The first time she was in front of my camera she was only a child. We’ve seen many photography sessions since, and now she is a young woman who has blossomed into a truly beautiful person. Meet Bellla! She’s a high school senior and I was overjoyed to photograph her with her horse, Lady. She’s been homeschooled her entire life, and I will say with certainty that has developed her into the amazing person you will read about below.
Here’s more about Bella!
Tell me about your beautiful horse.
The horse I took my senior pictures with is Lady. When I was younger, I never would’ve imagined that I would grow up riding horses, but the Lord truly blessed my parents with a place to own horses.
A few horses have come and gone but none that I experienced total peace about until “Lady”. After saving money from a summer job and selling one of my other horses a few years ago, my dad had a conference that he attended in San Antonio, and brought along the whole family. After a long time of searching, I found my forever horse in Texas. We drove to a small ranch in the hill country of Texas north of San Antonio, that’s when I saw her. There was Lady, and we just clicked on that very first ride. I have had her for three years now and we have showed and have won gymkhana highpoint together. We have been able to grow together as a horse and rider team, trying new things and pushing each other’s abilities.
Do you have any thoughts on what you’d like to do after you graduate?
I have been praying about the next step I should take after high school. It has been a hard choice that is still undecided. I know for a fact that I want to go wherever the Lord wants. It has always been a dream of mine to get an elementary education degree and to be able to teach the elementary age kids. I also have a deep passion for music, so I am hopeful that I can serve the Lord wherever I am at with my violin.
What are some of your favorite childhood memories?
I have way too many amazing childhood memories for me to have favorites. I guess the simple things about my childhood, like waiting in the evening for my dad to get home from work so we can have family time, are definitely at the top. I also enjoyed any time I played with my older sister. We had plenty of arguments, but what sticks out is us playing and being happy together.
Tell me one thing you hope to accomplish your senior year.
This senior year I want to figure out how I can be a blessing to the people in my life and how to minister to my family more!
I have been given so much in my life, by the Lord and by my family, that I feel like it’s time to give back. This year I want to focus on others here in Colorado because it may be my last year living here.
I want the people in my church, and work, and my family to know that I care about them. I don’t want to focus on what I can get out of relationships I have in my life but how I can serve the other person and the Lord in these relationships.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
The main thing I would tell my younger self is to just enjoy where you are. You’ll make mistakes along the way but it’s just a part of life. The difference is how you handle them. You can be defined by making the mistakes or by learning from them and striving to be better; the choice is up to you. I want to come out of my childhood knowing I overcame my mistakes by making them right and by leaning on the Lord through all of them to get to the end and say, “I did my best for you, LORD!”
Bella and family, it’s such an honor to be a small part of these most incredible milestone for your family. Praying for a blessed finish to your senior year.
-Jamie
Parker, Colorado High School Senior Photographer
Telling YOUR Story
