I love books. Not just reading... but the books themselves. I love the smell of a new book. I love the tenderness of an old book. To me, every book is an adventure in your hand and it's something that for as long as I can remember I've enjoyed. The feeling of a book so good that, as you are reading it, you never want it to end makes me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Seriously. I love books.
Of course, because of this love of books, I tend to hoard them. I'll have stacks of them everywhere. On my nightstand, on the kitchen counter, in the corner of the living room, in the bathroom. I needed a book intervention.
Then I started to pack my house up in order to move. As I started to pack up about the 9th box of books, I decided that was it! I was going to conquer #97 on my list. I set up a criteria for keeping a book and if the book didn't meet the criteria, into a bag it went. I ended up with FIVE bags of books!! Plus, since I'm kind-of anal about the condition of my books, I decided to pass on the books to the library for others to enjoy!!
I did take a moment to say good-bye, but as I am still in the middle of unpacking boxes, I can't say that I regret it at all! (:
C.U.T.E.
Found this gem today.
Seriously. Cute. Stuff.
Of course, he'll be eight in just a few days and probably wouldn't be happy to know that I called him cute, but c'mon.... (: Look at that face!!
Seriously. Cute. Stuff.
Of course, he'll be eight in just a few days and probably wouldn't be happy to know that I called him cute, but c'mon.... (: Look at that face!!
7: Buy A House - COMPLETED
I can't even begin to tell you how exciting it is that I have completed this one. After six years of renting, we found a beautiful four bedroom/two bath house in Trinity, Florida. We fell in love and put an offer on it the day we saw it. That was in April of 2009. Well.... October 23, we finally closed and now call it our own.
Lots of prayers.
Lots of work.
Lots of relief.
Now, we are up to our neck in painting and decorating and all of the exciting things that come with being a homeowner. Thank you to all who were in prayer with us. God is awesome and faithful and this house is an example of that.
Lots of prayers.
Lots of work.
Lots of relief.
Now, we are up to our neck in painting and decorating and all of the exciting things that come with being a homeowner. Thank you to all who were in prayer with us. God is awesome and faithful and this house is an example of that.
What is a BIG family??
I come from a big family. I'm the oldest of eight and for the most part, people think my parents were crazy. Sometimes I agree. But really, I know that we are awesome.
There is just something really cool about being from a big family. However, has anyone else noticed that the "big" families are somewhat dissappering. I have three kids and people consistantly mention how they can't imagine having so many. So many?!? My mom had EIGHT!
Here was a family that some today might consider HUGE... I think they are awesome. Just like my family.
There is just something really cool about being from a big family. However, has anyone else noticed that the "big" families are somewhat dissappering. I have three kids and people consistantly mention how they can't imagine having so many. So many?!? My mom had EIGHT!
Here was a family that some today might consider HUGE... I think they are awesome. Just like my family.
93: Footie Pajamas - COMPLETED
I got 'em. (:
Numero 93 is checked off!
After Thanksgiving, we were walking through the store and there they were. Hanging on an end cap. Mickey Mouse Red Footie Pajamas!! I was super excited and my husband was feeling gracious.
Now, here's a tip to those interested in puying a pair. Buy a size larger than you think you'll need. These fleece ones are tight and shrunk some. But they were totally fun for Christmas morning!!! (:
and yes, this was before my first cup of coffee....
Numero 93 is checked off!
After Thanksgiving, we were walking through the store and there they were. Hanging on an end cap. Mickey Mouse Red Footie Pajamas!! I was super excited and my husband was feeling gracious.
Now, here's a tip to those interested in puying a pair. Buy a size larger than you think you'll need. These fleece ones are tight and shrunk some. But they were totally fun for Christmas morning!!! (:
and yes, this was before my first cup of coffee....
88. Identify 25 things I like about myself - COMPLETED!
There are few things that really make me speechless. Trying to find things that I like about myself is one of them. I think that every girl has a bit of self-esteem issues and when I need to pen thing about me down, my issues creep up a bit.
But here it goes... marking one more off my list!
1. my eyes - when I was in kindergarten and would draw self portraits, I would draw these big eyes with huge eyelashes. I think it's because when I was young, someone told me I had pretty eyes.
2. my handwriting - it's a lot like my mom's. When I was just learning cursive, I would copy papers of her because I loved her handwriting.
3. my vocabulary - i love using accurate words to describe something. Why use cool, when really magnificent is so much more appropriate?
4. my ability to see the positive - I am a glass half-full kinda person.
5. my joy for missions - this was something that I NEVER thought I'd be called to, but I'm so glad God gave me a heart for the world.
6. my heritage - I have German, English, Norwegian, Scottish, and at least two or three others... I'm a mutt. That being said... it makes me 100% American. The great melting pot of dreams. Most of my great-great (maybe a few more greats) grandparents came here for dreams and for freedom. I love that.
