This afternoon the girls and I met up with Auntie Em for some ice cream and downtown fountains.  We all love our time together, and have now started a little bitty tradition.  When the girls heard we were meeting up for Ice Cream, they immediately asked me if we were going to the fountains afterwards.  Last time we went Em and I had to convince the girls it was OKAY to run thru the water with their clothes on.  Today?  They ran way ahead of us and were completely drenched from head to toe by the time we caught up with them!  Here are my two favorites from the day. 

Samantha was showing Em how excited she was, but was upset with how cold her wet clothes were making her feel!

Chloe totally dived in from the get-go!  I’m so glad I got this shot of her!  She was sooooo happy!

Spiders and I have a Love/Hate relationship.  I truly think they’re beautiful and love most everything about them – but they creep me out!  I didn’t grow up with a phobia of spiders, I think it started after watching the movie Arachniphobia.   That movie pretty much sealed the deal on any exotic tropical island vacations for me!   Well lately there’s been an amazing web directly out our front door that lights up between 9-11AM when the sun is peaking over the tops of the trees.  I’ve done a few ‘sessions’ to try and get the crystal clear focus on the web strands, but have never seen the spider – until today.  This morning, I was in a hurry to get out the door to run some kid-free errands, and when I bolted out the front door and looked up to see if the web was still there, I was frozen in awe at the huge, wicked spider hanging out in the middle.    I turned around, unlocked the door and went to get my camera… 30 minutes later I was back on my way out the door. 

  I’m so glad I took the time to capture this guy as he (and the great light on the web) was gone after I got back.  These are almost straight out of the camera – all I did was boost the contrast a bit to help bring out his colors and the web.   If you have any idea what type of spider this is, I’d love to know – especially if it’s NOT the kind that will bite with venom!

A week or so ago I had the honor of taking pictures of the Symanek Family in Roseville!  Being back down there was so nice and the Delta Breeze was a great treat!  It was still VERY hot and challenging to relax and have fun (we were basically the only people outside).  I managed to squeak out some great shots of these guys and wanted to share a couple of my favorites from the early-evening hour a.k.a the hottest part of the day.  I had a blast with the girls, trying to get them to stay still for the camera..reminded me of my little one here at home.     I loved getting to know you guys and hope that it’s not the last time we get to hang out! 

A few weeks back I had the honor and privelage to be the photographer for the amazing Molly & Eben Drews over at Bayliss Ranch in Biggs!   The Lavendar was in full bloom and it was amazing to be surrounded by it!  I’ve got a lot of work still ahead editing all the images, but I wanted to take a break to share a sneak peek of what’s in front of me while I’m sitting in front of my computer. 

I took the studio booth to Roseville recently to do a portrait party for my good friends down there.  It was so much fun hanging out with these ladies and getting all dolled up!  Shelby is a rep for Stella & Dot and brought some amazing jewlery for everyone to use.  Everyone looked amazing thanks to Stacey’s handy make-up work!  After we were all done with the pics, they all went out on the town and stayed out LATE!   I mean, come on, why go to bed and waste a night that youand your friends look amazing!  This is exactly what the Portrait Parties are all about – having a fabulous girls night together and getting some beautiful pictures to show for it! 

For those of you who know me, you can attest to the fact that I’m a dreamer!  I have a huge imagination and find a lot of joy in thinking up different things to do/places to go.  Dreams are a big part of my life, they always have been.  The first 8 years of my marriage were spent making our dreams reality and we carved out a very fulfilling and wonderful life together.  Last October, we had to let go of our life down in Sacramento, we had to let go of our plans we had made, and we had to move up here to Chico to start anew.  I’ve never had a dream this big crushed before and it was devastating to me, to all of us really.  I was so angry with God for taking us away from our happy life.  We had just started going back to church several months prior to having to leave.  We had developed deep, soul level connections with many people in the church and we were lost in confusion as to why God would lead us there only to rip us apart such a short time after.  I guess He saw that we were ready to hear His truth for our lives.  We didn’t belong in Sacramento, we belong up here in Chico with family.  We need to be here for some reason, and we trust it’s a pretty big one.  He’s changed me this past 8 months.  I’ve never depended on Him for comfort, grace, peace and happiness before now.  I’ve never felt the desire or need to seek His counsel and want to live FOR Him.  I’m finally focusing on me and who He made me to be.  I’m searching for His will for my life and have been extra-extra cautious with each step forward.  I don’t want to get hurt again.  I don’t want to have a dream ripped away again.  I still feel lost in my path of Photography.  From day to day it seems as though my confidence is shaken and I question if it’s His will and part of His plan for my life, or if it’s just another self-serving-in-the-moment hobby.  Photography is the only place in my life I still experience fear on a daily basis, but it’s also the only place I experience pure joy and happiness.  I’m afraid to believe in the hope that it’s a viable future for me and my family and don’t know which way to go or where to start.

