I am sitting here typing this feeling exhausted.  When I get started on a project, I try to see it through quickly and efficiently.  I worked and pushed myself through all of the (thousands) softball photos and am now quite tired because of the hours I spent editing.  My back and neck have held up surprisingly well.  A lot of hours in excess in front of the computer…can be deadly.  Rest is near!  Volleyball season is over and I have a feeling that even though Andi is an awesome volleyball player, this was our last season.  She really wants to focus on her viola and theater next year in high school, and I know that is where her passion is.

I delivered the last of the volleyball photos today and with the end near for distribution of the softball photos, I feel like I should be doing something else… like cleaning my house.  Instead, today, I decided to take a long nap.  I can always clean tomorrow.  Although I miss the studio for all the wonderful things I can do with my camera and in my computer, I do not miss the hours I have kept over the years balancing my studio, school and (most importantly) my family.  I love what I do… I just cannot continue to work the crazy hours and 0300 bedtimes.

I hope you all have been getting some rest and find peace in your day.  I am going to try to enjoy spring break at home with my kiddos… and maybe get them to help clean!

It is pretty funny that I have spent so many years playing tennis and not shooting it as much as I have shot softball.  But, I LOVE it.  Twice I have been blessed enough to visit Xavier High School (one a freshman game with Annie last year and a varsity game with her this year…) and it is amazing to shoot there.  The lighting has been perfect on both days and I have had the luck of the weather.  I love these girls.  They have so much heart and so much talent.  I pray for them every game.

Ann had called me during the day and told me that she was so excited because she offered to catch for the Frosh and JV team games yesterday.  She was so excited to play with both teams in back to back games!  As I was starting to leave to go to the home game, I got a phone call from her again as she was picked up off the JV field and rushed to the locker room on the back of a golf cart to get a Varsity jersey so she could make the bus for their away game at Xavier.  Ann did not really understand what was going on.  But, in true Ann fashion, she was onboard and would do anything for the team.

As I am chimping during the game, I am thinking that I cannot wait to get home and cull through these images.  Ann was blessed to be able to ride along and play with the varsity team today and it was a great experience and opportunity to learn.  I am so proud of her and how she handled the stress.  I am proud of her and the girls.  I am also so proud of the integrity of our coaches.  When a situation turned negative our coaches kept their cool and did not respond in kind.  They showed our girls that responses can be made without being derogatory and unkind.

And of course I have to share one photo of my middle…

I hope you all have a blessed day!

So, I am sitting here thinking about what I want to do with my future.  The climate in photography has changed considerably over the past decade.  It has been a great ride.  With the decrease in cost of technology and increase of interest in the industry we have really had an influx of photographers in the field.  I believe in the dream and am happy for others…but being able to run a successful and profitable business legally and ethically has really become more and more difficult.

I am excited that I have finally started the search for a career.  I am not interested in a job.  I have helped build a family and a life.  I have built a successful business from the ground up.  I went back to school and worked hard.  I graduated with honors from one of the best schools in the country.  I cannot simply settle for a “job”.  It is time for a career.

I am so excited about what my future holds for myself and my family.  I will not stop shooting.  I will not stop creating.  I absolutely cannot.  It is in my soul.  I am hoping I can use my skills in my career and life for the long term.

In the meantime… I am rebranding my blog and my website.  I originally went with the colors and design I did to reflect the area I lived in and client base I built.  Now, I want to rebrand for my business to reflect my personality.  So many of our favorites have rebranded over the years.  Times change… and so do people.  Now it is my time to change.

Stay tuned.  Good things are coming…

I hate to say that it is Wednesday and that I feel like my week has been a total loss so far, but when you hear the news I have this week, it is not surprising.

We really have a teen suicide issue in this country.  We have a significant problem with pressuring our children and making them feel less than loved, supported, or even appreciated when we push them too much.  A scholarship loss is NOT ever a reason to harm yourself.  There is so much more to live for in life than money.  Are our children not aware that it is final?  Or is it too late after making that impetuous decision to pull the trigger?  It is never too late (or too early!) to talk to your children about suicide.

I won’t drag this post on and depress you all the way I have been this week.  Please.  Hug your children.  Tell them that no matter WHAT they do in life (good or bad… and yes… even REALLY bad) you will love them to the moon and back.  You are ALWAYS their mother or father.  Teach their siblings to love and support each other.

Peace, love and laughter,

Amy

So I try to spend the day studying yesterday, but of course I had one child home and she had a friend over to play video games… and this means I can’t study! So instead, I decided to make some chicken soup.

I fill my small crockpot about three quarters of the way with water and added some chicken flavor cubes with two frozen chicken breasts.

I let that cook on low overnight and then removed the excess fat off of the top of the water, and added my vegetables, some cumin, a bay leaf, some pepper, and some more water.

I let that cook on high for 3-4 hours and then added the noodles in the last 20-30 minutes.
It turned out delish and I can’t wait for lunch today. Nom