Road Trip...

We all need our time with our girlfriends....time to sing loud...dance in the car...make fun of each other and eat delicious food full of calories! About once a month...I get to do just this! We plan fun trips to places that are known for having great picture spots!!!

August 14th...we headed up north towards Jackson, CA. First stop was unexpected....a small schoolhouse in Angel's Camp. Perfect first picture spot!!!!

Every trip...after about the first hour in the car we are all itching to get out and take a picture of something....ANYTHING....so this was a nice break!

Jess....getting some awesome shots!!!

and sometimes you have to get in some weird positions to get the great shot!!!

Next stop...Jackson...we found a cool church to photograph...we were actually looking for something else and here it was....

We could not stay long...as we were taking pictures..people from church started arriving and a couple of the people yelled at us to move our car....so we left!

Our true destination was Indian Grinding Rock and a town called Volcano. When we arrived at Indian Grinding Rock...I was disappointed...I guess I was expecting more...But we made the best of it by taking some fun picture!!!!

They did have some tee pee's that we played in....

and played a little more.....

Next stop...sleepy NO stoplight town of Volcano....

We were hungry...and thirsty...so of course we went to the local bar...

We had a great time people watching in there and chit chatting with the locals....The bartender Bob was a bit of a perv....but funny!

They let you sign dollar bills there and pin them on the wall...so we did...and check out where we decided to place our bill!!!

This place had the BEST food EVER!!! We all ordered something different and shared. BBQ pulled pork sandwich, Grilled patty melt and French dip....OMG seriously GOOOOOOD food...and Jess and Marcia said their bloody marys were to die for...

We asked some big ol biker dude to take our pic out front!!!

Now...lets play a game with the next pic...it used to be called "Where's Waldo"...this is called "wheres Marcia???"

We like to mess up each others pics by jumping out in front of the camera....

Marcia thought she wanted a picture of the tee pee's..I made sure she knew that she really wanted a picture of ME!!!!! LOL

So....here are a few pics from Volcano...

The town must have known about my "homie status" because they had this sign....

What up Assey?!?!?!

So fortunate to have the GREATEST friends in the world...when one is having a bad moment...the other will cheer you up....we know each other so well...no words need to be spoken when we need something...Yep...greatest girls in the world....

So....since there was not much to see in Volcano...we made it an early day home....BUT of course we stopped again...Jessica wanted pictures of the grape vines...it was HOT out...so Marcia and I stayed in the car...as we are driving down the road, Jess shows us the picture she got. HELLLLOOOOOO...there were grapes on the vines. So, nautrally...we turned that car around and went back to get some grape pics on the vines.....IN THE HEAT!!!!!!

So...thanks for another amazing adventure girls...I look forward to each trip that we take....each adventure we go on....It always starts as a "photography trip" and in the end we create amazing memories...and strengthen our friendship...it's THE BEST TRIP EVER!!!!!!! Love you girls!

The 3 most amazing men in this world!!!!

Sometimes you luck out in the family department and sometimes you draw the short straw. You can't pick your family. They are who they are....you love them even when you don't want to or in some cases you don't have them in your life at all. I have been fortunate in my life to have an awesome family that includes 3 amazing men that have set the standard for how I believe a woman should be treated!

First...my Grandpa. He is the closest thing to a perfect man!!!! He and my Grandma were together since they were 14 years old. He worked hard but always made time for his family. He was funny, considerate of others and LOVED...LOVED to the fullest.
 It's funny how you look back at your life and the memories that made an impact in your life. My BEST memories have nothing to do with material things....they have to do with spending time with people that I loved and loved me.
My Grandpa had an old fighter's bell in his wood shop and he would let me ring it until Grandma started yelling. He would give me "one thousand kisses" He would start out counting..."loose count" after about ten, then say "well, we better start over." It made me feel like time made no difference to him...as long as I was there with him.

At Christmas he would say that he saw Santa's sleigh in the backyard...then when we would run into the backyard, he would stick cotton in the front door and say that he almost caught him...we would play Rummy K for hours...he would make wood shop projects and let me "help".
He cared for my Grandma until the day she died...she had Alzheimer's and he never gave up on her. His devotion to her is such a great example of how people should be. He passed away almost 5 years ago....I still miss him like it was yesterday!

My Dad...never missed any important event in my life. Always said I love you...and meant it. Never raised his voice to me. Patient and kind...I have run into people over the years that know my Dad in one way or another. One thing is always the same when someone talks about him....they always speak about him in a high regard....

