photographing life

a mother's hands

2012-02-12T23:43:00.001-08:00

experienced hands reach out

eager to hold her 7th child

she cradles his small torso to her body

happy in this moment, forgetting the labor

her fingers graze his face at 9 months

he is satisfied after eating, sleeping in her care

her arms swing downward

guarding her toddler as new learns to walk

her guidance keeping him from stumbling

her embrace sends him to the classroom to learn

about new things and start the formation of his being

her head lands in her palms as she cleans his first serious scrape

he was such a boy, everywhere at once, his legs couldn't keep up

she blows him a kiss when he is 13, to remind him to always have eyes for his mother

the best woman of them all in his life

nail biting is a habit now, as her now 18 year old son, takes the car for a spin.

she knows he is such an adventurer, she hopes her car will make it

her hands jump to when she hears the bang

her arms run to embrace the body, now lifeless

her heart sinks to the floor

her slow movements at the grocery store

everything reminds her of him

her hands and fingers, her arms and shoulders,

they are his

as she simply picks out produce

she can't help but see her hands holding his, hugging his shoulders, loving him

raising him

she is imagining his face everywhere but touching groceries instead

how helpless

how empty

we won't always know the hands in our lives

but we can trust that they are there

2012-01-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

fight or flight

...need to figure this out

2011-12-17T11:02:00.001-08:00

Luckily God doesn't let me stay in that place too long.

Advent is for joy, not despair.

2011-12-05T21:46:00.000-08:00

There's a shadow beneath the wind.

Did you really suffer?

I am surprised you added more to that piece, starring me. I am surprised you still affect me. I am surprised I am so connected to you. In a way, with no one else. I am sad you didn't tell me he passed away. I am sad, for his lonely life.

I am surprised by the tear drop on your face. I think I know I need closure now. It doesn't matter what others have said, what letters I have burned, what ring I am wearing. What ring she is wearing. People don't deserve what we have done to each other.

So with that, I am ready. I think we need forgiveness.

2011-06-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

magenta sparkles
grey addiction
coconut breath
cabana futures
& the blues

oh just go google yourself

2011-05-17T23:15:00.000-07:00

oh shoot!
I hate googling myself ! I always find too much info! and it is public -
lame

passion for the cause

2011-04-05T23:43:00.001-07:00

The way that Fr. Greg interacts with the people he works with with is inspiring --
the book is a "need to read"

Tift Merrit rocks my socks

2011-03-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

Every Lent I learn some hard lessons.
Every Lent I am in some of the same situations that I was the previous year.

I start out very willing to change and follow Jesus more closely.
I usally lose progress as the weeks go on.
Fear of change, because change from within, is the hardest and most heart moving.

I feel different about this year - no really.

It's weird because I missed an Ash Wednesday service...

but this Lent feels like the one - where I have a chance to learn and embrace.

That's the difference, I have always been learning during this season, but I am so open armed to embrace it.

Because it matters more than anything else in my life right now... Because I want it to.

Fasting can be joyful! Thank you Lord for changing my mind & heart on this one.

Week 1: I learned some hard doses of humbleness, I was majorly humbled.

On to Week 2!!

Heart Scars

2011-02-23T21:53:00.000-08:00

I had a quiet moment recently. my legs were crossed. and my pants had pushed up slightly to reveal my left ankle. it isn't so pretty anymore because it has poison oak scars now. i traced my fingers in the non specific patterns of the scar. my fingers drifted up to my right arm that has two ugly spots where i spilled scalding hot water in an exciting hot chocolate thermos situation. my eyes moved up to the small spots on my right hand from a summer job fight with the pizza oven and a first job memory of the quesadilla machine. my bodily scars may or may not go away. my thoughts drifted to my heart. the literal heart ages and i am sure shows wear and tear. but my spiritual and emotional heart, i know, that has to look older than it is. i know that i have many chances to heal from experiences. but the scars that are on my heart... i know they are still there. no vitamin e can make those disappear. i think those are worse, because only i can see them. how can you solve a problem that involved others...alone? being handicapped in a very different way, its hard to express the healing that needs to take place. again i trudge back, feeling foolish, to the king of scars, my ultimate heart healer.

