April 27, 2011
I am, what you would call, a bargain shopper! I LOVE a sale – a smokin’ deal! I rarely ever pay full price for anything! I love garage sales, thrift stores flee markets, you name it! I’ve always been that way! My home is full of nice “bargains” and I’m actually a proud of that!
Well, I wanted to share my recent Smokin Deal of the year – by far – with all of you. I came across it randomly and knew I had to buy it a.s.a.p. So I did!
It’s a new Piano. A prop actually that I plan on using for photography! Her name is Miss Lucy! Yes, I named her after one of my favorite comedian’s of all time – Lucille Ball!
She will make an outstanding studio prop – especially for high school seniors! And here’s the best part… I paid a whopping $129.99 for her! I found her at the goodwill in Ahwatukee! Just happened to pop in there one afternoon. I’m always on the lookout for cool photo props… and well, I think I hit the jackpot! I have sort of a vision for my studio that I’ll be sharing in the Fall with you all. And let’s just say that Miss Lucy fits in perfectly! In fact i’d been thinking of how cool it would be to have an upright piano as a studio prop ever since I saw one of my Photovision DVD’s with photogrpaher Kia Bondurant!
She’s a little scratched and dusty. but this piano is beautiful! Plenty of room for someone to sit right up top! And I’m pretty sure I am going to paint her a BEAUTIFUL turquoise color!
So Meet Miss Lucy! She’s a bit out of tune, but she does play. She actually has a ragtime sound, and I know she’ll photograph quite nicely!
April 26, 2011
I LOVE this girl! She’s fun, she’s edgy and she certainly is unique! I had the wonderful privilege to photography Kristin Sinclair – Senior at Desert Vista High School. I actually know Kristin from church and from the Desert Vista Marching Band. She plays piccolo in the band AND she also plays a mean BASS guitar at The Springs Church in Chandler.
She says that 3 words that best describe her are Chill, Reliable and Real!! One of the things she loves to do most is Read! In her own words, something she is really good at is, “All things technology.” I’m sure that will help her out in the future!
Her dream job is to become a criminal profiler for the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI!! WOW – now that is quite a goal!
Her friends describe her as “quirky” and she can’t decide on what she could not live without… books or her i pod.
She’ll be attend Arizona State University in the fall and she “can’t wait to study something she is actually interested in!” Her idea of a perfect day is surfing from sunrise to sunset, then relaxing on the beach all night playing guitar around a bonfire with friends!
She loves breakfast burritos and the color purple! And to add my own two cents in… Kristin is one of those people in life who is not afraid to be unique and to stand out from the crowd! I’ve loved watching her over the years and I know that she has a very bright future ahead of her!
Our shoot was tons of fun! Thank you Kristin!
Enjoy!
April 25, 2011
We dont get many family photos taken of us… so I thought I’d take a moment to post this one and say that I hope you all had an AMAZING Easter Sunday!!
April 20, 2011
Pain…
It is the one thing in this life that I believe we all NEVER want to experience. We will do just about anything to avoid it. Yet it’s inevitable. It happens to all of us somewhere in our journey.
So why the heck would I even consider writing about it? In fact if you’ve stopped reading, I get it. On a day like today, why not talk about my marriage to Peter instead? The truth is that I really don’t know – I guess this is what I need to write about maybe?
As much as we don’t like pain, it IS an interesting and useful teacher and I guess I’d like to just share a little about what it’s taught me. Pain does have value.
So I’m posting something that I started writing quite awhile ago. Maybe 6 months after loosing my husband Peter to cancer.
I finally finished it this morning… the day of what would have been our 20 year wedding anniversary.
Dear PAIN,
I didn’t know that you would become such a part of my life. That you would drop in so unexpectedly at times and embrace me at a moment’s notice.
I wouldn’t call you a friend, but I never imagined that we’d get to know each other so well. That you and I would actually have a relationship.
Your visits are difficult – but I always feel better after you’ve been here. I do however, like when you leave.
Though you are present in my life much more often then in the past, there ARE others that visit my life often too. Their names are Joy, and laughter, hope and faith and of course there’s my favorite… love.
You are only one in the midst of many that are a part of my life. And though there are moments when you take center stage, I’ve learned that I can continue to live and to love, even in your midst.
