I'm Thankful For

....all my returning clients and all the wonderful new ones I've meet this year.

You are all awesome!!! I appreciate your trust in me and for allowing me to capture special moments in your lives. You make me love photography more each day and strive to continue learning.
 I can't say THANK YOU enough.

If you have noticed, I have been trying to focus on shooting BW, just to challenge myself, but had to leave this one color. I shot this today for a returning client and LOVE them. This was a reschedule because of weather and this day couldn't have been more perfect and beautiful. I was shooting her sweaters and coats for her boutique and we wanted a holiday/wintery feel. So fun! I will post more soon on my site. Check her stuff out here and become a fan on facebook to see her deals.

I'm Thankful For

....ironing

Okay so not ironing itself, but the fact that I am ironing because Justin has a job. That I am very grateful for. All the ironing as a kid has paid off, although I still do not agree with ironing jeans until the crease cuts your finger. That still seems wrong, but I did do my chores.

I'm Thankful For

....my kids' friends

They have met many awesome kids that I am thankful they call friends.

I'm Thankful For

....Gwen (short for Guinevere)

She has been with us a long time and been a good car. Just hit 180,000 miles today and it made me think how grateful I am of her service. Justin and I bought her a month after we were married. We thought we were so cool to buy a new/used car. Twelve years strong.

I'm Thankful For

....to live here

There are so many things to do and beauty to take in.

I'm Thankful For

....his hard work and dedication to his family
I am so thankful for many hours he put into achieving his Masters and each day at work.

I'm Thankful For

....my faith

and all the wonderful things that can be found in these(to which I need to read more of).

I'm Thankful For

.....Sisters

Today is one of my sister's birthday's and it made me think of my relationships with each one. I am grateful for them and all they add to my life. This includes my sisters-in-law. I was blessed with amazing ones. Thank you to each of you. I love watching the relationship between my two girls and love that they are close...most of the time. :)

I'm Thankful For

....all my adorable nieces and nephews...near and far.

This is sweet Timothy the newest addition. He has been the best baby I photographed to date.

I'm Thankful For

....my eyes.

That I can see and take in all the beauty of the world and be lucky enough to capture portions of it forever with my camera. I had an eye appointment today and as the Optometrist told me one eye got worse, I proceeded to complain about how I hate my coke bottle glasses and how the enlarge my eyes so I look all googly-eyed and that contacts dry my eyes out and haven't been able to wear them for several years. It took a second, but then I realized I had it all wrong. I am thankful that I CAN see and that they can make corrective lens to help me to see better and I can choose from an array of styles for fun. As well as glasses, I GET to try contacts again to see if I can find a good fit. He was nice to put up with my rant and be concerned to help me find comfortable contact lens. How THANKFUL I am I that I can see the world around me so beautifully with or without glasses.

I was having some fun with Leena and shooting through my glasses. I thought she looked like an alien. 

I'm Thankful For

....my heater.

Plain and simple the heat that is created and distributed throughout my home is a wonderful blessing and wouldn't want to live without it.

I'm Thankful For

....a child's love.

This is my friends littlest. She is hugging a bear that when you squeeze the arm it says a sweet message in her mother's voice. As all three played the messages for me to hear, I was overwhelmed with emotion. They all loved their own sweet message that their animal spoke to them and were anxious to share because it was their own special message. I was tending her children as she went in for pre-op to remove a tumor from her brain. I am thankful for her will and determination that she will continue to be here for her children and her ability to teach me without knowing it. She has since had the operation and is recovering well. All my love and prayers to you and your family Amy.

I'm Thankful For

....the wonderful opportunity I have to be a woman and mother.

The human body amazes me. That a woman and man can create a life and the body can grow in the mother and that she can later sustain his life outside the womb. I just love it! Nursing has always been a wonderful bonding experience for me and my kids. Only I can provide that for them and only I can experience this bond. I wanted to capture my feelings on nursing and knowing that Eli was slowly weaning himself, I knew I had to get it soon. As it turns out, this picture is the very last time I nursed him and will probably ever nurse. I set up the shot and asked Sophie to stand on the couch and take a picture. It was intended to be for my own memory to look back on, but was amazed at how she captured the exact emotion for me so I had to share. I hope you recieve it the way it was meant. It has been difficult to move on from this stage in raising my children. I am having difficulty expressing it, but I look at the picture and it says it all. Him looking up at me as I hold his hand, the sweet tenderness of that connection. Words, in this case, cannot express, but a photo can.

I'm Thankful For

....the safety and comfort of my home.
 I know it isn't the case in many places.

I'm Thankful For

....my adorable, toothy baby.
He is such a joy to everyone. His smile melts my heart everyday and makes me thankful of motherhood. I cherish each new achievement and hang on. He shows me what I have learned since my first and what I can enjoy instead of stress over. His cuddles, kisses, and coos are priceless in my heart and he completes my joy of motherhood.

I'm Thankful For

....my Sophie Jean.
My spunky, happy, fun, pocket of sunshine. She is the best at her kisses and hugs and knows just when a little hug is what I need. She is game for anything and is so eager to please. She has such a supportive and loving heart. I love her compassion and tenderness for others.

I'm Thankful For

....my Leena girl.
 For the smiles and the trials she has and will give me. I awe at her determination and passion to learn all things. Her eagerness to help and love of life is contagious. She can be my best friend and I look forward to seeing her grow into a young woman. I love her when she looks at me with those eyes and I think of how she teaches us patience and how I will always be so proud of her. She is an amazing teacher and leader.

I'm Thankful For

...for this handsome boy who introduced me to motherhood.
 He has taught me how to be a mother and I will continue learning as he grows and we experience things together. He gives the best hugs and still love to show me affection. His sweet side is so tender and I love hearing the stories he thinks up. He is such a sweet teacher and brother and a good example of a great kid.

His latest funny.....As they were getting ready for school he had cut his finger and sent Leena to get a band aid. He then comes up to me and says he may need stitches. He told me how he did it and proceeds to say that he thought he was going to bleed to death but then he remembered how kids have more blood than adults and figured he would be fine but then thought he was going to loose his finger. Now, I know he can be dramatic as it runs in the genes, but I pulled off the band aid and couldn't help but laugh. It looked no worse than a paper cut (no dramatization there). Such a funny kid with a wild imagination. I guess he had been crying and worrying so much. I felt bad for the poor guy having to suffer so for literally nothing.

I'm Thankful For

...this guy and the 12 years we've shared learning together.
He is an amazing husband, Dad, provider, comforter, tease, uplifter, supporter and the best friend I will ever have. So grateful for him and everything he is to me and our children.

I am attempting to do similar to what I did last year during this thankful time. I may not have taken the picture that day, but it is my feelings associated with pictures. I want to thank my awesome friend Taisha who took this picture in October and more that I love. I appologize for the torture I may have put you through. :)