Changes for better and for worse.

I have finally decided the fate of my future. So dramatic I know. I have chosen to place my business on the back burner to return to school and spend my time with my family. Burt who desperately wants his wife back and Brighton who craves her mama's undivided attention. I know it sounds so crazy since my business has not even reached a year yet. At the time that I had decided to launch the business I felt confident that I could juggle everything. My career, my family, perhaps school (at the time I was still debating returning), etc. I have to come to realize that it is just not possible to give 100% to my career, my family, school, and my business.

I am sure that it is possible to juggle a career, family, school, and a business. I'm simply not willing to sacrifice more time away from my family. I want to see my child grow up and succeed. I want to grow old with my partner. I want to accomplish my goal that I had set out to achieve years ago before I met Burt (obtaining my Masters perhaps much more). I want to give my customer's the best service ever. I know that I cannot provide great customer service to my clients when my mind is focused on work and family. I cannot give my family the undivided attention they desperately are seeking when I am thinking about my business. So with that being said I knew I had to cut back on something. Deciding on what it would be was the difficult part. I certainly could not cut out my family. Education is important to me because I want Brighton and our future kiddies to know and understand the importance of education so that was out of the question. Which left me with my career and business.

For the time being my business will still continue until July since I'm booked out that far. So until then, you will continue to see business photo sessions and thereafter hobby photo's.

In other news, we returned Friday afternoon from seeing Burt's Rheumatologist. It was disappointing news to hear that Burt has the highest RA that they had ever seen which is a apparently one of the worst cases. They prescribed him a drug that is used for cancer chemotherapy patients. Apparently this is the last drug they resort to but since Burt's RA is really bad they started him off with this. Burt is afraid to take the medicine and loose of all his hair (on top of making him sick), but I believe it's better than the alternative....quick progression of gnarled hands/feet, and aching joints.

It's amazing how life plans can change in an instant. Keep on. Keep on. One stride at a time, he say's.
Until then....

Up, up and away with 2009

Honestly where has 2009 gone? By golly how time flies in the U.S. (according to my auntie). They (my auntie, uncle, and two cousins) from New Zealand were attending a family reunion in Chicago. My auntie (my mama's sister) said by telephone that although she had fun, she was happy to be returning home which is a much slower paced environment than the U.S. What?! Oh by golly take me there.
Let the time pass by ever SO slowly so I don't have to see myself growing old (I found 2 white hairs in my bushy head the other day), watch my already aging husband, Burt, grow a few more wrinkles around his deep, bright, green eyes. And although I pleasantly enjoy watching my little lady develop new talents each day I would like for one day (maybe a few months) have time Ssssslllooww down for one second, a few minutes to allow me to savor every moment that I have with her. And although I do cherish every hour, minute, second that I spend with her, before I know it time flies by taking our cherished moments along.

As I begin to think back to the events in 2009 I can't help, but think of the hardships that everyone has gone through. Losing jobs, then their homes, and their pride. Here's to wishing successful achievements in 2010!


Our BIG events in 2009 -


Brighton turned 3



I had a successful launch of my photography business



Burt's sister Natalie got married (3 cheers for them)!

{Snatched from their FB page. Hope they don't mind.}


Welcomed a beautiful new niece into this wondrous world.

Totaling the number of grand kids somewhere in the 20's maybe 30's (I've lost count).


Burt was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.



I became a Compliance Officer for ZB.



Burt and I are still employed & deeply madly in L*OVE.

It's Everything.

I've finished reinventing myself (as Dr. Phil would put it). Worked, and worked on my resume pulling strands and strands of hair out in frustration. Thank goodness I have a bushy head of hair or I'd be bald by now since this an occurring habit when I am feeling lost. With the frustration of reinventing myself out of the way I must now worry about the 2nd step in this process....the INterVIEW (whooo whooo scary). I'm a gal that sweats when I am really, I mean REALLY nervous. I'll rubbing my armpits with tons and tons of deodorant in hopes that I will not sweat like pig during the interview.

In other "News" Christmas this year was so fun and even though I'm sure Brighton was the last kid in the State who was the last to wake up (she woke up close to noon) and open her gifts it turned out to be a great day. As always being surrounded by my family (immediate and extended) is always a blessing.
Santa brought Brighton a Tinkerbell t.v., and educational video games. Burt got me a Wii and I got him deodorant. I asked him everyday what he would like for Christmas and everyday he would say, "nothing my dear. i have everything i want." Respecting his wishes, but feeling sad that he wouldn't receive anything for Christmas I decided deodorant would be the perfect gift. Everyone needs deodorant and he's not a stinky man at all. He's the best smelling man in our household (he's the only man in this house). By the end of the day though Burt crossed paths with his second love....a PS3 from Orlando (brother #1).

{Brighton in a shirt too small and pants too tight. It was pushing her cute little belly over her pants. I LOve it when Burt dresses her. It puts a smile on my face and giggle or two.}



{Brighton on Christmas noon}








Christmas has come and gone :( Looking forward to the New Year!

**B's Duck adventure I blogged about in a previous post**

{The nice woman who let Brighton help her feed the ducks and swans.}




{One of the many that chased after Brighton.}

Meeting the man's demands.

