Stomach Bugs & an Engagement Photo

I’ve learned three things in the last week…

1. Lying in bed for days isn’t as fun as it sounds
2. Cherry slushies might be the yummiest drink in the world when nothing else sounds good
3. The stomach flu should die a long and horrible death

I have lots more to blog in the next few days, but I just wanted to check in and say hello…oh and share this favorite image Dave took of his son and his fiancée.  {More coming soon!}

Older But Maybe a Little Wiser

The thing I have been dreading for the past ten years happened yesterday. Each day it grew closer and closer.  I knew I couldn’t avoid it, but I sure tried.  Despite all my efforts, it’s official…I am thirty.

I’m not really sure how it happened since I am still so super hip, (right?!).  :)  But, hey, overall it’s not too bad. I think I might have learned a little.

Ten years ago I didn’t know how to forgive.

Ten years ago I didn’t know I could miss someone with all my heart.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that marriage is HARD but worth it.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that wedding and portrait photography would make me happy.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that life is not a fairytale but a journey.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that I could ever love anyone as much as I love my babies.

It might not be what I ever imagined it to be, but it’s my life and I love it.

All the photos above were taken by Dave.  Beautiful, huh?  Dave’s birthday is actually today.  {Yes, ironically, our birthdays are only a day apart.}  Stop over on his Facebook page and wish him a good day.

Three Things I Love and One I Hate

Guess which one I hate?

I try not to but in truth I hate the snow.  This is what my street looks like for goodness sake:

But as much as I hate snow and coats and gloves and scarves and cold…these two sure look cute in it, don’t ya think?

I love capturing the kids as they are. Lifestyle photography at its best!

Bringing People Together All Over the World

There are some things that just naturally bring people together.  Things like holidays…reunions….weddings…and, of course…LOST.

Don’t judge.  If you haven’t seen it, you just don’t understand.  (And, frankly, if you have watched it, you probably don’t get it either.)

Despite the absurdity, every week, I put everything aside and stayed glued to the TV for 60 minutes.  Last week a group of LOST addicts and myself got together for the season premiere.  I had to laugh when a friend sent this picture she took at the party:

And the close-up:

Because I didn’t know her then… {Why I Love Photography Part II}

They’ve always said I look just like her but I never saw it.  I didn’t know her then.

I didn’t know her when she fell in love, when she became a mom, when she watched her babies grow up.  I never imagined her to be anything like me.

But…then I saw the photographs.  She was just like me.  She was young.  She was a mom.  She did watch them grow up.

I wish I had known her then.  I think we would have been good friends.  But that would be impossible.

I would have never really known her without these photos.  They opened up her life to me and helped me see her as she was…not as my grandma…I already knew her that way.  But as a woman and a mother.

She has Parkinson’s now and her health and speech have faded with the last few years but because I have these photographs I will always know a part of her that I never got to see.

Why I Love Photography…

Doogie Howser.  (Did you know there are complete websites on Doogie?  His entire journal can oddly enough be found here! And, if you are too young to know what I am talking about…watch it here.)  I’m serious though.  There was an episode of Doogie Howser that made me decide then and there that I would always take pictures.  I didn’t plan on doing it professionally at the time but I pledged to always photograph my life.

Doogie (the young MD) watched an elderly patient as he struggles with losing his memory.  He becomes more and more annoyed with the old man’s questions and for some reason I vividly remember another doctor’s response after he complains:

“His memories are the last connection he has with his life…{His} life is behind him.  His memories are all he has left.  To him, forgetting is like dying.”

And later Doogie says:

“Forgetting is like losing them all over again.”

I’m not sure why but it stuck with me.  Someday I won’t be able to recall specifics anymore.  Someday the details will all be forgotten.  But, if I have photos…I can remember.

And there is so much I want to remember.  Like this:

and this…

and this…

{Bonus Points for the person that can name the mildly famous person beside Zeke.}

Here’s to Doogie, cameras, and the hope of remembering.

The Dreams of a Two Year Old

Josh decided recently to tape Eden waking up.  Apparently, she had been dreaming…

Did you catch that?  Apparently, I am quite the tiger wrangler.

101 in 1001

Have you heard of the Day Zero Project (101 in 1001)?  The basic idea is rather than creating a New Year’s resolution, I made a list of 101 items to be completed in 1001 days.  Hopefully with a more finite date in mind, I will be more motivated to work on each goal.  (Key word=hopefully.)

It’s harder than it sounds.  Coming up with the first 40 items or so was easy for me but I had to stretch to write the end of the list.  It was a great exercise though for coming up with what is really important to me.  Now, for checking off an item or two…On October 8, 2012 my list should be complete.  Wish me luck!

I debated about sharing my list…but hey…why not?  Amy’s 101 in 1001.

And because a blog without a photo is like a cold night without hot tea.  Here’s one of my little guy right before Christmas.  He is going to be 5 tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

With all my heart I truly hope your Christmas is full of joy, peace, and love.  Heritage Studio and Gallery will be closed for the holidays until January 4th.  We will still be taking calls and checking e-mail, but I may get back to you a little slower than usual.  I will be doing a lot of this the next two weeks:

As I prepare for Christmas and all the joy it brings I have been reminded lately of those who may not be having such a Merry Christmas this year.  Please keep the following in your prayers:

• {A} a 16 year old who has had terrible complications following the flu causing a heart attack and the need for surgery on her lungs and heart
• The family of the NILMDTS session I did last week.  Their precious little boy only lived a few minutes and I can’t imagine facing the season after that.
• An family from church who found out Monday that their daughter’s cancer, AML M5 (acute myeloid leukemia, subtype M5) has returned.  She had surgery today that went well but a long road ahead of her as chemo begins again.

Take care this week.  Take lots of photos and eat a ridiculous amount of chocolate. (It doesn’t count right around Christmas…magical calories or something.)

With Lots of Love,

Amy

Have you seen The Waterboy?

It’s been another busy day but a fun one.  I spent a large part of it going through the images from last weeks wedding.  Good times. There is a bit more work to do yet, but you’ll want to check back toward the end of the week.

For now, I have one picture to share of my little girl the other morning.  I had to take this shot because it reminded me so much of the coach in The Waterboy when he starts cracking up.  Do you remember…talking on the phone, in heels, to “grandma”?

I just can’t help but laugh.  Hope it brightened your day too.  :)

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