Charlene Rose Photoblog

Alexis' peom

2011-02-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

Alexis is given a task of writing a story or a poem with her spelling words each week. This is this weeks poem. I am so proud of my daughter! I will post more as I mean to do this each time she comes home with another story or poem. She brings tears to my eyes I am so proud!!

Unafraid

A disappearing ripple in the stream
A bird of no color
Discomfort in its wings.
Discover an island that's now lost
Unafraid

Disagree with someone
Rebuild then it's destroyed
Uncommon to a friend
Unaware of a death
Unafraid

A ripple in the water
Refill an empty heart
A smile on your face
It is a new day
Unafraid

FREEZING>>>>

2011-01-20T21:10:00.001-08:00

So it is fully winter...Each year I starts off with my normal "I can not wait for the holiday's"..."I can not wait for snow"...and lots of love for the winter months. THEN the end of January is here and I could not be more done with the cold. Why can't it be warm and snowy...yes, I do know the answers so I don't need a weather lesson :) I just want the snow and the sun and NO wind...my skin is going to crack and break off haha!

So this new year is going SUPER FANTASTIC! I hope everyone else's is going as good! Lets see I already have gotten to shoot a super FUN bar-mitzvah with one the coolest photogs I know. Got nominated for a super cool award...Got asked to head up a SUPER cool team at work...AND the cooooolesttt of all I went back to school! It is only the 20th of the month...geesh what the heck am I going to do the rest of the year! I am really working hard that this year is FULL of positive changes and most importantly positive people! I love how everyone is smiling lately and just full of life!
Well my new goal is to not post with out a picture...So here is my new book...and a drawing of Nate and I when we shot the bar-mirzvah :)

In love...

2011-01-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

I know that sometimes I say the same thing over and over and over again...and it seems like forever I have been posting on facebook that I was looking for what inspires me and was having such a hard time designing a logo...well I am so in love with my new logo! I have to say it is all because I backed up and trusted someone else...So if you need logo design I highly recommend talking to Ellie Dennin-Piper...her website is www.photosbyvitella.com. Yes she is also a photographer! I showed her all my inspiration and talked about what i was looking for and she threw me a few ideas and here is MY NEW LOGO :) soooo excited!!!!!! She will be putting up a gallery and info soon so now just send her a email from the contact page and get it going! Let 2011 be your fresh start and start with a face lift for your business...or just your blog. Show who you are! Here is my new logo with a picture of the paperweight that started it all!

Inspiration....

2011-01-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

So I asked on facebook what you thought of when you thought of me...and I got so many answers! From the wall posts, im, and inboxed messages everything was so different. I am so touched by the kind words that were said, some that made me cry.Sunday school really paid off. I live my life each day by the JOY motto...does any one remember that?
It means to live your life for J-Jesus O-Other then Y-yourself...J-O-Y and I try my best each day. I live my life each day trying to make it better. I treat others how I would like to be treated, and try to think of others feelings first...This has lead me to having the best people in the world surrounding me! Although sometimes my empathy is to great, and leads me to feel to much which leads to thinking to much which leads to talking (writing) to much...thanks for listening!
So I listened (well read) everything and people said reminded them of me and came up with all of these things that remind me of me. Yes I googled things and no not all the pictures are mine. (you can see one even says stock on it )I am glad to see that all of things people said were in images or things that I loved. Some of them are right up front and others are hidden in the back but none the less still there! My most favorite images are he first and last one...the first is a paperweight that I found at a store and fell in love with and the last is of my kids (and nephew). I couldn't imagine my life with out all of them...so here is my inspiration for me :)

Last day of vacation....

2011-01-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

So today is the last day home with the kidos :( My girls go back to school tomorrow...sniffle sniffle...but on the plus side I will be ending my hibernation very soon. I wish I could say that I missed he hussle and bussle of being a working mom but sadly I did not. I love being home...I wish my coworkers could just come to my house and hang with me everyday and we still got paid lol...I have come to love my job, it has become a huge piece of who I am. Although I am excited to begin this new year and all that it brings with it :)

The girls ready for bed and there "first" day of school in the New Year...they are so excited. I love how much they love school!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T21:31:00.000-08:00

I am going to write a book it is decided…but as I go through the process I am going to stick to working on this blog and making it all it should be. If I am going to be sucking up space in our virtual world I am going to do it right!

