Janie's Photography Blog

A {teaser} for you

 
  More to come of my beautiful aunt and cousin.

Shick Family Photos

I had the opportunity to meet up with the Shicks (Ken, Robin, Matt, Jonathan and Spencer) + Kathryn (soon to be Matt's wife) on a COLD winter day to capture some fun family moments.  They hadn't had a family photo in over 6 years!  Jonathan put me on the clock, literally he said I had 15 minutes and started his timer.  When it went off, we were not yet finished, but a lot closer than I would have been with anyone else...we did it fast (it was cold) and ended up with some really fun shots.  At the end, I asked Jonathan how I did and he said "You went over."  I then pointed out that his dad (my pastor since childhood) tends to do that sometimes, and we all laughed.

Anyway, enjoy the beautiful colors, the family/brotherly love and the fun-trendy editing at the bottom of this post.  

. . . . . . . .

On another note, today is my blog's first birthday.  Yep, a year ago today, I finally stopped being a chicken and started this blog.  It has been so fun for me to get to share my and others' lives through my photography over the past year.  Thanks for being along for the journey and your encouragement, comments and compliments along the way.  So much more to come in 2010!

Now for a different look (ever since Lauren and Brad's photos, people have been commenting on how they like the different looks of b&w and "vintage").

And of course, 5 takes of family-in-the-air photos.  These make me laugh, a lot. 

The End.  Thank you Shicks!

Anyone else in desperate need of some fun, up-to-date, family photos is invited to call or email me.

The Shore Along Your Ocean

What do I know of you,
who spoke me into motion?
And where have I even stood,
but the shore along your ocean?
Are you fire, are you fury,
are you sacred, are you beautiful?
What do I know,
what do I know of holy?

-Addison Road

 

Bienvenidos a Miami

Wow...it is already January 21st, 2010.  Where has this month gone?  I started school back up two weeks ago, which could be a part of my neglect of the blog...but I think mainly it is due to how tired I have been at the end of the work day.  Things have been so busy at the Red Cross in Tampa (and all over the world, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross) as the organization has been working in relief efforts in Haiti.  Locally, that really means raising funds to support the relief in Haiti, answering questions about why we cannot send untrained and yet willing people (and goods) to Haiti AND being prepared to open host shelters if needed.  Right now, shelters are open in Miami and Orlando, but Tampa might be next.  I know that most people have already heard, but if you haven't yet, you can text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti.  You can also donate on-line here.  Where you donate is really up to you, the Red Cross is big on honoring donor intent so your funds will go where you direct them to go.  Personally, I choose the International Response Fund that will be used to help with all funding needed in Haiti, but should we raise enough through the Haiti Relief and Development Fund, this funding can be used for future International Disasters.  If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that I do not typically plug causes (I think the only other time I have done this was for Global Fast) but this seems important and relevant enough.

In the midst of the craziness, my awesome boss allowed me to take last Saturday and Sunday off (while most of my co-workers worked...we're at it again this weekend).  But it was great because I got to meet one of my best friends from college, Alison Holby, in Miami.  She was there for a conference and had a free hotel room and since we really hadn't hung out in over 2 years, it was some much needed time together.  Although I grew up in Florida and besides a six year stint in NC, have lived in Tampa all of my 27 years of life, I have never visited Miami (or really many cities in this state).  While she was in her conference, I got to explore.  I visited an art show in South Beach on Friday night.  On Saturday I went for a jog through Coconut Grove and then enjoyed lunch at a restaurant right beside the marina. I checked out Calle Ocho and ordered some cuban chocolate and cookies.  On Sunday I had the chance to take a walk on South Beach.  When Alison was out (Saturday afternoon) we found an amazing park just south of Coconut Grove!  When we arrived we were greeted by a beautiful blue sky, thick salty air and dozens of kite surfers showing their skills.  We then plopped ourselves in chairs on its beautiful beach, people watched and talked for hours.   It was beautiful!  After the beach-park, we went for pedicures, enjoyed a great Italian dinner, explored a book store, watched some ridiculous TV shows and caught up.  It was not just fun, it was therapeutic.  Alison- thank you!

Enjoy the beautiful sites of Miami (I realized when we were in pajamas on Saturday night that I hadn't gotten a photo of the two of us together, boo :(.  Note to friends- when I am with you, make sure I take pictures of us too and not just the cool things we're seeing).

PS ... for some reason, I really like what was captured in the photo above.  I love simplicity and the little girl running.  It kind of makes me think of Slumdog Millionaire, but maybe that is just me.

Shots from the park on Saturday afternoon:

The view from our beach chairs.

there was a painter at the park, painting the city sky line

The wind surfers coming in as it got darker (and really gloomy).

My exploration of South Beach's night life:

The Avalon: a famous old hotel on Ocean Avenue that my dad had told me to look for.

The art show on Ocean Drive on Friday night.

The Marina at Coconut Grove on Saturday.

And then Sunday, exploring South Beach again:

When I was taking this shot, a couple of Englishmen came up and with their British accents said something like "That's a different way of looking at things."  This coconut was on the dirty sand between Ocean Drive and the actual beach. To take it, I had to lay down and hold the camera right above the sand, but point it straight, instead of down, so that I could still get a little bit of the sky and background and not all sand and coconut.  I told them that is part of what I like to do with my photography . . . look at things in a different way, and thus capture beauty in the unexpected.  They liked the images of the coconut that I showed them on the back of my camera.  The poor men had come to Florida the week before to escape the cold of England only to arrive during our 30 degree, strange week.  It was their last day and it was finally in the 70s, but . . . it was getting ready to rain!

Back on Ocean Drive.  I looked one day and captured this shot . . .

. . . then I turned around, and captured this one . . .

. . . and then it poured, so I headed home to Tampa.

PS...As soon as I turned onto A1A in Miami last Friday, I literally put on Will Smith's "Miami" song and sang along.  This experience was the inspiration for the title of this post.

 
 

Super fun Seniors, Part II

People LOVED the first part of Super Fun Seniors.  Seriously, at church and at my office people had more things to say about these photos than most of my posts.  And how could they not?  This is a fun-loving, good-looking group of friends with a world wide open to them!  Since my last post about them, something very exciting has happened.  Plant High School won the Florida State Football Championship!!!  And it was for the second year in a row and third time in four years.  Both of the boys, Mark and Bradley, play on the team and Rachel, Ashley and Lande are varsity cheerleaders.  Congratulations to each one of you!  Just another thing to add to their long list of accomplishments.

If you are interested in scheduling a senior session with your friends before graduation, don't hesitate to contact me!

