{Positive Perspective: Day Seven}

POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE: DAY SEVEN

1. I rearranged the front room with William's help.

2. I got 2 loads of clothes done today & put away!!

3. I got to watch Oprah today - it was all about people winning alot of money and where & how they changed. Either for the good or for the worse.

4. It was validated that money doesn't make you happy but having loved ones does.

5. I learned that alot of people don't think about how to spend all that money and never think it will run out and end up spending it all.

6. The first thing I would do - IF we got a winfall - would be to pay off our debts and buy a house first. Then share the wealth.

7. William shared with me the innards of the d&d game - things to come. But don't try to ask me whats going to happen because it's a secret - shhhh...

8. I got to enjoy the kids while we made lunch together. Messy but fun.

9. Tomorrow we are going to do lunch at the park & play, play, play.

10. Talked with my mom. I always enjoy our talks.

{Positive Perspective: Day Six}

POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE: DAY SIX

1. Sam and I had some snuggly time during quiet time.

2. Aaron showed me how to make his famous "jammed toast". (we are letting him "cook" with the toaster and microwave and he loves his new found freedom)

3. Ruth and I colored one of her pretty princess big color pages after lunch. (mostly scribbles but so much fun)

4. I got to talk with my good friend Carla. I found out she got a new vehicle. CONGRATS HON!!

5. I was able to get the images captured by my assistant, Curt today and he ROCKED the memories for my bride & groom!!

6. William and I enjoyed some good conversation about what will be coming up in our d&d game. ( I hope my character doesn't die)

7. We had a great dinner of taco salads tonight for dinner. The kids loved to create their own salad - each was different but all had chips and cheese on em...lol

8. It rained today!! I just love the smell that comes from a cleansing rain.

9. I saw a beautiful rainbow today - it started out small and grew quite wide with rows of colors - very stunning.

10. I got to talk with my mom. It's been a few days and it was good to hear her voice. Amazing how you can miss someone - even if you talked to them only 2 days ago. Love you MOM!!

{Positive Perspective: Day Five}

POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE: DAY FIVE

1. I wasn't feeling well this morning and William kept the kids entertained while I got a bit more rest this morning. My hubby is just so sweet.

2. Ruth came in and slept with me while I got a bit more rest this morning. She cuddled all the way up close and wanted my arm around her to hold her tight to me.

3. I sorted thru the best images from my wedding on saturday. Tomorrow I will be able to edit them.

4. Aaron showed me his wonderful artwork that he had worked on during the morning and part of the afternoon. I just love his creativity.

5. Sam sat with me on the couch while I watched "Stargate: SG1". He enjoyed the aliens they encountered.

6. I enjoyed watching William draw up his "EVIL" characters for D&D. It's great to see him passionate about something again.

7. I got my brochures today and they ROCKED!

8. We found out about how long it's going to take to get William's retirement - not happy about the length that it can take but glad to know a time frame - sorta.

9. William emptied the dishwasher for me so I could load it with the dirty dishes. He knows I hate to unload it and I know he hates to load it. Don't we just make the perfect pair?

10. William and I had a good laugh about an episode of "Property Virgins". The couple looking for a place of their own were just too funny.

{Positive Perspective: Day Four}

POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE: DAY FOUR

1. I finished up a load of clothes.

2. Aaron helped me make lunch.

3. Sam didn't fight once today with his brother.

4. William helped me clean the livingroom & bath because I was beat from yesterday.

5. I started to sort thru the TONS of wedding pictures today.

6. I got a load of dishes done today and a load of clothes too.

7. William and I got to watch the "Eureka" marathon today to catch ourselves up on last season.

8. The kids went to bed without a fight.

9. Today was a good day - very relaxing.

10. I didn't have to leave the house at all today - it was great to just lounge about the house and rest.

{Positive Perspective: Day Three}

POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE: DAY THREE

1. I had an uneventful drive over to lebanon/albany area for the wedding I was photographing.

2. I even got to lebanon a bit early and was able to chat with Melissa after dropping off the kids for her to watch. Thank you!!!

3. I found a cute black dressy shirt at walmart for $7

4. I was glad that my time spent in both lebanon and albany came into good use when there was road work being done on one of the roads.

