Christian + Naloni {i do}

What better way to start the new year then to blog the last wedding of last year : )  Well here it is.  Last year seemed like a whirlwind for me, and if I’m being honest, by about mid-October I started feeling a little overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with questions like, where would my business go in 2012? how would I get myself published? do I even want to get myself published? will I ever feel like I totally know what I’m doing? should I focus on more than one area of photography? should I advertise more….the questions kept coming and coming and by the end of October I decided I wasn’t shooting anything at all in the month of December.

Well. Who am I kidding?  I got a call the end of November that piqued my curiosity. A small wedding. The middle of December. A Christmas wedding.

I booked it and I can’t express in words how grateful I am that I did.  To the Staff/Canada/Brown/Lee families.  You reminded me of why I started photographing weddings.  You reminded me that it’s not about the advertising, the getting published, the projected business growth.  Truly.  It’s about this little boy 10 years from now, who will crawl up on his mommies lap and ask to see their story.

Their love story.

Maybe this post was mostly for me, something I can re-read when I start feeling overwhelmed.  Or maybe it’s my way of reminding everyone to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.  Whatever the case may be- Christian and Naloni (and your amazing families : )  thank-you for letting me be a part of your day. Thank-you for the reminder of what this “business” is really all about. I’m forever grateful.

Love Deeply.

Finding answers {my life}

I still remember the first time I spoke to my dad.  I was 11 years old, standing in front of a desk in a CPS office.  I remember that it was sunny that day, the sun felt warm on my skin as I stood there with a thousand questions running thru my mind.  I always wondered what I would say when I first spoke to him.  I wondered what he looked like now.  Did I have his dark hair? Did I have his eyes?  Did I have any of his mannerisms?  More importantly, would he love me like a Daddy loves his little girl? Was he the missing piece of this puzzle I called my life?

 

I couldn’t put those questions into words at the age of 11.  So I asked him why he left. I remember him taking a deep breath and telling me that we had a lot to talk about…

 

That’s all I remember about that day. I don’t remember where I went afterwards or what I did afterwards.  But I remember those moments so clearly.  Twenty-one years has passed since that day.  I’ve gotten my answers to those questions.  I have his dark hair, and his lack of hair (we’re part Chinese).  I have his eyes and his skin tone. I have his love of Sushi and Chinese food and Mexican food.  I share in his love of a good movie, and photography and culture.  I’ve discovered we both love coffee. More importantly, over the last twenty-one years, we’ve both grown.  The Lord has healed the parts that have needed healing in both of us.  He loves me like I always imagined a Daddy would love his little girl.  And at different moments, I’ve seen and felt the depth my Heavenly Father loves me.

 

I couldn’t be more thankful. I couldn’t feel more love. And if I could turn back time, I would go thru it all over again, just to learn the lessons I’ve learned.

Love Deeply.

My boy {my life}

 

Tonight I said, “good-night my 5 year old, tomorrow you’ll be my 6 year old.”  And he smiled at me.  Six years ago I had no idea how much my heart would change.  I also had no idea how long it would now take me to run errands, or clean the house, or dry my hair, or get dressed.  But there’s nothing I would change about the last 6 years.  Something about the last 6 years has changed me.  This boy has completely taken over my heart.  I’m thankful for all he has taught me and continues to teach me.  He reminds me daily that nothing is more important than spending time together.

This afternoon when he got home from school, he climbed up on my lap and told me all about his day.  How this boy said this to Mrs. Haughn, how he almost tripped walking back to class, how he looked for a sucker for Samuel in the treasure box but there wasn’t one and how sometimes he just likes to play by himself at recess (he totally gets that from his Dad).  I asked him if he would still climb on my lap when he turns 12. He thought for a second. Then pointed out that he’ll be much taller than me by then, so I can sit on his lap  : )  I love him.

Happy Birthday my little Mikey. I love you up to the moon and back.

Love Deeply.

School days {my life}

We’re finally settling into our new routine around here, and if I’m being honest I would say I’m finally settling into our new routine.  A routine that involves me leaving my kindergartner for 4 hours a day, picking kids up, making sure the little boys are down for naps by a certain time.  All of that fun stuff.  And while there are still times throughout my day that I miss my little guy, I’m learning to be OK with that.   He has settled very well into kindergarten, in fact he’s more than settled. He’s loving every single bit of it.  It amazes me how much he’s learning and absorbing.  And it’s been nice to see that he has his Daddy’s “over-achiever” gene.  A gene that his mother knows nothing of- at least not academically speaking  ; )

Last month, he came home with a note safety pinned to his shirt. Because when you’re in kindergarten, you might not give your mother important papers that the teacher sent home.

That note invited us to their monthly Flag Ceremony (you know, where they raise the flags, salute the flags and sing songs like “God Bless America” or “The Star Spangled Banner”) I love it.  So off we went, just he and I-

I didn’t realize it was homecoming that night, so they had their own little pep-rally.  This involved a dance off.  This was something I don’t think he really understood-

So instead of dancing, like everyone else was. He stood there. With his hands in his pockets. The. Entire. Time.

Yep. Just like his Daddy.

The Pep Rally was over and they started handing out awards by grade.  And for the next few moments, I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled at him.  He’s growing up that little guy.  And I couldn’t be prouder.

Love Deeply

Darin loves Leslie {i do}

I’ve been looking forward to shooting Darin and Leslie’s wedding for quite awhile.  When we met to discuss their wedding details she described what she wanted her wedding to look like.  She had me at- “my bridesmaids are wearing cowboy boots”  ; )  Well last Saturday- her vision came to life- and I couldn’t have been more excited to photograph everything.  We also talked about her wedding colors, and her flowers and then I asked Darin how he felt about the wedding planning.  He made me laugh when he said he was glad their wedding date wouldn’t fall on a big sports day (think College football, the NBA playoffs, the Superbowl)  Yep. I knew his type…I married one of those  ; )  And coincidently- on their wedding day- Al Davis passed away and the Raiders won.   Which reminds me of something- I’m fascinated with this whole NBA lockout thing.  I don’t completely understand it- but thankfully my husband is humoring me and trying- read: shaking his head while taking a deep breath- to explain it to me.

Ok- enough sports talk.  Good Lord what’s wrong with me.

Lets start with the dress-

 

Happy shriek when I saw her bouquet!

Three generations looking into that mirror.  I love this moment-

On our way to their first look-

I don’t usually post the formal pictures- but with colors like this- I couldn’t help it.

 

A few details from the reception-

I’m craving one of these as we speak. They were d-i-v-i-n-e..

I’m a total sucker for little boys in ties. Aren’t they the cutest?!

Guess who’s on her way-

Beautiful girl-

Darin and Leslie had the sweetest ceremony.  The words they spoke about each other were heartfelt, it made their ceremony so personal.

What I love about this venue (well there’s many things I loved, but) I love that its a ranch and a winery.  We were still able to get lost a bit in the vineyards, but there was lots of cool places to photograph around-

Leslie. Stop being so gorgeous.

I mean it!

Darin- you cleaned up very well.

Love this one-

After dinner, the bride’s sisters gave a toast. And for the record- it was the best toast I’ve ever heard.

Darin and Leslie- I know you’re going to have a long happy marriage.  And I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you asked me to be a part of your wedding day.  You are both beautiful people inside and out.  xoxo.

(and Darin- go Lakers ; ) well, when they start going that is…)

Love Deeply