 

Sweet & Sassy Sunday

Haley's got "sweet" AND "sassy" down pat!  She's my cousin's daughter, so I think that makes her my second cousin and she was also one of the flower girls in my wedding, so we've got a special bond.  When I am around her, I typically get the sweet version, but she definitely can give out some of that sassy-ness pretty naturally.  I snapped these photos one evening when we were visiting and she was getting ready to go to a pajama party at school  She wanted to model her amazing Hannah Montana pj's while posing in her princess room.  She's a natural.  She even let Jenny and Emily join in; both of whom also have nailed the sweet and sassy look.  

I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E . . . if not now, definitely one day!

Twelve Drummers Drumming: Kenzo

Finally, the 12th post of Christmas!  I meant to do it on January 6th, which is officially the 12th day of Christmas (Christmas Day being the first), but alas, I got busy.  Thanks to everyone who shared your precious stories.  I am excited to do more fun things like that in the year to come.

. . .

One activity that I really look forward to every year is making Christmas sugar cookies from scratch.  First you make the dough, then you cut out your own shapes and bake them.  Once they’ve cooled, you make the icing and decorate them yourself…yum. 

My family and I have been using the same recipe ever since I was a little boy.  We still use the same stained index card out of the old recipe box we've always had.  Making and eating the cookies is certainly a lot of fun, but probably what I enjoy the most is the people who make the cookies with me. 

When I was little, it was always with my grandmother.  She is the one who first taught me the recipe and showed me how to do all the different steps.  As I was growing up, it was a tradition that my sister and I did every Christmas. In high school, when my sister was away, I would make them with my mom.  Now that I am married and away from my family, I really enjoy making them with my wife, Janie.  I hope to keep the tradition alive and to some day pass it on to my children, and hope they enjoy making and eating cookies as much as I did, but most of all I hope they find good company amongst family and friends.

My favorite Christmas song is What Child is This.

Kenzo (my husband)

On turning 27.

Taken in Antigua, Guatemala last summer.

Last month I had a casserole exchange with three of my best friends.  We each made four servings of a casserole, got together for wine and dinner, exchanged the casseroles and came home with four different meals.  I was telling my 15 year-old cousin about it and I realized “you know you’re in your late twenties when you have casserole exchanges with your friends from high school.”  She would never think that was fun.  We loved it and hope to do it again sometime this month.  It was a revelation that I am getting older . . . but how could you resist the convenience of a delicious casserole prepared by a friend versus coming home and making something yourself? 

So, on turning 27.  It’s a milestone and feels different from other birthdays.  I know that I am still “young” but I am certainly growing up (although I hope to always keep my parents’ perspective that you don’t have to completely grow up).

Last semester, as some people know, I started a master’s program at USF.  That was a milestone too, and I’ll explain more about that in a minute.  For one of my classes I did a creative project.  It was a guide for college seniors on "Choosing a Career" (even though it won't seem like it, by clicking on the link it will download, it might just take a minute).   I emailed it to my college’s career center telling them that it would have helped me had I known this 5 years ago when I graduated.  It really doesn’t have any answers to the big task of choosing a specific career, but instead it seeks to help the reader understand our generation: the Millennials and how we relate to the work world.  We have big hopes and gigantic dreams and high expectations and sometimes that keeps us from moving forward in making decisions because we want to make the perfect one.

That was kind of my theme for the past few years of my life (and I have learned is normal for my generation at my age.  Which you will learn if you read my project).  My close friends know that I have kind of felt “wandering” in the realm of career paths.  My husband is going to be a doctor and known that since he was twenty-two.  While it is a long one, it is a pretty straight and narrow path.  I haven’t had such a straight path and have spent a lot of time wondering “what am I going to do?” 

One of my favorite movies from the past year was Julie & Julia.  I watched it for a second time with Kenzo on Sunday night.  I think that I loved it because I identified with both women.  They both were trying to discover themselves and their passions in the midst of being adult, married women.  When Julia moved to Paris for her husband’s job, she didn’t know what she was going to do.  She took a hat-making class and bridge lessons but nothing really clicked.  Until she started taking a cooking class . . . and that was it.  Julie turned 30 and her “friend” wrote an article about her titled “Is 30 the new 20?” and went on to write about how Julie had wanted to be a writer but was turning 30, still hadn’t “made it” and was now a government employee. 

 

Anyway, turning 27 is a milestone in that over the past year, I have made some steps forward in this winding path of passions, dreams and careers.  I am so very excited about my program at USF.  I love what I am learning and even more, love the idea that eventually (and it will take a little while) I will be a licensed counselor and able to help people who are struggling with anxious and depressing thoughts.  I think that is a passion found. 

 

Also, over the past year as I have shared my photography with you through this blog, I have learned a lot.  One, I like to write . . . and not just with words, I do really enjoy that, but with images too.  I feel like there are so many stories captured in the photos that I get to take and I am thoroughly enjoying broadening my horizons in this exciting adventurous field.  Two, I have learned that people love seeing beauty, in nature, in smiles, in love and that in sharing this, it brings me joy.  Three, I have learned that it is a passion worth pursuing into a career.  So thank you to the clients who have trusted your loved ones to be in front of my camera lens! 

 

So, 27 is a milestone on the road map of my life’s journey.  I am looking forward to another year of growth and health and telling more beautiful stories.

 

St. Pete Times

Hi guys . . . so this is kind of an exciting thing for me: I was in the St. Petersburg Times on New Year's Day in an article called "Creative people to watch . . ."  The article focused on several different people throughout the Tampa Bay Area who are doing a variety of creative things.  I feel honored to be among such interesting individuals and really excited that my photography is being noticed.  If you didn't read this blog, I would not have been chosen for the story . . . so thank you!  I put a photo below that is a little closer because you can probably make out the caption better.  The article is also on-line here with everyone's little blurps.  I'll paste mine below.

 

Janie Koike, the passionate photographer

CARROLLWOOD — As a student at Plant High School, Janie Koike loved to take pictures of her friends. At the prom. On camping trips. Movie night at her place. She has armloads of scrap books to prove it.

"I've always loved capturing those moments," said Koike, now 26.

In the years since, Koike has taken that love and developed it into a business with a focus on nature and the simpler things in life.

"Like a tree bark," she said. "If you look at that it's not very interesting, but if you take a picture, it just comes to life."

While she does photograph weddings and other special occasions, Koike's online blog is filled with candid pictures from a variety of natural settings. She often pairs the pictures with prose and music.

In an entry titled "How He Loves Us," Koike features pictures of swaying plants and trees. David Crowder's song of the same title plays in the background.

She recently snapped pictures of gentle waves rolling up on the sand at Long Boat Key. The grandmother of her husband, Kenzo Koike, had just died, and she wanted to reflect the mood.