The last three years the kids and I have spent New Years Eve with my mom. Each new years day my mom takes the kids out to the garage and measures them. I love that this year Zander is the same hight as Rea was in 2009! My babies are all growing up way to fast, althought I have to say I love love love spending time with them as they become little people!

So on the last morning that of 2010 I snapped these picture form my front porch. I love how warm it was! I wish all of winter was that warm! I was meaning to get out and get some amazing winter pictures on my vacation from work but I was having so much fun just being with the kids as soon as I had some time it was time for bed  So I was excited to get at least some foggy pics even if it was just from my porch.

Then 24 hours later I snapped this picture form the same spot at the same time. It is amazing how a new year can bring in a new outlook. Isn’t it crazy how life can be one way one day and so different the next…it was soooo cold today! The kind of cold that burns you skin and freezes the inside of your nose. I do not like that kind of cold.

I hope the fog cleared all the rubbish from everyone’s lives so that 2011 is a fresh start.

Listening toTamara Lyon on blogtalk Radio...

2010-11-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

So I was listening to the blogtalk radio tonight instead of my usually Itunes while I read my emails and got caught up. Tonight Joshua Paul interviewed on of my favorite authors Tamara Lyon. She has written 3 books so far Falling to Him, The Ugly Tree, and Fixing Forever Broken. I have all three books on my shelves right now and if you are looking for a good read grab one!

They say that there is six degree's of separation between you and almost anyone in the world and in most cases I really think that is true! So I have to tell you how Tammy and I first met because I remember it SO different then her I am sure. She says that she writes what she sees in her head. That is plays out like a movie which is funny because that is how I remember things and how I remember meeting her!

I was about seven or eight years old and I went to a private school. I loved my school I mean I really love it! If there was a poster child for St Paul's it was me. I was so nerdy and all about my school I thought it was cool that my dad was the janitor at the school. Looking back now I realise what a nerdy little kid I really was! I remember meeting Tammy at a basketball game that my dad brought me to because he had to clean up afterwards. That is where I first meet Tammy. Remember those coming of age high school dramas on TV where there were the "cool girls" Well in my head Tammy was one of the cool girls! I think all she did was say hi to me...and then the cheerleaders let me cheer with them and I was so aw struck that one of the "cool" older girls talked to me I probably talked my mom's head off for weeks about it! The years went by and my parents moved me to Sugar Grove. Now for most kids moving to a bigger house with a bigger yard would be a great thing but not for me! Remember I loved my school. I loved my friends. I hated Sugar Grove! Honestly that was really hard for me. Not the making new friends or learning where everything was part, but the school! It was HUGE to me...and I hated every square foot of it! Then I saw them...The Lyon's...I know that I was just a dorky 7th grader and they had NO clue who I was but all the same, they were "my classmates" from "my school" Honestly it made me hate it just a little less! I wasn't alone! Being a 7th grader please remember that your world is a very small place and in that small place things seem really BIG! So that is it...to sum it up I was a dorky little kid who talked to one of the cool girls!
So now I am all grown up and have to say that Tammy is still one of the "cool girls" and now my daughter idolizes her! It makes dreams feel like they can come true when you watch someone living theirs! So Google Tamara Lyon! Like her on Face book! Most of all buy her books!

Here are some links for you
The Joshua Paul Show:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/joshuaangell

Tamara Lyon's Website:
www.tamaralyon.com

Tamara Lyon's Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/charlenemrose#!/authortamaralyon

Do you have Faith?

2010-11-14T21:38:00.000-08:00

THIS IS FAITH

(from Cappuccino & Success by Richard Quek)

There was a tightrope walker, who was so good that he could walk between two twenty stories buildings on a tight rope with a balancing pole. Thousands of people would watch him perform his breathtaking feat. After he walked across the building he would have his assistant sit on his shoulder and he would proceed to walk across the building. Everybody was amazed and gave him a thunderous applause. He asked them whether they believed that he could do it again. The crowd said, “Yes, we believe that you can!” After a while he asked the crowd again, “Now, who wants to volunteer to get on my shoulder?” With that the crowd became silent.

SUCCESS PRINCIPLE: There is a difference between Belief and Faith. We can believe what we see. In the above story, the crowd believed in the tightrope walker because they saw him perform the feat. But when he asked them “Who wants to get on my shoulder?” everyone was silent. You see, the crowd had Belief but they did not have Faith. This story clearly illustrates the difference between belief and having faith.

