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Christmas Gift Certificate | Nashville Family Photography

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Looking for a unique gift for your wife, Mom or Grandmother?  Look no further.  This is the kind of gift that will truly last forever!  This week only, gift certificates for a one hour session are $150 ($25 off regular price).    Contact me to purchase yours at misty@tronephotography.com

Christians and Yoga | Nashville Photographer

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Rushing. Constant noise in my ear.  My breath can’t keep up with the next breath.  Thoughts run together until I can’t remember why I walked downstairs in the first place.  TV. Radio. Noise Machines. Iphones. Internet.   All keeping me at the pace of a racehorse trying to win the Kentucky Derby.  But this body is tired of racing all the time.  When my body finally caught up with the endless amount of chasing kids, running errands, and taking photographs, I was beat – not just physically but also spiritually. Yet I live in the 21st century where racing is essential to survival.

Thankfully, there is an hour that exists outside of this insanity.  My 8:30am Yoga class is a place where I find refuge and rest.   For one hour the racing stops.  When I am in shavasana, the intrusive noises of my day are quieted and I can actually hear the voice of God.  He tells me that I’m strong because He is my strength.  He tells me that I can have peace because He has overcome the world.  He tells me that my body is beautiful because His hands formed me in my mother’s womb.  He tells me it’s good to be still because that’s when I truly know He is God.  And He tells me that my breath is sacred because it comes from Him alone.

The word Yoga means “to join, unite or to attach.” If God is truly Wholly Other, then I can’t imagine a better place for God to reside than in a room full of people uniting their bodies together in quiet harmony. There is no other communal bodily experience (outside of worship itself) that I have found to be more beautiful.  Our bodies were made for more than just beating against the wind.  Lying on my mat, I can hear the kickboxing class below – the thudding of feet just trying to keep up with the music that drowns out their own fear of not succeeding.  It begins to sounds like my every day life. Yet when I am quiet I am reminded that God made us for stillness, meditation and to be in tune with our bodies.

In Romans, we are told that God commands us to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, for this is your spiritual act of worship.”  Is beating our bodies ragged in this fast-paced society a living sacrifice?  I think of a sacrifice as someone that is fully aware of how alive they are in their body: counting every breath, feeling every rise and fall of the chest, knowing that the body is the armor of life. Dead sacrifices are no longer aware of what they feel or think.  And Most of the time I feel like a dead sacrifice running around trying to catch my next breath.  Yet I long to be a living sacrifice - fully aware that both my breath and my soul are sacred.  Understanding that life – my very soul – is a gift.

In his article, “Christian Yoga: It's a Stretch,” Mark Driscoll describes the practice of Yoga as “demonic.” He uses the same passage above from Romans to explain, “everything we do with our physical bodies also involves our immortal souls.”  While I completely agree with his statement, I disagree that yoga cannot be a means for binding the two. Body and soul are inextricably linked, and breath can become prayer – the physical and spiritual working together in perfect harmony  Susanna Herring, owner of Hot Yoga of Nashville, so wonderfully explains this harmony of body and spirit, “We bow to the divine in each one of us. As a Christian, I consider bowing to the divine by acknowledging the Holy Spirit inside of us and acknowledging we humans are made in the image of God.” This acknowledgement Susanna is describing – saying “Namaste” at the end of the practice – frightens many Christians. Yet “Namaste” means to give notice to another person, to recognize their presence.  It means seeing the divine that resides in each person who is made in the very image of God Himself. When do we take time to actually recognize someone else’s presence and to give such a beautiful form of acknowledgement? By saying this, we are not worshipping a human form of a false god.  We are admiring the beauty of the greatest of God’s creations: the human body & Spirit.  And ultimately we are worshipping God Himself when we place our hands together, our fingers pointed to something beyond ourselves, and say Namaste – I see you.

In my experience, there are three components to yoga: exercise, breathing and meditation. All three are essential in understanding how yoga and Christianity are not at war with each other.  While most Christians believe that exercise is a God-honoring activity, having a fit body is not going to get you into heaven.  In fact, I dare to say that sometimes it may keep you from having true communion with Jesus.  Our body worshipping culture tries to convince us that if only ______ were flatter, more toned, straighter, etc. – then we could be loved.  But Jesus tells us something different – ; He says that He loves us just as we are.  And what I love about yoga is that it reiterates exactly what Jesus teaches: be who you are, where you are.  My teacher, Marlaine, always reminds us to listen to our bodies and to not compare ourselves with anyone in the class.  The practice is for you alone.  As regular exercise, yoga is so freeing to me because, unlike every other exercise class I have attended, I feel no pressure to compete or compare myself with those around me.

Breathing comes second nature to the exercise in the practice of yoga.  My yoga friend, Elisabeth, reminded me yesterday that the Hebrew name for God, “Yahweh,” literally sounds like an inhale/exhale when spoken in Hebrew.  God’s name is breath.  And He breathed our very existence into place.  We inhale our very first breath into this world and exhale our very last as we enter eternity.  Breath is essential to our life with God, and yet it is something we take into consideration very little.  We, as Christians, think it to be too mystical or self-centering to focus on the body’s response to life.  Yet it is our very breath that God intended to remind us of Him every time we say His name.  And as I breathe in and out on my mat, His very name is spoken all around, whether the lips know it or not.

