My Dad.  He’s one of my favorites, and I know he is probably my biggest fan.  It is hard to replace, or find, or describe my Dad’s love.  Its this never ending jar of ridiculous love in all kinds of forms…. He does lots of tangible “Dad” things (like coming next week to help paint our new studio) and things that grow a young girls heart and refresh a woman’s becoming.  I can hear his voice , ” Come just sit by me, I don’t have anything to say, just want you here”.  That, that’s my Dad.  HIs love is one I know I don’t have to earn, don’t have to wonder about, don’t have to dwell anytime thinking about how he feels towards me.  I know.  He has made it very very clear how he feels towards me for many many years.  Since the day I had chosen to marry Eric.  Eric has been his son.  He has welcomed him in and doesn’t like calling him son-in-law, but insists on just the son part….

Here is Dad and I on my wedding day….(my brother is quite a talented photographer himself, and this was one he took that day)

We also share lots of things in common.  I’m pretty sure me following him around on walks and in the woods as a kid, is what gives me my great love for nature.  He’s into bugs, and creatures and knows the names of them all.  Eric once made the mistake of going on a hike with me  and Dad in the Colorado mountains.  I was looking at all the trees, shrubs, flowers… Dad was over by the stream pointing at all the different fish, bugs and critters.  Poor Eric was wondering why we were off the trail and taking so long!   These are pics from that day.

Last and not least, here is an adorable pic of Mom and Dad.  I am richly blessed…

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“Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us, and see the beauty in ordinary things” [ Thomas Merton]

My Motto.  So much of who I am, and who I have yet to be.

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Last weekend I helped shoot a wedding in LaFayette Indiana. Kristen and Ryan were a great couple and we trooped around Purdue campus and some of their fav hangouts for pics. Kristen’s mom has passed recently and I swear her dance with her Dad was the sweetest, tenderist( and yes i know that’s not a REAL word, but believe me, fitting) bestest dances I have seen to date. Seriously.

Pearls her mom gave her for her wedding day

Ryan

When Kristen saw Ryan for the first time. So cute.

I love it when they love the camera!!!

sweet flower girl

the groomsmen

They're married!!

My favorite from the day of the two of them

Kristen and her Dad

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On Friday afternoon, it was lovely and in the 70’s, which around here seems to be a rare treat!   I rented a Canon 5d Mark ii for a wedding I had on Saturday , so Eric and I ran outside to test what this baby could do!  I have been going back and forth on whether or not I am going to purchase this camera now or in a few months.  It was hard to see it go this morning.  It really is an amazing camera.

We live right next to the lake, so there was the buzz of people and families on the beach, sunshine and a nice breeze …. and we strolled around looking for some pretty things to photograph.  We found these…. enjoy.

Oh. and of course…. My favorite subject of all…. eric.  i LOVE these pics of eric. love love love.

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Ever wonder what heaven is going to be like?  I found out!  THIS!!

Here’s my heaven, a little house surrounded with green…..Take a good look, not sure what my address will be yet, but look me up!

This wonderful terrarium is off Etsy.  I am a little obsessed with looking and wow-ing and spending all my imaginary dollars, on terrariums, bags, hats, and man, have you looked at all the fun fun jewelry?  Go spend some time on Etsy.com.   Look up terrariums!  And you’ll see what I’m drooling over today.

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I mean can you blame me for falling crazy in love with this guy?!!!

This is the man I fell in love with in 2002.  I mean can we talk about this?  Those curls, the mischievous grin, geez, I didn’t even have a chance.  We were in college and crazy in love.

Many of you have heard crazy Eric stories about his Volkswagen bus, well here he is! (the bus’s name is Stanley for all that think this is important. )  This picture was taken one weekend when we were in Huntsville Alabama visiting his folks and sister Dawn.  Eric and his Dad did alot of work to this good ole van.  I believe the story goes that when Eric got it there was a huge hole in the side of the van??? Could that possibly be true?

He was the love of my life then , and is even more so today. Pretty cliche but I mean it!!! Marriage really is incredible that way, just keeps getting better and better.   Eric is an incredible man and sorry ladies, but he’s all mine!!