A few months ago, during a roll in blog-hopping from one photo blog to another, trying to find inspiration and direction, I came across a blog that stopped me dead in my tracks called For the Love.  They had JUST uploaded a video that showed a quick recap from their very first spiritual retreat/photography workshop and I was sobbing from the truth it spoke to my heart.  The video was an answer to a silent prayer I had been saying for months.  The creator of For the Love Workshop had put together a spiritual retreat/photography workshop where a group of Christian photographers came together in worship, prayer, community and classes.  I watched it over and over again, shared it with family and a few friends – crying each and every time I saw it.  There weren’t any details at that time indicating any future retreats but I knew in my heart I had to do whatever it took to go to the next one.  Having the opportunity to spend a week with God, seeking his counsel and guidance for my life as a photographer/mother/wife/daughter re-lit the fire of hope in me.  I am so distracted in the day to day noise that it’s virtually impossible for me to hear His voice answering my pleas to hear Him.  I’ve never been this deep in faith before, and it’s still just skimming the surface.  I’ve never wanted to go to spiritual retreats – they never seemed like the thing for me.  Watching the video and reading the testimonies from For the Love Workshop has stirred up this strong desire and need to go.  I’m torn between my logical and practical side saying it’s not the right time in my life and it’s selfish of me to want to spend the money and time to go to this, but there’s also the inexplicable feeling of need for me to go.  It doesn’t FEEL like a frivolous/selfish goal, it really feels like a need.  I need to go to this workshop/retreat in order to reach the next step in my spirituality, to regain my confidence in my ability to be a professional photographer, to meet others in God to relate and become friends with.  When I found out that they’re having the next For the Love Workshop in Oregon, a 6 hour drive north, I started getting excited at the realization that it is possible for me to go since I originally thought they’d have it in Tennessee where the first one was!  Since discovering For the Love Workshop, I’ve said to myself and everyone around me – if it’s supposed to happen, it will happen!     I pray and hope that this will happen. 

If you want to know more (or have a good cry too), check out the blog and videos:  http://vimeo.com/1036325 & http://www.fortheloveworkshop.com/blog/ (for testimonials on the last workshop),  http://www.fortheloveworkshop.com/index2.php (to view all the pics from the last workshop)

The first weekend in May I made my way up to McCloud, CA  to attend a quilting retreat my mom puts together.  I brought up the portable booth to snag pics of all the crazy quilters and their quilts.  They didn’t disappoint – they all let their guards down and had some fun!  This was the most fun I’ve ever had at a retreat.  Everyone goes up with their friends or family and I’m usually off by myself with my music.  Taking all the pictures gave me a unique opportunity to really get to know everyone and spend some time making new friends.  I can’t wait for the next retreat!!!

This is a Mother-Daughter quilting team.  The Daughter pieces and the Mom quilts them.  These fabric pieces are for a sock monkey themed baby blanket.  We thought it was fitting to hang the strips from the rack as vines.  The Mom started really getting into her role!

Here we’ve got 3 “sisters” in spirit.  They sure fooled me they weren’t blood related!  These ladies were a hoot! 

Another fun pair of kindred spirits. 

My mom  on the left and her BFF that accompanies her to most events within driving distance.  Looks like Beth just got caught doing something!

Being a mom has brought to the surface countless responsibilities and experiences to my life.  Each day seems to be harder and easier at the same time.    As Chloe gets older and really starts experiencing stuff, I find myself suddenly remembering doing and saying the same things when I was her age.  It’s funny (and humbling too) to see elements of yourself in your child.  For me, I was a tomboy.  Was always out playing with the boys and getting my hands dirty.  I was facinated with snails.  I loved being still and quiet long enough to see them emerge from their shells and poke at their little eyes.  I got a kick out of seeing Chloe doing what I did so long ago.    She found this little snail last night sliming it’s way across the sidewalk.  She pet it with her fingers, poked at it with twigs and even gave it a leaf to snack on in case he got hungry.  When he had successfully made it to the dirt, Chloe got up and looked me straight in the eyes to inform me “Mommy, Snails are SO COOL”.    

Easter Sunday I went down to Rocklin, CA for our annual family get together.   My extended family on my father’s side is pretty massive – my dad’s got 3 older sisters and all of us kids are starting to have families of our own.  This year we were 2 cousins shy of having the whole crew together so we took advantage of it and set up the portable studio in the garage to get some updated portraits of everyone – the kids, grandkids and the new greats!  I came home with almost too many pics to choose from.  It was such a fun afternoon with everyone!  I hope you enjoy the pics!  Thanks for stopping by!

All of the grandchildren with my dad’s folks – missing 2.

Dad and his sisters on the upper left corner… I got a “good” shot of them all looking at me smiling, but this picture captured them more accurately I believe!

Gma Joan and Papa Harold with all the “Greats”!!  Everyone did so well!

Easter morning was special this year for us.  Every year our Pastor Chris here at the Chico Vineyard holds a sunrise service at Upper Bidwell Park.  In years past I’ve been the only one in our family to get up early enough to go out there, but this year everyone went with me.  There’s something about it that draws me there.  It’s very intimate and personal, not like your traditional sunday services at church.  There aren’t any “regular spots” to sit in.  There isn’t any pressure to be just like everyone else.  For me, this is hands down my most favorite service of the year.  This year, I brought my camera and was able to sneak away during a song and get some pictures. 

It was soooooo cold!  The wind is what got to me – doesn’t matter how many blankets you wear it somehow breaks through!  This is Samantha – she’d only lift her head every few minutes to make sure everything was still as it was before. 

This has been a (VERY) rough 2 years for us, but we’re still finding our way through this dark tunnel.  I hope to soon be able to see the light on the other side.  I’m walking in faith that this is the path He intended for us to be on right now.  It’s always darkest and coldest just before the dawn and He will guide our path if we sit and listen.   He has risen indeed!