humor is the great thing, the saving thing.
the minute it crops up,
all our irritations and resentments slip away
and a sunny spirit takes their place.
- mark twain
yep, all i can do is laugh. i ended up scheduling our carpet replacement on a day that my husband is gone. we (the entire family) moved everything into the dining room and living room (and bathrooms) last night and today / tonight, i will move everything back. i do have a friend coming over tonight to help me put the beds back together.
normally, this would be no big deal but when you have company coming in from canada to stay with you for a week, things need to be back in place. and of course, i did this to myself so i can't complain.
looking at the bright side of things: spring cleaning...DONE!
seriously, sometimes you just have to laugh at it all and know that everything will be alright. it's just one step at a time.
thanks shawn, for taking the little ones to the park for an hour. you're a life saver!
here is my day...pre shoe / coat / linen closet being emptied, which i forgot about...it has carpet too.
humor...
it's a good, good thing!
the minute it crops up,
all our irritations and resentments slip away
and a sunny spirit takes their place.
- mark twain
yep, all i can do is laugh. i ended up scheduling our carpet replacement on a day that my husband is gone. we (the entire family) moved everything into the dining room and living room (and bathrooms) last night and today / tonight, i will move everything back. i do have a friend coming over tonight to help me put the beds back together.
normally, this would be no big deal but when you have company coming in from canada to stay with you for a week, things need to be back in place. and of course, i did this to myself so i can't complain.
looking at the bright side of things: spring cleaning...DONE!
seriously, sometimes you just have to laugh at it all and know that everything will be alright. it's just one step at a time.
thanks shawn, for taking the little ones to the park for an hour. you're a life saver!
here is my day...pre shoe / coat / linen closet being emptied, which i forgot about...it has carpet too.
humor...
it's a good, good thing!
our souls are written in our eyes.
- author unknown
yesterday, i had the great honor of photographing max again...and his siblings.
shortly after i left my house for the session, i realized i forgot my cell phone but already running late, i decided to just keep going. i had hoped that the mikulaks didn't need to get in touch with me. but they did. max was having pain in his legs and they had to turn around to get him some pain medication. so they arrived late. of course, i had waited for them. i think i would have waited an hour for them. maybe more. and when they arrived, they apologized to me. i thought,
are you crazy. don't you dare apologize to me. it's my fault. i forgot my phone.
i didn't want them to feel bad. i didn't want them to apologize. i just want them to take care of max. that was the only thing that was important.
then i see max get out of the car and i'm a little startled. startled at how different he looks since the last time i saw him. now with no hair and paler. startled and saddened b/c i want him to be done with the disease. damn it, his battle should be won already!
but then it happens...with a sparkle in his eyes, max looks at me and smiles and he all of a sudden looks exactly the same. i don't see a bald little boy standing in front of me anymore. i just see the same ole max. i see his spirited, wonderful soul shining through his eyes and he is exactly the same. if we all could have just a little of his soul, this world would be a better place. he's one special little guy and i'm so lucky to be able to experience even the smallest bit of him.
and max...well, max thinks i'm the funniest person ever. my secret. boo. i say boo from behind my camera and max laughs hysterically. not sure i say it any different than anyone else but it sure makes max laugh. and b/c max laughs, his siblings do too (they either think i'm funny...or crazy). photographing siblings together in one shot can sometimes be challenging but not with max as a brother. he made my job easy.
then i promised max that at the end of our session, he could take a picture. and i kept my promise. and here's his picture. the every day, real deal me. i didn't crop the photo or even touch it up (much) b/c i think what max captured is special just b/c of that...he took it. i'm usually not comfortable with photos of myself but...hey, sometimes you just have to be brave. and if there's anything that max has taught me it's being brave. and full of life.
lastly, after max's session, i looked up in the sky and saw an angel. i can't help to think that that's what the clouds were forming. my friend, steph, said...of course you saw an angel; look what session you just did. and...i believe angels are watching over max and maybe they were even watching over me yesterday to make sure i was able to give the family something special.
this...giving back with my photography is what it's really all about. i was given this gift to photograph. and this is why.
to the mikulak family. thank you. thank you for allowing me to experience a bit of max and the joy that he brings to this world. i am a better person b/c of him...b/c of you guys.
