happy haircut

. i just had one . and it was very happy .

:)

. before .

. after .

. and mom requested to see the back, so these next few are for you mom .

. and then i realized none of these are from the front, so here's one .

. at some point i'll get better quality ones taken, but for now these get the point across .

. after having long hair for roughly 6 years i was ready to switch things up . in that 6 years i've changed colors (found out lighter isn't for me) and cut bangs a few times, then grown them back out, i felt like i had exhausted every long hair style that i liked, and i was ready for a change . i've had this short of hair before (when i got married) and did like it, so thought i'd go for it again . walter (who did it just like the picture (the last one of her holding the baby), never happens, right?!), made it happen and i couldn't be more pleased !

. randomness .

. i was supposed to have a photo shoot this morning, but we rescheduled due to the very overcast skies...we were hoping for some fun outdoor shot, fingers crossed for next saturday ! soo excited about taking prom photos this afternoon, a group of 12 ! AHH ! does that sound like fun, or what ?! wishing we could do some outside, but i'm not counting on it . with this wind, can you say 'dress up day' ?

. been working on that curb appeal on the house, remember ? house numbers are on, new mailbox in place and just put up a new porch light . a forsythia wreath on the front door, it's all come together quite nicely . i'll post photos at some point . the dilapidated porch floor is what's holding me back . all in good time ! we've only lived here 6 years people, give us time !

. just noticed that there's sunshine in the forecast for the next 4 days, who do we think we are, california ?! sooo excited, but not holding my breath !

. love arranging all my props cute at the studio for window peekers . i only just started doing this a few months ago, it's like styling a window display, i like it !

. spent quite a bit of time at the studio this week . 7 shoots, well, make that 6 since this mornings rescheduled . whew, what a great week .

. even got a day of shopping in and while i was there i saw this . these guys are great and i wish it would have worked out to hear them that night, sometime i WILL make it to hear them play !

. had coffee with a friend . it was the best, the coffee and conversation . this single coffee date changed my week ! thanks, ashley ! you can pretend like you didn't read this . ha !

. when i went out to feed the dogs .

. mad for plaid, i am ! jammies !

. editing while watching the royal wedding yesterday . i'm not totally caught up in it all (like my awesome friend, emily...seriously, she's awesome, she was featured on katemiddelton.com, go read her stuff, you're really laugh out loud!) . but i do love and appreciate style and a couple who appears genuine and in love, and from what we are shown they appear to be just that . i did love seeing all the hats and couldn't imagine being a female guest and NOT having a hat, and i saw a few of them...poor things . why ?!

. this means the sun is shining . !!! . and i almost see a chevron pattern in there . hm, pretty .

. i'm wanting to get more creative with my photo shoots . lately my mind has been racing as to how i can mix things up . i have a few ideas, but if you have any inspiration, send it my way .

. i mowed yesterday and i actually enjoyed it a little . i'm hoping it's really growing on me and i'll learn to love it . most of the time it's just a job, one i dread and pray the 2 hours flies by . i've even tried embracing it before with no success . not sure what's change, but i hope it's for good . am i asking too much from mowing my yard ? i don't think so .

. that's all for now . happy saturday to you !

. memorizing this one .

. i haven't memorized a verse in a very long time, i'm ashamed to admit . but here's one i've started working on . it's good ! so i thought i'd share in case it encouraged any of you .

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19

. good stuff right there !

i see HIM...

. in the love others show me .

. in the way a baby takes to its mother moments after it's born .

. in the way little girls like to play with dolls and little boys like to play with trucks .

. bigger than i've ever seen Him .

. in every season .

. moving in my life .

. working in bad situations all around me .

. in this amazing flower .

makeover and things

. as you see, the personal blog got a little makeover . it had been about a year i think, so it was time . did you notice it's creamy and tan and all soft and pretty looking, just like i said i couldn't get enough of lately .

. and, speaking of makeover, i am working on putting the post together for my living room color makeover that i've done . hopefully i'll be posting it sometime today, so come back .

