I just got back from an amazing retreat for women photographers called Be thou my Vision started by the lovely Jane Johnson. Instead of a workshop it is a retreat to relax and seek God’s face for our business’. The world says you have to spend lots of money and step on other people to get ahead. What a depressing way to do something you love. I can’t tell you how refreshing it has been to sit down for days with fellow photographers and just be real. No one trying to pretend. God put me in a room with seven of the most amazing ladies to laugh, cry, eat and chat with. I am forever changed by this retreat.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, it’s builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1
The only time I used my camera on this trip was flying on the plane. Flying over this view was just too much to resist!
Before I flew out to Oregon my husband and I went to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Gilcrease Museum with our oldest kids and our close friends. They didn’t allow any photography at all inside, but they had a beautiful garden outside so i snapped a few. The museum was amazing! They have lots of cool stuff for children to do so I highly recommend it.
Really right now I want to run into my living room, cuddle up on the couch and watch Dexter [which I had to TIVO], but instead I’m putting up this blog. Why? Because I’ve been home less than 24 hours and my mother is already asking for pictures to see. 
Going home [to PA] has a strange feeling to it for me. I love getting to see my family and for my kids to spend quality time with them, but as the years go on my hometown [ironically actually named Hometown] seems more like a distant memory. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but I guess it’s just the natural progression of life.
So many of our friends have family relatively close by, but for us it’s more like 18 hours in the car [if we don't stop to pee]. So, when we visit or when they come here a Thanksgiving day is more like a Thanksgiving week for us. I’m so bad about not pulling my camera out and getting those snapshots. I know! What’s wrong with me?! I guess it’s just so nice to sit back and enjoy the moments that I forget to shoot them. This visit I forced myself to do it…and I’m glad I did. [although my dad and youngest brother seemed to escape most of the shots...shame on you both!]
Ben got a BMX trick bike for his 9th birthday just the week before so of course we had to take it with us. AND before anyone gets all freaked out…yes that is my 2 year old on the trick bike…no he was barely moving and I was right there outside the frame.
This shot of Sophie the cat is especially for my dad, who is having a difficult time with what the groomers did to ‘his cat’. Sophie the Persian is now Sophie the lioness. hahaha! Don’t worry dad I’m sure it will grow back…eventually. 
My daughter…Jekyl & Hyde
My husband took this shot [hence the glass glare...okay I'll stop teasing him]. This is Betty. She is 96? This lady has known me since I was born…and still likes me!
Hope your happy mother. I’ll have part 2 up tomorrow…I’m going to watch some tivo before bed.
xoxo
Okay, really I have a couple clients who really need your vote! I found this great website that is all about resources for the hip mom. Well it turns out every month they have a photo contest for professional photographers and I entered a couple shots. I really have no idea what we win…really it’d just be cool to win. So to all your hip mama’s out there…and other photog’s go check it out. Oh, and don’t forget to vote for us!
(once there just click on the photo contest box at the very top of the site.)
We took off to Branson with our close friends this holiday weekend and had some fun. We had 6 children (8 yrs. old being the oldest) between the 4 adults, so needless to say we were outnumbered!
We ran into rain, but for the most part it was nice…not too hot or cold. These kids are so much braver than I was at their age with some of the rides we were able to talk them into. LOL!
We went to The Landing for dinner and a waterworks (with cool fire. ) show Saturday night. There were these kids that could’nt have been older than 18 playing drums with buckets. They were really good too!
This was our view from dinner.
Abby was totally outnumbered, but she handled it so well.
I told you it was a cool show.
We made the men take them on this ride because we didn’t feel like getting wet. After seeing how wet they got i’m really glad we didn’t go!
The giant barn swing. I can NOT believe my son got on this. It swings you just over a 90 degree angle…pretty awesome.
Hope everyone had a great weekend. Now get back to work!
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