Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Glowing

DSC_0086

This young woman and I share a happy place in common.
Imagine my delight when Margie was eager to do her senior photos there!

Trees

She spends time there year round on the trails.

DSC_0062

MTrail

We spent a little time enjoying the exercise...

Flowers

and the natural beauty.

Margie family

It was such a gorgeous evening that the rest of the family couldn't resist coming along.
Even Grandma.

MTrio

This is a young woman whose beauty and strength shine in everything she does.
Margie, I wish you the very best as you seek the right path into your future.
You have already learned to find pleasure in the simple beauty of life--
that's one of the most important things you will ever need to know.
Blessings to you on your way!

Monday, February 8, 2016

Overcomer

Jen

Meet Jen.
She's a survivor.

Faces of Diego

And meet Diego...

DSC_0066

...her right hand dog.
He's a lifesaver.
The love they share is beautiful.

J and D 6

Jen has had to overcome a lot of things.
One was breast cancer.
Another was 6 1/2 years of the demands of military service
as an army medic and mechanic.
She has also overcome a lot of challenges to get her degree
and become a licensed electrician.
She will tell you that if not for her animals,
she doesn't know how she would have made it this far.

J and D 9

But then I look at Diego.
I don't think he would have gotten too far if Jen hadn't rescued him, either.

J and D 5

DSC_3481

We got together at Jen's lifelong stomping grounds
for a special celebration.

JD1

It was her birthday,
and the day she got the news that she is now four years cancer free.
Being the Vikings fan that she is,
she had a quick little wardrobe addition to commemorate the occasion.
(And since the new quarterback is #5, she's all set for next year too.
Do you suppose it's even remotely possible that in celebration of FIVE years
the Vikings could make it to the Super Bowl for her?)
As luck would have it,  her latest work project has been
WAAAAY up in the rafters of their new stadium construction.
Better her than me!!

JD2

Since our session at the park,
Jen has rescued another dog to share in the fun.
I look forward to meeting Tonka!

DSC_3766

Jen, I'm so glad that you and Diego found each other,
and thankful for all the good things God has brought into your lives over the past year.
And I'm especially glad you are capturing so many treasured moments in photos.
It's hard for the challenges to stay at the forefront

DSC_0035

in the face of so much joy.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Winter Close-up

DSC_2067

If you're not from the tundra, you might be inclined to think two thoughts about winter here:

Cold.
Snow.

While we have our fair share of both of those,
the conditions can vary tremendously, and the types of beauty with them.

DSC_2065

Today the wind had the fresh snow swirling, 
whipping the flakes right into that window on the left.
It is not often that the temperature and conditions are such
 that the flakes sit there for a few minutes before they melt or blow away.
But today they did, at just the time when the light was perfect.
And I was here for it.

DSC_1995

I do not have the ideal equipment and skills for photographing snowflakes.
This guy does.  If you are even remotely captivated by the beauty in these,
you should go check his out.
He will tell you all the science behind them and everything.

Snowflakes 2

There is no perfect snowflake.
They all grow in certain ways for certain reasons,
partly because of their beginning (what type they are),
and partly because of what happens to them on their journey.

Snowflakes 1

So much like us!

DSC_2038

DSC_2077

I spent probably twenty minutes shooting before the clouds broke.
and the sun was melting the flakes too quickly for me to shoot them.
I love the tree skeleton shadows it made on the snow. 
Blue shadows.

The sky, the colors, the frost, the weight and texture of the snow,
they all depend on temperature, humidity, wind, cloud cover.

DSC_1691

DSC_1648

DSC_1416

DSC_1739

DSC_1862

DSC_1833

DSC_1886-2

DSC_0305

DSC_0312

DSC_1326

The birds love to hang out in our yard,
where they know they'll find food at this time of year.
They are entertaining companions!

DSC_1277

DSC_0679

I love how they can hang on by their toenails.
Sometimes if feels like that's what we're doing too. 