. i have a ton of blogs bookmarked that i don't read until things slow down and i find myself killing extra time on my computer . apparently that was last night .

. i checked sew liberated and saw this video of this little 20 month old picking up his play dough stuff . this mama is big into training her little fella the montessori way, and although i'm not overly familiar with this, i do get the idea . thought it quite impressive and i thought i'd share . any thoughts from any of you that have used or know about montessori educating ? just found it intriguing .

. i know you're wondering why all of the sudden posts on the blog ? i'm needing to be creative and since photography is slower right now, this is my outlet . so thanks for sticking around (all 3 of you) to check when i do eventually post .

. oh and i've been drinking far too much caffeine lately (but that french toast coffee my mama bought me is gooo-od!) . maybe be another reason i'm super chatty in this moment .

. my last fortune cookie said "work on improving your exercise routine" . how did they know !? they probably have a stash of cookies with just this message that they throw in after you order so many cashew chickens to go !

. randomness .

. yes, i'm smelling a paper flower . hey, it's january in iowa, give me a break .

•••

. i've been laying low lately . photography is slower, which i have been enjoying . gives me a chance to dream up new ideas . i have lots of ideas in my head, needing to bring some things together in reality . ready to get back to things soon, and will, feburary is filling up .

•••

. i got a manicure a few weeks ago and since have kept my nails painted...they are longer than they've been in years . in reality they're not that long, but they are for me .

•••

. the ipad has changed my life . yes in some ways it has complicated it (only because i'm a slow learner), other ways made it simpler and will get simpler the more i get used to using it . but i'm in love .

•••

. digital calendar is going okay, still taking some getting used to . again with the slow learning .

•••

. made new friends, rob and austin at best buy and blake at verizon . they have been oh. so. helpful for this non-techy mac lover . i think they just like to play with my ipad instead of doing actual work .

:)

•••

. the gal at the chinese restaurant has learned my name (am i going a little too often maybe? naa) . she said "cashew chicken again, sarah ?!" what can i say, i love the stuff ! i want to learn her name, here's hoping it's an easy one to remember . i met a very sweet hispanic lady the other night and couldn't even repeat her name, let alone remember it .

•••

. yes, i'll be in line for the iphone in a few days, never thought i'd be one of those people .

•••

. feeling the urge to sew . what ?! where did that come from ? i have even cut up an old sweatshirt and pinned it together as a slipcover for my laptop, just need someone to sew it up for me . if i had a machine i'd try my hand . remembering what happened last time i 'tried my hand' at it . frustration .

•••

. apps are a whole new world for me . penultimate is awesome, as is cut the rope . i have mastered the free cut the rope app, thinking i should stick with that . i'd rather waste my time reading blogs .

:)

•••

. heard this morning: dare to dream, it's free . and operate out of your imagination, not your memory .

•••

. getting ready for ppi (professional photographers of iowa) conference next weekend . super excited !! mostly to spend time with photog friends . bought bottled water and snacks to take along today . wooo hoo !

•••

. speaking of friends . there are not enough words in my vocabulary to express the awesomeness of my friends and what they mean to me .

•••

. have also spent a lot of time the last few weeks redecorating the dining room/living room . was so inspired by the color in my office, and bored with the lack of in most of the rest of the house . i've even added some orange . gasp ! brought home some goodies from my mom and dad's that made this project even more fun . i'll post photos at some point, but there's still a few more things i want to do first .

•••

. wishing i could photograph the cute little brown haired girl in toy story 3 (bonnie) . on the porch with all her toys . thinking of a photo shoot where kids bring tons of their favorite toys and play outside in the grass or maybe i go to their place and photograph them playing with them in their room . hm, yet another idea .

•••

. a favorite verse lately : mark 11:24 therefore i say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them . praying with faith is not always easy, but i do believe it is how God wants us to come to Him . thankful God is working on my heart and in my life .

