I NEVER thought I would love being a mother as much as I do.  But it quickly became the most important part of who I am.

And soon after that it became one of my favorite transformations to witness in a woman … becoming mother.

It’s a truly amazing process.  It’s something that hits us each in a different way.  It’s a beautiful journey from selfishness to selflessness, from few worries to endless concerns, from screw-ups to redemption.  It is a constant searching and desire and insatiable need to provide, better, protect the life that you created and housed and brought forth by the miracle of God.

It is an incredible glow that you can never shake, that you would never want to shake.

It is family. It is belonging. It is indescribable, even though I try.

Becoming mother and being a mom is a blessing. I cherish the gift of this blessing and I love being able to capture that gift for other mothers and families … To be able to bottle that moment up for reminiscing and remembering for all the days to come. 

I’ve done a lot of thinking lately and had a lot of discussions with people from many different areas of my life. I finally feel like I know my mission not only for my business, but my life, and strangely enough it’s not what I thought it was going to be. Of course, my family comes first, but outside of that my mission is to …

Serve mothers in the quest to bottle up time.

This clarity in my mission, I guess we can call it a mission statement, has already started the ball rolling towards change in my photography business, but even more exciting to me is how this is going to manifest itself in other aspects of my life, motherhood, love and business. I can hardly wait!

The dictionary has such a boring and clinical definition for the word jump … “to push oneself off a surface and into the air by using the muscles in one’s legs and feet.”

I prefer to think of it as an action taken only in the happiest, most joyful, most special of times used to illustrate that there is nothing in this world that can hold me down. NOTHING!

Click for more of the Love Behind the Lens series.

Week, all 7 days of you … I give in. I’ve given it my best, a whole hearted try, but you have totally. Kicked. My. Butt!

You win!

Unfortunately, for you … I’ll be back.

Just like my new goat friend Zap here … I’m stubborn, I’m determined, I won’t leave and the more you try to make me, the more likely I am to turn and show you my best side.

—

This week has truly gotten the best of me … from Mark traveling, Quinn getting sick … resulting in little sleep or productivity for me and everything running late, EVERYTHING … resulting in frustration and personal disappointment setting in … resulting in a self perpetuating downward spiral.

I decided it was best to turn my back on the negative thoughts and accept that sometimes …

You win some and you lose some … This is life.

Sometimes it is a struggle, but at other times it can be a breeze.

So to get myself out of my funk, I needed a reminder, something to laugh at and laugh with so that I could once again know that next week is a new week.  It will have it’s own set of challenges and maybe this one … I’ll win.

Some images contain so much laughter and so many smiles, they deserve to be shown twice at the same time.  This is one of those pictures.

Click for more of the Love Behind the Lens series.

Transitioning from corporate working mom to a work from home mom was not the easiest on me or my family, for that matter. Working and having children is always a balancing act for any one who attempts it, but working from home adds it own set of challenges.  I personally think it’s harder (to work from home that is).  And I get to say this since I have been on both sides.

Needless to say I (and I mean we, my husband and I) quickly discovered that my bath (with a glass of red wine) was my best friend.  It was time for me … “Me Time!”  It’s where I rejuvenate, read, catch up on a movie or TV show.  It’s where I collect my thoughts, jot down an idea, just. be. me.  It’s a place where I go to sit with myself and be better.

I hope every mom, woman, person out there has something that is just for them
and makes the time to revel in it … like I do my bath.

More from my 52 weeks Small Reminders project.

And others who have a 52 week project of their own:  StyleberryBlog, Dana Moran Photography, Lucas & Mahina, Wicked Kate

Click for more of the Love Behind the Lens series.

The easy way to make a shake a day … brought to you by the Magic Bullet and Advocare‘s Meal Replacement Shake in 10 quick and easy iPhone Hipstamatic prints.

I truly never knew a kitchen appliance could change my life, but this most definitely has. One thing I hated more than anything else was cleaning a blender, that damn blender truly inhibited the addition of nutritious and delicious shakes into my regular routine. I would have rather snacked on something easier, something not as good for my body.  But now? Now all that has changed. I look forward to my shakes and I don’t mind the clean up of this blending.  Lazy? Maybe. But most definitely inhibiting.

I love when something that seems so small and insignificant

can make such a big change.

Note to self don’t lick the sharp blade even though it looks delicious when you unscrew from the cup. There is enough deliciousness in the cup itself.  Cutting your tongue would just be stilly and embarrassing to share.

Of note, This is part of Advocare’s 24 day challenge that I am doing, but I have been trying to add shakes (like Shakeology) into my daily routine for months now. I’m so glad that the Magic Bullet was introduced to me so that I can reach my goal of living healthy and continue to be motivated by my abouts!

And finally, Gina thank you for introducing this nifty little invention to me!

The first thing this beautiful family said to me was … “Do your thing.”

She said, I hired you because your pictures look natural and I don’t want us to look posed.  Okay, can I kiss you was my response! I don’t even know if she realized what she did for me right then, in saying do your thing, she said I trust you.  I trust you. And now I feel warm inside all over again.

Click for more of the Love Behind the Lens series.

A few of the client faves and some of mine too.  Insert smiley face here!

This is just a sampling of images from a last minute mini-photo session for holiday cards.  I love that these quick sessions can provide fun and beautiful images.  This one was held at the Grapevine Botanical Gardens … I love it even more when we hold them in and around a clients home!

As I continue down the path of clean, lean and healthy eating for myself and my family, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that …

Meals are always better when shared with friends.

So go to the market, buy something fresh, prepare a colorful meal together and enjoy each other’s company!

More from my 52 weeks Small Reminders project.

And others who have a 52 week project of their own:  StyleberryBlog, Dana Moran Photography, Lucas & Mahina