The 24 Days of Thankfulness

Rather than 25 different blogs, here is my list of things that I’m thankful for this year.

Every year, starting November 1st leading all the way up to Thanksgiving, I like to post one thing per day that I am thankful for. It’s just a little fun way that I can share a little bit about myself with you, and a way to remind myself to be thankful for all the blessings in my life – big and small.

Day 1 – My Husband

Let me introduce you to someone special … my husband, Randy. He’s been my best friend, lover, business partner, counselor, protector, opposing counsel and number one cheerleader (minus the skirt) for nearly ten years. Randy is the reason I believe in fairy tales, happy endings, soul mates and true loves. I was so lucky to have met him only a few months out of high school, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. He’s given me the greatest gift of all (aside from himself), and that would be my four children. I know that no matter what, this man will always have my back and support me and love me for me. We have been through a lot together – moving overseas to Okinawa (Japan), -58* temperatures in Minot, a 194-day deployment to Bagram (Afghanistan), the fear and excitement of separating from the military, raising four kids (which is an adventure all by itself), moments of great joy and sorrow, stress and peace, snowball fights and snorkeling, sickness and health – we’ve shared everything together, hand in hand. And for that, I’ll forever be grateful.

So with that, today, November 1st, I am thankful for my husband.

Day 2 – My Kids

Today is the second day of the “what I’m thankful for” tour of my life … and today, it’s my kids. I took ^^^ that shot ^^^ of them at my brother’s wedding in San Diego, where Sierra (4) and Katelyn (5) were flower girls. My other two monkeys are Daniel (9) and Noah (2). Let me tell you a little bit about each of them … Daniel is our oldest and loves all things vehicle – cars, trucks, dirt bikes, you name it. He aspires to be a real race car driver when he grows up. Katelyn is our oldest girl, and is our little hippy love princess – she’s a vegetarian for the most part, prefers vegetables and fruit over candy and is a huge animal lover. She is just so sweet and loving, I can always count on Katey to give me a hug and be there to sit with me to watch cartoons or whatever (she’s our snuggle bug). Sierra … {sigh}. How does one begin to describe Sierra? She’s wild. I think that’s the best way to describe her … she is a wild bundle of love and energy, very independent and strong willed, but such a sweet little girl. But wild. Very, very wild, haha. And that brings us to our youngest tater tot, Noah Cullen. Yes, Cullen after the Twilight characters (don’t judge me!). He is Daddy’s little man and BFF, those two are absolutely inseparable. My husband jokes that out of four kids, he got one of them – and with good reason. Noah was born while Randy was deployed to Afghanistan and he came home two days before Noah turned one month old, and ever since, he’s been Daddy’s little man. He’s taking after Sierra’s wild side, he’s a little daredevil – he has no fear of anything, he likes to jump off furniture (something he’s not allowed to do, I promise!) and he has no fear of big dogs or anything. He shows the world his brave face at all times.

These four are my greatest joy and proudest achievements, and I feel so blessed that God chose me to be their mother so I can experience watching them grow up into what I hope and pray will be a bright future.

Day 3 – My Colleagues

I don’t have an awesome picture to share today, but I wish I did. Today I’m thankful for my colleagues – most notably: Nelly,  (Nelly Hernandez Photography, Minot ND), Cherie (Dashing Life Photography, Eagle River AK), Jamie (Jamie Barke Photography, Abrams WI) and Brooke (Brooke Moxley Photography, Harmony NC). I wish I had the ability to put all of us in the same room for just a day, because I know it would be a BLAST. This career field can be so cut throat and competitive, but these ladies have always got my back and are always willing to answer any question I have, bounce ideas off each other, critique each others’ work – even just talk or text on the phone when we’ve had a great (or horrible) day. It’s so nice to be able to talk to people who truly understand what it’s like to be me – balancing work, family, house, clients, life … I’m a lucky girl to have them!

So today, I am thankful for my favorite colleagues – for their humor, their sage advice, their shoulders to lean on, their “suck it up” words of love, for everything. Keep it comin’, ladies!

Day 4 – My MUAH Girls

Today I am thankful for Janine and Landa. Who are these ladies?? They are my fantabulous hair and makeup artists, and I love them! Janine is an incredibly talented and experienced MUAH (“Make-Up And Hair”) artist, and she was one of the first friends I made here in the Springs – even before I moved here! Landa is also super talented and experienced, and she also was one of my first friends I made after getting here. I’m SO incredibly lucky to have both of them on my team o’ awesomeness, and not only that – that I have them as friends. I can call them for anything – and they can do the same with me. I treasure them.

Janine and Landa are such incredible people, good inside and out, and their talent just adds to their awesomeness. You can become a Facebook fan of Janine here, and of Landa here – I primarily work with them doing boudoir for The Secret Pin-Up (become a fan of that here!) … but they also do traditional salon work, as well as weddings!

