Meghan.

I have been pretty behind in sharing my photo sessions. I am going to make an effort in catching up on the many sessions I have been blessed to have the past couple of months! I have loved meeting all these new families and spending some time with my own family and friends. This preview of shots is from my sister-in-law, Meghan. Such a beautiful woman of God! Here are just a few of the shots from her shoot.

Stunning! :)

Check out Amanda Ledford Photography on Facebook.

This is your song.

It's funny how one song can bring back a rush of memories for you. Tonight "River God" by Nichole Nordeman did that for me. Good memories. I flashed back to me sitting in front of hundreds of people at church playing the piano and singing this exact song. Letting the Holy Spirit take over and allowing me to freely share what i Loved. I did not know the impact I had that day until I saw several people in the pews crying and wiping their eyes when I was done. I knew God had worked through my voice that day. Then I flashed to playing/singing this song at my grandmother's baptism and how much it meant that I could share that moment with her with my song. Another memory of me on the McMurry quad sitting by myself playing my guitar and singing praise songs. Hours in the practice rooms playing and singing......not because I had to but because I wanted to do it.
 Of course, being a music major you had those things called Juries and music hours but even those times bring good memories.  That feeling when you have worked so hard at something and you close your recital with a standing ovation. Good memories. But sad memories too. Only sad because I remember how much I LOVED singing. How much I LOVED being on stage and sharing what God gave me. They say God gives you this beautiful talent and if you don't use it then you lose it. You can't take these gifts lightly. I have to admit...I am actually scared to try to find it. Only because I have stayed away for so long. And I am afraid that God won't give it back. ...sorry for the randomness.
 :) Just something that was on my heart.


Be brave.
Amanda

The Brave Leaf

I have a lot of clients that have trouble dealing with anxiety issues, change, and fear. I deal with mostly elementary aged kids so I am always kept on my toes looking for new material and interventions.  I was having trouble finding material one day so I just got inspired to write my own little short story. Given that it is Fall, I wanted to share it again. Maybe someone will discover it and decide to publish it and pay me money! :) HAHA. Anyways--here it is

The Brave Leaf.



Once upon a time, there was a bright and beautiful red leaf that was afraid to let go of her branch. She liked where she lived and was content to stay there. The thought of leaving the place she always knew made her feel troubled and scared. Her home was just at the right spot where she could feel the warm rays of the sun and hide in the shade of her tree if she needed.

Every day she could hear a little boy playing outside. He was a brave little boy. He would imagine that he was a pirate, a superhero, or even a knight who had to slay a dragon! He did not seem to be afraid of anything. Still, the thought of letting go of her branch was too overwhelming for her.

As days passed, she would dance around and up and down as the branches shook her. She would laugh at the wind as it rushed passed her and whistled sweet melodies. She would even sing along to the familiar tunes.

One day the tree said to her, "My beautiful leaf, why are you afraid to let go of your branch and fly?"

"I am not brave like the other leaves," she said, "I'm just little ol' me-nothing special."

The tree was sad when he heard her say this. He had lived many years and had never seen such a beautiful and special leaf be afraid to let go. He knew that each of his leaves were special and made for flying.

The leaf exclaimed, "But what if I land on the road and get trampled? What if I land on a rooftop, alone? What if the wind is racing by and carries me to a place I don't know?"

The tree sighed as he reminded her, "My beautiful leaf, do not be afraid or anxious. Let go and fulfill your purpose."

"My purpose?" She asked herself. The beautiful leaf wondered how she could even have a purpose. There were thousands of leaves around her,  what did it matter if she let go or stayed?


The morning came and was quite breathtaking. The rays of the sun collided in perfect symmetry with the branches of her tree, allowing the sunlight to pierce through and land on her colors. All the other leaves were flying away and twirling around her in a vibrant display. 

She watched the little boy running and laughing in the distance-as he fought his imaginary villian with an inflatable sword. He played as if he had not a care in the world. And he didn't. He was free.

Then her branches began to shake and dance as the wind began to whirl. With confidence, the beautiful leaf let go of her branch and the wind blew her high into the sky as she flipped, turned, and glided through the autumn day. The leaf was awe-struck by what her courage allowed her to see and experience. She was happy.

