Beings that Kenidi and I had the H1N1 virus together, we've become quite the little bed buddies together. She hasn't left my side since her illness began which was almost two weeks ago. Even though she is better, she has stayed right by my side as I ride out what is left of my journey with it. (which is hopefully not much) Every now and again I'll look over at her and just stare at her as she watches TV aside me. I've caught myself thanking God for this little bed buddy of mine and how much she adores her Mommy. She is literally stuck to me at the hip. God help her when she has to return to school next Tuesday. Actually...God help me. :)
I am so excited about the fact that this is the New Year. TwentyTen is what I plan to refer to it as. (instead of two thousand ten) Reason being...I want to make this year twenty times better than a score of ten could ever be. I am so stoked about all of the plans God has in store for our family. This past year was a rough one but as always, we saw our way thru it only by way of Gods grace. I'm excited about our new lives here in Naples, Florida. My new business here next to the sea. My new photography classes I'll be teaching/adding onto this year. The kids new sports teams. New friends that we've made here. And the list goes on and on. God has always been so very good to us - even when we weren't reciprocating that to him. This past year leading up to today was no different. He still carries us in the palm of his hand. We are his children. Just as Kenidi is my daughter, I am his. For that...I am grateful. I am excited. I am me because of all the things I can do thru him. And in the end, when a fellow, dear, sweet, blogger friend mentioned coming up with a word for us to live by in 2010, I decided I needed two words instead of just one. As you all know, I'm not one to follow the rules much. My two words that will be privately tattooed across my two wrists baring wings - one word for each wrist - as my hands go to sink my head into them during those dark days/hours that we are sure to experience in TwentyTen...the words..."Abundant Courage." Two very small words that mean such HUGE things..."Abundant Courage." (wished from another photographer acquaintance on Twitter for the New Year) Because I'm "His" daughter, I know he is showering me with "abundant courage" as I crossed the thresh hold into TwentyTen last night. I cannot wait for New Years Eve 2011 - just so that I can look back and see where all that "abundant courage" via those wings - by way of Gods grace - allowed me to go. Many of the goals I'm after for myself this year will take an exceeding amount of "abundant courage." I've been given that courage by God. And it started today. January, 1st - TwentyTen! This date is significant today but will be VERY significant to me in the distant future, I'm sure. So...as I lay here, recovering from this eventful illness, and watch my gorgeous daughter bat those stunning eyelashes beside me, I pray that she too will one day have "abundant courage" as she walks beside God while attempting to tackle and attain her life goals. I pray that she knows him so well that she can lay in bed with her own children someday, laughing about being bed buddies, all the while thanking God for his enormous amount of grace, blessings, restoration, and the ability to turn her fears into abundant and overwhelming amounts of courage. Happy TwentyTen peeps. THIS is going to be "MY" year. I pray you will make it "yours" too!
This is "C" man. I had a shoot with him a couple of months back and am way behind in getting his and other sessions up and posted here on my blog. Either way, "C" man was lots of fun. I've included a few images from our session together. The camera loved him. His Mom is a fellow photographer so he knew EXACTLY what to do in front of the camera. I had a ball with their family.
I honestly didn't have to tell him to do anything. His Mom was there helping him along but for the most part, he was a seasoned pro in front of the lens. It helps when there is a bit of bribery involved for some new lego sets as well. Ha ha!
Like his brother and sister, he has gorgeous eyes. Mom look out...the girls will be ringing your phone off the hook very soon. Wink wink! :-)
I loved his attire as well. Photography sessions depend so much on the clothing choices for the shoot. His Mom, being a photographer, knew exactly how to pull off "the look." As you all know, I love the beach and C-mans clothing ensemble reminded me of the perfect walk on a beach at sunset. He made me want to grab my suntan oil, my flip flops, and a beach towel like ASAP!
Speaking of the beach, I'll be back in the Naples, Florida area come November 22nd. Should you have a need for a beach session or an urban session around the Naples, Bonita Springs, Ft. Myers, Sanibel Island, or Cape Coral areas...look me up. I'd love to work with your family in photographing some images for your perfect holiday card this season.
Brent has found a new honey. Someone that makes his heart swoon and his palms sweat. He's found someone that makes his heart race and his feet go numb. He's found his love. He found "Lola." Let me introduce you to her...
