“Perhaps after all our worries and questions, we’ll discover that all along God had the right thing at the right time for us. Perhaps His plan is more wonderful than anything that we could create by ourselves- whether it comes with ‘pomp and blare,’ or quietly, ‘like an old friend.’ Perhaps…. perhaps…we should entrust our questions of ‘How?’ and ‘Who?’ and ‘When?’ into His tender care. ~ Joshua Harris

That quote was printed in our wedding program one decade ago; and even today it speaks immensely to my heart.
You see 10 years ago, I had really just begun to understand and take hold of His timetable.
And now, I’ve been married to the man of my dreams for 3,650 days!

It’s hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly.

It seems like just days ago my best friend Heather Ann was slipping on my Gran’s garter and praying with me. Just hours since my dad drove me to the church for my very own first look with my soon to be spouse. Minutes since Larry pronounced us husband and wife and we walked down the aisle as our bridal party and guests sang You are Holy. You see, that day, full of all the excitement and joy, in and of itself flew by, now just a precious collection of memories that are forever etched on my heart. But, they are memories that continually serve as a reminder of a covenant that was made before so many friends and family that day. Those memories take me back to a season of my life that was simply so sweet. A time when I can clearly see how God orchestrated details, brought me through heart ache and blessed me with a man who loves Jesus first and foremost. A man who has always desired to lead our family closer to Christ and who 10 years later only gets better at doing so.

On so many of our anniversaries, I stop and reflect on the beauty of that day and the sweetness of those hours celebrating what God had done in bringing us together. I look back at our wedding album and see dear family and friends who walked a journey with us, who stood by our sides, encouraged us and challenged us to live out the life God had called us to fulfill. I’m thankful for them. Even today, 10 years later, though distance separates most of us, my heart rejoices for their precious friendships and the impact they each made in our lives.

But mostly, on our anniversary, I thank God that he’s brought us through so much -good and bad- and that He’s given me a best friend with whom to travel life . In ten years we’ve experienced great joy and great loss, but we’ve seen the provision and protection of God in so many ways. I’m reminded of this passage:

For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 96:4

Today, I praise the Lord greatly for His gift of salvation and for the amazing blessing of my husband. A man who I love deeply, admire greatly and respect immensely. A man who challenges me to be better, to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ, a man who patiently puts up with this crazy woman and who does so with extreme love and understanding. A man who has seen me at my worst and my best and who daily chooses to love me. I’m so very thankful to share this life with my best friend, someone who unexpectedly stole my heart all those years ago in Tallahassee. I so look forward to many more years of dreaming-serving-loving-trusting- growing….together!

Happy Anniversary Rahul. I love you the most!

Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down. Perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps then…perhaps…love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath. ~ Anne of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery

I usually don’t post portions of weddings on the blog as “stand alone sets,” because I feel like a story should be told from beginning to end.  However, I just keep coming back to Rebecca and Ryan’s first look.  It was powerful. Moving.  Humbling even,  to know this couple trusted me enough to be there with them- raw emotion and all. And, since I came up with that rule, I’m choosing today to modify it for the sake of giving you not only a precious Friday pick me up, but a glimpse into why these first look moments truly are so priceless. Besides, these images really do tell a story, from the stunning bride waiting patiently for her groom, to his pleasant surprise at seeing the love of his life; from smiles to tears, tender hugs to big laughs. This is a story of anticipation and great love. It’s the story of their very first look.

You see, I always encourage brides to really consider this as a viable and wise option for their day. It helps the schedule to run smoothly, provides ample time to capture lovely couple images without cutting into the reception and honestly aids in the calming of nerves for both the bride and groom. What I also share is that a first look is so intimate, personal and touching- oh and it doesn’t have parameters on it. A first look gives you more than a glimpse to soak in the beauty of the moment. In fact, 10 years ago, my husband and I experienced a first look and it’s the single moment I treasure the most from our entire day- besides when our pastor pronounced us husband and wife!