7. my age - I am ALMOST 30. I like that age. Not quite 30 yet... but excited about my 30th birthday. Seriously, I'm expecting great things in my 30s, but for now, I'll enjoy still being in my 20s. (;
8. my hair - curly, straight, wavy... I can do anything to my hair. So many hair stylists have commented on how manageable my hair is. I agree. I love it.
9. my jobs - I have three. Mom. Teacher. Photographer. I love them all.
10. my name - seriously, except for the time in middle school when another student mispronounced it as Shaquille and I got stuck with a nickname of Shaq for two years... I enjoy having a name that very few people do.
11. my knack for picking up accents - while I don't have one now... when I spend enough time talking to my cousin or visiting my parents in SC or traveling overseas, I pick up accents very easily. It's fun to have a "twang" every now and then.
12. my leadership abilities - I get harassed about this a lot, but honestly I'm so glad that God gave my the ability to easily lead a group. I couldn't imagine it any other way.
13. my secret obsession with fashion - I could never afford what I want to wear, but I secretly obsess over vogue and fashion weeks around the world. I think fashion design is an amazing art. One day. Maybe. I could dress the way I want too. (:
14. my understanding of computers - I know a lot. Enough to understand my husband when he talks about work, but not enough to do his work. (: It's the perfect amount.
15. my desire for knowledge - continually learning is awesome. I will never say that I know everything, because there is always something to learn.
16. my cooking skills - while they are not great, I can pull off some pretty good things. It's enough to not be embarrassed, but not good enough to be expected to cook every night. Praise God for that!
17. my taste in husbands - this was the wisest choice I ever made and so glad I did.
18. my love for reading - Nothing makes me happier than a good book.
19. my enjoyment in cars - old cars. new cars. there is some serious beauty in the way a vehicle is designed and an engine is made. I love that I have learned to appreciate it.
20. my eye for beauty - I can look at almost anything and see God's fingerprints on it. But especially when it comes to taking images with my camera, I'm so thankful that I can look at a situation and see all the beautiful possibilities.
21. my freckles - after crying over them for years when I was younger, I am so glad that I have them. Plus, seeing them on my kiddos makes my heart beat with joy.
22. my disorganized, organized self - I am so disorganized over some things... but when it matters, I can be so frustratingly organized. That amazes me. Super glad about it too.
23. my attention to detail - crooked pictures, a stray thread, unmatched socks, a miscalculated story... all drive me nuts. But my attention to details makes me a better photographer and a better teacher. I'm so glad I am that way.
24. my love for theatre - to find somewhere I just "fit", like a theatre stage, is incredible.
25. my relationship with God - saved this for last, because it's the thing that I think I like the best. I made a decision to follow Christ, and not just in some things, but everything and I never regret that. It makes me a better person and it pushes me to continually seek God. In everything. Yeah. Favorite thing ever.
But here it goes... marking one more off my list!
1. my eyes - when I was in kindergarten and would draw self portraits, I would draw these big eyes with huge eyelashes. I think it's because when I was young, someone told me I had pretty eyes.
2. my handwriting - it's a lot like my mom's. When I was just learning cursive, I would copy papers of her because I loved her handwriting.
3. my vocabulary - i love using accurate words to describe something. Why use cool, when really magnificent is so much more appropriate?
4. my ability to see the positive - I am a glass half-full kinda person.
5. my joy for missions - this was something that I NEVER thought I'd be called to, but I'm so glad God gave me a heart for the world.
6. my heritage - I have German, English, Norwegian, Scottish, and at least two or three others... I'm a mutt. That being said... it makes me 100% American. The great melting pot of dreams. Most of my great-great (maybe a few more greats) grandparents came here for dreams and for freedom. I love that.
7. my age - I am ALMOST 30. I like that age. Not quite 30 yet... but excited about my 30th birthday. Seriously, I'm expecting great things in my 30s, but for now, I'll enjoy still being in my 20s. (;
8. my hair - curly, straight, wavy... I can do anything to my hair. So many hair stylists have commented on how manageable my hair is. I agree. I love it.
9. my jobs - I have three. Mom. Teacher. Photographer. I love them all.
10. my name - seriously, except for the time in middle school when another student mispronounced it as Shaquille and I got stuck with a nickname of Shaq for two years... I enjoy having a name that very few people do.
11. my knack for picking up accents - while I don't have one now... when I spend enough time talking to my cousin or visiting my parents in SC or traveling overseas, I pick up accents very easily. It's fun to have a "twang" every now and then.
12. my leadership abilities - I get harassed about this a lot, but honestly I'm so glad that God gave my the ability to easily lead a group. I couldn't imagine it any other way.
