Synposis and diagnosis.

(For some of you, you already know this -- sorry for the repeat!)

Thankfully, the thyroid blood tests, glucose, etc., all came back normal -- yay! Problem, however was my blood pressure. Weird, eh?!

Yeah, I had SUPER high BP. It was worse than when I was pre-eclampsic with both Noah and Maia during my pregnancies. At the beginning of my appointment it was 148/98, second time it was taken (different person and different BP thingie), it was 150/100 (2nd time was taken by the doc herself). She said THAT is what is most likely causing my dizziness. I've also been experiencing some heart palpitations (which I have never experienced before) and the high BP could be the cause of that, too. I've also been so tired and having bad bad headaches -- also symptoms of high BP. So I now start taking BP medications and in 11 days I call the doctor after having it taken and report in what my BP numbers were (my dad has a BP thingie that I'm borrowing and I guess Neil will be my nurse, hehe). We'll then go from there on what needs to be done next . . . I never ever thought THIS would be what's happening! At the same time, thank God it's probably nothing worse.

The BP thing is weird because other than during pregnancy, I have never had high BP in my life. It's always been perfect or below. So this is strange, but definitely explains why I have been feeling as "off" as I have!! Why the high BP, though, who knows? Could be stress. I've been under a lot of because I have had hair loss (caused by my birth control pills, another thing we had to go over at my appointment), and just so much else going on . . . been the busiest I have ever been with my work, my cat and a problem we're having with him forcing me to probably have to give him away, etc. I think it's maybe catching up with me. Or....I'm just one of those destined genetically for high BP. My dad has high BP and high cholesterol, both of which he can't control with eating and exercise because it's hereditary for him as well (he's in great shape -- very active -- eats very well -- he has tried, but it doesn't help him). His sister also has it, so did their mother, my grandma. I wish I had my mom's side of the family's genes. They seem to be much stronger.

I'm very happy. Still not feeling well because there's no magic answer for that. I will fill my script for the BP meds tomorrow and hopefully those will take effect right away. I look forward to not feeling so weird and dizzy and not myself. I've felt like I've been just "floating" and just not really "here" most of the time. It's been a weird experience. This morning I woke up with my feet tingly. It's kinda of scary when you know your heart is being affected and you can't really control it. I'm trying not to think about that or else I'll probably just make it worse being the worry-wart that I am.

I decided not to take on any weddings next year. I've turned down a 1/2 dozen calls, one at the country club of Champaign. I just think I really need the break. They wear me out during and after with all the proof work I have to do. And I really don't make all that money anyhow considering how much I spend working on a wedding as a whole. I do have one in Houston, TX, but that's it. And I'm not planning on anymore unless it's like Hawaii or something :) I think this will not only be good for me, but our family, too. I am actually really looking forward to being more "free" on weekends.

When I told the doctor about my taking no more weddings she said "noooooooo. You were going to photograph my daughter's wedding!" I said, "well, I'm always open to making exceptions and I definitely would for you." I love her. She is the best doctor I have ever had. Not because of what she said. She just is.

Neil is gone tonight to Pittsburg, so it's just me and the kids. When they go to bed I'm just going to enjoy the quietness. I really really think I need that.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully the BP medication is the answer. Pray that it come down and that my symptoms dissolve away. The symptoms have been the scariest for me. I want this to be something that is controllable and will allow me to continue living my life. The last 2 weeks I have hardly lived.

Quote-eful, Thought-ful, Foto-ful Friday

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” ~ Karen Ravn

That quote makes me think of these pictures:






I have my last wedding of the entire year, before my bff's wedding in Sept. I'm kind of nervous. I'm not usually nervous, but I am. It's my cousin's wedding and I want her pictures to be perfect. I want the pictures to be perfect every time, but I just want to end my wedding year on a bang. A good bang.

My hubby and kids will be there and I think that makes me especially nervous. Well, not so much nervous, but anxious. I have to not only pack an overnight bag for myself, but the kids, too, and then also pack up all my photography equipment, etc. I had a dream last night that I forgot some of the most important things. The battery for my camera and I only brought one memory card. Not that I could use that memory card because without the battery, I can't even turn on the camera to take a picture. Hopefully that's just my conscience reminding me not to forget those 2 very critical things!

It's going to be a quick trip down to southern Illinois. I wish we had more time to really enjoy the trip. It's where Neil and I went to college and we haven't been back there for years, and it's one of our very favorite places in the world. It's nothing extra super fabulous, but it's where we spent lots of time together every day, experiencing parts of life that would mold us for the rest of our lives. I loved college. I think he did, too.

The neat thing is, one of my college classmates, also a graphic design major, will be second-shooting the wedding with me. I haven't seen Patty for a couple years now. She just graduated last year with her Master's in photography. So this will be a fun experience for both of us. I'm really looking forward to seeing her and what she might teach me. (She's completely opposite from me in how and what she shoots. She's very abstract and modern, so I hope some cool things that she does will rub off on me. I'm always up for learning new photography tricks, skills and poses.)

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” ~ Karen Ravn

I need to post-it note that on my camera bag :)

Happy weekend, my friends!

Wedding canceled. Hmm...

