~Sierra, Class of 2016. Sierra has such a sweet sole and a passion for her animals. The beauty that in on the inside beams out like the sun on the amazing day we did her session. It was so great to meet you Sierra and your parents and get a tour of your farm. I hope you have an amazing year of your last year of school.~
"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyways" John Wayne
Here's to your senior year and what NEW adventures to come.
A quote by Opra Winfrey
"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams."
This quote is so true. Sometimes we get caught up in the daily life and forget about our dreams that really inspire us a make us who we are. You're so young and have this amazing fresh start to a life of dreams. Live life happy and do what inspires you! Have an amazing senior year Lindsay!
~Katie: Class of 2016~
A quote by one of my favorite authors. Dr. Seuss
“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.”
I hope you have an AMAZING senior year Katie! Thanks again for allowing me to do your senior photos!
Returning clients are the BEST! As a photographer you meet with people and to photograph them you have to get to know them a bit to truly be able to capture who they are. My love for photography isn't just photography, it's getting to know YOUR story and WHO you are and capture that one moment in life for you to cherish and share with your loved ones. I guess you could say Life and Photography are my passion.
One of my most favorite authors Dr. Seuss said,
LIFE is about to become real, don't forget to smile and enjoy the journey.
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]]>We met a few years ago when we both did a vendor fair. She is a consultant over at ViVi Jewelry. You should go check out her website, super cute stuff!
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Since we are friends on facebook I went peaked to check in on how she was doing and only to see a post that brought tears to my eyes. Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 5th. I felt so heart broken for Beth and her family and instantly reached out to her to do a session for her and her family. I'm was so excited that she was up for doing them.
We didn't want to waist too much time since she was starting her chemotherapy right away. The day for weather didn't look good. It called for stormy rain all day. The morning I woke up I thought please GOD, give the weather a break so we can do this session. Beth was prepared for the rain and brought umbrellas, but just as I was getting ready to head out the door we had a break in the weather. Thank you, for answered prayers. The wind and cold was a little much for the kids, but it was nice not to have the rain with the mixture of the wind and cold. Lots of hugs, snuggles, runs to the truck to get warm, Maddies favorite blanket to make the session a little more comfortable for the kids and comfort of Grandma to help out.
Beth, I will be saying lots of prayers for you along this bump in the road. Stay strong! You are a beautiful mom, wife, friend & daughter & sister and have a ton of support behind you.
It's comforting to know that Miss Victoria has so many people that are here to guide her and care for her like my friend Kelly. Kelly you truly are a blessing to Victoria's life. I'm also thankful for you being a part of our lives and being such a great nurse for Lilly and continue to be a good friend to us.
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I have to say that this by far has be one of my favorite session. Just a day at the beach with no real agenda. This family has such a huge spot in my heart. I will forever be grateful for being able to capture this families journey of Life...Love & Happiness.
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It's always fun to play dress up as a little girl....what little girl doesn't right??? What makes it even more special is that it's mommies wedding dress....and someday these little girls will grow up and become brides too. I absolutely love doing these sessions with the little girls!
If you know of any little girls 5 or older that would like to dress up in her mommies wedding dress I'd love the referral. The session comes with a hand made fresh flower headband made by me to custom your color and a 5x7 print to save in a little keepsake box with your headband.
Lilly was born May 8th at 27 weeks weighing 1lb 13oz. For the first few days I was not able to see her due to me still recovering from the HELLP syndrome. I was given magnesium that kept me pretty sedated for a few days to make sure that I would recover from my kidney's and liver shutting down, and blood pressure reaching sky high. I'm slowing getting better but I truly feel that I was robbed of a mother & daughter bond with my little girl. Not being able to see her for a few days and then not being able to touch her with out rubber gloves. Heart wrenching.....
It was not a fun experience...they wanted to send me home on mothers day and I feel apart. How? Just how could you send me home on mothers day with out my baby? My blood pressure went up and darn it....I had to say another night. Finally I had to be released from the hospital and I was a wreck. Not taking my baby home and LEAVING her in someone elses care.
For 3 LONG months I made the journey everyday to the hospital to make sure the Dr's and Nurses were doing their job to my expectation. My expectations were a little over the top but considering the situation I didn't care! I may have fired a few nurses .....and yes you can do that! But, I did become pretty close with a few and still are in contact to this day.
