My Passport

Today I got my newly updated passport in the mail, and, man, I have to say that they have made them look even cooler inside then ever before! Now, you have got to be wondering why I needed to update my passport. Well, maybe you're not, but I am sharing anyway. ;)

Several weeks ago I learned about a special trip that our church is doing, to go to Mexico to build homes with Amor Ministries for a week. I thought, wow, that is great for them; I hope they have a mighty awesome time. Then I felt a tug on my heart—maybe I was supposed to go with them. I kinda shook my head and laughed a little. I mean, come on. Me? Construction? Mexico? Leaving my kids for a week (which I have never done)? How about my businesses? And then there is the hanging out with teenagers. (I mean, I have two of my own.) Then I kinda may have gotten overwhelmed with emotion as a few things came to mind. I also pondered how Mexico is the birth place of two of our daughters, and it is a chance to serve others (which I am so into). The tug didn't go away, so I kinda made a deal with God. I said if you provide the money for me to go then I will go, no questions asked. The $100 deposit was due the following week, and God provided it and the money to update my passport. I have realized that it is not just about my going to help build houses, it is about capturing the story of what is going to happen on this trip through my skills as a photographer. I am excited and nervous.

Now, here is my question: will God provide the $200 that I still need by the 19th (just 6 days away) so that I can indeed go? I would love to tell you how incredible my faith is, but it isn't. See, I am kinda a doubter, and I am kinda wondering what is going to happen. And here is where I throw out an opportunity to you, my readers, and ask if you would like to partner with me in this journey through either your prayers or your financial support. If you are willing to support me financially then all you need to do is click on the Donate button, and you can make a contribution in the amount of your choice via Paypal. Even a few bucks would go a long way. If you are willing to pray for me and the others who will be going on this trip—over 100 people—then I would love it if you sent me a message or left a comment letting me know. I am so excited to see what God has planned for this trip, and I can't wait to share it all right here. :)

So, I guess that is a kinda long winded way of explaining why I got my passport, huh? ;)

Update

I received enough donations to cover the cost of my trip. Thank you so much!

I'm excited to announce that this year we'll once again be exhibiting at the Green Baby Expo. This year's event is tomorrow, June 20 from 10:00am until 5:00pm.

We've made available a killer prize for the expo-wide raffle: a free Magnifique portrait session, which includes a 1-2 hour photo session, online proofs, and a beautiful custom leather book containing 40 images from the shoot. This prize is worth approximately $459.

In addition to that giveaway, our expo special will be available to all attendees. If you book a Magnifique portrait session, we'll add a free $100 print credit to the package.

Please drop by our booth tomorrow and say, "Hi." We'll have lots of samples of our work and information about our charities, and we'll answer any questions that you might have. We'll see you there!

Do you find yourself asking any of these questions?

• How can I take better pictures of my children?
• How can I make my vacation photographs better?
• How do I use my new DSLR?

If so, we have good news for you. We're thrilled to announce that we're going to be holding a workshop called "Photographing Your Family." It will answer all of these questions for you. This workshop will help you improve your photos of those most precious to you: your family.

Here's what the workshop will include:

• The meaning of all those buttons and dials on your DSLR
• The basics of exposure: aperture (f-stops), shutter speed, and ISO
• Rules of composition and the use of light
• A demonstration shoot of our kids led by Crystal
• Time for you to practice what you've learned while we are available for coaching
• Question and answer time
• Lunch

When is the workshop, where is it, and how much will it cost? It will be Saturday, May 30 from 10:00 until 3:00—or later if necessary—at our home studio. If you sign up before May 15, the cost will be $149. After that, the cost will go up to $199.

Want to sign up? Click the button below. We'll see you in May for a very fun day of photography and learning. Hurry! To allow for individual attention, spaces are limited.

Regular - Payments after May 15 (non-refundable) $199.00

A dear friend, Sommer Hauer, dropped off a very sweet snuggly creation she had made for our little Anna. Sommer is making these snuggly creations with matching blankets herself and they are wonderful! You can check out her creations on Etsy under Cocoon Creations. Thanks Sommer for this beautiful gift, Anna is really enjoying her doggie snuggly!

Click here to see the photos...

We are super excited about another great opportunity to help support one of our favorite charities, the Women's Resource Clinic. On May 2nd, the clinic is hosting their annual Walk For Life at Pleasant Valley High School. The Women's Resource Clinic is one of the four charities that we help support through our charitable giving program. Join us in supporting this event to help raise money for a great service that is provided to our local community. We hope to see you there! Click here to sign up and get more information.