meet {Karissa & Josef}

Karissa & Josef are one of my weddings in 2009. I met with them while they were home over break to discuss details and got to know them a little. I can tell already from their personalities that this will be a great wedding. Check back in a few months to find pics from their engagement shoot that we are planning when it gets a little warmer outside!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... {Happy 2009!}

Well, it's 2009! Most everyone thinks about New Year resolutions, a very old tradition, followed closely by breaking New Year Resolutions.

One of my top three resolutions is to blog at least four times a week...and to get it started, I am going to attempt blogging daily for 21 days. Why you ask? Well, I was once told that it takes 21 days to break a habit or form a new one so I'm going to give it a shot!

I've also learned that you are more likely to reach your goals if you write them out and look at them on a regular basis. I hope that you would also take the time to write down what is most important to you and review them ever once in awhile!

I've listed all my resolutions with the first three being priority! Feel free to comment with what your resolution is and maybe we can help each other make our goals!

BLOG at least four times a week
Weekly Family Night
Read at least one book a month
Run a 5K
Budget
Plant a garden
Drink more water
Start to Journal
Get up earlier
Be "greener"

Here are a few pics from New Years...hope to post more later!

By Request {More...Winery Fun}

Blane and I were with some friends last evening and I had a request for more pictures from when my bunko group went to Superior Estates Winery in November. So here's a few more pics to please the people!

Comments!! = {Cans for a Cause}

I heard about an awesome idea from some fellow photogs and thought I might just try that! For every comment that you leave on my blog through December 31st @ midnight, I will donate a can to the Hastings Food Pantry for needy families this holiday season... so comment away!!! It can be about any of the photo shoots that have been posted, about Christmas...just about whatever you want...but keep it clean!

I love comments and they will be for a good cause, so why not just leave one! I'm super excited and want you to pass the word along cause I really want to go to the Food Pantry with A LOT of cans!

Bigger Blog Pics

Just an FYI to any blog followers...as soon as the holiday rush is over I'll be trying to figure out how to get my photos bigger on the blog. I can't wait! The pics now are an okay size, but I'm looking for the shock factor of a bigger picture to make you say ahhhh! Check back soon!

meet {J.T. & Anna}

My Monday night shoot was with J.T. and Anna...and for a brother and sister they got along SO well. They acted like they'd known me forever and were very cooperative. I really enjoyed both of them and loved hearing Anna play beautiful holiday music on the piano! Hope Santa is good to both of you this Christmas.

Is Bigger Always Better?

Me having two kids at Christmas time I see how often they want bigger or more packages because it is assumed the the larger the gift or quantity the better. Just a few thoughts for you to ponder that good things can come in small packages.

God often chooses to work through the ordinary and seemingly insignificant to demonstrate His love and power and show us that small things can be powerful too! A few examples of that were shown when...

-God delivered the Israelites from the Midianites' oppression, He intentionally used an army of merely three hundred men to defeat a much larger army.

-Jesus selected his disciples He could have enlisted a multitude to follow Him, but He chose only twelve. It was not the number that mattered, but the quality of their walk with Him that would determine how they affected their world.

Please help keep the reason for this season in focus.

Christmas Chaos

Okay...so I'm TOTALLY thankful for the overwhelming amount of biz that I've gotten in the last few months...BUT...I can honestly say that when I do finally get done with all these Christmas cards I might not want to see another Christmas Card for quite sometime.

If you have had a shoot and don't see any of your pics on the blog, don't freak out as I am behind on a few larger family sessions and a maternity session that I know of off the top of my head.

I do want to say thank you to all my clients for being SOOOOO patient in getting your orders filled. You've all been awesome so far!! If you have any questions, concerns or comments please, please, please call me!!

meet {The Smidt's}

My second shoot on Sunday was with Corey's family! She is one of those friends that you just know will be your friend forever!

Corey and Jason have the cutest little girls...Jacey & Jerzee. Jacey was totally cool about getting her picture taken while Jerzee thought I was insane and wanted to get as far away from me as possible. Could I be turning into that crazy photo lady?

meet {The Boudreau's}

Meet some of my family...Brandy is my husbands sister!

I had a good time Sunday afternoon shooting the Boudreau's. Little Kate loves to suck her thumb just like my little guy and Alex is just a typical little boy...if you know what I mean. I love 'em all to pieces and appreciate them taking time to snap some family portraits!

meet {the Schmidt's}

Meet the Schmidts...aren't they cute (mom and dad too)! We were blessed today to have semi-beautiful weather for December...but before we headed outside we took a few shots indoors. That's when little Emma had the most fun playing, playing and playing or should I say disassembling the Christmas tree. I think she had a blast and so did I!

The REASON

It's so hard to believe that Christmas is only a few weeks away! As time flies by so quickly I'm having a hard time myself getting into the spirit. Hopefully that finally putting the Christmas tree up tonight will help out with that. During the next few weeks I will be posting simple little sayings to help us all remember what is truly the Reason for this Season and get us all in the spirit!!

"Jesus said to his disciples: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come...May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!' " (Mark 13:33, 37)

Superior Estates Winery

My BUNKO group has slowly changed from monthly BUNKO playing to doing other fun things together. Last weekend two car fulls of us crazy ladies headed to the Superior Estates Winery. Needless to say almost all ended up purchasing some (even by the case) for home and holiday gift giving! We were all impressed with the polite and informational lady that helped us!

I will go back for sure!! If you ever get a chance, it's worth the drive to enjoy the beauty of this vineyard and winery! Check them out at www.SuperiorEstatesWinery.com

Luke & Lana

These little blondies are two of the nicest kids I know. My Emma goes to school with Luke and they are pretty good friends! We had a good time taking these pics and even saw a deer running through the pasture as we were shooting!

Drake & Bentley

Drake and Bentley's mom and I have been friends for years and she was kind enough to let me take some pics of her kids. Drake is a big fan of trains so of course we had to do some of our shoot from the train depot. It was a lot of fun! Thanks so much Traci for your ideas that day!

Bonifas Family

I got to enjoy some time this morning with Ashley and her mom and Dad during their family photo shoot. She wasn't too excited about smiling for me, but had a good time playing with a toy tractor and a Christmas lollipop. I also learned how much she loves to watch the semi's as they pulled into town.

Megan & Dustin

Last weekend I had an engagement shoot with Megan & Dustin. They were super troopers heading around town to several different spots with me. It was fridgid outside, but you can even tell when looking at these two lovebirds! They made the session so quick and easy! Thanks guys...I can't wait for your wedding!

Harrell Family

I got to spend some time last Sunday with the Harrell family before they enjoyed their Thanksgiving feast. They seemed to be a great group, which shouldn't be surprising as Granny Annie is a great gal herself. Thanks guys for being so fun to photograph! Here are a few pics from your shoot...I'll post more over the weekend.

Samantha & Beau

Look at these two adorable kids...what beautiful blue eyes!! These two were troopers the day of this shoot as the weather was warm but the skys were ready to open at any moment and poor on us.

I've been blogged!!

Check it out...I've been blogged!!

http://loveaffairworkshop.com/index.php?link=53&cat=5

This is an awesome workshop that I will be attending this week. Please pray for me and my family while I'm away. I hope that this workshop will give me an incredible amount of infomation and energy to create beautiful things for you my clients!