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  • Returning to the blogging world. Thoughts on Father's Day. And other random ramblings.

    It turns out that maintaining 3 blogs is proving to intimidate the tar out of me! Not that I have posted in the past few weeks on more than one of them but just the thought that I need to is daunting! My Captivemoments blog, where I am supposed to be keeping up with my latest thoughts and family pictures, started getting me bogged down just with trying to get my old posts moved to leave this blog free for professional photos. And then there's the whole issue of posting my professional photos. I feel like I need to watermark them or sign them somehow. I've seen all the different ways that my photog friends do this and I just can't settle on one that works well for me and is quick to add and have my photos internet ready at a moments notice.

    Then there's my third and newest blog on the new Momaroo side of Xanga. The Momaroo blogging community was looking for writers and after chatting with the founder/editor I was brought on as a guest writer on photographing children and families. I was just thrilled with the opportunity and will have a regular weekly feature HERE as Photographer Jess! But I'm finding that not everyone thinks the topic is a good idea. Photographers are deeply divided on the whole issue of MWACs (that's Moms With A Camera) and their effect on professional photographers. The fact is no matter how cheep pro-sumer cameras become or how many mom's think they can take really cool pictures the profession has to change with the market. If photographers loose money 'cause savvy, creative type moms are taking over their market then I say, tough! They need to figure out how to compete. Not everyone is creative, and not everyone will want to do this themselves. For my mind there will always be the need for their expertise and once the photography craze dies down their expertise will either once again be in demand or they will need to find a more specialized field of focus. Controversial, but not really that economically complex.  Just as in the early 1800s everyone (even extremely poor people) hired help for around the house work. Today we have replaced the need for hired help almost completely with dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, self timing ovens, vacuum cleaners, and compactors. We can fully be 3 places at once with these machines so the whole service of the housekeeper had to change and many had to find a new line of work. Change of this nature, to my mind, is often a very good thing although unsettling and intimidating to some. That said, we'll see how it goes. I'm having fun so far!

      Father's Day gives me pause each year when it comes around. My husband isn't really into holidays on the calendar. He prefers to acknowledge people quietly and without fanfare. But he married a woman who loves certain days to commemorate certain things; who is always looking for ways to add special days to the yearly calendar. LOL! Another one of those ways we are completely polar opposite. Funny, though, that the kids somehow got a double dose of their mama in this area! Since Todd and I are opposite on so many things like this it is always interesting to see which ways they end up being more like daddy or more like mama. Anyway, the kids purchased cards, planned elaborate and expensive gifts (that I gently talked them out of), and helped cook favorite meals. Todd was a good sport even though he was fighting a stomach bug. He even dragged himself to church and then took the whole family to Cabela's and out for ice cream after. It was a fun day!

    On what it means to be a Father, I am deeply grateful for a father who struggled hard out of his comfort zone and overcame what seemed to come naturally for him  (more of a work focus than family one) to become an example to many on the meaning of Fatherhood! I love him dearly and am soooo blessed with vast memories and fun moments to cherish! He's been there for me in some of my loneliest days and been a rock for me that I can't imagine life without!

    Through his influence and support I found the father for my own children. A father that would forever alter my understanding of dedication and unfailing love. My man wanted to be a father from his earliest memories and couldn't wait to pour his time and energy into making their childhood filled with the confidence that they were deeply loved and cared for. He is a father like no other and I am honored to bare his children! So Happy Father's Day, to the men who shaped and continue to shape my life! I love you dearly!

  • Michelle's Header is complete!

    Just wanted to share with you the finished product from May's Header Fun!! Contest:

     

  • And the WINNER is.... *drummm roll please*

    Congratulations to this months winner of the Header Fun!! contest:

    Michelle aka: CurrySparks!!!!!

    When Michelle and I are finished crafting her dream Header we'll share it here for all of you to see! Thanks to everyone who participated! And if you didn't win this time, good luck next month!

  • Free Header Drawing!!!

    I've been thinking of fun ways to reward my loyal readers with some prizes and such and think it's time to start!

    Introducing....

    Header Fun

    Simply leave a comment with your name and you are entered! Feel free to link to this page from your own blog to let your friends in on the drawing too. Entries close at mid-night on Saturday, May 31st. The winner will be announced on the following Monday morning, June 2nd. The winner will communicate with me via email about the desired layout and design of their new custom header! They can send pictures (as many as they want!), graphics, quotes, and wording as they so choose and I will design the header of their dreams!