P-U-M-P-K-I-N-S...

2010-10-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

Each year my work hosts a pumpkin carving...I know I know I work at the best place ever! I get to bring my kids to work with me and carve pumpkins...and there is no left over mess at my house! The only down side is that I am to busy there to pick out the seed for toasting. A very small price to pay :) Here is Alexis, Reagan, and Zander's pumpkins along with the front of the house. Elijah got to spend the day with his aunts and uncles and his Grandma carving pumpkins today too! I hope everyone had a productive and fun weekend as I did!

I love being part of a team...

2010-10-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

I love being a part of my team [Famli] ! This year again we went to the Camee's and had a blast! We are all apart of something bigger then each one of us! I love how we all pull together into a team. My super great maintaince team was over looked this year and created a blow to us all! I don't think any of us even had a shred of doubt that they would win. It didn't feel real when they announced the winner... But even though they did not win ALL of them yelled and screamed to celebrate Bonnie winning Community Manager of the year AGAIN!!!!Then our property also won community service project of the year...again that couldn't have been done with out Bonnie!

Psychologist?

2010-10-13T18:55:00.000-07:00

I told you I am a little obsessive when it is coming to this doing good/better thing...so something I always wanted to have is my psychology degree...and I am really comtiplating going back to school for it.What makes me torn is I love my job, I love every thing about it. Even what "I don't like" is not bad enough to ever make me quit. So I thought about it and took a "what do you want to do when you grow up quiz" and answered honestly...and it lead me right back to psychology so I took another quiz about what career in psychology is right for you and again answered honestly...and I am SO surprised as to what it said! It gave my the three options below.

Industrial-organizational psychologists often work in government offices, business settings or private offices. I-O psychologists generally hold at least a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology. These professionals perform a variety of functions, including hiring qualified employees, conducting tests, designing products, creating training courses, and performing research on different aspects of the workplace.

Forensic psychology involves applying psychology to the field of criminal investigation and the law. Forensic psychologists are often involved in custody disputes, insurance claims, and lawsuits. Some professionals work in family courts and offer psychotherapy services, perform child custody evaluations, investigate reports of child abuse, and conduct visitation risk assessments.

Sports psychologists typically perform a range of tasks related to sports performance and education. Some opt to teach at the university level, while others work directly with athletes to increase motivation and enhance performance. Other options include client counseling, scientific research, and athletic consulting.

Now the funny thing is I always thought that my love for family and kids over powered everyhting else.I never ever considered a career in any of those fields! I thought it was going to tell me to be a social worker or something that I don't know that I could justify. How can I go to school to better my life and the life of my family and attach myself to school debt to make less money!

so NOW I am even more excited about going back to school because there still could be opportunities with in the field that I am working now to still be able to work with people and give back!

AND just a side note the picture that was listed with the sports psychologist was a football team and I had to laugh bc of how little I know of football and for that to be something that I could be interested in made me crack up...I know there are more sport out there then football, it was just comical! Anyone wanna teach me football?

Photographers Prayer

2010-10-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dear God, as I bring my subject into focus and prepare to make each portrait, nerver let me forget that I'm creating treasures for some family, a keepsake for loved ones. Make me sensitive to the qualities and virtues of others, that I may draw out into the light the beautiful radiant belongings of their hearts.

Help me to be an artist, collecting the beauty of every soul, the glow of youth, the gentleness, the laughter or tears of each life that is precious in Thy sight. Deeper than a means of livelihood, give me the perspective to see my photographer's art as a service to others, making life richer and more memorable.

And, dear Lord, between the lights and shadows, the ups and downs and the rolling years, keep me from getting out of focus or off center, so that my life and work may be framed with dignity and colored with contentment ...

AMEN

Author Unknown

Life Changes...and how do YOU make them happen?

2010-10-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

I just read this great blog www.danoah.com and I am inspired...I want to make sure that when I die my kids know I loved them. They know I cared about everything they said and went through. Not just my kids...I want to make sure that I make a difference in other people's lives that anyone who meets me can say I did something with my life. If you look at averages it is possible that my life could be half or more then half over! During the growing up time I don't think I did to much to give back...What have I done, what have I accomplished? I know that it sound obsessive but I think about this everyday! What have I done...what can I do? How can I better the world around me and still have time to work and play...Somehow I need to figure out a way to get paid to do good things lol There are so many ways that I think I could make a difference, so many great causes that I know I could help. So where do I start how do I adjust my schedule to allow me to still be a great parent, sister, daughter, and coworker while doing something great? Any advise would be great!

