A Thin Blue Line

Today, I am changed by the knowledge that somewhere in a small church in Mendota Heights, a wife and two daughters say good bye to a husband and a father.  The community around them says good bye to a respected officer.

In watching the funeral of Officer Scott Patrick, I am moved by a sentiment shared by one of his fellow officers.  It comes from the writings of an Australian nurse in observation of the top five regrets of the dying.

"I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, and not the life expected of me."

Inspired by this man, his life and those around him, I will move forward. I will live a life true to myself, breathing in each moment and celebrating the beauty and simplicity of my family.  I will support and honor those who put their lives in service of others - and extend my sincerest prayers and service to those who have paid such a great price .

Officer Scott T. Patrick, 47, was shot and killed July 30, 2014 while making a traffic stop in West St. Paul.  Scott leaves behind his wife Michelle, daughters Erin and Amy and numerous brothers in blue.

Donations to the family can be made to the official Officer Patrick Memorial Fund by visiting any Affinity Plus Credit Union location.  By phone: (800) 322-7228.  By mail:
Affinity Plus
C/O Officer Scott Patrick Memorial Fund
175 W. Lafayette Frontage Rd.
St. Paul, MN 55107

Aspire to be... YOU!

It isn't uncommon for the question to be asked in each session "Can you fix ______?".

With the advancement of Photoshop, we can do just about anything.  However, the question should always be asked "Just because we can, should we?"  I always want my clients to look their best and I love this video as it shows why less is often more.  

Aspire to be yourself!  Look your best, but look like YOU!

A World Made More Beautiful

Such simple actions can really bring so much to one's life.

This amazing commercial for Thai Life Insurance is a beautiful reminder of the simple things that can bring not only reward to one's life, but have profound impact on another's.  I absolutely adore this commercial and am amazed at the wonderful truth in it.

Couldn't help myself!   Had to look up other commercials by this great company.  Check out this touching and humorous ad called 'Forget Me Not'.  I can't imagine anything more wonderful than having someone in your life who knows you when even you have forgotten yourself.

You Don't Have to Try

Colbie Caillat recently released her song 'Try' that talks about today's beauty standards.  In her music video Colbie takes a stance against Photoshop.  She starts off the video looking fully made over and then proceeds to un-Photoshop herself, ending the song as her natural, unedited self, alongside a wonderfully diverse set of women, who undergo the same transition.

See their incredible transformation from start to finish and the beauty they maintain no matter what they wear, or don't wear, on their face!  Please watch this amazing video.....and then tell yourself that you are beautiful!

Wonderful lyrics!

Put your make-up on
Get your nails done
Curl your hair
Run the extra mile
Keep it slim so they like you, do they like you?

Get your sexy on
Don't be shy, girl
Take it off
This is what you want, to belong, so they like you
Do you like you?

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try
Yooou don't have to try

Oooh
Oooh

Get your shopping on, at the mall, max your credit cards
You don't have to choose, buy it all, so they like you
Do they like you?

Wait a second,
Why, should you care, what they think of you
When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?
Do you like you?

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to bend until you break
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try

You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try
Yooou don't have to try

Oooh
Oooh

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try, try, try, try
You don't have to try
You don't have to try

Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don't you like you?
Cause I like you

A Celebration

The 4th of July is such a glorious American holiday.  Celebration of independence, freedoms, soldiers and all the journeys our country has embarked over 200+ years.  But, more so, it is the celebration of simply joys.  Family, the outdoors, BBQ and time together.  Time spent with those you hold dear and those who give you purpose, joy and meaning in your life.

As you take time to reflect and celebrate that which brings you purpose and direction in your life, I wish you all the best and celebrate with you.

Not Sorry!

When it comes to saying 'I'm Sorry', I am a steadfast believer that you should never let your pride stop you from maintaining and healing an important relationship.  Looking someone in the face, seeing their pain, acknowledging the problem and saying 'I'm Sorry' can not only heal a problem, but strengthen a future together with those that are important to you.

However....
I am totally in love with the new Pantene ad campaign to stop saying 'I'm Sorry'!

As women, we say 'Sorry' all the time.  Our fault, your fault, the moon's fault, it doesn't matter.  We say it.  Yet, watching this add, I see all the wonderful opportunities to communicate with each other that are missed by a rushed 'Sorry'.

So, ladies... don't apologize anymore!  ;) 
But, first, watch this video so you understand why!

Be Strong and Shine

An interesting article by Time magazine on the campaign.
http://time.com/2895799/im-sorry-pantene-shinestrong/

24 Hours of Happy

www.24hoursofhappy.com
Enough said!