Wow, my wedding season has sure flown by, and now it will fly by even faster.

My last wedding of the year, in October, just canceled. I've never had this happen in the 7 years I've been doing this, so I guess that is good. And I'm glad they decided this before they actually tied the knot. I give them credit for that. I'm really bummed for myself (selfishly..) because this was the wedding at a Greek Orthodox church in St. Louis and the reception at a huge ballroom. Ah well...

Now my dilemma is this. I don't have it written into my contract anywhere about cancellations and refunding money. What do you think I should do?

They put down a 30% deposit to save the date. Part of me feels like I should give half of it back, but at the same time, booking me is like a contract in itself. When I book people, I turn down people. Most likely I won't be able to find a wedding to replace it, and I know I turned down some weddings because I had already booked this one. And I did take a lot of time to do their engagement photos.

As a bride, what would you want? As a photographer, what would you do? As friends, what would you tell me?

**update**
Apparently I don't know my contract as well as I should. At the end of one section I have "Deposit is nonrefundable in the event of cancellation", and since that is what this is, I don't owe them money. Well, that's good. But I do feel badly for them, and all the money they are probably out of. They had some pretty pricey things books. Oh, that's just not good. Not good at all.

This is me.

And this is what I've been doing a whole bunch of. Good thing, of course.

But it's crazy. Just got done proofing a wedding 5 minutes ago after spending literally 18 hours on it. One more to go. Then hopefully I can begin on some orders. (Hopefully.) Thankfully my clients have been patient with me. (Thankfully.)

Sooooo much going on. Let's see . . .

. . . weddings, shoots, swimming lessons, t-ball, proofing, entertaining (Erin & Jer, Lisa & Matt, and Erin
& Jer again -- yes, they are coming back!), helping Heather register for her bridal registry, planning Heather's bridal shower (first weekend in August), still going to Decatur to the chiro (although I've been really bad the last 2 weeks), stripping some old furniture and redoing it, keeping up with my gardens, a garage sale at my mom's . . .oh my, the list just goes on. I am sure all our summers are similar. But this is why I'm not blogging much and why I'm not being a good fellow blogging reader. I think we're all sorta in the same boat, eh?

Good thing for me, I'm having the best time. It's been the best summer ever. Lots of time with friends . . .I'm somehow finding some time to spend with my family . . .lots of eating out and lots of time spent outdoors. It's great.

That picture up there is the perspective of my husband and these pictures here are the the perspective of me. Enjoy the pictures and enjoy your summers! :c)

Macs, Erin, Lisa. . . and a job offer?!

Been a while, eh?

My life goes on crazy turns sometimes. (Don't all of ours?) Unbelievably enough, I'm without my new laptop now. It's definitely not me, but something that was wrong before I even received the new computer. On start-up, it takes 5 minutes to load, whereas it should take 20 seconds or around there. It shouldn't take that long. So I took it in to the mac people and they weren't sure what was wrong either, so they sent it into Apple. It was suppose to arrive back for me to pick up this afternoon, but I got a call today in which the guy said "I have bad news, it got lost in transit and we won't have it now till Monday". I think he was surprised of my reaction because I said "that's okay, I'll be in there Monday. I'm just glad you know where it is." I think he expected me to yell at him or something. (It wasn't his fault and really, I was glad it was okay and not lost-lost.) So all week, my laptop has been away. Mac just doesn't appear to like me.

But Mac not liking me is a good thing this week because it's forced me to do other things. Like not blog and not read others' blogs but get myself ready for my big wedding this weekend in Chicago. In Chicago! I haven't had a wedding in Chicago since Johanna's wedding, and I think that's been 2 or 3 years. Jo? This one is at a Frank Lloyd Wright church. A photographer's DREAM. I mean, just look at this place! Just amazing fabulous FAMOUS architecture. Breathtaking. I look forward to the moment of walking into it for the first time. If you have an appreciation for architecture and history, you'll understand my feelings.


(Frank himself!)


We aren't leaving for the wedding until tomorrow morning. Then we're staying up there Saturday night coming back Sunday evening where we'll be meeting ERIN and her hubby, JER, at MY HOUSE! They're visiting us for two days before their drive out east to an outdoor Christian concert. I cannot wait to see my dear Erin again. I can't even explain how neat this is to be able to see her twice in a year's time. I feel very very lucky. :c)

And then when they are on their merry way, we are going to get yet another visitor. Well, visitors, plural! My friends, Lisa and Matt (another graphic designer who will have his mac with him and he and I will talk geeky computer like we tend to do!), along with their 3 children, are coming to stay with us Thursday night. They will be starting their journey from their home in Richmond, Virginia, to good ol' Illinois. They're staying over here till they're off again to a family gathering in Minnesota. Last time I saw them, Maegan was a year old? (Noah, too.) And now they have two more babies, Wils and Mia, whom I've never met and cannot wait to meet these two precious little people. (And we have Maia!) Long story short, I met Lisa 8 years ago on a pregnancy support board (the same place I met Alexis, actually!). It's really neat how God has brought the most amazing people into my life through the Internet. I am quite thankful for the Internet being invented in my lifetime just for those reasons alone. (Corny stuff, but all very true.)