2010-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

when i need a little passion - i listen to Ray La (Montagne)
and Ray Charles for that matter

Thanks Rays

advent

2010-11-28T22:40:00.001-08:00

the homily today hit home.
sometimes simple concepts resound in my heart after the 20th time I have heard it.
it suddenly really makes sense.
fr. larry spoke of preparing our heart for the infant to come. our lord is coming. as a baby. and we pray that we are ready for his coming and ready for him to come into our lives. hearts and hands open.

i can actually relate to jesus, the baby, now. because i love! babies! when a baby is in the room if I don't get to hold it, I might go a little crazy. when I lived with 4 babies at a time, I tried to hold each one every day. when I have a day off, the babies that I live with get bigger and do cute things without me.

p.s. I am not their mother!

so my point is, I love babies, I love children. And now jesus is coming in a few weeks. (for a holiday i celebrate every year) but this year hits a little deeper... because I see how much I long to hold a baby, watch it coo and drool. everyday, without tiring of it. and I see now that my passion and love for this, is something that can be channeled torwards god very easily. (in concept).
I hope that I can long to be with God and strive for time with him and smile so big when we are together -
I hope that the excitement that hits when we are waiting for the pregnant belly to burst at our home can be here and now and always as I wait each year for Christmas. For Christ's Mass, his first coming to our lives. in his humble manger and in his careful parents hands. i hope now for more time with HIM and more excitement and love for HIM.

happy advent.

2010-10-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

fall
we turn beautiful colors
to shed them
to be bare and open
rustic and close to the roots
everything becomes a little colder
a little more ... warm on the inside
we wait for the first snow
and we prune
for the blossoms.

2010-10-03T23:28:00.001-07:00

well... it has been a long string of complaining and worrying....
but holding on to hope gets you through - the lord grants me hope :)

things that get more tough as you get older

2010-09-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

-turning the other cheek
-getting sick
-paying bills
-staying in touch with friends
-good sleep

the list is longer, but these here are main factors.
i am feeling a little burdened at the moment.

so tired

2010-09-20T23:03:00.000-07:00

I am tired - because things have not gone my way. it's been a long journey. lean not on your own understanding.

no words

2010-08-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

I would like to tell you about what I have seen in my time here in Phoenix. But I can't explain most of it. I can't put it into words. Let me try it this way: I have met faces and I have been places, I won't forget any of them. Women have told me their stories and I have nodded, listened, and handed them a tissue when needed. After taking a tissue for me, I have realized that, of course I cannot describe it to you, because it is their story. Not mine, I just was able to be a part of it. Sitting at an uncomfortable booth at a fast food place, I have watched woman after woman, walk up to me with different looks in their eyes; uncaring, tired, not sure of what hope is, doubt, vacancy, mistrust, surprise because sometimes I am younger than them, pain and un-forgiveness. All of these are not erased when they leave the booth. Sometimes there is relief after - by talking to someone who isn't judging them, we have battled the figurative weight they came in with. Their shoulders leave a little lighter. I'd like to think that, anyway. I have seen women walk out the door of our home, months later, after moving in, passing the fast food interview. I have seen them walk out with a sparkle, a light, confidence, love, a softness, and hope. Again, I know that they aren't cured, but when that light turns inside, and I get to witness it, my heart leaps.
I don't know how to tell you about the women that walked away from the booth, and I never saw them again. Their faces burn into my heart deeply. They must have felt sadness after telling us so much of their life and then maybe not being able to move into our home. They went back to the abuser, the shelter, the drugs, the street, the rain and other places. Sometimes they don't have such a tragic ending, they got their chance in another way. I pray. I read a letter from one of the women, who let me know that 2 weeks before our meeting her, she stood in the street waiting for a car to come and take her life. Desperation has fueled many of the lives that I cross paths with, and I hope that they can find a passion to fuel it with instead. That same woman was able to come to our home and leave a little lighter. A woman that couldn't come to our home, left with a wall up. She shut down, her eyes lost their color, when I said, she wouldn't be able to come for her own safety reasons. She took it personally, I saw it. I pray for the hardness in her life to be gone, I pray for the baby that is being born soon. I wish they knew they are not forgotten by me, by others, or by God.
I feel that I am still not conveying this for you to understand, do you have an image in your head yet?
Try imagining: hearing the slap of pavement on a 19 year olds feet as she runs to our home after being thrown to the ground by her abusive boyfriend. She was awarded bruises up and down, and lost her sandals in an effort to run faster.
Try: walking by the room of the 18 year old that puts a sheet over her window and sleeps with the light on, the door open, and the radio on. She faces the hallway and sleeps light, as she remembers being molested in her past.
Try: smelling the body odor of the 27 year old woman who we picked up from the local women's shelter. She hadn't showered in at least a week, there were some incidents at the shelter when she did try to shower.
Try: cradling your baby when you hear about the 34 year old woman that met Child Protective Services on day 2 at the hospital after delivering Casearean. They threatened to take her son away that day, they accused her of not changing at all from her past. They said horrible things to her face.
Can you hold a straight face when you go drug testing and the 22 year old bubbly blond next to you, lets you know that she is experiencing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) because she has to pee.While she waits in line she has to hold it and you find out holding it reminds her of her childhood abuse when her foster parents demanded she drink gallons of water and then made her hold it until it hurt.

