Thoughts to Ponder...

I know this is completely random and doesn't have anything to do with photography, but I wanted to share this with you. 

I challenge you all to ask yourself these questions and see what you come up with.  Heres my answers.. although I have many!!!!

I am:   a caring person

I want:  to make a difference.  I want to live life to the fullest

I have:  a creative side

I wish:  Children didn't have to get terminally ill

I fear:  tsunamis, even though I live in Michigan (it's the only reoccurring dream I've ever had and I've had it like 10 times) 

I hear:  my inner thoughts

I search:  for peace within 

I wonder:  what I can do to better myself

I regret:  saying things that hurt others feelings

I love:  with all my heart; my family, God, life, babies... chocolate and photography  :)

I always:  try to look at the bright side

I usually:  do to many things at once

I am not:  going to let go of my dreams

I dance:  around the house with my kids

I sing:  when I hear music

I never:  smoked funny things or did drugs 

I cry:  when I am sad, when I am happy and when I am touched by something or someone 

I am not always:  right, I'll admit it...

I'm confused:  with directions

I need:  to keep learning new things

I should:  exercise when I'm stressed instead of eat chocolate!  

I am thankful for:  Family and friends who support me :)

By the way, if you liked the cute little guy on this post, you'll be seeing more from his photo shoot soon...

Soulmates

A soulmate is the one who makes life come to life

A soulmate is someone to laugh with

The one who warms our heart 

the other piece to our puzzle

-connected souls-

our best friend

The one we fell in love with

For all you bachelor fans

I know a lot of ladies are crazy for ABC's hit show, The Bachelor.  I will admit that I was hooked on the series with the "very adorable" bachelor Bob.  My girlfriend would come over on Wed. nights and we would sit and eat popcorn and watch those "catty girls" get into fights over him and then watch Bob hand out roses to his favorite gals.  

However, I haven't watched another bachelor show since... instead, I prefer to cuddle on the couch with my hubby and watch t.v with him.. even if it's sports!  

p.s.  I know that's not a rose, it's a carnation, but I thought this was too funny!

scenes from a marriage

Who ever said you have to have kid's in order to take family photos?  I enjoyed capturing the relationship and bond shared between this adorable married couple.  

I had so much fun with this photo shoot.. as a photographer one of my favorite things is not just capturing moments, but personalities. To me it's about capturing who we are ... These are the stories worth telling, the feelings worth remembering.

Louis and Jen, I had a pleasure being able to work with you two love birds, you are a very fun loving couple who is young at heart.   You are a perfect pair together.  

A reason to celebrate!

Thank you so very much to everyone who checked out my new blog and for all the kind comments and encouragement.  You really know how to make a girl feel good!!  

This weekend I will be celebrating a very special occasion!  The occasion is called.. My "baby" turns 12!!!!!  Can you believe it?  Chloe, my sweet little baby, will be 12 years old!  The saying, They don't stay little forever, is so true!  It's like you blink your eyes and they are "almost" as tall as you and even share shoes with you.... it's kinda scary!  That's another reason why you can never get enough great pictures of your sweet little "sometimes" innocent children... because it only happens once!  To freeze their expressions and cute personalities, as they grow into who they are, is such a priceless and timeless gift.  That is one of the many reasons why I am in love with photography.  To be able to capture those special moments in the life of a child is truly an honor to me.  If you ask Chloe and Alyssa, they think I take to many photos of them.   I still don't think I take enough!!   When they are mom's one day they will understand!  hahaha!

Watching Chloe grow into the beautiful young lady she is becoming is an incredible journey. Although I look forward to the future, I just love to savor the moment and hold on to the last of her youth as long as I can.   (and when she's older yet, there will always be pictures..) 

Happy Birthday Chloe.. I hope you enjoy being 12, it's like a beautiful sunrise.. the beginning of something new and wonderful.  Here is your favorite picture of a Jan. sunrise I took last year up north.  Just like the beautiful colors of this gorgeous sunrise.. always let your true colors shine through!

ps.  Your not a Teen yet!  Enjoy being a kid as long as you can!

A Gift from God

Babies are heaven sent, they are a gift from God

Enjoy this collection of photos from my latest photo shoot.

Got Bump?

No, she didn't over eat during the holidays, 

she has

 the cutest bump on the block?

A Real Miracle

Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing.  They didn't come up with the term "pregnancy glow" just for the fun of it. I really think a woman is radiant with child, and glowing.  Capturing the loving feeling the expectant mother has for her unborn child is a timeless treasure.  

I had the pleasure of being able to capture these beautiful portraits of someone who is very special to me.  These pictures are of my sister-in-law Emily. She is carrying her first child and he is due in March.  Yes I said "he"... it's a boy!  I am looking forward to becoming an Auntie to this very special little guy. 

Congratulations Emily and Dale on this wonderful miracle come true! I know you will be wonderful parents to Baby W.  

By the way Emily, you are so pretty pregnant.

What do you see through your window in 09?

Each new passing year we all have the tendency to feel like we can change something... or make something exciting happen, like a goal.  The New year symbolizes a new beginning, a clean slate.  I always thought of it as a new book with 12 new chapters.  And of course I'm the author of my own life, so I get to write this book... how exciting!  

It's like the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.  I love that song.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  When I see a window with a wish in it, I think thats inspiring ....  What are your wishes for 2009?  Only you can make them happen.  

Open your heart to all the possibilities of the New Year.  Allow your self to see what you want through that window and don't hold back.  

Wishing you all a year to make your dreams come true.

You've got mail

One of my favorite things around the holidays is getting mail.  No, not bills - Christmas cards :)

I'll even admit I'm one of those people who start opening my cards before I'm even in the door! 

There's nothing better than receiving a photo card.  I save all the cards I get and enjoy looking back at the progress I see through the years in all the children of my friends and family.  Here is a handful of cards I designed for some of the families I photographed this year.  I have removed their names off the bottoms of the cards for the respect of their privacy.  

One of the coolest things about their cards was the metallic paper that I had it printed on for them.  It really is a very unique and different look.

 

The glowing smiles of children and the way they light up the room... this is the real magic around the holidays.  Enjoy these precious smiles of these sweet children I had the honor of photographing again.