To Blog or Not to Blog?

  Actually, there really isn't much question anymore as whether to blog or not. When I first started this, I really viewed it as purely an online journal that I could use to keep track of my artwork and some random thoughts alongside it. Because it's just been for me, I've kept it pretty private because I had no intention of really sharing it with anyone in particular. But as I've become more and more familiar with other artists' and friends' blogs, I see how incredibly valuable it is to share these things. I, like so many other artists, lack a creative community. I long for the days back in college when I would both dread and look forward to friday critiques and getting the competitive feedback of my fellow students. I thrive on all things creative, and it breathes life into my entire self when I see it in other people's lives and work as well. I read through some of these blogs and I realize that I've been given an incredible gift. These people have invited me in and given me a window to see into a special part of their lives. I read the words from total strangers, and I so often I see myself. I recognize my own frustrations voiced by others. I see the same longing for inspiration, the thrill of the creative journey, and the simplistic joy in the beauty of a nice cup of tea and a piece of homemade pie. I love that blogging has given us a world where both the big and small things are put on pause for a moment, and given a place of importance. We notice things more I think when we become conscious of sharing it with others. And because of all these things, I've realized that I also want to have a voice in this creative community. I don't know exactly where it will lead, but that's part of the fun of it. I so long to be in an environment of people dedicated to expressing the things in their hearts, be it visual art, music, dance, writing, cooking, gardening, or flower arranging. Creativity is alive in all of us. This I know. And for myself, I know that that creative spirit is the substance of almost everything I want to do. So, I hope to find others both like me and different from me. I want to meet artists, but I'm also really hoping to meet those that long for creativity in their lives, but haven't quite found their avenue yet. I so want people to know that creativity is not just for the artists and the musicians. We are creative people, made in the image of a creative God, and if that desire is in your heart, then that means that there is a seed of creativity put there that is intended to be watered, and it will grow. I believe it with all my heart.

The Rest of the Cuteness: Sunday Edition

  So, here are the rest of the shots from a fun afternoon spent with my nieces, Lealie and Stori, and my nephew Sam. After we had a fun morning having a yardsale, and got ready to go, we made our way to the park. Lealie and Stori's grandmother had gotten them really cute matching tops, which they both insisted on pairing with their favorite shoes, their plastic rain boots. So, with boots and tops matching, their moms took a cue from their girls and wore their favorite boots too, and off we went.

Jenni, Stori, Lealie, & Mandie cheesing it up.

Little Miss Stori watching a plane go by.

I absolutely love this expression! Sam's just hanging out in his dad, Mike's, arm.

Little Lealie, looking like a pink flower, playing in her birthday tutu. 

Some family loving: Mandie with Lealie and Mike "hanging out" with Sambo.

Jenni hugging Stori.

A little father son moment between Mike and Sammie.

Twenty little toes, all in a row. I really like this father/son shot. It's like a before and after photo.

The smiley Stricklers.

More family fun time with Mandie, Mike, and Lealie.

Sassy Stori swishing her little tutu skirt. Good gracious I love this kid.

The many faces of Lealie. We are never short on entertainment when Lealie's around.

Something along the lines of playing chicken, but sweeter.

I think Jenni isn't exactly crazy about this shot, but I love it. It's such the true picture of motherhood, intimately close, messy, and hilarious.

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed after a fun afternoon at the park.

Such a beautiful Stori.

   It was simple, but one of those days you look back on and think, "how perfect to have that time together." Especially after being separated for months at a time by a lot of miles between us. And as hard as it is to miss each other, and not get to see Stori grow up, it makes the time we do get to have together so sweet. We don't take time for granted anymore. And we work a lot harder at communicating and sharing our days from a distance.

Friday Favorite... Again

   So, I decided to go for it again with the Friday Favorites. I like taking a day just to think about things I love and all those little joys that make me happy. Today's joy is not a little one. Actually, it's three little ones, but their place in my heart is not small. I present to you, my amazingly beautiful nieces, Lealie and Stori, and nephew, Sammie. They are, to me, the absolute embodiment of the best of all of us in my family, and the perfect reflections of their fathers who came into our family by marriage, but have made us so much better than we ever were before them. These three little pieces of magic are the manifestation of who we have become. And while I know first hand that they aren't perfect (plenty of pouting and crying to back that up), they are, to me, quite perfect.