 Day 5 – The Beauty and Splendor of Colorado

So, today I am thankful for the beauty and splendor of Colorado. This place is friggin’ GORGEOUS and provides such an amazing backdrop – beautiful fields, amazing mountains, enchanting trees – you name it, Colorado can provide it. I am so grateful to be able to do on-location shoots here year-round (even with Colorado’s infamous bipolar weather). I am in love with Colorado and its majesty, and it is truly home for this lucky girl!

Day 6 – Coffee

Today we “fall back” to standard time … and so today, I am friggin’ thankful for coffee. Apparently my four kids and two dogs did NOT get the memo that we were all supposed to sleep in an extra hour. Hahaha!

PS – This is a picture I shot a few months ago for one of my photography classes – “good to the last drop”!

Day 7 – Kind Words

So today, I am totally going to copy the words of my friend Jennifer, from G7 Studios (in Dover, Delaware) …

“I am thankful for kind words. There are times someone can say something at the right time and touch your heart so much.” – Jenn Glasser

… because they are so incredibly true, especially to me (and especially lately). We all have our good and bad days, and sometimes people can say the kindest things without knowing they are truly what we needed to hear at that particular moment. Personally I feel like when that happens, it’s a subtle reminder from God that He is with us, that our friends are angels and that we are truly not alone.

With that said, on this seventh day of the “I’m thankful” challenge, I choose to be thankful for kind words.

Day 8 – My Momma

Today I’m thankful for my mom. It makes me kind of sad that I have NO recent pictures of the two of us together (this ^^ picture is from May of 2010 – and stolen off Facebook to boot, OMG –  and it is literally the only one I have of us together since Christmas 2004 – photographer FAIL!). For those who don’t know, today is my 28th birthday – so it only seems fitting that I be thankful for my mom. My mom is SUCH a fantastic lady, inside and out – graceful, beautiful, classy, kind, loving, funny, protective, silly, serious – everything a mom should be and so much more. We don’t get to see each other very often, because she still lives in California and it’s hard to go home to visit with four kids and my work. I miss her so much some days it hurts, like today. She’s been my #1 cheerleader since I was born, always encouraging me to be the best person I could be, to be a good person like her, showing me how to be a great mom and wife by leading by example. I know that I can always call her just to talk, or ask for advice, or cry to and laugh with. She’ll always have my back, always always always.

Today and every single day I am thankful for my mom. Always!

Day 9 -Colorado’s Whacky Weather

So, today I am thankful for beautiful weather. Colorado – let’s face it – the weather here is bipolar. One day it can be nearly 70 degrees and the next day we could be having a blizzard. I LOVE IT. I know that it’s crazy and unpredictable, but I am totally loving the variety. I snapped this picture last weekend, at Bear Creek. The morning had been b-e-a-uuuutiful and perfect for pictures – just a little overcast, warm enough so that the kids didn’t have chattering teeth … and then in the afternoon, this storm rolled in and the temps dropped and rain drops started falling … While it was a little irksome to have to reschedule, I’m glad we did because the next day the weather was back to perfect and I was able to capture amazing Christmas card pictures.

So today, I’m thankful for the whacky Colorado weather. <3 AND THE SNOW!!!

Day 10 – My Dreams

Today I am super thankful for my job. This is the first time in my entire life where I have woken up in the morning, just … EXCITED. I wake up excited to edit, to shoot, to plan shoots, to scout locations, to shop for my future studio, to shop for lingerie for boudoir … I am just SO thankful I have pursued my passion and by the grace of God, have seen success. I have been a “photographer” since I was literally old enough to hold a camera. Check out my awesome skills ^^ – at the age of 6 or 7. I pretended that my little animal figurines were teams, and I used my grandpa’s polaroid camera to take pictures like it was for the yearbook. I love that Stacey Barbie was the coach for the Dance Squad, ha ha!

I am so blessed and grateful that I’m able to pursue my passion. This has been a lifelong dream, and I have so many more aspirations and dreams to look forward to coming true! <3

Day 11 – My Freedom

Today is Veteran’s Day, and I am so proud to be the wife of a veteran. I am so incredibly grateful to each and every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine – past and present – for serving this great country, risking their life and willing to spend time away from their families just so that I can remain free, and for democracy to reign supreme over evil throughout the world.

I’d like to take a minute to thank each and every veteran I know – starting with my husband, Randy, who proudly served six years in the US Air Force. I am SO thankful for your service.