My amazing husband started a blog and updated it with the Dr's notes on Lilly's care everyday. As parents you are able to meet with all the Dr's, nutritionists, nurses & pharmacists and go over your child care for that day and put in your request or recommendations. Most of the time we let them do their thing. Their was one time one of the Dr's wanted to give Lilly a trial medicine that cured puppies. I flipped out. Yes, the words "trial medicine cured puppies" did come out of his mouth. I instantly spoke up and said that my child was not a puppy and you WON'T be using that. Considering the pharmacist agreed with me I felt pretty good about my decision. They rotated Dr's out every three weeks and I do have to say that he was one I really never cared for. So for 3 months my husband blogged and I took pictures to go with the blog. Now they were then best images, but being that I just got my camera the November before Lilly was born I was not able to master it yet and so I just used my little instamatic. The blog website was shut down but I did manage to export it and get it saved. I will someday make a book for Lilly and share it with her. THAT will be also hard to go back and read.
I have been asked several times if I would donate sessions to NICU parents. My answer has always been no. Being in the NICU was the worst time of my life. I was unhappy every day I was there and actually kept people and visitors from coming for a few days just so I could have my somewhat own space with my daugher. I'm so grateful for the people who did come visit me....but everything just became so overwhelming I had no choice but to regroup my emotions of #1 being in there for almost 3 months and #2 almost loosing Lilly twice to a few extremely bad infections. I've always felt guilty for telling people no that I couldn't take photos of babies in NIUC's and I really have wanted to try and get over my whole anxiety of the situation.
The past 6 years now have been a whole new life for me to raise Lilly. She has been in therapy since she was 2. I was unaware of the Birth to 3 program the the hospital offered for follow up care for Lilly, but at 2 I just knew there was something a little special about her. She wasn't able to self sooth, you couldn't make a peep once you laid her down for bed cause she heard everything and would cry, loud noises bother and she wasn't able to talk. Finally this year we have a clear picture for Lilly. She has been diagnosed ADHD, NVLD (Non Verbal Learning Disorder) & Sensory Processing Disorder. We always new that Lilly had a neurological disorder but to now have a specific diagnosis has been a DREAM! Now we know how to approach Lilly and it has made a world of difference. I chose to opt out on the meds and try just feeding her the proper foods, vitamins, & coin method. It's been like night and day. Lilly is so much happier and so are WE!
This is Lilly's story of 6 years. I'm now at ease with her and don't blame me for what happened or wonder why I was cursed to have her go through all this at just the beginning of her life. Man is that freeing to say.......
Being free of pain, blame & guilt I now think I am ready to share her images. I left out the super graphic images like when they put a breathing tube down her throat when she was born.....but you don't need to see that!! I do admit I did not look my best in a lot of these images and thank god I have done something about that now!
Happy Birthday to my princess. You have taught me patients, brought me tears of happiness and emotions that I have for no other being. I love you with all my heart.
This is Lilly's Birth Day story......
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I stumbled across this set of photos that was taken last October. It was for my moms birthday. The day didn't plan out like it was to and Lilly was having a sensory overload that day..lol...but we got photos! Their not the "picture perfect" images, but it's my family and I love them! I really should have hired a "pro" to take them so it would have been less stressful for me though! Looking back on this session made me realize that I don't have hardly ANY of me with my mom or me with my mom and kids. I really need to get better at scheduling my OWN family photos with my mom and with my kids!! With Mother's Day approaching you should all stop and think....Do I have a recent photo of me with my mom? or Am I a mom and do I have recent photos with my kids? If your answer is no then you need to stop, put down that bowl of ice cream and call me! You need photos and your phone is not acceptable! Life with your loved ones & your mom are worthy of quality images that you too can look back on and have those fun priceless memories!
My mom means so much to me and I'm so thankful for these images. I think next time I will hire a photographer, even though my husband did manage to get a great one of my mom and I!
I don't think I will be ordering a 30x40 canvas of this image of my mom with my kids....lol....but I can't seem to help but not to laugh at this image. Images don't always have to be picture perfect, life isn't......it's just has to be about capturing your life!