"They were peaceful," said Koike, who works full time as a volunteer coordinator for the Red Cross Tampa Bay.

She uses emotion and color to create her own style. In a blog post about hope, she pairs vibrant pictures of purple, orange and pink flowers with lyrics to Christian singer Brandon Heath's songWait and See.

"It's a passion coming to life," she said, "and it's so fun."

Nicole Hutcheson, Times staff writer

Photo by Edmund D. Fountain of the St. Pete Times

 

Christina & Tony

When you have a good fish on the line, you know it.  Isn't it similar with people?  Christina and Tony have been friends since high school.  After returning home to Tampa post-college, they started dating and have been boyfriend and girlfriend for about three years.  Now, he has reeled her in.  It happened while they were fishing.  Tony had a "fish on the line" and asked if Christina wanted to take it.  When she reeled it in, there wasn't a fish on it, but instead an engagement ring.  She looked at Tony.  He was on his knee beside her and he asked her to marry him.  And of course, she said "Yes!"  Their wedding will be in April!

Tony and Christina were adventurous on their engagement shoot.  We went to four different locations with three different outfits.  The sun was setting on us at the end, but we soaked up just about every minute of it that we possibly could  . . . and captured some really fun, Florida, simply-them shots.  Enjoy!

PS...to see photos from their slideshow, you can go here.  The password is the bride's last name.

Christina and Tony bought their first home together!!  Congratulations!
 

"She belongs on a cameo" {teaser}

"She belongs on a cameo."  That's what my dad said about Christina's natural beauty.  Her smile, her gorgeous curly head of hair, her laughter.  She is beautiful.  I love this photo.  The reflection in the water, the random piping that Tony and Christina are sitting on, Tampa in the background, the lighting from the close-to-setting sun . . . perfect.

 

More to come.

Eleven Pipers Piping: Janie

I love Christmas and have so many fun memories from over the years.  One funny one that I always remember is the year that my parents were replacing their dishes.  Santa brought the family a new set.  He wrapped each plate set individually and then, so that the kids would have more to open, addressed them to us kids.  The first two gifts that my brother Matt opened from Santa were sets of dishes.  He burst out crying as if he thought he was being punished.  We still laugh about that one today.

Me and my grandmothers: Abuela (Mary) and Grandmama (Jane) on Christmas day a few years ago.
 

For me, my favorite Christmas tradition has always and may always be our Noche Buena (translated to Good Night, but means Christmas Eve) Party.  My parents host all of the family and several friends, so both sets of grandparents, and both sides of cousins have always filled the house.  We eat traditional Cuban food consisting of delicious roast pork in mojo, black beans, rice, and yuka.  Having a house full of everyone brings about the feeling of love, family and togetherness.  It is one of my favorite nights of the year!

My new favorite Christmas song is You're Here by Franchesca Battistelli.  I heard it for the first time last year and fell in love with the lyrics.

Hold on now, I gotta take a deep breath
I don’t know what to say when I look in your eyes
You made the world before I was born
But here I am holding You in my arms tonight
Noel, Noel, Jesus our Emmanuel 

You’re here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own, but You’re here 

I don’t know how long I’m gonna have You for
But I’ll be watching when You change the world
Look at Your hands, they’re still so small
Someday You’re gonna stretch them out and save us all
Noel, Noel, God with us Emmanuel 

