Happy Birthday to my Edward

Today just so happens to be my one and only G-man’s birthday.

I’m so glad I wrote on his birthday last year. Its let me look back and remember where I was last year at this time.

As last year’s stated…yes, I’ll be quoting myself
”Of the 4 birthdays he's had with me around I've only been able to spend 1 with him. Crazy right?

1st year, he was in Japan for work.
2nd year, he was in Florida for work
3rd year, he was in Virginia for work..but I was there with him.
4th year, he's in X country for work.”

I can now add to the list of years not spent with him with this years birthday.
Let me throw the 5th year’s in, he’s in Hawaii while I’m in California.

It sucks, don’t get me wrong, but I am thankful I know this man as I am still quite in love with him, painful distance and all.

Capitalizing on a very goofy mood, I found what I deemed to be the best birthday card I’d ever found. One that I thought would suit him to a T {sarcasm}. One that I couldn’t stop laughing over for hours..and then days after mailing it.
 
I sent him a Twilight card.

He is not a Twilight fan, in case you were wondering, which made it all the more sweeter, in my opinion. I signed the envelope ‘your Bella’ and the card, ‘To my Edward’ …for the full effect…which I think worked.

And this was his response upon reading it…albeit 3 days BEFORE his birthday!
You have my permission to tease him over the ‘omg’. He just about fits with all the teen girls who love Twilight with that!

Happy Birthday my sweet G-man. Oh how I love you so and wish we could spend your day together. Pin It Now!

A thankful me - 14

Monday is here for all to cheer! I’d like to know how many actually cheer for Mondays. Poor sad Mondays never get the love they deserve. So far, I’m still loving April (in case you’re wondering). Too many good things are going on its ridiculous!

My weekend proved to be a very nice one with my family. Got plenty of time with my mom and dad and sister and her family. Which by the way, my sister pulled me aside to inform me that they don’t put candy in their Easter eggs therefore I won’t get to steal any from the kids. I really should get her to stop reading my blog. I can’t have her knowing all my plans!!

This week I’m thankful for:
- my 6 year old niece giving me a neck, hand and foot massage. There’s no child labor law being broken when they offer to do it, right??

- stepping out of my room to find an Easter basket at the foot of my door from my Dad. You’re never to old to get an Easter basket, in my opinion. ~I love my Dad~

- all the time I got with my parents. Its never enough but I’ll take the time we do get together.
- all the delicious food we made for Easter Sunday. Mom made these Cheesecake stuffed strawberries and they were absolutely delicious. And very addicting!

- God’s amazing blessings. I can’t even begin to describe all that He’s doing for me right now but I’m blown away.
- new beginnings.
- my tax returns. This is the first time since I’ve lived in the state of CA that I get money back from the state. That’s 9 years that I’ve had to pay them. Now they get to pay me. I love it.
- my niece who turned 12 on Easter day. These kids are getting too old too fast.

I sure hope you all had a fabulous Easter weekend.

Remember, you have 2 more days to do your self portraits. Wednesday is almost upon us!
Have a wonderful start to your week! Pin It Now!

The now

Outside my window…
wind chimes make soft music in the quickly warming breeze.

I am thinking…
of ways to help hide the Easter eggs from my niece and nephew so I can get the candy this weekend.

I am thankful for…
the month of April. Many many good things have already happened and I’m only 6 days in.

What I am learning…
that patience really pays off. ..and being still. ..and letting God be in control is really the best thing.

I am creating…
some killer self portraits. Might be a slight exaggeration but had a fun time doing them regardless.

I am going…
to my parents for Easter weekend. I’m in charge of making rolls and veggies.

I am hearing…
Henry Limpet’s annoying voice in the movie The Incredible Mr. Limpet. {corniest movie ever}

I am reading…
Stuck With You, a book I mistakenly bought on Amazon and quickly reading to get my refund in time.

I am hoping…
good news remains good news in the coming week.

I am trying...
to look only one day ahead.

I am praying for…
all of you… its true. and if you have a specific prayer, let me know, I’m happy to pray for you.

Around the house…
I see everything I need…minus milk.

One of my favorite things…
is talking and seeing G-man’s handsome face.

