Family Trip

Nature is my medicine. ~Sara Moss-Wolfe


We decided to take a road trip up to Astoria, Oregon to see some friends and then head down the coasts to the Redwood Forest in California.  We went through 5 different states in a car with 4 children and survived.  I have to say that it was a great bonding moment for all of us.  We enjoyed eachother and every miracle that surrounded us.  Nature cures so much, in a soul, life and family. I can never express the love that I have for it.

Project shoot #1

My project has begun.

One in five females and one in seven males have engaged in some form of self-injury type behavior. The growing concern of “cutting” is now on the forefront for many people.

The “Cutting” Edge Facts

• 90% of self-injury individuals begin harming themselves during their teen years or younger.

• Cutting and other self-injury behavior crosses all cultures and socio-economic norms.

• Cutting and self-injury is a method used by individuals to take care of themselves, their feelings and actions.

• 40% of all individuals who commit self-injury type behaviors are males.

Almost 50% of cutters or self-injury individuals have reported being sexually abused.

• Some studies indicate that cutting and other self-injury behavior is learned from friends or peers.

Self-harm is among our children and many of us do not realize it. It has been said by some that it is easier to allow your own harm and not let the inner harm control you and destroy you. Reality is, is that it is destroying both the inner and the outer of these individuals who participate in this.

These 2 young girls have overcome many obstacles in their life already at such a young age. They have made it a year so far of no self-harm. They found hope and strength in each other. They want others to realize that it is possible to stop and it was better to never start. If you are someone suffering from this, do not let it control you, find someone to talk to you and help you overcome the destruction that it is causing.

(The photos in this series represent the loss and broken feeling that they felt during their time of hurt and pain, but in the end they left it behind and started a new life and beginning by finding the strength in each other to overcome their battle they thought that they were suffering alone.)

Stop Child Abuse

I have been asked to take some photos for a non-profit organization about abuse.  It will be a series of different kinds of abuse. Today I have had the chance of accomplishing the child abuse side.

Did you know

*That a report of child abuse is reported every 10 seconds
*Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4
*Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
*90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.


Imagine all of the children who are living this life of abuse and have not yet been reported and are still suffering.  Please, lets stop child abuse and save the children of this world.

H & K Bridals and Groomals

Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.  ~Barnett R. Brickner

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
So much fun I had this weekend shooting this couple.  They are just so cute and fun.  Always trying to make the other laugh and just enjoying eachother.  What more is to say, when 2 are in love.

They are always watching

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. ~Joyce Maynard

Everything that I do, I do for my children...they are what makes me want to be a better person and I strive for it everyday...

Spring is here? Maybe

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth




I have been so excited for spring.  The weather was absolutely beautiful and perfect and to my dismay, it snowed again.  I know that it is something to accept and there is nothing that I can do about it, but still one can dream and hope.  The reality is, that spring will come and with that so shall my sandals, shorts, and how I hope it comes sooner then later. 
 
Happy Spring everyone

Because it makes me smile

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”


Mark Twain quotes


I had to add this picture from last weekend's shoot, because it reminds me of the joys of life and all I do is smile when I see this. Oh, a childs laughter is the best thing in the world.