In the meantime, I've been personally struggling a little with something that has been thrown out of left field at me.

Almost a week ago I was asked if I would be interested in teaching art. Yes, TEACHING. At Noah's school. At one point in my life I actually wanted to become a teacher. An art teacher, to be exact. My life, from the beginning, has revolved around art. I remember my favorite gift ever when I was like 8, being a small suitcase filled with child artist's dream --- pens, paper, paint, paint brushes, everything. I can still remember opening it. In college I changed my major to teaching for a day. And then realized that my introverted part of me couldn't handle being in front of people, even kids. So I changed back to graphic art. Now, after having shot zillions of photographs in front of zillions of people, not caring who was looking at me, I tend to wonder if I could actually do it now? I think when you have a passion for something, being introverted or not, it doesn't seem to matter anymore. I love children and love art. But that doesn't mean I can TEACH children. It's a completely different thing. And that is what is holding me back.

I don't have a teaching certificate, but in the private school you don't have to have one. I also would only be teaching 2 or 3 days (I would set my own schedule), for a total of 8 hours all week. I'd be teaching grades kindergarten through 8th grade. The plus to it all is that it's 8 hours and that I can make my own schedule (I could do it all in one day if I wanted or split it into 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 days). And, the classes are extremely small. My largest class would be kindergarten which is 10-15 kids (depending on how many sign up this fall). My smallest would be 8th grade which is about 3 or 4 kids. PERFECT for me.

What's not perfect for me is that I'm not sure what I would do with Maia. I know they would allow me to bring her with me. She loves art, too, so I know I could keep her busy. I don't think she would interrupt what I was doing. If she did, I am sure I could find a place to take her. My friend, Lindsay, already said she could watch her (she is a stay-at-home mom).

The other not-so-perfect thing is the fact, again, that I don't have a teaching certificate, and while that doesn't matter to the principal (he is the one who asked me), it does to me. I don't know how to teach. I don't know curriculum. I wouldn't know where to even begin. And that scares me. I have a lot of sources. My grandmother was a teacher and I kept ALL of her art teaching books when she passed away. I have never even looked at them, but I kept them for whatever reason. (Maybe for this???) And my sister-in-law is a teacher, my dear friend, Katie, is a teacher, my sister-in-law's sister-in-law, Missy, is a teacher, my friend, Leann, is a teacher, and I have a friend who actually is an art teacher at a high school near here. I have so many sources. But again, it would me teaching, not them, and the thought overwhelms me a bit.

The other problem is time. While it's only 8 hours a week, I still have to have time to focus on those 8 hours outside of class. Do I really want to focus on teaching my classes or my photography? Deep down, I want to say photography. That is my passion. I think the absolute hardest thing in all this for me is that 4 of the other teachers have found out about this and are really encouraging me to do it. They think I'm a "perfect fit". They say I'll love it. One even told me that she thinks I'm being called by God because she knows my background, she knows how I have all these teaching books at home, etc. and I came around right at the perfect time of them needing an art teacher. That makes it hard. It's a lot of pressure when they all are so excited but when I just am not sure I can be excited with them.

The day after I was asked this, I read this piece of scripture in a devotional book I read:

"Measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you . . . God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best."

-- Romans 12:3, 6-8, CEV

That scripture spoke volumes to me; that I'm probably doing something right by following my passion. But I'm not sure about teaching.

Then I read this, too.

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

-- John Wooden

It's hard and I have to think and pray about it a lot more. Pray for me, please, too, if you remember to.

Rainbow in Millenium + Good Friends = Hope

While downloading pictures from last weekend, I came across this one of my dear friend, Johanna and her husband, Jas. Jason did NOT want to do this picture, but once he was in the water, I think he was really thankful we (Jo and I) forced him to. I love this picture because of the rainbow and because of the expressions on their faces. It couldn't have turned out any more perfectly. What a fun day, and a great ending to hours of shooting in Chicago. It was a dream for me, and having Jo there with me made it even that much better. We had a blast. So today, as I leave for my wedding and it's STILL raining after having rained all night long, this picture gives me hope that even when you're wet, you can still get a good capture :c)

Rain go away, I need good pictures!

I'm working on a wedding album, as I have been doing for probably the past 36 hours. As I work on a page, I have been putting some of the photos up on flickr. Flickr is my absolute fave if you haven't already figured that one out. I spend so much time there these a days. It's an addiction but at least it sticks with what I like to do most :c)



Since I haven't had a wedding for a few weeks, doing this album and playing with flickr is helping me in the inspiration department for tomorrow's wedding. I'm not looking forward to this wedding for several reasons.

Reasons why a wedding doesn't sound enticing to me:

I'm so behind already with proofing that this wedding will put me another week behind. But such is life for photographers during a busy season which shouldn't be surprising to myself, but I just thought I'd tell ya'll. I don't think people realize how much time we (digital photographers) put in on proofing.