Yet, as with many things in life, words aren’t always enough to convince. Sometimes we need to see with our eyes and experience with our hearts the beauty of these first moments, without a large crowd… just 2 people, completely in love, setting eyes on one another for the first time on their wedding day.

Ah, the New Year is upon us; yet it’s almost mind boggling that 2011 is coming to a close. In the past few months, our family has been on a roller coaster ride, with so many twists and turns my head has barely stopped spinning. Oh how we’re longing for a peaceful and calm 2012 with the beauty of new beginnings, fresh starts and unique opportunities. I would be remiss though not to mention how very blessed and thankful we are for the beautiful gift of Christmas, sent to us in the form of Baby Jesus, so many years ago.  The celebration of His birth has calmed the storms, helped bring joy in trials and has been refreshing in the midst of sickness amongst our family that just wouldn’t stop.

This season, we’re thankful for Him, just as we are each and every day; and we’re also thankful for our sweet clients who have continuously extended grace and understanding in the midst of our crazy chaos!

There will be many changes this year, especially for Annie Agarwal Photography, but our desire to serve and bring glory to Him will remain the same.

I look forward to sharing priceless memories with you and yours, capturing abundant moments and celebrating the journey of 2012!

Blessings today and always,

Annie

And since no post is complete without a picture or two, here are some warm wishes from our family for a Merry [belated] Christmas and of course, a wonderful New Year! 

Matthan: 2; Griffin: 6; Eden Grace: 4; Collin: 7

I love capturing families, but I’m a total softy when there are four sweet ones. I’m constantly reminded of my own precious blessings while I spend time with theirs. This awesome family was so much fun to work with- the kids were downright adorable and phenomenally well behaved, despite the monster sized mosquitoes that attempted to carry us away! Flexibility and patience played a huge key in making this a success and Katie, Luke, Sarah and Emma were up for the challenge. They went with the flow and charmed me with their toothless smiles and spunky personalities. Their mom had it right when she said in her email, “Let’s just have fun!” Fun, that’s exactly what a family session should be!

So, here’s a little sneak at our delightful time together!

I adore this first image because it speaks so directly to the relationship that these children have with their father. You can literally sense the love, adoration and respect they have for him by the way they circled around and snuggled up.

  How do you get this:

and this?

You let them do this first!

Be prepared for complete cuteness!

And, I always adore a picture or two of mom and dad! What a beautiful reminder to your children of the importance of commitment and unconditional love! Besides, how often do we as parents find ourselves in front of the camera?

My favorite! This is one of those I would have to blow up and hang so I’d see it every day! What a beautiful family.

Speaking of hanging up images, it’s that time of year when Christmas is knocking at the door and everyone is looking for the perfect gift. I frequently receive emails from families who would like to print images for their home or for relatives during this season. The tendency is to get quite a few 4×6 prints and to place them in a collage style frame. This year, I propose that we change our perspective and look at the images from your session as art. From experience, a large quantity of 4×6 images simply does not have the same impact as a few carefully selected prints in larger sizes. I thought this adorable family would be a great way to explore the possibility of thinking outside of the 4×6 box!

Take for example, a master bedroom. Rather than one frame with a collection of small images, imagine waking up to something that not only adds visual impact to your room, but tugs at your heart strings as well!

What about your dining room, the place your family gathers and your guests join you for scrumptious meals and lots of laughter? Nervous about one day changing the style of the room, stick with classic black and white images from your session.

How about some of your favorite images that show the character and personality of your family in an unexpected place, like the laundry room? Now that’s one way to get inspired in an unassuming room in your home!

You see big isn’t scary! Big makes an impact. Big makes your memories larger than life and leaves you reliving them each time you catch a glimpse. Take the plunge this year, go big. You’ll be so glad that you did!

Thanks Linsey and Brent for being such good sports and for sharing your family with me! It was an honor!

Wow! It’s been such a busy summer! My four kids have kept me on my toes, my awesome hubby has traveled the world serving in various ways and we’ve had lots of exciting family events including my beautiful cousin’s wedding and a jam packed celebration in Miami for my mother in laws 30th anniversary of her business…and that’s just a tiny slice of life in the Agarwal house! There are also lots of weddings and sessions I’ve had the honor of capturing and now, my goal is to finally share them with you! I’ll be doing a marathon blogging session over the next few days, trying to showcase some of these awesome moments of the summer.