A few plans for the week…
a meeting that could bring on new things for me and a potentially lucrative road trip.

A picture…
of me testing out an area in my apartment for the self portraits. Barely no makeup, sloppy ponytail and very tired eyes…. you’re welcome.


I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend remembering the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is alive!

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A family in the trees

Yes, I take full responsibility for that corny clever title.

As you know from yesterday, I got to shoot another family. They’re good friends that have some history with G-man before I ever came into the picture. I’ll always remember when I first met them when G-man and I were first dating.

They said they liked me right off since I was giving G-man such a hard time at dinner. Imagine my normal sarcastic self x10 at that time. I didn’t let anyone off the hook back then.

Oh those were the days. I never would have imagined years later, I’d be taking their family pictures. Funny how things work out but I certainly had a good time hanging out with them in the orchard.







I was joking around with him, saying there was something inside my camera. He was working real hard on seeing it.



I’m smitten with how the boys are looking at me while the girls cuddle.






These little feet! Her tights with those ballet flats…my goodness, adorable!






Just too cute for words.

I’m already slated to do another friend’s family picture in a couple weeks, so give it about 2 months {since clearly that’s my track record} and you’ll be seeing those as well. It should be a fun one, especially since she told me she didn’t want to be like other’s with the pretty pink blossoms. She wanted all green. Well, green she will get since that’s all there is.

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Turn that leaf over

People, I’ve turned over a new leaf! Please have a seat as I explain the amazingness that I am now.

I walked the 1/4 mile to the high school track to workout! Oh my word, I did! I didn’t drive it like I always do…I walked!!

Can we all just pause a moment to soak in the magnitude of this statement?! – NO? ok, fine.

I realize a 1/4 mile is really pathetic to drive each and every time I wanted to workout, but I blamed it on the concrete..and the cold (and then the heat)..and the fact that if I wanted to workout before and after I actually planned on working out, then I would..but I don’t. Let’s be real.

But this whole stupid $4.29 a gallon junk is keeping me from driving around all willy nilly. I’m a willy nilly driver, guys! And now, I can’t be. I walk to the post office 5 blocks away now. (those are big blocks, okay?!) I no longer drive it. I figure that if I’m going into an adjoining city, to do more than the one errand, so I’ll conserve on gas.

I still drive fast(er), so my mpg isn’t where it could be, but I believe in baby steps and sacrifices.
Ok, so the leaf might not be completely turned. All in good time, I suppose.

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A gentle reminder that one week from today is the link up for the self portraits. A few of you have jumped on board, there’s plenty of time if you’re wanting to have fun with us..only with yourself since we won’t be there, but you get the idea. I’m getting more and more excited to see everyone’s pictures next Wednesday! ..and yes, more and more nervous of doing mine. {tis true}

If you’re wanting to know what kind of poses you should do, check out this website. It offers great ideas on poses.
via Digital Photography School
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Awhile back I did a friend’s family pictures and can’t wait to show them, for now here’s their absolutely beautiful adorable lovable daughter. She’s my favorite..she’s everyone’s favorite, actually!

Since I can’t decide between the color and black and white, I’ll let you decide which you prefer most. I love them both!
her lashes…I covet.

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When the situation calls for a gun

Guns do come in handy sometimes. I have footage of a C/O (correctional officer) sitting on his front steps with his girlfriend when a guy walks by real slow, stops right in front of them and shoots the C/O at point blank range. Fortunately for the C/O the guy was a horrible shot and got him in his foot. Unfortunately for the guy, the C/O had his gun and shot and killed him.

~ ~ There’s been few instances where I’ve needed to grab a gun.

Working up in a ‘booth’ watching a very dangerous inmate getting escorted back to his cell, when he turned on the cop and began a heated argument. There I stood with 2 weapons in my hands to use. A launcher that shoots less lethal rounds and the rifle that shoots lethal.

Thankfully I didn’t have to use either but it was the closest I came at work to using one.

Another time I was driving down a highway, coming upon a red light, when a car full of ‘questionable’ guys comes along side me. I had my gun put away in its case, but pulled it out and set it next to me because I had such an odd feeling with them.

And then there was just last week.

