Grit.

Maybe it was the Olympics. It might be certain personal situations in my life. But more than likely the inspiration for the next few words comes from pure grit within. Merriam-Webster defines grit as this: 4: firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger
I just feel strong by reading that. I saw many Olympian with grit over the past couple of weeks. When some were preparing to run, they would talk to themselves and "psych themselves out" for the race ahead. I saw one beautiful girl who was getting ready for the hurdles. She had so much concentration and was yelling and talking to herself. I thought, "man, she is going to win." The camera was stayed on her for the longest. So, they got on their marks and pressed their back foot against the starting block. The gun fired and they were off. I kept my eye on her. And what happened next was horror. At the very first hurdle that she lifted her leg to go over, she hit it with her foot. She took a nasty fall and in a matter of seconds it was over. I was completely bummed out. But I could not imagine how this girl felt. How many practices performed perfectly, the pain, effort, tears that went into preparation for The 2008 Olympics only to have stumbled on the first hurdle of the one and only chance at the gold. She had the look, she was equipped , she had the grit. Her presence at such an event told us that. But she failed. She fell short of the prize that was set before her. She was not given another chance to show her abilities again. It was over. One mistake and she was sent home.
I'm so glad that Jesus is not that way. He is a loving Father who stands at the finish line and whether we stumble or fall, holds His hands stretched towards us saying, "you can make it!"
I can. I will. I have grit.


Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you on your knees, Failures keep you Humble, Success keeps you Glowing, But Only God Keeps You Going!

Blessings and much grit to you all.
God is good to me.


Grit.

*Taken by me at HLSR last year.

For a life changing experience, come to 8819 Will Clayton PKWY. Humble, TX tonight (mapquest it) (It's our church y'all) We're in Revival with Rev. Jerome Bourn. It's been incredible! I'd love to see you there.

Wittle B as The Big Bad Wolf

This is Wittle B.

And now...

Wittle B

as

The Big Bad Wolf

Ahem,

My Grandma! What big eyes you have.

"The better to see you with deary."

My Grandma! What big (um, jacked up) ears you have!

"The better to hear you with deary!"

My Grandma! What a big nose you have!

"The better to smell you with deary!"

My Grandma! What big teeth you have!

"The better to eachu with deary!"

YUM! YUM! YUM! YUM! YUM!

The End.

Beautiful

I'm a sucker for beautiful things. I adore textured fabrics, black patent shoes (I just looked at Nine West to make sure I spelled "patent" correctly and oh my! ladies, don't even torture yourself by looking at all of their array of eye candy over there! Whew wee!) ornate furniture, high collared blouses or jackets, furniture (and it's leather smell) at HLSR, etc. But nothing compares to beautiful people. They could be dressed in rags and still catch my eye. I could have photographed Jonathan, Sara, and their little ones all day -if it weren't for the heat! Her eyes and smile. His naturalness and calmness in front of the camera. B's "every bit boy" personality, and sweet K's innocent looks. I'm ready to photograph them again! I know it was just Saturday when we shot these but... Okay, Sara and Jonathan are not just beautiful, they're also pleasant to be around. They both love God and it shows. You have a beautiful family! LOVED how you styled your family girl! You've got it!



p.s... to all of you Katy hackers (and you know who you are!) There's NO WAY you'll ever figure out the password over on the prints website! Wahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! So you'll have to get the Mrs. to share the love with ya! I love you all!





I LOVE the way that y'all are arranged here.

Gerber baby? Yah, I think so! Miss gorgeous!

Mommy with her handsome little man. Stunning.

I like the STOP and RR Xing signs! Cool.

See? Told ya he was calm. So sweet.

Look at the photo above. Look at the difference in mannerisms with Daddy's girl and Daddy's boy.

El Naturals.

FAVORITE family portrait!!!

Hey, whatcha doin big brother?

MOTHER! How could you make me stand down here?

Engagement at THE ICON

As I drove into the dark garage just a few feet away from the door of the hotel I knew this was going to be good but just how good I did not know! Through the glass doors I waltzed and was instantly in awe. The decor was amazing and bold. The strong furniture, curtains that fell from ceiling to floor, strong, dark wood that encased this beautiful structure , and brawny, cold metal vault that stared at me from behind the front desk instantly had me mezmorized (ha-I almost said memorized. I do try to be serious and then something funny strikes!) I knew this was the place.

I saw them walk in as I was on the mezzanine and walked down to meet some of the family members. The others trickled in and it was so cool to watch them get ready -actually put the finishing touches together. "Okay, which tie?" the husband of one of the sisters asked as both girls were curling their lashes that ended in a result Feline (Bambi's girl) would have been jealous of! And oh the search of Mom's shoes! Do you have Mom's shoes? Did you get Mom's shoes yet?I'm not sure who finally had them but they sure were pretty! Black with shiny gold heels. And when everyone had finished, all looked exquisite. We went downstairs to begin our session.

But there was something quite different about this family portrait session. There was a BIG SURPRISE that would unfold at the end. A surprise engagement would take place in one of the most ornate places ever to behold.