   Last fall we took an afternoon to take some photos of the kids playing together, and also of them playing with their moms, Jenni and Mandie.  We had a really good day, and got some fun shots in the process. Well, as happens far too often, I got busy with work that was piling up, and the photos went to the back burner. And then my Delta debacle happened, and my computer was stolen, along with what I believed at the time to be the only copy of the photos of the kids playing. Well, low and behold, apparently I actually backed them up on another hard drive and completely forgot about it. It was like finding money in your pocket when you're not expecting it, only cuter. Needless to say, I was pretty excited. Our family is divided by many miles and states between us, and the kids aren't able to be together that often. So the photos while they're still little were really precious to me. So, today I'm going to post the earlier part of that day, while we were getting ready for the park. There's quite a few photos, so I thought I'd divide it up between today and Sunday. Spread out the cuteness over the weekend. Today's photos are just of Sammie and Lealie, brother and sister, playing on their Aunt Jenn's bed before going to the park. I could write volumes on how amazing these kids are, but for this purpose, I'll just let the photos tell the story for the time being.

How great is this face?  You can almost hear him thinking, "Whaaa?"

This is the little Lealie bug. She is many things wrapped up in a little body, and I still can't get over how beautiful she is. I thought that when she was born, with her bright blue eyes and jet black hair, believe it or not. And as amazing as she was even from the very beginning, she is only getting more and more wonderful as she grows. I just wish she'd do it a little slower.

Sleepy Sam.

And a somewhat sleepy Lealie Loo too.

Sammie and his sweet mama Mandie.

This makes me laugh everytime I look at it. This is the story of Sam's life I think. Lealie is passionate, and lives a big life. She feels much, expresses everything, and loves big, squeezing the object of her affections in the process. And Sam, Mr. Go With the Flow, just rolls with it. I've seen this kid take some pretty major knocks and he doesn't bat an eyelash. As wonderfully dramatic as Lealie is, Sammie is just as cool and level. They are the perfect balance of each other, and each are going to be better because of the other one. I can't wait to see how that will work more and more as they get older. But for now, it's just funny to watch.

The sleepiness wore off quickly, and she was back to her usual little jumping bean self. Click on the photo to see this one bigger, which looks a lot better than the small version.

Again, this is the portrait of their true selves. Lealie bouncing off the walls, and Sam just chillin with it.

I made this tutu for her birthday, but she was cuter in it than I even thought possible.

This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy ate organic vegetables, and this little piggy had none. And this little piggy went Wee Wee all the way wherever he wanted to, because his path is full of every possibility in a great big world.

I've had a strange fascination with photographing little feet for a while, and these are by far my new favorites.

   Sunday I'll post some more photos of our afternoon playtime with Lealie, Sammie, and their cousin Stori and her mama Jenni, two of the great loves of my life. Until then, thanks for reading, and I'll post more soon.

Blayney and Curtis

     As previously promised, here is a sampling of some of the photos from the second shoot I was able to shoot with one of my brides, Blayney, and her new husband Curtis. As much fun as I had taking her portrait before the wedding, this turned out to be even more fun. Blayney was sweet and chipper as ever while we took some test shots and waited for Curtis to arrive. And then the sweetest thing happened. When Curtis walked up to us, all of a sudden it looked like someone turned a light on inside of Blayney. She was cheerful before, but when she saw him her face absolutely lit up, and her body visibly relaxed. Getting your picture taken can be stressful on even experienced models. For the rest of us mere mortals it can be down right daunting. But as soon as she saw him she breathed deep, smiled this huge smile, and started laughing.  As a photographer I've seen more newlyweds than I can begin to remember. And all of them are special in their own way. But this little glimpse into this young couple's life was one of my favorite moments I've seen in a long time. Blayney and Curtis are a pretty young couple, right at the beginning of their road together. And from the time I had with them, shooting photographs and playing and laughing, I'm willing to bet that their road together will be a happy one.

I couldn't decide if I liked this one in B&W or color better. So, here are both options.