You’re here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own, but you’re here… you’re here 

~~~

Someday I’m gonna look back on this
The night that God became a baby boy
Someday You're gonna go home again,
But You'll leave your spirit and flood the world with joy 

You’ll be here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left me on my own, but you’re here…Alleluia, You’re here 

My First White Christmas

I will be posting my personal Christmas traditions, memories, sights, smells, tastes, etc tomorrow.  But, I thought it would be nice to share a Christmas first . . . SNOW!  Yes, it is true, this year I had my first white Christmas.  It was beautiful!  It's melting now, but I am hoping for more.

Ten Lords a-Leaping: Sara

In my career in Retail Real Estate, the reasons for the season can be slightly fogged due to Santa arriving at the mall mid-November, long hours, holiday décor being displayed for two months, customer complaints, long hours, tenant issues and did I say LONG HOURS! But there is nothing like getting off at 5:30pm Christmas Eve and looking so forward to the next 24 hours of family, friends, food, laughs, love and joy.

I am blessed to have a large family and close knit group of friends right here in Tampa where I live. Family gathers together to eat, drink and be merry and my best friends either travel home from fabulous places like New York and Washington DC or just hop in their cars and drive over from a few blocks away. During these gatherings, some of my favorite moments are quick one-on-one giggles or hugs I have with these individuals in my life who have shaped and molded my heart.

Just the other day, in a joking manner, I referred to one of my favorite verses in the bible to my friend Stacey when we were discussing Christmas party options. Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there with them.” During Christmas time, I feel the love for Christ that I share with my family and friends stronger than ever. It lights up our hearts.

Not only is Christmas a time to be with the ones we love, but it is also a time to remember those who are not with us. Almost 3 years ago, I lost my Aunt Lisa to cancer. Lisa shared her birthday with the birth of our Lord, December 25^th. For me she was a true guiding light. Her playful nature, guidance as a Christian woman and sense of humor is something that can never be replaced. She had the voice of an angel and used it to praise our Lord and Savior. Every year we would have all the fun, festive holiday desserts, as well as a birthday cake. Happy Happy Birthday Aunt Lisa, I hope that you and Jesus have a big slice of birthday cake in heaven together each year.

Sara Shipherd (a dear friend since kindergarten)

Nine Ladies Dancing: Jocelyn

Jeff, Riley and Jocelyn: Christmas 2008

 When I think of my favorite Christmas memories, I can’t help but revert back to my early childhood on Lemon Street. My grandfather lived right down the street from us and would always ride his bike down to our house to spend time with us as often as he could. Especially during the holidays, you could see and hear his joy as he entered the room singing Julio Iglesias’ ballads. I honestly cannot remember a Christmas without my grandfather singing as he entered or left.

“Baila morena, baila..que tu no bailas como ninguna….”

Not to mention…he would almost always say the same phrase before leaving a room..”Me voy con mi canto triste a otro lugar..” This translates to…”I am leaving with my sad song to another place...” I still find myself sometimes saying this when leaving my mother’s house as a tribute to him.

As you can see, the love I had for my grandfather was immense. So naturally, I was ecstatic when I received my first bicycle for Christmas. I was finally able to return the favor!!  The first thing I did was ride my bike down the street to my grandfather’s house. Little did I know that the rainbow colored bike I received from Santa would be one thing that connected him and I even more so than before. Everyday from then on, I would ride my bike to his house after school and help him as much as I could with his daily routine. We would mow the lawn…fix up cars..etc.

I cherish this memory with all my heart and remember my grandfather everyday for being one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. 

With that being said…I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas..and Now…”Me Voy Con Mi Canto Triste A Otro Lugar."

Favorite Christmas song – Mi Burrito Sabanero (traditional Spanish Christmas song…takes me back to my roots! haha).

Jocelyn Vines (my brother's sweet girlfriend)

This song is about a little boy and his donkey (burrito) en route to visit baby Jesus in Bethlehem. 

Eight Maids a Milking: Jessica

Jess, who you might remember from posts with her adorable family, did not send a photo.  So, I took the liberty of choosing one from the New Year's Eve party where she started dating her now-husband, Todd (on the left).  Dave (on the right) and Todd lived together in the floor above Jess and me for about a year.  We had a blast!

When I think of Christmas - the best, most solemn, and happiest sort of Christmas moments - ironically, I think of a place where I never spent Christmas. Living in North Carolina, snow (and even cold!) are rarities on Christmas. But in Grove City, Pennsylvania, where I attended college, you can see the snow by lamplight almost any winter night. You wear your scarf not for fashion but for warmth. Boots get snow caked in them, and - the Thursday night before Christmas vacation - you cram into pews with your best friends holding melting candles for the Candlelight service. It ends with a Christmas poem that is a compilation of verses from the Gospel of John about Christ, and then “Silent Night,” of course.  Nothing ever put me in the “Christmas spirit” more than that special service. I think it was the poem that really captures the meaning of Christmas. I do remember parts of it…the verses from John, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life…”

 

My favorite new Christmas song is Andrew Peterson’s “Labor of Love.” It made me cry the first time I heard it last year. I was pregnant and the song grippingly made me realize the reality of the incarnation, and how difficult that holy night was for Mary. Here are a few of the words:

It was not a silent night

There was blood on the ground

You could hear a woman cry

In the alleyways that night

On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean

And the cobblestones were cold

And little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

Had no mother's hand to hold…

 

I have a feeling my favorite Christmas photos will be taken in a few weeks with my new family…especially our beautiful little boy! Don’t have any yet though!

Jessica Hawk Smartt (friend, post-college roommate)

 

Seven Swans a-Swimming: Laura

  
One of the most joyous sounds of my Christmases past was the sound of Caitlin as a youngster gasping at beautiful Christmas light displays.  She would “ooohh” and “awwww” in delight as if a gift had just been given to her senses.  Which it had.
 
I had the privilege of being in New York City at Christmas time one year with Mom and Caitlin.  The Tavern on the Green in Central Park was one of Mom’s favorite spots in New York. (It’s now closing down)  It was perfect at Christmas with its thousands of lights on the trees and sculpted plants and its chandeliers inside the restaurant.  Those are sights of Christmas that come to mind.
 
Our extended family Christmases have always been full of the sweet sound of loving laughter and delight.  That is Christmas to me.

Laura Whiteside (my aunt)

the aforementioned extended family

Left to Right: Joseph, Carolyn, Joe, Laura, Jane, John, Ruia, Matt

Laura with great-niece, Haley.

 
 
 

Six Geese a Laying: Mike

Tim, Rob, Steve, Mike and Tristan

Christmas to me is about the combination of tradition and surprise.  We know Christmas is about certain decorations, songs, food, and people, yet year after year we are surprised by a gift, a card, a new dish, a new experience, a new person, or a new perspective in our lives.  I see the same dynamic in the religious significance of Christmas, for Jesus' birth is the surprise event which sits between the Old and New in the Bible.  He is born into the traditions of the Jewish religion yet he calls the world to see God in a new way through himself.
 
Favorite song: Christmas Time Is Here.

Mike Dausch (friend from Davidson College)

Five Golden Rings: Jane

The Whiteside Family at Joe and Ruia's Wedding, December 30th, 1977.