And so the end was near. I sprinkled the fragrant red rose petals on the floor and snapped a few more photos of the couple and then left the room to "check my battery-" wink-wink. When I got the nod, I walked back in and he was on her right side on his knee. I said, "Oh! that looks great Jared!" Stay just like that. I looked them up and down to make sure they "looked just so" and then asked him if he Ahem, could straighten his cuff. Oh he straightentend it alright! Out from under his pant leg came a little red box that he opened as he was facing her. In it rested a circular token of his love and promised devotion to his gorgeous Jennifer. With smiles, tears, beauty, and joy she accepted. And now, words cannot hold a candle to the emotions or moments that were captured that Tuesday evening of August 19, 2008 at the HOTEL ICON in Houston, Texas.

Jennifer is one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen!

I LOVE THIS!!!

Don't you think she even cries pretty? Look at her hands! So elegant.

Congratulations Jennifer and Jared!

Welcome To The Family Baby!

Sitting prettty in the grass of our beautifully landscaped apartment in Kingwood were my girls. My youngest was not yet 6 months and I was taking their picture. My mom was standing out there amongst the lush, green landscape and tall pine trees with me wearing the proudest look on her small framed face. I loved what I was doing. I still have those photos and carry one in my wallet even today. I didn't set out in life to be a photographer. No, I was not that person who knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. My life has been a journey. One of finding out who I was little by little as I was led by the Author of my life...Jesus Christ.

I've found out that I have talents and abilities I never thought I had. Three that I can think of off the top of my head: teaching Sunday School, Singing (I'm not saying I'm great...just that I do love it (for I can get on the platform at church without feeling like I'm going to throw up! at least sometimes) and I love singing about God. A constant friend is He. And last but not least is photography. It's such a part of me. I look back over my life and all the signs of it were there, I just didn't know it. For instance (don't laugh!) I used to love to look at the pictures in my mom's National Enquirer. Hey! I said don't laugh. I was nine and they had close-ups of faces. And when I was at my dad's I would walk to the music store by his house. They sold actual photos of rock bands and rockers. And I was crazy about...about...I'm just gonna say it: David Lee Roth. I bought a handful of photos and thought I was really somethin'! I think they were $1 each and back then that expensive for a nine year old! ANYWAY...back to the journey thing and photography.

In 2006 I was blessed to have bought my first digital camera, a Nikon D50. I had half the money saved for it. I sent out an email to friends and family letting them know that I was officially "going into business." Some great friends of ours called MyRick and asked him what was going on and he explained to them what I was doing: taking pictures of whosoever would. He also told them that I was saving for my first big camera. Our friends said they loved what they saw (my work) and gave MyRick their credit card number and said, "You go get Jamie that camera today!" And with that, he headed out to buy my beloved D50. Totally a blessing of God. He likes to move through people. And He did so move through our friends that memorable day in November.

So a few months ago I set my eyes on a new sight: a Nikon D300. YAH BABY! Bigger, Better, Stronger! Yah, it's all that! So once again, I started saving. And I'm proud, happy, blown away, freaked out, and blessed to be able to tell you that yesterday I purchased my D300. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. What a great feeling. And like any new mother, I'm so very proud and want you to see her so I took some photos of her for you. Welcome to the family Baby! May you help Mommy capture the most incredible, blissful, wonderful, memorable, striking, lovely moments and images that people entrust me with.

Here she is! BTW, that's my mom in the photo by the lamp. I think she was 21.

Already part of the family.

Now, say thank you to your little sister (D50) for taking these photos of you. Okay, that's going a lit tle too far with this family thing Jamie. Oh who cares!?! I'm excited about my new camera!!!

Good Golly Miss Molly!

Kidz Kamp

Last week we were so blessed to have been invited to Kidz Kamp in Kerrville, TX. MyRick was asked to be over recreation and I helped with photography. So it totally rocked! Kerrville is absolutely gorgeous! I hung out with my most beautiful friend Kelli. On our way to Kerrville, we stopped in San Antonio at the Krispy Kreme there and UUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHH! The HOT donuts were delicious! They just melt in your mouth. I was glad to get away for a while. I missed my dogs though. If I could bring them everywhere with me, I would. I love them that much!

Okay, so one day MyRick scheduled a water balloon fight and it was the girls against the boys. Pause- for which I will never agree to filling up that many water balloons again! My clothes were soaking wet and my fingers were all pruned and blistered afterwards. But it was soooooooo worth it when I saw the kids having a ball throwing them at each other. Unpause- the boys were lined up on one side and the girls were lined up on the other with MyRick on the field in the middle giving directions and explaining the game to them. So while he's talking, the boys begin to chant: Girls Can't Throw! Girls Can't Throw! And oh my goodness, I looked over at the girls and they were shooting fire out their eyes. The boys were chanting more and more and all of the sudden, one of the girls fires one at a little boy and busts him right on his head! Take that!! He stopped chanting and just stood there in silence for what seemed to be forever. And then a flood of girls bomb the boys and the boys are shocked by their retalliation. Their mouths gape wide open as they just stand their in utter disbelief. Well MyRick is in the middle of the war zone and starts waving his hands saying: "No, Stop! Don't start yet!" Whatever dude! It's ON! And so it began. They had a blast that day and I had just as much fun watching all of their faces and actions during the battle! It was an awesome week for us! He keeps on blessin' me!

First stop: Chick-fil-A

Their vanilla shakes are MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Dimples not included.

Krispy Kreme's new spokes model:

Dorks:

Friendz Foreva!

Um, Little Miss Sunshine!



Kerrville is Gorgeous!!!


waiting in line at the waterslide


WHOOOOOOOAAA!!!!