I’d also like to personally thank: Richard R., James D., Hamilton L., Matt B., Jodi J., Savannah, Heather R., Andrew R., Jerm W., Amanda A., Alex A., Kiev D., Eric J., Brian G., Cory S., Jeremy C., Frank R., Jason S., Stephen R., Brad C., Matt K., Justin M., David C., Paul S., Bryan L., Chiaki M., Chris L., Christina K., Steve K., Tom M., Crystal J., Mark M., David C., Davie H., DeeDee A., Hannah F., Heather B., Michael A., Jamie O., Jared K., Lani K., Jeremy R., Albert S., Kelly T., Kirk L., Noah K., Monty H., Ricky C., Leah H., Ryan H., Leslie M., Josh S., Joe F., Glen L., Michelle B., Raymond F., Ricky D., Roman P., Dustin G., Joel L., Troy S., Tonja M., Mark J. and Cody S.

I’d like to thank all the wives and husbands of our military – your sacrifice and strength is so admirable. God bless you all.

To all who gave the ultimate sacrifice, saying thank you does not begin to convey to gratitude I feel … but thank you, for everything you’ve done and sacrificed.

So today, Veteran’s Day, I am thankful for my freedom.

Day 12 – My BFF4L

Today is my BFF4L’s (yes, I totally said that) birthday. We have celebrated the last – get this – 14 birthdays together. Stephanie is one of my most favorite people in the world – always so caring, loving, supportive, funny, sweet, silly – everything I could ever ask for in a best friend. She goes through these hilarious stages of obsession (Edward Norton, the band Live, Twilight, and now it’s Derek Hough from Dancing With The Stars …) and I know that I can always count on her to “get” my jokes  – like when I reference something from Twilight with a wink-wink-wink, she totally laughs. We are the unbeatable Pictionary team (I once made an elephant with a line and two squiggly lines next to it and seriously – before I finished drawing it, Stephanie yelled out “ELEPHANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” … to this day, our husbands think we had some sort of girl code. Ha – litttttttle do they know!). Stephy immigrated to the US from Germany back when we were in high school, and to this day the only German I’ve picked up is “I love you” and “What time is it?” … but I still dream on going on a trip to visit her home country with her and our husbands – how AWESOME would it be to go to Oktoberfest in Germany??? Ahhh, I dreaaaam.

Anyway … today I am thankful for the wonderful, beautiful and awesome person who has been my best friend for half my life, who has celebrated all my ups and downs, who I’ve called at 2 in the morning just to talk, who has called me just to chat about stupid things, who I know will always give me the best advice and who is the Godmother to my kids – Stephanie. LOVE YOU and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Memories from over the years …

Day 13 – Friends who bring me Coffee

Today I am thankful (again) for coffee – but mostly thankful to friends who bring me coffee. Enough said. <3

Day 14 – My Little Heater

Today I am thankful for my little heater … I have horrible circulation for some reason, and my fingers turn icy cold. I joke around with my husband, running my cold fingers over him and tease him – “aw come on, play vampire!” … ha ha! So he bought me this cute little portable heater, so my fingers don’t absolutely freeze during my long hours of editing at my desk.

Day 15 – My Home

Today I am thankful for my home – for the roof over my head, my fireplace, my running water – all of it. I realize so many Americans (and people around the world) do not have a home, and so today, I am grateful and thankful that I have a home, a place to rest, a place to relax, a place to share with my loved ones.

Day 16 – My Puppies

I spent all day yesterday in bed, not gonna lie. I woke up with a 24 hour bug (feeling MUCH better today, thankfully), and I stayed in bed all day watching Twilight movies and reading Percy Jackson. It was nice to just take a day to not work (ok, I still answered the phone and emails), not do anything really but chill in bed. Because I wasn’t feeling good, my two puppies stayed with me all day. They are the BEST dogs in the world – in a very “Marley and Me” kind of way. Spark Plug (“Sparky” is his nickname – his actual name was picked out by my oldest when he was five – he’s obsessed with cars and engines!) is our almost-four-year-old dauchsund/chihuahua/miniature pinscher mix that we brought into our family while living in Japan (yes, he’s very special). He literally curled up next to me all day long, and only left my side a couple times to go outside. Jacob is our year-and-a-half year old purebred German Shepherd … and yes, before I go on, he IS named after the character from Twilight. Don’t judge me! He is such a sweet dog, he is my baby – he is 85 pounds of pure love. He will stand on his hind legs and hug me … He is protective when he needs to be but also serves as a pillow for the kids. He either laid in bed or next to the bed for a good part of the day, making sure I was okay.

I love my dogs. They don’t realize they’re dogs, they think they’re people. Or rather – Sparky thinks he’s a person, and Jacob isn’t so sure but he thinks he’s a lot smaller than he really is. Ever see a German Shepherd try to crawl under a coffee table? Funniest thing ever.

So yesterday, the 16th day, I am thankful for my puppies.