~Love~
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On Christmas I got an email from my friend thanking her for the BEST Christmas present EVER. This melted my heart and that email was one of the best gift I also got for Christmas.
Thank You Kelsey for coming to me and helping with giving your mom the best Christmas present ever. Both of you girls are beautiful and special and little man Cylus is SO adorable!
Some of my previous sessions are well not so blog worthy. NOT because of who was in them but geesh I'm glad my skills have improved over the past few years. I think going back through previous sessions are actually good for me at least who still feels "new" in the industry. Since I don't have a mentor and only took 1 class at the local community college this whole process has been sometimes overwhelming. I really want to be successful for something that I have such a strong passion about.
I'm still trying to find my market in this industry. I'm horrible at marketing and when you are shy, marketing yourself is a bit difficult at times! They say hire out the things your horrible at....but with a slow flow of clients for me it makes that a bit difficult to. So I HAVE to break out of my shell and start marketing myself better and find my market! I shiver at the thought of promoting myself and want to go crawl in a corner. Confidence Tiphanie, I tell myself, build it! Easier said then done right!!! RIGHT!!!
In January I took a tinny step and put in an ad in the Seattle Child page 21. Pretty excited that I took that step. Should have done my research more and realized that 1 ad probably won't do much. For advertising a friend told me that you have to at least advertise I believe it was 7 times for someone to catch that ad. Between trying to better my skills at photography and start marketing myself better everyday I learn what I need to do better.
So in going through my latest sessions I thought this session was for sure blog worthy! Heck why not I used one of their images for my advertising in the Seattle Child.
Thank YOU Bassett Family for such a beautiful session and allowing me to use one of your images for trying to market myself. I hope you enjoyed your session!
]]>Back in October my friend Heather Puett over at Heather Puett Photography who specializes in newborn photography sent me over this referral. As you all know I don't "specialize" in newborn photography so I was pretty honored that she sent over the referral to me. Goodness was that pressure! Not only did I want to satisfy the client but also to satisfy my friend Heather and not make her look bad!
I was put in contact with the client and oh boy was I excited! These little miracles are so delicate to work with and the peace and joy of taking an innocents photos is priceless. I do have to admit I really did enjoy this session and would love to do more newborns. If you know of anyone with a newborn I would love the referral! I have a referral program! Yvonne & Ryan, Thank you BOTH for taking faith in me to capturing Kynslee's first official photos documenting her life.
Part of the package that I offered for this session was custom announcements. You choose the images that you would like to go on your announcements and I will prepare a few choices for you to choose from. These cards come double sided at a high quality print. You WONT be disappointed! I'm offering an additional pack of 25 if you book a newborn package or if you choose to pass on the package and would like to purchase your session a la carte custom made announcements are $64 a set.
Each family, couple, or individual that I meet I feel honored that I was able to provide an everlasting moment of happiness. I hope with 2014 I will be able to provide more memories for people!
I love each of his cute funny faces!
Thank You James, Missy & Kaleb !
]]>Back in November I was contacted by her daughter, Jen, with the exciting news that she was going to be moving home from Florida for a few months. Jen wanted to gift her mom when she came home family photos. Oh my was that so hard to #1 keep a secret that she was moving back home and #2 Not to call Kathy and be excited that we were going to do family photos!!! Being a photographer it’s amazing the secrets you have to hold!
So Jen fooled her mom! She had no clue family photos we about to happen. Kathy was told to get dressed and wear nice clothes because they were going to have breakfast at a fancy place and Jack, Kathy’s husband, would have to drive them to breakfast cause the roads were slick. Yeah, thank goodness for a semi frosty morning for that excuse to seem somewhat believable!
So they had to meet at Burger King to wait for their son Trevor who was meeting them from Bellingham to go to breakfast. When all actuality they we’re going to meet me there too!
I get a text that they were there on my way to meet them. I was so excited that this day had finally come! I pulled up in front of Kathy and her family in the truck and you could see the tears start pouring out of her eyes. At that moment she knew she had been fooled and after 20 years from having their last family photos done her dream was about to come true.
I get out of the car and instantly head over to Kathy and give her a big hug. The tears of joy and excitement takes over Kathy in an emotional hug with her.