you can read more about max on his blog here
- author unknown
yesterday, i had the great honor of photographing max again...and his siblings.
shortly after i left my house for the session, i realized i forgot my cell phone but already running late, i decided to just keep going. i had hoped that the mikulaks didn't need to get in touch with me. but they did. max was having pain in his legs and they had to turn around to get him some pain medication. so they arrived late. of course, i had waited for them. i think i would have waited an hour for them. maybe more. and when they arrived, they apologized to me. i thought,
are you crazy. don't you dare apologize to me. it's my fault. i forgot my phone.
i didn't want them to feel bad. i didn't want them to apologize. i just want them to take care of max. that was the only thing that was important.
then i see max get out of the car and i'm a little startled. startled at how different he looks since the last time i saw him. now with no hair and paler. startled and saddened b/c i want him to be done with the disease. damn it, his battle should be won already!
but then it happens...with a sparkle in his eyes, max looks at me and smiles and he all of a sudden looks exactly the same. i don't see a bald little boy standing in front of me anymore. i just see the same ole max. i see his spirited, wonderful soul shining through his eyes and he is exactly the same. if we all could have just a little of his soul, this world would be a better place. he's one special little guy and i'm so lucky to be able to experience even the smallest bit of him.
and max...well, max thinks i'm the funniest person ever. my secret. boo. i say boo from behind my camera and max laughs hysterically. not sure i say it any different than anyone else but it sure makes max laugh. and b/c max laughs, his siblings do too (they either think i'm funny...or crazy). photographing siblings together in one shot can sometimes be challenging but not with max as a brother. he made my job easy.
then i promised max that at the end of our session, he could take a picture. and i kept my promise. and here's his picture. the every day, real deal me. i didn't crop the photo or even touch it up (much) b/c i think what max captured is special just b/c of that...he took it. i'm usually not comfortable with photos of myself but...hey, sometimes you just have to be brave. and if there's anything that max has taught me it's being brave. and full of life.
lastly, after max's session, i looked up in the sky and saw an angel. i can't help to think that that's what the clouds were forming. my friend, steph, said...of course you saw an angel; look what session you just did. and...i believe angels are watching over max and maybe they were even watching over me yesterday to make sure i was able to give the family something special.
this...giving back with my photography is what it's really all about. i was given this gift to photograph. and this is why.
to the mikulak family. thank you. thank you for allowing me to experience a bit of max and the joy that he brings to this world. i am a better person b/c of him...b/c of you guys.
you can read more about max on his blog here
hope is the thing with feathers,
that perches in the soul,
and sings the tune without words,
and never stops at all.
- emily dickinson
kiele...
my oldest. a child with a heart and soul that is from another world. a world where only goodness exists. truly, i could not ask for a better child. i've said this about her forever, but she only gets better, nicer, kinder. it's nothing i can take credit for. it's nothing that i have taught her. it's something that is perched deep inside her soul. she brings so much hope and goodness to everyone she meets and everything she does. and this year, she is being recognized for it. kiele is receiving the Hope of America Award from the kiwanis club. she is being recognized for having demonstrated high academic achievement, leadership, high moral character and a promising future of service to society.
kiele...
the hope of america.
the hope of tomorrow.
and I hope she knows how truly proud i am!
that perches in the soul,
and sings the tune without words,
and never stops at all.
- emily dickinson
kiele...
my oldest. a child with a heart and soul that is from another world. a world where only goodness exists. truly, i could not ask for a better child. i've said this about her forever, but she only gets better, nicer, kinder. it's nothing i can take credit for. it's nothing that i have taught her. it's something that is perched deep inside her soul. she brings so much hope and goodness to everyone she meets and everything she does. and this year, she is being recognized for it. kiele is receiving the Hope of America Award from the kiwanis club. she is being recognized for having demonstrated high academic achievement, leadership, high moral character and a promising future of service to society.
kiele...
the hope of america.
the hope of tomorrow.
and I hope she knows how truly proud i am!
believe in yourself.
have faith in your abilities.
without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.
- norman vicent peale
some days...i have to remind myself of this more than other days.
you just have to believe!
still working on lots of exciting changes...
new website
new blog
new products
and of course, keeping up with the everyday everything. :-)
have faith in your abilities.
without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.
