Christian and Bethany

 I get a lot of clients during the holidays and prefer not to "leak" their images before they get a chance to share them with family and friends through Christmas cards or New Year's letters.  I had the opportunity to photograph Christian and Bethany in the fall and I am so excited to finally be sharing these images!

The shoot was at Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley and we may have climbed through a fence to get some of these beautiful shots (I'm such a rebel!).  The handsome couple and scenery did most of the work and I was thrilled with how the images turned out.

Binky Farewell

When Symi Girl was born, I had already decided that she would not have pacifiers.  I had done my research, weighed my own thoughts, and it was a done deal. No binkies.  Even the hospital I gave birth at did not endorse pacifiers.

Symi was not a cryer, but definitely was restless in between feedings and at night the first 48 hours.  A few days after we came home from the hospital our good friend Ashley encouraged us to try it.  After other family members assured me it wasn't going to wreck her teeth or make me a bad mother, I gave in, and viola!  She was hooked!

Over the last 23 months, the pacifier truly was more help than it was harm and we never let it get to the point of, "it's more for Dad and Mom than it is for the baby".  I planned to move on from the pacifiers at or around Symi's 2nd birthday and we did it in 3 stages.

Stage 1 (14 months) : We took the binky away during wake time, playtime, and while out in public.  She was allowed to have it during naps, in the car, or at bedtime.

Stage 2 (19 months) : The binky was no longer allowed in the car.  She was allowed to have it during naps and at bedtime.

Stage 3 (23 months) : Stopped the binky all together, cold turkey.  We had a Binky Farewell Celebration at the beach where we tied the binkies to balloons and released them in to the sky - "to the other babies that need them". :)

We started talking to Sym a month before about how she was becoming a big girl and didn't need her binkies anymore.  We shared with her that we would tie them to balloons and send them away in the sky to the babies who need them.  When the day came, she was pretty clear on what what was going to happen and when she released them in to the sky, there was giggling, clapping, confusion, hugs and kisses.

The first night with no pacifier was an unexpected success.  She never asked for one and with some extra love from Daddy and Mommy, she fell asleep just fine.  As silly as a pacifier is and the journey of letting it go, it really does symbolize a lot for Charley and I.  She really isn't a baby anymore and as time goes by, she only grows faster!

Here are some shots from Sunday...

some iPhone, some DSLR, and some screen shots from video taken.

Transparency

Sometimes it is hard to know what parts of your life are appropriate to share with your family, your friends, with social media, and even here on my blog (hence no posts since November).  When you are walking through the mud and when you finally come out on the other side, I believe the best 'sigh of relief' or the greatest 'declaration of victory', is sharing your story with others.  Everyone has a story and you never know when your story will be an encouragement, a confirmation, or a challenge to others.  I desire to be transparent, even in the most difficult of times.

Charley and I both chose a path of serving Jesus through ministry and the church.  We felt called to it separately when we were young and once we met, it was one of the biggest confirmations that we were supposed to do life together.  Through worship ministry, family ministry, missions, and discipleship, we have served and been blessed to call several ministries and churches 'home'.  More recently we served at a church in Las Vegas, Nevada for two years.  When our time there drew to a close in August, we came out with more hurt than hope and with more "what not to do" than "what to do", when it comes to loving others and leading others to Jesus.  Although some experiences in life end in disappointment, you never hope for it nor do you expect it.   We learned a lot and met some wonderful people, but we are again on a journey to find our tribe; our people.

Where we're at now...

Charley and I have settled in West Los Angeles and we finally feel like we can breathe.  We have lived with multiple family members over the last several months (an experience and season I would never change),  shared a room with a toddler, spent our savings, worked odd jobs, looked for jobs, church hopped, accepted help, laughed, cried, fought, forgave, rejoiced, mourned, prayed, prayed, and prayed again.  God has answered our prayers in a beautiful way.  Not in the way we would have written it, but we are grateful and we are happy.  We know we are being used and will continue to be used, wherever we are.

My beautiful family in front of the marina - just a short walk from our new home.

I am still (and always will be) a work in progress.  In Hebrews it say, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and He is the one whom we are accountable."  For me, this is a reminder to be first and foremost, transparent with God and secondly, with those around you.  It is the best accountability I can have.  Transparency can change your life, your relationships, and your attitude.

How can you be more transparent in your life?