If you haven't already heard, we've had a tremendous amount of rain lately. Tuesday we got 6 inches of rain in just 24 hours (and LOTS of flooding). Ever since then we've had smaller amounts of rain. Today we are expecting more and tomorrow even more. Rain isn't the best combination with a bride, groom, photographer and cameras. But, I can't do too much about mother nature, so if the rain decides to pour, I'll have to put on my creative thinking cap (and my umbrella up), I suppose. I just hate not getting outdoor shots, and this wedding tomorrow potentially could have them, if it doesn't rain.

My usual assistant will be gone :( So I will be shooting solo. Guess who gets to help me? My darling wonderful not-so-good-with-the-camera husband. He'll admit he doesn't like to assist me. But at the same time, at least it's someone. He's good at fetching drinks for me but not so good at fluffing dresses. Ah well. Once we get to reception, hopefully we'll be dry and can let down our hair a bit (not him, me, hehe). I look forward to that part. (And my parents are keeping the kids!)

Oh man. Yep, the rain has begun yet again. We have had SO much rain. The poor farmers. My poor dad, my poor uncle. My poor mom and dad. They're selling their house, as some of you know, and when the rain came through Illinois, it also swept through to their basement. The carpet is ruined and so they are taking the house off the market until they have it replaced and taken care of. When their power goes out, the sump pump stops, and then havoc breaks loose. Not good. The exact reason why they wanted to move to begin with. I told mom this is just reinforcing the fact that their decision was a smart one to move.

Happy rainy weekend!

Proofing done! Chicago here I come!

This time of year is so busy for me. Wedding after wedding, shoot after shoot. It's never-ending. I love actually going out and photographing and I love coming home and post-processing on my computer, but I really don't like the time it takes me to post-process. Man oh man oh man. So while I have been down one computer and online a ton less, I'm still attached to my other computer as I proof away. I pushed myself incredibly hard this week finishing up 2 weddings. One I proofed over 1,000 photos (yes, that many), and the other, being just a reception, I proofed about 500. I figured I spent about 50 hours thus far this week post-processing. I've learned this week that I am not charging enough for the time I put in to my work. ((sigh)) At least I enjoy it. Now if I could only figure out how to balance that time between home/kids and work. (As I work I always am thinking "how do those other women do it?". I wish they would tell me.)

The good news is that tomorrow morning we're packing the kids in the car and heading to Chicago for a long weekend. Saturday, my beloved Johanna, is assisting me in photographing 6 shoots. All downtown Chicago!! How incredible it that?! I'm very much looking forward to this experience. It's something I have always wanted to do, and now unbelievably I am! The day is suppose to be gorgeously perfect and I think (no, I know) Jo and I are going to have an amazing time.

The rest of the time I am spending it solely with my family. Neil and the kids will be with me. We have no plans. We like to go places without plans and do everything spur-of-the-moment. That's a true vacation, when there is no thought processing involved!, for us. We've talked about the Chicago Children' Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo again, we don't know. But it's Chicago, and where we stay each time we're up there, we're within walking distance to everything. So we have the Windy City right at our fingers :c)

So with that said, I'll see you all Tuesday! We are coming home late Monday. Hope you have a great weekend. Think of me Saturday and send me energized thoughts as I have a feeling come lunch I will be exhausted. I'm shooting till 7:00. Yeah, I'll be tired.This is where I'm shooting. And maybe here where Buckingham Fountain resides. (Katie, yes we would LOVE lunch!! Thank you for the offer -- incredibly thoughtful.)

Here's a peak into the last two weddings. More, as always, can be seen at my other blog or flickr.








p.s. I haven't received my new laptop yet. I'm thinking if I don't, it's actually probably a good thing. It means I won't have a computer to take with me and I can't work on anything photo-wise no matter what. What will I do with my time after the kids go to bed? Talk to hubby? Read a book? Watch Joel on The Soup? Watch the Ferris Wheel turn with it's beautiful lights at Navy Pier from the balcony? All sounds heavenly. ((happy sigh))

And I forgot I had this one. Myself in action doing that photo up there. (Wanting to draw an arrow right now to that picture.) Heather shot it. She's so funny. It's kinda fun, though, to see what I look like. One thing I learned by seeing this picture is that I won't be wearing that dress again. It looks like a Moo Moo. Ha :c)

..Trail Mix..photography style..

There rarely seems to be a day where you don't find me looking like this:


. . . with a camera attached to me somewhere on my body. So here's what I've been doing on those days . . .

* Alexis and I had the best time ever Thursday night. Robbies, drinks, push-up bras and Matt Damon . . . not much can get better than that! (She should have a post on this soon - she took pictures - I didn't!)

* My mom and dad closed on their new house a few weeks ago. It's such a perfect home for them. I have more pictures of it but am not sure if mom wants me to let you see it yet? But here is a cute pic of mom and the kids the day they closed on the house, sitting on the steps of the breezeway . . .

Congratulations, mom and dad! We're so happy for you!

* This weekend we help mom and dad move their furniture in! I'm sure someone will document it . . . me?

* My wedding was wonderful. We had a such a great time. Mom, Heather and I stayed at a $60 hotel which was quite entertaining doing so. The bride, my cousin, was beautiful! Everything about the day was just perfect. I'm so happy I was able to be such a large part of it.

