52 Week Project - Week 4

Last week James and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. It is hard to remember the details of life before 'us'. That was such a long time ago, another life. Yet at the same time it has been the blink of an eye and here we are, three children later; a family.

There is no way I could imagine being at this place in life with anybody else; the thought of losing him, for any reason, would be beyond devastating. No other man could possibly love me as he does, adore me and put up with me so patiently. He makes me laugh, he is not afraid to show his emotions, he is intelligent and creative and I know that I can trust him. He is my partner in this life, the most wonderful husband and sweetest father.

We were meant to be. Our love is true. He truly is a gift from God, to me.

52 Week Project - Week 3

I continue to be amazed by how much my mood improves with the appearance of the sun. It has been a wonderful week, with more opportunities to spend time outdoors. One of the days as I was looking for inspiration, I glanced in the field behind our house and it literally sparkled. It was actually mid afternoon, not early morning, as you might expect, yet tiny water droplets were still clinging to the blades of grass and reflecting the sunlight. How often we miss these simple mysteries, busy with our everyday lives. That day I stopped and drank it in and smiled...before running inside to grab my camera.

I love how this project forces me to look around, with a new perspective. We are surrounded by so much simple beauty and it is the most amazing gift that we should not take for granted. I hope that I can continue to slow down life and really see all that is around me. I encourage you to do the same.

52 Week Project - Week 2

This beautiful child does nothing by halves. She feels things so deeply, whatever it be from frustration or anger to joy, humor or excitement, it is without restraint. It is a trait she most certainly inherited from her Father, who is a man of passion.

The negative emotions can be hard to deal with, of course, but when she laughs it is hard not to laugh with her. There is something so real and so raw about laughter that is refreshing and contagious. Her days are most certainly not wasted as she brings joy to our household. What a gift!

Help on the journey.

In my photography journey, the internet has been an invaluable tool for learning and inspiration; without it my photography would not be where it is today. I joined a photography forum and there are numerous blogs I frequent as well as Google, when I need to find a specific tutorial or help with editing (which these days, is a huge part of photography).

I already mentioned The Creative Mama Blog as they are doing a 52 week photography challenge, with bi-weekly themes and another one I am following along with and who are providing weekly themes, is MCP Actions. Their theme this week was 'Around the House' and their week runs Saturday-Friday.

Well we got to Friday afternoon (this first week was a shorter week) and I suddenly realized that I had yet to take and submit my photograph. I was kind of lost for what to shoot, it was late in the afternoon and a dreary day, so lighting was horrible and my house (not unusual) was a mess. I decided to reach for my macro lens, which enables me to take great close-up detail shots (thereby minimizing seeing surrounding mess ;P ). I shot a couple of different things; a plate of feathers I had bought at Michaels, details of carving in my new wood bench, before I walked into the bedroom and saw my open jewelry case with necklaces hanging innocently enough.

Anyway, just thought I would share the photo I chose for this theme. Next week's theme is 'Illustrate a Song', I will have to get my thinking cap on for that!

52 Week Project - Week 1

So every Christmas, my lovely sister spends her hard earned cash and flies over from freezing England to visit us, in...very cold California. It really is not much better here at this time of year, yes we, unfortunately, have winters too. She could go somewhere hot, but instead she chooses to spend time with family. She spoils her nephew and nieces, she lets my husband and I get a night away without the kids, she hangs out with us and puts up with us. It is fun for me to have somebody to shop with, it is fun for the kids to have someone else paying them close attention and showing them love, in the way only family does.

She is kind and generous. She is beautiful, inside and, obviously, out. She is loyal, she has good taste. She is honest and she cares about others. She has so much to give and would make someone an amazing wife, although she says she has finally reached the place where she can be happy being single. She makes me laugh. She listens to me, like only a sister can...she jabs at me, like only a sister can! I cannot say enough good things about her and miss her already.

Of course with as willing a model as she was, although that is my official selection for the 52 week project, I have to share a few more.

This one was a close contender for the 1/52 place.

 Don't forget to check back by next Friday for the second week of this project and if you decide to do something similar leave me a comment so I can follow along with you too.

 One down, fifty one to go!

Happy New Year!

The first day of a new year. A clean, fresh slate. It feels right, and I am approaching this year with the anticipation of good things to come.

I want to have some challenge for the year ahead and had contemplated posting a photo a day, but I also want this to be the year that I officially start my business! (Yes here it is in writing! That means it is official, right?!) that takes time and extra work to make that happen and then, I hope, clients. So in view of all that, I decided that maybe a photo a week would be less demanding.

I trust I will post more often than that, but that will be the very least.

I have not decided if I will have a theme, or leave it wide open, but I am open to suggestions if you have any (just leave me a comment).

Over on The Creative Mama Blog, they are running a photography challenge where every two weeks they will issue a new challenge. The current theme is Growth and Change so that is my theme for this first week.

The day my son was born, a mother was born...before that she did not exist. I was forever changed. I look at him now, so big, and think back to the moment he made us a family. He was so tiny, so helpless - he fit in that onesie! How is that even possible? He and his sisters make me a better person, allow me to continue to grow and learn with them. I love them with all my heart.

Want to join me in this challenge?

What are YOUR goals for this next year? Let us encourage each other to pursue our dreams and make them reality!