"Little Guy"

I keep asking him to stop growing. I keep begging him for just one more "nosey-whoasy". But most of all I keep praying that he'll be my "little guy" forever.

I always thought he was special and his first year of school has proven me right. Elijah was at the top of his class and made his teacher and us very proud. He excelled in academics with the honor of "student of the month" his first month at school. But what stood out even more was how he frequently told his teacher how cool it was that he had Jesus in his heart. Making friends was easy for him....in fact....a little too easy when it came to the girls! :) I couldn't have wished for a more well behaved, kind-hearted, intelligent, and hiliarious boy! (He must get all that from his daddy!)

While I know the years to come will have their challenging moments I know that with God's direction we will continue to be blessed by having Elijah. He is truely a special boy and I pray that God will help us know how to raise him. God has great things planned for him and I feel lucky to be raising such a great "little guy".

Congrats to you Elijah on such a great year!

Moments to remember......

Laughing, singing, dancing, loving......these are all moments I want to hold on to forever. I go through my day trying to hold on to the memories of the way my husband smiled at me when we first met, my son scoring his first soccer goal, or my dad seeing his grandson for the first time. These are the moments that make life meaningful.

I have always wondered what it would be like to grow old and not be able to remember those times. I have started countless journals with intentions on saving those moments for future story telling. But it wasn't until recently that I started to record these moments in a new way. "A picture paints a thousand words"......or so the saying goes.

Here are some of the "moments" I have captured recently. I hope the friends and families of these littles ones cherish these moments forever.

Out on the town......

Nashville ~ 3/30/07

In a FLASH.....

Kids...friends...your weight.....life changes a lot and FAST. Sometimes I just hang on and wait for the next shift. My boy will be 6 years old next week. I keep telling myself I am not old enough to have a 6 year old. (others may actually agree) But being a young mom has it's advantages. He can run....but he can't hide! :)

I have enjoyed working on images I took a couple of weeks ago at my sister's house in Kentucky. I loved watching our children play together and remembering when we ourselves got a kick out of wrestling with our dad and "helping" in the kitchen. It is important to me that Elijah enjoys each stage of life. Some stages may be more frustrating to him than others. (Learning to tie your shoes is NEVER fun!) But he loves to laugh and is quite a character.....I hope that sweet spirit grows and helps him through the tough times we all seem to face later in life.

Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks. I can't wait to "shift" my schedule and find more time to enjoy this stage of my life.

Take a chance.....

Going through life is much like driving on a country road. The peaceful scenery and gentle curves that cause the sleepy Sunday drive feeling can change in an instant. One minute you are dreaming of swinging from a tire swing to cursing the stray possum and fowl odor of the freshly squished skunk. But then that passes and your back to rocking on the front porch watching the passing storms. How does the song go......"Life is a highway...." I think that my life is more like a country road, with hills, valleys, and lots of distractions along the way!

I must say that there isn't any way I could go through this life with out the support and encouragement I get from my husband. I have never liked "driving" alone and I thank God everyday that the person in the seat besides me is Justin. While I tend to hold back and read all the directions before starting out, Justin reaches for the keys and asks for directions along the way. (well figuratively) I doubt each turn but he NEVER doubts me.

When You Come Back Down (by NickelCreek)

"You got to leave me now, you got to go alone

You got to chase a dream, one that's all your own

Before it slips away

When you're flyin' high, take my heart along

I'll be the harmony to every lonely song

That you learn to play

When you're soarin' through the air

I'll be your solid ground

Take every chance you dare

I'll still be there

When you come back down

When you come back down

I'll keep lookin' up, awaitin' your return

My greatest fear will be that you will crash and burn

And I won't feel your fire

I'll be the other hand that always holds the line

Connectin' in between your sweet heart and mine

I'm strung out on that wire

And I'll be on the other end, To hear you when you call

Angel, you were born to fly, If you get too high

I'll catch you when you fall

I'll catch you when you fall

[Bridge:]

Your memory's the sunshine every new day brings

I know the sky is calling Angel, let me help you with your wings

When you're soarin' through the air I'll be your solid ground

Take every chance you dare I'll still be there

When you come back down

Take every chance you dare, I'll still be there

When you come back down When you come back down

Photography is a new road for me. Following something I love and giving it my all not knowing what the outcome will be is a new road as well. When you pick up a camera and start shooting you don't always know what the result will be. But until you take a step of faith and shoot you never know the awesome joy it is to capture the emotion of a moment. Whether it is photography, music, or writing.....find something to take a chance on! And don't forget to look beside you and thank God for the people He has placed in your life to catch you if you fall!

Thanks Justin......for being willing to help me with my wings............

assignment - play date

When faced with my first assignment and the thought of having to share my pictures in front of my peers I could only think of one subject that would work.......my boy! Now granted the pictures aren't the grand masterpieces I would have liked to present to my teacher....but the subject.....you can't get any cuter than this! I had fun shooting Elijah and learning new tricks with the camera. Not only was it good to get out of the "program mode" that I like to call home....but Elijah had a blast suggesting different poses. (what a ham......he gets that from his dad!) :)

Our class was working on panning a subject with a slower shutter speed to create a more life like action photo. The image of Elijah on his scooter really captured the intensity he puts into his "ride". He suggested the fire pole at the playground and I was surprised by the image I got. My husband and I thought it almost looked like he was 3D and way in front of the other kids. I think this shot showed the action as well as a different depth of field than I had experienced in my other photos.

The black and white of my boy is well.......it's of my boy.....so it's of course one of my favorites. I like the fact that he isn't smiling and being goofy but has a model like expression on his face. I love capturing differences in his personality. Knowing I will always have these images to look back on makes me smile.......and cry!

Well.....I hope you liked my first assignment. I am learning some cool tricks with my camera as well as in Photoshop. I look forward to having more creative control over the images I take. Most importantly I am having fun and enjoying this new adventure.

On the move......

New job, new house, new hobby........phase one of my new adventure has me wondering why kids are the only ones who get to take naps. Oh to have someone tell me I had to close the blinds, turn off the light, and sleep! But then without these crazy times we would always wake back up to the same reality wondering why our dreams never came true. So although I say this timidly.....BRING IT ON!

I started my first photography class last week. The teacher is quite a character. My friend Jenn and I can't help but laugh at his gestures and frequent exclamation of......"I'm not teaching you anything you don't already know." We often wonder what we are paying for if this is indeed the case. But I must admit (although not to everyone).....he IS teaching me some things I don't already know.

Our assignment this week should be interesting. No more leaning on the "program" settings to think for me. I hope to find time to really be creative and get some good shots. We have to bring our images to class and most likely share them with everyone. Although my first thought is to jump ship and run when it comes to anything that leaves me vulnerable in front of my peers......I don't want to wake up tomorrow, next month, or God forbid next year longing for my dreams instead of living them.

I'll be sure to post some of the images from my first assignment. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. But remember.....go easy on the rookie!