I am depressing you?

I can tell you that the 19 year old, got new sandals and went to stay somewhere safe. They put a warrant out for the abuser. The 18 year old slept safely for her 3 months at our home. The 27 year old got to shower. The 34 year old proved that she had changed and kept her baby. The 22 year old has overcome many obstacles including getting counseling for the abuse.

Whenever I hear someones story, I stop and think, that I have heard it all now. But I haven't. I will keep hearing stories that will make me cringe, my eyes water, and my heart break.

I thank God for this time of sorrow. Because I can be united to him and his suffering. I can pray for the women to be united with him as the sufferers themselves.
I know that the third day brings hope, the resurrection always follows. I pray for the sparkles that appear in their eyes and I wait for my heart to delight in their new found joys.
I guess I found more words than I thought that I would... I hope you understand a little better now.

the calm of the storm

2010-08-16T22:40:00.001-07:00

the storm has been rumbling for quite some time
and i know that God stands there trying to offer the simplicity and peace of his love
his answers are better than mine
his love is never failing and is much much better than mine
while i have learned i cannot fill myself up - the hard way
i got to re-learn how much i need my cup full from him only
the need of overflowing wisdom, gifts of the spirit, and peace
are only gifts given by him
i am thankful that he waits for me and has never given up
i know that i deserve the storms coming to me
but i am grateful for the calms he is re-teaching me, more patiently than the first time.

2010-05-29T22:28:00.001-07:00

hello,
i am young girl. all i know is what my parents taught me. and didn't teach me. i know that selfishness invaded my life from a young age. i was the whore from an early age. a cousin taught me about sex when i was 10. i was judged, laughed at, and abused. at 18 i was pregnant. they all told me to get an abortion. I couldn't think for myself. they know best, right? my due date was last month. i think it would've been a girl. i am pregnant again, this time, they should mind their own business. i am not sure what love is. i never truly had it. my mom told me she regretted me. i told her i regretted her too. but it is not true. she does the best she can. she lives with a man she doesn't love. they don't talk much. i wonder if i will end up like that. i am always misunderstood. not many people take the time to talk to me. i am written off. i am scared me and this baby, I named him Christian, I am afraid we won't make it. i worry about a miscarriage. i have said i regret him, it is not true either. that is all i know, how to regret, but not really love.
i hope that i can find myself. and i can find a friend, or 2 to listen to me. i have the longest road ahead of me... good thing i have learned; one day at a time.
with sincerity, me

2010-05-02T23:08:00.001-07:00

i so called it.

2010-03-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

the moose stares at me from the top of the fireplace. demanding. eyes gaping. antlers huge and expecting. he is always there. he has taunted me this whole year and we are back here again. but i zoom out, there is a bigger picture. the fireplace he is on, the living room that the fireplace sits. the cabin it all settles in. the vacation properties they lot on. the town in the state. the state in the country. the country in the world. if i let the moose become everything, he will. if i don't, there is a whole world out there in the middle of the heavens that i know means everything and more.

i know, you don't get it, but it makes sense to me.

2010-03-20T19:00:00.001-07:00

warm cheeks. warm kisses. warm fuzzies. warm feelings. warm weather. warm future.

moldable rock

2010-02-24T16:01:00.001-08:00

Believe it or not this rock is moldable; if you hold it in your hands you can feel the softness of it
it is a remarkable rock
it's missing its partner, if you've seen it, let me know

Massage "Therapy"

2009-12-30T19:45:00.000-08:00

I've kept you bottled up so long - and I got the oppourtunity to release you - a little - and God presents the weirdest moments for me.

