Ladies and Gents Miss Claire Whitehill is officially off the market - she is engaged! When Ross and I got the call we jumped around with excitement and I "may" have shed a small tear of joy! We are so excited for Claire and James to start in this next phase of life and you better believe that we will be celebrating them ALL the way!
This engagement is particularly near to my heart because of the 7 girls that I lived with in college, this will be these last wedding that we celebrate all together. It's been amazing to watch each of the stories of our lives and loves unfold... and I have a feeling that this wedding will allow us all to come together and celebrate with gusto!! I wish that I had a photo of Claire and James together (that will be coming soon!) but until then I just want to cheer for and celebrate Claire's beauty. I can't wait to see her as a bride!
This engagement is particularly near to my heart because of the 7 girls that I lived with in college, this will be these last wedding that we celebrate all together. It's been amazing to watch each of the stories of our lives and loves unfold... and I have a feeling that this wedding will allow us all to come together and celebrate with gusto!! I wish that I had a photo of Claire and James together (that will be coming soon!) but until then I just want to cheer for and celebrate Claire's beauty. I can't wait to see her as a bride!
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it's officially official.
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If you know anything about me at all, you know that I find joy in some of the most simple details of life. One of the bright spots of my day is that today I'm going to get a new journal. Ah yes, there is just something about that clean blank book that gives me a shiver of excitement for what may end up filling the pages...especially since it usually takes a good year or two for me to get through a whole book. I started keeping a journal back in college (yes, I get the exact same black journal every time), and although I have my days and sometimes even weeks of inconsistency in writing, it has been such a fun way to document life. The pages of these books are filled with my thoughts/ramblings, random snapshots, notes I've been given, notes I've written but maybe never sent, quotes and lyrics that inspire me, ticket stubs, invitations, prayers, and other various pieces and parts of my life.
When I go back and thumb through pages that I've written from years ago, I'm thankful to be able to read the thoughts of my heart and to see how far I've come... yet also how all the experiences I've walked through have specifically shaped me to be the person I am today...the good and the bad.
So, as I start the first page of this new book ...I challenge you to consider what are the things that tell the story of your life and who you are? Whatever it may be, keep it up because I believe in the beauty of celebrating your story.
** I included this old photo of myself since this is one of my happiest memories. It was the morning of my 22nd birthday, the summer after I graduated from college. I was working out at Lost Valley Ranch and the girls on my crew surprised me with a special birthday breakfast which included that fabulous waffle and lots of toasting with orange juice in plastic champagne flutes. Clearly, I was really really happy about all of it :)
When I go back and thumb through pages that I've written from years ago, I'm thankful to be able to read the thoughts of my heart and to see how far I've come... yet also how all the experiences I've walked through have specifically shaped me to be the person I am today...the good and the bad.
So, as I start the first page of this new book ...I challenge you to consider what are the things that tell the story of your life and who you are? Whatever it may be, keep it up because I believe in the beauty of celebrating your story.
** I included this old photo of myself since this is one of my happiest memories. It was the morning of my 22nd birthday, the summer after I graduated from college. I was working out at Lost Valley Ranch and the girls on my crew surprised me with a special birthday breakfast which included that fabulous waffle and lots of toasting with orange juice in plastic champagne flutes. Clearly, I was really really happy about all of it :)
Bobbie Brown says:
I just bought a really cool blue journal to write down thoughts, milestones and things my daughter does and says... I plan to give it to her one day! I just hope I'll keep up with it! haha!
(03.01.10 @ 04:15 PM)
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This week is special because it is the last week that Ross and I get to spend together at home for almost two and a half months. He leaves soon for some training with the Air Force in San Antonio, so we are just soaking up every moment of just being together and doing the simple things around home that we love so much. Long walks with our big pup while we talk and laugh about our days, making some special favorites for dinner, drinking coffee together in the morning, and getting to spend time with family that we are blessed to have so close.
I feel like I always appreciate Ross as a husband (and as an all-around amazing man), but knowing that we are going to be apart making me cherish him all the more. For example, the fact that he has been SO encouraging for me to taking on some crazy cross country travel adventures for my Lost Valley project while he is gone. I love that he cheers for me to dream up crazy ideas and then go DO them. I love that He loves me when I know I'm being cranky and intolerable, and that he won't give up until he can make me laugh. I love that he is coaching our 9 year old nephew's basketball team. I love that he is passionate about his job and about promoting a balanced and informed perspective on the agriculture industry. I love that he "gets" how important it is for me to make our house feel like a home. I love that he can make me feel small despite the fact that I'm almost six feet tall. Ah, and the list could go on... so I won't bore you. I just needed to take a moment to recognize the man that I'm crazy head over heels for and still have a crush on.
I feel like I always appreciate Ross as a husband (and as an all-around amazing man), but knowing that we are going to be apart making me cherish him all the more. For example, the fact that he has been SO encouraging for me to taking on some crazy cross country travel adventures for my Lost Valley project while he is gone. I love that he cheers for me to dream up crazy ideas and then go DO them. I love that He loves me when I know I'm being cranky and intolerable, and that he won't give up until he can make me laugh. I love that he is coaching our 9 year old nephew's basketball team. I love that he is passionate about his job and about promoting a balanced and informed perspective on the agriculture industry. I love that he "gets" how important it is for me to make our house feel like a home. I love that he can make me feel small despite the fact that I'm almost six feet tall. Ah, and the list could go on... so I won't bore you. I just needed to take a moment to recognize the man that I'm crazy head over heels for and still have a crush on.