* I'm exhausted from the wedding. Driving 7 hours, going to bed late, getting up early, being on my feet all day long and running around non-stop is tiring! Yesterday was the best Mother's Day ever because I slept all day and did absolutely nothing. Neil fixed me a wonderful steak dinner and the kids were good to me. It was great! I actually didn't pick up my camera once!

* Right now I'm drinking some coffee and wishing it were stronger because I just can't wake up. I have an espresso machine but don't know how to use it. Go figure. Still haven't picked up my camera today. After I post this, I will be, though. Time to proof some pics . . .

* Tomorrow, Tuesday, I have an all-day date with MATT DAMON! ;-) Camera will be literally attached to my hand!!
Okay, fine, I'm obsessed!

* Last weekend my great friend, Jen, and her daughter, Addison, visited from Mississippi. Here's a couple favorite pictures from their stay. There are tons more at flickr. This is Addison's set. You probably have to be registered to view them? There are 100 or so!


I call this one "Baby Dolls":


A very funny spontaneous moment I happened to catch!:


"Just Like Mommy":


* Last week was a beautiful week with temps in the 70's. The kids and I had some really fun afternoons. Here are a couple faves from the past week. As I've said before, many more at flickr (this is the May 2008 set- you may need to be registered to view them all since 2/3's of them are "private") and will continue to be all week. I hope to proof my newborn session this week, the session I did with Addison and also my wedding. So much going on!



* Happy Mother's Day to my friends and family who are moms. Even those who are moms to furry friends. We know how they become a part of our family just as if they were our own children. Hope your day was fantastic. We all deserve it. :c)

Super-Sized Blessings

I'm not going to be around much from here throughout the summer, I'm afraid, but I hope that won't deter you from visiting me when I do have a post or make you feel like I won't visit you anymore. Because that's just not true! :c)

I just started in on busy season #6 (I can't believe it's the 6th summer for me, wow!) with a wedding last Saturday. I've also got three wedding album orders in the works (Heather -- you know how long those take!) among other fabulous things. I hope you won't mind me sharing some exciting stuff.

Most of you know how far I have came from a graphic design student to working as a graphic designer and photography assistant for a couple years to starting my own business by the words I told myself the day I walked out: "I can do that and do it better". And while it's not been easy, it's definitely been a fun amazing challenge.

The first wedding I ever booked on my own just landed in my lap and I'm honestly not sure how it came about, but what I do know is that it was God's plan. That first wedding I shot all by myself was Beth and Rodrigo. I never knew the two of them before Beth called me. The day Beth and I met, we knew we were "meant" to be "together" as a bride and as a photographer. As I got to know her further, I felt it was just so simple to pour out my heart to her. She was the strongest Christian I had ever met at that point in my life, and I knew it was for more than just so I could be her photographer. She trusted me and I trusted her, and she prayed with me about my infertility and losses and she was one of my biggest cheerleaders through that time and I know one of my biggest prayer supporters.

Anyway, it amazes me as I look back to the VERY first wedding I booked, that it was HERS and how truly thankful I am because she trusted me. Without her trust, I'm not sure where I'd be. She didn't see but a handful of pictures of mine, but she knew she still wanted me, and I remember her even telling me that. I remember her saying "I don't know why, but I just know I want you!". Since then we've became great friends. I have had the chance to see her grow the gift of God inside of her, shoot her maternity pictures, and today I get invited to her son's birthday parties. I'm a part of her family, and she mine. It's heartwarming to know that I will (hopefully) forever be a part of her family's life, and now that she is pregnant with baby #2, I hope I will get to be a part of "her" life, too. (Yes, it's a girl!!)

My point is, I know I am doing what God intended me to do because of the people I have gained in my life as forever friends. Through Beth I met Corie (who I've mentioned tons and who has a blog who I have a link to here at my blog) and then Corie booked me for her wedding. We've stayed true friends since then and now I've been welcomed into her family's life as well. It's crazy, but a good crazy, how things spiral as they do and lead me in new directions meeting new people and most of the time, gaining life-long friends. Beth's sister-in-law, Tracy, is another. And Tracy is one of Corie's best friends. See what I mean?

Speaking of Corie, I am done proofing all her (hundreds of) pictures and some of them are online at flickr. A few are in at a "private" group which only invited guests can see. Those are the best ones, but, well there's a lot of skin and we know how there are some icky people in this world surfing the internet JUST for pictures like them. But you can still see many of the fully-clothed ones. Check them out RIGHT HERE.


Another positive story is this one. Late last summer I got called by a prospective client who had just heard about me, called me and booked me for a session. I have now photographed her children twice in the past 6 months. In that time she and I have gotten to know each other quite well. She has told me a few times how she feels blessed by me. But see, she's blessed me just the same or more. First of all, I've had the amazing chance to get to know her family and secondly, for her own business she recently asked me to help her in designing new marketing and advertising campaign. We've started with billboards. Nothing like starting big and going small, right? And well, those billboards should be up around town soon. TWO BILLBOARDS. I couldn't be more excited . . . or scared! Scared mostly because even though I hope it will lead me to more new things, I'm not sure I can handle it, but I pray those calls *will* come and that they won't overwhelm me too much so that I *can* handle it. I can't wait for bigger things!