As the leaf dropped to the ground she smiled and thought of how proud of herself she was to go on that great adventure. She did something she never thought she could do. And her journey was even more beautiful than she ever imagined.

The leaf was tired from her adventure. 

She thought of the brave little boy and hoped that he got to see her as she was flying through the air.

She began to drift off and dream. As she fell asleep, she dreamed of being brave, being free, and letting go.



Love and Blessings,
Amanda

A little of my side hobby. :)

Just wanted to share some of my photographs from recent photo shoots. Enjoy!!

Kelsea-Prom

Jordan and his date-Prom

A new little friend of mine. :) 

I recently got to capture a couple of birthday parties! Loved it!

And a recital! :)

Can't wait for the next one!
Be Brave.
Amanda :)

Another one crossed off my bucket list.

A few months ago, my sweet husband decided to drive me up to the beach to see a sea turtle release as part of a surprise. This is something that I have always wanted to see as sea turtles have always intrigued me. A combination of their uniqueness and history makes them something worth keeping up with for me. I felt kind of silly when i got teary eyed watching the sea turtles being released into the ocean.  But i felt like God gave me that gift because he knew it was a part of His creation that really inspired me. The ocean is another thing I find so amazing. It has so many beautiful things to show us. I love waking up early enough before everyone gets out-to watch the sunrise. It seems every single sunrise is different and artistically crafted for that very day.  I wanted to share some of the snapshots I got at the sea turtle release. There were several released that day. A great experience that I won't forget.

Be brave.

Cupcake fun. :)

Since Memorial Day is coming up, I wanted to share a cupcake creation I made last year. It is super easy. I just used blueberries and strawberries to create the American Flag image on 48 mini cupcakes. It is better to use mini cupcakes otherwise you are going to have one huge American flag...which you might want. We loved them! Enjoy! Happy almost Memorial Day!

A pocket full of rocks..

Conner almost always come home from school with rocks in his pockets. His teachers have actually started getting on to him about this. Haha. He always tell them, “I have to get some for my mommy. ” Why he feels the need to bring me rocks every day..I don’t know..but I think it’s sweet. I could probably fill up a giant pickle jar with the little rocks he has brought me if I kept them all. I asked him one day why he chose the certain rocks that he did and he said, “I just did.” Sometimes he says they are shiny or cool…and sometimes they are ugly and dirty…but he presents them in a way as if they are so beautiful. Like I am going to be so enthralled at the beauty of these rocks. Besides the fact that they are from Conner--there is nothing particularly special about them. But Conner thinks so.

I found myself the other day asking God what He could be showing me through Conner giving me these rocks every day. Its pretty neat how God can speak to us through simple things as this. My answer was this: You are beautiful. I chose you. My grace is sufficient.

I have been reading a book called Made To Crave and its about satisfying our cravings with God instead of other things. So far it’s a pretty good book and ventures through other things that people use like drugs, food, and other addictions. I’ve struggled with the way I view myself--in probably every way--spiritually, physically, etc. Letting myself believe that I’m not good enough..I don’t do enough of something..yada yada…letting others steal the joys of my talents and passions. Making myself believe things that are not true. Lets just say --Satan knows exactly what to do to get me down. But in reading the book this passage has stuck out to me the most--

“I’ve found my beautiful. And I like my beautiful. I don’t have to hold my beautiful up to others with a critical eye of judgment. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”

God chose me. He loves me. I wasn’t a perfect and smooth rock when he found me--I was broken and cracked..yet he still thought I was beautiful.

Today at church there was a man that was baptized. He did not go to our church--he was trying to catch a bus across the street and the station happened to be closed. So, he decided to come in and attend the service. Through the service he accepted Christ and got Baptized---forget the bus ride-he found Jesus! :) He wants that man to find his beautiful and experience Love too. He wants us to find our beautiful. He wants me to stop and look at my “beautiful” and embrace it instead of trying to find it in other things. He even tries to show me through simple things like Conner bringing me rocks. So now, every time Conner brings me rocks from play time or when I hear the clanging in the dryer from escaped rocks out of his pockets.. I am reminded..

You are beautiful. I chose you. My grace is sufficient.
I’ll stop babbling now. :))


Be brave
Amanda