|
Wife . Mom . Christ Follower . Creative Type . Eclectic . Snoopy Fan . Artist . Outgoing Introvert . Essential Oil Lover . the "it's now or never" photoshootMy niece is pregnant with her second child and will be giving birth very soon! Like her mother, she is very reluctant to have her photo taken and puts off having any done until we get to "it's now or never!" I love her dearly and am looking forward to the new little one (and newborn photos with big sister!) I think my niece is absolutely beautiful and I wanted to share with her a couple photos before I leave for a mission trip to Haiti. We have to head out at 4:15am...NOT my idea...and I should probably get some sleep!
This is how you get 3 generations in one photo when one of those three very camera shy!
a worship experienceI don't usually post photos from my church here...I think that is going to change because my church family is a huge part of my life! They call me the "official church photographer" which I think is funny and sweet. I do photograph a lot of events and happenings, including Baptisms, Fall Festival, Children's programs and worship services but I'm definitely not the only one taking photos! This past weekend - Thursday through Saturday - we hosted the 'Inspire! Choral Festival' and as part of that event, our choir and orchestra offered an evening concert for all the participants and our church family. We are doing it again Sunday morning (as in tomorrow) if you would like to join us. It was a meaningful, worshipful, holy night and I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning! As the "church photographer" and a member of the choir, I sometimes have to choose which I'm going to do...take photos or sing. Quite honestly, I always choose the taking of photos because I absolutely LOVE to do that - and my voice isn't what it used to be! Mark, our Music Minister/Worship Pastor, humors me...and probably wonders why I go through all the hours of rehearsal and practice to not sing. Well, this past Thursday night I did both...kind of! I set up my camera and my dear friend, Wanda Carmichael, pressed the shutter button to take some photos of the event. Afterwards, she emphasized that she didn't change anything - even after I told her it would be alright. Wanda - THANK YOU! You did well ;-)
Thank you choir and orchestra for this night! Thank you, Mark, for the blessing of your ministry and guiding us in worship through music. What I learned while traversing the country with my mom and sister in a rented minivan...1. I love road trips! This is not new news, but I found that I'm probably the only member of my family that enjoys LONG road trips.
2. All road trips should be taken on the backroads! This is also not new news to me, but again, no one else on my most recent trip enjoyed the backroads and their lack of 'civilization' and the abundance of quirky things to stop and experience/photograph.
3. Any future long road trips should be taken in an RV or a vehicle that includes a mattress, cooler/fridge and some apparatus on which to cook some of my own meals. Gluten free food & onion-garlic-pepper free food is not easy to find on the road, even in California...and especially in Texas! I ate a lot of hamburger patties and carrots at Cracker Barrel. If I never eat there again I will be ok with that - unless they bring back Sweet Potato Fries year round ;-) A visit to a small grocery store in a town with lots of hotels and very few restaurants gave me the wonderful option of GF PB&J and some local raw honey for my tea, which I did bring along. The mattress is so I don't have to lug my overnight bag into a different hotel every night...it's a huge duffel bag that can also carry my heating pads, body pillow & neck pillow as well as clothes and stuff. I had a smaller second bag for my diffuser and essential oils...yes, I did. I do not travel light!
4. Highway signage is not created equal. I realized how accustomed I have become to our Florida highway signage that highlights the hotels, restaurants and attractions at the exits. When traveling in a new place, those signs are invaluable...and nonexistent in California and other states, at least on the highways/freeways I traveled.
5. I have a lead foot on the gas pedal. There, I said it! (No traffic stops were endured...)
6. Traffic is traffic no matter where you go. There will always be idiot drivers, smart drivers, rude drivers, polite drivers, fast and slow drivers, lots of drivers or very few on the roads you travel. Choose which one you will be...please make it smart and polite, and when in front of me - fast!
7. Take the time to stop and see the world you are traveling through! We celebrated the hubs' 50th birthday with a trip to Arizona some years ago. On this most recent trip I was reminded of places we visited during that previous road trip around the state. Some of the things we stopped to enjoy/photograph are no longer there or have been defaced beyond recognition! It was sad but I smiled at the reminders of a wonderful time spent with my husband and children and kept picturing the moments we shared on that trip.
8. In my now 2 trips to the Grand Canyon, I was struck by the differences in the atmosphere of the two visits. In one word...Selfies! I am a photographer so you know both times I had my camera and yes, this trip I did take a few selfies - some with a selfie stick! What struck me was the seeming inability of some to just stand there and soak in the beauty of the place without constant selfies or 'ussies' (whatever) being taken. I'm sorry but your eye/brain combo will always see more than your Iphone/Samsung will ever capture not to mention that using these in 'silent mode' is a polite option when taking your selfie with a countdown clock/timer mode! The gentleman standing next to me just kept mumbling 'you're going to miss it...' They did.
9. If I ever play and win the lottery, I will have a vacation place on the coast near Monterey/Big Sur! I was completely mesmerized by the ocean and cliffs. It is some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen and I know I will return for another visit. You should go visit at least once in your lifetime!
It's also much closer to the Charles Schulz Museum...a place I'm rather fond of!
And it's where the 'happy cows' live.
10. I visited (well, drove through) two more states I had never set foot in - Oklahoma and Arkansas - and enjoyed them both. There are lovely parts in both and I'm sure the backroads would prove even more interesting. I could be a road trip travel photographer and enjoy it for awhile, but I also love being home. Madeira | St. Augustine Real Estate Photographer
I was honored to photograph another beautifully decorated model home in Madeira at St. Augustine. I love seeing the current styles shown by local designers in model homes and I especially like the bathroom above! I need a shower that big! |
Young Living Essential Oils
I love Young Living Essential Oils! Their purity is above comparison. My favorite is Thieves...or is it Deep Relief or Panaway or RC or...well, you understand. If you are interested in getting your family on the road to wellness, join me and I'll provide education, some goodies to help get you started and can introduce you to some awesome Facebook groups for even more opportunities to learn and nurture friendships through essential oils. Click here for more information...to just look around...ask questions...I'll be here when you are ready! |