A Christmas Memory that you can relate to is the Christmas Morning when there was  knocking at the door and who should appear but Joe and Ruia [my parents] who were supposed to be in Washington D.C. where Joe was going to graduate law school.  They had driven day and night to make it home for Christmas.  They were so  young and beautiful just as you and Kenzo are now.  Enjoy it, darling Janie, the years go so fast.

My favorite carol now and always is "Silent Night," but I love them all, and new ones like "the Little Drummer Boy" are wonderful.

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Jane Whiteside (my grandmama, of course I had to give you the 5 Golden Rings for your five children!)

Grandmama, surrounded by family on Noche Buena as we gave her the following photo of all of her grandkids, including a great grandchild and two grand-son-in-laws:

 

Looking at the camera:

  

Jane Whiteside as a baby
 

Jane and Hue as young parents.  Aunt Carolyn on Hue's back.

Jane with her four oldest (left to right):  Bill, Carolyn, Laura and Ruia

Christmas . . . Carolyn, Ruia and Bill with their dad.

Her legacy:

Four Calling Birds: Caitlin

Whiteside Family Christmas.  Caitlin is in the middle with Grandmama, surrounded by her cousins.

I consider the Christmas season to officially begin in my heart when I see someone with a Christmas tree on top of their car. I saw a car yesterday with a tree sticking out of its trunk, which brought on the Christmas fuzzy-wuzzys.  I’m not a fan of having a Christmas tree in my house because I hate to watch it die, but the smell of the pine needles and the look of a brightly lit Christmas tree in the background of a warm family get together is one of my favorite things about Christmas.  

The smell of peppermint and cinnamon take me back to the time when I was younger and my mom would light a candle of the same smells. I don’t get the same glee as I once did when I see Santa, but new traditions and new belongings are always created every year when I’m surrounded by the people I love. I particularly like the sound of chaotic paper ripping that inevitably happens every year despite Grandma’s requests for everyone to open their presents one by one. It’s amazing to me that all that mess of colorful ribbons, bows and Christmas-themed wrapping can fit across the floor. But somehow we manage to decorate someone in it and clean up the mess at the end of the night.  The crisp air at night is soothed by Florida’s humidity and reminds me that we are fortunate enough to experience that tropical Christmas most people in America have always longed for, but only heard about in songs. I have never craved a white Christmas as much as most people in Florida probably have. It’s cold enough for me here.
 
Christmas traditions or memories:  Aunt Ruia puts on a Nocha Buena party every year for Christmas and she serves pork, rice and black beans, a traditional Cuban meal as I understand it. One of my favorite things about that party is that when I was younger, I was never a fan of the pork.  And every year, I would convince myself that I loved it because everyone talked about it as though it was amazing.  Then when I tried it, I would remember that I didn’t like it.  Over the years, I have grown to appreciate and look forward to the pork and every year I like it more. 

Elizabeth, Janie and Caitlin (cousins) at Noche Buena

 
Christmas is a time to feel connected to my family and friends and even strangers simply because in the end, we’re all trying to reach the same place and we all want to be reminded that when we are together we are safe and loved and we protect each other when life would otherwise seem lonely. 

Caitlin Whiteside (my cousin)
 

Three French Hens: Elizabeth

Elizabeth, Wright (her boyfriend) and Anne (her sister)
 

As time passes, life seems to get faster and responsibilities pile up.  I often think about the beauty of childhood and ache for the simplicity of that time.  I remember when summer dragged on with endless fireflies, and the first tastes of fall were enough to send me twirling spontaneously.    

The Baxter Family: Kay, Bob, Caroline, Anne and Elizabeth

    

Christmas still uniquely excites me with a childlike wonder, quite unlike the vague traces of childhood joy that other memories and seasons contain.  When I think of Christmas, I hear the crackle of fire, the laughter of friends and family lingering over a meal, and the loud jangle of the sleigh bell ribbon tied to the front door.  I see sparkly lights, furry green trees and all things shiny.  I taste hot chocolate and peppermint sticks.  But best of all, I feel alive, warm and at peace.

 
 

Ultimately, Christmas speaks power and peace to me—the power of a baby’s birth in Bethlehem and the peace of knowing that sin’s curse has been destroyed by this perfect and perfecting Savior.  Despite the remnant of suffering and hardship present in this earthly life, Christmas provides a fresh reminder to me each year that God is actively present in my journey, guiding and leading as my Emmanuel, God with me.  I have spent many Christmases dancing and sliding down the hardwood floors of my house singing Amy Grant’s “Emmanuel” at the top of my lungs.  This song will always be a favorite, and I pray that you experience God’s nearness in a very sensory way this Christmas season.

 

Elizabeth Baxter (friend from Davidson College)

 

Two Turtle Doves: Alison

Christmas traditions new and old . . . . 

My family instilled in me a deep appreciation for holiday traditions. For as long as I can remember my two brothers and I would all bring sleeping bags into one room on Christmas eve.  Dad would read 'T'was the Night Before Christmas,' and we would fall asleep together in the same room with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.  This tradition continued until I got married two years ago.   Traditions provide stability to the hectic holiday season, they instill family meaning and closeness as we gather together in a common tradition, and they create loving anticipation of what the holidays mean for our family.

When I got married, I realized that my husband and I get to establish new family traditions of our own- some stemming from his family, some from mine, and some we create on our own. One new tradition we started when we were dating was to discipline ourselves to wait to have our beloved "red-cup drinks" at Starbucks until the day we got our Christmas tree. We choose a night in December to have a special date night. We dress up in green and red, head to Home Depot to pick out our Christmas tree, then stop by Starbucks to pick up a "red-cup" drink (he loves the Eggnog Latte, and I love the Peppermint mocha) then bring home our tree to decorate that night. The fabulous smells of fresh tree needles, the warm drinks in our hands and the shared experience of picking out a tree together have allowed us to set aside a night to celebrate the beginning of a fun holiday season!

Below is a picture of me holding our red cups, with the tree attached to our car! Love this fun holiday tradition!

Alison Wheeler Dunagan (college friend, roommate and one of my maid's of honor)

 

 

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Samantha

Photo taken by Craig Grasso (Sam's dad).   top Nate (Sam's husband), Sam, Clayton (Sam's brother), Jodi (Sam's stepmom)
bottom...Arianna, Sable, Eden (Sam's sisters)

I loooove Christmas! Everything about it. The songs, the smells, the decorations, the break from work, and most importantly, thinking about my God as an infant!  That's so magical!  Christmas smells like pine trees, scotch tape, and crisp air.  I love the idea of passing down traditions and decorations.  For me, I've never had a white Christmas since I've been in Florida or San Fransisco for every single one.  We've started an ice skating tradition with my little sisters to get a little bit of a feel for what it's like!  Our other traditions are playing games, drinking eggnog, and we always do a shot of liquor Christmas morning.....weird and old tradition in our family.  It's not one that ANY of us enjoy. 

Christmas is taking a break from what you think is important, and focusing on what really is important...God and family.

Samantha Lewis (friend since 8th grade)

the 12 posts of Christmas

 

On Sunday my mom and I went to the Bucs game, which many people know, was not such a hot showing for our boys.  However, it was quality time for me to talk with my mother and spend some time together before I head out of town for Christmas and New Years.  Something she said has stuck with me: 

"Be a blessing.  Be a blessing to everyone you encounter and to everyone you are around."

At this time of year, so many people begin to count their blessings.  I think my blessings come in the many different shapes and sizes of special people in my life.  I truly am blessed to have a large number of friends and family that I love, that I feel close to and connected with, and that I turn to, anytime, for all different kinds of reasons.

