Rich in Blessings + happy valentines + giveaway!

oh, valentine’s day,
i love to celebrate love but reject the pressures of expectations that come with this hallmark holiday. we do little in way of gifts, but love just celebrating our blessings as a family and married couple. i’ll be making some delicious steaks and you know, in this house, there WILL be chocolates (the hubby’s a candy-fiend). it’s nice to just have a day where we can be intentional about sharing what we love and appreciate about each member of our family.

it’s also a really great time to reflect on the amazing Love of our Lord as we enter into the lent season and prepare for Easter (the ultimate portrait of love), valentine’s day can serve as more than just a day for candy and hugs, but also as a beautiful reminder of just how much HE loves us no matter our failings, our pasts, or our futures.

speaking of ‘beautiful reminders,’ traci from Rich in Blessings is giving one of YOU a beautiful canvas featuring the verse “We love Him, because He first loved us.” read below to find out more about her journey and talents and then enter to win it for yourself or someone you love!

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hey y’all!!

my name is Traci, known to many as the creative heart behind Rich In Blessings Photography

I am 20 years old (21 in May;)).

I am a homeschool graduate

from the friendly city of Derby, Kansas.

I am a sister to 9

(plus 2 brothers-in-law:)).

I am an auntie, babysitter, and friend

(among a few other things;)).

I am a musician, crafter,

writer/blogger, and photographer.

I am a citified country girl who has a crazy obsession

with hats, scarves, yellow, daisies, birds, and wacky socks (whether they’re matched or not).

but even more than all of that,

I am a daughter of the King,

and Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior,

my Love, my Rock, my All-In-All.

I have loved photography for as long as I can remember, and once everything went digital I really started trying my hand at nature shots and such (when I had to use film I tried to save it for pictures I would definitely use in a scrapbook or something).

if I had to pinpoint a time when I truly started doing what I do now, I would have to go with the year 2010. that was the year I graduated, and my grandma gave me a camera for graduation. this gave me the freedom to take pictures at leisure, plus not have to worry about filling up Mom’s camera card(s).

I love to take long walks down our country roads to think and pray and just spend the always-needed time with our heavenly Father, and I very often take my camera with me.

it is on these walks that I capture a lot of the beauty you’ll see in my artwork

(though some photos are, of course, from vacations and various ventures).

many people would tell me after seeing my photography that they believe God has given me a gift. a heart for seeing the wondrous beauty in the ordinary things around me and an eye for capturing it in pictures.

so that got me to thinking – if God has given me this gift, there must be SOME way that I can use it for Him, to bring His name glory! that’s where the idea of adding text to my photos came in. it started as just something I did to add more meaning to my photos, and though my first attempts weren’t very good, I kept at it and was always trying new ideas (I am still constantly trying new things with my art!) to get it to look the way I wanted.

my artwork has recently expanded to include more graphic-designerish sort of art along with my photographs (such as is shown above:) .. not entirely sure what it ought to be called), and I have found that I really love the challenge that this kind of art presents to my creativity.my art is available in almost any form, including canvas, framed prints, keepsake boxes*, greeting cards, calendars*, playing cards*, and much more*.*these products must be ordered straight through me {richinblessings92@gmail.com} as they are not available through my Instacanvas gallery

all of my art is now available in the form of iPhone 4 and 5 cases and Samsung Galaxy 3 cases!!

I have learned SO much over the last few years and am unspeakably grateful to all who have encouraged me and supported me along the way. I’m sure I would’ve given up were it not for the many, many brothers and sisters in Christ who were (and are!) telling me every day how blessed they are through my artwork.
God is so good! ALL glory truly belongs to Him, and I am praising His name so much today for bringing me this opportunity to bless someone with a free canvas!!

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seriously, aren’t you impressed that this work and heart for Lord is coming from this beautiful 20 year old! i’m so in awe of how God is using her talents and passions for HIS glory!

today, traci is giving one of you this beautiful Valentine’s Inspired Canvas for FREE!!!! (a $40 value!)