He is always teasing and making jokes....making you laugh! He makes life look easy...he is the reason I have decided to LIVE life and not stress about the little things....

I can remember him talking to my brother about respecting women...that women are held to a higher regard. He not only spoke the words but proved this through the way he treats people and me!

So....at this point I think I am the luckiest chick in the world...well there is one more. Yep...my brother. I think great things come in 3's!!!!

Adam...there's 5 1/2 years between us, so I can only imagine when I came around he was like, "really people, we were just fine before you brought that thing home". Luckily they decided I was worth keeping...and the rest in history! LOL

Most of my childhood memories are with him...we did not always get along, just like with any sibling....but as we have grown and changed and are now settled as adults....he is not just my brother, but my friend!

My brother has the best laugh you will ever hear....he laughs with his whole soul....it's the kind of laugh that makes you smile when you are in a bad mood. He is the best father and husband...again that patient and kind character that my Dad and Grandpa have...he inherited. He is easy going and does not let the negative effect his life!!!!

He will always offer advice when I am going through a tough time...but accept my decisions and love me no matter what I do. Isn't that what we all want in life? For the people that we love to offer advice, comfort us...and just ACCEPT us for who we are. I think of how he treats me and try to treat my friends in the same way....I will always try to be more like him!!!!

One the theory's that we studied in college was "are we born the way we are" or are we the way we are because "of the way we were raised?" I personally believe it's a little of both. I think that we all are born with our own personalities but the examples that are set for us by our parents, friends and family members make an impact.

There are so many things in my life that I have to be thankful for....and the 3 amazing men in my life top that list!!!!!







Photo trips are my therapy....

Ohhhhhhh...the fun Marcia, Jessica and I have on our photo trips...We are LONG overdue for a trip and headed to the coast and then up to San Francisco for a sunset cruise under the golden gate bridge on Saturday....

Let me start out explaining who these fabulous people are....

 First there is Marcia...we met 14 years ago when I started working at Baker Cadra...I was 19...WOWZERS time has flown by.
She has an amazing husband and three incredible children...who she is immensely proud of.  About 3-4 years ago we started going on photo trips. We both realized that we had a love for photography and had so much fun hanging out.

We got our nickname (SRW) from an ex of mine...we were trespassing (shhhhhh...don't tell) to take some pictures when my ex called, when we told him what we were up to...he said, "You guys are like Secret Rangers." Thus the nickname "Secret Ranger Women" (SRW)
 We have been to so many amazing places and have seen some incredible things...She has been an amazing friend to me. Listens to me when I am having a "moment", accepts me for who I am...good and bad...and never judges me for the decisions...again good and bad....that I make. She brings out my inner child and I can just be ME when we are together! What else could you ask for?!?!?!

This is Jessica!!!!!

Jessica and I met about 13 years ago at Baker Cadra as well. Even though she no longer works with us...we stayed close friends. She is married to Ryan...and I am lucky to call him my friend too....and she has an amazing son Hunter who has been friends with Gabe since FOREVER~Jess and I love to golf together...ok ok...so we don't golf as much as drive the cart in the woods...drink a few and laugh at ourselves :) We have soooo many fun memories together I can't even begin to tell them all. Hey Jess....remember the Monterey Plaza hotel and removing all the "do not disturb" signs....or how about the drunk $100 breakfast room service bill. That's only the beginning to many many fun times that we have shared! She is truly a person that will give you the shirt off her back if you need it...always knows how to cheer me up and make me feel better after something tragic happens. She has a comforting spirit and I count myself blessed to have her as a friend!

Jess started going on trips with us last year....she went once and was hooked. LOL. In order to survive one of our photo trips you have to love to sing loud in the car...dance like no one is looking and talk in all kinds of accents. We spend our days taking pictures, eating junk food and laughing!!!!! It's the best therapy I could ever have....the three of us...seeing the most beautiful places in the world, letting loose and having fun!

I really do believe that life is short, we don't know how long we have on this earth and every moment should be used to it's fullest. I want to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way...want to share my greatest memories with the people that I love and love me. I won't live my life as a passenger...I want to drive my way through life...no regrets...only moments to learn from. No moments wasted...only moments enjoyed.

So....Saturday can't come soon enough....Thank you Marcia and Jessica for being awesome friends to me and creating all the memories we have together! Love you both!!!!!!!

Some people live life...others exist!!!

