Father's Day

I just wanted to give a shout out to all the fathers out there and say Happy Father's Day! Happy Father's Day to all those men out there raising their children. To all those single father's out there doing it on their own. Happy Father's day to the men who are raising another man's children. And Happy Father's day to the man whose children are all grown, cause we know being a father never stops. Thank you all for all you do.
*Also, I just want to give a special shout out to my personal love, the father of my children. Joseph, just so you know, you are an amazing father and husband. Words cannot completely describe everything that you mean to me and the kids. We love you more than you will ever know.

*ETA.


with much love and happiness,

~j

Viva Las Vegas 2009

Alright, so we are back from Vegas. And let me tell you we had a BLAST!! We had such a good time acting like teenagers with no responsibilities. We stayed up every night until after 2 a.m (that may not be late for some of you, but for this mom of three 10pm is usually my max), and one morning we did not get up until 12:30! Did you hear me?!? I said my husband and I stayed in bed until after noon! Yeah we were lovin it. Now, we did gamble a little bit. Just a little. I mean how can you go to Las Vegas and not gamble? So needless to say we won some, but lost more. And let me just tell you I am never going to gamble again. Vegas or no Vegas. I am definitely a sore loser. I do not like parting with any portion of my money for no good reason. To me it is just senseless. On another note, we did win a Wii gaming system. Yes that's right a Wii!! We stayed in the New York New York hotel (which is a really nice hotel by the way) and there is an arcade at the top where you can also get on the roller coaster. So on our last night there we went up to the arcade to play some games and the very first game Joe tries for 3 dollars results in him walking out with a complete $250 Wii system! Ask me about the story and I will tell you in person, it is good, real good but too long to tell here. Let's just say it is one we will never forget, nor will the gang of people that were in the arcade that night. All in all we had a wonderful trip, bonding together and getting to know one another again without the children in tow. If you are married with kids I would definitely recommend planning a little getaway with your spouse, it is truly priceless, and I think can help make you a better parent

Now, you know I am going to put up some pictures of our trip. Here they are so enjoy...

Oh yeah! And we saw Ving Rhames in the airport on the way home. He was a cooler than a polar bear's toe nails.

We had such a good time on our trip, as I said before it is one we won't soon forget. ; )

Much love,

~j

548 days

My boy turns 18 months old this month, so I thought it would be fitting to get some nice pictures of him to commemorate the occasion. I also figured why not get some with the girls too since I still don't have a shot of all 3 of them that I am in love with. Well, getting the pictures like I envisioned was definitely easier said than done. With the boy being mobile, it was like trying to get a picture of leaves in the wind. You see them, and they are so pretty, but every time you stop to compose a shot, and snap the pic the darn things move. Again. I am telling you for about an hour I worked my tail off trying to get this boy to look at the camera. I did get some that I like, but nothing like I thought. Oh well, I guess I need to be thankful that I got any at all. I mean I can always try again tomorrow. Actually not this tomorrow, as in June 7, 2009, cause my man and I are heading out to Las Vegas tomorrow. Yes folk, you heard me right. My hubby and I are taking a much needed vacation with just the two of us starting tomorrow. This is the first anti-kid vacation we have had since any of them jokers have been born. I am so excited!!!! We will be gone for four days, which is just enough because I do actually love my kids and they will be missed. I will definitely keep you posted on our trip. As for now though here are the pics from today's impromptu photo shoot.

Be blessed!

{j}

Happy Easter to all my Peeps

much love,

j ;)

A gift so great only God could create

I am kinda funny when it comes to gifts. If I get something that I really, really love I will not use or wear that thing for quite a while before I break it in. For example, one Christmas my mother in law got me this awesome smelling perfume, it was great. I mean the bottle was beautiful, and the scent was heavenly. I loved that stuff so much it sat on my dresser for well over a year before I ventured to grace my neck with it. I just liked to look at the bottle, and sniff it every now and then. I guess I just did not want to use it all up then have it be gone. So most of the time it just sat, looking pretty. Weird I know. I do the same thing with clothes, purses, shoes you name it. "Why not just use the stuff if you love it so much?" you ask. I'm not really sure. BUT if you ever give me a gift, and don't see me rockin it right away, don't be mad, just know that I really, really loved it. Really. ;)

Speaking of gifts, the other day I had the opportunity to hold a one of a kind gift that wasn't mine. Yet special none the less. *I guess it was a good thing she wasn't mine cause I probably would have set this one on the dresser for a year for sure! ; )

Baby S was an absolute joy to photograph. She made me work for her photos, little non sleeping girlie, but in the end it was a blessing spending time with her and her beautiful family. Enjoy, as I did, this heavenly gift from above...

Blessings,

♥ j

Purpose {another PSA}

So, I was talking with a friend of mine about purpose, and she was telling me that every single person on this earth was created with a purpose. Now, I have heard this before, and while I believed it to be true, I don't think I ever really internalized it. What I mean by that is, I don't think I have ever put any real thought into what MY purpose was. As my friend and I started to talk a little more, I realized that a life with out a purpose is directionless, and that for a little while, MY life had been directionless. I am not one of those people that discovered photography at a young age, and have been taking pictures forever. No, I did not get seriously interested until about 3 years ago. Since then I have immersed myself into the world of photography. If there is something to be read I am all over it, something to be had, I try my darnedest to save for it. Granted I don't have all the fancy gear, nor an actual studio yet, but I know I will get there. I have come to the realization that this photography thing has got to be my purpose in life. To me, it is more than just a job, business opportunity, or a way to make money. I live, breathe, and dream in pictures. Now don't get me wrong, I know what my other responsibilities in life are and I take care of those too, but for me discovering what I was made for has been priceless. I love to bless people with my pictures. Taking pictures makes me happy.

Ok, you know what's coming next...so I will go ahead and ask. Have you discovered your purpose? Have you discovered the thing that is within your very grasp that makes you smile from ear to ear? When you don't have a purpose I believe you can become unhappy in the mundane. Life can become boring. Directionless. I believe you have got to discover what makes YOU tick, not compare it to others' ticks and then nourish your own tick whatever that may be.

Alright enough of that, I will go on ahead and step down from my "soap box" for now. ***This has been another j'marie photography public service announcement.***

And because it doesn't feel right without a picture attached...Enjoy this rare self portrait of your fearless leader. ; )

“If a day goes by without me doing something related to photography, it’s thought I’ve neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up.”

~Richard Avedon

Be Blessed today, and every day,

♥ j

MIA

I'm sorry... I know. I have been avoiding you. Oh blog, sweet blog, you hang around day and night. Light and dark waiting patiently for me to spend a little time with you. And me, knowing that you are beckoning me daily, push you to the bottom of my QT (quality time) list. I don't know why I have been treating you this way. So shady, so shifty, and definitely som-e-timey. Forgive me. I will try and do better....

Promising pictures soon,

~j