•••

. loving all things pearl, tan, blush and ivory . so soft and pretty .

•••

. have come so close to chopping all my hair off lately . the static is driving me crazy . and i just don't have the patience to do it everyday, but that's nothing new . the only reason I haven't cut it, hats and ponytail holders .

•••

. caramel coffee werthers originals . yes, please .

•••

. apparently making up for lost time . say a quick hey in the comments if you made it all the way to the end !

. today .

. i'm halfway to 64 . and that doesn't scare me . i feel so very blessed to have lived for 32 great years . yesterday someone asked me how old i would be if i didn't know my age . great question, don't you think . how old would you be ? i answered 24 . wouldn't we all pick in our 20's ? well, at least us in our 30's who are in denial, right ? kidding . i'm not in denial, i just really feel like i'm young (except for the days i wake up with the back and neck pain), but not so young i'm in high school, that leaves the 20s ! steve asked the other day (just being funny) if i was going to be 27 and i jumped to say 'yes', then realizing that i just got very happy to use 27 as my fake age...wow . when did this happen ? it's all good though, i wouldn't want to go back or forward . i'm anxious to see what my 32nd year of living brings .

. okay, so you might not like these, but i DO ! i LOVE them . i found them at adellya's consignment store yesterday . my style is changing because i wouldn't have bought these even 6 months ago, i'm sure of it . but the rich wood, the subtle curves in them, and the ability to change out the candles when the season changes . my birthday present to myself i guess .

:)

. today was not just any other day .

. because i was told, by two different people, that i have a good memory .

. and steve was told he was a patient person .

!

. didn't want to forget this .

. sorry blogging has been light on here lately . things have been pretty busy and you do what you can .

. change is all around me .

. a few days ago i posted on my facebook status that change is all around me . the house is in constant change lately, which is good . we've lived here 5 years with the inside done and haven't touched the outside . the roof was beyond needing repair and we had bought paint last summer when we could get it on a big sale to paint the house, just never got to it...so, now we're getting to . at the same time, it's planting time ! and did i mention i just rented a studio that needs some work, oh, and on tuesday i'm leaving for a week . so, yes, we have a lot going on . it's all good, but it is a lot .

. my mom and i are taking a trip down to south carolina for my cousins wedding . i think the time away will be relaxing, even though i'll be shooting the wedding, the rest of the trip will be stress free . i have plans to get some work done while i'm away and when i get home i'll be ready to pick up where i left off with the studio and have it done the following week, good plan, right ? we'll see if that happens .

. all that to say posting may be light, or it may be heavy if our trip turns out to be extra relaxing ! :)

. a facebook friend (hi sharon!) pointed out to me that God never changes...i'm so thankful !

. a little sharing .

. a few weeks ago i went to women of faith with some friends and had a wonderful time enjoying other women, laughing, talking till all hours of the night, and taking in all that the speakers had to say . this year there was a speaker, andy andrews who seemed to have so much truth in the things he shared, thought i'd share in case these things might help someone else .

. sorry covers mistakes, choices take forgiveness .

. can i do something i don't want to do to get a result i really want .

. forgiveness is a decision, not an emotion .

. forgiveness is about me, trust is about them .

. so many times we ask ourselves 'is this wrong?', when the question should be 'is this wise?' .

. many inspiring speakers there, and i got to see anita renfroe do this .

:)

. in our monday night bible study we're studying john ortberg's book, if you want to walk on water you've got to get out of the boat . this book has been very eye opening for me . we are all on a mission from God . this calling isn't something we choose, it's something we discover .

. the chapter that probably spoke the most to me is the chapter i wasn't even able to attend the discussion . the chapter on learning to wait . i underlined about half of this chapter, i won't share it all with you (you can just get the book yourself), but i will share a few things that may encourage you like they did me .

. 43 times in the old testament alone, the people are comanded, "wait, wait on the Lord" .

. the ability to wait well is a test of maturity . delaying gratification is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleausre by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with . it is the only decent way to live .