Each day is a gift...and because we have the power of choice, we control how we live our lives. I often look at people's lives and wonder if they are "existing" or "living". There is a huge difference and each persons definiton of living is different. That is what makes the world diverse and interesting. If we all thought the same or wanted to live the same type of lives...it would be boring and our minds would never be challenged.

Our lives have stages and changes....just like a butterfly. We start out so dependent on others...small and fragile. Our souls are pure and untouched by hatred and hurt. I often wonder if all our lives would be better if we could just find the soul that we had as a child....feel free to love others without the fear of being hurt...use our imaginations and LIVE LIFE. Children are great examples of people that really live life to the fullest!!! They have no worries and are sponges just soaking up the world. :) I try to act "child like" as often as I can..I feel like it keeps my soul young. I break out in dance at a moments notice if I feel the need...I sing on the top of my lungs and feel the music....I hug people....REALLY hug people, not those sissy side hugs. I want to enjoy life and laugh as much as possible.
 I want to work hard and play harder. I want to take advantage of every oppertunity that life throws my way, even if the end result is not what I anticipated. I want to travel the world....See all the beautiful places that God has created! I want to experience all cultures and learn a little something from each one! I don't want to leave any words unspoken with the people I love. I want my nephews to grow up with the "cool aunt" who did fun things with them and loved them unconditionally no matter who they become. Even though they live far away...I will never miss an important event like graduation. I want to watch Gabriel become a successsful young man and "change the world". I want to continue to grow as a person and better myself everyday. I want to become a successful photographer who's work is admired. I want to continue to capture the special moments in people's lives through a photograph....and bring that joy back to them for years as they look at the pictures over and over again.

I really am fortunate to have all that I have in life, and to have all the people that are so supportive of what I love to do and who I am. So....I choose to LIVE life....to the fullest!!!!! I hope that whatever your defintion of living is...you do it to the fullest as well!

The adoption

April 7th....I consider it Gabriel's other birthday now. The long journey that brought us to April 7, 2011 was full of ups and downs....tears and smiles...so many emotions that can't even be put into words. Gabriel is an amazing young man. Already 11 years old....it feels like yesterday he was 9 months and I was meeting him for the first time. He was a chunky baby...did not smile much...there was a bit of mystery behind his eyes. Who knew back then that, that moment would be the begining of a life that I had not planned for. That is the beauty of life...we are not in control of our lives...God is...and his plan for us is so much better than the one that we plan in our mind for ourselves. I would not change anything in my life...its all lead me to where I am today...

Wouldn't it be nice if I said that Gabriel was always this sweet, loving child that was so easy to care for...I would love to say that but it's just not true. Taking care of him for the first few years was a challenge...to say the least. Gabriel is a victim of abuse and neglect and has left him with some disorders that makes life difficult at times. But no matter the challenge...I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. Even through the difficult times...we had GREAT times. He is the best cuddler in the world...is thoughtful and kind to others. He is a thinker...always planning. He wants to be the President of the United States when he grows up...but says that he will also be a NBA player and a photographer...I think he can do it all too :)

He has always not only loved sports of any kind but played well...learns fast and always gives 100%. I admire that about him. When things get tough with learning a new sport...he listens well and gives it his all until he perfects what he is doing. That is a quality in him that I hope he carrys with him always...Last summer was the first year that he played soccer at a camp. He was honored with "Camper of the week". They said he was the best listener, tried his best, and never gave up. That is the moments that make all the other moments worth it...

Its weird to look at the pictures of him at 3 playing tee ball...and then seeing him now. Where has the time gone? How did he grow so fast?

Gabe is always making me laugh....in this picture he was practicing his yoga :)

Gabe was so excited and nervous for the adoption ceremony...because he has never been to a court...he did not know what to expect. He was afraid that the judge would yell like Judge Judy on TV....
I asked him what he wanted to ask the judge...he said he thought he might ask if she wanted to go out to lunch....Gabe is one of the sweetest, funniest people I know. What a blessing he is....

Gabe invited Pete, MaryLee and Jack to the ceremony. People that are very important in his life...people that he considers family!

Gabe has made an impact on people's lives...he cares about the people that he loves from deep in his soul...another quality that I find admirable. He is thoughtful and loving...worrys about people that he loves when they are sick, injured or have been through tough times. At such young age...to already have such a deep emotional impact people is amazing to me...

Now that the adoption is final...it feels like a huge weight has been lifted. You will now be safe forever...in a home where you are loved no matter what you do in life...no matter who or what you become. That's what family is...