Home Sweet Home Blog Circle, January | Otterberg Cistercian Monastery

I am super pumped about this year's blog circle with the gals I met in Amsterdam in 2013. 

Home Sweet Home! 

We decided to give you all 12 unique looks at the areas we live in... I can't wait to see (and show you!) what life is like through the eyes of all these talented photographers!

Welcome to the "Home Sweet Home" blog circle series of 2015.

Please follow this link to continue the circle around the world, starting with Anna Franken in The Netherlands!

I'm particularly excited about the topic because ever since J signed up for our second tour here in Germany, I've been wanting to go around our village with fresh eyes and photograph all the things I love love love about where we live. 

I thought it would be appropriate to start with the village church. Since it's one of my favorite things about Otterberg. 

First of all, in the interest of full disclosure, this photo is from the Spring of last year. I didn't want you to think that January in Germany = green leaves. Cause it definitely does NOT. 

But this is my favorite photo of the front of the church. (The lack of cars parked out front helps) 

Anyways this is the Otterberg Cistercian Monastery. 

Also known as the "Abbey Church." It's the second tallest church in our state in Germany.

When I first stood inside this church, it took my breath away. Now, it instantly calms me. 

I've seen a lot of beautiful cathedrals in my time in Europe. But this is my favorite "big church." I love that it was constructed with a simplistic beauty. Less frills but still absolutely awe-inspiring!

For some perspective for my American friends... this church was finished being built 500 years before our country was even founded. 

I like to just go inside by myself and sit. And think. You can almost feel the rich history in the air. It's usually very quiet and I always leave with a sense of peace. I've gone there to journal and pray when I was feeling troubled. And J and I went to a professional performance of Handel's Messiah once! 

There's a local jeweler in my village who has hand-crafted a necklace of this rose window. Which My Love bought me a few years back. It's my favorite piece of jewelry. 

If you live in the area, you should definitely consider checking it out... they're limited edition! At the time we found them two years ago he had only made ten and we purchased the third one. Seriously if you want to order one, contact me at jessica.anne.aiduk@gmail.com! They are absolutely simplistically beautiful and super unique!

I was contacted by someone a couple years back who had found some of my pictures of this church online... they were really thankful to have a visual of the church where their great-great-great-grandparents were married right before they immigrated to Pennsylvania! 

Other fun facts... The Straus brothers were born in Otterberg. Isidor and Nathan would eventually acquire ownership of the Macy's department store. Isidor served as a Congressional Representative. He and his wife Ida died on board the Titanic. Their other brother Oscar Straus served under President Theodore Roosevelt as the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 

There's also this plaque in the church. Julia helped me translate it... it reads, 

"In honoring memory of

Friederike Bauer born in Otterberg on 11. April 1811 died in New York on 3. March 1893

Katharina Bauer born in Otterberg on 2. November 1814 died in New York on 27. May 1880

After being baptized and having their first communion in this house of God, they carried His Holy Spirit to a faraway country and because of their noble life changes they left a priceless heritage to their heritors.

Hung up in faithful memory and deepest respect as a fulfilment of the longest desire by the sons and nephew

Leopold Schepp"

I think it's super unfair that my girls are growing up thinking it's normal to call a church like this "our church." They've crawled around on it since they were babies, and now they think it's "theirs!" 

Which is cute. 

But seriously. This church has generations and generations of history. And my kids think it's theirs ;-) 

It doesn't really matter where I walk in my village - to my hairdresser Nina, to the Kindergarten to get the girls, to our favorite bakery, to any of the restaurants in town - you can't help but see this church. It's presence is everywhere. 

It's been watching over this village for almost eight centuries! 

The bells ring for weddings, funerals, special occasions, etc. But every single day they ring at dawn and dusk. 

6am and 6pm, without fail.

There's a comforting rhythm to this church. A rhythm to match the rhythm of the centuries that it's watched over. Every day, twice a day. Remember. Remember who you are. Remember where you came from. Remember your faith. Remember community. 

This church is so big that it makes me feel small. And yet it's a comforting feeling. 

It's a beautiful reminder of history, human achievement, and personal faith through the centuries. 