- norman vicent peale
some days...i have to remind myself of this more than other days.
you just have to believe!
still working on lots of exciting changes...
new website
new blog
new products
and of course, keeping up with the everyday everything. :-)
in art, man reveals himself and not his objects.
- rabindranath tagore
this is the beauty of the art of photography. two photographers can take a photograph at the same time, from almost the exact same position and the end result will look and feel different...sometimes very different. that's because so much of what we do as photographers involves who we are as individuals.
- rabindranath tagore
this is the beauty of the art of photography. two photographers can take a photograph at the same time, from almost the exact same position and the end result will look and feel different...sometimes very different. that's because so much of what we do as photographers involves who we are as individuals.
life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
- author unknown
this is one of those moments. a moment where i just sit back and watch. trying to soak in every bit. every thought. every feeling. every emotion.
i often find my three playing like this...
quietly.
together.
up on the hill, in our backyard...
i watch and my heart sings with joy and i think...this is what life is truly about. my kids make me beyond happy.
and a few minutes later, after they discovered me,
i got this...
- author unknown
this is one of those moments. a moment where i just sit back and watch. trying to soak in every bit. every thought. every feeling. every emotion.
i often find my three playing like this...
quietly.
together.
up on the hill, in our backyard...
i watch and my heart sings with joy and i think...this is what life is truly about. my kids make me beyond happy.
and a few minutes later, after they discovered me,
i got this...
a friend shared this with me the other day. from REAL SIMPLE's website...
Note To Self
Get Professional Photos of Your Children
I’ve never forgotten an invaluable piece of advice that I heard from an older friend right after my first child was born. She told me, “One of my greatest regrets about my children’s childhoods was that I didn’t have more professional pictures taken.”
“You didn’t take many pictures?” I asked.
“I took tons of pictures,” she said, “but the fact is, professional photographs are so much better than even the best snapshots.”
I absolutely agree—professional photos are better. And keeping her advice in mind, ever since my daughters were born, I’ve been zealous about getting their photos taken professionally at least once a year.
While it’s a lot of fun (and also a pain) to take pictures myself, it’s terrific to have some pictures that are truly excellent. These photos don’t take the place of the on-the-spot pictures that I take myself—I still take scads of photos at birthday parties, first days of school, on the slide, with a popsicle—but these pictures memorialize my children’s childhoods in a different way.
Plus they make great family gifts. I can never figure out a good present for the grandparents and great-grandparents, but they always love to get a really great photograph—especially the relatives who don’t often get a chance to see the girls in person.
Also, research shows that one way to boost your happiness is to reflect on happy times, and looking at photographs helps keep memories more vivid.
It’s a splurge, of course. Professional photos aren’t cheap.
However, I figure that the money I spend on these photographs will strengthen family bonds, enhance happy memories, and capture the fleeting moments of childhood. They give me more pleasure than practically any other purchases that I make. That strikes me as pretty good happiness bang for the buck.
A friend’s family had another great photography tradition. For her whole life, at every milestone, her parents took a picture of her and her brother sitting exactly the same way on their front stoop. It’s fascinating to see them change through the years. Along the same lines, the artist Nicholas Nixon took a photograph of his wife and her three sisters once a year for 33 years. The collection of these photographs, The Brown Sisters, is riveting.
Getting professional photos take is a great example of the tiresome fact that happiness takes thought and effort. These photographs are easy to arrange; in the scheme of things, not terribly expensive; contribute greatly to our family happiness—and yet it probably never would have occurred to me to do it if my friend hadn’t suggested it.