This can only bring me to meditation. Though its history is steeped in Christianity, the term often frightens away many Christians for sounding too “New Age.”  People wonder if it’s possible to meditate on Jesus during yoga practice while someone lying on the mat next to them is meditating on something (or someone) else?   This brings me to another question: how do we define meditation?  Webster defines it as “engaging in mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened spiritual awareness.”  It is something that is internal, personal, and between you and God alone.  No one else can enter into that space.  If I can’t be brought into a place with God in a room full of people from all different backgrounds, then how will I ever learn to find Him in the world around me?  In his book, Blue Like Jazz, Don Miller says something that is really beautiful to me.  He was on a college campus in Portland that was very well known for its liberalism and hatred for Christians.  One night after leaving a wild, worldly event on campus, Don looked back “at the kids laughing, dancing, and throwing up.” And he “felt very strongly that Jesus was relevant in this place, that if He was not relevant here then He was not relevant anywhere.”  That’s exactly how I feel about my place in yoga.  If Jesus cannot be found in that room, then He cannot be found anywhere.

I am not discounting the fact that the origins of yoga come from the Hindu tradition.  But the Hindu's took the above gifts from the true God and turned them into a way to worship a false god.  I could argue this point in many ways in the fact there are many things we love in America that has it origins in other religious traditions.  One example of this is the Olympic games - originating in the worship of Greek gods.  When someone participates in the Olympic games, we do not accuse them of dancing with the devil or worshipping another god.  We understand that the meaning of the games have changed and evolved over the centuries.  Can someone still participate in the games for the intention of worshipping a Greek god?  Of course.  But a Christian can also run with the purpose of living out his life verse of Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

This is what it comes down to:  If I really believe that God is Yahweh, who commands that every breath out of our mouths gives glory to His name, then I must be able to find Him everywhere.  And an unlikely place that I have found Him is in a little room at the YMCA, a place I never expected to find Him.  Ever.  I did not go there seeking to find Him.  But He was there waiting for me.  Waiting to make my breath part of His.  Waiting to give me quiet in the midst of chaos.  Waiting to embrace me for who I am today, not for who I will be tomorrow.  Waiting to sing over me with His presence.  Yes, it’s an unlikely place to find God.  But the more I come to know Him, the more I realize that’s how He works – meeting unlikely people in unlikely places.  So to all you who believe yoga is not for Christians, I say please find a place to be with God in the quiet, in the stillness.  Find a place to listen to God’s name come out in your breath.  Find a place to hear Him find delight in you.  It doesn’t have to be yoga.  It doesn’t even have to be in church.  But please don’t jump to judgment for your fellow brothers and sisters who do find God in a dimly lit room as they move their bodies to the flow of the very name of God.  Namaste.

*these are pictures of one of my good friends and her sister who are both instructors at Hot Yoga Nashville

Black Friday Special! | Nashville Children's Photographer

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50% off session fee for the month of January only!  Must be booked today and can only be used in January 2012.  Limited available so email me soon before they run out! misty@tronephotography.com

Do Unto Others | Nashville Children's Photographer

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On the way to yoga this morning, Bella Grace was telling me about a friend who had told her a lie.  She was angry and in her typical, dramatic spirit, she went on and said, "I will never be her friend again."  Sometimes I let moments pass by that could be used as lessons.  But today I knew it was one of those mornings where a lesson was necessary.  So I asked her if she had told a lie before.  Her answer, "not to her."  Smart girl.  So I asked it in a more pointed way.  "Have you told a lie to Mommy before?"  She thought for a moment and quietly said, "yes."  And then I asked, "Does Mommy stay mad at you or forgive you?"  At this moment I hold my breath because I just realized I put myself in a position to possibly hear hard truth.  Thankfully she quickly answered, "you forgive me."   Then we go on to talk about Matthew 7:12 -"do to others as you would have them do to you."    I know her ears were listening now I just pray her heart was listening as well. This lesson has applied to me in many areas of my life.  And this sweet family showed me much needed grace this week.  I pray that they will be given the same measure of grace when they are in need of it.   Enjoy a few of my favorites of Jake and his very patient and kind Mom.

do to others what you would have them do to you
do to others what you would have them do to you

Washing Feet | Nashville Children's Photographer

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We walked down the aisle of the church.  Feet bare.  Souls yearning.  Looking up towards the cross.  The quietness of our feet followed by the waiting.  Waiting for our turn to sit and be served.  It was my turn.  A lady I had never laid eyes on put her hands on my dirty feet.  She didn't turn away.  The water gently poured over the dirt .  It was hard to look her in the eyes knowing she had seen the part of me that I keep hidden in a cute pair of Toms.  The part of me that is usually dirty because I am not a shoe person at home.  And I am not a clean person either.  She saw it and I was naked, exposed.  As I stood to take a turn washing my daughters feet, she looked me straight in the eyes and said "God's peace."  And I felt known and loved. My now 5 year old sits there waiting for me to pour the water on her little feet.  I never really look at them.  I did tonight.  They were beautiful feet.  Reminding me of the hospital with her little scar from the shots.  Such a pureness in her smooth soles.  She looked up at me with her bright eyes saying everything without saying anything at all.  And I knew.  This was nothing new for her.  She knows my hands well.  She is known and loved every day by those 2 hands.

