L O V E

You never know where LOVE will appear:) I thought I would reflect on love today because that's always inspiring. I am in love with my family and I'm not afraid to scream it! I am at a point in my life that I truly love myself (that's fun to say). I love my job title...MOM. I love my passion (photos). I love life. I hope you all feel the same and that this reminds you to count your blessings. We are pros at focusing on the negatives in life, but sometimes it takes reminders to notice all the good.

What is Love?

Jamison asked me the other day..."Mom, what is Love?" I have read so many definitions in my life and have defined this word many times myself. But, when he asked me, I could not find the words to tell him what it was. It was like it was the first time that I was ever asked what it meant. I kept saying that it's the best feeling in the world. It's a feeling. It's what you feel for you family. I was struggling. Well, when I look at these pictures the definition for me is clear. Love is the overflowing of emotion that I feel when I see these faces. It is the light that shines inside me everytime I think of them. Love is defined by the individual that is feeling it at that moment in time. Love for me is defined by this moment in my life. The love that they have for Jake and I right now is unconditional, its pure, and its what makes our life amazing. The love we have for them is indescribable in one sentence or even in one lifetime. "I love you three more than words can say...The world got a lot brighter the day each one of you came into the world. You have already made a difference in this world and there is so much more ahead of you. Your hearts are so huge and many people in this world will be blessed to feel even a small piece of all the love you have to give." I LOVE...Playing in the studio last night, trying to come up with Valentine's cards. It was so much fun to play in the studio together and they were really getting into it.

What if?

One of my dear friends is writing an amazing book, (I will link it when I get permission to promote it) and I have been blessed with the opportunity to help her document the journey. We met this woman on one of the shoots with an amazing story of heartache after she lost her husband in a hunting accident. Her advice to the world is to stop taking for granted that there is going to be a tomorrow for you. It was a very positive outlook on seizing the day. This shot made me think of the loved one that should be sitting next to her on this bench. The emptiness she feels now and has no intention of filling except with her own love. I suppose the quote, "it's better to have loved once and lost then never to love at all", is what this entry is about. I can't ever imagine losing Jake in this lifetime, but I know that I have already lived an amazing life with him and I would never take that for granted or be naive to think that it will be there everyday from here to eternity. I can't even imagine where my life would be without him or half the person I would be of I had never met him. I know that some people never find what we have...o.k. a lot of people never get blessed with a soulmate! Everyday I love him more and more and I never knew that that was even possible. So here is to the possibility that we will be together until the end of time, and also to being thankful for what we have had and to the path ahead for us. Our love is truly brilliant and I didn't want another day to pass without being thankful for it.

I love...

After watching my sister's favorite movie Amelie a couple weekends ago, I am more conscious of the simple things in my life right now. I have taken inspiration from the movie to do a list of "I love" and "I hates" on my bio page of my website...which you can't see yet! It's a fun game to play with those close to you as well...start taking turns on coming up with lists of the loves and hates in your life. For instance..."I love, the first smell of the winter in AK, before it actually snows." "I hate it when people wear their bluetooth headpiece 24/7 and only use it for a few minutes out of the day."
I bring this all up because when I saw this picture of myself, it made me want to make a list of the reasons why I love photography...why it is so close to my heart.
I love photography because it makes me happy....it has helped me face some of my fears....it makes me brave....it forces me to look at things in a whole new light...it's forced me to notice the weather....it challenges me...it has brought me to a lot of amazing people in my life....it continues to intrigue me daily...for the first time in my life, it makes me crave learning...and above all, it helps me capture all the memories that have already escaped my mind! Here's to photography and all the people and places it will take me to.

TLJ

My mentor, my friend, and everything inbetween! I just wanted to share a picture of my friend that means the world to me. I have been thinking about her a lot and missing her beyond belief. Love ya, Terri.

Growing up too fast!

I hope more then anything...my kids are able to look back at pictures that I took of them together, to see how much they loved each other growing up. The day we brought Jalena home from the hospital, it was love at first site for Tré, and the same for both Tré and Jalena when we brought Jamie home. For all those people out there that question having another baby because they aren't sure they have enough love for another. I show you these pictures to tell you that there is more love then you could dream up coming from their siblings to make up for any of that nonsense-talk. These images are so precious to me and I know that they are growing up at a inconceivable rate.....I am going to miss this "unconditional love" stage. K

Snapshots

Jake
Fearless
Calm
Amazing Aura
Unique in every way
Genuine
My Hero

Jalena
Sassy
Spirited
Imaginative
Kind
Silent Observer
Amazing
Tré
Passionate
Kind Hearted
Full of Jokes
Genuine
Amazing
Took some snapshots of these three the other day while Jamison was sleeping. I'll have to do a post just on him. These are just a few of the hundreds of incredible traits that my heroes own. I love them so much. K

More Hike

I found a couple more that stood out at me. These are a couple that Shannon took of the kids and I. Thanks Shamone! K