Heaven on Earth

For the last 6 years, this is one sure way to grab a slice of Heaven on Earth.
5:30 am, my sleepy wife, two cups of hot coffee, some candlelight, and the greatest Love Letter ever written.
Usually there's our old cat Jack on the scene as well, snuggling up and draping himself over the bibles because he likes how soft the pages are.
We have mornings that we disagree, mornings that different passages speak differently to us as they should, but for the most part, if you're ever looking for a way to get on the same page, this book has thousands of them.

Crooks Christmas

You don't have to look very far to find a shining example of what real giving is this Christmas.
For the past few years Carrie and Joe Noe have been lighting up the night with an outstanding light show, and the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish. Over $50,000 has now been raised since they began just a few years ago, and kids who are fighting for the chance to see another Christmas are blessed because of this family. Joe works round the clock, directing traffic and putting the show together, and almost every day Carrie is running the deposits to the bank for Make-A-Wish. Even their own little ones make a sacrifice of giving, because while we don't see all the work that goes into this production, they give their daddy up for part of the season. While we were out shooting the picture, cars were driving in long past the closing time. Joe left the lights on extra long so no family would be disappointed. It was 10:30 pm already.

Help this family spread the cheer. Drive out to Crooks Christmas, (<-----click the link) tune into the FM station and let your family be wowed. When your done, walk over with the kids in tow and let them put in your contribution to the donation box at the end of the driveway, so they can experience the gift of giving. What a great way to teach the kids what giving looks like, to pass the tradition on to the next generation.

Renee

I shot her brother's senior pictures a couple of years ago, so it was fun to see the Christenson family again. Renee was a little worried that her brother had more leaves in the trees and more fall color for his senior pictures, but I had to remind her that big brother didn't actually embody all of those colors the way she does. Sure, he had rich tones and beautiful colors in the leaves and the trees, but Renee is her own flash of color. It wouldn't matter if it were 50 below and dead winter, she'd warm up any shot.
Her eyes are wildly beautiful in color, and it was my wife that pegged their shade when I couldn't describe them... they are like the color of the Caribbean Ocean. Emerald green with dashes of blue. And her hair, to contrast, is long and flowing shades of red, the fiery colors of Autumn.