Here is a sneak peak of the 10:00 am hour.  My favorite?  Go to 16:00. 
I don't know what it is about this song.  I love to leave it on play I the background all day and simply check in from time to time to see who's dancing.  Some fun surprise celebrities and characters in there!

Oh, wait... I love this, too!  Best one is right away!

I am Second.

I am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders.  Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor.

People like me.  People like you.

The authentic stories on www.iamsecond.com/films provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled.

When I am feeling overwhelmed with my life, I often listen to these films in the background.  Hearing the stories of struggle, challenges, change and inspiration.  I am reminded that God is not in my church, but in those moments when hope is all you have.  God is in the inspiration in my heart to do things for another, to set aside my own problems and serve the needs of others.  In that action, I realize...

I am never alone. 
I am second.

There are many inspiring films on this website.  I cannot pick a favorite as each speaks to a different need or emotion I may be having at the time.  Instead, I have picked this one to show you as like Kay Robertson, my family is my everything.

In good, in bad and everything in between.

A Gaze Upon Green Eyes

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

- Corrie ten Boom

 

Recently, my family had the joy of seeing 'Heaven is for Real', a true story about the experiences of Colton Burpo - a young child who saw God in a near death experience.  The movie itself was sweet and as a Christian, I believe true.

But what has stayed with me in the weeks since was references in the movie to a painting by Akiane Kramarik.  A young Russian painter who at the age of 8 painted the most beautiful portrait called 'Prince of Peace' based on her own visions of God.  There is a moment in the movie that shows Colton seeing it and declaring "That's Him", that man he saw in his vision.

I remember that moment so clearly.  Before he even uttered a word, I felt a catch in my breath.  Like I knew him.  I knew that face.

This image now sits on my desktop where I gaze upon it every day.  He looks unlike any image I have ever seen of Christ.  And those eyes... they draw me in and I am breathless.

I look at those eyes and see not love, patience, knowledge or forgiveness.  I see simply peace.  Not the peace most would expect, but simply that of knowing there are no secrets between us.  That he knows my heart, my weakness, my joy and my life.  He knows me fully and with that, there is... peace.

To learn more about Colton Burpo and his experiences, buy his book found here.

To learn more about Akiane Kramarik and her paintings, go to www.akiane.com.

Be - YOU - tiful

I love words. 

The way they make you think.
Give pause for reflection.
Inspire you to change.
Give strength, hope and motivation.

So many words, so many ways to bring about personal change.

One at a Time

Everyone has a time in their life when the world and its problems seem overwhelming.  So many things pulling you in so many different directions that you lose sight of one's self and your power to manage it all.

My daughter went through such a time.  One of the best things we discovered in helping her cope with great difficulties was the beautiful rainbow jars.

Take small pieces of paper and write down all the problems and worries you have.  Put them in a jar and close the lid.  Then, simply take one out at a time and only think about and deal with that one issue at a time.  The rest do not matter in that moment.  It allows you to focus, prioritize and manage it all.

Next, gather a collection of colorful jars.  In them, gather pieces with all your favorite quotes, bible verses, messages from friends and the like.  When you need a bit of inspiration, a kind word or a bit of hope, they are there.

When you compare the two, no matter how big problems may seem, they pale in the beautiful light of love, hope and friendship.

A Mother's Wish

As Mother's Day returns again, I am mindful of the following which I wrote for my children some time ago. 

I have been blessed to have many children call me Mama over the years - three I bore through nature, while many, many more I welcomed into my heart by choice.  It has been my greatest reward to know the joy, pain, hope and dream of being a parent and I delight in wondering each day where the road will lead for my family and my children.

63,210,891 Views of Beauty

Sometimes, it takes a stranger to open your eyes to your own beauty.

This is a wonderful campaign by Dove and something that gives me pause in my own perception of self.  I wonder how my own self perception differs from that of how others see me.

Lessons Learned as a Mother

There are so many lessons we try to teach our children as they grow.  Things we believe will make them productive adults, respectful children, and kind hearted people.  Don't hit.  Do your homework and see through commitments.  Be respectful of your elders.  Eat your vegetables.  Blah, Blah, Blah.

Often we will struggle with this.  We know these lessons are right and true, but our children may not often agree.  It can be an ongoing battle that exhausts you daily.

In time, I have realize as a mother, I am relearning these lessons myself.  That the truths we teach our children as babies, will be equally important in our own adulthood.  As I teach each of my children, I am also relearning them myself - as a mother, an adult and a woman.

Beginning

Being an artist dictates the way I move, think, breathe and act.  I am a sponge and the world around me fills me up with the good, the bad, the heartfelt and the whimsical.

This blog is dedicated to all the things that give me pause to think, dream and act - both in my quest as a photographer and my will for my life.