Wings to Fly

Paul is truly the best at supporting me in my crazy business ventures whatever they are as long as I don't plan on digging myself in too deep.  He's always there to help me scout out a new location for photography and be my model for lighting.  He's there to encourage me when I feel less that adequate as a voice teacher.  He doesn't roll his eyes when I'm working on my latest art project for curriculum I'm developing. He only congratulates me when I've accomplished yet another drawing or another idea.  I've had this favorite quote from Sis. Hinckley for years.  When talking of her husband she said that Gordon gave her wings.  Paul gives me wings and the sky is the limit.  I'm so grateful he allows me to develop my talents while still being what I've always wanted to be, a wife and mother.  

I found a new location for photos a while ago and haven't really used it yet.  I was getting ready to do a family shoot and wanted to check it out so Audrey and Paul came along to give me some ideas and then we went out to eat afterward.  

I enjoyed doing...probably my last family shoot before Raelyn is born.  I'm sure the other photographers there were thinking about how crazy I was trying to get down to get the shots I wanted and still remain balanced...it's getting harder these days, but I had so much fun.  It helped me to remember just how much I love it.  

In taking these pictures it was hard to keep Audrey's attention to get any photos of her.  She gets so distracted around nature.  She can't help but take it all in and of course bring home a few pieces of it.  She is a rock collector.  If she finds a rock she deems special at all it comes home with us.  Sometimes it makes it into her rock collection and other times it sits in the bottom of our car until I notice it and find a new home for it.  I was practicing a few shots with her as my model and her pockets were so full of rocks they were hanging out of the bottom of her shorts.  She giggled as she tried to push them back under to no avail.  As a result the pictures below will always remind me of her love of rocks.  

I admire her ability to find beauty in the smallest and most ordinary things...even if if means cleaning rocks out of our car and weeds out of our garage. 

I'm so grateful for my little family.  They are my everything.  

  

 

The Many Faces of Audrey and a Birthday

Audrey turned a year older and I can hardly believe it.  I couldn't be happier that she made me a Mom.  I will forever be grateful for the ability and time I've had to watch her grow and learn.  One of my favorite things about Audrey is the size of her heart.  She cares so deeply for others.  There is a woman in our congregation who we visit quite often.  She's in her 80's and seems to be Audrey's best friend.  I've never seen anything like it.  They sit and talk together for hours usually while I'm working to help Evelyn with a piece of technology that is giving her problems.  Audrey is always concerned about how she is doing and gets frustrated with me when I accidentally forget or cancel one of our visits.  She's so curious about the things Evelyn has seen in her lifetime and has had conversations with her about The Great Depression, World War 2, and what pets her children had when they were growing up.  The only Audrey has about eventually moving is not being able to see Evelyn anymore. 

Evelyn equally loves her and I'm so grateful for such a beautiful example in my girls life.  It doesn't stop there though.  I was recently assign to some new ladies to visit.  I don't currently have a companion, but Audrey always seems willing to go on visits with me.  She truly is a gift and is teaching me all the time what it means to love others with Christlike love.  

Before I deem her a saint just know that things aren't always peaches and cream over here. She can be hard headed and strong willed at times, among other things. My hope for her is that some of these things she will eventually use as a strengths, especially during the hard times.  I hope she'll be strong willed enough to never let go of her desire to always do good and be good.  I also hope that others opinions and thoughts will not sway her strong willed mind away from precious truths she knows to be true. 

As always we had to take some birthday/school year pictures.  I've always said that Audrey is a little diva, always on stage and always has a new expression.  This was a perfect example of her many faces.  To say that life is boring around here would be a lie. I could never be bored with such and entertainer with such a great imagination at my side.  She is currently working on a book about Halloween, I hope she finishes it soon so I can share it with all of you.  I was pretty amazed when she read it to me for the first time.  Her hope is that she can send it to her cousin James so he can have a new story to read with his Mom.

She decided to have a family party this year.  We enjoyed watching a movie together, building Dr. Seuss towers, went on a family bike ride, spent a morning at the local pond swimming and kayaking, and ate key lime pie. 

She may be a little bit of a planner because she had everything outlined for me a month in advance. :)

Yearly Questionaire: 

• Teacher: My Mom 
• Favorite Subject: Art
• Favorite Book: Harry Potter, The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom, and the Island of the Blue Dolphins
• Favorite Song: Speechless from Aladdin, Into the Unknown from Frozen 2, In My Dreams from Anastasia
• Favorite Food: Potato Kale Soup and Pumpkin Pancakes
• What do I want to be when I grow up: Children's Author
• Favorite thing to do: Play outside with Poppy
• Favorite Color: Blue 
• What do you love most about yourself: I'm creative