Baby Showers and Baby Fever

Remember the adorable sneak peek from last fall for my dear friends Eric and Joleen? They were expecting twins and Joleen was just beginning to show. Well, time flies and now Joleen is due!! (I’ll have a sneak peek of her maternity pictures up soon.) But back in late January we had a grand baby shower for her. And a couple weeks later there was another baby shower for Jolene. Confused? ;] Joleen is expecting twin boys, and Jolene is expecting a baby girl. (They joke that they can’t do anything separate… they even have the same due date!) Anyway their showers were so adorable, and since I had my camera… (how could I not take pictures?).











And did I mention that between the two showers I’ve caught a case of baby fever? Small tiny shoes, adorable little hats.. who can resist? But I'll be getting my fill from babysitting for friends, at least for now. ;]

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The Beginning of Something New

Today I'm moving on. I went to the gym at 8am. I had a dentist appointment at 11am. I sat down at Starbucks to start editing images from recent photoshoots at 12:45pm. I'm longing to drive to Reno. To feel the buzz of peers and to smell new books and paper. But I won't. I'm going to sit right here, with my iced green tea, and edit my heart out.

Today will be the first day in 17 years that I will not be going back to school. I miss it already, but with every longing for the classroom, I'm reminding myself that I worked really hard to be where I am - to be done with school and starting my photo career. And I'm trying to remind myself that all I wanted to do when I was in school is exactly what I am doing right now.

I made it to my goal and began the next stage of my life. Now I am forming new goals and I am prepared to put in the time and hard work to reach them.

The Jezeks | Lake Tahoe Family Portrait Session {Sneak Peek}

I met the Jezek Family last September when Jeff (my hubby) and I were invited to join a camping trip with a family from our church and the Jezeks. There was a small hint of recognition, and it turns out that Todd (the dad) had trained with Jeff’s dad, and also did some work for my boss (at my office job). Since that camping trip, Todd and Jeff started training together (martial arts) weekly.

This morning I had the pleasure to shoot some family portraits for them. Crissy and I decided we would meet at Sand Harbor at 9 am. We thought that was early enough to guarantee the beaches would be almost people free. But to our surprise the beaches (and the parking lot) were already packed! Thankfully we were able to maneuver our way around the masses of people. [But it makes me wonder… Who gets up at 7 or 8 am on a Saturday morning to drag their family to the beach? I’d much rather sleep in, and roll up to the beach around midday.]

Here’s a sneak peek from their shoot. ;]

Looking Forward

As graduation approaches, there are a number of things I'm looking forward to, including:

reading books

planning dinners

catching up on laundry

doing some spring cleaning

spending time with my husband - especially in the evenings and weekends - watching movies, sushi dates, etc

sleeping

no homework

decorating our house

printing our own photos

catching up on photo editing

finally finishing the revision of my website

hanging out and building relationships with friends - I miss all of you!

taking on my commercial photograhy work

and working on my own creative photography work

painting, sewing

getting my pottery wheel and kiln working and throwing some pots and mugs!!!

volunteering my time to help our church body

spending more time in God's word

sunshine

Less than a month till Graduation!

Its not goodbye.. its see you later.

I don't remember the first time I met Jessica. We met briefly and that was it. The next time I hear about her, it was when Jeff told me Akiya was getting married. "Ha ha.. Akiya... married!" I laughed. But it was true! and to some girl named Jessica who lived in Reno.

We became friends, and I asked her to be one of my bridesmaids. She didn't know it at the time, but she was pregnant at our wedding! Indie (her daughter) is a cute and not so innocent little girl now.

It was only natural that since Jeff and Akiya were best friends, that Jessica and I would become best friends. Some of my fondest memories are with her.

Jessica has a great heart to serve the Lord. She and Akiya decided to move to Kentucky for Akiya to go to Boyce (a bible college). They were originally going to wait until next year, and we had talked about all moving together. But God closed doors here and opened doors for them to move sooner.

Last week Akiya, Jessica and Indie moved to Kentucky. When I gave Jessica a hug goodbye she said, "Well.. goodbye forever." I laughed. "Its not goodbye.. its see you later."

A new start

From a few days ago…

In a few minutes I’m about to meet up with a person from my past that I haven’t spoken to in the last few years. Without a lot of detail, we had a falling out and haven’t been able to repair our friendship. I struggled with a lot of anger and hurt but realized that if Christ is our center ground then there is no reason for discontent. I’m excited. But I’m nervous and uneasy at the same time. It’s that uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach and the top of your throat that creeps up on you right before your final speech in communications class in high school.

I’m not nervous because I think we won’t get along. I’m nervous that our interaction will be fake, a superficial front for any feelings we have about the past. I want to repair our friendship and be able to put the past behind us and move forward and start fresh. I’m willing. I’m hoping they’re willing. And I hope we can both recognize it.

If tonight goes like I hope… then one more bump in the past could be smoothed, and I’d gain another friend in Christ.

Today….

Good news! ;] Everything worked out wonderfully and it seems as though we have a fresh start. And to be honest, it feels the same as when we were good friends. Sure it will take time to be really close, and we both know there is a past there.. but that past doesn’t interfere with now.

At first I felt a little uneasy, I wasn’t sure of what to say without being fake. But that quickly faded. We caught up on our lives from the past few years and what we’re doing currently. It was great. We had laughed, we reminisced and we had fun.

God is good, and does good things for His glory. Praises be to His name. ;]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6