. paul says that while we are waiting for God to set everything right, we suffer . but suffereing produces endurance; endurance, character; and character, hope . God is producing these qualities in us as we wait . waiting is not just something we have to do while we get what we want . it is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be .

. it is not a passive waiting around for something to happen that will allow you to escape your trouble . people often say 'i'm just waiting on the Lord', as an excuse not to face up to reality, own up to their responsibility, or take appropriate action .

. waiting on the Lord is a confident, disciplined, expectant, active, and sometimes painful clinging to God .

. waiting is by nature, some thing only the humble can do with grace .

. what we wait for is not more important than what happens to us while we are waiting .

. the last chapter was so beautiful as well .

. how big is your God ? when our God is small we wake up in the morning in constant fear and anxiety because everything depends on us .

. there is a word for the process by which human beings come to perceive and declare the vastness, worthiness and strength of God . it is called worship .

. worship is not about filling God's needs . God has made us so that when we experience something trancendentally great, we have a need to praise it .

. mindlessness is one of the primary things that keeps us from worship . ironically, we live in an age that seeks to eliminate mystery, and then we miss it . we have caller id; we can know the gender of babies before they are born; exit polls tell us who was elected before we have finished voting; tv shows reveal the secrets magicians have always kept hidden-we destory wonder and then ache for it . but God is too big for the wonder-killers . so we need to reflect for a while .

. i wonder occasionally if boredom in worship (and boredom in general) is not in fact a function of song selection or liturgical style, but rather, at least sometimes, a function of spending too much time in the boat .

. okay, i'll stop there, that was long i know, but these truths really spoke to me and i just wanted to share in case they could speak to someone else . if your Christian walk has become complacent, this book could be beneficial to you, get it !

(words in italics by authors)

. saturday ramblings .

. so i did a little organizing the other day . i have to say the reason i don't do more of it is because i don't like the big mess in the middle, before it's all done .

. it's just part of the process though, and i'm hoping to do more of it soon . although this was the most important of all my organizing jobs that need done . this will make my photography work flow go much quicker, along with the organizing i did on some computer files as well . and hoping to do more to streamline things .

. so yes, i have been a little sick . the word pneumonia was even tossed around . could be just a bad sinus infection too though . all in all, i've felt worse...i'm surviving .

. so sitting on the couch is getting a little old and yet i don't feel like doing all that organizing that i want to do so i decided to make a little collage for holly, making collages is my new favorite thing, what ? you've noticed ?

. hope it's been a happy saturday for you .

. i love that i'm finally seeing my yard under all that snow .

? sick day ?

. so it's not quite spring time, but i'm having that springy feeling . this is the perfect movie to watch during the change of season, it has all seasons in it . i know i've said it before, but it's my all time favorite movie . i watch it about twice a year .

. i've been fighting a sinus infection this week . last night it beat me up . it hurt . so, today, on my to-do list- watch aforementioned movie and take a long nap . there's a little bit (or a lot) of organizing i want to get to too . we'll see what happens .

. today .

. loving this sunshine .

. not even noticing the snow .

. wishing elsie's chewing problem was no more .

. drippy nose, stuffy head .

. drank warm lemonade with cayenne pepper, uck .

. first day i haven't had coffee in over a week (did you know that decaf has caffeine in it!?gasp!) .

. yummy olive garden .

. realizing springs busyness is going to hit me hard after a long, slow winter .

. tons of phone calls, 2 to my mom .

. thankful for my family and friends when i'm lonely .

. laundry .

. find out my little (well, he used to be little) cousin got engaged .

. dreaming of my future.

. clean the oven .

. dreaming up ideas for a funky photo shoot in a few weeks .

. tulips dying .

. prepping to shoot my last wedding, i've decided they aren't for me .

. making phone calls about renting a studio space .

. loving my smart husband lots .

. working on new price list .

. praising God for how very bless i am just to have Him in my life .