Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. BeLOCAL is a guide to living like a local–and aims to help you thrive in Minot. For more road trip ideas see here. For parks in town see here and here.
Before moving to North Dakota I didn’t give much thought to this state. Honestly it was a place I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to, let alone spend years living here. Even after moving into North Dakota, it took me a while to get under the surface and really start enjoying the special things that make life here so great. Things that you can’t find just anywhere.
That’s why I started writing the Minot Monday posts. To help others acclimate and start thriving in Minot more quickly than I did.
One thing I’ve come to love about North Dakota is the opportunity to explore nearly-forgotten places. Yes, I’m talking about our plentiful ghost towns. These places have an indescribable eerie beauty you have to experience to fully understand.
North Dakota ghost towns are plentiful and spread all across the state. Visiting a ghost town makes a great day trip outing (see more day/weekend trip ideas here from BeLOCAL). It’s also fun to stop at one along the way if you are headed out on a road trip. Exploring North Dakota ghosts towns is also a perfect activity to partake in while we continue to observe social distancing rules. You can’t get much more distanced than visiting a town that has been abandoned.
Finding North Dakota ghost towns is pretty easy due to some great resources and people who are passionate about sharing this style of history.
Ghosts of North Dakota is the absolute best resource for finding ghost towns. On their site you can search for a town by name and learn the history of the place you intend to go.
Ghosts of North Dakota also has a Google map with a pin in each ghost town. This way you can get driving directions as well.
The closest ghost towns to Minot are Tagus, Ruso, Bergen, Balfour and Kief. (Personally, I really like Balfour.) From Minot getting to a ghost town will take 30-60 minutes. This is a bit of a drive, but a short one according to North Dakota standards. The drives are scenic and part of the fun of finding these places.
Know Before You Go
These were taken inside the church in Balfour. So many things looked like the congregants has just been there and walked away.
Before you go visiting a North Dakota ghost town, here are a couple things to keep in mind.
Pack snacks or lunch. Driving out into the North Dakota country side is beautiful, but food is scarce. Plan to take car snacks or a picnic lunch if you’ll be getting hungry.
Fuel up first. Again, there isn’t much between towns in North Dakota. Be sure your car has enough fuel before you set out.
Take bug spray. Remember how we talked about ticks last week? Tall grass and country paths are prime tick territory. Remember your bug spray and use it. Also…remember to check for ticks–actually just reread the tick post.
Wear good shoes. This is not a good time for sandals or cheap flip flops. Wear something sturdy with closed toes.
Take a camera and a car charger. You’ll obviously want awesome photos, duh. But signal can be shotty in these places, so be sure to remember a car charger so you don’t get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead phone.
Be respectful. While these are “ghost towns,” some still have a handful of residents living there. Abide by signs, be kind and respectful toward structures, pick up your litter, these are places for everyone to enjoy.
I hope you’ll go out and explore a North Dakota ghost town this summer. Be safe and let me know how you like it! Remember to join me on Instagram and Facebook for more Minot fun and lots of intentional, encouraging living. And please, help keep AmyAllender.com up and running. If you like what you read, remember to share with your friends!
(Don’t mind us…one of many outtakes in which Gideon was more interested in eating fruit snacks than taking photos.)
Today we’re talking Christmas cards. Specifically unique Bible verses for Christmas cards. If you’re stumped, or tired of sharing something classic, you’ve come to the right place.
I love Christmas cards. Every year we have fun coming up with a card idea. Most years I go overboard and create a Christmas card set, because nothing says the holidays like a perfectly staged photo. Am I right? I write a note along with every card we send–I think it’s fun to personalize the cards instead of just sending off a pretty picture of ourselves. But my favorite part is picking out a unique Bible verse for our Christmas card design.
A Christmas card is a special opportunity to place the Word of God into the hands and homes of family, friends and acquaintances. Quoting Scripture face to face with someone you barely know may be weird. However, sending a Christmas card to someone you barely know isn’t weird at all.
Christmas Cards That Point to Jesus
When sending a card out, I want to make it clear that we are celebrating more than just warm-cozy vibes. To our house, Christmas means God has come! It’s a monumental piece of the puzzle God is assembling to reconcile humanity to Himself.
Not everyone on our mailing list believes this. For those that don’t, I want our card to have a verse that reveals the truth of Christmas in a way that is easy to understand. I pray God will plant a seed there.
For other believers that receive our card, I pray that they will be encouraged and reminded of God’s greatness.
I believe Christmas cards sent out each year by believers can have a deeper meaning than sharing a cute photo. By choosing a unique Bible verse for Christmas cards, you shed some light on why Christmas is so important, what Christmas’s impact was. Why Christ came at all.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the classic “Christmas verses.” “For unto us a child is born…” “He will be called wonderful counselor, the prince of peace…” “Unto you a Savior is born…” These are music to my ears. But if you want to think outside the box I’ve got you covered. Here are seven unique Bible verses for Christmas cards. They are arranged in the order you can find them in Scripture.
(Another outtake. The timer ticked away and Gideon refused to take part.)
A Giver of Good Gifts
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 1For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
The Son [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. 10 This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.
