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So this post is a bit hard for me as my highlight comes on the heel of a great sadness. Recently, I was blessed to be encouraged by an awesome man and great photographer, a gentleman I affectionately called Uncle Les.

He stepped into glory to be with God a few days ago, after having celebrated the Doctoral success of his daughter early in December. I was blessed and honored to be the photographer that evening, and yes quite a bit nervous (again lol).

I mean wouldn’t you be if you were working for one of your hero’s? I am so glad that I was able to express our love for him and his whole family.  My heart aches at their loss, as I continually pray for peace and comfort. I know what he meant to me and my husband and to our marriage. Uncle Les was a good natured man, secure enough to be tender, and about his business.

   

During a time when I was most vulnerable, newly committed to Christ, he and his wife silently stepped in and covered me, pushed me into doing what I was unsure I could, and blessed me and my husband when we wed.

I will never forget…

 

So to kick off the New Year, I have decided to do a 12 post review highlighting each month of 2012. And since this project is still fresh, I will start with December!

My Fav and I spent a lazy Christmas morning constructing a spinning wheel for my Sis. This one here came a couple days later and is mine, and thanks to some help of some really awesome people, is actually working!

  

I have yet to completely decide what color to make it, or whether it would like to be stained, or distressed or want a color wash… I do know that for now, it feels good to have it operational.

I may post some images of my yarns and threads that I have already spun on my drop spindles (and thanks for my new one Jenkins Family! You rock!) at a later date. But if you look closely, you can see some of the recycled silk I am spinning, also a gift from The Jenkins!

 

It’s the end of the year, and the end of our portrait sessions until 2013! And what a fun family to be our last/first. May you always protect each other, extend tenderness one to another, and bask in the joy God has prepared for you. May you prosper in all you set yourself to accomplish, celebrating everyday as the “PRESENT” it is.

  

Laugh often! Enjoy every day, and each memory! Make it Beautiful!

 

Far too often, I neglect relationships with friends and family in lieu of work. But lets face it, work will be with me always, and I have finally come to understand that. So today, yep at the end of the year, I set aside my work, and took a trip to Oxnard for “Holiday Sweet Treats Fellowship – The Amazing Race” LOVWC Style!

 

  

It was ladies vs. gentlemen, and when I tell you the competition was hot… well lets just say that when we arrived, the guys were flying out the door, and the ladies weren’t far behind. I politely side stepped the fray, and whipped out my camera!

My Fav joined in just in time to stack and consume some um interesting? flavored animal type cookies! HAhahahahA their faces!

  

In the end, the ladies emerged the victors!

Well at a place called Victory, everyone wins, the ladies just won more.

 

And then…. this happened!

 

See I told you guys to keep inviting me! oh and click below for all the images!

If you’ve been following along with my little blog here, you know I LOVE Ted Dekker. And look/read what he went and did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you sign up, lets have a read along! Yay! Let me know if you do. #ALiterateJunkie

From Ted Dekker :

EVERYONE who signs up will get a free copy of IDENTITY, Book One of EYES WIDE OPEN, when it releases… That’s what I posted last week. I had no idea how many of you would take me up on it! I’m totally blown away. So let’s go for broke—it’s worth it. I’ve always wanted to do this. If you haven’t signed up yet, go to the link below for the full scoop. This is the first in a whole new world of story—you’ll see. But you must sign up to get a Free copy of IDENTITY. Spread the word. Share this post.
Go to http://bit.ly/VzklfQ now.

What are you WAITING for?!

 

Occasionally I have the great honor of capturing an event that is more pleasure than work. The celebration for this young lady is such an event.

Her mother, a woman I greatly admire, was the principal where I taught my first and last class lol, (yes I was a teacher in another life time). I will always love her for that. Her father is and has long been one of my photo heroes. And Dr. A.H. herself has become the awesome young lady I always thought she would be, an inspiration to many, an encouragement to all who would discipline themselves to pursue their goals in all situations, until victory is obtained. I was honored to be able to document this very proud moment for an amazing family. Photographically thrilled and totally proud!

So here’s to an extraordinarily vibrant young lady, and an awesome accomplishment! Dr. A.H. may you have your cake with the icing and enjoy the eating!

 

Ok so it’s almost Christmas, and the Hallmark Channel has at least one dedicated viewer. Yep my sister, who found a Christmas tree farm where she can, like on the Hallmark Channel, chop her own Christmas Tree. So off we went.

And somebody gave this girl a saw…

 

 

then sent her on her way. I heard chuckles as we wandered for the first time around this huge lot of pine trees looking, well, like this! LOL!

 

Very small and lost! With our perspective a bit skewed, oohing and ahhing over the gorgeously huge trees. My Fav had to step in as our measuring system to keep us on track. And while our eyes were telling us one thing, we wisely ,(sort of) deferred to his judgment to make the final choice.

Then she went to chopping. It was after all her Hallmark experience, and I must admit, I simply HAD to get footage of my sister, yep MY sister actually using a saw, and cutting down a tree!

 

 

Here, our tree hugger watches concerned as her tree was shaken then netted for travel

  

 

And the gentleman helping us was kind enough to clean up her cut

 

She did a great job! And so did My Fav with the measuring. Yes he was right and the tree was a hair too tall (which he told us) but fit snuggly in her home (which he also told us).

All in all it was a fun night! Go Sis! Go Hallmark!

 

November and I have a sort of love hate relationship. It is the National Peanut butter lovers month, and if you know me you know I qualify! But it is also the month my Beloved friend died, my Grandma Dell. So for all of you who are missing someone this holiday season I understand, but I will say this, that over time I have found reasons for joy. I will always miss my amazing Grandmother, and there are days when I feel the physical loss of her presence more keenly than others. It comforts me that she was a goofy woman with a punny sense of humor who loved life and us, and I find that when I am saddest, I can think about her giggling because I hugged her and “accidentally” touched her tickle spot, or how she would make the silliest joke and keep on stepping when things were “special”. It doesn’t make me miss her less, it just helps me remember her more…

That being said, I know she would have tried the tiniest piece of my peanut butter pie, and proclaimed it delicious, and not take another bite again! Ever! LOL! She was always very encouraging, but not a fan of tofu! hahaha… and she would have cracked up at my failed attempt to roast peanuts and wondered out loud who I belonged to… then shake her head at us for standing outside in the cold waiting for Black Friday deals, that we would probably not come home with, but will still go out anyway without a plan because its so fun being around so many serious shoppers and taking our time picking over the leftovers and going home with blank cd’s and dvd’s because that’s all we really wanted anyway…

Sigh… yes November and I are uneasy friends, but really, I am glad to see it come. I am blessed to have had such a wonder filled beauty full friend love on me and teach me and care for me and comfort me, I am blessed to know that God gave George Washington Carver the bright idea to make peanut butter, and I am blessed to be a part of a family, well actually a conglomeration of families that love and laugh and comfort and forgive and shop crazy!

I wish you all a Merry Happy, and a Thanks Filled holiday!

 

I recently had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite families. They are such a handsome family, and so much fun to be with.

It’s always an adventure coming up with new ways and places to capture them.

Whew! So 19 of the 29 books have gone back to the library, though I must admit, I did not read them all. Well at least not at this time. It turns out that some of the books I received were series that I have already read! So funny I know. At least I know my taste hasn’t changed. I am  currently reading

The Assignment by Mark Andrew Olsen, and have almost completed the Cape Refuge Series by Terri Blackstock. I only have Breaker’s Reef book four left and can hardly wait to see what happens!
All this and still hard at work. I am a bit tired, but so excited too. God is good! Have a beautiful!