Take the time to intentionally ask. Take the time to intentionally listen. Take the time to intentionally plan. Take the time to date. Take the time to woo.
I love these floors with you, these doors with you and everything in between. Life with you is never the same. Our schedules are crazy but our love is fervent. When you are working late, I fight to stay awake just to see you and you still make me laugh. Our family is ours. Children…
Kristin, Kristin, Kristin………you are the best!
beautiful!!!!!
Beautifully photographed, Kristin! You have such a gift with words and your love for others lives is just wonderful. Another job… Well Done! Love you, dear friend!
…and the winner is of the super hip glasses that make you feel good and look good while you wear them is… I was so encouraged by all of your definitions of LOVE. I am so grateful for you all!
A city on a hill rising high with all it’s dimensions exists a girl. She works everyday in a little office helping students find a place to call home. He walked in one day. She was busy and didn’t notice but he saw her standing there. He mentioned to himself if I go here, I…
Girl. You rock!! I love how you capture love!! These images talk and I absolutely love that!!! Also Lauren you are stunning!!!
My favorite is the picture under the tree, the committment, and the love letters. So proud to call Sam my nephew and Lauren my niece to be. God Bless you as you serve Him together!
I don’t want to throw the word love around. I really don’t. It isn’t a cheap word to me and I say it when I am describing the many things that I like. Lately I have begun to wonder if I cheapen the definition of it when I use it so frequently? It’s just that…
God is love. We love because he first loved us. God loves me well through my husband! Great grace-a- lujah! When loves walks into our lives it leaves the print! Some nuts are harder than others to crack but love is a feast waiting to be had! Love well- live well baby!
Love is sacrificially pouring yourself into someone else’s life without expecting any return. =)
Love is that little thing that always wins.
Was I too late? 
My definition of love is unconditional. That no matter what we do, it won’t go anywhere and it can’t be taken away. I think this kind of love only comes from Christ but is the kind of love we should all strive for.
Love is being able to give your all, unconditionally.
I think it does cheapen the meaning to overuse it. I wasn’t convinced of this until I noticed how my children reacted to the overuse of it. Now I use it when I really mean it- I don’t *love* ice cream any more 
I enjoy it immensely.
I fervently enjoy Warby Parker. I support the googleplexity.
I don’t think it cheapens the word. I think it makes it too common. I wish it were very rare and special. And for the way he looks at me. The only one he sees.
AJ and I were just talking about this from knowing someone who seems to fall in love every other turn.
Love is a gift from God. Could you imagine a loveless God? Or being unable to love him? Being Vulcan and not having that way to express our zeal? Love is protection. Love is knowing the person like know one else. Love is forgiveness.
Love is all but naught without action. Love is listening, love is brushing the hair away from my face, love is helping to carry the groceries in from the car, love is finding my lost shoe and love is going shopping with me for jeans. Love is a flower given, a cookie shared, a snuggle cuddled, sniffle snuffled. Love is…the best.
Love is…Grandbabies!
I love you and your sweetheart and your definition! Great reminders for me!!
Oh man, I feel like God has been redeeming my entire idea of what love actually is (and really who love is) as I’ve been reading through 1 John. God is love and because it’s so hard for my little finite human brain to understand that concept, he shows us a perfect picture of love in that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. So from that I can come to the beautiful conclusion that so many others have posted already; Love pours out, it moves outward, it sacrifices, it always has the joy of the one receiving it as its motivation.
I use the word ‘love’ a lot when describing things as well, which leads to the second part; love is also meant to stir our affections deeply for the One who is Love! So when my heart swells up when I see a beautiful sunset or eat anything with Nutella on it or have a hilarious conversation with a friend, or get a roll of film back from the lab, I can love it and be pointed to the Father who gives every good gift and worship Him! It’s like a cycle I guess… A cycle that originates with God and always ends with God. Does that make sense? I hope that makes sense, I really want some glasses lol!
P.S. This would be called “One for Kristin. One for Kendra’s Husband”
Also, didn’t know that company was one for one! That’s awesome. Glad you are supporting them!!!
Since you’re asking for our own definition, I’ll try to best describe what I have experienced to be love…
Love is someone who you can entrust your deepest heart.
Love pursues you.
Love accounts for the value of your sinful heart.
Love covers and protects you so that you have the ultimate freedom to be 100% you.
Love is always fighting in your corner and hopes that you are always victorious.
Love does not hold your past against you but rejoices in the fact that you are a new creation because of the cross!
Love is a choice.
Love confronts you when your heart begins to wander away from Christ and reminds you that you are forgiven and loved.
Love pushes you to be the best version of yourself.
Love is sacrificial.
Love is patient and kind.
Love does not envy or boast.
Love is not arrogant, irritable, rude, or resentful.
Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things!
LOVE WILL LAY DOWN THEIR LIFE FOR YOU!
