Bring on the children

I've been dreaming about starting a photography business.  And while I'm not close to opening my doors,  I'm ready to take the next step and start practicing.  Practicing on children who have a different last name as me.  :-)

I'm moving to the practice portfolio building stage of my dream and I need volunteers.  Guinea Pigs. I need little people models starting this Spring and Summer.

If you or a friend in the area would be interested in a photo shoot, contact me.  We can put something on the calendar and I can start clicking away.  And hopefully you'll get some great photographs in the process too.

A weekend and a pastor wife

Our weekend started in earnest at noon on Friday after Alex finished a funeral and Eloise was home from school.  It was off to a great start until about 3:30 when the power went out.  No shocker here.  Considering it has gone out 4 times this month--3 nights during the snow storm, an afternoon a couple of weeks ago, a 4am stint last week, and now Friday night.

I knew it was going to go out.  Maybe it had to do with the large limb laying on our power line and the predicted 60mph winds.  But it doesn't really matter how I knew, I just knew.  It was going to go out.

And it did.  So we headed out for dinner, some errands.  We brought home some fire wood and a large bottle of wine.  We were going to make the best of it.

And it was a fun family indoor camping expedition.  Fun because the power came back on at 9:30.  PTL.  (Praise the Lord!)  So we had heat again and our groceries (and money) were spared.

Saturday we enjoyed chocolate chip pancakes, a second hike in the woods, a trip to the farmers market where we bought Girl Scout Cookies--ironic, yes, and some game playing time with Eloise while Cordelia napped.  A sitter came and off Alex and I went to a church couples dinner.  It was huge and awesome and the week as a pastor and pastor wife began again.

I had an interesting encounter this week as a pastor wife.  Most weeks go by and I don't notice that I'm a PW, but from time to time, I remember very well.  A met a woman for the first time.  I introduced myself and gave her some background information about me as we met.  When she pieced together that I was Alex's wife, her gut said out loud to me, "oh no, I'm so embarrassed.  I've got to be really good now..."

Then my gut said out loud, "No you don't.  Please don't think that.  I'm normal too."

And that's how the interaction went.  From there, we connected and laughed and forged a little friendship, and our interesting beginning was forgotten....I hope.

I actually enjoy people who are a little late or say something silly or inappropriate because then I know they are normal.  They are in touch with their downfalls.  I can relate to them. 

It's the people who live in a realm of perfection that I have trouble connecting with most.

The lesson to me--Be real.  Be candid about my imperfections.  And be extra gracious because some people are scared of pastors and their wives because they feel judged.  And that's really sad... not only for them but also for me.  Because if people feel afraid of me, they won't be my friend.  And I really love having friends.  

Now, let's hope True Grit wins best cinematography tonight.  And let's have a great Monday.  What do you say?

A walk in the woods

"A Walk in the Woods" performed by C.F.L. and brought to you by her doting mother who was trying to take advantage of a break between rain storms.

In Charge

Just in case I started thinking I was in control over here.

We all know who is driving this ship.

(And yes, our little baby is wearing a princess dress.) 

Thankfully, the sun is shining, the air is crisp, and we are all healthy.  The windows are cracked because we are in need of some fresh air in this house.  I've just returned from our Wednesday morning Bible study and it was wonderful.  You should never underestimate the power of spiritual nourishment.  It feeds my soul and keeps me moving each week.

Today

You know your child is still sick when you give her a cookie and she doesn't even take a bite.

She is doing much better today and we're hopeful she's finished puking her guts out, but only time will tell. If she makes it through the night, then we're done.  (Yea.)  If not, then we're not done.  (Boo.  In case you had any doubt about how I feel about that or puke in generally, really.)

I gave her some food today but she didn't eat a bite.  But being in good spirits, she played with it.

And while dodging the puke, Cordelia has managed to keep a good attitude.  Because that's what she does.  She rolls with the punches and has the most incredible eyes all at the same time.

I love my girls.  But I don't love puke.

Lysol, laundry, liquids

Or, "Puke, Poop, and Pathetic"

Or, "Germs, Gross, Super Gross"

But no matter how we describe it, the day has begun.  And we are up with the sun.

I'm hoping this bug is fast, furious, and finished!

(Since I'm clearly house bound all day, I think my alliteration descriptors will continue to go through my head . . . )

Fix-It Friday

Another Fix-It Friday at I Heart Faces.  I love doing these.  It really helps me practice.  This one was a challenge for me because I don't usually shoot photos with a lot of black.  I typically find that I like shooting with a lot of bright whites and colors.  I love the drama of this shot, though!