I love doing the photo shoots for the Inspiration through art... formerly the Littlest Hero's project. I see life and how precious it really is...I also see parents and how they hurt. Even though the children are sick and going through the pain and suffering of the illness so are the parents. I truly feel as a parent that need a treatment too. It almost should be mandatory that parents have a advocate when their children are sick. Someone to make sure they eat, shower, and just check on life outside the hospital walls. Where you life revolves around what is going on in that room, the room becomes your world. It is just easier to exist then to live.

I have a daughter (Rea) who goes in and out of the hospital for something minor...minor in the way that they never have to restart her heart or give her a life changing treatment. But that doesn't mean that we were not scared when they said that she could have leukemia...my life changed my heart stoped and it now beats different. We have been blessed that she does NOT have a major illness. How ever we do have to go in the the hospital for a few days at a time when she gets sick. I could not imagine being the parent who heard that the blood tests came back and your child was gravely ill...Or the siblings who have to grow up way to fast bc their brother or sister is ill. I see how my kids are affected when Rea is sick I see after we get home how much we miss of their lives when we are focused on the hospital and who is staying where. It is hard to remember as a parent that their lives did not stop and the ones who are NOT sick are still there going to school packing lunches and doing homework just the same as the week before.I swear the hugs I get when we get home are longer and stronger...that makes a different kinds of hurt...

Now were to I go from here...How can I do this? How can I squeeze this into my life...how can I make the changes I need, so that I can make changes? Please don't take this the wrong way I love my life I love my jobs, my kids, my families I don't want any of it to changes I just want to be able to give more...with out the giving taking away from it all.

Spring is here!

2010-03-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

What an amazing week! I can not believe how the weather changed! Here is the first day that we all got to play!! Reagan is riding a two wheeler all on her own! Zander is loving being able and keep up with his sister's...well it is more like he is doing the chasing now.Elijah LOVES to be outside! We can not wait for him to walk better so he can run and play too! Sadly, there are no pictures of Alexis as she was playing with Mrs Dane's puppy Snuggy :) I am looking forward to more days outside taking pictures, more play time outside, and more dinner's from the Grill :)
Hope everyone is well!!

Feb 2010 updates

2010-02-17T21:24:00.001-08:00

Where to I begin…hummmm… I could not wait for 2010 as 2009 was not so fun…This year I have yet to write 2009 on anything, and I date more papers then I can count. I waited for this year I knew God had great thing for this year I could feel it…I have been so busy this year and time has gotten away from me that I forget where we left off. I had all these goals of keeping everyone updated with the blog, Facebook, and twitter. Yet life gets so crazy all at once and before you know it, it is February. Where did January go? I was getting good at updating my twitter and Facebook from my phone but you gotta love when you put all your eggs in one basket and the bottom falls out….Grrr to T-Mobile! Well lets get started on the updates as I am sure that no one wants to here me rant on and on about how busy life is. I am sure that all of your lives are just as busy and no one else is wining about it  Well here goes, updates on ALL of us…all 4 kids(yes, 4 that is not a typo).
Jason is doing great! He has really accomplished some huge goals this last year and just keeps on going and going. He has had 3 ceremonies with the Fire Department already and they just keep coming as he finishes yet another goal! This last one was on this last Wednesday where he was officially sworn in to the Sugar Grove Fire Department. He got to turn in his orange shirt and officially move up to the blue  He also received his pager so that now he is able to go out when there is a call…which there has been quit a few. There has not been a time that I have been home that he runs out the door for a call. I love how excited he gets when the pager goes off, but I am sure as the years go on that that excitement will fade, but for him I hope not. You can see the happiness that it brings him knowing that he might get to help someone!
Alexis just keeps on SMILING I swear that Girl is never frowning! She loves reading and just keeps on reading and reading. She has flown through the Harry Potter Books and recently read the Lighting Thief book. Her teacher this year has inspired her where she is excited to get to school again. There is not fighting to get ready she is ready to pounce out that door so she can get there to learn! Her teacher even arranged a day for the kids to go see the Lightning Thief movie outside of school she sent home a form for parents to pick a day and time that would be most convenient. Since it was a non approved school activity the parents had to attend and stay with the kids. I love how she thought of doing something like that to get the kids to all read the book together and then be able to see the difference reading the book is! Alexis was very disappointed that there were parts of the book that she loved and they were not in the movie…NOW she is re reading any book she saw the movie on! I love her! Soooo proud!!!
Reagan is LOVING school and her teacher LOVES her! So do her Sunday school teachers! She is always one step ahead of listening. The other day I was trying get the kids to bed and of course she got her jammies on brushed her teeth and went straight to bed! She never has to be told twice to do anything! When I thanked her for always listening to be she hugged me and said “mommy that is what makes me different in our family…Alexis is oldest, and Zander is a boy and I am the only one who listens” OMG love her of course I told her a million different other reason’s of what makes her different and so special to us! I love her heart; she is always the first one to share the first one to make something special for someone else. I love how both her siblings follow her lead when it comes to being nice  She is the sweetest thing ever!

