Merry Christmas! So much to be thankful for!

 I love Jesus. Its hard to seperate him from other aspects of my life, and I don't think he would want me to. I try everyday, and I fail everyday (somedays way more than others). But he is there, always. I feel like an inadequate loser a lot of the time, but he doesn't think I am. It is hard to remind yourself of that when you look around, taking your eyes off of him, and just looking at what this world has to offer. Years ago, I wanted to try my hand at photography. I just thought I would go ahead and say, God, if this is what you want me to do, let this roll of film come out awesome. TADA! Na-da! Guess what? God apparently said no, I thought. Taking the obvious aside, you know, the very hard work of understanding and practing your craft (a pertinent note here, I had a film camera that was a "good camera", and I am sure that it was, I just never learned how to use it)...He didn't say no, he said just not right now. Fast forward approximately 6 years later ... a tragedy, in my opinion. We lost our daughter. What in the world was I going to do to help myself cope? Most of you know, when she was born, we were recipients of NILMDTS. Both it and she were a spark, a catalyst that God used to push me in this direction. God wasn't saying no, just not right now. How many times does this happen a day. He answers all prayers, but he isn't a genie. He answered my prayer of healing our baby. He healed her better than I could have asked for. She is perfect, with him. It was the start of an amazing journey. I am so thankful for it.

 For almost 2 years now, I have been working my tail off to get to where I want to be in photography. And let me say, it has been a very long 2 years. I am nowhere near where I want to be, but I am making strides. Enough to say that I actually enjoy looking at my work now, I am not frustrated by my work, I can finally take pride in it. Knowing that working hard is paying off is one thing. Knowing that God has his hand in it is another. I firmly believe that it is a gift that he has given me to help me heal and be a blessing to others. There is no other explanation to my being able to learn completely on my own, so much in such a short amount of time. Are there days that I have doubt and feel stuck? Of course! Who doesn't? I don't know where I will end up with this, but one thing is for sure. I have been a blessed woman for it, and have had wonderful people put in my life because of it. I pray that I have been a blessing to those I have come in contact with. 

 My number one job is to be here for my kids and husband. I am humbled and grateful for the ability to be able to enjoy my family and have such a killer job!

 May your Christmas be wonderful. May it be a time of reflection, hope, dreams and love. Merry Christmas to your family from mine. Can't wait to kick off a new year! Lots to come!

Much love!
~Brooke~

It's been awhile!

     Boy, am I behind on the blog, or what? It's been awhile! I have been very busy, and it has been great! Busy...with my kids and people that I like...priceless. The girls just finished with the CharACTers production of Beauty and the Beast. It. Was. Phenomenal. What a spectacular cast, great memories, and such a compassionate, helpful and genuine group of people. We are so blessed as a family to have access to this "family". All of those involved would say the same thing. Lots of fun and lots of heart. Now that this show has finished up, my brood is gearing up to head to Gatlinburg with The Dreamcatchers to do two shows there. We are awaiting Christmas, Christmas vacation and Christmas movies. So even though technically I am on "break" from business as usual...I am still plenty busy. The only difference is, my (not so) little chicks are with me.

   We contemplated selling our van for awhile. Such a nice vehicle, but for those of you that know me well...it just wasn't my bag. We sold our Prius (read here - GAS SAVER) when I found out we were expecting Vivian. I loved that car...which is saying something because I am not material driven. We bought the van since our five family unit would become a six family unit. When we didn't get to bring Vivi home from the hospital, frankly, every time I got in that van was a reminder that we got it for her arrival...and that it was in vain. Out with the old, in with the new! Two years of that dark cloud is finally over, and I have a FUN car! Yippee! I am a fun lady, and this car suits me (ok, it was my mans idea - he gets props HERE). Thank you baby :) My funky little wagen - no spelling error there - is a fuel saver as well. Not even broke in yet, and already 41mpg baby! Now THAT is what I am talking about. Money in my pocket is what I like...not money in the tank. My little pet ought to get 50+ mpg by the time it gets through its break in period. Swooning, oh yeah, swooning big time. Plus I just used the word swoon twice - because it's so nice - AND I don't think it is used enough.

    I am making plans, making changes, owning decisions, and baking cookies (true story). The cookies help with all the other things - which of course, are in regards to my photography. Have I mentioned lately how much I love photography? Jim and I were just discussing the other day, about portraits hanging in his aunts house...OLD portraits. One was of a very small child. I told him, pointing the print of our three girls on our wall "Our grandkids and great grandkids will be able to look at this canvas and say something about their moms and aunts/grandmas and great aunts when they were little girls. How cool is that?" And that is truly why I love it so much. Without photographs, how can we get a good feel of where we came from? How can we put faces with stories? Super cool. (I totally use the phrase "super cool" all the time, just ask anyone lol)

     More updates coming soon. I have a Freedom session coming up that I very excited about. I get to branch out a bit from what I normally do. Grow grow grow, and get out of the box!