I asked some of these people to share their stories of favorite Christmas memories, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, traditions and meanings with me.  I have really enjoyed getting to read their various responses.  Over the next few days I will be sharing their stories with you as we count down the days until Jesus' Birthday.  One thing I learned in church last week is that the 12 days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day and go to January 6th.  The days leading up to Christmas are Advent.  My 12-posts-of-Christmas will be around Christmas-time and not so concerned with hitting the nail on the head.

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Lauren & Brad

 

Her eyes sparkle.  Her smile is contagious.  She is beautiful.  And she is beautifully in love with her fiancé.

Brad asked Lauren to be his wife in the middle of a lake on the fourth of July.  They live near water, she grew up near water, they love the water . . . so naturally, water had to be a part of our engagement photos.

Lauren loves "vintage" so I took some liberties to make her engagement photos exactly what she was hoping for.

 Enjoy.

You might recognize the setting of the next two shots from their teaser . . .

And they lived happily ever after.

 

How He Loves Us

I love how music can touch something deep within you, without you even knowing that it need to be touched, or that it was even there.  Some songs are composed in a way that the lyrics and music together simply speak to you, your soul, your current situation, or just an emotion inside of you.  For me, David Crowder's new song, "How He Loves Us" has been doing that over the past couple of weeks and especially this weekend.

On Saturday I felt like I watched from my living room as this song was played out in front of me.  The weather was cold, rainy and windy.  The grey skies cast a somber mood over the lake.  But the wind and the rain made the trees and the plants look as if they were dancing.  As I looked out the window the lyrics that have been going through my head for days came to life.  I threw on a sweatshirt, grabbed my camera and went out to get swept away in the dance.

Like all of the songs I post, you need QuickTime to be able to play it.

He is jealous for me.

Loves like a hurricane,

I am a tree.

Bending beneath the weight of his wind

and mercy . . .

. . .When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory . . .

. . . and I realize just how beautiful you are . . .

. . . and how great your affections are for me.

Oh.  How he loves us, oh . . .

. . . oh, how he loves us.  How he loves us, oh."

 

On a different note, while I was researching the song a little bit this past weekend, I came upon the "Official Music Video" and I thought that it had to be a joke.  I had never seen what David Crowder looked like and I don't know what I expected, but it just took me by surprise.

Super fun Seniors, Part I

I know that some people have been waiting for me to post the rest of the senior photo session for awhile.  I am sorry.  I have been so busy!  Two more weeks of school and then I get a break!  But, no excuses, right?  Sometimes I shoot myself in the foot by taking way too many photos of my beautiful, fun-loving clients, that I cannot narrow it down to just a few to share.   So, here is Part I of these awesome seniors.  

Again, I have to say, how much more full of life could you be?  These seniors are friends for many reasons, but one awesome bond that they have is Hyde Park Presbyterian Church youth group.  They have grown in their friendships with one another and their relationship with God through hours spent having fun and delving into real-life issues together.  Ashley, Bradley, Kayla, Rachel, Mark and Lande- thank you for such a fun photo shoot.  You guys rock!  I wish you all a wonderful end to your senior year!  Follow your dreams and continue to pursue Christ and you cannot go wrong.

 

A Kiss {teaser}

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am:

Thankful for kisses.

Thankful for friends.

Thankful for family.

Thankful for love.

What are you thankful for?

Also, I am thankful that I have a lot more photos to share from Lauren and Brad's engagement session, but it might be a couple of weeks, so enjoy this short teaser.

 

Kathryn & Matt

From the moment they first met, Kathryn knew that she liked Matt.  That was in the fall of 2005. Their friendship grew over the next few months as they hung out in a large group of friends.   Kathryn waited patiently.  Matt finally asked her out on a date in June of 2006. 

 

They dated.  And in the process they fell in love. 

 

Fast forward three years to this fall.  They were at Cedarkirk, a camp that has been very meaningful to them, especially Matt.  He made the perfect plan to pop the question, but it rained.  So, he implemented plan B. 

 

They sat in rocking chairs on the back porch of Cedar Lodge.  Kathryn’s dog, Manchester Beautiful Carlton, “Manny” for short, ate plants while they talked.  Matt played Kathryn a song.  She did not realize what was actually happening.  He got on his knee and he asked her to marry him. 

 

She said yes.  

Click here to listen to the song that Matt played for Kathryn while you view their full-of-fun-&-love engagement photos.

These are the rocking chairs they were hanging out on when Matt popped the question, so of course, we had to get a shot here.

The next series with Manny is so fun . . . 

. . . kiss for Kathryn . . .

. . . happy family, good dog . . .

. . . and kiss for Matt.

Manny  was all over the place and happened to step in front of the camera as we were getting ready for the shot below.

Such a sweet and real moment captured.  Kathryn looks at Matt this way all of the time.

It started getting darker and we wanted some shots with this cool mildewing fence and these amazing trees.  It just happened to be someone's backyard, but thankfully K&M were up for being adventurous and happily hopped the fence to play.

I literally think that I might have squealed when I looked at my camera after taking this shot.  I love it!

Yay for playfulness.

And then, we found the coolest place for photos ever and grabbed some last shots before the rain came and the sun set.

Kathryn's expression and natural beauty in this shot, in this style, could not be more perfect. 

"I'll be here
when the sky turns gray 
The sun goes blind
and the moon won't stay 
I'll be the light to guide your way
onto some place new 
I'll be here
when the crowd is gone 
The last note fades on the very last song
I'll be the road to take you home 
I'll be here for you"

-Robert Earl Keen

A World Wide Open

I love high school students.  They are adventurous, enthusiastic and energetic.  They love to laugh and they love to have fun.

They are full of hopes and dreams for their future.

And they have a world wide open to them.

I had to go with these more artistic shots for the teaser.  They somehow capture the essence of what I see in these "kids."  More to come soon.

Beautiful ~ {teaser}

  

Beautiful light.  Beautiful love.  Beautiful couple.

 Beautiful engagement session.

More photos to come.

Creativity & Nature

"Try to be surprised by something everyday . . .

. . . Life is a stream of experiences . . .

. . . Swim widely and deeply in it . . .

. . . and your life will be richer."

That quote came directly out of my text book for Human Growth and Development in a section about creativity.  It is the first of six ways to "cultivate your curiosity and interest," which is the first step toward a more creative life.  Researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihali interviewed 90 leading figures in art, business, government, education, and science to learn how creativity works.  From his study, he concluded that "everyone is capable of achieving flow; a heightened state of pleasure experienced when we are engaged in mental and physical challenges that absorb us."  

So what are the six ways Csikzentmihali says we can cultivate our curiosity and interests and thus live more creative lives?

1. Try to be surprised by something every day.
2. Try to surprise at least one person every day.
3. Write down each day what surprised you and how you surprised others.
4. When something sparks your interest, follow it.
5. Wake up in the morning with a specific goal to look forward to.
6. Spend time in settings that stimulate your curiosity.

Santrock, J.  Life Span Development, pg 434.  2009.

Wishing you a more creative day today!

Keeping up with the Joneses . . .