5. I found the church without any problems

6. I had a great assistant today helping me photograph the wedding. He ROCKED!!

7. I had a blast photographing this beautiful couple.

8. I got some awesome shots in a tunnel today.

9. The bride & grooms family were so great and some of them reminded me of my own grandparents who have past on.

10. The maid of honor & twin sister of the bride gave a beautiful toast that had everyone in the room in tears.

11. I picked up the kids and had a safe trip home. I am beat and going to bed. Night all!!

{Positive Perspective: Day Two}

Positive Perspective: Day Two

1. I got to sleep in this morning - which is a rarity lately.

2. I actually warmed up enough today to have my fan on because I was too warm.

3. I got to drive around enjoying hubby's company while the kids watched a movie as we drove around discovering new ways to get to portland.

4. We saw 2 policemen/woman with their horses in downtown portland.

5. Sam noticed that "The cops arrested a bad guy" while we drove past the "horse cops" as Aaron calls them.

6. was reminded of how soothing music can be and how useful it is to drown out the kids hissy fits when driving during rush hour.

7. I found out I have more patience then I thought I did today. Thank you kids.

8. I got a great deal on my favorite "mango salsa".

9. I am glad I know more places to get gas and groceries and other odds and ends besides the Fred Meyer. Adios Fred Meyer you lost a customer today.

10. Grateful that I have a great network of friends this weekend. Thank you Melissa for watching the kids while I photograph the wedding tomorrow!!

{A funny}

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City , where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have! Jobs.

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'

So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.

'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

{Positive Perspective: Day One}

I have to start doing this again because I am starting to get super snippy and only seeing what is going wrong. I found this technique helpful in the past and really need to turn my glass half empty attitude into glass half full.

POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE: DAY ONE

1. I am grateful that Ruth enjoys taking a bath - even if it means I fill the tub 6 or 7 times for her to only be in it for 5 min each time.

2. I am glad I went to the store yesterday so that I don't have to go again today and just stay inside and out of the cold. (yes I am cold - have been for days now)

3. I am happy to have a husband who cares about enough to pick up the toys and mess the kids have made so I wouldn't have to.

4. I am glad William takes out the garbage - it's a chore I detest and am glad I don't have to do it.

5. I am glad my computer desk is close to the window because I get to see the little birds flutter and chirp just above the eave where I am sure they have a newly built nest.

6. I am happy to have another photographer to assist me during the wedding I am photographing on Saturday. It's going to be so much fun.

7. I am grateful to have a talent that I can share with everyone and in return it helps supplement our income.

8. I am happy to have 3 beautiful children who challenge me to figure out new and unusual ways to solve problems. (some days I wish I didn't have so many to solve but that's parenthood)

9. I am so grateful to have a husband who knows when my limits have been reached and allows me to just emerse myself with music from my ipod shuffle and work on my photography business for an hour or so until my mood has shifted.

10. I am happy to say I have found a way to at least have one day a month away from the kids where I can be emersed in my photography with others who enjoy it and know the feeling of joy at the sound of a shutter clicking.

11. I am so happy to have cable back again for the summer. Not so happy with the bill each month but I am glad to have some of favorite channels back.

12. I am glad I was introduced to positive perspective so that I can change my own perspective when life seems to be a bit overwhelming.

I will continue to do this for 10 days or longer - but at least 10 for sure.

{It's Quiet}

I hate being up so late but really I secretly enjoy the peace and quiet of this time of night. Everyone snug in their beds and only the slight hum of the almost mute tv in the background and the faint snores of the family sleeping. Although the gerbils are more active at night and are busily chewing and scratching and running in their VERY LOUD wheel. Even with their noises I am greatful for the hush and sweet silence this late. Especially when Ruth doesn't wake up all cranky (which has been every night for the last few weeks - knock on wood).

I have been working on a new line of templates. The first set is already on my blog and is a fun rounded corner holiday set. I have more storyboards and cards to come but wanted to get those out soon as possible - ya know since Christmas is on everyone's minds - well at least it is on my mind. Ya know the whole "Christmas in July" marketing that's been going on in the stores - really how could you not...lol

Honestly I can't believe it's already half way thru July - can you? Seems it was just yesterday I was taking William up for his surgery - but that was almost 6 months ago. I can't believe William and I have been married 8 years and have 3 children who are 7, 5 & 2.5 years old now. Boy how time flies and when you stop and think about it, you realize life is short and fleeting and you need to enjoy each and every precious moment as though it were your last. I know since William's surgery I tell all my kids and him that I love them every day and I try not to let the small stuff drive me crazy (it's a struggle at times but mostly I am getting to where it doesn't so much).

