Photography by Janet

Here it is....summer and I am loving it. The warmer days and evenings, the longer days. The kids are loving being out of school.....E is taking an orientation class this week with many other BIG 6th graders....hopefully it will alleviate some of the anxiety that is sure to come knocking in August..I can't believe my baby is in Middle School. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday they were laying that 7 lb skinny little love bug in my arms.....it is bittersweet. Although I am loving watching him grow up to be a compassionate, warm and loving young man just like his dad...it hurts to see them growing up so fast. This next year is going to be an interesting ride so I am just going to buckle up and hold on. His sister is the one that scares the heck out of me...she's a whirlwind....with a mind of her own. She's a little beauty and has so much self confidence....I wish I had that kind of confidence when I was younger. She is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with for sure. It's kinda scary how time flies...I see it in the kids for sure. It's going to be 2 years in July....25th to be exact that we have been in St. Louis....I cannot believe it, and although I thought things would be very different by now in terms of my business...we are all doing well. Starting over coupled with the economy have not been so kind to me in that department. I have done a few sessions and they have gone quite well with the clients being pleased but it's just so inconsistent. I need to get really serious and figure out a plan, execute it and if it doesn't work...well throw in the towel I guess. It just seems like it's been a thorn in my side...I love doing it but there just isn't business. It is so frustrating and really affects me emotionally because it's what I want to do. It's hard to feel value when there isn't anything I can contribute to the household income. Don't get me wrong I know I contribute but for someone with a college degree who worked in the corporate world for so long suddenly doesn't.. it leaves it's mark on your emotions. My photography business filled that gap and I miss all my clients back in Oklahoma....let me just take this opportunity to say Thank you for all your support there. What I wouldn't give to have you all here...

There are other things that are keeping me busy...it seems like our summer was booked up with activities before school was even out. The kids have a couple of camps they are doing and for the most part our weeks seem somewhat quiet but our weekends are crazy. This weekend we are all walking in the STL Race for the Cure. It is especially important to us because I have a dear friend who is a SURVIVOR!!! :) We are all walking to show her and all the others who have dealt with this monster called CANCER how important she/they are to us and that we are so thankful for her and her sweet family. We love ya Kara!!!!

Jimmy keeps telling me that I need to write a book but when I sit and ponder that idea I come up empty...a book about what??? I must admit I have had some adventures....one of which was a wild and wonderful weekend just a few weeks ago with a lively bunch of women...:) floating the Buffalo river in Arkansas but I digress. Perhaps I should for a moment...it was a hoot and one weekend I won't soon forget. Thank you ladies for all the laughs and encouragement. We can now say that we floated the Buffalo at flood stage and loved it. I added that to my Bucket List after that weekend and proudly put a checkmark there. I was terrified....I just knew someone was going to get hurt...thankfully no one did and we all had a blast..but the last words I heard before embarking in the water were from the forest ranger....."I wouldn't go and river is 6 inches from flood stage".......OMG....could we be any crazier???? Yes I suppose we could be. We would have regretted not going. These ladies have done this float trip every year for the past 20 years and they included me this year and I have to say, I felt like I had been a part of this group as long as they had...they welcomed me with open arms. It's not often that you can join a group with that kind of history and fit right in. I truly believe that people are put in your life for a reason, either you need them or they need you....well I don't know who got more out of it but I feel like I got the best end of that stick because I now call some amazing women my friends. :) I don't think I have laughed that much or that hard in two years.

Maybe I should change my FB status and see what all my friends think I should embark on next...maybe I should write a book, maybe I should go a different direction now...I don't know. I think I should blog more often....I think I should get serious and write out that bucket list and see where that leads me. Can you put things on your bucket list that you have already done...I think I should....it makes me feel like I'm making progress toward a goal. Well I don't know what is next but I do know it won't be that long before my next post. One thing I definitely want to do before summer is through is get some updated portraits of the kids....maybe we will see you at a park this summer....

Until next time........