So after 20 years since their last family photo we were headed off for a brisk morning family photo session! Oh WHAT AN HONOR for me this was!
This is why I L.O.V.E. what I do! To bring the tears of happiness back to a family and provide them with an amazing unforgettable moment in life. Geesh, just writing this brings tears to my own eyes.
Despite the VERY brisk morning it was so fun to do this session for this family. I love the personality that Kathy and Jen have. Jen now being a MOM is so much fun to see too. Little Troy held up with the brisk cold so well considering he was born into a warm Florida State.
Thank You Jen for trusting to me with your secret of a special gift for you mom that I KNOW she will forever cherish.
I'm not a HUGE person on New Year resolutions. We all know that it's hard to stick with them and then you just get down that you didn't follow through with it. What I am a fan of is just trying to think about what I did the previous year and how I can make the next year better. No "New Year" resolutions....just daily agenda and if I don't get to cause I got busy with life or my own business, then that's what tomorrow is for! No stress....
Part of what I was working on this past few months was my pricing. That was one of my goals for this year. Man was that ever a struggle. Pricing yourself isn't always a very fun thing! But I want you, the client, to be able to decide what you want also and be satisfied.
So with that being said! I now have a LOW session fee that should be affordable to EVERYONE and based on your budget you can purchase prints, digital images, or specialty items of your choice. You can also build your own package and discounts will be given based on what you would like as part of a package. I have a few packages that I have set up as far as Newborn & Senior's.
You ask..."Well how do I view my images and purchase them? How do I choose my package?" Once we have completed your portrait session we will set up viewing session appointment to view your gallery. This appointment can be set up in the comfort of your own home! I have now have product for you to view and choose if you would like to purchase that part of your own session package. I'll help you through that process!
So are you going to pressure us like a "used car salesman" to buy? Haha.... NO!!!! I don't want you to hate me when I walk out your door and have buyers remorse! I'm not here to pressure you....I'm here to provide you with images that you will want to hang on your wall & show all your friends and remember what an enjoyable experience you had with me and the people you shared your session with.
So now your asking "Wait...you haven't said a session price yet!! Can I really afford you?" My starting out session rates being at $150+tax for a 1 hour session up to 4 people. For a list of my product guide and pricing email me and I'd be happy to share that with you. TLynnPhotography@hotmail.com
So!!! Now is where the "used car salesman" comes in! Valentines Day is JUST around the corner. A few weeks ago I took a few images of my daughter and decided that we were going to make custom Valentine day cards with little treat bags for her friends at school. I ordered the 2x3 cards and will hole punch them and tie to a little gift bag for her friends. So cute and Lilly has fun making stuff for her friends at school! These are double sided and you pick the template and images you'd like! I'm also offering 5x7 cards if the 2x3 wouldn't fit your needs. Book now so we can have your cards in time to hand out!
Looking forward to providing to everyone this year and thank you to EVERYONE who has supported me along my journey!
Just carry my camera like I use to everywhere and bring back my spirit. If it says no Trespassing....and the gate is open.... well you shouldn't have left the gate open if you don't want any trespassers. No dogs this time charged at my car and scratched it. You'd think I'd learn my lesson from a few weeks ago....but it didn't have ANY signs anywhere about beware of dogs or private property!!!
So to my benefit of a random stop and the manager being soooo awesome I found a new place to shoot! Yup, no trespassing! Found a cool barn, and a claw foot tub in a garden, a few willow trees and an amazing garden and a cool grass field. A photographers dream to find all that in one place!
I kind of used up my pictures with my princess last week but she managed to let me take a few of her today.
Thanks Jackie & Aaron for welcoming me into your home! Your kids are beautiful and I really hope I get to capture more life moments for you!
I remember sneaking out of my house on Sunday mornings and running to the neighbors house and they would have hot coco ready for me and we all pilled in the car and headed to church. To be honest I don't remember much about the church as much as I did the car ride and the hot coco. Anytime I could get out of my house to do fun stuff I tried!!
I also remember going over to their house and wondering what we were going to bake or wondering what was already baked! Man did they bake! Anything that sounded good from cookies, cakes, candy they were all about making the best stuff! The best thing we had in our house was peanut butter......funny thing is that I still LOVE that stuff to this day.
