Crystal

Amannda

Andrew

Tyler....

Ashley.....

Bucket list for turning 40....

That's right. I just told you my {upcoming} age. I'll be 40 in September!!!

sigh.

I've been thinkin' a lot lately about my age. About how I never thought I'd live to be 40 and how at age 20, 40 seemed so....old. It's not, I know, but it's a milestone that needs marked. I used to have a crazy dream....the same one over and over again from the time was a teenager until just recently. It was that I died in a car accident at age 42. Sad, but makes me feel like I need to celebrate my age and DO IT. Do life. Enjoy life. All that....

I struggled (that word should really be capitalized it was so bad) when I turned 30. Life changing struggle. I felt like the world was about to stop and all life as I knew it was going to completely end.

I know, the drama.

But it didn't. My kiddos were 9, 3 and 1.5 that year and we have not just survived, but thrived in the last 10 years. I met Jesus (and so did they - AMEN!). I moved two hours from my hometown which was so good for my healing. I met and married the greatest man on earth. They've grown (literally!) and I've grown. Period.

And so 40 will be here before I know it (in 193 days to be exact). I've made a list of a few of the things I want to do before my birthday. I reviewed my list from last year and could actually scratch a few more off that list too! Woot! Some of my new things I will do just because I am breathing and some I will have to force myself to do. Some will be easy, some hard. Either way, I'm a list kind a girl so just having an updated list makes me happy.

Fabulous 40 to do list:

1. Shoot a gun at a shooting range....
2. Drive a super cool car....
3. Learn to french braid.....again (this was a big one for me when I turned 30...I learned how to do it then promptly forgot...)....
4. Sit on a beach with my toes in the water for as long as I feel like it.... (and by beach I mean CONNECTED TO AN OCEAN, Mark. Gray's Lake does N.O.T. count!)....
5. Relax. Schedule less stuff and do more of nothing....
6. Send my baby to college....sniff, sniff
7. Get back in shape....
8. Take my family camping....overnight....in the woods....in a tent (this one makes me smile...some of my girls are NOT the outdoors type!)....
9. Find a charity that I am passionate about and pour myself in to it. LLS has been my charity of choice in the past, but I'm too "old" to run any more marathons....
10. Write a letter to my girls telling them how much they mean to me....

This list is a work in progress. Bet if I sat here long enough, I'd think of too many things to do!

Cheers to turning 40 and being happy about it!

A FIRST!!!

Last night my church hosted the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's Eleventh Annual Spring Kickoff. It was the "official" start to the 2012 Iowa Caucuses.

Please don't judge me. I'm not political. At all.

But last night was stinkin' COOL.

My pastor asked me to come and take some shots of him with the candidates. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Former CEO of Godfather's Herman Caine and Former Louisianna Governor and Congressman Buddy Roemer all spoke. Good stuff, really, but if you ask me we need to roll them all in one and then we'd have ourselves a PRESIDENT.

Just my opinion.

Anyway, I had to be part of the official press corp in order to get that exposure. Needed media credentials and all, my friends. Big STUFF. I've never had to do that before and boy was I nervous! When I walked up to the media table to check in and grab my badge, it was sitting next to Greta Van Sustern's badge (of Fox News fame and fortune). Yeah. I didn't take a picture of that....didn't want to look unprofessional or anything. :0)

So, all checked in and off we went, basically following Jeff around and hoping praying for a few good shots. In a room full of somebodies, I was, quite simply, a nobody. The private reception area held all kinds of big wigs, none of which I knew. I'm pretty sure I have no idea what kind of people were breathing the same air I was. Probably a good thing - I was nervous enough.

2,000 people showed up - they were expecting 600! It was so crowded and hard to get around. Every time Jeff got near a candidate, someone stepped in my shot. I'm not "forceful" enough I guess. :0)

Here are some of the highlights....

God has really opened some doors for me lately. Given me some rare opportunities to do His work and give Him some glory. How exciting and hard to believe all at the same time!

So....shot a book cover author photo....check. Shot 5 potential presidential candidates....check. Shot weddings, end of life celebrations, seniors, families, babies and more. I'm beyond humbled by the privileges I've been given.

So, hey, God.....What next?!?

A random post....

Long time since I've written here. I didn't realize it had been that long!

I miss it.

Been a crazy few months. I've found myself lacking the words to express myself lately. Winter usually does that to me. Putting my camera down over the winter is a healing process that I always NEED, but miss dearly. I'm READY. Ready for Spring. Ready to be outside finding God in all the beauty that is coming. My camera is charged and ready to go.

I've done a few gigs this year so far so not totally down and out. Chick Night at church was fun (whoda thought a bunch of junior high and high school girls would get such a kick out of playing dress up and having their picture taken!), a Princess Party (what a COOL party - teaching 100+ little girls about how they are God's princesses! AWESOME.), a few senior shoots and marketing. I've certainly kept busy, but my list hasn't gotten crossed off like I'd hoped.

Mark and I are taking a class at church - Pursuit - that is changing the way I see God as well. I'm EXCITED to see what He does with this in my heart. I'm seeing Him in a different light - the right light.

Gotta run.....

I'll be back.