DSC_1287-Edit

Let me answer that for you.
Yes.
You totally are. Treasured by God. 

DSC_0623

DSC_0614

Winter.
Some days it's really not our friend.
Thank God for the days that make up for those.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Sifting Through Stories

DSC_9167

Where to begin?  Maybe Happy New Year?

My, how the seasons change. I used to think of January as the quiet time when I could catch up on everything.  Not so anymore.  Nowadays, there are many things demanding our consideration.  A couple of weeks ago, we were sitting at Bethany's high school in a parent meeting, getting ready to register her for her sophomore year.  There were speakers from two colleges talking about how to frame the registration process around what might be advantageous for the future.  I turned to Lee and said, "You know, one year from right now, we will be registering a junior and a senior."

It's getting real here, folks.

I've been going through virtual boxes of photos, sifting through the past year.  It's been wonderful. And overwhelming. Now both my family's life and my business are documented in photos that tell stories, and I am certainly taking them faster than I can tell them.  I'm so grateful for the stories I've been privileged to tell for others over the past year.  A few of them still need to be told.

DSC_9880

But to clear my head, I can't help looping back to revisit a few of the stories of our own that never made it to press over the past year.  It's hard to savor one sweet moment when the next one just follows right on its heels.  So join me if you wish for a little walk down memory lane.  Or, just whisper a prayer for this mom who is hanging on for a ride that is gaining speed a little too quickly for comfort, and come back next time when I'm caught up.  Here we go!

DSC_0447

Bethany swam on the middle school swim team last winter,
which was really fun for her swimmer mom.

DSC_0460

She did great!  It was a one season only deal, but she is working at the pool now,
teaching swimming lessons--so we're still getting that familiar whiff of chlorine every so often.

DSC_0024

DSC_0049

Ben's school choir sang the national anthem at a Twins game in August.  
They did a beautiful job--pretty cool experience!

DSC_5775

Ben is really getting good at chess now that he is on the chess team at school.  
He is beating his dad regularly.

DSC_4969

Bethany started high school, and joined the marching band color guard.
They were amazing, and she kind of blew us away 
with the way she caught on to all that twirling and tossing, while being expressive all at the same time.
Their trip to regional competition in St. Louis was a definite highlight.

DSC_0115

DSC_5116

DSC_0287

Ben is still loving football.

DSC_0339

DSC_6402

He will also join me at the zoo almost anytime I invite him along.

DSC_6288

DSC_1118

Thankfully, some things don't change.
The tigers are still his favorite.

DSC_1057

DSC_0598

DSC_0593

I did have flowers and hummingbirds.  They never get old.

DSC_0782

These two characters hung out with me several times while Bethany was busy with band.
They are really too cute for words.
Though if I were to come up with words, goofy would certainly be one of them.

DSC_0388

DSC_0395

DSC_0365

DSC_0710

DSC_0399


There were a few, blessed times, when there was nothing on our agenda,
and we all just went and played.
These are the times I treasure more than any other.

DSC_0187

DSC_0228

DSC_0402

DSC_0207

DSC_0202

DSC_0496

DSC_0647

DSC_8955

And finally (yes, it's always a long wait!),
we got to go visit the grandparents for Christmas!

DSC_8683

It was an especially long wait to meet this new little great-nephew!

DSC_8252

DSC_8740

It's a shame they're not enjoying him.

DSC_8356

And this little guy is STILL Bethany's shadow when we're there.  Can't believe he's FIVE now!

DSC_7967

DSC_9507

DSC_9570

DSC_9547

DSC_8872

Grandma and Grandpa ordered up some Florida sunshine for Christmas

DSC_8878

DSC_0306

DSC_0308

We took advantage!

DSC_0178-Edit

DSC_0078

DSC_0246

DSC_0190

There.  That brings us to where we are now.
Well not RIGHT now.  We are in the middle of a blizzard right now.
But I feel better now that we've told much of the rest of the story of  our 2015!