Zander hummmm well Zander IS so smart! He is playing Go fish with these alphabet cards and he knows all his letters and the animals on them…after playing once! And he not only knows it is a bird he says what kind! He reminds me of Josh when he was a preschooler…He NEVER forgets! Zander is loving playing the big boy role and acting like a big bother to Elijah…he is LOVING having someone to play cars and catch with…they will sit there and throw anything back and forth and LAUGH so hard! This leads me to Elijah…
Elijah is the newest addition to our household. He is Jason’s brother Corey’s son. It is a sad story that bring Elijah to us but hopefully has a super happy ending  Elijah was shook by someone and it was so bad that they had to do brain surgery to remove blood clots from behind his eyes and relive pressure…He came home from the hospital on Feb 10, 2010. He is getting better and better each day! He went from just laying there to rolling over, crawling, and even now pulling him self up! He was standing next to his mom tonight and he just stood there with out holding on to anything at all! It is a great joy to have him here with us yet it makes me sad knowing that he is here and his parents are somewhere else. Our number one priority in life right now is keeping him safe and watching him return to the Elijah he once was before being shaken.
Last but not least is Mom…she is doing well! She has been able to return to work but is fighting a cold right now. All in all it looks like 2010 is going to be her year also 
Well I thought mom was last but alas I forget my two sweet sisters/ best friends. I don’t know how I would get thought a week with out my sister Jen and my best friend Michelle…and they are both having babies…Michelle a boy and Jen a BIG ?. The super great thing is that they are due within a month of each other! I get to be an aunty 2 more times this year!!! I could not be more excited!!!
I am telling you 2010 is the year baby! Can not post with out some pictures…Here are a picture of Elijah that I snapped on Sunday before work  I promise to keep up better with this as I know that for some of you it is the only way you know what is going on as I AM SUPER bad at keeping in touch…and now that email that everyone would get at 2 am I can not even send thanks to my broke phone and yahoo being cleaned out  If I have not gotten it form you please email me your contact info so that I can update my address book or should I say start it all over 

Thank you Melissa!!!!!

2010-01-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

A big whoo hoo to Melissa for helping me get my editor back so now I can blog with correct spelling (I am a REALLY BAD speller) and show you video's....THANK YOU Melissa for your help, when blogger would not even respond!!! Your like a min help desk or IT dept for me lol I really Appreciate it!!!

I love to share what I read...

2010-01-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a Great post that I read...MomTog... For Mom's who love Photography

Also remember you can become a fan of Charlene Rose Photography on Facebook and I can tag you in your pictures so that you can share with all you friends!! :)

Christmas!

2009-12-26T23:11:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a SUPER great Christmas!!!!!

Reagan's Birthday!

2009-12-26T23:09:00.000-08:00

I didn't post Reagan's Birthday :( Here is my Birthday Girl on her 6th Birthday!

Halloween

2009-12-26T23:07:00.000-08:00

Aunt Shannon made the coolest costumes ever!! Each year they get better and better!!!

The kids entered into a coloring contest and both the girls won!!!

After Trick-r-Treating Zander chilled with "his cat Gilly" usually Max Chills on the chair with him but this time Gilly got their first :)

A blog I follow...

