Well, as I sit here, I’m waiting to go live with my brand-new photography website.  I’m anxious, scared, excited and nervous.  I want to shout for joy but then I sort of want to excuse myself before I get sick.  This past weekend offered very little sleep,  and I endured one never-ending migraine.  I know I snapped at my family on a few occasions and cried and yelled over spilled Diet Coke!  I have been trying to tell myself that I can’t maintain exclusive control of my life forever, because after awhile, it is just self-imposed torture!  haha.   I know that to grow, I need to allow others to help me, I need to ask for guidance or critisism, and to just take that leap!!  So…. even though I have a vision for my website- still to be obtained - and new, amazing pictures that still need to be added – I think it is time to step back, close my eyes and just leap!  Enough talk!  More action!

You will hear me, on many occasions to come, thank Scott for his support and love.  Without it, I would be empty.  Friends and family have been amazing, but another dramatic influence for me has been my fellow photographers; those online and in person, who have guided me and shared with me.  Without you guys, I would continue to struggle, but because of you, I now have a clearer vision.  So thank you, I am forever grateful!! 

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              Brandi and Jason Sidley – www.kandid-kids.com.  As always, you two are amazing.  You have been very kind and helpful!  I am proud to say that being your client has made me a better photographer because I know what an impact the experience of working with you and how your pictures have impacted my life!  I am thankful for your friendship and inspired by your dedication to never sacrifice quality for profit.   

              Beth Daane – www.bethdaanephotography.com.   A fast friend who allowed me to share with her during each phase of the web design.  I hope your business is as successful and wonderful as you imagine it to be, you deserve it!

        Danielle Krieger www.mindcastle.wordpress.com and Jennifer Nichols www.jnicholsphoto.com both from The Crazies Forum- if it weren’t for you two being so willing to help me, I would STILL be trying to figure out my settings on this blog.  Thank you!  Your work is inspiring!

And lastly, my idols: Nate and Jacyln Kaiser of The Image is Found (www.theimageisfound.com).  It was seeing the way they could take a picture (that was, in of itself, amazing) and turn it into a work of art that inspired me to look outside of the box.  I am counting down the days until I get to work with Nate in August!!!  You’ll all hear the giddy yelps of joy for the whole week leading to it!!!!

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So I am finally here – ready to go public, ready to share, ready to open myself up to the world.  But, after much support and love, I am ready – so here I go!!!!

Holy Moly! For anyone who knows Carter, you know that he loves things LOUD and BIG!!!  “Mama, BIG truck – honk, honk”.  “Mama, MoBike – VROOM VROOM”.  Well, Scott and I decided he was ready – ready to go see his first race!  We spent the morning strolling downtown Auburn, but then headed back into Roseville to see the races.  We spent about an hour or more watch the qualifying laps and sometime during that hour, we lost Nyah’s interest – but not Carter’s!  He was so intense watching the cars driving in loops and often stood up to cheer.  At one point, he was VROOM-VROOMing so loud that several rows of people around us had to turn around to see where it was coming from.  It was a lot of fun – and I have a sneaking suspicion it won’t be our last day at the racetrack!

Still suffering from my on-going cold, we scurried around and cleaned up the house for our party guests.  I prepared the food and picked up messes all the while wondering if this effort was worth the pain of foregoing my nap, but my guests arrived and I soon realized that the enjoyment of good food, friends and laughter was well worth the extra Sudafed I needed to take!  I had such an enjoyable time visiting with friends (old and new).  I realized, as I sat there, that two of my friends sitting at my dining table have known me since I was 16!  The comfort of knowing people that closely, for that long was actually such a blessing and I settled in and enjoyed the night that much more realizing that no matter how many ups and downs we experience in life, somethings never change – and that – is a good thing!

 The weather was HOT and I didn’t even brave going outside until about 8pm, but the kids had a great time and played in the water.  What cuties are these guys?! 

Then, the adults all ventured to the front of the house to light fireworks and all the kids scurried to the furthest room in the house and blasted the t.v. to avoid the sounds they knew were coming.  Scaredy cats!!    But it was kind of fun to have all the kids (safe) and in one spot while the adults got to play – all by ourselves!!  hee hee.  We even met our new neighbors, and they provided lots of laughs and giggling fits for Tina and me.  What a nice day considering I almost gave it up!   

Happy 4th to all of you.  Don’t forget to take time out of your day to remember what we are celebrating and all of those who have given so much.