I wanted to take a moment to share this inspiring video about being “disabled”.

It was another HOT Texas day, Nate and I were enjoying a little time together.  We went to check the mail when I noticed the neighbors sprinkler start.  I encouraged Nate to ride his bike and ran inside to call for Lana and to grab my camera of course.  They didn’t know what I was up to, but once they were ready I told them to run/ride through the sprinker.  Nate was delightfully perplexed, but it didn’t take him long to see the potential.  We had a great time recycling my neighbors water that would have otherwise been wasted on the sidewalk.

We decided to begin our summer with a fun family stay-cation.  We stayed near our home and together for 9 days.  Enjoying the adventure and laziness that the summer brings.  We had intended to go-go-go, but after an awesome day at the lake a wonderful lake water induced stomach bug defined the rest of our stay-cation to throwing up tents in our living room instead of on the camp grounds.  I think we all appreciated 74º instead of the dreadful 105º that it was outside.  We ended up thanking the stomach bug that defined our cozy time together.

We’ve been keeping a little secret, because I was feeling really under the weather and a LOT hormonal, but now that I’m feeling GREAT, I’m ready to reveal a recent photo of me that Andre captured which made me realize that I can’t keep it to myself anymore.

Today is a national awareness day to promote awareness and initiate change of the hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)”, the r-word.

Something that has been pressing in my heart since Lana was born.  After speaking with countless doctors and therapists, I quickly learned that a word that is used throughout society to describe someone that is acting dumb or goofy was now tied to my beautiful daughter.  I must say, it hurt.  At first, it hurt that the doctors would dare describe my daughters condition as such, but after much thought and research I wanted to reclaim the word for it’s intended definition.  I wanted all of my friends and family to stop the misuse of the r-word.  I posted blog posts, sent emails, had many conversations informing people of how hurtful the word was when used in inappropriate careless ways.  I also designed and created t-shirts to hand out and sell.  I’ve been spreading the word for over three years now, but today I’m happy to see the cause is nationalized.

Soeren Palumbo has made a huge impact in creating awareness since his brilliant speech that he delivered to a gymnasium full of his high school peers and faculty and received a standing ovation.

The use of the r-word is offensive and hurtful, even when it is inadvertently used.  It is hurtful to the millions with mental retardation as well as their loved ones.

I find it interesting that insulting somebody by using such words as “Alzheimer… Cancer… AIDS… etc” carelessly would not be taken as a joke nor lightly yet, using another disease such as retardation as an insult is common among society.

It is NEVER appropriate to use the words “retard” or “retarded” in a careless or an insulting way.

I encourage you all to be more conscious of the words that you use and hope that you will take a pledge to stop saying the R-word on www.r-word.org.

Andre and I were posed a question yesterday that made me think  a while before I could answer.  “When and what was the last crazy thing we did?”  We were both slightly puzzled, but then answered, “We started two businesses within a year, not even two years ago”.  
 
Honestly, this question caused me to think beyond a simple answer.  While it is not serving in the Air Force, traveling throughout Italy, living it up from one crazy adventure to the next, this has become our crazy life.   (Wow, those four years in Europe seems like a lifetime ago.)
 
My life now can be defined by essential times with my wonderful husband, my two amazing kids that are only in school three hours a day, Piano Lessons, Martial Arts, Therapy, etc., add to that the businesses. My life is GOOD, better than good…my life is extraordinary!  I feel blessed that I get to do what I am truly passionate about and get paid doing it.  
 
It’s been an amazing two years filled with so much excitement, education, soul searching, self-doubt, self-reward, unexpected opportunities, growth, and LOVE.  
 
A few weeks ago, I came across this video that “struck-n-stuck” that I can’t seem to shake.  This is a “MUST SEE” for all photographers.  I think being a photographer or not, we can all relate.
 
This is from Zack Arias:

 
Watching this brilliant video helped me realize that I am not alone in self-doubt, being overwhelmed, affected by seasons, etc.  There’s something reassuring about knowing this.  Maybe the fact is that it’s normal to feel like you’re not doing enough and/or think thoughts of being mediocre.  

While creating FickleZeal, I had to reinvent myself even though I thought I knew where I wanted to take the business and who exactly I was.  I constantly compared myself to other artists, and on my dark days, smothered my creativity with self-doubt and negativity.  
 
