Tag: My Story

Captured HOPE |Photography

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There is a project that I have had in mind for awhile now.  I have been wanting to set it into motion, and I just figured why not now?  It is very dear to my heart and I have prayed about it quite a bit.  I really feel like God has put it on my heart.  So without further ado, let me introduce you to my project:  Captured HOPE.

Captured HOPE is a session that I am now offering to patients who have cancer, patients who have beat cancer, children with life-threatening illnesses, and children with genetic/chromosomal abnormalities.  This idea came to me one day after I read an article on one of my favorite photographer’s blog (Here is the link to the article:  https://amandahedgepethblog.com/2016/05/24/i-prayed-for-creativity-saltwater-grace/).  After reading this, I just really felt like I wasn’t using all of my creative talents to the best of their abilities and more importantly for God.  So, I started thinking of ways I could help.  I saw that there are several nonprofits that photographers can join and be a part of that take pictured of people for various reasons ( cancer patients, military families, etc.), but I didn’t want to be limited in who I would offer my services to.  I also wanted to make sure that people would even be interested in my idea.  I called several cancer centers and spoke with them, talked to my cousin who works at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Ft. Worth, and I talked to a woman from ECI.  All of them seemed to think that this idea was a really great thing.  With that feedback, I decided to offer my Captured HOPE sessions.

I am really excited about this!  I just feel like this is a great thing for families.  There are so many families that don’t even think about pictures when they are in rough situations.  This allows them to get prettied up, laugh and smile for an hour, forget about their circumstances for a small while, and to have some great memories.

Why the name Captured HOPE do you ask?  Well, it’s quite simple really.  Scripture tells us in Hebrews 6:19 “For we have this hope like and anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”.  Hope doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen, but it is simply having faith in something greater.

Captured HOPE is something that is very dear to my heart.  If you or a loved one or maybe even just someone you know of might be interested in participating in a Captured HOPE session let me know!  I can be contacted through a couple of different ways.  My facebook is either https://www.facebook.com/briana.whistler or https://www.facebook.com/raisingarrowsphoto.  I also have a website for my photography that is http://www.raisingarrowsphotography.com that has a contact page that  can be filled out.  Or if none of those work, comment below and I can give you my cell phone number.  Any of the ways mentioned above will do.  Like I said, I am super excited about this.  I look forward to hearing from you guys.  Have a blessed day!!

The Graduate|My Story

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Hello Everyone!  I don’t normally make a lot of posts about myself.  I try to save my posts for my family and photography, but today I feel the need to pat myself on the back a little.  Guess what?!? I graduated from college on May 13th!!  This is a big deal for me.  You see, it is a miracle that a graduated from anything because I have changed my mind on school about 3,000 times.  I got my Associates of Applied Science in General Studies (there goes that indecisiveness), and I am planning on graduating December 2017 with my Bachelors of Science in General Studies.  It has taken a lot of hard work and I know I have some much more ahead of me, but I cannot wait to see where God uses me.  He already has given me a few ideas of where he needs me, and I am so excited to announce what that entails.  I am still working on a few of the details so there will be more on that later.  Anyways, yay me for graduating!! My whole family came.  My girls did so good throughout the ceremony (I also wasn’t watching them which could be why they did so good in my mind), and I even graduated Summa Cum Laude and got a medal.  My little family is definitely my motivation.  They push me to succeed and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I am so thankful for my parents and their support emotionally and financially.  They have made so many things possible for me in my life and I will never be able to repay that kindness.  I love my family and supporters so much!  Thank you God for blessing me with a not just a family, but a team of support.

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About Me | My Story

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My name is Briana Whistler and my story is not much different from your own, I’m sure.  I met a boy when I was 15 at a swim party.  We started talking and we haven’t stopped since.  He is my absolute best friend and his name is Drew.  We got engaged when I was 17 and a Junior in high school.  We got married 3 weeks after I graduated high school on June 11, 2011. I was 18 and he was 20.  He is the love of my life, and I am so blessed that God brought us together at such a young age.  We are so thankful that we have gotten to spend so much of our lives together.

Now, on to the next thing that may be an even bigger part of my life.  We got married young at a beautiful resort called Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.  We lived very happily, just the two of us, until one night I decided that I had been a little moodier (is that a word?) than normal.  So I did what any woman does when she is moody and has been married less than two years:  I took a pregnancy test.  Turns out my moodniess was completely normal!  We were pregnant with what would be our first beautiful daughter named Reagan Grace Whistler.  She entered into this world on October 23, 2013.  She weighed in at 8 pounds and 2 ounces.

Life was great with our little princess, but God was not quite done with us.  In February of 2015 we found out we were pregnant yet again.  Of course we were so excited that God chose us to be parents again.

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After a very challenging pregnancy, we brought another beautiful little girl into this world on November 4, 2015.  Her name is Sadie Faith Whistler and she weighed 4 pounds and 6 ounces.

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God has blessed my family tremendously.  His grace and love continuously amaze me.  He continues to be faithful in our life even after so many times we have doubted Him.  I am so incredibly thankful for my husband and best friend.  He helps keep me on track with being the woman that I want to be.  My daughters are by far my greatest accomplishment.  They remind me of the strength that I have in me and the goodness that comes from God.  Their beauty isn’t just superficial (although they are the cutest children I have ever seen), but it is deep as well.  Their hearts are pure and full of love and wonder.  They remind me of what I am in the eyes of my creator and Father.

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My family is without a doubt my life.  Everything I do in my life is for them and I am happy to do that.  I may not have been called to be a teacher or a nurse (both great professions by the way), but he did call me to be a mother and a wife.  That’s not to say I am not my own person.  I definitely have my own likes and dislikes.  Just ask my husband.  For instance, I love anything that has to do with bread and butter, but I am not a real big fan of super spicy food.  It makes my nose run, and let’s be real, That.  Is.  Disgusting.  I like dogs and not so much cats, my favorite color is green, and I cry when people lose or break their glasses. I am the youngest of three siblings.  I have an older brother and and older sister.  Both are married to wonderful people whom I am so blessed to call my family.  There is no such thing as an “in-law”.  Family is family.  I am super close with all of my family (cousins included). Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year”.  And I would be liar if I said I didn’t sing that last part.

I work in a print shop.  I know what you are thinking “Wow, that is such a glamorous job.  I want to do that.”  But truth be told, I actually really enjoy it.  I work on some pretty high tech printers and it is something I never thought I would ever find interseting, but I surprisingly do.  It is a great job and I work with some pretty amazing people.  My true passion, however, lies in crafting and cooking.  I created Raising Arrows Blog because I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with other people. So please sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate if you are like me), and enjoy reading about my life and passions.
“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” -Psalm 127: 3-5