Rubin, Gretchen. REAL SIMPLE.
http://simplystated.realsimple.com/life/2008/03/unforgettable-a.html
Mar 3, 2008.
i'm off to yuma this weekend for a few sessions. i think it's going to be such a fun change in scenery. and not only a change of scenery but four boys and 14 chickens. just wish their pig was there too (he's at the county fair)! :-)
still working on the revamping of deb schwedhelm photography. it's exciting but it just seems that there's not enough time in a day to get things done as fast as i'd like. hopefully by the end of the month though...that's my goal.
and a skyler funny...
by looking at my little ones today, one would have thought it was 100 degrees out (but it wasn't; it was 79). so, we're on our way home from shopping and sky's slumped in the back seat, looking like she just got done running a marathon.
sky: mom, you going to von's?
me: yea sky, why?
sky: good. i need to go by the cooler thing.
me: are you kidding me? you want to go grocery shopping to cool down?
sky: yea, there's a cold spot there and i'm hot.
omg. seriously. she wants to go to the grocery store so she can hang out in the freezer area and get cool. good thing we don't live somewhere really hot. she'd really be in trouble.
lasty...for J, who as we were leaving our session the other day, said, can you put me on your website? as i promised J, here you go...and thanks for such a wonderful time!
Note To Self
Get Professional Photos of Your Children
I’ve never forgotten an invaluable piece of advice that I heard from an older friend right after my first child was born. She told me, “One of my greatest regrets about my children’s childhoods was that I didn’t have more professional pictures taken.”
“You didn’t take many pictures?” I asked.
“I took tons of pictures,” she said, “but the fact is, professional photographs are so much better than even the best snapshots.”
I absolutely agree—professional photos are better. And keeping her advice in mind, ever since my daughters were born, I’ve been zealous about getting their photos taken professionally at least once a year.
While it’s a lot of fun (and also a pain) to take pictures myself, it’s terrific to have some pictures that are truly excellent. These photos don’t take the place of the on-the-spot pictures that I take myself—I still take scads of photos at birthday parties, first days of school, on the slide, with a popsicle—but these pictures memorialize my children’s childhoods in a different way.
Plus they make great family gifts. I can never figure out a good present for the grandparents and great-grandparents, but they always love to get a really great photograph—especially the relatives who don’t often get a chance to see the girls in person.
Also, research shows that one way to boost your happiness is to reflect on happy times, and looking at photographs helps keep memories more vivid.
It’s a splurge, of course. Professional photos aren’t cheap.
However, I figure that the money I spend on these photographs will strengthen family bonds, enhance happy memories, and capture the fleeting moments of childhood. They give me more pleasure than practically any other purchases that I make. That strikes me as pretty good happiness bang for the buck.
A friend’s family had another great photography tradition. For her whole life, at every milestone, her parents took a picture of her and her brother sitting exactly the same way on their front stoop. It’s fascinating to see them change through the years. Along the same lines, the artist Nicholas Nixon took a photograph of his wife and her three sisters once a year for 33 years. The collection of these photographs, The Brown Sisters, is riveting.
Getting professional photos take is a great example of the tiresome fact that happiness takes thought and effort. These photographs are easy to arrange; in the scheme of things, not terribly expensive; contribute greatly to our family happiness—and yet it probably never would have occurred to me to do it if my friend hadn’t suggested it.
Rubin, Gretchen. REAL SIMPLE.
http://simplystated.realsimple.com/life/2008/03/unforgettable-a.html
Mar 3, 2008.
i'm off to yuma this weekend for a few sessions. i think it's going to be such a fun change in scenery. and not only a change of scenery but four boys and 14 chickens. just wish their pig was there too (he's at the county fair)! :-)
still working on the revamping of deb schwedhelm photography. it's exciting but it just seems that there's not enough time in a day to get things done as fast as i'd like. hopefully by the end of the month though...that's my goal.
and a skyler funny...
by looking at my little ones today, one would have thought it was 100 degrees out (but it wasn't; it was 79). so, we're on our way home from shopping and sky's slumped in the back seat, looking like she just got done running a marathon.
sky: mom, you going to von's?
me: yea sky, why?
sky: good. i need to go by the cooler thing.
me:
sky: yea, there's a cold spot there and i'm hot.
omg. seriously. she wants to go to the grocery store so she can hang out in the freezer area and get cool. good thing we don't live somewhere really hot. she'd really be in trouble.
lasty...for J, who as we were leaving our session the other day, said, can you put me on your website? as i promised J, here you go...and thanks for such a wonderful time!