13. my secret obsession with fashion - I could never afford what I want to wear, but I secretly obsess over vogue and fashion weeks around the world. I think fashion design is an amazing art. One day. Maybe. I could dress the way I want too. (:
14. my understanding of computers - I know a lot. Enough to understand my husband when he talks about work, but not enough to do his work. (: It's the perfect amount.
15. my desire for knowledge - continually learning is awesome. I will never say that I know everything, because there is always something to learn.
16. my cooking skills - while they are not great, I can pull off some pretty good things. It's enough to not be embarrassed, but not good enough to be expected to cook every night. Praise God for that!
17. my taste in husbands - this was the wisest choice I ever made and so glad I did.
18. my love for reading - Nothing makes me happier than a good book.
19. my enjoyment in cars - old cars. new cars. there is some serious beauty in the way a vehicle is designed and an engine is made. I love that I have learned to appreciate it.
20. my eye for beauty - I can look at almost anything and see God's fingerprints on it. But especially when it comes to taking images with my camera, I'm so thankful that I can look at a situation and see all the beautiful possibilities.
21. my freckles - after crying over them for years when I was younger, I am so glad that I have them. Plus, seeing them on my kiddos makes my heart beat with joy.
22. my disorganized, organized self - I am so disorganized over some things... but when it matters, I can be so frustratingly organized. That amazes me. Super glad about it too.
23. my attention to detail - crooked pictures, a stray thread, unmatched socks, a miscalculated story... all drive me nuts. But my attention to details makes me a better photographer and a better teacher. I'm so glad I am that way.
24. my love for theatre - to find somewhere I just "fit", like a theatre stage, is incredible.
25. my relationship with God - saved this for last, because it's the thing that I think I like the best. I made a decision to follow Christ, and not just in some things, but everything and I never regret that. It makes me a better person and it pushes me to continually seek God. In everything. Yeah. Favorite thing ever.
..::Eric:Amy:Aaden(almost)::..
Sometimes a photo session just make me really happy.
This was one of those sessions.
Maybe it was because I'm so excited to meet my nephew Aaden. Maybe it was because Eric makes me laugh at his off-the-cuff comments. Maybe it's because I took them to one of my favorite places to shoot. Maybe it's because my sister really is this beautiful and makes it so easy to photograph.
Whatever it was. It worked. These photos makes me very happy.
Congrats Eric and Amy!! (and very soon... Aaden!)
This was one of those sessions.
Maybe it was because I'm so excited to meet my nephew Aaden. Maybe it was because Eric makes me laugh at his off-the-cuff comments. Maybe it's because I took them to one of my favorite places to shoot. Maybe it's because my sister really is this beautiful and makes it so easy to photograph.
Whatever it was. It worked. These photos makes me very happy.
Congrats Eric and Amy!! (and very soon... Aaden!)
Alison::Cameron
One of the biggest honors I've ever been given was given to me this past summer. Amy DeYoung, a photographer whom I greatly admire, asked me to shoot a session for her. I have been blessed to work with Amy for several years now and when she asked if I could shoot a session for her, I was so humbled.
I started the day with Alison and Cameron in Downtown Tampa for a 50s throwback. It was amazing and I had such a great time!!
After I was finished with the session, I sent the images to Amy for her to add her special touch. Please take a minute to click the link below to see more images on Amy's blog, but here is one of my favorites from the day.
Alison and Cameron
I started the day with Alison and Cameron in Downtown Tampa for a 50s throwback. It was amazing and I had such a great time!!
After I was finished with the session, I sent the images to Amy for her to add her special touch. Please take a minute to click the link below to see more images on Amy's blog, but here is one of my favorites from the day.
Alison and Cameron
Savannah ~ Class of 2009
I love photographing seniors. They are so much fun. Full of energy, ready to tell you all about what their plans are, wanting to share all about their end of the school year events. It's just awesome.
Savannah was exactly that. awesome.
She attends Dunedin High and is involved on teams and in clubs all around campus. For her session, we wanted to hit a wooded area and then, of course, the beach! So we headed to my favorite secret spot in Palm Harbor. (It's not a secret I'm keeping, it's a secret because hundreds of people drive right by and never even notice it!) Then we headed down to the Dunedin Causeway.
Congratulations Savannah!! I hope you enjoyed your time with me as much as I did with you.
~c
Savannah was exactly that. awesome.
She attends Dunedin High and is involved on teams and in clubs all around campus. For her session, we wanted to hit a wooded area and then, of course, the beach! So we headed to my favorite secret spot in Palm Harbor. (It's not a secret I'm keeping, it's a secret because hundreds of people drive right by and never even notice it!) Then we headed down to the Dunedin Causeway.
Congratulations Savannah!! I hope you enjoyed your time with me as much as I did with you.
~c
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