Bella Grace stood and took the towel ready to wash someone's feet.  I looked up.  Her eyes looked right at me and it was her.  The woman who for the last 3 months has helped bring me closer to the very heart of God.  And now my daughters hands will be an instrument of mercy to her.  In her wisdom and grace, she says, "I feel God loving me with these 2 hands."  I know this woman and her story.  I know my story.  And I don't doubt that God wanted us all right where we were tonight.  He wanted me to know and feel love even in the midst of my dirt.  He wanted to remind me that my hands do matter.  And He wanted to reveal Himself even through a little child.  "From the lips (hands) of children and infants, you have ordained praise."

Whose feet did you wash today?  Everyday?  God redeems the broken and dirty.  Come to His table and be satisfied.

{My friends Lindsay (in the previous post) washes the feet of her neighbors everyday.   Here is one cutie neighbor enjoying the fruits of her love.}

All I Want For Christmas... | Nashville Family Photographer

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is my two front teeth AND a gift certificate from Trone Photography!  A gift certificate makes a great gift for Christmas.  It could be given to Grandmothers who would love a session with the grandkids & family.  Or to a Mom who is never in the pictures.  Or your sister or sister-in-law who have been putting off pictures for too long.   It's such a great gift because it will truly last forever!

Once you order the gift certificate, I will email you a 4X6 certificate.  Then you can print it out wherever you would like as a photo.  How fun to receive a photo but it actually be a gift certificate for your own photos!   Contact me anytime in the next few weeks for your certificate.  If you order a gift certificate THIS week then it will also include a $20 photo credit for FREE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Stand by Me | Nashville Family Photographer

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I think Anne may have been my first "client" ever.  I can remember photographing Jack when he was about one year old in my front yard.  Having friends that believe in you is invaluable especially as an entrepreneur.  And, this sweet friend has definitely stood by me throughout the last 3 years as I have journeyed from  just taking pictures to becoming a full fledged photographer.   There is just something about those who stand by you that makes youkeep on keeping on.  I seriously could not have made it without the Anne's in my life.  So, this is my public "thank you" to you, Anne.  You are a breath of fresh air every single time I take your photo, along with the rest of the Morrow clan! We met up on the Vanderbilt campus where Nate spent his college days studying and playing football.  I love meeting up at places that have sentimental value, it just makes the photos that much more meaningful.  Hope you all enjoy!

Do You Like Me?

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Check yes or no.  That is what I feel like I am asking here... Putting all pride aside, will you please take just a minute and vote for me as your Favorite Nashville Children's photographer.  This is a "best of" that happens every year through Nashville Parent and I would love to have that kind of exposure!  Just fill in "Trone Photography" when you vote... You don't have to vote for anything else if you don't want. I would be so thankful if you took the time!  Hope you all are well....

Go here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2KVSDD9

Wanted: Models

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Hi Friends, I am looking for 2-4 high school junior girls who would be willing to spend a few hours with me in front of the camera.  I am planning to shoot this Saturday afternoon- Feb 13th.  Please forward this on to anyone who may be interested and have them email me directly at misty@tronephotography.com.  They need to be willing to have fun and be a little creative!  Also, the best part is that their session will be free of charge!

Hope you all are well. Thanks, Misty

A New Beginning

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Hello Friends, I am so beyond excited about the launch of this new blog.  It represents where I have been and where I plan to go.  Looking back through my old blog brought me back to the birth of Trone Photography.  What an amazing journey it has been over the last few years!  So many of you have been there with me every step of the way- believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself.  You are what have made this dream possible for me.  There is nothing better than to know that you are right where you want to be in your life.  I am truly at home in my passion.  Following my dreams has been scary at times but it has been completely worth the fear.  Knowing that my work is going to be seen for generations to come keeps my heart and mind energized to keep learning and growing.  I have loved my time spent with many of you running around your home or chasing your kids at the park.  But, my job doesn't stop after I leave our session.  I go home to my computer and stare at the images for hours- editing and even sometimes laughing or crying.  There is always at least one image per session that makes my heart leap.  It produces some emotion in me that nothing else in this world can create besides a photograph.  The image staring at me from my computer screen lets me know that God is at work all around me even when I can't see it at the time.  His creative forces are constantly moving- whether through a babies gummy smile, a little girl running towards her Daddy, a couple who has been married for 50 years laughing together, or just the perfect rays of light coming through the clouds.  His fingerprints are all over my images and that makes it priceless to me.

So, here's to a new season of Trone Photography!  My hope is to continuously update this blog as much as possible with photos and news.  So, please add it to your feed or Google Reader.  And, I would really love to hear your comments when you feel moved to do so.  Please take a look at the website for a few changes on pricing, etc.

Yours Truly,

Misty