Nothing Like

2009-12-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing compares to the beauty of Christmas; Although presents are "stuff" they can be a huge blessing and memory to people. I will never forget standing under the foggy night sky, with an orange glow of the street lights glaring down. The big beautiful church in the background. A little boy tore open his present in front of several adults on a side street sidewalk. We smiled as big as he did, after realizing that the present bigger than him, was for him, to keep. His joy and excitement flowed to all of us, and I was held by the arm of a man that loves me, under a sky from the God that loves me. Making the night unforgettable and perfect. This night and many others I can't describe are making me, not the same person that I was.

so oo o cute

2009-11-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.ourblogoflove.com/index.cfm?catID=21

hmmmm

2009-10-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

can i turn off my brain -

When did it start

2009-09-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

I was in grade school and we would run errands with my dad. I lived in a suburb of LA, and seeing homeless people was very common, especially on our side of town. I remember sitting outside the 99 cents Store, they had just come out and were a pretty big shopping excursion for a grade school kid on an allowance. A man was making his way torwards our car, he was carrying windex and some rags. He had white hair and a beard, he looked weathered and tired. He washed a car's windows that was a few cars over from us. I forget why we were waiting in the car, but my dad had a truck with a cab in the back and I was just in the cab part, peaking over the seat at this man. I wanted to watch, but I didn't want him to know I was watching. He came and asked my dad if he wanted his windows washed. My dad said yes. He made a little conversation with him, they found out they had both been in the air force. My dad handed him a handful of ones, "thanks guy." My dad used that term a lot, he is sort of socially awkward. I had watched the man the whole time, he was very silent, did his work on the windows, and greatfully accepted the donation. He always looked down, but did say, "God Bless." I remember being so young, but happy that this man knew who God was. I always got this pit of the feeling stomach ache when I saw homeless people. I couldn't help, even if I wanted to, I was sad they had nowhere to go, no one to love them or take care of them. This man was also doing more than asking for a hand out, he also wanted to work for the money. I tried to offer him a smile, but since he looked down most of the time, I don't think he saw. My brother was a toddler in the car seat in the front, he wouldn't remember any of this. I am thankful that I had/ have parents that wanted to help those out in need. I feel that it has affected me in way that has shaped me greatly. I have no picture of this event, but a very vivid memory tucked away in my thoughts; the parking lot, the newspaper my dad was reading, the cup of coffee he was drinking, my brother kicking about in the seat, the purple 99 cents store sign, and the parking lot with cars stretched out and a man walking away with his head down.

2009-08-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

I didn't take this picture, but I like it. And they are my feet. Shabby hotel, after wedding party, way back in May already. Nice job Lisa.

Informal

2009-08-18T17:18:00.001-07:00

Informal memorable night:
sharing
strawberries
wine
painting
a movie on low
tears
being real
first impressions
calling each other out
giggling
uncomfortable bunkbeds
an angry roomate

and its just been too long

2009-07-10T21:40:00.001-07:00

frustrated and restless

i love this

2009-07-08T17:30:00.001-07:00

http://greylikesweddings.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/engagement-session-vw-love/

2009-07-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

My 4rth of July was great - I headed up to Coeur D Alene, Idaho to work/visit our sister house of Maggie's Place there. It was gorgeous, we jumped into the lake a lot, hiked, walked, and enjoyed the summer. You can't do that in the desert they call phoenix. It was a nice break, even though I was still working. And I ate - ALOT. carrot cake, apple pie, chicken salad, chips and dill dip, cherries, kale soup, and pork steaks. Pretty much everything. Thank the Lord for happy holidays with fireworks and food.

2009-06-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

I assisted some pictures last weekend, this was my fave shot, it was pretty experimental I just lowered the camera and stuck it out - lucky - slightly tightly cropped but oh well

2009-06-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Coming attraction: wedding in november

2009-06-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

-i think i miss the "the look," the look that only two people in love can exchange-

2009-05-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

In my spare time, and all my time for that matter, I try to help pregnant people feel loved and happy :)

Pretty awesome

reboot

2009-05-29T23:24:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful - today was a nice reboot - I pray I only fill the God shaped hole, with just that.

