~A Ray of Sunshine on a Cloudy Day~

I have had the privilege of shooting this little guy on more than one occasion!  What a treat!! This time I got a phone call from Mom that went something like this:  "B... has lost his two front teeth and I really want some pictures done of him!" ... I am personally thinking "AWESOME!" that will be some great "captured memories" and "moments stopped in time"! and I was thrilled that they picked me to capture them for them!! I love playing with this family!!  Another reason that I was especially thrilled was the fact that I have been STARVING to shoot!!  I told Kristen that God had told her to call me!!  Since the time of my rotator cuff surgery at the end of November, and not "having the opportunity" to take many pictures, my camera has been begging and calling my name!! I literally looked up and Praised the Lord for that phone call in jubilation!! (HaPpY FEET!) ... :) ... I had just gotten my "Fun Time Sling" off the previous week! Boy was I EVER ready to do what I could, Pain & ALL! 

Another super fun reason to get excited about this shoot, besides the reasons mentioned... We were heading to the COW PASTURES!!... and I LOVE TO PLAY ON THE FARM!! ... 

Being with B...and his Mom have always created great memories for me, and I never cease to smile all the way through our time together, AND my editing process afterwards! :) ... As we were making our way across their farm (by way of four wheel drive of course!) I was able to listen to stories that always entertain, and make me smile.  They have a rich family heritage, which is something to be treasured, and have always been so gracious to share it with others.  That is one of the things that I have always loved and cherished about this family, as I have known them for almost fourteen years.  Now, I love watching them share it with their own children as well.  Thank all of you for being so gracious, giving, kind and loving.  You are special friends to me... (I have teased over the years as I have many times felt like a part of your family as well). 

     

One final picture that I wanted to add was this one, with some of the "lyrics" added by a Kim Hill song, that is one of my all time favorites.  The name of the song is  "Up to the Moon" and the chorus says:  "One day when you're older and taller than me...I'll say I watched you grow like a beautiful tree..."  When I saw this picture, the song began playing in my head.  Me, with one grown son (Alex is 25!) and one senior this year (Austin is 18!), and the fact that I have never been able to hear this song without letting a few tears fall... (I actually heard it for the first time when my boys were MUCH younger)!! ... It just seems so fitting to post.  This most beautiful tree suffered some damage from our April 27th tornado last year as well, yet against God's beautiful blue sky it still maintains its splendor!  

I know as B... has lost his two front teeth and is growing up oh so fast, his Mom can easily say they are certainly watching HIM grow... "like a beautiful tree"... and, He is a treat & a half to be around!  

Thanks again for the opportunity to "Stop these toothless Moments in time"!! ... ;)

Tina :) ... 

www.tinawrightphotography.com 

~Ready for the Sadie Hawkins Dance!~

My kids are "Ready for the Sadie Hawkins Dance!" and I am starving to shoot some pictures!! ... Let's see how this is going to go... Well... it has now been 6 weeks since my Rotator Cuff surgery and at week five I had my re-check appointment and was encouraged to "Think Tri-pod" and "No Lifting" ... I was released from my "Fun Time Sling" (as I so graciously named it) ,and I have been faithfully doing my Physical Therapy.  My range of motion is still quite lacking in several areas, and YES I am still experiencing pain that I am quite unhappy with (especially while lifting and holding my precious camera) ... HOWEVER, remember... I AM STARVING TO SHOOT!!  

SO HERE IT GOES!! 

I must tell you, I am not much of a "Tri-pod" user in certain situations... I like the freedom of "crawling around" and "scooting" in close without dragging a Tri-pod along!  They have their place FOR SURE! But .... *clear throat* ... I didn't use one here ... ;) ... Shhhh.....   


Our Austin is a Senior at Buckhorn! and Breana is a Senior at Hazel Green!  and this particular "Sadie Hawkins Dance" was being held at Buckhorn... (but Breana, in true Sadie Hawkins form, did ask Austin to go! LOL!)   

Originally I had planned to take the pictures in a corner in my backyard... however due to the FREEZING RAIN- mixed with SNOW!! my plans had to change!!  That called for IMROV!!  A cleared corner in our living room and a mixture of props and TA DA ... "Studio Corner" !!  (I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby earlier that day for some greenery and rearranged some furniture... I guess it worked out O.K. for an "I NEED IT FAST!" :O!... and of course the kids were only giving me about 20-25 minutes to take the pictures, because they had to be somewhere else to catch up with the rest of their group!  Thanks kiddos!!  An "Artist" DOES NOT LIKE TO BE RUSHED!!... They know ME better than that!! BUT once again... I will take from them what I can get!! ;) ... I LOVE THOSE KIDS!!... :) ... 

This is their (our) sweet friend Brittney!  (A junior at Hazel Green that is catching up with her Sadie Hawkins escort at the next location...) I love this young lady and am hoping that she will be on my "SENIORS 2013" list!! ;) ... What a smile... :) ... 

AND ... Another set of High School "Senior Moments Stopped in Time!!" ... Ahhh... and this Mom of the very handsome Senior in the center, smiles very big ... :) ... 

(Side note:  Only if you're wondering about my shoulder in the midst ... Yep, it was painful, I moaned a few times, but OH SO WORTH EVERY SHOT!! ... :) ... My prayer is for the day that I shoot again without pain!  I have been told by my Doctor and my Physical Therapists ... "Be Patient" ... Oh sure, I will try! and in the mean time I will stand firm on the verse that you see at the top of this blog!!  Romans 15:13 "May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace AS you trust in HIM so that you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ... I'm trusting for that 100% recovery!  Whew, and looking forward to not just smiling through the pain, but smiling cause there is NONE!!... PTL!!) ... 

I love these kids that you see above!!  and praying for them more smiles this second half of the year!!

Stopping Moments in Time,

Tina :) ...

www.tinawrightphotography.com