Holidays were the best around their house cause the had all the goodies and all the decorations!!! But!!! if you mentioned the word snow , nope I didn't say it Mrs. Sally.....I only typed it, you did get the soap in the mouth!! Yes, I did get it a few times I think too! Mrs Sally had her rules but gosh they were so minor.
Teenage years, moving out on my own, young adult hood & now having a family of my own have made staying in contact with this family a little more difficult then I'd like. But gosh all of us kids now have families and kids of our own now and Mrs Sally & Bill are grandparents!!
When Mrs Sally asked me a few months ago the idea of doing a session for her whole family I teared. There was nothing more special to me then to give back to her a photo of her family for her to cherish above her fire place. For all that you have done for me Mrs Sally you deserve the WORLD. You are like a 2nd mom to me. Years apart and me growing up may have happened but it feels good that we have connected again.
It's funny how each one of the kids, Will, Sharon, Barb & Jenny has been slowing incorporating back into my life, it's pretty cool. Mrs Sally & Bill it's great to have you so close to me too!
You are ALL amazing people and I'm thankful you were & are a part of my life!
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This family was so much fun to spend the afternoon with. A day to celebrate with Grandma in town, a new graduate from high school off to college on a full scholarship, and little Zoe for making the swim team! So many accomplishments and special times are times like these when sessions are really important in capturing. To look back on a photo and say “Gosh, that was the beginning of a new journey for me” or “I will never forget the ones who came to celebrate my special time with me”. It’s amazing capturing that part of someone’s journey of life. I have to admit that I do shed a few tears now and then.
Due to me locking my keys in my car with all my camera gear it delayed the shoot for a bit. A lesson learned for sure! Thank goodness they packed a picnic and it actually worked out perfect, well all except the old man who insisted joining in on their picnic! Haha….lucky him cold duck was not on the menu!
Thank you again to the Ahola & Steele family! You were a fun family to spend an afternoon with!
]]>I have to say this past year has been such a blessing getting to know the Britts! I'm so grateful that you contacted ME and took faith in me capturing Kaleb's 1st year milestones!! I'm excited to continue to watch him grow and develop a personality. With parents like you both I'm sure he'll be a fun little boy to continue to photograph.
So awesome to see so young that he Likes LOVES to read his little books....Well maybe not read...well wait who know's...He could be!!!
Boy did he love these balloons!
Along our journey of growing up together we had some pretty fun times and created a bond like I have with no one else. A bond so strong we are almost at times to this day each others enemy. We each know each others strengths and weaknesses and are alike it sooo many ways. Big hearted ....sensitive....impatient at times and strive to be perfect. Wow....did I just admit that about myself...haha.
I'm proud that he has grown up to be such a good son. I really have gotten lucky. He's stayed out of major trouble, gotten good grades in school and is now about to graduate!!!! Wow....I have a son who is graduating high school!!! Seems so crazy cause I feel like I just graduated high school with him yesterday.
Andres I am proud out you!
It was a bitter sweet taking these photos......Happy he's moving up in the world but sad my baby is now grown up.
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Adam & Dian...I'm so excited for you to be parents! You both will be great parents and I can tell you've got a pretty good support of friends and family to help you out along the way! Oh....And a great photographer to capture it all for you on this pretty amazing journey!
Often times the dad is forgotten about in the journey of pregnancy when reality he is the most important. He is the one who rubs out feet....he is the one who puts up with our mood swings...and he is the one to do our midnight craving runs! Props to the dads we couldn't do this pregnancy with out you!
I haven't done very many newborns....but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it!!! I'd love to add more to my portfolio and get some more practice! If you know of anyone who has a newborn or is about to have a baby I'd love the referral and will be offering discounts to build my portfolio. You can Email me @ TLynnPhotography@hotmail.com for more details.
3 Years ago I decided to take the leap of faith and share my passion of photography with my friends & family and whoever else was willing to jump in front of my camera. I have to say that this journey in life has brought me more then I could have imagined. It’s brought tears, joy, love, happiness, trials of error and most of all it has brought some pretty amazing people into my life. I’m SO thankful.