Sarah Foster says:
Sweet- love it! We think Ross is an awesome friend too :) This is such a great picture of him...
(02.23.10 @ 03:44 PM)
Emily Barefoot says:
well, I love that you got yourself such a handsome husband!
(02.24.10 @ 12:34 AM)
Emily Barefoot says:
and I'll add that I feel your pain. Ernie and I spent 4 months of 2009 apart and will probably spend 3 months straight apart this year. It's a bummer but just appreciate getting to do the things you don't get to do when he's around. Like for me- reading in bed with the lamp on, no matter how late I come to bed...
(02.24.10 @ 12:38 AM)
KK says:
This post made me cry! I love you and I love Ross and I love you both together.
(02.24.10 @ 02:18 PM)
Angie says:
awwwwwwwwwwww- just precious!! If you get lonely Amy, know that our guest room is always open for you!!! :)
(02.26.10 @ 04:25 PM)
Tiffany Acuff says:
Ross!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it. thank you for giving us more of Ross :) Great picture! Great husband!
(02.26.10 @ 05:40 PM)
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Another huge source of creative inspiration for me has been photographer Deb Schwedhelm. Her work is ethereal, captivating, and simple beautiful... but on top of all that her writing also strikes a chord with me because it is so honest. Part of my journey as a photographer has been real desire to nail down how I want to define and shape my style. As I've said before, I believe that a huge part of developing your style is being able to recognize who you are as an individual and really tapping into what you can uniquely bring to the table with your gifts and talents - not simply fixating on what someone else does and attempting to emulate that (more amazing words on this here). All that being said, months ago when Deb announced that she was going to be doing her first ever workshop with friend and fellow photog Leah Zawadski - I jumped in with both feet. Especially when I saw this as the description for the retreat:
informative and inspiring.
open and honest.
creative and exciting.
a place where photographers and friends can gather together...
to share, learn and grow.
a wallflower friend...
a person who see's the world for what it really is, all the beauty and the ugly...
someone who knows life is only for the one who is not afraid and
that joy is only for him who does not fear to be alone.
you will never, not even if you try, forget a wallflower friend.
{adapted from urban dictionary}
So in preparation for the Wallflower Friends retreat, I've been combing through all my archives and finding/choosing photos that I love because I just love them... not because it is what a client would want or because everyone is looking and smiling... just because they resonate with ME.
informative and inspiring.
open and honest.
creative and exciting.
a place where photographers and friends can gather together...
to share, learn and grow.
a wallflower friend...
a person who see's the world for what it really is, all the beauty and the ugly...
someone who knows life is only for the one who is not afraid and
that joy is only for him who does not fear to be alone.
you will never, not even if you try, forget a wallflower friend.
{adapted from urban dictionary}
So in preparation for the Wallflower Friends retreat, I've been combing through all my archives and finding/choosing photos that I love because I just love them... not because it is what a client would want or because everyone is looking and smiling... just because they resonate with ME.
emily says:
hey there-finally checking all of the wallflower friends blogs! love your work so much!
can you believe it..only one more month until we leave?!
so funny b/c i just posted the description of the workshop on my blog.
e.x.c.i.t.e.d!!!!!
cannot wait to meet you!
emily
sharon clark says:
i spy my favorite little girl! i can't wait to see how your heart and passion explode after this workshop! xoxxo
(02.13.10 @ 08:45 PM)
Sarah Foster says:
Love these pics because they do feel like my sweet amy girl :) Do excited for you to go to the conference! I love your beautiful heart!
(02.16.10 @ 09:59 PM)
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One of my MOST favorite photographers, Nick Onken, has just made some crazy awesome updates to his blog and portfolio site. From the moment I came across Nick's work a long time back, he captivated me with his sheer creative genius and willingness to share the knowledge he has gained along the way. Seriously, if you are looking for inspiration just read back through his blog archives and stroll through his portfolio images. They blow my mind.
He is also releasing his new book March 16th, which I'll surely be investing in. Check out details on that here.
Nick's images are just chock full of motion and emotion. I just want to camp out in his images sometimes...
He is also releasing his new book March 16th, which I'll surely be investing in. Check out details on that here.
Nick's images are just chock full of motion and emotion. I just want to camp out in his images sometimes...
Mallory says:
Nick Onken is one of my VERY favorites too! There is so much edge and energy in his work. They make you feel like your actually there, in the moment. This is a girl that never really idolized anyone growing up; that was just before I found Nick Onken :)
(03.04.10 @ 04:24 PM)
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crazy awesome inspiration: nick onken
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YAY for claire!!!! congratulations!!
(03.05.10 @ 08:12 AM)DITTO DITTO DITTO! :)
(03.08.10 @ 08:48 PM)