We have seen and testify to the fact that the Father sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 1God lives in those who declare that Jesus is the Son of God, and they live in God.
I hope these seven unique Bible verses for Christmas cards get your wheels spinning. The whole Bible points to Jesus, so there are lots and lots of unique outside-the-box verses to choose from. Have you shared an untraditional verse on your card before? I’d love to hear from you!
It’s no secret that senior portraits are my absolute fave. And when it comes to shooting seniors, I try not to pick favorites. As the summer progresses I meet one awesome kiddo after another and every session seems to be better than the last. But this year, I’m in limbo–living in a hotel room on the Surface of the Sun. Away from my beloved Practically Canada and all the teens there that are so very, very dear to me. All in all, this summer has felt odd, with the lack of families to photograph and seniors and their moms to tell lame jokes to in an effort for a “real” smile. But alas, in a far away place called God’s Country {northern Indiana} I traveled and photographed my one and only senior session of the season. My very favorite. Of all time. Ever. {At least for the next couple years.}
My precious cousin, Erik.
Does he approve of the word precious? I don’t know and I don’t care. He’s precious to me and has been since the day I first met him in the hospital when I was 12 years old. He was precious when he would giggle as I cradled him like a baby when he was six, and too old for that. And he is still precious to me now. But mixed in with the precious–perhaps even over shadowing it–is handsome, smart, and adult. When I look at him now, I see the little one I knew and the man he is–it’s a funny thing. Sometimes, in photographs I think he looks just like our grandfather. Sometimes when he laughs he looks just like he did when he was little and I didn’t live many states away. Sometimes I think he looks so grown up that I must officially be old. Most times, I hate that I live so far away. Which is precisely why this session is just so darn special.
I’m terribly pleased and proud to be related to this one. He drums. He’s smart. He built a computer {whhhatt??}. He’s kind.
Okay. No more gushing. I promise. My aunt is probably crying by now–and I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t tear up at the beginning of the editing process. Let’s look at these photos. The art of this moment.
Besides the fact that this session revolved around a family member, this session was super fun and special because I got to shoot it in some nostalgic places. Football is a pretty big deal in the little place called Jimtown and Erik is the Center Snare in our high school’s drum line–which I guess is a pretty big deal {we never had a marching band when I was in school}…so we took the drum out to the field. It’s a place saturated with music and cheers, a place that is iconic to every Jimtown Jimmie–and I’m so relieved we had the place to ourselves.
I know most of you aren’t familiar with Jimtown…but those of you who are will recognize this place: The old gym. It stands in the center of our little township. Abandon, unused, across from the pizza place, full of asbestos. A place that looks a little haunted and mysterious. A place that looks downright awesome in photos.
You know that thing that drummers do…where they are constantly drumming on any surface they can find. Yeah, Erik does that. But it totally works. Because photos always look best when the person being photographed is caught in the act of being completely normal. Right?
Well that’s it. Kind of. I’ll be honest and tell you that I went totally overboard on this. Family…I loved every minute of this session…and you are about to receive a giant flash drive. Oops! I just couldn’t narrow it down.
Let me start by telling you that I absolutely love taking photos at my client’s homes. Some of my most favorite sessions have taken place at breath taking country ranches and farms in the vast Practically Canadian countryside. I love it. It’s unique, it’s personal, it’s my favorite. {Minus mosquitoes and ticks in the summer. Those are no one’s favorite.}
So anyway. I’ve known this gorgeous family since moving to Minot, but I’ve never been to their home…so on the day of our shoot I was very, very pleasantly surprised when my GPS took me to a breathtaking farmhouse just outside of Minot. Big porch, lots of windows, rolling country, horses. The whole deal. We spent an hour {give or take} snapping some fresh family photos. I’m so pleased with the outcome–and I had a wonderful time getting to know this dear bunch a bit better in the process.
This special guy got some images all on his own, and I must add in a few words about him. Well–actually there really are no words for him. What a card! I’ve met a lot of little ones, but he is just so funny! When we were discussing where to get the family photos he told us that we shouldn’t go next to the grain bins because it would “look weird.” He wanted the cat in the photos. He laughed so hard his face was turning red when we shot images with his siblings {Mom and Dad were standing behind me being hilarious…} I love this little personality! And isn’t he just about the cutest little country boy you’ve ever seen?!!
Thanks so much for trusting me with your family photos. I loved every second and every frame. You’re drive will be at church tomorrow night!
This is Killian and his proud parents. Last week, they were kind enough to invite me in to their home to capture his first portraits. He loves dragons, his new kitty-brother Flynn, and super soft blankets made by his Nanna. He’s got gorgeous deep blue eyes and just a hint of ginger coloring–and it’s safe to say he’s stolen the hearts of both his parents {and most definitely his adoring Nanna, who could look at his sweet face all day.}
I had a wonderful time getting to know this sweet family. Welcoming a new baby home is such a special blessing–as usual…I’m blown away and honored that they trusted me to capture these precious {and adorable} moments with their son.
I don’t typically show off an entire collage of black and white images…but I couldn’t resist. I love this series in monotone–it’s got a sweet stillness about it.
