and they redistribute them to people in need. Places where they have no shoes. The average person in America I am sure has at least 4 pairs are there any that just sit there taking up space?

Ship them to soles4souls
Check out their website at: WWW.SOLES4SOULS.ORG

Maybe you are about to buy a new pair of shoes - let me introduce you to TOMS shoes. For every pair of TOMS that you buy they give a pair away to someone in need. There shoes are amazingly comfortable and they are well designed so buy something that gives something.

Go to WWW.TOMS.COM or WWW.TOMSSHOES.COM

Win Shape Retreat Center

Melissa and I got away this last weekend and stayed a night at the winshape retreat in Rome, Ga. It was rebuilt by Truet Cathy the owner of Chic Fil A - the whole goal was to build a place that helps marriages, families and children grow closer to each other. The campus is right next to Berry College and the campus is 28,000 acres. There were deer everywhere. It was an amazing place and I highly recommend you getting away there.