Hello Friends, Acquaintances and Blog Stalkers!

(Don’t worry, if you are in the latter category, I am glad you are here!  I am a self-proclaimed blog stalker myself.  Though don’t be afraid to say hello!  And if you have a blog, I’ll most certainly be stopping by.)

Ok, first up… I am loving Brandon Heath’s new song “Love Never Fails.”  One of those songs that really speaks to my heart.  In a world where love is equated with an emotion, this song spells out the true definition.  And it’s not based on how you feel about a person.  In fact, this is how we should strive to love, but it can only be found perfectly through the Creator of Love.  It’s based on I Corinthians 13:4-13.  When it’s all said and done, this is how we all craved to be loved.

Next up… technical glitches.  I’ve known for a while now my blog has not been jiving with RSS and Google Reader!  It’s been on the “list” of things to look into, but anything techy like that usually takes me an entire day to iron out.  Soooooo… i’ve been avoiding it.  Sometimes I feel like I need an IT department around here!  But I know if I don’t get alerted by RSS or my Google Reader that a blog has been updated, I don’t remember to check it.  I presume it’s the same for most of you too.  Well, lucky for me I have a sister-in-law who is techy savvy and got my RSS feed all straightened out and my blog communicating with Readers via RSS again!  Woot!!  Thanks Lori!

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Finally, a quick peek at a couple photos of my beautiful friend Christie.  One of the best gifts in life are true and genuine friends… and getting to celebrate life’s blessings together.  And a very sweet blessing is on his way.

I’ll be back a couple more times this week.  Have another sweet newborn to share (that would be your baby girl Y family!)  Also, I have a post I’ve been working on that is for fellow photographers, clients, mommas with cameras… really anyone that likes taking photos!  Have a great Monday!

Joyfully, Erin

It’s Friday!! Woo hoo!  Though if you are a photographer, that doesn’t mean the “weekend” is here… most of us that make a living with our cameras work on the weekends.  But all the photographers I know really love what they do, so still I say woo hoo!  Bring on the weekend!

So I have been wanting to get into a bit more of a regular blogging routine.  I know some of you that have heard me say this before are saying “blah, blah, blah, yeah right.”  Well, I’m not stating here on the internet a certain number of weekly posts or what days posts will happen because, well, I have young kids.  And that usually makes life a bit unpredictable.  And some days I just feel like playing with my kids.  But here’s why I think blogging is great:  there are tons of great blogs out there that are on my google reader that make me laugh, inspire, entertain, encourage, teach, help me gain perspective, and on and on.  Mostly, this is a photo blog with intermittent posts of my kids and random ramblings.  But today on this blog, I’m starting what I like to call “Diggin It” and “Over It”.  ”Diggin It” will feature anything I have found super cool and life changing, like The Magic Bullet and Nutella on toast.  ”Over It” will feature those things that make you say “seriously!?!”  Really just my vents on the quirks in life.  I’m totally copying the idea from other blogs I love, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right!  So, here we go…

1. Jenny B. Jones.  Author extraordinaire with the best blog around.  The third book in her Charmed Life Series, So Over My Head just came out… I giggled the whole way through.  Like I was getting looks from people when I was sneaking in a few pages of reading in public.  And you need to book mark her blog… it’s like getting a weekly dose of the humor and wit that are woven throughout her novels!
2. The Snuggie.  Yes, I said it.  I am wearing a Snuggie right now.  It’s FREEZING here in AZ today… ok, I’m exaggerating.  But the thermometer outside does say 61 degrees and any AZ native gets cold when the temp is below 80.
3. Matthew 6:19-34  I was going to type it all out, but I read a statistic that said 92 % of American Households have a copy of the Bible.  So go look it up and be encouraged!

1. LOST.  I started out loving this show, but the fact is, I still can’t even really explain what it’s about.  Maybe that’s the lure to keep us coming back every week.  Holding on to hope of some major revelations in the season finale!
2. Cold and Flus.  One of the few positives of the boiling AZ summers is that it gets so hot that not even the germs survive.  So for that matter, bring on the heat!
3. Raunchy music videos.  I rarely see music videos anymore, but a couple I’ve come across lately have left me speechless!  Lingerie and language don’t equal talent in my book.  I’ll take these guys any day over that! (Thanks JBJ for the link!)

Before I sign off for today, here’s a little peek from the photos I took of my boys today.  These were taken at high noon, which I don’t normally recommend, but that’s just how it worked out.  Thank goodness for high speed lenses.

When we found out that we were having two boys, we had a couple onesies made for them.  One that said “Brothers Don’t Shake Hands” and the other that said “Brothers Gotta Hug.”  (Twenty cool points for anyone who knows where that line came from!)  I’m thinking about making them some big boy shirts that say that again.  I hope they will always be this close… even if it’s in the typical boy language of Dead Arms and Noogies.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Joyfully, Erin

Dear Michelle,

I wanted to let you know that you are an inspiration.  Your children are beautiful.  And so are you.

Losing your soul mate. best friend. husband.  Only 6 months ago.  Yet you have let his zeal for life shine through you.  Loving passionately.  Laughing often.

You have taken on the physical challenges of training for the San Diego Marathon and committed to a wonderfully healthy therapy through SWEAT.

So many have joined TEAM MITCH to run in his honor, even some that never knew him.

You are on your way to starting the Mitch Steinke Scholarship Fund because he loved flying.  You supported his dreams.  And now others that dream of flying will be able to learn as well.

I love this video that Addison and her BFF Kierra made to tell you all about it:

(if you can’t see the video, click HERE)

Team Mitch is getting close to reaching it’s initial goal of $10,000.  This is so exciting to see!   Consider joining Team Mitch by contributing whatever you can to the scholarship fund.

To make a tax deductible donation, please visit
https://secure.eaa.org/development/index.html
IMPORTANT: Select other and type in Mitchel Steinke Scholarship Fund. Thank you!

Thank you Michelle for allowing me to photograph you and your beautiful babies.  And I love the quotes you put on your facebook page, so I am going to weave some of them between the photos.

In true love the smallest distance is too great, and the greatest distance can be bridged. ~Hans Nouwens

They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. ~William Penn

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. ~Aristotle

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~Carl Jung

Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin ~Grace Hansen

“Start where you are with what you have.  Make something of it and never be satisfied. – George Washington Carver

“Take pride in your pain; you are stronger than those who have none.” ~Lois Lowry

Be bold. Be confident. Be alive. A gallery of possibilities awaits for you when you make change your friend. ~Bob Bone

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Michelle, you have changed the outlook on life for so many of us!  To live in the moment.  Cherish the little things.  Live.Laugh.Love.

You told me that you never realized how much you had learned from Mitch… that has made me look a little deeper into those I love.

I am a Team Mitch cheerleader.  Your family is always in my prayers.  And I’m thankful to have gotten to meet Mitch on this Earth.

Go Body by Bacon!! (those who know Mitch, know that affectionate phrase!)

Joyfully, Erin xoxo