cancer vs cold...

So I am once again sick with some kind of intense cold that is going around! I know no one enjoys being sick but I really really dislike it! I'm such a go go go kind of person, I just don't have time to feel like crap! So I took the day off yesterday and went to the doctor, basically to pay $25 for them to tell me it was just a cold blah! But as I laid on the couch being all sulky, sad and sick I started thinking about Gabriel. He probably feels like crap every day but manages to smile and play and be a precious little angel! He is fighting cancer and still so strong day in and day out, I have a cold and act like it's the end of the world! So I got up and started to clean the kitchen and do other things around the apartment. If that little {almost} 2 year old can fight a very rare brain tumor I think I can fight a stupid cold! I love you Gabriel Micah and I will do whatever I can to be a better person because of you! XOXO
So take a moment when you're feeling down and crappy and think about Gabriel or other little ones that are struggling with life threatening illnesses.. our lives could always be worse. Be thankful for the blessings we have.

2011

As I sit here waiting for Pablo to get ready I am literally reflecting on the past year. 2011 had it's good and bad moments as any year does. It was mine & Pablo first year of marriage, our first married vacation/delayed honeymoon, broken friendships & re-built friendships, our sweet little Nephew's situation turn a turn south, our family was blessed with a new little lady, Chloe, I began my journey of photography.
I feel like most of these events have brought Pablo & I closer to each other. Which is crazy to me because we have been together for almost 10 Years, you would think we would know everything about each other by now! I'm glad we are still learning new things about each other and growing closer. He is my best friend and my soul mate! I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Merry Christmas

These are a few of my favorite things... from this week

I participated in Secret Santa at work, which is always fun as long as people can keep a secret and not blab about who their person is! My Secret Santa knows me well, she is one of my best friends so she should, BUT she got me nail polish along with other items! But I loved this polish and had to paint my nails that night! I bought an Advent calendar for me and Pablo! My mom always had one of these for me and my brother, and even though the chocolate in them is not very tasty it is still fun to get a treat every day until Christmas! When I was in Kindergarten we learned about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. I came home from school and told my mom I wanted to BE Hanukkah... not celebrate it, be it! Because I thought it was SUPER cool that you got a present every day, maybe that is why I love this little Holiday treat!

This is our Christmas Tree! Most of the ornaments on it are mine. My mom started a tradition where she would purchase me and my brother a new ornament every year. Some years it was an ornament to represent something important that happened that year, for example I have a martini glass for the year I turned 21, and a bride and groom the year we got married. It is so fun to decorate the tree and get to re-live the memories that are in each ornament. And the angel on top was my great grandmother's angel. This was her most favorite time of year so it is nice to turn my tree on and see the angel blinking at the top!

This is my baby love! I really and truly can not get enough of this sweet, squishy face! I know one day I will have a child and some how love it even more than I love my Lucy-Goosey... but at this point in my life... I'm not sure how I can love anything more than this one.

December!!! Where did you come from?!

I am shocked it is already December! Where did 2011 go?! It's crazy how quickly years, months, weeks and days go by as an adult! When I was a kid I feel like days went on forever, the only time that went by too fast was summer! I really need to decorate our apartment for Christmas, so far I have only been able to hang out stockings and get the tote of lights and ornaments out. No tree yet, it will eventually be put up... maybe this weekend! I have a lot going on right now and as blessed as I am by everything that is happening, it can get a little overwhelming at times. Lacey's is... well Lacey's. It always will be the same, stressful and chaotic but home and a great job. BUT this photography business is coming along well if I do say so! I am impressed with myself after each shoot. Never did I think a birthday present would turn into such a blessing and a potential carreer for me. Don't get me wrong I have always loved photography and have always been crafty and creative and of course LOVED having my own photo taken!! :) But to be behind the camera, as a PROFESSIONAL!? Never did I think this would happen and boy has it been fun! I can't wait to see what the future holds for me and my Nikon! I know it will be GREAT!

Celebration

Tonight we celebrated my brother's birthday! His actual birthday is Christmas Day, which seems like a cool idea until you really think about it and no one will be available to go out and celebrate YOU on that day... it's all about Christmas! So he gets to have birthday parties at other times during the year. He will be FIFTEEN years old this year, woah when did that happen?!

Happy Birthday Jake (in Germany)

My littlest cousin loves my brother and really enjoyed helping him open presents tonight! He would open all the cards first then tell my brother how much he got when there was money in the card! So cute!

Cole and Jake smiling for the camera! Cole is a camera hog like me! I love it!

Every year the day after Thanksgiving, known by many as BLACK FRIDAY!, the ladies of my family go out and shop, shop, shop! It is a great tradition that I LOVE! I make sure to request off months in advance so I am available to enjoy this day! Usually we go to my grandmother's around 3:30 or 4:00, depending on when the first store opens, to meet everyone and my awesome grandfather makes breakfast for us! He really is the best! But this year these stores are all opening at midnight.. really messing up our breakfast plans!! :) I guess we will just go shop right after dinner this year and go for as long as we can! It should be interesting!

Passion

Things have been good... Kind of a whirl-wind going on around me as I try to keep both feet on the ground. As stressful as it is, I do enjoy the busy life I lead. I am loving the photography and realizing more and more that I wish that was my full time job and maybe one day it will be! I just have to continue to put as much into it as I can so I can fullfill that dream! It's nice to know that I can make people happy with photos of themself. I have ALWAYS loved my picture to be taken, it's sickening really, but it is the truth. So my goal for my photography is to make others love for their picture to be taken. Many people dread having their picture taken, dread family photos and never get these special moments and memories captured. Which honestly makes me sad. I want people to have the same love for it as I do, and I know that I am not going to be able to "convert" the world to all love photos of themselves.. BUT I want to make my clients enjoy their time with me while I am capturing special, precious moments in their lives. Even if I don't change their minds forever, maybe I can get them to enjoy it just that once!