My Family [and then there were six]

Photographed by my dear friend and colleague, Megan Rogers. Can I just say that I am way more comfortable on the other side of the camera--aaaaand pictures for a family of SIX can be quite an adventure! ;)

A family of SIX some of you might say? I will fill you in. Many of you know about our journey with Kristie's adoption, the girl in the brown jacket vest, but may not know that her younger sister (the girl in the orange vest) moved in with us just last October. We are very pleased to announce that we will be adopting both girls, and couldn't be more thrilled.

Summer Recap, 2010 {family}

On a personal note, this summer flew by so quickly! I kept quite busy with clients, as well as my son's sixth birthday and our family vacation making it memorable.

Here is a photo summary of my sixth year old's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. (I know, I know--but he BEGGED us to have it there!) Ü



Any 'Nightmare Before Christmas' fans in the house?? My kids LOVE this movie. Hence; the cake.



A fun time was had by all!



Next up, a very small photo sampling of our family vacation to Omaha, Nebraska. (It is merely a tiny fraction of the 403 vacation pictures I brought home...yikes.)

We had a wonderful time at the spectacular Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, yummy restaurants, homemade ice cream parlors, The Childrens' Museum, and Omaha's lovely Botanical Gardens. (<---this is where mamma went a little camera crazy. Ü)



Best of all, I got to soak up these people. ♥



Coming soon...many sneak peeks and some recent sessions! xo

{our story}

The great ladies over at I ♥ Faces, and the fantabulous Amy Wenzel, have teamed up to offer such an amazing and generous gift. All they ask is that I share my story. Share how I may be an inspiration to others. Sounds easy enough, right? Almost immediately, I decided "Well--there goes that. Not a chance. Who wants to hear my story? I don't see myself as much of an inspiration...who would really care?"

Then, I thought of her. I thought of her, and I kept coming back to write this post, until finally, my heart was moved to do so.



This picture was taken a few months after Miss K (for privacy purposes) moved into our home. In her 13 years, she has seen some very dark places. Her mother passed away of Cancer when she was only nine years old, and through this time she has seen several foster homes. K is our first foster child. She is completely Deaf. Our primary mode of communication is American Sign Language. (Besides photographer, one of my other 'labels' is sign language interpreter, so this works. Ü) She is such an amazing young lady. She is vivacious, kind, gentle, and has such an amazing gift with animals and young children.

Many people asked me why I would take on such a thing--being that I already work two jobs (owning my own business, then a "day job"), and having two wonderful buggars of my own already to focus on. To tell the truth, these two were a large portion of why my husband and I decided to go for it.



We felt that while it is wonderful to talk to our children about kindness and helping others, it is even better for them to see us do it. Live it. Live deeply. So, when this opportunity arose, we felt called--and blessed for the opportunity to share the love that we have found, with someone less fortunate. This experience has made us reach deeply inward, and give parts of ourselves away, that truthfully we didn't even know were there. Even my children have had to share more of their parents, and learn a new language. Also, there is a large difference between 'working' with Deaf people, and LIVING with one. (and more so parenting one!) Interpreting at doctor's appointments, plays, movies that we attend as a family, etc. etc. took some getting used to.

Then, there was, and is, the business of mending. A heart that has seen so much darkness has some barriers to break through, before letting itself love again. I know this well. In my life, there has also been darkness. I know what it is like to be a frightened child that carries around a lot of hurt. But, the blessings that I now behold each day upon waking, sometimes literally take my breath away. I will hold her hand, and show her that the world is not all darkness. We can find the light together.

One day, I hope to jump off and make photography my full time job. I am on the cusp of it...I can almost taste it. Right now though, I need a day job--interpreting--to pay a chunk of the bills. I think that sitting in on Amy's workshop would help me realize this goal. What a blessing this would be! It would mean doing my dream job every single day, and spending more precious time with my family.

Thank you for reading about this journey. And, if you haven't, please consider fostering or adoption.

Something to live by...

"There are short-cuts to happiness; and dancing is one of them." ~Vicki Baum

This storyboard and quote are going up in the hubbs's office; per his request.

I have been so busy lately; with orders, editing (always editing!), mommy-ing and all the other demands of daily life. I promise I will be blogging more regularly very soon!

Stay tuned for some recent photos of our family trip to the Renaissance Festival. Ü

Just one good one for mommy? Please??

I have often wondered why it is always so darn difficult for me to get a good photo of my own offspring!! Despite this fact, I think I obtained a few good ones today. Oh, and in case those that know me are confused or curious--no--I did not suddenly have another child. The oldest child we are fostering. I must say, she fits in with our crew pretty naturally! ♥ She's already friends with the camera.

Also, I offer special thanks to my sweet and ever patient husband, the slapstick comedian for the shoot.

Here we gooooo.....

My firstborn went to the inevitable first day of kindergarten this morning. It is surreal. Wasn't it yesterday that he was so helpless in my arms and needed me for everything?

What made it easy for me though was his JOY. He was completely exuberant to go. The kid has been wearing a backpack and asking to go to school since he was like...two.

Of course, we took some quickie snapshots this morning on the way out the door:


"Thumbs up for school!"



striking a pose--as only he can... "check out my cool uniform!"





"I found my name!"










Here's to you, buddy. You came home talking about Monarch butterflies, gingerbread men, new friends, and all of the things you are going to learn this year. Mommy is SO proud of you, and loves you more than pink milk. ♥

Saturday Morning

This is what we woke up to last Saturday morning. Just when you think that winter is almost over--WHAM! We got about four inches overnight. The kids were soooo excited to get out in it. It was quite windy, still snowing, and bitter, bitter cold! (esp. when you just run out to get a "few shots" without socks or gloves!!) Do you think that stopped them?

















Hope you all had a nice (and warm) weekend!

The Pickle Chair

Nothing fancy folks. I just had to capture my kiddos eating pickles in their 'pickle chair'. It is something that they made up on their own. They run and get pickles...then start chanting "pickle chair! pickle chair! pickle chair..." and then they go plop themselves down in our old recliner and start crunching away. Weird, I know. But cute. My children have countless games that only they understand. I love witnessing the close relationship that they share with one another.

It's things like these that I hope I can remember in my mind's eye long after they are grown. Maybe these pictures will help.

(Please excuse the horrible lighting. The floor lamp + the dark cave where I live + at night = ...you get the idea.)