I'm Back....

It's been a few days I know!! Saturday I decided to just take off on my own little mini road trip and I loved every minute of it. I'll post more on that later...it'll be a post in and of itself.

Monday, Abbey, Bobby and I headed over to Atlanta and just got back this afternoon. Bobby took Abbey to the American Idol Tour concert, as he does every year. He is such a good dad. I don't have the patience for things like that. Abbey always wants to meet the top 10 "idols" that make the tour. Sometimes that consists of getting there 2-3 hours early and/or staying afterwards. Last year when the tour came to Birmingham was the most successful year for them. She was able to get her picture made with all 10 of them and of course get their autographs. However, when the tour is in Atlanta, they don't have as much success. They did get to meet some of them and got all of their autographs except for 3. But they couldn't get Abbey's picture with them. Just pictures of them signing her program. Despite the lack of success, they still enjoyed their Abbey/Dad time. They didn't think to get a picture of themselves....duh!!

While they were at the American Idol Concert, I attended a Photographer's Seminar on Marketing, and Portrait Art. It was great. I love going to seminars and workshops to learn the most up to date work flow ideas from the best in the business. This was probably the most informative one I've been to. The only thing I don't like about these seminars is that they are only 5-6 hours long. Therefore, I feel like I've been thrown a bunch of random puzzle pieces and now I've got to figure out how to make them all work together to form a finished piece of art. But still, I loved it...the theme was...I refuse to participate in a recession. Wow, did I need that!! Anyway, there will be more about this later.

Right now I am worn out, physically and mentally (no, that doesn't take much). So, I'll leave you with a quote and say good night......

"Laugh as much as you Breathe.... Love as long as you Live"

Wal-Mart~~Oh, the joy!!

Well yesterday was another busy day for me....sorting, numbering and loading a wedding proof book took up most of the day. It was all worth it though. It turned out pretty good, I think. The customer is happy, which is my goal. A wedding is A LOT of work....it's not just the day of the wedding.....it's preparing for the day, the day, uploading, editing, weeding out the not so good and the duplicates, ordering, the previews and the album, receiving the previews and the album, sorting, getting previews in the proper order, numbering the order sheet for each preview (anywhere from 125-300 previews), loading the preview album, etc....However, photographing a wedding is very rewarding for me. I love it. I only do a handful in any given year, but that is the way I like it....too many and I would probably burn out. My next one is in October, so I've got some time to recover!!

Well, I did my bi-monthly grocery shopping today....yeah?? I don't know, it may have just been me, but I think every child in Oxford under the age of 3 was at Wal-Mart. I think they were all feeding off each other, and I actually started hearing a beat forming with all of the crying--screaming!!! Not to mention it was mainly sopranos! :~} I guess the fact that I really let it get to me is because it has been a while since my girls were that age. I just have never noticed it before or maybe I've been tuning it out, but I do know that going with a mild headache, quickly escalated into a migraine. Oh the joy of a Wal-Mart trip.

I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend as much as I am. The plan is to hit the yard sales and possibly antique/thrift stores....fun!! In other words, it's going to be lazy one for me.....that's the plan anyway!!

I'll leave you with the quote of the day.....

"If opportunity doesn't knock....Build a door"

Psych...I'll bet ya thought I wouldn't post today. It has been a long day, but I do want to keep up with my blog this go around. So, here I am. I had a 1st Birthday shoot late this afternoon. It was a little boy I have had the privilege to photograph and watch grow up since he entered this world. It is amazing how quick they do grow up. The 1st birthday shoots are probably one of my favorite events to capture. Here is a couple of shots from today.....

I also don't want to pass up the opportunity to wish my parents a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! They have been married 52 years. Am I lucky or what??

Also, I hope everyone likes the new look of the blog. It'll do for now. Oh, by the way, the Olympics is on t.v. in the background here. Is Phelps smokin' or what? He is amazing....Go USA!!

Well, I know this is short, but I'm still contemplating exactly what direction I actually want to take this blog....personal, business, or both. So, bear with me as I get used to all of this. Don't forget to remember little Coleman (C-Man) in your prayers....he is still waiting test results for why he's running a fever. Right now they are set to head to NYC on Thursday of this week. Keep praying that they will be able to get him there for his new treatment. And, last, but not least, the quote of the day....

"Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with the things that move us toward progress and peace" --Ronald Reagan

I hope everyone is having a blessed Monday.

**First off, I want to wish my sister-in-law (Bobby's sister) a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!!!

**Also, everyone please hit your knees for Coleman (see yesterday's post). They were supposed to leave for NYC today for his next battle against cancer, but Sunday he began to run a fever. Any fever in a cancer kid is not good news. He had to be admitted in the local hospital (Iowa) Sunday evening and will probably be there at least a couple of days before they can proceed on to NYC. Please pray that he gets over this soon, so he can continue with the next treatment.

**Another piece of info., if you go to Coleman's carepage via the link from yesterday's post, you'll need to create a password for yourself. It is very easy and you will be blessed.

