Happy Friday-before-Valentine’s-Day! It’s been a full week over here — sessions are back in swing, phone consults / emails with brides and new moms throughout the day, and lots of fun family + friend time, too! I am loving the time I get with just Noah during Adam’s preschool days, and have so enjoyed more one-on-one time with each of my boys. It doesn’t tend to happen naturally…but making space for it has been such a gift in the midst of all the craziness. 

In the same way I love the tiny joys and details of a lifestyle session…I love the tiny joys and details of my boys. I saw this sweet Valentine’s Day idea on Instagram and knew it would be a win for the boys. I’ve shared before about how much I value speaking truth and identity over them, and it’s one of my many motherhood desires for them to feel known by me!

However, when I started thinking of adjectives, I had the worst brain freeze. I could only think of silly bland ideas…and I didn’t want that! I wanted words that really captured their heart and personality and called out their strengths.

So, like any practiced (former) English teacher, I sat down and started brainstorming. Halfway through, I realized this could be a fun list to share with you, too! I started thinking of all the little people I am blessed to know and love — the boys’ friends, my friends’ children, the kiddos in my Sunday School class, former students, and clients, too. Whether you use this to create your own fun Valentine’s craft or just to find new words to speak over the people in your life, I hope it’s helpful!

Words to call out your child’s strengths:

brave

diligent

includer

compassionate

innovative

dedicated

confident

present

steadfast

detail-orientated

loyal

great friend

great brother/sister

helpful

servant-hearted

problem-solver

persistent

intelligent

creative

self-motivated

knowledge-seeker

intuitive

decisive

perceptive

artistic

determined

Words to capture your child’s personality:

adventurous

bright

calm

delightful

eclectic

hilarious

mischievous

silly

goofy

observant

fierce

fiery

caring

big-hearted

bold

sweet

joyful

witty

passionate

imaginative

confident

playful

spunky

loving

curious

enthusiastic

nurturing

kind

logical

Obviously this isn’t the end all be all of lists…but I hope reading through it helps give a foundation to new ways to encourage and speak over your people! 

And, as a final thought…thinking through this list and looking at these images of my boys reminded me: this is what I love capturing for YOU, too. Your little one’s inquisitive nature, their stubborn persistence, their joyfilled exuberance, all the big and little pieces that make up who they ARE (and therefore make up your family, too!).

A pretty photo is good and wonderful and right…but an image that showcases their personality and your relationship? That’s just the best. That’s the heartbeat of my work and what I always strive to capture for every family and couple I have the honor of knowing! :) 

Happy Friday, friends!

(All images from a sweet random Friday afternoon around our kitchen table while the boys sipped hot cocoa and lived their best life. <3 )