It is sooo quiet. My thoughts seem so loud in my head, it's a bit overwhelming. Usually my thoughts are drowned out by yelling, screaming, laughter, fighting and creative noises that the kids and William make. I know I like the quiet but only for small bits, like tonight. I don't think I could go on without all my families noise and bustle. I enjoy it and would be lost without it.

My mom took William yesterday to go pick out some game rentals for our Wii. He brought home an Avatar game for the kids to play and a Zelda game too. They boys just love it! and we have had to take it away too when they can't seem to share and start fighting over it. I am hoping they out grow that and soon.

Tomorrow we are going to go to the park so the kids can get out of the house and get some of their energy out. They enjoy the park and I enjoy taking them. I don't always enjoy all the other kids there but, hey, it's a public park and since we don't have our own backyard yet, the park will have to do for now.

William and I have been looking at the cost of moving. You know the pros and cons and such as well as cost and what not of areas around the portland metro area and even Idaho. Nothing will happen for awhile though until we save up a bit more money but we are getting ideas and know what we want. Plus we have to stay within our budget as well.

I sooo want to move. I am not liking our apartment or the managers or my neighbors much either. I am also a bit freaked that I have been in this place for almost 2 years. Usually we move at least once a year. I guess I am just not one for planting roots too deep I guess. (Well, we did move alot when I was a kid - How many times back and forth from Idaho to Utah then on back to Oregon did we move mom? Don't forget Montana and Washington too were in there as well). I guess I am just a free spirit with gypsy blood and enjoy being able to just pack and move at will. haha

Well it's late and I need to get some sleep and move Ruth to her bed now that she should be fast asleep. Night all!

{SNEEK PEEK @ GROUP SESSION}

Here is a peek at my group of 10 very beautiful and active grandchildren of one of my clients. I had a great time getting to know them and photograph them. Enjoy!

{Cleaning of a different sort}

I have been busy trying to de-clutter my harddrive. I am finally getting around to backing up my mounds and mounds of images, templates and so on. Placing them all on DVD's for easy access. Boy it's sure alot of work when you haven't done it for a year! I am trying to catch up and get this stuff done so that I have hard copies in case my computer fries plus it frees up my space and the 'puter runs so much better when all cleaned up. But boy, oh boy, is it ever so much work. I think this is going to take me a few weeks for sure.

I had a nice session today with a beautiful family group. 10 Grandchildren and "Nana" was just ever tickled to see them all around her for sure. I really did enjoy myself even though it was a late start since some of the families were a bit late - but it was great to get to know them while we waited.

I wandered around downtown Portland for a bit trying to scope out new sites for sessions and my photography group. I found quite a bit actually - It's going to be super fun for sure when I get around to using them.

Anywho, I know it's late and I have more "cleaning" to do as well as get some sleep. Night all!

{Sneek Peek @ family Session from today}

I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful family. Their little man kept me running for sure. I enjoyed this session immensely. This is just a sample of the wonderful images captured today. Enjoy!

{playing with high ISO}

I just wanted to play around with high ISO (ISO measures the sensitivity of the image sensor. The lower the ISO number the less noise/grain you have - the higher the ISO the more grain/noise you will have in your image). Higher ISO's usually are not always so nice for color images but I love em for b&w's because it gives you a nice grainy look to them. Your ISO is just like film - when outdoors usually you would use film that is 100-200, or if your doing action shots usually 400 -600 works and if indoors sometimes it's better to get 800 speed film. The higher the film speed the faster you can use your shutter.

The following images were taken with an ISO of 1250, aperture of f/2.8 and shutter speed of 1/60. Taken with natural light coming from a window behind me - no flash used.

{Photo group get together}

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the nicest people today who love photography just as much as I do!! I was able to photograph so many cute little ones and see others at work. I really enjoyed myself.

{Web cam picture}

Here is a picture of me that I took with my webcam and then turned around in photoshop and added this fun frame. I think I take my favorite images of me with my webcam then I do with my expensive camera...lol

{a Moments peace}

What ever happened to being able to enjoy the day and relax? When did it become so important to fill our lives with stuff and things to do? Do we really need to be busy 24/7?

These are questions I asked after reading my Mom's Blog entitled Mary Jane. She spoke about teenage depression parenting and so on. While reading it many questions popped into my head but I want to focus on the 3 listed above.