I Heart Faces challenge - Furry Faces!

This is Edgar...Eddie Spaghetti...The Bearded Yodler...Edgar Schmedley. He is a dog of many names, and he is quite photogenic with his banded markings around his eyes. He is a food mooch like no other. He has selective hearing, being completely deaf one minute and can hear a spoon quietly clank against a dish from clear across the house. And he adores my husband. He is Jim's dog. He loves quiet walks along the river, the occasional bit of summer sausage or salami. Actually that sentence pertains to both of them, as these are activities they enjoy together :) This photo was shot with my Lensbaby. Where is he laying? On Jim's side of the bed of course.

My entry for this weeks photo challenge on I Heart Faces.

It's nice to meet new people!

     Today I had the pleasure of meeting some new people for our shoot today. I like to meet new people, especially ones that I have a great time with. I love that I get to do a job that I laugh whenever and at whatever I please. And having a Caramel Apple Cider at The Coffee Well wasn't a shabby little treat at all! I do love apple cider! It was delicious!

     Acton Bowen, my client this morning, is a guy who wears a lot of hats...He is an author, he speaks all over the country at churches, D-Now weekends, camps, schools, he leads a bible study, and he has a pretty sweet Olympics gig coming up too...there are too many great and worthwhile things to list here. Go check out his website - www.actonbowen.com . Being such a busy guy, he likes his coffee. And that is where we started our shoot. I absolutely love it when God links me up with someone who I have a lot of things in common with! On with the show....

I Heart [Faces]

 This weeks theme for I Heart Faces is Autumn Splendor. This is my entry :) I just received this image on canvas and it beautifully hangs in our living room. My husband said to move the (original, one of a kind) artwork and hang this there. He said he would rather look at our kids :) That is like 5 thumbs up, from this man of few words!

UPDATE!!!!

YAY! HOORAY! WHOOPEE!

This photo was voted a FAVORITE of Angie and Amy's! Thank you SO much ladies!

And now..................It's time to ROCK the "special" button :)

                                                              You have great taste ladies.

This was a favorite of mine too :) 

Black Friday SALE!!!

Here it is folks! I love getting the great deals they have on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is a great way to join in on the savings, without the LINES! I am so thankful for all of my clients, I hope you all were very good and get what you want for Christmas!

Why is it?

   Why is it SO HARD to photograph your own kids? I mean, what gives? I dreaded taking their photos today, more than almost any photo shoot I have ever done. All in all they were ok. It started to rain, the light went away (even though it was 2pm in the afternoon). But we pulled together as a family. We did it. Even if there were empty threats. There was pouting, laughing and near crying (on my part too). Oh but these girls! Oh my goodness are they gorgeous! Every year, bigger and bigger, wiser and wiser, kinder and more selfless. We were running against the clock. We had to get Cootie Kitty to the vet for his periodical antibiotic shot (THANKS A LOT KITTY MILLERS ~ YOU SUCK). I had to photoshop his boogers :( Yes, I spent more time on kitty's appearance than anyones lol. Man, he looks good when he isn't the loogey king!

   Here they are in all their fall time glory. I love my little chickens. Sometimes they catch my breath. They are "slipping through my fingers"... yes, that part of the song in Mamma Mia where Meryl Streep is singing to "Sophie", not only chokes me up, but I have indeed caught my husband wiping a tear or two. What a family we have :) All I know is, I am utterly BLESSED to not only have them, but to have the gift of capturing them growing up right in front of my very eyes. Thank you Jesus!

[The Dreamcatchers Troupe]

   Last year, Biggest joined Dreamcatchers. She loved it. This year, both she and Middle are in it. I have gotten pretty familiar with these girls, and have enjoyed watching them help each other, and cheer each other on. It is really an incredible group of girls. Each and every one of them brings something unique to the table. So it was an incredible honor for me to photograph them today. Beautiful, every single girl. I am always amazed at how truly individual they all are. I am reminded of that from time to time. And today was no different. Their instructor, Santana McKinney, asked them to each do a "trick". Man, did they come up with some stuff! I get a kick out of each of these kids. I am glad they let me hang around :) P.S. These have been resized for web...so clarity is much better on my computer :) Thanks so much ladies, it was a pleasure. Enjoy!

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