Be Still My Soul

Oh, the fun you can have on a Mac. A little something I whipped up to add to my talent profile. Fun stuff!

On The Run

It's back folks. The "100 Miles A Month" will be returning to The Wilder Side of Life on September 1st and it's going to be a banner month! I started August barely able to run one mile and am now easily running 2 with a 3rd walking down the country road our RV park rests on and I can't wait for September to boost me up to higher levels of distance and speed as I return to my favorite running spot: San Gabriel Park.

Roccy really has inspired me. You should read how she's plowed through her challenges and reached amazing heights through blood, sweat and tears. Returning to the "bootcamp" that I left hanging several months ago, I made it through 3 grueling weeks of Brian's tutelage and then life (and my dread) got in the way of the other 3 weeks. I learned a tremendous amount about pushing myself much farther than I ever thought I could -and that Brian is insane- but I let life and leisure (and wine and chocolate) get in the way and finally decided to take up the reigns again. Driving to Houston the last weekend of July and feeling my fat rolls bulge over my jean shorts was all the motivation I needed to get this rear (and mouth) back in gear and return to a level of health and fitness I enjoy being at.

I've loved running the country road our RV park is on, surrounded by cows, horses, jackrabbits, butterflies and a couple of half-retarded dogs that bark at us 4 times during our walk. There's a cow that continually escapes, grazing beside it's fenced-in pasture, staring us down as we cross on the other side of the street. Though the boy has a growing set of horns, Brian assures us that he won't charge us like those spanish bulls -though I am ready to sprint and hide the stroller behind the nearest telephone pole whenever I cross him. Strollers -that's another thing. Ever since I started running again after Wilder was born I feel incomplete and naked running alone, so I nearly always have a child with me. Wilder continues to love being outside on a ride and Waverley is just now big enough to sit in the running stroller and enjoys watching the world pass by. I've always treasured that time together with the kids, whether on a walk or run. It's precious getting to see the chickens and birds, insects and livestock as the sun rises in a beautiful morning haze.

So now, I'm proud and excited to welcome my 3rd "100 Miles A Month" for this September. That's 3.33 miles a day, though I know I'll take 1 day off a week and have to make up for it on another day. San Gabriel Park has excellent mile and 0.10 mile markers along the bike path and I have favorite spots I run to. It's exciting to introduce Waverley to the trail the same time I did my first 100 mile challenge with Wilder. Both of them were/are about 7 months when I started. The fun and freedom of my 100 mile goal is that as long as I do the mileage -whether walking or running- that's all that matters. I usually increase my running as the weeks go by because I simply want to get the blasted miles over with. This time starting with a strong 2 mile accomplishment I hope to increase my running distance quickly while working on picking up my pace. I can trod a decent 10 miles an hour, but it would be awesome to get down to 8. Can I do it? I'll certainly try!

This will be my first "100 Miles A Month" with Brian here and I know that I will only improve farther in my goals than ever before with his encouragement and expertise. I'm going to do a "before" and "after" shot to mark my progress and it will be thrilling to see how far 1 month and 1oo miles will take me this time. Baby fat -bye, bye!

And what do I REALLY want to conquer next? A 1/2 marathon. That's what I'll tentatively be training for.

Baby Sitting

Little Miss Waverley is not so little any more. Just the past week she began sitting up all by herself and it's surprising looking over and seeing her move so fast and sitting up playing with toys. Such independence through movement and growing strength!

She is such a fun baby!! Smiles, giggles, coos, and now all this mobility and strength. She's still our Sunshine and Angel Baby. A tremendous joy, this little one.

A Best Friend Visit!

Erica and Joseph are at Altus Air Force Base in OK for August and they drove all the way down for a visit last weekend. Though I had a wedding to shoot all day Saturday, we had so much fun being together Saturday morning and all day Sunday. Erica and I have been friends since 7th grade, and she is still one of the dearest people in my life. Playing with the kids, getting to know Joseph better, Brian meeting E's new hubby and hanging out -it was a priceless time.