Then a few days ago I got a call from my son's principal. He has asked me to start shooting some things at the school for the schools own marketing. Being a private school, the school thrives off of their advertising and of course a lot of "word of mouth". But to keep up with the other schools it has to have a great website and great brochures. So Friday I begin on this! I don't get paid and honestly, I don't care one bit. I would never ever accept money from them. There's nothing like doing things for people voluntarily, especially those who deserve it. Anything to make someone happy. I know by doing it, the rewards will be endless. I just love Mr. H's school and I am excited for it to just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Then Monday afternoon (see how good God is?!), as I was sitting waiting for Ashley's (Neil's sister) track meet, I start opening my mail. And inside a big envelope were some copies of a magazine. A magazine in which the main article's photographer was myself. ME! Talk about exciting. It's one thing to know it's probably happening, but another to actually SEE IT IN PRINT!! I am thrilled silly. And while I know I don't want to do weddings so much anymore, it does enable me to be really choosy with my weddings and hopefully expand in other ways, like with maternity and baby portraits --- two of my very favorite things ever! And here is the "contents" page. I'm on page 13 as you can see! (That's my picture!) Click here to see the magazine and my article!!!

So I know that was really long, and I hope you will forgive me. But I just can't go without apologizing for my lack of being and my lack of being in the near future. I'm busy. And if I spend as much time on my blogging as I wish I could, that means I am probably not focused as well on other areas of my life, like my children. I need my main focus to be my family and then my work. Blogging is now going to have to come near last. Just because it has to. Not because I want it to. But because it NEEDS to. If I give too much of myself here, I know I am not giving enough in other realms. And that's part of the reason why I'm a stay-at-home mommy. To live in these moments with them that won't be here much longer. Time is going by way too fast.

Thanks for letting me share my good news. Thank you for all the amazing support I get from my friends and family. It's you that keeps me going as a mother and as a photographer! :c)

One final thought, if you just go to my main stream at flickr, you will also see some personal pictures of my kiddos. Please stop by and leave me some comments. Toodles!

I'd have to purchase a wide-angle lens!

So I just got an email from a prospective client, a bride. I'm still laughing.

First of all, she is wanting me to photograph her wedding in just a couple months (kinda short notice), but the real kicker is this part of the email. And I quote, "Do you have a limit to the number in the wedding party because we have 15 bridesmaids?" Oh my lands. Seriously?! FIFTEEN?! And I thought 9 was a lot. Thankfully I was able to tell her I am booked and not have to come up with an excuse. THANKFULLY.

Can you imagine as a bride, keeping 15 straight? Or buying them gifts? Or their dinner? (You'd have to account for them and a guest, so right there you have 30 seats at your reception taken.) I could go on . . . but you get the point. In-sane.

"Trail Mix"

We just had Easter (probably like most of you) yesterday afternoon on Neil's mom's side. It was really nice. Lots of kiddos. I made fruit pizza which was too pretty not to take a picture of! I had a piece for breakfast this morning. Mmmmmm . . . (All the food and conversation was very good! Hope you all had nice Easter celebrations as well.)

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Remember my face pain a week ago? It turned out to be a sinus infection! I have 2 or 3 more days left of my antibiotic. I feel sooooo much better. That was absolutely no fun at all (and very scary)!

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Today I finally see a doctor for my back pain. I'm now seeing a neurosurgeon. Hopefully it will all go okay. I'm not really nervous because I don't think it's anything serious. I just want to get it fixed and the chiro isn't helping that area of my back at all which tells me it's not mechanical?? I'm just ready for today to be over with already. (I also have my "yearly". Blech.)

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Last week was a really successful week for us with potty training. We went all week long wearing big girl undies with no training pants or the like! We either went bare booty or underwear. (Maia, not me! I always try to be clothed!) Night time is a bit harder, so we're wearing diapers to bed still. But I know we're on the right track because this is how it went down with Noah. Noah was trained when he was ready, and I think Maia is following in his same "I'll do it when I'm ready" pattern. Yayyyyyyyy!!! What will we do with all that extra diaper money?!

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The kids got an Easter package in the mail from their cousins,
Ella and Adi. And guess what?! Mommy got a little treat, too, from Chel. It's the cutest little giftie ever and I can't wait to plant the seeds :c) Thank you, darlin'!

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My weddings start back up in 3 weeks!

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Remember how I said I wasn't going to do anymore weddings or else very little?! Well, I really do have a hard time saying no. I have nine. Totally better than 15+ which is what I did every year for a few years. But it's still too many. I really seriously am not taking any next year. (PLEASE hold me to this, friends!) Neil and I both decided last night that it would be a good idea. Now if you're a friend or someone who has lots of really different fun ideas, I might possibly be swayed. (hehe)

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Next weekend I get to see Corie! She's coming home for her BABY SHOWER! Then 2 weeks after that I get to do her maternity photos!! (She'll be such a beautiful subject, too. Okay, so will Keith, her hubby, but I think Corie's going to be glowing a teeny-tiny bit more?)

