The EYES have So MUCH to Say

click on the picture to see the whole slideshow

I promise you will SMILE..

There are just not enough happy people in the world,

and when you find some...

you just want to hold on like glue..

There is something about a smile

that shows the truth of your heart....

it's catching to all who witness it.

I've shot jillions of pictures in my life,

and I always say you can tell so much

by looking at people's hands and eyes.

Those 2 things never lie..

You can fake a smile, and act fairly happy most anytime,

but hands that really hold,

and eyes that really sparkle....

NOW that is rare...

What a joy to see, and to shoot.

May your lives always be filled

with the happiness

you showed me that day.

Love is in the AIR

Watching LOVE is the funnest part of my job.

Whether it be in the form of parents and their children,

or two people who are about to get married....

it is a JOY to see.

Just being around it fills you with a floating feeling of awe.....

It makes your heart beat faster,

your face curl with a smile,

and above all

it makes LIFE worth living.

This is just a tiny sample of the wonderful fun I had

shooting LOVE on a Sunday afternoon.

Stay tuned for the slideshow

of the rest of their images

coming in two days...

It can't help but bring a tickle to your soul...

Floral Frenzee

Since I've been home from San Antonio I've been in the mood to change some things in my house. I've had painting fever for a while now. But, we know we are going to sell this house in 2 years after Brook graduates and move to the country. We bought 2 1/2 acres right on the river front in Brock and are planning to build there.

AND......... I watch enough decorating shows to know that if you sell you have to cater to the neutral buyer.

YUCK on that. haha

So, I try to do the best I can with the accessories, and small things to paint that can easily be repainted, rather than parts of our ceilings that are almost 20ft. tall. Once painting those things was enough. Anyway.... I am changing color schemes without changing the walls. And right in the middle of my excitement we all started getting sick around here. So, I don't have any pictures yet, but they will be coming soon.

I can tell you that my new favorite color is turquoise, and my inspirations have come from Kim Parker. http://www.kimparker.tv/index2.html

Her florals are the fun and color I've been looking for.

I've painted everything I could find floral. haha

Stay tuned for pictures.

May we all find something that inspires us to smile.

On the ROAD again

We just got home Sunday from our weekend of Cheerleading competitions.

I haven't even unpacked yet,

and I am leaving again in the morning to go

watch Brent play baseball.

He is playing a double-header in Abilene, and

I just hated to miss a game that was less than 3 hrs away. ha

For me lately that is a short drive.

We didn't win the "big one" this year, but we had a fun time.

Our hotel (The Drury Plaza) was beautiful, and right on the Riverwalk,

so of course, there were lots of wonderful things to see.

The pool and hot tub were on the 22nd floor roof-top.

Now I'm sorry.... but no matter who you are-

that just feels like pure luxury.

The view was incredible.

The girls had just as much fun in the hotel

as they did when they were little.

I'm not sure what it is

about being in a hotel room

that is so much fun to kids.

But, every kid I've ever known thinks it is great fun

to go up and down the elevators.

I've got to admit, there is something

about knowing you don't have to make your bed, or

wash all those towels that is a tad on the fun side even for grown-ups.

May life's fun never end... No matter where you find it.

Glamour is Exhausting.........

Ok.. I have to tell you that I just finished a shoot

with one of the cutest little girls I have ever seen.

What a doll.

Those little shoes were, without a doubt,

the most precious things I have ever seen.

They are made by a company called heelarious.

http://www.heelarious.com/

And their website is full of

polka dots so you know I loved it.

I have never seen

such a thing in my life,

but they were so cute I almost

wanted to order Brady some

just so I could have them. haha

His daddy might die.

They are made for babies

who are not walking (of COURSE).

The heels are made of foam so they bend and are really like little ballet slippers. SOooooooooooooo Darling. I must say..

Anyway... She was a little angel, and I loved every second of taking these images.

Some days you just gotta love your job..

click on the link below to see the rest of her darling little pictures

http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=47473&photographerID=21

Just can't get ENOUGH

Yesterday we took Little Brady to the petting zoo

at the Ft. Worth Stock Show.

I must say we were the

oldest parents there,

but I can also say we had the most fun.

Thank you God for bringing this little guy into our lives.

He has melted our hearts and changed us all FOREVER.

Click this link to watch the slideshow of our day

http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=47377&photographerID=21

Fabulous Furniture

For everyone who wrote and called me about the furniture site......

hee hee I found it...

Can't believe it myself.

Now I've got to figure out a way to try and do it. ha

So for everyone who wanted it,

HERE IT IS....