Be ready! It’s going to be a lot of fun as I reflect on the memories frozen in time over the past few months!

And, because every blog post needs a picture or two, I’ll share a couple from our little escape from reality!

My brother captured this of my hubby and I during our beach vacation. I have never in all my years seen Englewood Beach consumed by such ravaging waves! The weather was unpredictable and we were constantly running for cover trying to get a few family shots with 20 or so people. In between torrential downpours, I convinced my sweetie to run down and take a few images on the boardwalk. The wind was whipping and the waves were crashing and in my humble opinion, it makes this image all the better… well, it was bound to be good with Rahul in it!

Next my beautiful cousin Shelby braved the elements. We were cutting up as we attempted to manage her hair in the wind, when I decided we just should go for it and enjoy the natural effects. I’m so glad we did! This picture makes me so very, very happy! Can’t wait to get her in front of the lens again sometime soon!

I sure hope your summer has been as fun as mine! More to come over the next few days! Be on the look out!

When we moved to the Tampa area after Hurricane Katrina uprooted us from our final semester at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, we knew we wanted to get connected quickly to a body of like believers. We found a wonderful home at First Baptist Temple Terrace. Pastor Jeff was a wonderful leader and a Godly man, and as volunteers in the children’s department we had the opportunity to fall in love with his precious little girls- and his whole family.  But not too long ago, God called them to a new place of service. Trusting in His wonderful timing, our church joined together to pray for a new leader, a pastor, a shepherd, a man of integrity whom we could follow with confidence.

Today, we celebrated God’s provision in calling a new man to lead, a man to cast vision and to walk this journey with us as we desire to reach our community and the world.

What an incredible day of worship it was… you could truly say we were standing in the presence of our Heavenly Father!

Here are some of the highlights of the installation service for Pastor Paul Purvis.

Mayor Affrontis and his wife, bearing gifts, welcomed Pastor Paul to Temple Terrace.

Pastor Paul’s wife, Kimberly

Dr. Jonny Hunt, mentor to Pastor Paul, brought a powerful message that both inspired and challenged!

Glanced across the aisle during the message and saw this….one of the many reasons I love our church. Young and old, from all nationalities coming together to worship.

One of the most tender moments of the morning, in my eyes. During the invitation, Kimberly came to pray and embrace her husband. Can’t wait to get to know this couple and to serve alongside them!

The service ended with a time of prayer for Pastor Paul, Kimberly and their precious family.

If you are ever in need of a place to worship, to feel loved and accepted and to hear the beauty of the message of Jesus, I invite you to join us! I’m confident you won’t leave the same!

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 122:1

I normally sing this song right around December, but for now, it seems quite appropriate for July! With an incredibly busy wedding season and a to do list that is finally shrinking, I’m so thankful that our annual beach vacation has finally arrived. I’ve worked nearly around the clock this week prepping images, placing orders, designing lovely albums and delivering products. One final stop by the post office and it’ll be time to focus on my little brood. One week of uninterrupted family time! The kids and hubby are looking forward to it and to be honest, so am I!

It’s a tremendous honor and blessing to capture precious moments for so many of you and for the next 7 days, I’m ready to make some memories of my own! I will begin answering emails and responding to inquiries when we return. Until then, I’m praying the weather cooperates and that many of our days will be spent relaxing, exploring, laughing and rejoicing in the wonderful family the Lord has given us!

Have you ever really just needed a break? A vacation? A few days to escape? A weekend to hide the “to do list,” to unwind, to relax, to refresh?

Insert  incredible, wonderful, thoughtful, romantic husband here- who a month ago planned a surprise get away for us, not knowing just how much I would need it!

With almost 3 full weeks of sickness in our house, including strep throat (3 separate occurrences), ear, sinus and upper respiratory infections …this mom has had little to no sleep. Try mixing that with sessions, an editing and design list more than a mile long, the end of the school year and yes, pots and pots of coffee and well, you simply have a recipe for disaster! Case in point, emails being typed at ridiculously late hours, with jumbled words and sentences meaning something totally different than when conceived in my mind.