God. Is. Love. His definition is the one we can hold true to because he is the sweet author of love.
Love. Love. Love.
Say it loud and say it often!
to me, love really is action- Christ dying on the cross. in marriage, choosing to compromise or apologize because my love for him is more important than ‘winning.’ choosing to see caring for my children when it costs me sleep or convenience as an opportunity to die to self (not easy!). to keep from cheapening the word itself, i didn’t say i love you to a boy until i knew i was going to marry him
I agree with her 100%!
Love is something I think we are still trying to figure out. We know that it is a choice, we know that it is selfless, we know that it goes beyond feeling to action, but to define it… defining it is hard. I firmly believe that we have not yet begun to see how wide, how deep, how high, love goes. It is the defining characteristic of an infinite being, “God is love” – and as finite beings, we struggle to understand and apply it. Jesus Christ in all of his magnificence sacrificed himself for wretched sinners who deserved death so that we may have life… that is a love I don’t understand, but I am thankful for the beautiful example it is. And, as I look at love in this way I realize that for us – Real love is not accomplished out of our own strength, or out of our own understanding – but out of God’s. Thank goodness for that!
When my second oldest niece was just a toddler, barely talking, us grown-ups got into a bit of an argument, Mexican tempers :/
In the middle of the argument my niece walks in with a big smile laughing at some random thing. Right away we all stopped and looked at her and as if by magic the mood in the room changed to cheering her and laughing with her. Whatever the argument was about has long been forgotten but the change she brought into the room, that feeling, has never been forgotten. To me, that is love, and nothing like the love of a child and for a child. That toddler will soon be 17 years old, and very much a teen, but when she laughs, I still think of that moment years ago, when I realized what it was like to love a child be it niece, nephew, son, or daughter.
Love is a gift from the heart of God. He poured it out on us in His creation and there’s evidence of it in everything He touches. He poured it out on us through Jesus… in all the days He lived, taught us how to serve, and in His sacrifice on the cross. Love is joy, sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, willingness to forgive, persevering, and faithfulness all balled up in one.
And I use the word all the time. I can’t imagine how I’d ever stop.
And I love your contests, and those awesome glasses, and most especially your heart.
ooh. I like this!
and, oh golly, i sure do wanna win this one! my glasses are ancient.
Not to sound cliche, but when I think of the word “love”, I really do think of John 3:16. For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Love is something shown by action and this action is one that is sacrificial. Laying myself aside for the sake or the betterment of someone else. My husband is so much better at this than I am! He shows me everyday how much he loves me by giving me a “break” from the kids for a little while when he comes home. He puts aside his own desire (sacrifice!) to rest after a long day at work to show he loves me in that way.
Reminds me of this quotation of CS Lewis – it’s a different word, but same idea: “Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.”
Love is based in friendship really getting to know that person before you let yourself fall in love. It’s unselfish and it’s kind. And even on the worst day it’s better that anything else out there, it’s Gods greatest gift to us. And it’s the passing on of that gift that we receive the greatest joy.
I think it’s really so easy to use the word for “love” in tons of situations, but throwing it around is different. Loving is hard work! Especially when you desire to love well..love deep. And we know that the reason we even know love is because of God, and thankfully, that’s just perfect! For me, love is action, giving of yourself emotionally, knowing others well and knowing what honors them in your relationship with them.
I commented via the almighty FB, but I wanted to tell you I hear your voice saying “that’s rad!” When I read it. And I pictured a head bounce too! I love you and hope for you the best of days!
I don’t believe you ‘throw’ the word around Kristin. I believe you say it often because that’s is truly what’s in your heart and also what you seek. You see love in the ordinary things, places I’d never see it until you point it out. You radiate light and you’re not even aware of it.
A choice to consistently choose another over yourself. Sometimes it has a feeling attached which rocks, but the deeper the live the less that is where you hang your hat. Emotion lures in the novice and commitment stays the expert.
Love – a statement of commitment backed by sacrificial giving for the betterment of the one being loved.
Christ is love. Everything is represents is love. Through His grace and justice true love is revealed. Christ in us allows us to love others more than ourselves. His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate example of love.
Love is not just a feeling, it’s an action. When you show love, you show someone you care, that you want to help them, etc. When you say I love you to someone, you’re showing them your dedication and commitment to them forever. But also, what Casey Chapell said. That was really the first thing that came to mind!
Love is Christ. Everything that He represents exemplifies and is love. His sacrifice, His justice and His care for us. Because of Christ in us we are able to love others more than ourselves. His sacrifice is the ultimate demonstration of love. How blessed we are to be loved by Christ.
Love is sacrificial. From a mothers journey through pregnancy to a letting go of a grandparent… we love and we sacrifice. As an adoptive mom I’ve always said that through financial sacrifice, time sacrifice, and in travel… possible safety sacrifice, and then once caring for them comfort/sleep/ease sacrifice…. those are all the things that grew my love for them!!! I mean, what greater sacrifice than God sending His only son to come and die for us. Love = Sacrifice.
