Disneyworld

Walt Disney once said,
"Crowded classrooms and half-day sessions are a tragic waste of our greatest national resource - the minds of our children."

We began seriously looking for a good deal on tickets to Disneyworld today, which prompted me to go through some old pictures. That's when I re-discovered this picture of my boy. On his first airplane, leaving the Earth for the first time, on his first ever trip to Disneyworld, with his trusty Mickey Mouse strapped in at his side :)

I know it's not a new, fresh picture for the blog, but it's one I love very much, so I thought I'd share it here.

I look at this picture and realize how much more grown up my son is today.
At that moment he was filled with awe and wonder. He thought Disneyworld was our new home. It broke his heart to find out otherwise. :)
This time he'll want to talk about thrust and gravity and the distance from here to Florida...

Time flies...

Winter Wonderland

All shoots were cancelled here yesterday. Businesses and schools were shut down and everyone buttoned up for the first blistering blizzard of the year. The snowblower said hello to the lawnmower as they traded places in the garage for the season.

Armies of snowplows began their wintery march down the Interstate.
Kids went sledding and the snowmen seemed happy, while even the cash registers in the mall became silent... no more sales this shopping day.
Instead, moms and dads came home and somewhere, someone was making hot cocoa. Somewhere a dad was reading a book. A mom was hanging up soggy mittens to dry.
Families all over the Midwest spent time together.
The busy-ness of this season came to a grinding halt for most of us.

It made me think of the tail end of a sermon I caught this Sunday, walking into church...half an hour late. :) Yes, I have issues with busy-ness too.

The pastor was talking about the holidays. The turkey, the stuffing, the football, the Christmas shopping. He told of a time when he was a boy, out under the stars with his brother, watching a meteor shower. Every few minutes his brother would shout, "Did you see it?!" and he would shout back, "Yeah! I saw it!"
But he didn't. He was too busy thinking a bear would come out from beind the garage...
Then a few more minutes would pass by.
"Did you see that one?!"
"I did! Wow!" But he didn't. By then he was bored.
"Did you see that?!"
"Yes!" But really...no... It was very dark.
And the entire night, he never did see a shooting star. He just kept on saying he did.

Then the pastor asked this question. This busy season, with all of the shopping and work and turkey and toys and wrapping paper and egg nog and lights and...
"Did you see Him?"
"Yeah!"
"Did you see the Savior?"
"Sure!"
They say He is the reason for the season, that really sounds great....but,
"Did you really, really See Him?"

I suppose a few more snow days couldn't hurt.

Emilee and TJ

These two had a beautiful day for a wedding in late November. No snow and 41 degrees. Couldn't ask for better in South Dakota.
Emilee looked amazing and peacefully composed in her dress. From where I stood at the front of the aisle, I looked at TJ as she was about to come down the aisle like I do with every groom. It's one of those moments I really enjoy. I see so many different and unique emotions during that breath. Sometimes a groom's face is twisted as thoughts are racing through his mind. Sometimes he seems confused, almost always he appears nervous and occasionally I catch a hint of cold fear.
Not TJ.
He was smiling from ear to ear, and only one word would truly define him at that moment.
Happy.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we had some great fixin's. These tasty treats didn't last very long at all...
When we all got into a circle to bless the meal, my 6 year old boy opened the prayer, without any prompting, and began to give thanks.
Hearing him go down his list made me thankful that he had such a big heart, that at 6 years old he'd recognized the simple reality of blessings and the need to say Thank You.

In his mother's arms...

There is something special about having the opportunity to see a mother through the lens as she does nothing but hold her child in her arms. It really makes me appreciate that bond. Something about that quiet strength, that whispering love, cradling an extension of her heart with such a grace and a peace, that makes me recognize that there is something greater between us, a gift, that should never be taken for granted...
Say hi to Dawson.

Fall

My 4th grade teacher, Gail Cruse, taught me this poem. I'll never forget it. :)
Something Told the Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered,—“Snow.”
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned,—“Frost.”
All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild beast stiffened
At remembered ice.
Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,—
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
—RACHEL FIELD

Say Hello to Ryder

I have to give this little guy some respect. He was just about the best behaved kid we've had in the studio this year. A happy camper all around and a fun shoot.
:)

First Blog

Finally, enough brain cells have expired and there is now a blog page. For some reason, understanding web publishing, or for that matter, basically all instructions in general, is something that will forever seem to elude me. Kinda like me and Calculus..... we just don't agree.
Anyway, I'm going to tinker for a bit and figure out how this works....
ahh yes, and it seems this is where I can insert a picture? We'll see how it turns out. :) oh yes.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! :)