I also have learned a lot about myself….what I want to me more of…..what I like and dislike about myself and who I want to share my journey with. I hope that doesn’t sound selfish….but yes…that is what I have learned. I want to share my journey and surround myself with people who support me and want to help me grow as an individual, value my time, appreciate me for who I am and help me grow a small business.
To all who have supported me...... Thank YOU…… for taking that leap in faith with me on this journey and allowing me to capture your beauty as I see through my lens. You ALL are Beautiful and Amazing in your unique individual ways. These words are from YOU....the photos are from YOU....I just captured it all together for YOU! I hope you share your experience with your friends and family so they will too want to jump in front of my camera and share this journey with me. It’s pretty amazing!
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Some of us think….Meh…I don’t have the time in my schedule to do pictures. Yes, I’m right there with you. Bad I have never had a family photo done! Tried! But I couldn’t get everyone together with Husband and son working weekends. Someday!!! Hopefully more sooner than later. BUT! I do photograph my kids. It doesn’t take long…..15-20 mins….Cause really that’s all I get with my daughter. My daughter having a sensory disorder and currently undergoing testing for autism makes taking photos a challenge with her. I bribe….yes…I do!! I bribe her with things I know excite her! Like candy…Thanks Kristina from parenthood for that one! I ran out of skittles but chocolate chips work as back up! The setting doesn’t have to be perfect. Your backyard works perfect, the field down the street or the park a few mins from your house. It’s not really about “where” it’s about “who” is in the photo. Your kids hair doesn’t have to be perfect, just a quick brush! The clothes don’t have to be perfect, just comfortable for the daily narcissistic weather of Seattle! If you, the adult, is not comfortable with getting your pictures taken, remove that! If the grandparent or a family member is just the odd duck of the family….remove that. If it fits into your schedule that you can make a family hour do it! Your kids or loved ones don’t care if you are overweight, have gray hair and need a foil, or your just not please with the way you look. They love YOU!!!! Give them the moments captured with YOU who they love.
So what is my point? Well my point is that so your child had a disorder, you have gray hair, your over weight, you don’t have the money for new clothes and you don’t know where is the “perfect” place to do photos, it’s NOT about that!!! It’s about capturing you today for tomorrow memories!!! I live the life of overweight, gray hair, kid with a disorder and life on a budget….and my family is a little crazy. I’m no different then you and make no judgment!!! I’m real and have a passion for photography and want to make sure you have captured memories for tomorrow before it’s too late and your kids are grown up or your loved ones have passed.
This is my daughter, 15 mins in the backyard, quick brush with hat, and a bribe of 5 chocolate chips! She keeps me on my feet and at night I want to melt….but I hope when she’s older she will appreciate the memories that I captured for her. Someday I hope to round the family up for the family photos!!!
AND....she's done!
All in 15 mins in my backyard.....that will last her the rest of her life!
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July 2003 my step dads time here on earth came to an end. A few weeks before he’d past away my mom had lost the center stone to her wedding ring. Devastated from losing her center stone and in the process of losing her husband to the battle of cancer life was not at its happiest as it was.
A few weeks after losing my step dad to the battle of the evil cancer my mom’s mission was to get her wedding ring fixed. I got a phone call one day from my mom asking me if I knew where her rings were at. She had placed hers and my step dad’s rings together somewhere. My step dads also needed to be fixed. I told her I had no clue. I thought she had already taken them in to the jeweler. At the time of that conversation I wasn’t too worried….they would come up. We’ll 10 years have passed and we still have no rings. Both my mom and I have torn the house UP looking for these rings. Over the years I have never given up. When thought crosses my mind and I’m over visiting or helping her clean I always look in the weird corners, drawers, even the garage. One night I had a dream that my step dad came to me and he was holding a duffel bag in the garage, so the next day I went to my mom’s house and searched the duffel bag….No rings…..but the visit was nice…Thanks Dave.
So to rewind the story here a bit….My mom has never been the same since my step dads passing. Who really is right!!! She’s buried herself in work and rarely takes time to relax. My sister and I a few years ago took a trip with her to Hawaii for her 60th birthday for 10 days to try enforce some relaxation. It was a great time we had and once we got back she buried herself in work again and hasn’t come up to breathe until this week. My mom was offered a flight paid to Mexico! What a blessing and a perfect timing for this opportunity to be given to my mom.