Hanging out watching tv one night, when I get a loud knock on my door. Its after 8pm and its dark outside. No one and I mean no one knocks on my door at night. I asked through the door, ‘who is it?’ and a guy answers that he’s giving away free newspapers. {…at 8:15 at night..right.} I told him, ‘no thank you.’ He says, ‘you don’t want a free newspaper??’ All I say is, ‘thank you, no’ and I hear him mutter something to another guy as he walks away.

I stand there for a second thinking it over and immediately grab my shotgun from my room.

They didn’t knock on any of my neighbor’s doors. Just mine.

My mind works in funny ways. I didn’t peek through the blinds to get a look at them, because the light was on my back and they would’ve seen me seeing them.

I didn’t think to call the cops to report suspicious activity in my area.

I didn’t think to double check my locks until after I grabbed the gun. {they were locked, by the way}

All I did was walk in the back room, grab my gun and take it off of safety to have it ready in case I needed to use it.

I even slept fine that night. I debated locking my bedroom door, but didn’t. My guns were by my side the whole night and have been since. I don’t know what would have happened if I’d opened my door. I’m a suspicious person by nature and can imagine the absolute worse but thankfully I have the mind to know when something just isn’t right.

I hope you have that mind too. It isn’t always the wisest to grab your gun but rather call the cops if someone is lurking around your home or if you hear something suspicious. They say robbers know to make one sound only because often times if we hear a crash {like glass breaking} we’ll pause what we’re doing to see if we hear the sound again. And when we don’t, we continue on, thinking we ‘were hearing things’.

So don’t count out what you heard. Proceed with your safety in mind. If all else fails, call the cops and say ‘this is not an emergency’ first before describing the reason for your call. I do wish I’d peeked to see what they looked like, I do wish I’d called the cops so they’d drive around, but I chose to be Jane Wayne instead.

It worked this time, but that’s not to say it will the next.

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A thankful me - 13

Its Aaapppppppppppriiiiiiiiillll!!!!! Can I get an AMEN!!

What was it about March that was just.so.miserable!?!?! I was doing my best, but darn! that was a rough month! Now I can happily wait a whole year before experiencing it again.

Something good that came out of March.


Before I get to the nitty gritty,  I have to get you guys to look at something. My friend’s friend’s kid (still with me?) had her first birthday and my friend’s pictures are up on her blog. I thought they were great until I scrolled to the last and about lost myself. Maybe its just me, but darn if I didn’t see it coming. Clever I say…oh so clever.

Check it out and then come speeding back…cause, you still got more to read!
{if you wanna follow her blog, go to the very bottom of her page..she has the best pictures and is a hoot and a holler!}

So about that thanks. I’m thankful for a butt load. yeah, seriously said a butt load…

- 1 1/2 year old chocolate. Its been a serious lifesaver these past few weeks, gnawing on these things every night. Although word to the wise…snickers..not so good over time.

- controlling flyaway and snapped hair by stopping the towel rubbing and brushing of the wet hair. I’ve heard this before, but never cared until I couldn’t take the flyaways and viola! my hair has been tame and even has a nice wave to it. {the vlog I did was air dried no combed hair…you’re welcome}
- LeAnna telling me that if I buy and read a book within 7 days on Amazon, I can return it for a full refund. Ummm, thank you Hunger Games for free!
- Erin always always helping me out with my editing in PSE9. That stuff is tough, guys!! And good ol’ Erin is ALWAYS to my rescue with step by step tips, advice and CC (constructive criticism).
- making a profit off an ex-con. Oh yes I did!! Money exchanged hands and it never felt so good….{because of the profit.} Stay with me here!
- selling my pull up bar off of Craigslist to a couple where the guy just got out of prison. (don’t know what you guys were thinking a second ago…I ain’t no dirty cop!)
- baby E being released from the hospital. He has some therapy to do but is doing and looking really good!
- the “safety” of my guns. …more on that later this week.

So, to recap:
I’ve given you 3 chances to check out my friend Erin’s blog.
Money, guns and inmates were all mentioned in one day.
Not to mention “free” books, chocolate, unfrizzed hair and a healing baby.

…did I miss anything??

what about you?

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