{Homecoming}

I had the privilege of shooting a homecoming for a wonderful Army spouse. Her husband was returning from Afghanistan from a year long tour. I myself have endured two out of my husband's 3 tours. Sitting in the gymnasium waiting for the buses to pull up, I felt just as excited and nervous as she did (mainly for her because I remember the feeling). There is something so special about a military homecoming and I am so grateful to get to be a part of them.

The Military Child

I just submitted an entry to The Military Spouse Magazine in honor of military child month. My children have been through two deployments, many more work ups, and moves as military children. I am so proud and amazed at how resilient they are. This picture I feel sums up military children. They often times are forced to wait, but will always wait. Say thank you to a military child today for all they go through and overcome.

Something that makes me smile.

I have been following other photographers' blogs and decided to follow some of their themed blog posts. The one I found this week was "Something that makes you smile." In life, being the mother of 4 boys, there are many things that make me smile. I happen to be potty training my 4th and final boy. My method is if they are naked they have nowhere to "go" but the potty. This has always worked. After about the first week I sure do get tired of looking at boy parts running around my house. However, I have to share a story that makes this time and everything else worth while because of the amount of laughs it brings to me. Albert (my 6 year old) comes up to me to show me how "big his wiener grew" over night while my 2 year old is climbing on me while he has no pants on. Wow! The comedy of being the mother of boys. I wonder what moms of girls do for fun...lol. This picture shows you the fruits of my labor.

Christmas

My family recently moved to Missouri, one because the Marine Corps told us to and two, to be closer to family. I obviously had some hesitation due to the fact we were in San Diego where the sun is out every day. When I was going back through pictures from Christmas with my husband's family I remember why we wanted to be closer while we can. They are such an amazing group. Here is one of my favorites.

Lesson 1: Be aware of how special the people in your life are and appreciate them for that. 

2012

New year with new goals. The plan for this blog for 2012 is to post a picture every week. I want to stop and appreciate all the little things in my life and share them with others. In 2011 I started my photography business and have so many ideas for it. I want to touch others with my visions the way I have been touched by so many other photographers. 

I have memories as a little girl watching my dad behind the camera. Whether we were at the beach, Disneyland or our own backyard, he was there capturing such wonderful small moments in our lives for us to cherish later. I remember everything about it. I can picture his dark brown leather camera bag and the sounds and smells of the slide projector as we all shared in the special pictures he had taken. It is because of this that I have such a passion today for photography. 

I hope that this blog helps to spread the love of photography one detail at a time.