With my mom taking off to Mexico I told her I would keep an eye on her house. She left pretty early in the morning and that afternoon I totally forgot that I told her I would do 1 thing for her. I ran over to the house and thank god I did….a few things we not done that worried me….worried me so much that I prayed. I prayed for several things and for a few people to keep a look out for my mom…..Selfish me asked please if you hear me show me a sign so I will not worry for the next 7 days. In the middle of that night I woke up scared….ugh…the worst feeling to wake up in the middle of the night and be worried about your mom and 1 more thing I forgot to do at my mom’s house. So the next afternoon when my son got home from school we ran over to my mom’s house. I did the one thing I forgot….I then headed up stairs and for some reason with no purpose walked directly to my mom’s computer room. I stood there like ok why did I just walk in here. I turned and stared at this display cabinet of my mom’s that is full of my mom’s life’s memories and gifts. One of the gifts that was in there was an egg made by my step dad’s mom. One of those hand crafted decorative eggs that you can place something small in. I was drawn to open this cabinet and open the egg……so I did. After 10 years, a few prayers to watch over my mom while she was on vacation and asking for a sign that I know someone heard me………. there were the rings……the power of prayer and belief.....She will be safe.
I’m not a huge religious person but I have been attending church in trying to come to peace and find my path with a few difficult things in life. I am so thankful for this amazing path that I’m being guided down and the friends I’m making along the way. I can honestly say that prays are being answered. They may take 10 years but then end results are amazing! My mom can now be at ease with both of their wedding rings.
She is now home this evening that I write this blog and I will be meeting up with her to give her the rings tomorrow. I'm so excited to give her back a piece of life that meant so much to her. Thank you again for prayers answered!!!!!!
I’m horrible at blogging. Especially when life gets a little crazy and you’re trying to juggle it all and blogging just seems to be the last priority when you’re trying to take care of family and manage a business.
Last month a very dear person to me was called to heaven. He was the peace, love and joy of my family. Never had a mean thing to say, never judged anyone, loved and accepted you for who you were! A person like that comes rare these days.
I want to practice harder at being a better person and have someone say that about me.
Every day I try to learn and grow as a person. I want to live life with no regrets, but know when to say sorry for my mistakes. Lately I’ve done a lot of apologizing. I really want to move forward in life for those who accept my apology. For those who do not accept my apology and respect my feelings, I only pray that god will guide me to peace in acceptance of that.
With the holidays here and missing loved ones…..it makes me appreciate the family I do have. Family is more than blood related and sometimes blood related doesn’t make a difference. True family accepts you for whom you are unconditionally, no judging, and no strings attached (as my husband would say). That’s how grandpa rolled!
Happy Holidays and enjoy your holidays with your family.
]]>What would I do without her.
Life has been life….tears of happiness, tears of loss. Tears of finding boundaries and happiness of discovering that we can still be happy in the outcome. I Love her.
I can’t live without her.
She has taught me how to be strong, but not to forget how to be sincere. She is my ROCK. I am true in who I am and proud for she has taught me. I Love her.
To the most Beautiful, A Mazing, Rock of a Mom I Love You More!
Happy Birthday...... We love you !
Last year Lilly qualified for an Early Education Program since she was significantly delayed in 2 areas of her growth development. So we got her enrolled in the program and WOW has she come so far. Every day I drove her and picked her up. I struggled with letting her go in to another person’s care without my supervision. Oh, BUT did I cry her first day when I dropped her off!!! Like a baby as soon as I got in my car.
So now we are in are 2nd year of this program. Lilly is aware of everything and speaking clearly of her wants and needs. So this year dropping her off at school she was sad that she was not able to ride the bus to or from home with her friends. She begged me to take the bus and her dad just didn’t get why I wasn’t letting go on something she wanted so badly. Well between Lilly, her dad, and the teacher I broke. Another milestone has come……I'll let her ride the bus. Today almost was as bad as her first day of school last year.
With Lilly you have to prep her with any changes even if she asks for it in advance. So this morning getting ready I prepped her for the bus! Now that I gave in and let her take the bus she didn’t want to. No turning back now…..bus driver is on her way.
She said no pictures and was a little overwhelmed with the decision she had made, but I had to sneak a few in.
