Bainbridge 2017

Hi, it's me. I'm posting 2017 pictures in the year 2018. That should tell you where I've been at with my blogging. So let's dive in!
Last summer we took our annual trip out to Seattle to spend time with my parents and sister. Normally we stick to the city, but we ventured out and went to bainbridge island! ( and then went to the city...) Here are some pics to prove it.

* There's also some sappy stuff going on at the end of the post, so if you happen to get there, I apologize in advance.

We took a ferry to the island and it was COLD. I always forget that summer in Seattle is like fall in Dallas. Just a heads up for anyone hopping on the boat: bring a jacket.

 ** Don't @ me

I thought I would write more in this blog post, but then, I changed my mind. The truth is, I just finished editing these photos a few days ago. They have been sitting in my hard drive for over a year. These pictures, like most of my others, wern't for my blog, instagram or facebook.
They were for me.I didn't take them with captions in mind.
Recently, I was reminded of how important pictures really are to me. My journals and my photos are my most valuable possessions. They are a piece of me. They are moments I spent with people I love, and those things give me a chance to relive those moments with more accuracy.

I hear people say, " put down your camera and enjoy the moment" SO much lately. And I get it. I really do. But this is me, and this is what I love.
 I've tried to explain the thousands of photos and videos I have on my phone at all times, or justify how often I bring my DSLR to events; but the truth is, it's just because I love it. Capturing moments IS my moment. I have never once regretted bringing my camera along for the ride.

Looking at my photographs often makes me emotional, and that is one of my favorite things. I take photos ( of my friends, family and clients) with the same purpose in mind: to capture a feeling, a moment.

I promise I'll stop being so sappy, but this is my first blog post in a long time, and I needed to remember why I even spend time doing it. It's for me ( which I know is kind of selfish and weird since I'm posting this stuff online), but I hope the people in my photos can share these emotions with me. I hope that other people who look at my photos will feel things too. Seeing loved ones from afar, seeing new places in new ways, seeing how things have changed or stayed the same.

So if you've made it this far, kudos! Thanks for coming along for the ride. I know many of you have supported my photography for YEARS ( since I turned 11? Thanks Mom & Dad! ), and I can't tell you how amazing it feels to have people tell you you're kind of good at something, and that something happens to be the thing that helps your world go round.

Also, a huge thank you to my parents for this trip in particular. They have always done anything and everything to give us all they could. I can only hope to be half as wonderful of a parent someday. 

Song From the Heart

Guys, it's been one of those days where I sat around thinking WAY too much and it's also been one of those days where I surely do miss a lot of things. Plano choir. Oh yeah, I miss it. Theres something about performing music that makes you feel differently, think differently, everything. I stalked our choir videos. I'm lame. I can't help it. This was one of my favorite songs to sing EVER. I wish it was longer on the video but thank you to however took the video. The composer wrote this song after his mother died. It's a stunning piece. 

SERIOUSLY. CLICK THIS. IT MAKES MY SOUL CRY.
OR This one.... I like this one too.

Plus I really miss my choir family. 

This choir had the greatest people with the most AMAZING TALENT. The most amazing choir president, and director. 

I really miss the sound, being a choir officer, taking attendance, singing and learning but I am so grateful that I had the experience and the memories for the rest of my life. God is great to me for allowing me this blessing. Music if forever, family is forever; Once a wildcat, always a wildcat.

Bring it Rexburg

So let me tell you. I'm awful at packing. Really really awful. So thank heavens for mom-the packing genie. I'm leaving for school tomorrow and I'm seriously scared as all get out, and excited at the same time. It helps that one of my best-friends will be my next door neighbor! :) But I always get a little sad when i have to leave one place, even If I'm ready to move on. I'll miss my family, my own bed, Seeing my cute baby dog everyday.

So here goes, on the plane tomorrow morning! Guess having a red robin date with the girls of the family and nightly watching of the Harry Potter series is a pretty good way to kick off the trip!

This is fine arts, not crap on a shingle

What am i missing today? I will tell you. My Plano Senior High School Choir family. I miss the music, the work, the feeling, the people,the most amazing high school choir on planet the earth(biased? no...) I miss everything about that choir. Those things you really take for granted until theyre gone.

I'd never trade those days i could stand in front of that choir- take attendance as secretary and see everyone talking with their friends. Now we're all over the country, and some of us don't sing in choirs anymore. I'd never trade those days.Do I get a little sappy sometimes? why yes, yes I do. Am I ashamed? Not really. 
Music is forever, family is forever. Oh, how I miss ya'll- I think I always will.