HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUG!!!

Taylor is 11....going on 30....today.

We made eggrolls and watched old home movies from when the girls were BABIES last night. I laughed and then I cried a little. I miss them being so little with funny voices and funny faces and they way they thought about things. I love who they are now, but I miss who they used to be. I know....all parents do!

I didn't get many pictures of her last night as she totally avoids me or just makes faces so I don't get anything good of her, but I did get these.

This is her reaction to the card Mark & Sarah got her. It was a dancing hamster and the card plays some funny song I've never heard but evidently is all the rage based on her and Carli's instant break dancin', bustin' a move type of reaction.

Then she got a new black scarf from her sisters. She did this with it 'cuz...ya know...she's 11. And old now.

Then this is her this morning at 6:30 a.m. Bright eyed and bushy tailed! Not. It's the fourth day of school and it's just now hitting them that this getting up early thing stinks! Shoulda listened to mom when I told them to practice getting up early last week and they wouldn't be so tired this week! :0) (oh...check out the scarf being worn properly by an 11 YEAR OLD and not an old lady!)

And so....the ignoring begins.

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, TAYLOR!! I'm so proud of who you are and what you are becoming!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!

That's not me anymore....

While in the throws of a HUGE crisis last evening, I neither yelled nor hurt anyone.

That's not me anymore.

While sitting on the side of the road in a stalled car, running late for soccer practice, too far to walk home, too far to walk to town, I didn't panic (too much) or cry.

That's not me anymore.

Frustrated beyond belief that my car, which I pay too much for each month by the way, is down for the count and the odds that it will need a very large sum of cash to fix it are huge, I neither kicked its tires nor threw myself into on-coming traffic.

That's not me anymore.

Having a man in my life who not only loves me, but wanted to drop everything and "rescue" me was a unique experience. A man who, by just the sound of his voice, pulled me off the ledge of "OMG, NOW WHAT?!?" and back inside to "Everything will be ok".

THAT'S PART OF THE NEW ME.

My car broke down last night. One the side of the road. In the middle of the country. For no apparent reason other than to test my ability to stay calm and show me how far I've truly come in the last three years since Jesus became my BFF.

Anger and hissy fits are sooo last year.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ~ James 1:2-4

AMEN and AMEN....

OH...MY...GAWD...Becki, look at those girls...they are SO big....

Title creatively brought to you by Sir-Mix-A-Lot and his infamous tune "Baby Got Back". Yeah...wait 'til you look below and you'll get what I'm talkin' about.

I'm cheap. Have I told you all that yet? I am. Can't stand to buy the school pictures the girls get taken TWICE a year. I know. TWO times the misery of horrible, posed, never gonna use except for the player cards for soccer, pictures. You know the ones. No offense to any of those people who take school photos but...yuck.

So I have taken matters into my own hands. It's about time. I know.

Yesterday was the first day of school for my kiddos. They are gettin' SO big. Makes me laugh and cry and clap my hands and giggle then cry again.

With this one, my work is almost done here, people. She is a JUNIOR. Yeah, I know. Just last week she was standing in the kitchen butt naked, but for the saggy diaper and her curly white blond hair, I swear.

And when I said..."Hey Y'ALL! Momma wants to run outside a take a few pics of her precious babies!" in my best southern accent, she failed to understand that her paint splattered soccer t-shirt, worn and tattered and lived in would need to be changed for something much more fancy lookin' for SCHOOL PICTURES. Oh well. I happen to think she's gorgeous anyway. 'Cuz she's MY baby.

Corn is so pretty. It is. Just took these while the girls dog piled each other between shots. Thought you might enjoy something farm-ish in this post too. Yep...I'm nice like that.

Oh, my sweet Taylor. My work with this one is headed into its "busy season". She started 6th grade yesterday and is officially in junior high. I seriously would NOT go back to junior high to save my life. And I really like my life but it just ain't happen.


Of all my girls she is the most camera shy. She really just freezes up as soon as I put it to my face. She gives me a goofy smile or closes her eyes...anything to get out of taking a picture. But she is gorgeous. Wish you could see her how I see her....crackin' jokes, laughin', tattlin' on her sisters, trying to be a friend to everyone....even the girls at school who have hurt her. She has learned to love them anyway while guarding her heart. Check out her all natural, God-given mole just below her lip. I so know....very movie-star-ish, don't ya think?

And then comes this kid. Too smart for her own safety, more energy than Alli and Taylor put together, athletic, musically inclined, super photogenic and loves to "pose" as soon as she sees my camera come out of the bag. Carli started 4th grade yesterday and can DO ANYTHING she tries. She is just that girl.

My little corn nuts....

Wow. I really don't have words for the next few other than it's sooooo awesome when I actually get to capture them lovin' each other. :0)

OH....MY....GAWD. Who is their mother?! So rude. Wait. I AM!!!! Hee hee!! LUCKY ME!!!

So our fearless search for the perfect school photo replacement is still in high gear. Just wanted to share round one with y'all. You know....'cuz I can.

Like no time has passed....

My brother and his family were in town this week from Ohio. I MISS THEM. I only get to see them about once a year (the girls spent a week there in June with my mom) and so when we get together it's always amazing how quickly it's like we just saw each other the day before....no time has passed. We went out for pizza then ice cream. My nephews and Lily have sure grown up. :0(

Miss Lily Bean....

Alli and Cameron....

Have you ever seen a cuter 3 year old???!!!

My brother and Cameron watching Alli text with ONE finger. Both were amazed at her skills. :0)

Brad and Lily...she is the funniest little kid. She only looked at me because he said he'd give her a dollar. Ha! Look at that face!