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Over the weekend I got my hair cut (only like a 1/2 inch) but I also got it colored and thinned out. I have soooooo much hair so thinning it out totally changed how it looks and feels. I love it. Noah told me I looked "pretty". If that doesn't make a mommy feel good, I'm not sure what else would! He's such a sweet boy.

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Neil and I rented our first movie in probably 2 years . . . the Holiday. I remember Corie and Keith telling me about it a while back, so that was the one I chose. I can't wait to see it. The last time I saw a movie at the theater was with Alexis and Jamie. How long ago was that, girls?! Well over a year, wasn't it?

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I was about to buy this chair last night, but then thought I'd ask your opinions on it. I always feel confident in my purchases when it comes to cameras or lenses or clothes or paint colors. But a desk chair which could change the way my back feels forever because I practically live in it, well, that's a different story! I tried out a whole bunch after my hair cut at Office Depot and Staples on Saturday. I definitely do not like the big frumpy cushy executive chairs because they are not made for sitting at a desk staring at a computer screen for hours on end kind-of-work. At least not for me and my back. I need high lumbar support big time. I hope this one will work. I want to order it online because it's free shipping and I have a $30 off coupon when ordering online. (at Staples) You can't beat that. Any suggestions or advice? Why am I so nervous about this purchase?

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Oh, and I forgot to add that I hope to post an entry this week on something photography-related! Alexis's gizillion trillion questions to me when about to purchase her new (awesome DSLR Nikon) camera a while back stemmed an idea in my head to turn those questions and answers into an informative post for you. So look for that this week!!

I {heart} fun assignments!

My latest fun project with work has been designing save-the-dates for my cousin's wedding. Not only do I get to shoot the wedding, but I also get to design the save-the-dates and the actual wedding invitation! How neat is THAT?! Here is the final save-the-date. How lucky am I, really, to have such a great job. It really is hardly a job when I get to do such fun and different things such as this!

I also posted this at my typepad blog . . . which I hope to start updating a lot more in the coming days and weeks as well. It's so nice for things to have finally slowed down a bit!

P.S. Their last name will start with a "B" if you weren't able to figure that part out ;c)

Walk through a photography shot with me

Wow, two posts in one day. That hasn't happened in a looooong time!

I thought this would be fun to post. I rarely have this happen where someone takes a photo of me setting up a shot, then taking the shot and then getting to SEE it all with my own eyes, but Johanna did do just that!

At my last wedding one month ago today, on a day where we thought we were going to have the ice storm of 2006 revisited, Johanna snapped the pics. Actually, she snapped quite a few of me. What a sweet friend she is because I find it quite flattering that she even feels the need to take pictures of ME at all.

And who is this Jo person that I talk about so often? Here she and I are together.


She is the sweetest most caring person around. We're so alike in so many ways, not that I'm saying I'm either of those, because I'm not, but I love her so much because we have like a gizillion things in common and we're always saying or thinking the same thing. She's one of my dearest friends. Isn't she cute?! Her dress really rocked big time. :c)

So she took this here picture of me . . .



. . . while I had the bride posing for me here (she also shot this one) . . .



. . . and this is the final outcome here (in color and in black and white) that I shot!




Fun, eh?!

Random-ness in the New Year

I'm not full of anything interesting and blog-worthy at all these days. I feel like my brain is just dead. I am also so so so so tired. I think it's the weather and the time of year and the fact that my daughter is not sleeping well these days and I am woken up 4 times a night (that may be a big part of it) so it feels like I have a newborn suddenly again. Ugh. It's so not fun. At all. So a combination of all of the above has me feeling so . . . at a loss. So here's the random things that are in my head right now and random-ity going on in my life. Not very blog-worthy, but at least it gives me something to post.

* 6-ish years ago I did yoga just about every day. At that time in my life I was in the best shape I think I had ever been in since high school weight training (I also hadn't ate meat in over 6 years so that, too, helped me out a bit, I think). The good news is, I'm back in yoga and it's nice. Really nice. I love yoga and how it makes me feel. Always have. And it's something that doesn't take much coordination like aerobics (which I don't have), but balance and a little endurance (which I do have). Neil has even been doing it with me some and the kids attempt to. It's so cute! (Maia is actually really good at it!)

* I have my first wedding of the year on Saturday. It's a big one, too. 8 attendants on each side and over 400 guests. Thankfully we're doing all the pictures beforehand, which will help A LOT and makes me feel a tiny bit less overwhelmed. The neatest thing about this wedding is that it's completely black and white. Their invitation even requested that all the guests wear either black or white (<-------yeah, that says white). It will look awesome in pictures. I really look forward to the event. Snow on top of that would be amazing, but I'm afraid it's going to be too warm for snow. Shoot.

* Neil isn't a big traveler like he use to be, but when he does travel, it's far-away places. This time, in 2 weeks, he's off for China. Yep, China. He just got his VISA back so it's pretty official. I'm not sure how long he'll be gone yet, but it will be at least a week. I'm just not use to these long travels anymore. He's had every shot in the book now to prepare for it. I think he's ready, but I'm not. I get really anxious and nervous thinking about it. Thankfully I have friends here who have already volunteered to have me live with them for a week, and even if I don't, I know they'll be stopping by every day. I just don't do well without Neil here. He's more than just the one who brings home the bacon. He is the greatest daddy in the world and is a pretty amazing Susie Homemaker. (I really am blessed and when he is gone it reminds me how blessed I am and how amazing he is.)