We were as good as married in my mind, but married in my mind is no good

2009-05-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

This emotional roller coaster of a week, was a lot of me, and a lot of circumstances.
It is so hard to describe this road that I have been on. I feel alone, but at the same time, I know that I am not at all. I keep reminding myself, God doesn't forget, nor will he, about me.
I hate when you are driving or sitting somewhere, and a blog or something you want to write forms into your head, and then when you finally get a moment to sit in front of the computer, it disappears from your mind.
So just know that I had way more to write, but its gone for the moment. I will tell you that it had something to do with looking for a man of dignity. Many of my friends have found stand up men, and I am so happy for them. It is so encouraging to find these men and to know they exsist. And so I wait.

sometimes pretty impatiently, but hey i am honest.

2009-05-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

www.jjfphotography.com/jjfphotographysite/momevent09/

try out this link --- it leads to a slideshow of pictures I took for our main event of the year! I am sort of proud ! my criticism for myself, is next time, less pose, more impromotu!

So many things going through my head lately

2009-05-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

Besides the obvious thing on my mind: Mother's Day -
I wish I could shut off the thinking sometimes, but its who I am.
Friday I got to go on an adventure finally (Sedona), I have been craving a road trip and somewhere else but here. The trees up north remind me of mammoth area and swimming and climbing rocks fills my outside quota nicely. I don't get to do much for me anymore. Which is what I signed up for, but sometimes it goes to long. I am not looking forward to the heat in the summer but looking forward to the festivities of summer. I miss friends and family. I have to keep waiting for God to continue to reveal things to me. I can't wait for my dose of home coming soon! Yesterday I went to a fun Mother's Day gathering, complete with water balloons and pizza.
What else... nothing right now, but Happy Mother's Day

May Day

2009-05-04T14:52:00.001-07:00

yikes bikes

2009-04-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

I haven't been on my lap top much, where all my pictures are... I did want to show you a picture of Jovanna and Gianni, the birth I recently attended and showed off my new learned doula skills at --
(sort of, it takes time to learn these things)

Life was really good and flowing, and right now its a little stressful, but I just have to trust in God and look for his promises and "just life shrug it"

Gianni reminds me of ducky from the Land Before Time... In a really cute way. She also has large hands and feet and her hands are always in the way. She is a cutie and now almost 3 weeks old!

Happy Easter... I found out today the name Easter may have derived from the ferility pagan Goddess, whose name was similar to that. But it is hard to not say Easter, because that isn't what it means to us..
I am really just rambling.

2009-03-30T00:16:00.000-07:00

Well, Amanda got married, and it was lovely. I am so blessed to have gotten to come and spend time with her and everyone else this weekend. I am not ready to go back to Phoenix, but I am at the same time? Probably because I don't like having that much work to catch up on! I managed to grab amanda for this cupcake shot - -She looked beautiful, and I loved this cupcake tower!

well life here :

2009-03-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

There is some more to do here than where I came from, I must admit. I have enjoyed getting to know people from my community. Its fun being instant (for the most part) friends with a large group of people. I have seen a great organ player come out of the ground, accompanied by bubbles, a disco ball, pizza and beer. I attended free movies in the Biltmore Center, a ritzy community with something free. I got to see the Rear Window at this event, I have always wanted to see this movie. I got to go to this huge 9 screen Drive in with my bunk mate hannah (I say bunk mate because I am the top bunk and shes got the bottom). I made 10 pairs of St. Patricks Day earrings for my household to get the festi vities of Irish Soda Bread and Irish jokes and lots of green started with our community this week. I surfed a rummage sale because a man called us to say come get what you need for Maggie's Place, and in the midst of looking for things we need for our house, I saw a vintage camera bag with a vintage pentax and lenses that was included in our free dive. I also scored a neat bright blue vintage travel bag, but the pentax is far cooler. I am having fun, somethings are bitter sweet without family and friends I am used to, but God calls us out, and when we respond, there is more where that came from. I came here to live more simply and live for others, but God doesn't forget about me and hands it back, really and truly.