Yes. I’ll take that vacation.

I’ll take a few days of the sun in my face, the wind in my hair and my husband’s hand to hold. I’ll take one Saturday morning of sleeping in, having breakfast in bed and not having to rush to the computer or open up Photoshop. I’ll read a good book (Weird by Craig Groeschel is already packed), I’ll freshen up my tan and I’ll savor silence, peace and the blessing of a man who planned something special, not knowing it was just what the doctor would be ordering!

For a few days, all the other stuff can wait.

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

Valentine’s Day is so much fun in our house! While we believe in celebrating the love we have for one another every day, this is a great opportunity to really go out of the way to express in tangible ways, just how you’re feeling. Notes hidden, special meals cooked, streamers and cards, flowers and surprises- you know, the things memories are made of.

Well, 4 years ago today our Valentine’s plans were “interrupted.” I’m actually not really sure that we had great plans, as I was 9 months pregnant and wanted nothing more than to sit down and kick up my feet. But nonetheless, when we went to bed on February 13, 2007 we didn’t know God was going to give us one incredible Valentine’s present in just a few short hours. The mom of 2 boys, I could hardly believe when the contractions started for my little girl on the day of love. The nurses joked, the doctors talked about her future husband’s responsibility to shower her with gifts; gifts that must cover 2 important days rolled into one and Rahul and I smiled at the beautiful irony that our little bundle of pink would arrive on a day like this…

Our little Eden Grace… she brought unspeakable joy to our hearts that  Valentine’s Day in 2007 and has continued to do so in ways we couldn’t even put into words. Her smile, her subtle dimples, the way she giggles when she’s happy and shrieks when she’s about to be tickled, the way her hair falls down into loose little curls, her twirling and dancing, her tender spirit and her silly personality. They are precious to us- each beautiful reminders of God’s hand in creating her to be unique, unlike any other little girl in the world. She is our sweet little Valentine’s treasure and today, in between the chocolates, cards and little surprises, we did a lot of celebrating- celebrating God’s gracious love in sending us first His Son and then our darling little birthday girl.

Happy 4th  Birthday Eden Grace!

Did you know that each child in The Dream Calendar has a story? They’re more than just precious models, they are real life miracles. Sweet, innocent, valuable little ones with battles they strive to overcome each day. That’s what this project is all about! Clouds of Hope helps children like this by inspiring and motivating their families, providing respite care and an ear to listen. The Blains, the founders of this organization, are truly the hands and feet that display hope for so many individuals in our community. The funds from this calendar will be donated in their entirety to Clouds of Hope, as they strive to build local playgrounds where these children can enjoy childhood without limitations.

While I want The Dream Calendar to raise lots of support for Clouds of Hope; I also want it to do so much more. I want it to touch your heart the way that it has mine…the way these children have touched my life.

Sometimes it’s easy to glance at these children, without fully understanding the hardships they have faced; but it’s also just as easy to miss the miracles they represent. Julia taught me that in so many ways. That’s why this calendar was created in honor of her life- a life lived out to the fullest.

Today, I want you to meet Anna Belle. She’s the model for the month of January, with captivating blue eyes that sparkle like gems. She is a beauty!

I have the honor of calling Anna’s family friends. We attend church together and her mom and I have served together at the mom’s group in our church. For months we prayed  Anna’s tiny body growing inside, when complications were noticed. We watched the faith of this family in action, as they were made aware of the medical challenges that Anna’s condition brought; but strongly clung to the power of the Ultimate Physician. Anna’s birth and life are a constant reminder of the power of prayer!

Everytime I see this precious little girl, I’m reminded of this verse:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

-Psalm 139: 13-16

Here is how Anna’s mom describes her condition:

Isn’t that amazing? What a blessing little Anna is to all those who meet her!

If you haven’t purchased a copy of the calendar yet, it’s not too late!! Just click the button below!