**One more thing, any picture that I post can be enlarged by double-clicking on it.

Well, I guess that's it for all of the Monday announcements. By the way, if anyone is interested in a very cute little orange tabby kitten, there is one hanging around our house that will not get the message to move along. We do NOT need another animal around here, and the dogs are NOT fond of it. It is very loving and social, we just don't need it, so anyone who wants it, please let me know, I'll even deliver (within a 30 mile radius). Here is picture of the sweet thing....

It's been a pretty uneventful Monday for me. Just went to visit my parents in Jacksonville for a while this morning. I did just hear the doorbell, so that means the wedding proof book I've been waiting on has arrived, meaning I'm about to be busy loading about 275 wedding proofs. Then tomorrow, I have the privilege to shoot a 1st Birthday session. Fun!! So, I guess I need to go work...which this type work I actually love and feel blessed to do.

I can't forget the quote though, so here ya go.....

"Always aim for Achievement and forget about success"

Ok, I'm on a roll here....3rd day in a row to post. There's no guarantee this will continue though. Well, we survived the "Faith Christian 10th grade back to school bash" hosted (yeah, right) by Alison Phillips. Fun was had by all (as far as I know!). They swam, played volleyball, stuffed themselves on Bobby's homemade salsa, hamburgers, chips and a ice cream dessert. Oh, and we can't forget the constant texting and taking pictures of themselves at arms link. I just don't get it....but I do realize we are blessed that they are good kids and still don't mind having fun with grownups around. So, let 'em text and have an arm growing out of every picture, it's not hurting me...at least since we added unlimited texting to our cell contract....another story for another post...Here is THE photo of the night with a few of the girls acting, well normal....for them! :)

On a serious note, remember Coleman, from a few posts ago? Well, his mom just updated his carepage and said that they are headed to NYC in the morning for the next battle against Coleman's returning cancer. Below is a prayer for Coleman, that I will be praying for Coleman each day, and I hope that you all will join me in this petition to The Great Physician. Also, his carepage link is listed below, if you would like to follow this little guy's battle....he truly is wise beyond his years and has a greater faith than, sadly, I do at times. Please pray for Coleman and his family......

God, we come to You on behalf of Coleman. He has been through a long, hard fight, Lord. We thank You for being with him every step of the way, through his ups, and carrying him through his valleys. He has faced each obstacle with the spirit You have created in him. Thank You for Coleman being a blessing…he is a child of Faith. He faithfully prays to thank You God and cries out to You when he is in need…not only for himself, but for others who need You too. We know You hear his cries and we pray for his prayers to be answered. Please God fill Coleman with the Holy Spirit taking away any pain he may have, we ask that You take away any disease in his little body and restore him with total health and energy, with protection from any harm to him. Grant him peace against any fear as he faces what lies ahead. Let him continue to be a blessing to others. We ask for him to be a testimony of Your healing Lord. And we thank YOU for that healing. We thank you for loving Coleman and for doing what is best for him always. All glory to you Lord. Amen
“The Lord replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)
And just because every time we pray, Coleman has us end it by saying, “ann Dod, fank you for letting us pway the pway-er YOU teached us…” (the Lord’s Prayer)
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ColemanScott/updates/1657410

Ok, I guess that's it for this post, I hope to continue to find the time to post daily. But don't worry, if you don't hear from me for a day or so, I'm still around, just busy.....and that's a good thing!!

I'll leave you with another quote, and hope you all had a blessed Sunday of worship. Continue to praise Him and give Him the glory throughout the week......

"Keep your eyes on Jesus--Start to Finish"

Ok, everyone, don't faint. Yes, I am posting 2 days in a row. Don't get real excited, as this will be short and sweet, with another quote of the day.

Alison is about to have her little "back to school" bash for her class at Faith Christian, so there will be about 20-- 15/16 year old kids here in about an hour, hence the short and sweet.

I mainly just wanted to leave you with the famous quote of the day and to wish you a fulfilling Sunday of worshipping our Savior.

"Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall"

Be Blessed,
Gaye

Wedding wo's

Ok, so I know it's been a while..again! I've been wrestling with the most recent wedding proofs....editing, sorting, ordering and uploading. Uggg. But after 3 days of fighting with the server and lab, it's finally done. Now I just wait for them to come in and spend another day or so sorting, getting in order, numbering, and loading in the proof album. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Well, actually I do enjoy it (except for the "wrestling" part). The finished product always makes it worthwhile.

Well, school started yesterday (Aug. 7), at least for Alison and Faith Christian. All is well, so far.

I know this is a short post, but just wanted to let everyone know that I AM still alive and kicking and trying to fit this blog agenda in my daily, or at least a couple of times a week, schedule. We'll see how successful I am.

I do want to start a "quote for the day" or "quote for the week" segment. I love quotes and I'm always looking for quotes that I've never seen. Currently I change the marquee at our church (Greenbrier Church of Christ, in Anniston, AL), and I really love coming up with the saying. I try to gear it toward what we are studying or the time of year it is, or what's going on in the world at present. The blog quotes will be very random though....ok, the debut of "the quote" portion of the blog.....

"Worry is the darkroom in which negatives are developed"

Appropriate, for a photographer's blog, don't you think?

Have a great weekend and Be Blessed......