. . . could not have been more fun!  First, you have Lindsey and Mike, a couple who is in love with each other and with their two adorable kids.  Then you have baby Carter, who was 1.5 weeks old when we took these photos and oh-so-cute.  I was amazed of how many photos I was able to get with his eyes open.  His parents were loving his red hair!  And then there was Natalie.  She stole the show with her big blue eyes and infectious laughter.  I could not help but take tons of photos of her!  

Enjoy love.  Enjoy family.  Enjoy baby cuteness and little girl smiles.  Enjoy life.  Enjoy the Jones Family.

Begin mom & dad & baby series . .  .

I mean seriously, how could you not love this little, wrinkled, new-born face?

Moment. Captured.

Begin Natalie's show (co-stars, mom and dad) . . .

Mike asked me if I could think of a way to get his tattoo into a photo.  I LOVE the way it turned out!

Do you remember playing like this?  

The End.

Reader's Choice

I've been talking to a few people lately about the ridiculous capabilities of PhotoShop.  It is amazing.  You can literally change a photo to look like whatever you want (photographers are cringing right now as I give away this secret).  But it is true and all photographers use it.  I have been learning a ton and enjoying seeing the dynamic capabilities of this photo editing software.  Tonight, I played around with this photo.  The top is a "trendy/modern" contrast effect.  The bottom is just a little boost in the contrast.  

So . . . readers' choice, which do you like better?  (I love it if you'd be willing to share your opinion with me.)

Rockin' Halloween Party

I had the opportunity to photograph a rockin' eighth grade halloween party last weekend.  Look at these cool kids and their awesome costumes.  They had a blast: they danced; screamed when "Jason" showed up mask and all; belted out the lyrics to every song, especially Taylor Swift; told secrets; laughed; took pictures and just enjoyed being young and cute.  These are just a few of my favorites from the night.  

I really like this picture . . . it kind of reminds me of Saved by the Bell, or something based in the days gone by.  So, I edited it to look like an aged photograph from an 80s party.

Mario and Luigi won an award for best costumes.

I like the Batman in Gotham City effect in this photo.

The Birthday Boy

Kenzo will laugh when he sees that I posted this photo.  We were in Guatemala, sitting in a stair-well, waiting for a rainstorm to pass and I snapped it.  He wanted me to erase it.  "Heck no, this is your model photo!" was my response. 

Today he turned the big 2-6.  We celebrated with a sushi date last night and a late night, post-class, slice of pumpkin cake tonight.

Happy Birthday Babe!  

I love you.

Pumpkin Carving

Pizza, pumpkin & blueberry flavored beer and a little pumpkin carving was the perfect way to get in the Halloween mood.  Kenzo's over ambitious Davidson Wildcat turned out to be just the outline when the whole face fell into the middle.  Kendall's bird and John's USF Bull rocked the house.  Brian and I played it safe with a typical Halloween skull and a jack-o-lantern.  And Thea did a great job with her second attempt at a "V".

Happy Halloween!

{adorability}

{a•dor•a•bil•i•ty}: worthy of being adored, lovable, and charming.

So much more to come from this adorable family.

Guatemalan Coffee ... mmmmm, mmmmm, good!

I finally made the final order of prints for the coffee shop.  I am so excited!  Dan, sorry to keep you waiting.  Once they're all up, I will definitely take a picture of the display so that you can see.  Kenzo and I got to visit a coffee plantation this past summer in Guatemala.  Unfortunately, I only bought one pound of the coffee, so it is long gone, but it was delicious!  I definitely recommend checking out a plantation if you ever have the opportunity.  Happy weekend!!

Todd, Jess, & Sam

My friend Jess has been waiting patiently for two weeks for me to post these photos of her adorable family.  You got a sneak peak in Playing in a Pumpkin Patch and Love., but finally here they all are for you to enjoy.

Warning: if you view these and do not smile, you should probably go see a doctor, because something must be wrong.

I'm in love with the next four photos of Samuel.

I LOVE Samuel's eyes and whole expression in this photo.

Could you be a little bit cuter, please?

Beautiful mommy.

Love this mommy-son moment I caught while we were waiting for dad.

I think this face means, "I know you all think that I am cute, but seriously, I'm done with taking photos."

Love as Music

Click play to listen the song to which Will and Emily exited the church as husband and wife.

Have you ever witnessed love as music?  I experienced this, first hand, two weeks ago at Will and Emily's wedding.  They both have a love for music, family, friends and especially each other that could not help but touch every little corner of their wedding weekend in Asheville, NC.  These are just a few of the photos from their beautiful rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  I did not take very many at their wedding since I was on the dance floor with my adorable husband.  Enjoy.

on to the rehearsal dinner . . .

Will surprised Emily at the end of the dinner with a serenade, sung to the violin alongside her two brothers.  It was really special!

and on to the post-dinner, music jam and hang out . . .

dear happy couple, we wish you a happy new life together!

Music

Music.

Play it. Live it.

Make it.

Listen and dance to it.

Sing it out loud or inside your head.

Enjoy it.

Music is one of life's everyday gifts.

Life's Everyday Gifts

"Enjoy life's everyday gifts."

That was the DOVE Promise I just unwrapped in an indulgent piece of dark chocolate.  Mmmmmmmm, my favorite.  I think a moment of three siblings doing just that, "enjoying everyday gifts," was captured above.  They were looking at photos we had just taken and as you can see, found them pretty funny.  These are the Holbrooks and they are gifts to each other.  Just from being around them, you can tell that this family loves each other so much and thoroughly enjoys one another's company.  Last weekend their older sister Emily, got married to the love of her life, Will.  I had the privilege of being a guest and a photographer at their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  From the words that people said during rehearsal dinner toasts, Will and Emily both are good at "enjoying life's everyday gifts."  They have entered a new phase, where one of life's everyday gifts is being married to your best friend.  I enjoy that everyday gift too.  Right now, as I sit in the library studying for a mid-term, my husband is sitting across from me.  Every once in awhile, he looks up and smiles (and I think is trying to see if I am still studying...which I am, I just take a 10 minute break every 1.25 hours).  

I cannot wait to share the rest of the photos of this beautiful celebration.  Until then, I have a challenge for you: Identify at least one of life's everyday gifts that you can enjoy today.  (And, share it with someone you know OR leave it as a comment below).  Happy weekend!

My Sweet Carolina

A Sweet Carolina sunset from the balcony of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.  We had this breath-taking sight during the cocktail hour of Emily and Will's reception.

Sweet Carolina fall leaves and water on an afternoon hike in Asheville with Sarah Dannals and Emily and Evans Presley-McGowan.  It was refreshing to be in such beauty catching up with good friends.

And one more from the Grove Park Inn, taken a few minutes earlier than the first photo.

You might notice that my posts are much shorter this week, it is because I have a mid-term next Thursday and then another one the following Wednesday.  Both of which I am supposed to be studying for . . . so Kenzo will probably kill me when he sees this post.  But, I cannot help it.  I easily get distracted by photography.  It's just so fun.  Plus, having been out of school for 5 years now, it is so hard to study for multiple hours in a row without a break.  Anyway, I will probably be M.I.A. over the next little while because I am going to have to strap myself down and learn, learn, learn.  Wish me luck ;) !

Love.

I could not help it, I had to share this adorable family photo with you.  I LOVE the color and expressions in the image.  

And how can you not fall in love with Sam in this shot?

Lot's more to come.  For now, be happy, be at peace, be fulfilled and be loved.

Playing in a Pumpkin Patch

I am sitting in the Charlotte Airport after an awesome weekend away.  Unfortunately it is going to be a lot of traveling, because I got routed through Miami to get to Tampa.  Naturally.  Anyway, since we flew through Charlotte, I had the opportunity to hang out with some of our best friends this afternoon: Jess and Todd . . . and Sam.  The four of us went over to this little store to shoot some fun fall family photos.  When we downloaded them, Jess had the idea of coloring the pumpkins in this one.  I love the effect.  More photos from the weekend to come.  For now, I am making my way back to hot Florida, and going to be missing the crisp NC air and the colors of fall.    