Brad and Taylor....He is so big compared to her!

That's a nice smile there Taylor....

Lily showing me her feathers she picked up. She wanted my brother to put them in his pocket but she settled for a picture instead.

"Daddy, pweese?" .... he is WRAPPED around her finger.

The reflection of the tree....

So now comes the fun part. Whenever we are together we (ok, ok, I) have to get a picture of the kiddos. Wish I had on my computer one of them when they were all littler...

Same pose....just all being "BA"....they couldn't pull it off if they tried. They are too cute!

Connor - age 9, Lily - age 3, Cameron - age 10 (ALMOST 11!)

Lily being sassy....

Walking the trail....

And their behinds....

With a look like that, it's only a face that his mother (and aunt!) could LOVE.

Carli - age 9, Taylor - age 10 (ALMOST 11!), Lily - age 3, Alli - age 16 (ALMOST 17!), Cameron - age 10 (ALMOST 11!), Connor - age 9

What a bunch of NUTS.....but I love each and every one of them.

Lily.....I wish you could hear her talk and laugh. Her voice is very deep and not at all what you'd expect out of a girly 3 year old. My brother describes her as a "two pack a day trucker"....and it sounds just like that! :0)

Alli and Lily. Lily said before they got there in her trucker voice, "I can't wait to see Alli. She is so beautiful!" :0)

Teaching Lily to text....

Wishing she hadn't created that monster.... :0)

My brother and Alli are tight. He picks on her in love and in response gives him this look.

Flipping of the eyelids. Yuck.

BOYS!!!

The Con-Man....that's the face I remember!!! :0)

Sorry....no pictures of my awesome sister in law except for the back of her head. She avoids me when I have my camera out. :0)

So....here's to family. Here's to only seeing them once a year because they live 3 states away, but loving them like they live right next door.

WE LOVE YOU B, C, C, C & L!!!

My girl Taylor....

Taylor will be turning 11 in a few days. Headed into 6th grade and all the drama that goes along with being a girl, being a pre-teen in junior high and all the life changes that will come in the next few years. I took this photo in her favorite jeans. For her birthday, I'm planning to put it in a cute frame to remind her that she is who is is....the only approval she needs is God's.

Pray for her (and me!) to get through these next few crazy years and that she remembers all of God's promises to her.....

It's gonna be ok....

Been brewing my thoughts and reflections on the art fest last weekend. My thoughts are really all over the place.

Turns out....I'm my own toughest critic.

I know....shocker.

It started out a little rough. The wind was pretty strong so all my best laid plans on how things should be set up went out the window. What's that you say? God snickers at our fleshy plans? His ways are better than ours? I know, I know.

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On a side note....I do get a kick out of imagining how God sees me. I imagine He has a fabulous sense of humor and that He really does laugh with me on a daily basis. I imagine that I entertain Him with my quirky-ness and random thoughts and funky dance moves whenever the mood strikes me. I imagine that He does shake His head at me when I doubt Him or the abilities that He has given me. I imagine that I make Him happy and I make Him mad. But ya know....we're cool. He's my homeboy and all.....

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Find the lesson, Bec....was my mantra of the day.

Mark and Alli both were very encouraging telling me the "booth" looked fine. I was frustrated and needed to walk away.

Ya see.....I'm ornery. And a very visual person. What is in my mind is "correct" and often times getting things to look and be as they are in my mind is totally not a realistic expectation. I know that.

So walk away I did. Took a breather and remembered perfection is not possible. I was there for a reason....to find the lesson.

So I did. Find the lesson, I mean:

1) Thank God for a beautiful day. It could not have been nicer out, even though it was windy.

2) Thank God for Mark, Alli, Sarah, Taylor, Carli, Michaela and Grant....all there to help, support, encourage. (All there for the killer shaved ice we got to enjoy for FREE....I'm just sayin').

3) While I do not know God's full intention for me or my photography, the desire, the drive and the talent is something that He placed in ME. Photography is something that I enjoy. The selling? Not so much. The seeing God in the little things behind the lens? Very much. Follow His lead. Believe what He has told me. Close my eyes and listen. It's there. He is talking and leading me. All I need to do is listen and follow.

and most important....

4) As people flip through the matted photos, listen to the comments. Watch their faces. Some will like, some will not. Some will comment, some will not. Some will buy, some will not. But ALL will see GOD....even if they don't know it.

Will I do it again? I don't know. I did sell 4 photos....one to a fellow photographer (a pretty nice compliment, I'd say, since we are all very fond of our own photos and, well, could take it ourselves if we wanted!). It was a successful day. Just not sure about next steps.

And as my sweet Mark would say..."It's all gonna be ok."

My "booth"....

Basket of matted photos....

The Art Fest was actually very fun and family friendly. Many blow up rides for the kids, a chalk drawing contest, food, kids got to tye die, paint and play with clay. Westwinds Church did a great job showing the community a good time (and making sure God was in there). This is Alli's chalk drawing.

Sarah is having issues with the end of the summer being here already. :0)

Grant's chalk drawing....a very talented artist, I'd say.

This is Taylor working over a hunk of clay. When I took it I thought of how God is the potter and we are the clay. Pretty sure He has even used the sharp end of that tool to mold me into His creation.

The outcome of all that workin' and pokin' and moldin'. A "beautiful" creation. We don't see ourselves as beautiful at all, but like God, Taylor thought her creation was AWESOME.

' "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." ' ~Isaiah 55:8-9