Our lives imperfect. Our need very great. God in his initiating love gives and he gives gently bringing both of us to Him. We sing, we cry, we dance. Our greatest need, we needed a savior. We sing, we shout, Jesus. Our great God, we sing aloud and invite others in. We are not who…
loved these and how you captured their everyday life and love together! so beautiful, kristin. and their little grace is adorable.
You’ve done it again my beautiful daughter….love it, love it.
this is my favorite shoot to view in a long time. i love it. every family should capture these precious ‘ordinary, yet extraordinary’ moments. so much love here. thanks for sharing.
XOXOXOXO!
Beautiful work!
This makes my heart sing. A beautiful look into the life of a beautiful family.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Just beautiful – I love this so much!
Kristin, these are beautiful. You are so talented and have really captured Lara, Ari, and Grace’s spirits.
This is absolutely heartwarming! Lara, Ari & Gracie, it’s impossible not to love you and your beautiful family!! You bring so much joy to those that know you and you are such a beautiful example of how magical love can be. xox
This is beautiful.
This post just did so many things for my heart. I can’t even explain it but goodness these images are just incredible.
“I’ve seen the ugly side of you and I am staying. Ahavah. A love of the will. I am not going anywhere.” To hear more about initiating Ahavah love, go here. You will be encouraged and know love.
thank you so much for sharing! just what I needed to hear. God is good!
I love you and your authentic self! I am so glad you love it!! The best is yet to come!!
This is so incredibly beautiful.
I love you, friend. This photograph makes my heart so full. Thank you!
Be a criminal and steal those embraces as often as you can. In the kitchen, outside, in the car, washing dishes, walking the aisle in Target…embrace. Grab her hand, pull her close and hold on even if it’s for a brief second. Enjoy being an us. A Good Marriage. Embrace Often.
The winter that seems to never end combs through North Carolina. The morning frost kissing the window pane while snow clouds linger. It’s time to rise. The kitchen blanketed in darkness, Ben, enters and begins loving his wife, Veronique, by giving her a clean slate. The dishes, the coffee, and the kids. He is present….
So many great photos that snapshot this season of life! Thanks Kristin!
Beautiful! What an amazing photo shoot!
As the mama and grandma,,,, I am smiling with tears in my eyes,,, so very special and fully real,,, I love them all! What a gift for capturing the moments of their life so perfectly perfect. Just beautiful.
LOVE!
Woah Kristin Shyla Cookl. These are SO the petersens, down to the real eggs, nalgene bottles, devotional books, coffee, stuffed animals, and fun facesl! We are blessed to call these crazy and wonderful people family! Love them all!
These are amazing photos and capture the Petersen family so perfectly!
These. Are. Incredible! I love every single photo soooo much. Thank you for capturing our life together as a family. We will treasure these forever! You are so gifted, dear friend.
It’s sunday morning. She rises early. The smell of breakfast wafts through the house drawing you out of bed and into the kitchen to see what is in store. Her husband, Ben, has been gone since 6:30am. It’s sunday morning. Jes, takes care of their two little ones, Finn 6, and Gideon 1, getting them…
Let’s start a fan club!! I know right?! Isn’t it amazing to see all that God has done! May we all be encouraged to befriend faithfulness!!
Thank you @[22202416:2048:Steven Pearce]! Their lives are beautiful.
@[1031083881:2048:Jessica Tugwell] God’s timing is so perfect. I am thankful that I get the gift of you two. Your love for the gospel and me brings so much freedom into my life. I am grateful and thank God for you two. I love our time together and look forward to more in the future…& your kids, I mean. I can’t get enough of their cuteness.
I love this! Captured beautifully. Your very talented @[510084679:2048:Kristin Shyla Cook]! And my goodness, my sister is beautiful;)
Beautiful pictures of an even MORE beautiful family. Miss ya’ll!
Beautiful!!
Love!!!!!!
very, very awesome family here
Thanks for sharing Kristin! We have known Ben and Jes for quite some time, and you have captured the heart of this family…..love. They are wonderful, wonderful folks, the kind you’re thankful for each and everyday even if miles separate you. It’s been beautiful to watch God unfold His plan for their lives as they work everyday to share the gospel.
I think they rock. I loved seeing you guys and your family moments.
I’m so grateful for the time you have put into this project for us, Kristin. These pictures, I’ll cherish forever. You’ve captured so much of what its like to be a family. Thank you. I love you!
SO sweet! Love these people!
Very sweet album & blog entry. Sure thankful Nathan Mills & Bekkah Mills found Integrity Church. Ya’ll are a great blessing to them and their extended family.
Superb, Kristin Shyla Cook. Well done. A beautiful family.