2009-12-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

I have found a few photographers that inspire me. I love beautiful photographs, and how they tell a story of someone’s life. They can show true emotion, nothing hidden. Ashley Lebedev is a photographer that inspires me! I love how all of her photographs are ART! I love going through her galleries and now LOVE even more her blog posts. Here is her website and blog...take a look and a read! Her last blog post I really wanted to share it! Happy Looking and Happy Reading!

Ashley's Blog

Bottle Bell Photography

Why Choose a Custom Photographer

2009-12-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

I came across some really interesting articles and thought I would share them. I have been in great discussions with GREAT Photographers who have gotten asked these questions. So what do I do? Google baby...I love Google but that is a whole other blog post! Here are some great articles I came across.

What is Custom Photography?

Why Choose Custom Photography?

Why does it cost more?

Jason is a FireFighter!!!!

2009-12-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

Jason has officially become a Firefighter again :) I apologize if you have seen this before but I am so proud of him so they are posted everywhere!! Visit me on facbook to see the whole night! www.facebook.com/charlenemrose

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

I have had a lot to be thankful for this year! I had a great thanksgiving and hope everyone else did also...I am so blessed that everyone brought something to dinner and when it was over everyone helped clean up! Then we played games until everyone was too tired to play...Now the count down to Christmas has begun!! I am so excited that we had a few snow flakes today. I am not going to lie Tina and I were watching the ground hoping it would stick...but in the little area we kept watching they all melted, sad I was hoping for a dusting of snow so that tomorrow would be a snowy picture day...I can not wait!

Children’s Portraits

2009-11-22T20:25:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun with Dylan this morning! We had a ball running all over the park. I can not wait to meet his new brother or sister this summer :) He will be a great big brother! Thanks Em and Larry for hanging out with me this morning!

Think Pink!

2009-11-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

Chalrene Rose Photography is excited to announce a partnership with Think Pink Photography. Think Pink Photography was founded in October 2007 to support individuals and their families who have been touched by breast cancer. We are a charitable organization that serves two main purposes – celebrating life and supporting the cause.

Through our professional photographer network, we are helping breast cancer patients to celebrate life with charitable photography sessions. Individuals may choose to document their fight against the disease before or during treatment, or prefer to capture their victory by scheduling a session within 12 months after treatment is completed. Photographers world-wide are now available to donate time and talent to celebrate life and support the cause. There is no cost or obligation to the breast cancer patient. Clients participating in a Think Pink Session will receive a complimentary photo session, as well as a set of 10 small prints from the session. They will also receive a discount on any additional portraits they wish to purchase, although there is absolutely no purchase required at any time.

To support the cause, we have partnered with The Eric R. Beverly Family Foundation. All funds generated through donations and various fundraising efforts are paid directly to The Eric R. Beverly Family Foundation. As a 3-time breast cancer survivor, Danielle Beverly and her husband Eric joined together to form a foundation dedicated to promoting education, increasing awareness, and providing support and resources for families who have been touched by breast cancer.

Please subscribe to our blog (on the Think Pink website) and tell your friends and family about Think Pink Photography. Awareness is everything and we can’t be successful without you.

I encourage you to view our website, make a donation, or hire a photographer that supports Think Pink Photography! If you hire me, mention Think Pink and I will make a personal donation to the organization. If you, or someone you know, would like to schedule a Think Pink session, please contact me for details.

I am very proud to be a network photographer with Think Pink Photography, and am anxious to get the word out about this amazing program. For more information, you can contact me, or you can visit the Think Pink Photography website at:

http://www.thinkpinkphotography.org

2009 Health States

2009-11-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

I thought that this was interesting. I did not copy the whole article just the ranking if you would like to read the whole article here is the link :) Happy Reading!
http://health.yahoo.com/featured/67/the-healthiest-and-unhealthiest-states/

2009 STATE RANKINGS

1Vermont

2Utah

3Massachusetts

4Hawaii

5New Hampshire

6Minnesota

7Connecticut

8Colorado

9Maine

10Rhode Island

11Washington

12Wisconsin

13Oregon

14Idaho

15Iowa

16Nebraska

17North Dakota

18New Jersey

19Wyoming

20South Dakota

21Maryland

22Virginia

23California

24Kansas

25New York

26Montana

27Arizona

28Pennsylvania

29Illinois

30Michigan

31New Mexico

32Delaware

33Ohio

34Alaska

35Indiana

36Florida

37North Carolina

38Missouri

39Texas

40Arkansas

41Kentucky

42West Virginia

43Georgia

44Tennessee

45Nevada

46South Carolina

47Louisiana

48Alabama

49Oklahoma

50Mississippi

The Crocheted Tablecloth...