Unlike what many believe, or fear, you do not have to destroy my life. Your mission is not to kill. In fact, I’ve realized that you actually come bearing a few gifts that are hard to come by without you. Gifts like strength, compassion, mercy and humility. Empathy and even wisdom. Brokenness that leads us to the reality that we need others. That we need God.
I know you are not the only one that bears these gifts, but they seem like they are of a superior quality when they come from you for some reason. They seem to have a little more value. Maybe you paid a greater price for them I think. I don’t really know.
So I guess I just wanted to let you know that I accept you. That I am not afraid of you. And that I am beginning to even understand you… just a little.
And though I’d be content to never have you visit me again, I know I’ll see you sometime in the future. I know that you’re alive in this world for now and that you won’t go away…not yet.
But there will be a day that you will be gone for good. You will have completed your mission in the hearts and lives that needed you and then “poof” you will cease to exist.
I only know this because God says so…
And amazingly, this verse was read out loud on the day that Peter and I were married.
“And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Now why did we have THAT verse read at our wedding? Really. Well… I guess God knew. He knew that you and I would live together often – for a season. He knew that I would need to remember that you do not last forever. Especially today. The day of our 20 year anniversary.
And though I’m sure you’ll be stopping by later, that verse is my rainbow for this day!
I do have to say that you visit me less often recently, but you sure do show up when I least expect…and that’s ok.
I’m glad I let you embrace me – and I’m glad I didn’t fight you off or try to lock my door when you showed up. I know you’d get to me one way or another – so I just let you in. And I let the rain fall. And it has washed my heart and my soul and helped me heal.
So thank you.
Until Heaven, I’m sure I’ll see you again. But when I finally get there, it will be good-bye for good! And I won’t miss you either…. I’m sure you understand.
Pati
Dear Peter,
I love you and I miss you deeply! Though we have a new living arrangement -I just wanted to say that I still celebrate my love for you. Happy Anniversary.
April 19, 2011
I’m truly grateful for my life. For my children. For my business. And trying to balance it all certainly has been a chore lately. I have been rock solid busy with photography, soccer and just Mom stuff for the past 6 weeks that I wasn’t sure if there would ever be a moment to just pause.
But I need to pause…
Like a ride at a carnival it’s been a whirlwind and I need to get off the ride. Catch my breath and stop spinning.
I just don’t do this nearly enough. I’ve long since forgotten that I have a nice little place on my back patio perfect for drinking a morning cup of coffee. There’s even room for Marley to sit right next to me.
Why am I such a Martha?
Not Martha Stewart… but Martha from the bible. Mary’s sister Martha. The one who was so “busy” doing “important” things that she wouldn’t sit at the foot as Jesus when she had the opportunity. Jesus…the Miracle Worker, the light of the world, the Savior. There he was wanting to hang out and she was too busy for Him.
How did she miss that? Well, I know how. I do it everyday. I do and do and do. And then I do some more! It’s a disease really. And I’m looking for the cure to a heart that just can’t seem to sit still.
Now, in all honesty, I know my life circumstance is a little crazy. Single mom… widow, which means I am not divorced and I don’t have Peter picking up the kids every other week or however that is usually played out. Three active kids with band, soccer, volleyball, guitar lessons and school. And a career as a photographer that is going pretty well – (thank you God) sigh…. so I’m sorta stuck in busy – to a certain degree.
BUT I still get to be the boss – and that mean’s the boss needs to make some better choices and create some more balance in her life – or the boss is gonna go bonkers!
So I’ve done just that. I’m booked through mid-May — BUT with some BALANCE. Not doing 4 shoots a week is good right now. It’s necessary!
And this week especially – I really need to pause. I need to feel my heart again. I certainly felt it this past weekend. Wow! My friend Denise participated in “Relay for Life.” She posted a candle in honor of my husband Peter’s life on Facebook. Boy – did that throw me for a loop. It’s was such a sweet way to honor Peter, but seeing that image shot me right back to it all. To the reality that he is no longer with us. I know where he is and that is ALWAYS a comfort.. but it hit so hard again.
Little did she know that this Wednesday, April 20, Peter & I would have been celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. That’s a big one. BIG pause…
Enough said…
I LOVE it!!! I was going to get one a year ago at a goodwill, but it was SO heavy I would have needed a moving crew to get it;( Your’s is beautiful though, I can’t wait to see it complete!
I got a free upright piano about 10 years ago. I love it. I should paint it a cool color too.
That is cool. Looking forward to seeing the end result.