the ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.- maya angelou

this amazing woman took our family's photos this past saturday. i can't even begin to express how much i treasure my own family's photographs...how special i think these photos are!! i photograph so many others and often, by the end of the year, i'm wondering if i'll have my own family photos to cherish. i've only seen two so far from our session...and i love, love, love them.

and you see ryder's smile? yep, that really is his camera smile. i've completely warped my son, to the point that he doesn't know what the heck to do with his mouth anymore, in front of the camera. and so, i adore this shot even more--with all of us smiling, in our own unique way.

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the other day, i visited cheryl jacob's blog and read this...

every time you photograph someone, you tell them,

you're important enough to remember. make the most of it.

how profound is that statement?!! just think about it! something i want to share with every one of my clients.

most of you know...i greatly admire and respect cheryl jacobs! she is the one, who in the beginning of my photography journey, offered me confidence and pushed me to move forward. she encouraged me that it's okay to be different; it's okay to be myself. cheryl is one mad talent, not only with photography, but also with words. if you don't know her, you should definitely check her out. and she's all film. love her!

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then i moved to my good friend|photographer|military spouse's blog (we were stationed together and friends pre-photography) and read this: knowledge is power. both our husbands are explosive ordnance disposal officers. both are up for the same career promotion. both our husbands are two of the hardest working naval officers i know. both our husbands feel the same about the whole promotion thing, as so eloquently shared in shawn's blog.

steve should find out if he was picked up for executive officer|XO in the next couple weeks. once we know that, plans will begin for steve's next assignment. options vary greatly, depending on whether steve makes XO or not, which is why we have to wait for the board results. we're hoping to find out our next assignment in january or february. to move again in june.

most of the time, i try not to go to that place...of moving again. i bury it in the back of my mind because thoughts of moving are accompanied by anxiety. but tomorrow, we have prospective renters coming to view our house. and so, the buried thoughts are trying to surface. and i'm trying hard to push them back where they belong, for now. it's a tough battle, but i think i'm winning.

each and every day... i think about how grateful i am that we did this move together, as a family!! it was so very, very close to not happening. and every day, i remind myself to cherish and focus on this amazing day...today!