Okay, seriously–how peaceful does this baby look?! After being so wide awake at the start of our session I was thrilled {and a little shocked} when he finally dozed off. I love the way he looks sleeping in these images and the contrast between the highly textured blanket and hats and his brand new, smooth skin. These are some of the coziest images I’ve taken this year.
I can’t resist throwing one more image in to the mix. Killian has a super cool Pokemon onsie and his dad just happened to be sporting a very similar T-shirt. To his Nana’s dismay we snapped a few of him in the outfit that caused her to say,
“What is that poor baby wearing??!!” With an incredulous tone in her voice when she walked in on these images being taken. And while it might not be her favorite…I think it’s pretty darn cute {but really, what isn’t cute on this little guy?} and, after all I really do like photos with personality. So I’ll leave you with this:
Everyone…I’d like you to meet Katie, Tim and Max. Max is the little one, with the brown fur and the gorgeous blue eyes. I’ll be honest…when Katie told me she’d be bringing her dog to the engagement session, I expected someone a little more mature. But this was definitely a pleasant surprise! I love, love, love puppies! {Who doesn’t??} And I’ll be totally transparent, Max kind of stole the show. {How could he not?}
Now I’m getting off topic. Katie and Tim are engaged and they’ll be starting their together-forever as husband and wife in October, and I am so flattered and honored that they chose me to photograph their engagement. We had a picture perfect winter day and I could hardly take my eyes off of Katie’s fabulous hair. {So. Pretty.} These two are full of personality and silly moments. I love couples who laugh together. I got so many good shots of candid, fun moments with these two I couldn’t really narrow things down–which is why it’s taken a little longer than I would have liked to get their preview up online. But alas, here is it, gorgeous photos from a lovely day, with an even lovelier couple. Take a look.
Oh, and did I mention that there was a near miss with a little snow fight?
Katie is a barista at Starbucks, so one shot she knew she wanted included Mr. and Mrs. coffee cups. Such a cute idea that showed off her personal style. And speaking of style—take note here. I get asked all the time, “What should I wear to my session?” Well, Katie nailed it. I want the outfit she is wearing. She’s got classic pieces that aren’t going to look dated years down the line. Then she added some “now” touches, like the cuffed jeans, wedge ankle boots and a chunky necklace–that keep things looking modern. And the texture in the sweater and flannel gives great dimension to the images. Love it!
Again, I’m simply honored that this couple trusted me to capture these moments. Congratulations on your engagement–savor this sweet season. I hope you enjoy this preview–your flash drive is going in the mail today!
This is Stella. Isn’t she just about the cutest thing?? When I arrived at her house she was sound asleep in her mama’s arms. Warm, snuggly, peaceful. So we laid out the soft, cozy blanket and the soft, comfy pillow. Stella laid down, sound asleep. Then I pulled the plug. I pulled the lime green, pacifying plug.
It was incredible. Like flipping a switch, as soon as the pacifier was out the wiggling began. Still seemingly asleep, but now squirming around. Tossing and turning and throwing arms in every direction. Not one to risk letting a sleeping newborn wake up, I put the plug back in. Immediately–sleeping again.
This happened several more times. Plug out. Wiggle, cry a bit. Plug in. Sound asleep. Plug out. Arms flying, crying. Plug in. Peaceful, sound asleep. Eventually through a slow, methodical technique of removing the plug over the course of several minutes–she stayed asleep. And the camera could see her whole, gorgeous face–without the lime green pacifier blocking it. Comical, precious, and totally worth the patience.
Toward the end of her session she finally did wake up. For real wake up. Look at these bright eyes. She was squirmy and happy and I loved capturing every moment of her personality.
I’m so honored to have been invited in to Stella’s home to get these first ever portraits of her. Congratulations on the new arrival of this precious blessing!
Many moons ago Heather bought a mini session I donated to a silent auction. Her gorgeous {and very fun} family opted to wait and use their session once we had snow…which turned out to be a pretty tall order. Even at Christmas card time we didn’t have snow and I was waltzing around in a sweater with no jacket. When the snow finally came, it brought icy temperatures and wind chill advisories. And although winter family photos look awesome {see above} and sound so fun and snowy…no one likes to suffer through with red eyes and noses and kids crying frozen tears because they are miserable and cold.
So we waited and rescheduled and rescheduled again. Then–just as we were about to throw in the towel and wait until March–Minot gave us a gorgeous, only slightly windy, 30˚ day. Such a payout. I’m loving these so much. The jackets, the boots, the snow….! I’m so glad we finally got it. And I sincerely hope this gang loves these images as much as I do {is that a canvas print I hear calling???}
This session was #2 of three outdoor snowy sessions I’m hoping to knock out this week. {The first was Emily and Author}. As soon as I hit publish on this little post, I’ll be headed out the door to set up for another engagement session. And this time instead of dreading the icy weather I’m actually a little concerned that it’s gotten too warm! {Is there such a thing in Practically Canada in January?} Most of the snow has melted away and I’m concerned the bride and groom to-be might get mucky. But we’ll just have to wait and see. If nothing else, I’m sure I’ll have a good story to tell…Look for a preview image up on the Facebook page tomorrow.
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