The first question is "What ever happened to being able to enjoy the day and relax?"

Well, what happened to make us so busy we rush around like chicken with our heads cut off - trying to accomplish unattainable lists of things to do during the day? Why must we feel guilty about taking time to enjoy our families or just smelling the roses?

I was watching some show a long time ago about how much we try to jam pack into our days and how we are now trying to do the same thing with our children's schedule. I know I must be a bit old fashioned but I know kids should have a good work ethic but they also need their down time to just be kids and enjoy life. If we put too much into our lives we will feel as though we haven't done anything with our days.

The second question is "When did it become important to fill our lives with stuff and things to do?"

Do you feel like you are accomplishing something when you have a huge long list of things to do during the day only to find not enough hours in the day to complete the list? I know I only do one or two chores on my weekly list per day to combat the feeling of not accomplishing anything. I feel really good when I mark those items off my list and still have time to enjoy my family.

Really if you are jam packing your day too much you will find yourself over tired and not happy and you and your family will suffer. Do you set aside time in your day to have dinner with your family at a real diner table? or do you find yourself grabbing whatever thru a drive thru and eating on the go?

And the third question is Do we really need to be busy 24/7?

Well do you really need to be busy and tired 24 hours a day - seven days a week? I realize we live in a society that values money and how much you make and how many things you have - but really are you happier with all that stuff and no free time to enjoy it?

Do you think your children enjoy their room full of toys that they rarely play with over your lack of time spent with them? What are your priorities? Do you find your always keeping up with the mythical Jone's? Do you really need to trade up for a new car every year or a TV in every room? What should be at the top of your priority list - making absurd amounts of money and never having the time to enjoy your family or should your family be at the top of your list and making sure you can enjoy them and all they have to offer?

I know for me my family is a top priority and I want to spend time with them - I don't want to be running around like a chicken with it's head chopped off trying to accomplish a weeks worth of chores/errands in one day. I want to be able to see my kids grow and enjoy their childhood and know what they like and enjoy - not wonder what it is they like but really know and encourage them.

Yes, we all need money to survive but really do you need to be so far in debt that you have to work anywhere from 60-85 hours in a week or more because you are living outside your means trying to keep up with those darn Jone's? Do you really need a new car or will a used car that doesn't require a car payment do just as well?

Do you want to have a happy life or a life full of stuff that you can't take with you when you die? The only things you will get to take with you when you leave this earth are your memories, life experiences and do you want to just leave this world with the thoughts of all the stuff you purchased or do you want to have something meaningful to take with you?

Do you need the latest and the greatest or would you rather see your kids doing those momentous firsts that you cannot replace? These are questions that run thru my mind and I know I am not the most eloquent with my words but I think I get the point across.

Remember it's not the THINGS in our lives that make us happy but the PEOPLE that fill our lives.

When I start thinking about how crazy our society has become I remember that song by Alabama entitled "I'm in a hurry". It has always hit a chord with me and I have tried to slow my life down and enjoy the simple moments and not try to sweat the small stuff or not having what the Jones's have.

{Another Loooong Week}

And it's not even over yet! How unfair is that! I just wish I had a breath to sit down and relax from all the things going on lately. Tomorrow we have to get up early (before 7 AM!!) to get William's military stuff into the car to turn in to the armory - I really wish they would have taken this stuff a LONG time ago but ya know the military never does anything easily...lol I hope we will be done before lunch so we can hit a nice park for the kids on our way back. (fingers crossed)

I went visit teaching yesterday and no one was home - AGAIN. It's not a bother really and I do so enjoy the time with my companion on our drives. But it would just be nice to talk to those I am supposed to keep in touch with every month...especially since I don't get to church very often anymore. We are going to try again tomorrow evening to catch them. We'll see though. We do have the missionaries over every other week and it's been nice to have that contact but with this month being all crazy like we won't see them again for dinner until next month.

I am excited about how much space William's military stuff is going to free up in our little storage space on the deck - we can move some stuff out of our bedroom out there until we figure out what to do with it - which would be nice for sure. Some how our bedroom has become everyone's dumping grounds - old toys, clothes and such finds it way in there and not to mention all the stuff we still haven't found a place for yet....It would be nice to get our bedroom back to being just for us!

