The first day of the rest of our life...

An Idaho Barn - gotta love the hipstamatic.

After six weeks of speculation, tomorrow we will begin living rurally.   The bank has recieved word that everything has gone through and we are a go.

This is something that seriously Mike and I have been talking about for ten years.  We'd talk to each other about it as we fell asleep at night or when I was having a bad day Mike would let me lay my head on his lap as he described our future "farm".   The kids would draw pictures of it - we'd read books about it - it was often a subject of our prayers.  I have yearned for it - ached deep down in my gut to have it.  And now we are getting it.  Isn't that strange?  I'm not sure if I really believed that would happen in this life.  I often wondered if I wouldn't get it until the next life - that my heaven would be a big beautiful farm.  I still hope it is.

And I'm embarrassed to admit that when we first started the process of buying this home that instead of being ecstatic - I was terrified.  I've never lived rurally before.  Maybe I was wrong - maybe I didn't really want this.  And my stress lasted for weeks.  I think the Lord must have been slightly bothered with me since he was giving me EXACTLY the thing I dreamed of.  Honestly, Mike and I often ask each other what our dream day would look like - not a vacation or a Saturday - a perfect day of the week.  Where do we live, what does it look like, what do we do with our time?  And I am not kidding you when I say that everything - down to what it looks like out our window is what I imagined.  Saying that makes me get teary-eyed.  I really feel like all of those years the Lord was taking notes and in his due time, delivered it.  Wow.  Keep hoping and praying for your dreams.  And trust the Lord. 

Honestly, it really wasn't until about ten days ago that I finally came out of that craziness and realized, "Are you kidding me?  We're going to be so HAPPY!"    And we are.  WE ARE GOING TO LOVE IT!  I am so so grateful.  I really am.  And the best part of it all is that I get to do it with Mike.  He is my everything.  For real.  And we are going to rock this farm life thing.

In the end, I just want to say - go for your dreams.  Really ask yourself how you want to spend this life - what do you REALLY want to do.  And then don't spend another minute on paths that won't take you there.  Pray, work, hope, and trust that you'll get what you want.  I really think the Lord gives us our desires - our personalities - to help us achieve the unique mission he has for every one of us.  So, even if everyone around you thinks you're crazy - go for it.  And don't worry about all of the finger-waggers and nay-sayers.  You don't want to be like them anyway.  Take counsel from the Lord.  Ponder, pray, and discover what you were made to be.  And then go for it.

The Rodabough Family

My last session while being a resident of Utah was with Lindy and her family.  For their session we headed up to Wallsburg, Utah which was a beautiful place to take pictures.  Not only was it an amazing location but Lindy is a true Wallsburger - in fact, her fifth great grandfather was William Madison Wall who Wallsburg is named after.  Pretty cool, eh?  She grew up in the same house that her family has lived in for nearly 100 years.  These images were taken in one of the many pastures her family has in that darling little valley.  I love love love taking pictures in places that mean something to my clients.  And what a fun group of boys she and Robby have.  They just exude happiness...

Giddyup.

Last Saturday we moved out of our beloved house and off of our dreamy cul-de-sac.  It was hard.  After we moved out we went and stayed at Mike's brother's house until we were ready to drive out on Tuesday morning.  We were waiting for Mike's parents who are helping us drive the truck and the cars up to Washington.  Along the way we stopped by the Airforce Museum, had a flat tire, and saw the beautiful Utah/Idaho countryside.  And since I am slightly obsessed with the trendy hipstamatic camera on my phone, I recorded it all with that.  The hipstamatic is pretty cool - it's pretty much adding something akin to actions right in the phone to make them look like old lo-fi film cameras.  It's really fun and kind of like film you don't really know what you're going to get.  These images are untouched except for resizing for web.  This is how they looked straight out of phone... so here goes...

As for updates... we were supposed to be closing on our house and moving in today but there was a problem with the well so we have to wait until that is straightened out.  Luckily Mike's parents have been VERY gracious  to let us stay in Boise until next week some time - not to mention all the driving/flying they have been doing on our behalf.

The Weeks Family

Because of my tight schedule with the move - the Weeks and I had a very abbreviated session.  I wish we could have spent more time together in their beautiful home with their beautiful kids but it just wasn't meant to be.  Luckily, we had some great light and some cute kids which makes beautiful images...

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, my love.