This one reminds me so much of our times together growing up. Erica was instrumental in several family vacations -particularly a jaunt to Disneyland where Mom had ALL of us (10 kids, 2 adults, Erica and my sister's husband -then boyfriend- George) in a series of matching outfits. The buddy system at its best.

They have been PCSed (military for "moved/transferred") from Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage to McCord AFB in WA. They're currently scouring the internet for their first home. We know what that's like -exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Our prayers are with them as they continue to search and enjoy the journey!

Erica and Waverley meet for the first time!

Best Friends Forever. Amen and amen.

We love you, Erica and Joseph! Thank you so much for visiting with us!!

Visit in Houston -We love Grandma & Grandpa!

The last weekend of July I took the kids down to Houston to visit my grandparents and my aunt and her family. Grandpa was recently diagnosed with two types of cancer and this was the first time we'd been to visit since the news. The "C" word is very difficult for us, having lost my dad -their son- to a 4 year battle in 2001. Grandpa was in great spirits and, according to Grandma, had more energy the past few days than she had noticed for the past several months. It does my heart a world of good to be with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Carol, Uncle Russ, Bailey and Rem. I always feel comforted and at peace when I get to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Here are some treasured pictures from our wonderful visit.

Wilder's new favorite -he has his alphabet down pat!

Bre, the Beautiful Bride-to-Be

My dear friend, Bre, is getting married in 2 weeks. I get to be their photographer and I am so jazzed. Adam and Bre are such a special part of our lives -Bre came over at midnight to watch Wilder when I went into labor with Waverley. We spent Easter together this year, and they have been our first guests in our new "house." There's much more that's special about them to us and we're so blessed to have them as friends.

We shot these bridal portraits in Granger, Texas and I did Bre's hair and make up. There are more photos being edited, but here are my favorites so far. Thank you, Bre, for being such a fabulous model bride!

VeriSign -The Face of Trust

I love YouTube. I am finally getting ahold of various commercials and projects I've done but never seen. Here I am cast as "The Face of Trust" for a VeriSign spot. Yippee! I shot this while 8 months pregnant with Waverley.

More Southwestern Charm

A few more of my favorite shots from the Southwestern University wedding I shot -posting as I edit batches; hopefully finishing by the end of this week. I shot a wedding at the Georgetown Community Center last night; the ceremony was held in the Butterfly Garden outside. Simply gorgeous with the flowers and the fountain! A little hot, but beautiful. Those pictures to come soon, too! But for now, here are a more from this wedding!

And for more of theses photos, visit their fabulous custom website!

OneOK Commercial

I'm the mom with the red headed boy by the bath tub. Look fast!

Hoovers Mobile Webisode

Takin' it back to 2008! I found a link to this webisode I did with Revelator, directed by Matt Muir. Hair and make up by Jeni Hoover.

A Southwestern Wedding

This is from Karli & Jeff's wedding. The ceremony was held at Southwestern University with a reception at Berry Spring Country Club. The chapel was beautiful and the families were such a joy to be with. Here are some of my favorite shots, but please visit the photo site I created for them. It's really rad.

Headshot Session a la Brian

New headshots, thanks to the camera work of Brian. I think he's ready for photography classes, don't you? He'll already be a step ahead.

We shot in the only shade we could find at the RV park while Wavy napped and Wilder strolled in the dirt...and fell in a ditch, which Brian almost got on camera. He was fine, but a little shocked. Hopefully that will be a lesson and not a challenge in his eyes and ditches won't be so fun to play around. He got nice and dirty -just the way he likes. Me too. I think he's cute dirty, or maybe that's just the way he generally is and I think he's cute regardless.

I started an 4 week acting class with Van Brooks last night. Class of 12, focusing on overcoming our obstacles in auditioning and film acting in general. Excited to dig in, get gritty and get real in my acting. It's been too long, too long. But now....I think I'm back.