2009-11-07T12:13:00.000-08:00

This Story really touched my heart and I wanted to share. Thanks Aunt Mary for sharing such a beautiful story!!!

The Crocheted Tablecloth

beautiful story.... makes you

understand that things happen for a reason .

The brand new pastor and his wife,

newly assigned to their first ministry,

to reopen a church in suburban

Brooklyn, arrived in early October

excited about their opportunities.

When they saw their church, it was

very run down and needed much

work. They set a goal to have everything

done in time to have their first service

on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews,

plastering walls, painting, etc., and

on December 18 were ahead of schedule

and just about fini shed.

On December 19 a terrible tempest -

a driving rainstorm hit the area and

lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over

to the church. His heart sank when he

saw that the roof had leaked, causing a

large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet

to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary

just behind the pulpit, beginning about

head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on

the floor, and not knowing what else

to do but postpone the Christmas Eve

service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business

was having a flea market type sale for

charity so he stopped in. One of the items

was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored,

crocheted tablecloth with exquisite

work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered

right in the center. It was just the right

size to cover up the hole in the front

wall. He bought it and headed back

to the church.

By this time it had started to snow.

An older woman running from the

opposite direction was trying to catch

the bus... She missed it... The pastor

invited her to wait in the warm church for

the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to

the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers,

etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall

tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe

how beautiful it looked and it covered

up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down

the center aisle. Her face was like a

sheet... 'Pastor,' she asked, 'where did

you get that tablecloth?'

The pastor explained. The woman

asked him to check the lower right

corner to see if the initials, 'EBG'

were crocheted into it there. They

were. These were the initials of the

woman, and she had made this

tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria .

The woman could hardly believe it

as the pastor told how he had just gotten

the Tablecloth. The woman explained

that before the war she and her husband

were well-to-do people in Austria .

When the Nazis came, she was forced

to leave. Her husband was going to

follow her the next week.

He was captured, sent to prison and

never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the

tablecloth, but she made the pastor

keep it for the church.

The pastor insisted on driving her home,

that was the least he could do... She

lived on the other side of Staten Island

and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on

Christmas Eve. The church was almost

full.. The music and the spirit were

great. At the end of the service, the

pastor an d his wife greeted everyone

at the door and many said that they

would return.

One older man, whom the pastor

recognized from the neighborhood

continued to sit in one of the pews

and stare, and the pastor wondered

why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the

tablecloth on the front wall because

it was identical to one that his wife had

made years ago when they lived in

Austria before the war and how could

there be two tablecloths so much alike.

He told the pastor how the Nazis came,

how he forced his wife to flee for her

safety and he was supposed to follow

her, but he was arrested and put in a

prison... He never saw his wife or his

home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow

him to take him for a little ride. They

drove to Staten Island and to the same

house where the pastor had taken the

woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three

flights of stairs to the woman's

apartment, knocked on the door and

he saw the greatest Christmas reunion

he could ever imagine.

True story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid ..

Who says God does not work in mysterious ways.....

Can you hear it...

2009-11-01T20:28:00.001-08:00

It is in the air...November is here! I am so excited the holidays are so close I can feel them! Now if I could have a day off this fall where it doesn't rain...I LOVE long walk in the fall and so far mother nature is against me :(

Giving back

2009-10-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

I love in giving back to the community that I live in. There are two causes that I truly believe in so if you are looking for a way to give back or know of someone who could benefit from their services please let me know.

http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/

The littlest hero's project is currently working on their site. Please check back to follow what this great project does for children who are out hero's.

http://thinkpinkphotography.org/
Think Pink Photography celebrates LIFE for those who have or have had cancer.

I am always open for new Idea's so if you have a cause that you believe please feel free to share.

Sox game with the work crew

2009-10-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the White Sox's game...now before my email gets flooded...I am a cubs fan even when they suck but I have to say that I had a BLAST at the game!! HUGE THANK you for Small's for driving my car into the city do my kids and I could go. I HATE driving in the city because well mean people suck and city drivers are MEAN! And with my sense of direction we would have NEVER made it to the game.