i believe in the impossible
if i reach deep within my heart
overcome any obstacle
won't let this dream fall apart
see i strive to be the very best
shine my light for all to see
cause anything is possible
when you believe
- from "i believe", sung by fantasia
i've blogged about sam and max in the past, my amazing little friends, who are battling relapsed neuroblastoma. i try and check both sam and max's blogs often but it had been a few weeks. and i was so sad to see that they were having some difficult and scary times. it breaks my heart...through and through. i cry. i want to scream. my kids ask, what's wrong mommy and i hug them and hold them tight.
not only are max and sam amazing--their spirit, strength and hope as they battle this disease--their parents are equally amazing, as they fight their hardest to find a something curative for this terrible disease. these are people who truly do believe anything is possible and that they can overcome any obstacle that is thrown their way. they have to. they can't and won't ever let their dream for a cure fall apart.
these kids and these families inspire me.
to live life to the fullest.
to be better.
to do greater.
you can read about sam here
and max here
and please check out what these parents have done with 'the magic water project' here.
what they have accomplished is absolutely amazing!
it isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. it is what you think about.
- dale carnegie
i've been thinking a lot lately. my ongoing computer problems seem to consume my thoughts these days. and i've been letting them. why? why do i let these silly problems consume my thoughts? why can't i get over these problems? is it me, who somehow isn't letting this all go? sometimes i wonder. i have to through and through let this go and until then, maybe i'll continue to be plagued by these ongoing computer problems. today, i get a monitor replacement. apple's last ditch effort in figuring out what is wrong with my computer. if this doesn't work...my computer will be completely wiped clean, as if purchasing a new computer with nothing on it. and i will work off external drives and start from scratch. i've come to terms that that might happen and it's okay. maybe i need to start fresh. get a clean start.
and last night, i was up late editing (as usual). and i always have to have some sound on, in the background. last night's was MTV's real life. the topic was young girls assuming full responsibilities for their families. one girl was 21 and taking care of her three younger siblings (all in their teens and one pregnant) b/c their mother had committed suicide. another was in her 20s and taking care of her parents, who were ill and couldn't work, and her siblings (all in their teens). my thoughts continued but in a new direction...wondering how i can feel sorry for myself b/c of my computer problems. i thought to myself, are you kidding me? how can you stoop that low and feel sorry for yourself b/c some stupid computer problems? who cares if you have to go to apple 30 times. it will work out. your problems are miniscule, not anywhere on life's radar of real problems. get over it and move on.
at the time, i wasn't quite sure why i was watching MTV, besides the fact that i felt nothing else was on. i could have been watching headline news, right? but i know now. i needed it. i needed to get my thoughts back in order. i needed to be watching MTV...it was the reality check that i needed.
so i say with a smile and strength in my eyes...
here's to stop thinking poor me and feeling sorry for myself b/c of my stupid computer problems. here's to letting go and moving on. i'll deal with it and be happy...that i'm only dealing with stupid computer problems. here's to thinking about how lucky and blessed i truly am. here's to moving on and starting fresh.
- dale carnegie
i've been thinking a lot lately. my ongoing computer problems seem to consume my thoughts these days. and i've been letting them. why? why do i let these silly problems consume my thoughts? why can't i get over these problems? is it me, who somehow isn't letting this all go? sometimes i wonder. i have to through and through let this go and until then, maybe i'll continue to be plagued by these ongoing computer problems. today, i get a monitor replacement. apple's last ditch effort in figuring out what is wrong with my computer. if this doesn't work...my computer will be completely wiped clean, as if purchasing a new computer with nothing on it. and i will work off external drives and start from scratch. i've come to terms that that might happen and it's okay. maybe i need to start fresh. get a clean start.
and last night, i was up late editing (as usual). and i always have to have some sound on, in the background. last night's was MTV's real life. the topic was young girls assuming full responsibilities for their families. one girl was 21 and taking care of her three younger siblings (all in their teens and one pregnant) b/c their mother had committed suicide. another was in her 20s and taking care of her parents, who were ill and couldn't work, and her siblings (all in their teens). my thoughts continued but in a new direction...wondering how i can feel sorry for myself b/c of my computer problems. i thought to myself, are you kidding me? how can you stoop that low and feel sorry for yourself b/c some stupid computer problems? who cares if you have to go to apple 30 times. it will work out. your problems are miniscule, not anywhere on life's radar of real problems. get over it and move on.
at the time, i wasn't quite sure why i was watching MTV, besides the fact that i felt nothing else was on. i could have been watching headline news, right? but i know now. i needed it. i needed to get my thoughts back in order. i needed to be watching MTV...it was the reality check that i needed.
so i say with a smile and strength in my eyes...
here's to stop thinking poor me and feeling sorry for myself b/c of my stupid computer problems. here's to letting go and moving on. i'll deal with it and be happy...that i'm only dealing with stupid computer problems. here's to thinking about how lucky and blessed i truly am. here's to moving on and starting fresh.
when things go wrong, you'll find they usually go on getting worse for some time; but when things once start going right they often go on getting better and better.