Day 17 – Stephenie Meyer

Okay, today is a BIG deal to me … tonight is the midnight premiere of Breaking Dawn!!! I am a HUGE Twilight fan – not scary-stalker-kind-of-obsessed, but I will totally call myself out as a “Twi-Hard” (which, for the record, Stephenie Meyer does NOT like that phrase, did you know that?). My husband is taking me tonight to go see Breaking Dawn at midnight, and we will both totally be sporting some Cullen-love (Team Emmett for me, Team Alice for him – yes, we even have shirts!). My dog is named after Jacob, my littlest guy’s middle name is Cullen. I am SO grateful for these books and to Stephenie Meyer for writing them. I know that the Cullens and the rest of the Twilight vampires go against traditional Anne Rice vampire canon … and the books are definitely not classically written novels … Bella is not the traditional heroine and Edward is so angsty sometimes I want to rip my eyes out, and the concept of the Renesmee-Jacob love connection is a bit weird … But I absolutely love a good love story, where love conquers all and that portrays two characters who were truly made for each other, soul mates, together forever (literally, in Bella and Edward’s case). I love that these vampires have weaknesses. I love that I could really connect with the characters.

I started reading the series when my husband was deployed, and while he was gone, I was able to lose myself in the world of Forks and Volterra. I could escape from my own world of depression and fear while Randy was in Afghanistan, and could read about Bella, Edward and Jacob. My husband even read the books while he was over there, and we were able to connect a million miles away from each other through Stephenie’s books. I even read Eclipse while I was in labor with my youngest, and used the books to focus on rather than labor pains.

So today, I am thankful for Stephenie Meyer and the entire Twilight series.

And, because I’m such an uber-Twilight-geek, I am offering 10% off couples sessions that are booked and paid for today AAAAND for anyone who contacts me today for their wedding, I will toss in a free engagement shoot with their wedding package! Make sure to mention the Twilight sale when booking! And, don’t forget, I am still looking to shoot a discounted Twilight-inspired couples shoot!

Day 18 – My friends

Today I am thankful for my friends, who live all over the world. I’ve been lucky to stay in touch with a handful of friends from my childhood (thank you, Facebook!) and from all of our years in the military – so my circle of friends is spread across the entire world. Some of my friends, especially my photographer friends, I haven’t had the chance to meet yet in person – but I hope to, one day! I miss my “tribe” back in Minot – the family dinners, going to the movies, even just calling them to say “let’s go waste some time in town.” I was so lucky to have them in my life – and even though we’re far apart now and starting to get spread all over the world – they’re always on my mind and in my heart. Now that we are here in Colorado, I have been so lucky to make some amazing new friends – and I am totally counting my blessings this morning.

Day 19 – My family’s health

Today I am thankful for my health, and for my family’s overall health. I realize how truly lucky we are, and for that, I am very thankful.

Day 20 – Seat Warmers!

Go ahead and laugh … but today I am thankful (and I mean SUPER THANKFUL) for my heated leather seats in my truck. I had a shoot early this morning with one of my lovely family clients, and it was 29* outside (26* at my house!) … and while in North Dakota that would have been shorts and t-shirt weather, here in Colorado it is friggin’ COLD. Nothing better than getting into the car and being able to see your breath – and having a nice, warm seat to relax into first thing in the morning!

Oh, the small things in life.

Day 21 – Love

Today I am thankful for Love … I truly believe it’s what makes the world go ’round. Love between lovers, between friends, between family, for life – for everything. It’s why I have a job, it’s why I have a family, it’s why I get up every morning with a smile on my face. Love, simply put, is my world.

Day 22 – Pinterest

Oh my GOSH. I have been SUCKED IN!!!!! ^ Those ^ aren’t my boards, because this very addictive hobby just started up for me and my boards are still somewhat small and lame. I am able to get all kinds of great ideas for not just ADP, but for boudoir, my house, outfits, gift ideas … oh my gosh, the boards can be ENDLESS!!

Day 23 – Eggnog Coffee Creamer

Okay, call me crazy … but I friggin’ love Coffee Mate’s Eggnog flavored coffee creamer … it’s quite possibly the best stuff ever made. Coffee AND egg nog, put together? Genius. Pure genius.

Day 24 – My job

Today I am thankful for my job – that every morning, I can wake up and do a job I absolutely love. That I am able to be a work-at-home mom and work the hours I want to work, so that my priorities can always be family first. I’m thankful that I’m able to do what I love, and that I’ve gotten a small but wonderful following of fans who appreciate me and my work. I’m thankful I’m able to support my family, doing something I absolutely LOVE to do. I am thankful that I’m able to push myself, creatively, and that I am able to capture special moments and memories for my family and clients.

So THANK YOU, for allowing me to be a small part of your life. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with laughter and love … and not to mention, lots of good food!!