Sarah's Best of Wedding Photos

2009-03-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

Over time I have had the opportunity to shoot some Wedding Photos, sorry if you have already seen them all you faithful myspace, facebookers, bloggers, and lj-ers, but here we go:

2009-03-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

She drove up, with the other 3 people that took her to lunch. They actually were driving her, to be more specific. I am not sure what happened in the car, what was said, what happened at lunch, what has happened through out the whole thing. I haven't been here long enough, I am not sure the right way to cope/deal with this. I assume she was saying her goodbyes, that she was holding her baby. That she kissed him and loved him, the way a only mother knows how. This couple cares for her, I know. But its hard because I almost think of them as "the couple." Even though its best for everyone involved. Though the hardest thing that She will ever have to do. I watched her through the kitchen blinds, I had looked up while putting away dishes, curious to see who had parked out front. And saw this all unfold, not intentionally. She was bravely walking away from the car, after hugging the couple. There were tears in her eyes, and I can only imagine the torment of leaving her child in the car. But it wasn't hers anymore? I heard the door opening. I watched the couple standing in our front yard, the husband came and held the wife supportively. She looked at him, so sad, for the mom entering our house. She put her hand on her heart and sighed, and leaned on his shoulder. He drew her closer and they embraced sideways, then turned around to get back in the car, since she had already entered house and could turn around to see them like that. They probably don't know that I saw everything. It was a hard thing to observe on a weekday afternoon. She came into the kitchen area, put her leftovers in the fridge, half smiling at all of us, but clearly trying to just walk through without anyone saying anything. If she stopped to conversate, she might burst. She went to the bathroom fast. Came out later with more mascara streaks. Tear stained eyes. I can't imagine. What would it be like to carry for 9 months +, and then come home with nothing but a scar on your stomach. And fall asleep feeling relieved, lonely, and feeling like a mother, but not. I want to tell her she is the best mother in the world. She is brave, selfless, and still a mother. It is hard for her though to hear things like that right now...

I get to hang out with this cuteness a lot

2009-02-26T20:00:00.000-08:00

in this particular picture Teagan (almost 5 months) and I were hanging out while her mom ran some errands and Teagan was super cranky and hot so we hung out with this fuzzy blanket and she calmed down when it rubbed against her skin and we played peeka boo - If you like puzzles you should be a infant care giver because making them happy sometimes is a puzzle :)

Here is a tour of my house - I will write an update soon (give me 4 days, tops)

2009-02-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is the Michael House of Maggie's Place. We live in Glendale which is a suburb or Phoenix. About 15-20 minutes from downtown Phoenix - It doesn't look that big but it has 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a shed, and other extremities.

Right now we house 6 moms, 4 babies, 4 staff members, and that is about what we have room for, besides more babies!

The girl holding the babies is Christina, one of my housemates. She is holding River (2 months) and Teagan (4 months).
That is our room, my bed is the top bunk, with all my pictures, we also have quite a lot of storage space.
Then we have our office, the counseling room, the chapel, the dining room, the living room, the backyard (a filled in pool :(
And my new vintage bike that was donated! I took a ride today, it was wonderful! It isn't officially mine, but no on e else is interested in riding it :)

Living Life

2009-02-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the other girls that I live with at Maggie's Place were talking about how we live life at a high pace. The amount of things that happen in a day, week, and month here is crazy. Even the things that can happen in an hour. I am living life at a very accelerated pace. I can't explain it.

This is Tempe, we climbed ASU Mountain (a medium size mountain by the Arizona State college campus, this bridge is really pretty... I will be taking more night pictures of it...
We are by a big airport and planes fly overhead a lot.
Tempe is about 25 min from my house.
and about 20 minutes away from Mesa where Obama gave a talk today, crazy.

I made it to the grand canyon

2009-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

I drove to Flagstaff 2 Thursdays ago... Stayed the night on a couch through couchsurfing.com, which was interesting. Woke up the next morning, drove to the Grand Canyon! I drove around the whole morning in the canyon, it was exciting. I then had some pizza and a beer for the last time in awhile and headed to Phoenix. I did the last trek in 3-4 hours.

I arrived on a Friday at 6 and we hung out until midnight watching Batman which I hadn't seen since the theatre.
Here are some pictures from my little road trip by myself to my new life here in AZ.

AZ isn't as bad as I had orginally thought, but it is also not summer yet ...

2009-01-25T20:00:00.001-08:00

the organization that i now work for has a blog that everyone can post on, if anyone wants to follow it...
Maggie's Place
www.maggies1419.blogspot.com

Life is changing

2009-01-04T23:18:00.000-08:00

It is a new year. On new year's eve we passed around a bag and threw our new years resolutions in the bag, and then read them aloud. Since I was a little tipsy it made perfect sense to write "must drink more Heff, but workout, so that I don't get a beer belly" It is really funny because I remember concentrating hard to write that resolution.