    So pass the word along and join the fun! This will be a regular feature at the end of each month so if you don't win this time there are more chances to win so stay tuned!

    Good Luck!
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  • Portrait Session with Mom

    My mother is my rock and one of my best friends! She and I did a photoshoot while she was here (after helping me with the kids while I was in NC *see captivemoments for more info on my trip*) and even though it was super fast and impromptu I think the results were fab!

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    Thanks for everything, Mom! You are amazing!!
  • Romance...

    The night before Tory and Val got married they stopped by our house after their date at the restaurant where they first met. They had been able to sit at the same booth where they had sat that first night last Summer and talked and remembered their first impressions of each other. So when they got to my place they were mellow, blissfully happy, and just a bit tired. They had come by for me to cut Tory's hair before the wedding so after I did that we sat staring out the front window in silence for a bit. Suddenly I said, "Hey, want to go out side and grab a few pictures under the street lamps?" They loved the idea so we slipped out into the warm, damp night for one of the most memorable shoots I have ever done! They were relaxed and deliriously happy. There wasn't any work to getting them posed. I think they could have stood in one spot and stared into each others eyes for hours on end and never even noticed! lol! But it was a very new experience for me to shoot in those lighting conditions... But I think they turned out fabulous... you be the judge:

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  • Introducing...

    TrulyTaken
    ...my new photography company! www.trulytaken.com will be under construction for a while but I am super excited and wanted to announce the change in my username here as well. This blog (now named www.xanga.com/trulytaken) will be my professional blog (since it is my premium account) so I will slowly be moving my personal entries over to captivemoments. My professional photos will mostly be posted here and in a few days I will get my captivemoments blog up and going and you can subscribe there if you'd like. Thanks so much for all your encouragement on my photos even though this is all very new and therefore very much still in the works so I really appreciate your patience!
  • Turning 30...

    Thoughts on 30

    The past few months I have been... dreading? no, but not excited... anticipating? no, but wishing it would not come so soon... and yet... hoping to feel no different? yes, and wondering when the last time was that I had a birthday and felt older...? Not in many years! I felt older when I turned 19. I was tired. In deep pain; and filled with shattered ideals so it was a rough birthday and I remember feeling grown up; in a sad, contemplative type of way. But not since then have I felt any different after growing another year older. I still feel like the woman I became that year between 18 and 19. And I think I like it that way. LOL!

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    One of my friends, who recently turned 30 also, said, "30 is the new 20" and it resonated with me. Yes! I really only feel like I am finally turning 20: barely older than I felt 10 years ago but just a bit...

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    And I've had a busy 10 years. In that time I met and married the love of my life, moved half a continent away from my childhood home and made a new home and life, gave birth to 5 children, went to college for the first time, started my own business, and along the way grew up a lot. I know who I am more now than I ever did and I am happy with the person I feel God has made me to be. I don't do it all right and I still have major flaws and weaknesses, but I see more now what those are and am learning to see them through God's eyes and know that He has a plan for stretching me and growing me more each day into His Image.
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    I am learning more every day what love is and more about men from a husband who is so deeply fascinating and complex to me. I never wanted to get bored in marriage or fall out of love with my man so I work very hard on my attitude and creating a atmosphere of love and respect. I fail all of the time but it is the deepest desire of my heart since I feel that in this way I honor God and serve the one He has called me to minister to. I sincerely hope that as the years go by my hubby can say that I had a heart that ever seeks to love and respect him.

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    So enough philosophizing.... My day was really special. This picture is of Todd and I heading out to dinner after a day filled with fun! My dear, dear friend, Michelle, went with me to see a movie (Maid of Honor; it was a blast!), took me out to lunch, and then we headed out to down town for some photos. We had so much fun! Then my wonderful, dear neighbor and her husband brought over homemade birthday cake! Complete with 30 candles!!

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    She had helped the children all make beautiful birthday cards for me too!

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    Then Todd and I headed out for our date. The food was amazing and, as usual, I found some interesting photo opportunities:

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    Don't forget to check out Michelle's blog for more photos and leave her some lovin' for all her work on the fabulous birthday pix!! Girl, you are the best!!
    (more birthday pix HERE)

  • Morning beauty

    My Teggy...

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    ...with her morning glow.