You gotta love it.

http://www.squintlimited.com/furniture/upholstery/

Creative ExploSION

WELL.... I'm home from my adventures with my "big" son.

Something about that child just makes me want to be 2 of me.

One who actually gets to be Brent's mom, and one you gets to watch.

You just gotta love a feeling like that.

Anyway.... I woke up this morning

with a CREATIVE Explosion in my brain.

I'm wanting to do a Zillion things. Here's my new "Brady" gate up the stairs

that I "FUNNED-UP" with a little color. ha

I got the idea from one of the millions of fabulous people in blog land. http://wonderwanda.blogspot.com/

I just started drawing, and adding a few little things here and there,

and of course some polka dots.

I'm in the mood to paint the house, make some polka dotted pillows, paint a new floral something to go over my fireplace, get funner curtains in the living room, paint my kitchen table, recover some furniture in wonderful colored fabrics.

My friend showed me the greatest website with WOWWWWWWW furniture.

I'm looking for it.. I trashed the email after I read it, and thought I saved the site, but of course can't find it.

ANYWAY..... I want to do fabulous crazy stuff today........

Color my hair, wear cowboy boots with a Tutu, wear giant gaudy jewelry,

and brand new panties.. hee hee....

I know it's Monday!!!!!!!!!! But it's one of those Marvelous Mondays for me. Yippie..

I read today (in Open Your Mind, Open Your Life)

it's one of the megazillion books about positiveness that I love to read.....

Let go of anger -

it is an acid that burns

away the delicate layers

of your happiness........

unknown Ancient eastern thought

So... let go and have a wonderful day....

Everyone Needs a HERO

It's been 2 weeks since I've seen Brent, and I can't take it any more.

SOoooooooooooooooo, when Brook gets out of school, she, Brady and I are headed Westward. Not sure what it is about Brent, but in some magical way he is a hero to us all.

Of course to Brook he is her BIG BROTHER.

One she has always looked up to and one who she knows would protect his Little SIS..

Then, there's Brady.... Who honestly isn't quite sure who Brent is.

He's this big guy we call BUBBA and one mom loves all over.

But for some reason unknown to the rest of us.....

When Brent walks in the door Brady just beams with JOY.

He knows this "big guy" is someone we all love.

Then, there's me. Well, I could go on for days

about how I feel about him,

but to put it in nut shell....

Brent was the first person who ever truly made me feel LOVE.

From the moment he came into this world he has changed it forever.

He gives me motivation, inspiration, and determination to be the best I can be.

He is my precious son, my dear friend,

and a Hero to us all.

Staci

Have a FABULOUS Friday.... It's the only one you get until next week.

New FAVORITE Shot

Ok... I must say I stumbled upon this picture.. Guess that's why I LOVE it so much.
Something about posing people just makes my spine tingle. ha
Now those little guys were so cute I could hardly shoot for smiling.
I didn't dare talk to them though because I was afraid to miss the moment.
I was actually there for a party, but these little fellows and their hairy friend
were just more fun than I could resist.
So thankful I was there (with my camera) and caught this moment before it was gone.
Yippie for perfect timing.

New MOM blog

I just started a new Mom blog.

http://momentsofmommymagic.blogspot.com/

I've learned so many wonderful things from people

who have crossed my life along the way.........

AND from the zillions of books I've read in the last 4 years.

Things I wished I would have known sooner along my journey.

So I thought I'd share a few of them with anyone out there

who wants to be a Mother your children will never forget.

May GOD bless you on one of the most important jobs you'll ever do.

Cold and Cranky

What a NOT so fun and fabulous day..

I've worked so hard to find the joy in life,

and today I think I lost it under the bed with all those missing socks.

Maybe it's the gloomy weather, or maybe it's my dirty hair or the warm-ups I've slept in and now worn all day... (Please tell me someone else out there does that)

But........ whatever it is- I've just had myself a little pouty party today.

One filled with coffee and Nila waffers.

I've missed my friends today. I miss being able to call up my pals and giggle about all of our latest decorating adventures. I miss the morning coffee with my favorite Nazi (she's not really... we just call her that), dumpster diving around town, Saturday morning garage sales, and the never ending coats of paint on all of our walls 'cause we've found the perfect color.

I do believe, and have the greatest of faith that God is preparing me a perfect passel of decorating divas out there. And I know sometimes in life there are seasons of waiting.

Waiting for God's timing .... Not Ours..

Boy that's the tough part. So..... while I'm waiting

I decided to get some work done today, and remind myself

of one of my very favorite scriptures of all time...........

TRUST in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on YOUR OWN understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge him, and HE will direct your path.