Original

Edit 1

Edit 2

I'm not usually a big black and white fan, but I couldn't not do this in B&W.  I tried and tried to do a color shot but couldn't seem to do it.  Which edit is your favorite?

In other news, we're enjoying a full Friday with Alex home.  I cleaned the car, finished some unfinished business, and am heading to the park next.  Truly a de-stressing type of day around here.

It's time to face the music.

It might be time to come to terms with the fact that Cordelia is no longer a baby.

Babies don't walk around the house in high heals while reading a Valentines Day card to you.

Around these parts . . .

. . . we are hanging outside.

Can you make us out?  I'm standing, taking the photo.  Eloise has her wings out ready to take flight.  She didn't want her photo taken today, so this is all I got.

It's warm and sunny and a nice break from a cold winter.

Around these parts, we are also spending a lot of time up at school taking photos of the children.  Roughly 60 photos of 60 children needed.

I wish I could show them all to you.  They are turning out really great.  I'm trying to capture the children in their school environments, like Eloise rolling in this donut.  Isn't school awesome?

That's a little bit of what we've been doing around these parts.  We've been doing that and listening to Mumford and Sons.

Love

  We love because He first loved us.  1 John 4:19

I hope you can at least get a glimpse of God's love for you today.

White House and Auction

Today Alex and I toured the White House.  We were like little kids giddy in a candy shop.  I wish we could have stayed longer and photographed the experience, but just as you would expect, we were not welcomed much longer than our tour lasted.  And we were most definitely not allowed to bring a camera, or anything else for that matter.

Now if we had cooler cell phones, we could have at least snapped a shot as we were leaving...10 feet from the last column, officially, but we don't.  So no photos taken.

Only a fun experience that Alex and I shared together.  And that's pretty special.

Plus we got a guided tour, which we did not expect.  Thank you Mr. Secret Service Man for all the funny, amusing information.  And thank you also, Mr. Robo-Cop Not So Secret Guards with Enormous Guns that  Could Kill a Crowd in a Second, for protecting us while we were inside.  I'm not sure if that gun made me feel more safe or more scared.  Either way, I stared a long time at that gun you had.  I think Alex has a video game with that gun in it.

So we crossed the White House tour off the list.  Doesn't mean we are going anywhere anytime soon, but we have done this "to do."

In other news,

I've been busy photographing the children at Eloise's school.  Have I told you that?  The school is having an auction and we are using photographs of the children as decoration for the event.  It's been a time consuming but very fun project for me.  The photos are turning out to be adorable and I think everyone will be pleased to see them.  It's also been fun working with other children not named Eloise or Cordelia.  And practice my mad editing skillz on different skin tones and eye colors, etc.

And as part of the auction, our family has to donate something.  At first we thought we could donate Alex's spiritual services...marriage counseling anyone?  Need a house blessing?  A wedding, a funeral?  Funny things we joke about but definitely not serious.  You don't have to buy those things...he'll do them all for you, just ask him.  Or go to any church and ask them.

So back to what we will donate.  Alex suggested I donate a children's photo session.  4% of that suggestion encourages and excites me.  96% terrifies me.  So I'm thinking I'll just put together a "newborn essentials basket" or a "Princess Perfect" basket of all kinds of goodies.

What do you think we should give?  It can't be expensive so it has to be creative.  And I hate soliciting people, but maybe somebody I know has a service they would like to donate?  I guess my biggest fear is that it will be lame.  I hate being lame.

And with that, I'm off to Target.  Alone.  Life is grand!  Have a great weekend.

Happy Birthday to you, Cha-Cha-Cha

Cha-Cha-Cha!  Eloise is 4 today.  What a sweet little lady you are becoming, our little Miss Elo-Squeeze.

Tonight during dinner, while Eloise was messing around on the bench not eating, I turned on some music.  On the first chord, Eloise shoots up from says "Can I be excused?"  And she went to dance.

She danced and danced and danced until we carried her upstairs (she made it clear she preferred dancing to sleeping) for bed.  The girl moves to the music.  She's got it buried deep in her soul.  And it's really no surprise to us.  During our (very many) ultrasounds with her, our doctor would say "she's break-dancing in there.  I've never seen a baby move so much."  That's no lie.  That's what happened and she hasn't stopped since.

So to help her celebrate, we threw a dance party with John Henry on the guitar and Eloise leading the congo line.  And we all had fun.

It was old school simple and it was fun.  And then we took a family photo to document us all on this special day.

Happy Birthday, sweet Eloise!  I can't imagine my life without you here!