* I bought some new photography books last week and last night I almost finished one of them. I haven't read anything other than maybe a recipe or a Christmas newsletter (?!) in probably 6 months or more. To finally have the time to do so after about 6 months of non-stop running and working, is just so very nice and so rewarding. Hard work does pay off and there really is light (and a break) at the end of the tunnel :c)

* My cousin who will soon be 40 just announced that he is going to be a daddy again later this fall! He will be my oldest cousin with the youngest baby! I think it's kinda neat!! Congrats Clint and Stacy!! We're so happy for you!

* I bought Annie, the musical, and watched it today with my kids. Maia was mesmerized and it reminded me how mesmerized I get watching it. I love love love that movie. Probably (in my opinion) one of the best movies ever, ranking up there with The Sound of Music, The Parent Trap and The King and I. I'm such a sucker for musicals, Disney movies, Classics or all of the above. Okay, fine, a.k.a. corny movies. I love corny movies. But they sort of bring me up into the clouds into a fantasy world and I love that feeling. And there's something about catchy songs like "It's a Hard Knock Life" or "My Favorite Things" that just really make you happy (even if they aren't the happiest of songs like the Hard Knock Life). My husband thinks I am the queen of dorks with the love I have for these movies and I don't deny that! :c)

Speaking of "happy" . . . Happy New Year! Hope it's a really really great year for all of us.

Cold cold cold cold memories.

I shot my last wedding of the year on Saturday. It was a really good wedding and I can't wait to share more later. The bride was gorgeous, I got to finally wear my dress and shoes, I got to see my Johanna, (oh!) and I shot a couple hundred (more like over 1,000) pictures.

So I'm a teensy-weensy tired today still. (More like super exhausted!) My legs and arms are soooo sore. Both things regularly happen after a wedding from standing on my feet (in heels) for hours on end and holding my camera with one arm like I so often do. (Ah-hem, yes, I know, that is also a sign that I'm way out of shape. I know it, so no rubbing it in. I consider my weddings major work-outs!)

One of the strangest things about the wedding was the weather. When I left my house at 9:30, it was freezing rain. I got on the interstate and it was a sheet of ice. The windows on my car started freezing. I had to go 30 mph on the interstate. Some cars passed me but most of them stayed in good distance behind. Cars were swerving all over and some were going in ditches. If I wasn't photographing the wedding, I would have turned around. It was so bad and so scary. But, I persevered! (Yay, Val!)

It took me over an hour to go about 30 miles or so. Thankfully, right about when the ceremony started, the weather started warming up and the ice began to melt. The craziest thing of all though, was that it was exactly one year ago that we got the ice storm of the decade. The ice storm that set my husband, kids and I out of power for 9 days. The craziest of it all was that the reception was held at the same place that we called "home" for those 9 days. Talk about deja vu. It was so so so so . . . strange. I kept thinking about one year ago. And I kept praying "please, Lord, don't let it happen again."

As Neil and I talked yesterday and agreed, one year ago was really really hard for us. It was a scary time to not have power in our home for 9 days. For temps to be below freezing for that entire time and to be living somewhere out of your norm, in a strange place without any of your belongings around. It was hard. All 4 of our pets were still living back at our house. Neil left our "home-away-from-home" to go to work, but I rarely got out with the kids. I went back to our actual house once or twice. It was hard to go back, to see it so frozen over and lifeless, and then to have to leave it again was difficult, not to mention, it really confused the kids (who were just a year old and 3!). We went stir-crazy . . . just slightly. It was really hard. It was definitely a time in our lives that I will never ever ever forget.

Just yesterday we put up all our Christmas decorations in our house. It made me think about how last year, the NIGHT that we put up our decorations and tree, the ice storm hit. Here's my kiddos on that night. Who would have thought that we would not get to enjoy our tree and decorations for 9 days? Not I.

The night the ice came, that had to have been the scariest night ever. The weight of the ice on the telephone wires snapped just about all of them or brought them down completely on top of trees. When this started happening, we knew we had to get out of there. Our power went out, the house began getting cold very fast and it looked like the 4th of July out our windows. We thought our house was going to catch fire. So we drove to Neil's parents and slept overnight there. When we woke up the next morning, we drove home and this is what we saw.

The next day, Neil's dad got us a place to stay at. Here is a picture of my kids looking out the window of our "apartment" at the ice from 3 floors up.

In those 9 days, we got pretty bored. We did a lot of running up and down the halls. :c) (Maia was JUST learning how to walk, so she was constantly pretty wobbly!)
When we got home after the 9 days, what work we had to do! Our yard was a complete disaster area. With the amount of branches and trees down, it almost looked like a tornado had swept through. Here's part of our pile of branches.
I am so so so so glad all this is now a distant memory, and I can only hope and pray that it's the only ice storm I ever have such strong memories from. We'll definitely never ever forget.

Were you affected by the storm?????