So, while I'm trusting and waiting and drinking too much coffee and eating too many Nila waffers here's a precious little girls first birthday party album I just finished.

Something to CHEER about

Brook had a cheerleading competition this weekend....

And you won't believe it, but I was running so late that I forgot my camera.

Then, I remembered that I had never posted anything from the last competition, and since most all of them are about the same.... I'd just show you some of them instead.

(if I hadn't blown my own cover you'd have never known)

Brady was quite engrossed in the music and the mattes the girls got to get on.

After trying to keep him off of them for 3 hours I gave up.

(No one was on it at the time) ha

I thought maybe he'd think it wasn't so fun after all, but judging by the look on his face... It was all he thought it would be.. It's those simple joys. ha ha

Both of her brothers were there to CHEER her on.

You can tell by the look on her face that it made a difference.

It's amazing what you can do when someone you love is watching.

HOLD on to the memories...

Make the most of each moment, and

if you cherish them, they will last a lifetime for everyone involved.

Nothing Like LOVE

I've said many times to my friends and family that

"life sometimes deals you a hand that you weren't

expecting, and you've just gotta figure out a way to play"...

But.......Boy I had no idea how all of our lives would change when Little Brady came into our world.

I told Brook and Brent over the holidays that they have taught me so much about how to be a better mother to Brady. Their experiences, giggles, tears, upset moments, and all the happiness along the way have been a lesson. There is just nothing in all the world that can take the place of being a mother.

It's the hardest and best thing I've ever done.

But, I also tell them that Brady has made me a better mother to them. He has reminded me of the "little joys" that we sometimes take for granted. But most importantly he shows me daily that life passes by too quickly.

The things that seem like such a big deal at the time-

you will look back on and wish for a tiny part of them again.

I'd love a bunch of loud boys who eat all my food and throw their sweaty gym bags down in my entry way. I'd love a silly slumber party where we get all the hair products we own

out and do make-overs.

The mess and magic of those moments

I now look back on in a much different way.....

So, Brook's clean laundry I just folded piled in her floor right along with the dirty, and the oh so scary driving lessons we've been doing.....

I remind myself I will someday miss.

The 10 loads of laundry coming home from college, and the grades that weren't the greatest somehow took on a whole new meaning. Because in the end it's a child knowing they are loved (even when they aren't always loveable) that makes all the difference.

J is for JOY

I was given the task today in "the land of blog "by a sweet, inspiring blog friend at

http://deekaye-heartshare.blogspot.com/

to take a letter and find 10 things that you love

that start with the letter you were given.

Well, I was given a J...

JOY in the hearts and eyes of our children

JESUS who saved me 35 years ago, but changed me forever in 2006

JUNE & JULY weather...sunshine fills my soul

JANUARY I was the first baby born in 1967.

Look at my beautiful mother.

JABBERING ( words are ever flowing from deep inside my heart )
JACKETS with money you left in the pockets from last year

JEWELRY... big, gaudy, and fabulous

JOURNALS.. I've filled hundreds in my life. I still write every day.

It's so incredibly amazing to go back and look at the thoughts from your

heart years later. It truly shows you that Tomorrow is another day,

and This too shall pass.

JUMPING and bouncing to music that takes over your feet

JOGGING with my dog who could care less what my hair is

doing, what clothes I'm wearing, or how slow we go. He just

loves being with me.. Now that is LOVE

What a fun "blog" game. I had to really think to get the J's in,

but such a continuation of my new outlook on life.

2009 is Family First....

I'm giving this whole year an attitude of gratitude.

I can tell you already it will change your life.

Horse full of Happy

What a wonderful, beautiful, summer-like day in January it has been.

I couldn't be more thankful to live in Texas than I was today....

You just gotta love an 84 degree winter day.

Or at least I do.

Makes my whole body and mind warm and full

when I see the sun shining outside.

Someday I'd love a house with all glass on both the East and West

sides so I could have the sun shining in all day long.

Something about the sun just fills my soul.

I love to ride with the windows down and feel the heat from the road.

We (mostly Brad) drive out to Brock to feed the horses

extra feed (besides their hay)

every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today, Brad's dad met us out there.

He was riding each horse and talking to them like they were people.

What a joy to see someone so full of passion for something.

It shows all over their face.

Papa (Brad's dad) will be 70 years old in April and climbs on those horses like a kid.

You can just see his spirit lift as he becomes ageless in that saddle.

It is true that joy is contagious.

I watched it first hand today as Little Brady

climbed right up in the saddle with his Papa to ride.

He didn't exactly know what was going to happen....

But he knew to TRUST. Trust the joy in the face of Papa.