On the way home, those trees I have taken pictures of before called out to me: They are so uniform and perfect for taking pictures.

Sarah & Josh in Pasadena, CA -Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T22:43:00.000-08:00

Well I was able to take take pictures of one of my bestest girlfriends and her fiance on the start of this new year -
They live in Pasadena which has tons of places to take pictures (but if its dark it is hard ) ( I had that problem!)

Amanda & Will

2008-11-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

I got to take one of my close friend's engagement pictures this weekend!
They are close friends as well as getting married, so that was the kind of pictures they wanted - constructive criticism welcome! P.S - I know that I am becoming a "jump" picture person. But they are so fun!

Jimmy & Mya - Engagement Session

2008-11-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Well, Jimmy is my little cousin, who is not so little anymore. I told him he wasn't allowed to get married before me, but I think he will beat me.
They are hoping next summer '09
we will see.
They were easy, because they are attractive and they both know me will, and I, them.
I took quite a few pics, I like a lot of them, so narrowing it down was hard...

Photo Project "Textually Active"

2008-11-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

Teens everywhere are textually active, it is starting younger and younger. Pretty much the people that are not active, just don't have phones.
I am having trouble loading these pics ; they are too contreversial ;)

2008-11-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

you know what is funny, i started on blogger 6 years ago, and erased one, then started another. then forgot what its site address was. I have all these posts from like 4-5 years ago, and my life was sooo different then. its crazy, i wish i could remember so i could read it. and then i have like 3 livejournals. oh, online journals.

2008-10-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

Well here are pictures from AZ... I went to Maggies Place for my interview. Stayed five days in lovely (yea right! try hot and arid) Glendale, AZ. I could go on and on about details. but I met awesome mothers and awesome babies. and hopefully I will be working for them come Jan, and you will have many more pics to come of super cute babies.

I took more, but this steals the show. Teagon, is 1 week old, 4 lbs 4 oz. She is very alert and her mom is so happy to have her. Everyone in the house fell in love instantly with this baby.
I can't wait. Hopefully they decide I am worthy of being there :)
going on a retreat tomorrow. i am so busy!
I just want to sleep.
but maybe I will be able to take lots of pictures this weekend :)

2008-10-15T22:41:00.001-07:00

soon, tomorrow i hope, i will post new pics... dun, dun, dun..................

new to you

2008-09-24T00:37:00.000-07:00

i.......did this self portrait awhile ago - but its new to you. I found this awesome spotlight at a rummage sale for pretty darn cheap. and I had wanted to use it for a neato self portrait. My idea was to look like I was primping with the harsh light, make it look oldish, or movie-ish. But it didn't look right, so I started throwing cotton balls and I got a "done with primping" look.
I like it. I am in a sad state of not shooting pictures a lot lately but I want to... My goal tomorrow, shoot something, I have the day off!
i like it in color and B & W...............

I don't deserve.

2008-09-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

I am a romantic. and its my fault? is there a romantics annonymous? how many boys have i "fallen" for...? millions... not really but a lot.

how many times did i want to work no matter what...? once.

am I still a romantic after all that? at the moment no, but will I be again? most likely.

here is an oldie but goodie, on a film camera. I liked him once, surprise.

I think that God has more in store, maybe break me down, and then I will have different expectations, but he will grant me the romance I desire.

God is a God of hope and restoration. thankfully.

this came out of nowhere, sorry just started typing.

"Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit" - Kahlil Gibran

Tonight

2008-09-13T22:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to the chapel. I hiked up its hill, to the spot I knew it would be. waiting for me. It holds so much. I love that place. It is not something you can describe. My mothers choir sang to spirited gospel songs and I was moved. By God, by the beauty of the place, by memories of the place, and by hopes for the place.

Senior Portrait Craze - Always Sept

2008-09-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Well I tried to scrounge up some senior portraits, but not many takers... Parents these days, buy their own camera, take their own pics. Smart really. But helps me in no way. Oh well. Maybe next year.

Rachel and I had fun playing with colorful baloons, an abandoned house at a winery, a tree swing older than her, and the fish eye lens..

Well, first day

2008-09-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my photography blog site.
pictures soon to come.
thoughts too