Thirty-two years ago the love of my life was born.    I know it's a cliche' to say this but Michael is the best thing that ever happened to me.  I keep retyping this sentence because I can't find the right way to say that I love him more than anything in the world.  He is in a category all by himself when it comes to how I feel.  No one will ever come close.  He's kind, generous, unselfish, clever, tender-hearted, determined, hard-working, totally hot, a great dad, and the best friend I'll ever have.    I have a feeling that this year is going to be his best yet and that he will continue to amaze me with his greatness.


Happy Birthday, my love. 

p.s.  Here's an old image from college with Elijah as a baby.  I love this picture for several reasons - one of which is that my affection for him is clearly visible...

...on his neck.

The Adair Jr. Family

Sometimes sessions are serendipidously awesome.  The Adair's session had been cancelled because of weather earlier in the week and I was so busy I wasn't sure if we could fit them in again.  But at the last minute we found a spot for them before another session and it rocked.  We trespassed into an abandoned house's backyard and created some beautiful moments.  Take a look...

 

 

 

 

"Nothing New" Check In

A few months after I moved back to Utah a reoccurring dream started.  I find myself in a huge thrift store and as I walk through it I discover endless amounts of beautiful items for only a few dollars a piece.  Each dream the things I find are a little different but usually it includes old cameras and beautiful chairs.  It's my favorite dream now - which is telling of my vanity. 

Anyhow, I thought I'd give you my first update on how only buying used is going.  Saturday after I sold all of the stuff I've been hanging onto but not loving I decided to check KSL's classifieds out to see if there was anything new to spend my cash on.  And I found a mid-century king sized headboard for only $25 - which I promptly snatched up.  I love it but found that our modern mattresses are a lot thicker than our middle of the century forebear's so I'm going to need to rig something up so it fits better.   I'll post better pics once it looks beautiful.

And over the weekend I realized the pressure cooker from Costco that I've been waiting to buy would now be out of reach.  I was bummed because I've been really looking forward to getting that.  Uncharacteristically for me, I checked ebay and found the SAME pressure cooker - refurbished by the manufacturer - and ten dollars cheaper.  So, I ordered it.  And how pleased I was with myself.

But then a true test of my new goal was presented and I failed it.  For the past year and a half I haven't had a cell phone.  I've been holding out on getting a plan so I could get an iphone cheaper.  Well, about a month ago my babies broke both of our portable house phones so we were down to our one non-portable corded phone.  And it's been a real inconvenience.  I like to talk on the phone a little more that I'm proud of but talking on the phone with young-ins' requires the ability to change diapers, sit outside, and generally check on them.  Which meant that I was frustrated for the past month.  And that brings us to yesterday.  Yesterday I was having one of those amazing conversations with a new found soul mate when someone jumped on me - hitting the phone strangely and killing it.  It was gone.  I have no idea what happened but in an instant my ability to communicate with my friends, my clients, anyone without a skype account, was over.  So I went to the AT&T store - remembering on the way that I was only supposed to buy used.  And when I got there and asked about refurbished and they said I'd have to order one and it'd be a while, I caved and bought a new phone.  I know, I know - it was a bad idea.  But at least I'm being honest.  Looking back, I should have gone to a thrift store, bought a cheap house phone, and then ordered a refurbished iphone.  But the immediate need and the strong covetous desire for an iphone got the best of me.  But I hope that it taught me a lesson.

Anyhow, I'm still stoked about the year ahead.  And I'm still waiting for my friends and family to bring me their old paint.

And I love my lazily purchased new phone.

The McDonald Family

I don't usually take extended family pictures but since I know Heather I decided to make an exception.  And I'm so glad I did!  What a beautiful family!  The McDonald's have 6 gorgeous daughters so my job was a breeze!

 

 

 

That last image is one of my most favorite images ever - it's three generations of beautiful women.  I absolutely can't stop looking at it!

The Adair Family

I love taking pictures of kids - I really do.  Especially when they're boys full of energy and giggles.  So, the Adair session was really a kick for me.  What cute boys - what a fun family with some rival team fans - brother against brother.  I love it! 

 

 

 

 

The Rojas Family

Sometimes when you meet someone it's like a jolt of electricity goes through you and you immediately feel like you've always known them.  Actually, I say sometimes, but it's only happened to me once and that was with Karen.  I love Karen.  She's sassy, funny, honest, and full of love.  Both Karen and Carlos are the type of friends you hope you stay friends with through this life and the next.  So of course we are sad to move but hopefully relationships like that are able to handle a little distance.  We had them over for dinner and decided off the cuff to do some family pictures just down the street from where we live.  I love pictures like that because everyone is so relaxed that we can often get some really beautiful shots.  Which we did...