Thank you Lord for letting me be a part of their lives today.

Sometimes it's the big events that get all the attention, but really it's the little ones that make life worth watching.

My PARTY

I turned 42 years old on January 1st.

And I can say without reservation that this year's party was the most fun,

total best, biggest smiles I've ever had...

I've always kinda had issues with my birthday being so close to Christmas,

and people always giving me stuff wrapped in Christmas paper,

or being broke and forgetting it all together.

Not that I was ever counting on huge things...

but it always kinda took the special out of my birthday...

This year Brent came down and stayed a week with me. He, Brad,

Brenae (Brad's daughter) Brook, and Little Brady took me out for my birthday.

ALL the kids bought me gifts with their own money..

What a precious, wonderful treat and sign of unselfishness that was.

I was just all bubbles inside.

We went to Olive Garden (my favorite place).

Brad snuck a cake in to the waiter

while I was changing Brady's diaper.

When we were all finished eating .... out came the singers with MY cake.

Now that is just down right wonderfully romantic and fun..

Even at 42 birthdays are just as much fun

as ever if you're surrounded with the people you love most in the world.

I've always heard that whatever you're doing on your birthday you'll do all year long.......

IF that's the case then I'm set..

I spent it feeling on top of the world..

I read today in a new motivational book I'm reading that

"Everything you want to become on the outside,

you must first become on the inside"

(author unknown mom)

Well ........ I felt lucky...

Because my insides feel full of peace, gratitude, and bubbling over love..

What a start to "MY year of the Fairytale Family"

2009

I know it has been forever since I've written... WOW..... almost a month in fact. Didn't realize quite that much time had gone by.. I've just been going non-stop since the holidays and haven't made time to walk upstairs to get on my computer. I took the entire month of December off to spend with my family. It is usually one of the busiest months for photographers. But... after the whole Lance accident I just felt like my work needed to take a backseat. And, after a month and some serious considerations I have decided to keep that same mind set and take it with me into 2009. I told all of my family that I was dedicating this whole year to them. I am going to work less, play more, and enjoy the moments we have together. Lance's accident has taught our whole family a very important lesson......... LIFE can change in an instant... Remember what's important and all the rest can wait. So, for 2009 I will have much less work to blog about, and a whole lot more family stories, pictures, and words of 42 year old wisdom.

By the way.... for all of you out there who had Lance in your prayer and wondered what has been going on with him.... I can tell you that I just took them BOTH back to college last weekend. The doctors are all amazed at how far he has come. He was released from his therapy after passing all the tests for brain functions. God was watching over him and healing things the "powers that be" said would never be the same. Every day he is getting better and better. We laughed all through supper that Brent was supposed to be the one who was watching out for him this semester helping him to be responsible to take all of his medicines. haha Some things never change because when I left Lance was reminding Brent to study.

My Favorite Cowboy

WELL, I don't know if he'll really grow up to be a cowboy:
but he sure does make a cute one.
Except for the fact that his head was too big
for his darn hat.

Some of my favorite people in all the

world wore a cowboy hat.

Not sure if it's the hat, or the

kind of man who is underneath it that I love so much.

Something about it just seems to stand for hard work,

honesty, and a man you can count on.

Grandad.... I wish you were here to see my sweet Brady.

I know you're looking down upon us.

Every time I see a straw hat flipped over upside down

I think of you.

You were the most wise, honest, genuine man I have ever know.

I miss you, and think of you all the time.

The lessons you taught me live in my heart always.

Little Brady's First Birthday has come and gone..
What an angel that precious child has been to our lives.
God never sprinkled so much personality
into one little fellow as he did
into my main man.
How quickly a year has gone by.
May every year of his life be as blessed & happy
as his first.

Together Again

I'm headed to Snyder today to see Lance,

my baby boy, and the pack.

I'm so excited he got to come home for Christmas

and has his buddies to help push him to get well.

He is doing so much better than

anyone first expected.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers.

As I get ready to travel today my mind always

has time to travel as well. It seems like driving

tends to send me either backward

or forward in time.

Today I'm choosing to head backward.

Back to a time where

I felt like I could protect my kids from any dangers

the world might throw their way.

Back when they sat in my lap and thought I

was going to grow up and be their girlfriend.

Oh how precious those memories are

when I look back and remember.

Time goes faster than any mother would want.

So take all the pictures people will let you,

and even some they won't. Because looking back,

those are the times you treasure.

Here are some more of my favorite images

of these wonderful, "growing up too fast" guys.

The memories must have been special to them too....
because they always remember the pose.

May we always take the time to

look back and remember.

Make a moment Last a Lifetime........

Staci