I am slowly but surely trying to organize my life. I got another 2 boxes gone out of our closet - most of it was stuff I ended up giving away to goodwill but it's stuff that isn't cluttering up much valued real-estate...lol

I am getting more and more busy as the summer progresses with my photography business. I am really enjoying doing what I love to do. I have 3 photo gigs this month and a wedding and next month is filling up fast. It's been alot of fun for sure. I forgot how much I missed doing it.

The boys finally cleaned their room - now I can vacuum in there without worry of one of their toys braking it. Although that may be a good reason to get a Dyson vacuum! If only I could afford one - that would be soooo cool. But I am sure I would talk myself out of it even if I did have the money to get it for something William or the kids wanted/needed instead. I would rather they be happy and keep my old vacuum then feel guilt over getting something I don't really need.

Well I better go off to bed, I have too much to get ready for tomorrow before I finally head off to bead. Night all.

{Our 4th of July}

Every year that we have been here our neighbors put on a great firework show for everyone in the complex. And last night was no exception. It was a great show and Ruth got to see fireworks and hold a sparkler for the first time (usually she is asleep by the time the fireworks start).

It was so much fun to see Ruth's eyes light up with delight as she saw the pop and crackle of the fire works and as she held a sparkler for the first time. I enjoyed seeing the boys play and have fun with the other kids and see their faces light up with awe and amazement at the cool fireworks. All the kids from the complex had a great time and so did the parents. One neighbor had some Washington fireworks which made it a nice show for sure. I hope you enjoy!

{Happy 4th!}

I am trying not to get too stressed out today about our situation with the VA, Military, and other people who are supposed to be helping us but really are only making our lives miserable. Instead I am trying to enjoy today and can't wait to pull out the sparklers for the kids tonight and take lots of pictures to share their delight with you all.

It's actually been a very peaceful day and it's overcast - which is actually quite nice because it's cooler and not muggy like the past few days have been. Sam is playing with the d&d miniatures - building up a castle and creating a small battle of some sort to keep his mind occupied. He has a wonderful imagination and I enjoy seeing him play. Aaron is drawing in his composition book - recreating characters from cartoons or movies that he has seen of late and Ruth is trying to drive the boys crazy by pulling miniatures off the table or help Aaron color his drawings. She can be a little pill at times as well as a sweet angel when she wants to.

William is working on his story line for our d&d game this sunday - my character leveled up during our last game. I am going to make some stuffed chicken (as seen on the Rachel Ray show) and the other couple are going to bring green beans. I am thinking of making a cake to go with it. But that will all depend on the weather because I don't want to turn on the oven if it's too hot outdoors. The stuffed chicken I can make out on the deck using the griddle as my stove. Rachel Ray used regular stuffing to stuff the chicken with but I am going to use a rice mixture with sausage & cranberries (my famous holiday stuffing using rice instead of bread crumbs) I am going to take boneless skinless chicken breast fillets and pound them thin and then add the stuffing and roll the chicken around it using toothpicks to hold it together. (please note that the stuffing is already cooked thru) then I cook the chicken on the griddle making a nice golden outside while creating a nice gravy mixture using chicken stock and spices with a bit of flour to pour over the finished dinner - it gets a nice side of red potatoes as well as green beans and for dessert possibly a nice light white cake with a fruit topping. William likes my cooking and this is an eas recipe that shouldn't take too long to cook.

I was thinking of driving to the store this afternoon but I can only imagine the type of crowds that I would find there today. I guess if I really need anything I will but for now I don't think so. We finally broke down and ordered cable again - at least for the summer months anyways. The cable guy will be here tomorrow to set it all up. William is excited about it - he has missed the sci-fi channel and TNT...I missed the cooking shows...lol

Have you seen the movie "Spiderwick Chronicles"? If not I think you and your family would enjoy it. I know mine did. It was full of mythical creatures and adventure.

I also finally saw the series "Firefly" with William - I had been putting it off and decided it was finally time to see it. I thought I wouldn't like it but I was wrong! It was really good and the movie called "Serenity" was a wrap up of the series. Not sure why the series didn't last long - I think it would have made it longer. If you get a chance, check it out.

Sorry about the ramble. I am just a bit scatter brained today. Now I better go and fix lunch. I think I am going to make turkey sandwiches with onion, tomato and lettuce, with a nice side of yogurt and fresh lemonade with ice to drink.

I hope you all have a great 4th. Be safe and try not to burn yourselves. I am going to enjoy friends and family today and make sure the kids don't burn themselves with the sparklers.