- c.s. lewis
has it really been a week and a half since i blogged? that's crazy. where has the time gone?
what i do know is: standard life and photography business coupled with two workshops and weeks of computer problems = a hectic life.
my damn computer. in and out of the apple store for weeks. one week, i was at the apple store every single day. this last visit, my computer stayed at the apple store for a full week. got it back yesterday, only to discover continued, yet different, problems. my previous problem was that my computer would completely lock up, to the point that i would have to shut down with the power button b/c i couldn't do anything else. over time, it got worse and worse, locking up more often. now--when i wake up my computer from sleeping, it will shut down and restart (versus just waking up). apple just can't seem to figure out what's wrong with my computer. they seem to have done almost everything but i won't bore you with those details. today, knowing that i'm still having problems...well, it put me over the edge. not only tears but outright sobbing. maybe it was just time. maybe i needed it. i needed the release, i guess. i did feel better afterwards. i just want my computer to work. it doesn't make sense. it frustrates the hell out of me. i've been assigned the lead genius at my local apple store and he isn't back until sunday. so i have to wait until he returns to address this new problem. i'm trying my best to think positive computer thoughts through all this but...it's hard...really, really hard.
what else...
i'm hosting a matilda jane clothing show tomorrow. they have the most amazing clothes, both kids and adults. i knew i was going to be buying a bunch of kids clothes but, after seeing them, i've also fallen in love with their adult clothes. i'm soooo looking forward to hanging out with friends tomorrow.
i'm working on a new website and blog. it's coming along a bit slower than i anticipated due to the above. but i'm super excited about it.
oh man...it's late and i must get to bed. busy day tomorrow (well actually today). i'll close with a few fav photos from a recent maternity session that i second shot with a friend.
and here's to happy computer thoughts. better and better is right around the corner. i know it!
- c.s. lewis
has it really been a week and a half since i blogged? that's crazy. where has the time gone?
what i do know is: standard life and photography business coupled with two workshops and weeks of computer problems = a hectic life.
my damn computer. in and out of the apple store for weeks. one week, i was at the apple store every single day. this last visit, my computer stayed at the apple store for a full week. got it back yesterday, only to discover continued, yet different, problems. my previous problem was that my computer would completely lock up, to the point that i would have to shut down with the power button b/c i couldn't do anything else. over time, it got worse and worse, locking up more often. now--when i wake up my computer from sleeping, it will shut down and restart (versus just waking up). apple just can't seem to figure out what's wrong with my computer. they seem to have done almost everything but i won't bore you with those details. today, knowing that i'm still having problems...well, it put me over the edge. not only tears but outright sobbing. maybe it was just time. maybe i needed it. i needed the release, i guess. i did feel better afterwards. i just want my computer to work. it doesn't make sense. it frustrates the hell out of me. i've been assigned the lead genius at my local apple store and he isn't back until sunday. so i have to wait until he returns to address this new problem. i'm trying my best to think positive computer thoughts through all this but...it's hard...really, really hard.
what else...
i'm hosting a matilda jane clothing show tomorrow. they have the most amazing clothes, both kids and adults. i knew i was going to be buying a bunch of kids clothes but, after seeing them, i've also fallen in love with their adult clothes. i'm soooo looking forward to hanging out with friends tomorrow.
i'm working on a new website and blog. it's coming along a bit slower than i anticipated due to the above. but i'm super excited about it.
oh man...it's late and i must get to bed. busy day tomorrow (well actually today). i'll close with a few fav photos from a recent maternity session that i second shot with a friend.
and here's to happy computer thoughts. better and better is right around the corner. i know it!