Maybe because I am such a perfectionist, I felt as though I needed everything to make me great when all along I had it all within myself…well…plus the camera, lenses, printers, MAC (yay!), etc…you know what I mean;-)  
 
I’ve been overwhelmed by setting WAY too many goals of which some were unachievable. All this I’ve tried to stop and I feel great about doing so.   I’ve been able to explore and use what I’ve learned to incorporate into FickleZeal, how I want it to be, and what I want it to stand for.  I’m changing the way things look and feel (check out the new blog and logo) and am excited about some new WONDERFUL eco-friendly products that we’ll be adding to our already established eco-conscious business.  
 
I’m excited to share what I am passionate about verses what the norm is in the photography industry.  
 
I’m thankful, that in the past few weeks, I’ve booked a lot of shoots and weddings for the year which hopefully is a good sign that this economy is not going to affect us too badly…another item on my “overwhelmed” list.
 
I’m EXCITED and ready for this winter to end!  I’m a spring gal!!! Needless to say, I can’t wait for the spring to arrive and STAY (crazy Texas weather).
 
Happy Spring Break! I will continue hoping for Happy Spring Weather, Sunshine, and Growth!

Oops. I’ve been AWOL again, but for reasons I do enjoy. I’ve been enjoying a beautiful 4 day weekend with my lovely family. Taking walks, flying motorized airplanes, cooking wonderful meals, and just living the life. I’m glad to end it on this great day remembering Dr. King.

If you know me at all you know that I’m a positive thinker (I have bad days of course) with big hopes of making a difference. But I’m also a procrastinator… ;-(. So I’m revealing to you all that I’m going to do it. I’m going to be the change that I want to see in others. Thanks to the extra push from Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s I Pledge Video I’m going for it, no more procrastinating. NO MORE!

I pledge to bring more awareness for Down syndrome, Veganism, and Conscious Living. I pledge to stop using plastic water bottles, to continue to search for new ways to live a green lifestyle. I pledge to be a better Mom, wife, sister, friend, and family member. I pledge to be a better me so that I can inspire others to be better as well! What do you pledge? Let’s hold each other accountable!

As I photograph my clients I try to connect with their hearts and evoke the love that they have for each other.  Then as I edit their images I play music, as it allows me to tap into my artistic side.  Today while editing The Barkers (above), a family of 5, who seem to have this deep routed wholesome best friendship, I played Jason Mraz’s – Lucky. 

The emotions that it evoked in me were so pure that I could relate to it whole-heartedly.  While listening to his song it was as if I entered a time machine and took a journey to 1997.  The year I meet, feel in love with, and married my very best friend. 

Our story is one of those that no one believed in and even thought was doomed from the start, but that was ok with us.  Andre and I meet in Air Force technical training (tech school), and fell instantly in love.  After graduating from tech school we went our separate ways to visit our families.  He to Houston and me to Dallas, from there he would departed for Germany and I would departed for Italy.  I was heartbroken to leave tech school, but had faith that we would be together again soon.  How soon, I did not know. 

After seeing how head over heels in love I was with Andre, my sister Sabrina, secretly arranged for him to visit us in Dallas.  It was an incredible surprise and completely confirmed our love for each other.  After an amazing couple of days together my family no longer questioned our devotion for one another.  He left for Germany and I headed to Italy.  After three storybook romantic months of crossing European countries to see each other, a couple of times a month, we knew we had to be together.  We had months of paperwork and commanders approvals to seek, but all could see our intense Romeo and Juliet (our favorite movie) love for each other.  After all approved, we were married in Germany and in March of 98 he moved to Italy. 

We’ve had a wonderful life together and I’m thrilled to say that after 11 years of marriage I’m still lucky to be deeply in love with my best friend.  We love each other and help each other to be the best that we can.  We don’t tear each other down or apart, but believe in and inspire each other.  He says it often and I believe it’s even true (shhh… don’t tell him), he knows me better than I know myself. 

This video is a great example of our ability to feel each other across the seas and our intense love and our journey to be together.  While others didn’t believe, we knew. (Hop out of your reader to check out the video) 

This is the type of love that I am zealous to photograph.  The love that is so intense that it radiates from your pores. 

Editing, I must do!