Life gets carried away..."L" Family

2009-10-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Well here are a few pics from a family shoot I did. Thank you "L" Family for letting me share your day. I had so much fun with you, I swear there was not a moment where I was not laughing! I will be posting more soon. Kids pics,birthday's, outings, White sox's game (don't hate me I am a cubs fan). Tons of things that have been pulling me from my computer and into the real world...I swear to share asap! This weekend I have a wedding and a few shoots...so get ready for photo over load! Really, thank you for following my blog and I will do my best to keep it updated more frequently :)

Happy October

2009-10-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

Fall is officially here! I love it, I love it, I love it!!! I started the month with a bang and then it fizzled. It seemed that the month went by in a day.
Today, I had to run some errons with the kids. Now,I know that they are my kids and that I am probable a little biased. But I swear to you they were PERFECT. All 3 of them!!! We went to Payless and the girls did not find anything they liked and Zander did but it was not in his size. Now this at times brings on the "just buy me anything wine..." but not today Zander said can we try another store...and the girls asked the same. All super polite and with a smile on each of their faces. Okay, so off to Famous Footware and again they found nothing but there again was no screaming, wining, hitting, punching, or any type of misbehaving any way shape or form. So we go to Micheal's as I am looking for a creative way to sent Pictures to people as they order them. I did not find anything, so if you have any great idea's for packaging photos please let me know.
Their grandpa gave them money to spend so I agreed that they could spend the money it today and again there was NO fighting. Reagan picked hers out followed by Zander and then Alexis. While each of them picked out their prize the other two waited patiently and talked with each other. I kid you not if I was a Millionaire I would have bought these kids anything. I asked what they wanted to do for dinner and thankfully they agreed with me for Chinese.
So off to East China Inn we went. If you were ever at East China Inn in North Aurora before it was this old dated green. Now it has been redecorated and it looks fantastic. I wish I could say the same for the service. We were seated in the back and were not even talked to for over 15 mins. They were not busy. Now usually this would have really made me upset. 3 hungry kids in a restaurant is usually a SUPER bad Idea. Tex and Zan colored,Rea played with her doll. Finally he came over and asked for our order. Zander says "Mommy I changed my mind I would like to go get Pizza now. " So in my head I am thinking all hell is about to break loose. A hungry boy in a restaurant, is NEVER a good thing. I explained that we were here and they took out order and the food will be out soon. NO JOKE the kid looked and me and said "Really? you think the guy is coming back with food." We all laughed and the food came out. They all ate with the kid behind us jumping all over the place and screaming...I think this scared my kids because when they act like that, they know, that is it, we are out of there. Mommy doesn't mess around if you want to act like a bunch of money's then that can be done at home. All 3 of them sat there eating and talking nice, please pass this...does anyone want this...did you try this...the loudest anyone got was when I didn't hear Zander ask if I wanted a bite. So the "MOMMY I am trying to share with you" was really loud but he realised people looked at him and he turned pink and sat back. Again we all laughed and had a SUPER GREAT dinner. We got home and the kids ran got their jammies on Reagan picked the movie and everyone was PERFECT. We sat and watched Charlotte's Web and now they are all in bed. I am sitting in the hallway listening to nothing, typing this. I feel so calm and blessed. I love my children, I love my children, I love my children!!!
Now as you read this please understand that as a Parent I AM NOT PERFECT. My children are NOT PERFECT. I have those days were when they finally go to sleep and it is quite that glass of wine is NEEDED more then it is wanted. Most days lately I am so tired that blogging about anything good or bad is something that can not be done. Today I am blessed. God will only give you what you can handle and today I received a huge blessing NO misbehaving of any type.

Turning over a new Leaf...

2009-09-11T23:33:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have decided that to make my life a LOT easier I am going to combine both a personal and a professional blog. You will get the best of both worlds I hope :) My quirky little stories, pics of the kids and what is going on, along with what I am doing for work :) I have decided to post a fan page on Facebook. We will see how it goes cross you fingers for me. If you would like to become a fan the link is http://tinyurl.com/nkac6g. Here are a few pics that I posted on facebook. I am trying to catch up that "I will update after the next job" has caught up with me. It has been a few late night but I assure you that my lesson had been learned :)

Comming soon...

2008-02-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Hello check back soon it is all a work in progress...