Thanks for taking the time to check out the first installment of my "home sweet home!" Be sure to tune in to the rest of the gals for their stories and photos from around the world! 

Start here with Anna Franken!  

Post-Christmas Week = Bittersweet

I feel bad for the week after Christmas. That poor week in between the sparkle of Christmas and the champagne of New Year's.

At my house, that week is a strange mix of things... it's messy and a bit dirty cause I give myself permission to clean as little as possible. I usually also give myself permission to stay in my pajamas for a few days. I stuff my face with the last of the cookies and I read and drink coffee and watch movies and drink wine. The Christmas decorations seem a bit out of place, but I can't quite bring myself to take them down yet.

I have that strange fussy feeling of not wanting to do anything but knowing I'll feel better if I just do a little something. Like a workout. Or a tidy. Or some laundry.

It feels so refreshing to take a hot bath and cook a healthy meal. But equally refreshing to stay in yesterday's jammies and eat Lucky Charms for lunch.

After the mad dash to Christmas, and knowing that the fresh start of a New Year is approaching, it feels equally good to do absolutely nothing all day.

Like I said, the week is bittersweet. Lots of conflicted feelings.

I'm happy that the New Year is coming, but sad that Christmas is over.

I'm ready to pack the decorations away and swear off sugar for a bit, but I'm sad that I won't be listening to Nat King Cole's album again till next December.

And I feel like I have to make it "official"... this whole saying goodbye to Christmas thing. If I can procrastinate, it doesn't happen, right?

But I don't like to mix Christmas and New Year's, so alas. I need to start undecorating today. I need to dust and vacuum and do some laundry. I need the grounded feeling of a clean slate in my home... the clean slate that matches the coming of a New Year.

So this is my goodbye to some of my favorite details of this Christmas...

Photo of the Day | Bright Colors, Happy Thoughts

This photo accurately captures what I've been thinking about the past few days.

I feel like fall is taking one last deep breath before closing it's eyes in sleep. 

But the colors here remind me of Christmas.

That bright, shining, sparkling time that chases the winter blues away.

The leaves may be falling, the days getting much shorter and darker... but happy times are just around the corner!

Tschuss Fall, Hallo Holidays! 

I'm Falling More and More in Love with Family Photography

When I first started out in photography, I was not super interested in being a "family photographer." But lately, I find myself looking forward to those family sessions the best!

I think it's because I like the rush of a challenge. 

And trying to orchestrate a fun family session that captures the true personalities of the kids AND parents is definitely a challenge.

When I photographed the Aldridge kiddos, I really got to thinking about how much I love shooting kids. It was my first time shooting a family of three kids and I had a lot of nervous excitement going into the shoot.

Jessica vs. three kids under the age of five? Bring it on! 

I always end up getting back into my car sweaty and exhausted, but with a huge smile on my face.

All of the photography I do is rewarding, but working with children is one of my favorites. 

There is something so special about coming alongside a family and helping the parents snag some beautiful photos of their beautiful children.

As a Momma of two quickly growing girls, I am pretty passionate about photographing each stage of a child's life.

Because some days it doesn't feel like they'll EVER grow up and you're just so dang tired and can't wait to get them into bed... but some days you get it. You see how fleeting their childhood is. And you know you want to remember as much of it as you possible can.

So while photographing children is by far not the easiest part of my job, it's definitely worth it.

Can you relate? Tell me in the comments what challenges you find yourself loving to take on! 

Photography | Colmar, France Sneak Peek

"Which of my photographs is my favorite? 
The one I'm going to take tomorrow." 

-Imogen Cunningham

Here are a few of my favorite photos from my recent trip to Colmar, France. I can't wait to share the rest with you and tell you all about my favorite places!

When I look at these beautiful images, I am reminded just how blessed we are to be living in Europe.

I still get that "somebody pinch me" feeling! 

It might be the photographer in me, or I might just be a normal human, but I totally can't pick a favorite photo! I'm always looking at life through my lens, and the anticipation of "what's next" flows through my life as well as my photography!

I hope these pictures brightened up the start of your weekend!