The man of this humble abode has been sweetly asking for updated pics of his child for his old, torn, tattered wallet. I felt really bad because she was so cold, but she did a great job and was so patient. Afterwards Brighton asked to feed the hungry ducks and swans so we met with the "duck whisperer" to help her feed them. Brighton didn't really do a lot of feeding, she just screamed and would try to run with bread hanging from her hand. The ducks and swans were so hungry they chased after her. One swan even pecked her cheek in hopes it would get something. All in all it was a fun time.

Sorry if you've seen these already.

Tis the season for a sniffly nose, aching joints, and family love

I'm home sick today and I thought what a better to way to spend my time then blog. Actually, I took about a 2 hour snooze which we all know is apparently supposed to be good for you when your sick but instead I woke up with a bigger headache and sore puffy eye balls (well not really my eye balls, just eyes). Tis the season for that. We received Burt's test results Friday and we've discovered that he does not have Lupus, but instead severe progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis.

**Definition: "A major form of the disease in which the body's immune system attacks joints, causing hot, painful swelling and deformity."-www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyTreatment/articles/Arthritis_PainDefinitions.asp**

We were told that Burt may be crippled within a year if we didn't see a specialist right away (not that there is any guarantee that he won't be crippled if he saw a specialist anyways). It's a bummer, but there is not much we can do. Just hoping for the best outcome although there is no cure we at least know that there is something that will help control the pain.


(Image pulled from Google to show you Burt's type of R A)

This month Burt and I have committed to make time for family. We often use the excuse "we just don't have time or it's to far to drive." After much effort I must admit that I have been missing out on a lot of great moments such great nieces and nephews (is it wrong to have favorite in this department?). Wonderful, amazing brother and sister in laws and of course the parentals. Along that note, Burt's little sister got married this weekend in Huntsville. What a fun event and being surrounded by family is such a blessing. I believe out of the 13 siblings we have only one left to marry off when he returns from his mission.

We wish you all you the best and a happy, fun filled, loving Christmas!! Burt and I are so grateful to be surrounded by amazing people everyday and our life is certainly blessed because of that. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading our life and I know I need blog more often and THANK YOU for allowing us into your life with your blogs!!

P.S. I'm thinking about ringing in the New Year with a free action collection contest for all those great photographers (new, old, beginners, amateurs. Photographers from all walks of life, really) out there. Would you be interest?!

Our family update...kind of!

Wow! It's been awhile since I've blogged. A lot has happened since then. Well Burt is still in school, wow, that was a big change from the last update. We've discussed that he can no longer study around Brighton since we had an issue with Brighton informing everyone she was around that she had herpies. Speaking of Brighton, she is growing like a weed as always. She now officially speaks with Burt and I in "big people" talk. She say's things such as 'inappropriate, frustrated, your an idiot, I already told you mom, I don't understand, and you do comprehend." She's a real meany some days but that doesn't stop me from putting her little butt in the corner...wahoo go mom-ster!! In which she responds, "Mom, why? I'm just a kid!" What a little manipulator.

A lot is going on at work. News that I can't speak of at this moment (I would love to shout at the top of my lungs about it, but alas I will restrain myself for the time being!) My photography is going very well. It has been really busy (reason I've neglected my blog). I'm really enjoying it and learning a lot. Thanks to all my photography pals who are willing to have me tag along with them. I was excited that I got to shoot ONE commercial session. It was really neat and nerve wracking as well. Hopefully more commercial sessions will come in the future.

I got to spend time with my childhood friend Becca. We went and watched the musical "Sleepy Hollow" which had been a long time since I've seen one. It was great. The music (which was written by the director of Zions Bank Retail Services) was fabulous. If they had a soundtrack for it I would be the first in line, okay maybe not the first, but the second at least!

Burt's sister, Tiffany, visited from Germany with her two crazy rowdy kids. They were a lot of fun and I'm glad they were able to make it out and we were able to spend some time with them. Towards the end of the night Brighton started getting tired and would go and lay on the bed in grandma's guest room while my niece and nephew were still jumping around like little monkey's. We've come to realize that Brighton is a mellow, reserved individual from this event.

I'm also getting into Twilight. A neat book to read, but it will take me a while to start drooling over reading the next chapters and so forth. I'm slowly getting into it. I'm slowly losing my hearing as well (sad, sad) but what can I do besides now equip my mickey mouse ears (Burt say's they look like mickey mouse ears) with a beautiful set of hearing aids (yay...). I can't hear him speaking with me, I can't hear my employees speaking with me, or anyone else. Well, techinically I can, just bits and pieces here and there. Sometimes I need them to repeat themselves two, three, five times and they are sitting right next to me. I simply choose to believe that it's selective hearing.

Burt and I continue to talk about having more kiddies, but that ain't happening anytime soon. Hopefully more will come in the future, but for the time being we are very content with our sassy little lady.

A quick backtrack. My little lady in her Halloween costume (I know it's late, but it makes me feel like a good mama.)















































Alas, it's good to be blogging once again!!

One kind word....

Brighton: Mom, that is amazing!

Me: What's amazing?

Brighton: You cleaned my shirt! That's amazing. Thank you mom for cleaning my shirt!

She say's thank you all the time, but I was taken back by the fact that my three year old was pleased with a clean shirt. She's just glorious!

You are SO welcome, Brighton!