P.S. Our kiddos are going to have some fro’s!  Combine his curls and mine and we are definitely going to need some detangler.

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We had to say goodbye last night to dear friends ,the Botts.  They are starting a new chapter …. headed to Kansas City!  We are excited for these wonderful friends,for the new sites, sounds, faces , challenges and joys.but are SO sad to be loosing them here from our daily lives.

They may look familiar, they are all over my website.  They are beautiful people, in love and photogenic.  Some of the shots from their session have become all time favorites. Especially the swing pic…..

Here’s to you Jenna and Nick.  You will be greatly missed!!  (ps.  you better take me up on your house warming gift)

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Bilingual Ring book that is full of instructional information that is easy to take along anywhere.

Bilingual 94 page book full of detailed instructional information everything from bus routes, common fruits and vegetables, and how to dress for an interview.

Beautifully illustrated bilingual book for children and adults. Story of family acclimating to their new life in the U.S.

This is a project I have been meaning to write and share about. I was brought on board to take photographs for the materials they were producing to help support refugees. What I love the most, is this project was birthed out of relationship and friendship. Four individuals (who happen to be dear friends) began by being friends and “doing life” with a group of Karen refugees and seeing their needs. I know these friendships have changed the changed the hearts of my four friends. When they discovered the “Ideas that Matter” Grant, they got busy. They researched and researched, brainstormed and decided to go for it. And they got it!! They received the grant in June, and WORKED HARD! We as their friends complained of the long hours, but tried to encourage them onward. So many individuals were involved, recruited and happily donated to the cause.

The project is a grant funded initiative that combines well-designed and relative informational and educational printed materials to the Burmease (Karen) refugees of the United States with the hope of expanding the project to other translations and refugees. There were 3 separate pieces produced. The ring cards are a set of ringbound reference cards that communicate every day information that are portable and easy to carry with you. An example, on one page there is an explanation of common fruits and vegetables and the ring cards are made to be small enough to fit in a purse! The book is a 94 page bilingual book, with many pictures and detailed information. The ring cards are like an abbreviated version of this thorough book. Ah Mu Weaves a Story is a wonderfully illustrated narrative for both children and adults that walks through a young family’s acclimation to life in the United States. Check out www.chicagowelcomesyou.org to see how you can get involved and where these materials will be sold. This site will also be updated as more translations are produced!

May I introduce you to these awesome awesome people?! Meet Aaron (top left), Joyce (top right), Jenn (bottom left) and Rick (bottom right). They are dear friends and should be congratulated for all their hard work and to impacting people’s everyday lives.

this is much more "them"!!!!!!

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Even as I write the title of this post today, I almost feel the opposite, I have no words.  I am overcome with hope, with deliverance, redemption, sadness, loneliness, and joy, deep joy.  My days here lately have been full of pain for my dearest friends, tasting the nastiness of this life, hard core.  I am so deeply impressed with my friends, I have never watched with my own two eyes, people love like this and surround those they love.  This is family if I’ve ever seen it. People who mourn together, give up their time, their last drop of energy to be with the ones they love that hurt.    There is only one source of love like this, and its not human.  I feel hopeful today, confident of things to come, that there is more to life than work, money, status….. but is people, its us, its friendships, lovers, sisters, daughters, fathers, co-workers, neighbors.  Its our time together here amist all this mess, our imperfections, our laughter and tears, and hope and despair.  I’m so glad we are doing this together.

Thank you friends for being such a obvious example of whom you serve.  I am privileged by your love, and full of hope for the days to come, and am so grateful for all the days we have together here.

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Good thing Norah likes boxes cause WE’RE MOVING!!   As of July 1, yes as in only a little over a month away, we will have a new location in the heart of Lincoln Square! We are very excited and starting to collect boxes.  There are some really big things going on here at SJ.  As of July 1, we will have our own studio space, new logo, updated prices and SO SO much more. FREE events, like free friday night pics (more info on that to come), parties, friend discounts etc etc.  Believe me, you don’t want to know all that is going on in my head!  (the thoughts just swirl and swirl around until I make another categorized to-do list).  So stay tuned for the date of our big open house, and come visit us!  LOTS LOTS more to come about this announcement.

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