Yeap, this yellow and oh so stunning vehicle is his new love. It's an Aston Martin. For those of you who haven't frequented our blog for very long, you won't understand the joke to this car lot. See, Brent and I peruse this lot together each time we are in town. Sometimes it's a late night jaunt down there on a warm Florida night, other times it's during the day such as the trip with camera lights blaring. Last May, this same lot helped me make my decision on my new car. It all started there. This year, Brent is in store for a new vehicle soon. He's trying to decide whether to go for an SUV again or a car this time. Needless to say, when he saw "Lola," I think his little heart had made a decision. At a $280,000 sticker price though, I think his wallet begged to differ. Ha ha!
One of the other reasons why I love Bonita Springs and Naples is for this reason right here. I love to see the amount of "rare" (or rare considering we don't see this stuff rolling around Indy much) cars that line the streets here like candy. Eye candy! I'm not a big car girl but I can appreciate a nice ride. And these vehicles are nothing short of a nice ride. The car key alone for this Aston Martin is $2000. Yes, you read that right...$2,000.00. The key is laced in sapphires and is truly just there as a "hey, let me show you my key" kind of detail. Most people spending this much money on a vehicle have more dollars then cents. And in Bonita, that equals out to be just about every 35-60 year old man at each intersection. Brent just recently turned 35. Enough said. :o)
I do have to say...he does wear it well...Wouldn't you agree? I was holding on for dear life down in a ditch while trying to get this shot of him below. As I was whining about how to do it, Brent says to me..."Do your job...this is what photographers do!" HA!
And oh yeah...I was down on the ground in a skirt mind you - getting these shots. Thank goodness the dealership was closed. I didn't care about all of the other hundreds of cars passing by on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail behind me. Ha ha! They were all going just fast enough that it didn't matter. Never saw a thing. They might have suspected that they did, but I assure you that they didn't. HA!
There is that handsome stud of mine. Like his new shades? Those were a Father's Day gift from the kids and I for him. He wears those well too. Yeah, yeah, yeah...Mama is trying to rub her sun glass fetish off on Daddy now too. Big deal! Guys need a few really good pair of shades just like we girls do. :o)
Beings that we frequent this dealership a ton...this day was no different. However it was a blast this time because I had my camera with me again and could snap Brent in action.
Action, "what action" you ask? Well, take this moment for example...
He tried telling me that he thought that this silver Bentley "might make a good family car." Note...it is only two doors. Ha ha!
Then...how about the persuasion that came with this one below...???? This Ferrari. "Look Ang...you can see the engine via glass on the back of the trunk lid. Now that is cool, right?" Oh yes, very cool babe! Very, very, cool!
Brent: "Oh but what about this one (shown above and below) babe...?? It has 4 doors - it would DEFINITELY make a good family car."
ME: "Oh really, what is the cost on this one b-a-b-e?"
Brent: "Here is the sticker. Let's just get a picture of it why don't we? Ha ha!"
ME: "Why? What does it say? It can't be any worse then $280,000 for the Aston Martin. (a.k.a - Lola)
ME: "WHHAAATTTT? That is the price of someones house rolling down the road!" What in the world? $440,050.00 - That is just pure craziness my friends. Pure craziness. Someone is smoking some heavy wacky weed if they are buying a $440,050.00 vehicle. And don't you just love the and 050.00? Like yeah, $440,000 and $50 dollars. What is the $50 for? Why bother? Let's just round it up to a mere $441,000.00 shall we?
At the end of the day, we got in some good laughs. Brent and I spent the day out shooting - well I was shooting - he was my get-a-way driver. We had lunch and walked the Naples pier together. All the while I was snapping shots with my camera. I'll be sharing more of those shots tomorrow. It was a beautiful "date day" and I'm so thankful that my in laws offered to stay behind with the kids so that we could go enjoy ourselves for the afternoon. We hit the marina's, tin city, some residential areas, stopped to snap some old cars on top of the new ones you see above, and so forth. It was great fun! Brent has really taken an interest in the photography world with me and it's a ton of fun to have him there by my side while doing what I love to do. I'll leave you with some more random shots surrounding the cars before I sign off. First up, Mamasita's choice...ummm...yes me. The Maserati. With a smidge of tinted windows on this car and some different wheels, we'd be stylin'! :) Enjoy...
And some other Bentley colors...
Good times~good times! Thanks for an incredibly awesome date day babe! I had a blast! Love you, Ang
For now I am off to plug in and take a new photography class online for two hours today. It starts at 12:30pm and runs thru 2:30pm. It's my first ever online and live class. (I'm taking the course - not teaching it this time) I've got headphones and a mic all ready to go. Should be interesting beings that I have never participated in this type set up before. Wish me luck. Especially considering the other classmates in regards to the two crazy kids I have roaming in the background. Thank God for mute buttons, eh? Ha ha! Enjoy your Monday. Talk tomorrow...Ang
