January 10-on-10

Christmas break.

It couldn't come soon enough this year.  I think we all were feeling desperately needy for some slower days.

Some quiet.  Some peace.

Days of not having to leave the house.  Days of late mornings and cuddling and PJs ALL DAY LONG.

Days with sweet freedom to just be and be together.

It was perfection.

Those two weeks were a great reminder to me that I really need to let some things go.  I need to step back choose the best, not just the good or better, but the very best.  Limit my projects, reduce my commitments, and agree to commit to just those things that will be the best of the best for myself and my family.

I'm not agreeing to abandoning all activities and serving, because I could very easily become a hermit; happy in my seclusion.  Instead my goal is to take the opportunities that come my way and weigh them in the balance, choosing to do only those things that shout "BEST".  I don't want to have to wait until the next break in my schedule to feel the bliss of a quiet day spent at home with my family.

I'm aiming for the freedom, the sweet freedom, of a deep restorative breath because I have chosen well.

10-on-10 is a blog circle featuring amazingly creative photographers who will be sharing 10 photos on the 10th of every month that document their days, their lives, their loves. Take a few moments and travel all the way around the loop!

Next up is Shannon. Head on over to her blog to see the beautiful photos she chose to feature this month.

Erin- Senior 2018::: Hillsdale, Michigan Photographer

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.  

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

December 5-on-5: Trimming the Tree

Every year I purchase a new Christmas ornament for each of my children, so that from the time of their very first Christmas to their eighteenth, they garner a pretty little collection that they will someday use on their own tree in their own home.

By far, my daughter, has been the most enthusiastic ornament lover in our family. Her excitement each year as she goes through her box of ornaments elicits memories of my sisters and I gathered around our very own boxes ohhhing and ahhhing over the ornaments our mom had hand picked for each of us. I remember the excitement I always felt when we would begin the Christmas decorating and nothing was better than going slowing through my box of ornaments enjoying every single one like they were brand new treasure.

This year the tree decorating was left to just 3 of us, but Lauren couldn't stand not having her two older brothers' ornaments on the tree, so she went through their boxes, too, exclaiming with joy over each one that was her "favorite". 

Our tree decorating definitely has different dynamics these days, but I'm completely thankful for the joy Lauren brings and the child-like wonder. It is a good reminder of days gone by and of new to come.

 To see more un-posed photography that documents daily life in 5 photos head on over to the wonderful Amy Thelen, a Portland, Oregon Family Photographer

Sam & Randi- Hillsdale Michigan Engagement Session

We're all a little weird.  And life is a little weird.  And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness -and call it love - true love.  
  ~Robert Fulghum, True Love

I have been taking photos of Randi since she was sixteen.  In fact, I have practiced my photography with her quite a bit over the years! Thankfully, as an artist, she has always been game!  So, when I heard that she and Sam had become engaged, I knew I wanted, no needed to photograph the two of them together.
This photo session was a dream come true.  I loved every minute we spent together. Both Randi and Sam are photographers and they are just starting their own business, so we talked a lot about photography, but most importantly we had fun together and laughed, a lot!  There wasn't any nervousness or tension.  It was just the three of us enjoying an afternoon together, exploring new places and documenting the amazing love that these two have for one another.  Not even the rain dampened our spirits. We knew what our goal was and we went boldly after it─ to show the world who Sam and Randi are and to display the uniqueness of their love for one another.