Her Journey

Tonight I had the unique privilege of getting to hear about someone I love's self-reflection of her place in this journey we call life.  My cousin Caitlin, agreed to let me interview her for a project that I have to do for one of my classes.  She spent over an hour on the phone, honestly answering questions about her outlook on her life, relationships, schooling, work, future, past, experience of loss, experience of hope, etc.  Needless to say, I loved every moment of it.  Caitlin, moved from Florida to Arizona about two years ago...it was a big move, she had never lived anywhere but Tampa.  The past two years have had ups and downs for her, but through it all, she has beautifully grown into her young adulthood.  She will be leaving Arizona soon to come to Tampa for the holidays before moving to Equador to work with a humanitarian organization helping a community of indigenous families assimilate into their neighboring city.  When asked what she was passionate about, Caitlin's quick response was "justice."  And to her, justice encompasses so many things, but one thing that stood out to me was "giving people the opportunity to have their voice heard.  Letting them share their story in their own words."  A cord was struck in my heart, as this is what my thesis at Davidson College was all about.  Now, Caitlin is putting her passion into action as she moves to Equador and works with families whose stories have been quieted, and who have been marginalized by a dominant community  that had discriminated against their indigenous values, beliefs and culture.  I cannot wait to hear what she learns from this experience.  Caitlin, THANK YOU for sharing your story with me tonight!   I am so excited for where you are on your journey and privileged to get to be on the road with you.  Can't wait to have you home for a little while!

Two additional comments: 1- there are 2 more days to sign up for the fall campaign for Global Fast.  Our team now has 14 people...we're looking for 11 more.  PLEASE consider giving voice to other's stories by providing clean water to a community.  Go here right now and sign up.  It is simple and life-changing. 2- this photo was taken in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala where Kenzo lived for a month this past summer.

The Island of Flores

These past couple of weeks have been crazy busy for both Kenzo and me.  About a week ago, as he was getting up to run out the door, he said "I feel like I can't even catch my breath."  Do you ever feel like that?  Finding time to catch a breath and even more, to hang out together in the midst of medical school, work, grad school, working out, his honor council duties, trying to keep our apartment clean, dinner, grocery shopping, spending time with friends and family . . . you know, life, has been a little difficult lately.  Things are good, our lives are full, we are happy...but it would be SO nice to just enjoy a little "slice of heaven" for a weekend.  These photos from our last stop in Guatemala remind me of the kind of get-away I would want - a good blend of adventure and relaxation.   We're headed to Asheville, NC on Friday for a Will and Emily's wedding, so maybe that will be the get-away we need, although Kenzo does have a test the next Monday morning.  Anyway, we spent our last day in Guatemala on the Island of Flores, which is about 45 minutes away from Tikal.  It was really really hot, so once we found a hostel to stay in (at $8/night!), we changed into our suits and jumped in the lake.  I think we sat in there for like 2 hours, talking to other travelers from Europe about their adventures in Guatemala.  We then spent the evening sampling Pina Coladas and appetizers at several of the restaurants that lined the outside of the tiny island.  That is where these photos come from...a place that was peaceful and fun.  Hope that you can enjoy the mix of color, personality and peacefulness in these photos.

On a completely separate note, check out the new page on my blog.  If you know of any seniors who want some fun, personalized photos, send them my way!

A Beautiful Thing

"Two people in love, love, love, love, love . . . is a beautiful thing!" 

Those words come from a country song by Paul Brandy and I have to admit that I completely agree. I had a blast taking these engagement photos of Sarah and Michael over a year ago (before I was a blogger...hence the fact that they never made it to the blog).  There are a lot of kissing photos . . . which was all me, telling them to sneak a smootch for the camera.  I have been meaning to post these photos for awhile and was reminded to do so this past Monday evening as we celebrated the engagement of Sarah's sister Christina. Tony asked Christina to spend the rest of her life with him this past Saturday. He actually tied a fake ring to a fishing pole that she pulled up, when she looked at him, he was on his knees with the real ring. How cute! Our friends cannot be more excited for the two of them . . . so, hopefully I will be taking their engagement photos at some time (wink, wink, Christina). For now, enjoy the love between Michael and Sarah Hart, who have been husband and wife since January. Since I have been m.i.a for over a week now, I'm giving you a big-ol-dose of love. 

We started out on Bayshore Boulevard . . .

This is FUN lighting and such a cute moment!

and then we headed to Ybor City for a more "urban feel" . . .

I feel like these two photos could be in a modeling catalog.

Let's be honest, you two could be in a movie with this shot!

I LOVE the expressions and the feel of these two photos.

I had to make this one "old" looking.  So fun!

Perfect lighting...love it!

Global Fast (Guest Photographers/Videographers)

 I did not take any of the photos in this post.  They're all being used with permission from Generosity Water. 

This past spring and summer I participated in Global Fast with a group of 25 friends.  We knew that there was a water crisis on our planet . . . that there are 1 billion people in the world who do not have access to clean water . . . and we wanted to do something to change that.  So, we each fasted one meal a week for a few months and donated the money we would have spent on that meal to "our water project."  By the end of a few months, we raised enough money to fund a well for a the small village of Xulu, Uganda.  

Our goal was to get kids like these to stop having to drink water like this . . .

. . . and instead, have access to water like this . . .

. . . so that young women would not have to miss school to walk four hours each way to a "water hole" like this . . .

. . . but instead, in their own community, could drink water like this . . .

 . . . and with a small personal sacrifice, we did it.  The well we built will serve 500 people in Xulu, for at least 20 years.

Global Fast partners with Generosity Water to build these wells.  You can learn a lot more about it by actually visiting each of their websites.  But, one thing that I will say, is that both do a great job of keeping you up to date with the change that you're making.  They even invited some of our teammates to go to Uganda in October and visit Xulu.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to go, but Michael Muniz, (our team leader and the guy in the video below) is going to represent our team.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to see the photos!!

This fall Global Fast has an even bigger vision.  We want 250 people to give $10/meal for 12 weeks.  If we achieve this goal, we will collectively raise $30,000 and with that we can build 10 wells that will give clean water to over 4,000 people.  I am helping by building a team of 25 people (or couples).  Our current team consists of Walker, Jeff, the Cone's, the Beaudry's, the Morrell's and the Koike's.  We started fasting this past Wednesday and will be going until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  We're looking for about 19 other people (or couples) to join us in the fast.  Will you consider doing so?  It's a small sacrifice of 12 meals out of your life that can change the lives of an entire community.

To join our team:

• Go to http://globalfast.org
• Click on "Fall Campaign, Join Now".
• Click "add to cart".
• Enter your information.
• In the "How did you hear about us?" field, put Janie which will let them know you're on this team.
  

We would love to have you be a part of this life-changing endeavor!  If you have any questions, feel free to email me.  

Together we're replacing this contaminated drinking water with clean, potable water.