She walked to the end of the driveway and for a few moments was a little excited the bus was actually coming to pick her up!
Since the bus was 20 mins late it didn’t help with the anticipation of what to really expect and she got more nervous and decided to play in the gravel. Mean mom me only wanted to capture another mile stone as she kept her back to me…haha.
Well the bus finally showed up. Camera down and comfort Lilly. As I helped her on the bus she begged me to stay and ride the bus. My eyes swelled up and I tried not to show her my scared emotions. Gave her a kiss and hug and off the bus I go and off in the bus went my little girl.
Another milestone….many more to come along with many more tears. I love you my Lilly.
]]>Every morning my friend/co-worker would listen to a radio station for their contests. That morning she was trying to call in and win a trip to Vegas for 2. I remember standing with her at her desk while she was trying to dial in and be the “Winning” caller. She won!!!! So here is the twist….the week before while she was trying to call in and win it was for to fly to New York and help to do relief work down at the Twin Towers. She asked the radio station if she could fly to New York instead of the trip to Vegas. They approved ! I sat there with her as she was on the phone I was a little envious that she was going to help out and experience a piece of history. After she hung up with the radio station she asked me if I wanted to go. OMGosh YES!!!!
So we flew out to NY on October 6th. As soon as I landed I went and bought a couple disposable cameras. Ugh…I just cringe now that I look back on that, but I’m thankful that I was able to purchase them !!
Our day to help do relief was on October 8th, but my friend and I decided that on October 7th we wanted to go down and see what it was like at what use to be the Twin Towers. It was my first subway experience. We were staying in midtown NY and needed to go to downtown NY where the towers were at. We come up from the subway from midtown 2 blocks from Wall Street and what a change from the two parts of NY. It was a war zone. It brings me to tears to think of what I experienced that day. The debris from the towers was piled in garbage bins all around and I think I maybe saw 2 people. It was crazy to be 2 blocks from Wall Street and no one was around. As we headed towards where the 2 towers use to be the chaotic mess began to reveal it’s self of military, more debris, road blocks and smell. Yes….smell. The smell of 2 large towers burning and what was inside them and I’ll leave it at that.
As I got to the towers, which you could only get 2 blocks close, I had to call my family. I had to share the experience with them as I stood there. I called my mom and sister and cried in disbelief that this really happened to our country. I wanted to help. I wanted to save everyone from the buildings and make it all go away. While I was standing there the on the phone with my sister I had to let her go. Military from all corners came running out to everyone to get out of the area. “Leave !!! Leave!!! “They all shouted. It was at that time I was standing down at what use to be the towers that President Bush officially bombed Afghanistan. Wow….so surreal now that I look back on this. We all thought that we were being attacked again, but it was the military was just being cautious because they didn’t know if Afghanistan was going to attack us back.
So because President Bush officially bombing Afghanistan our mission to help out got called off. I was bummed that I was never able to help anyone out. So instead of sitting around and doing nothing for 4 days I toured New York, had some great food and caught up with a few fire fighters who helped out down at the Twin Towers!
I have since been back to NY back in 2007. I was there for 10 days and had a great time! NY will always be a special place to me for it changed my life and how I look at life.
I’m very thankful for all of our military, fire fighters, police officers and civilians that helped out down at the Twin Towers. I’m thankful for or military who has served & serves overseas to protect us and I’m saddened for the loved ones that we have lost due to this war.
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I was contacted by a young girl about to deliver her 2nd child. Maternity photos.....Omgosh.....I'd love to! There is nothing more special then being pregnant and having a photo session to save that special time in your life. At 19 when I delivered my first son and I was too young to realize that I should have captured that special time in my life. Being a first pregnancy I look back now and realize how really special it was. My 2nd pregnancy 13 years later did not go as planned. I gave birth to my daughter at 27 weeks and missed out on that opportunity. I got a syndrome called H.E.L.L.P. and had to deliver her. So now that I am a photographer I LOVE doing maternity photos. It allows me to make sure you (my client) has a piece of life captured that you will always remember. Thank you Kylee for contacting me! I am honored you chose me to capture this special time for you. I also thank you for not liking facebook and making me move forward on staring this blog and putting myself out there more! Congratulations on your 2nd child and I can't wait to meet him!
