Day 37: First Pregnancy Photo Shoot

I had my first pregnancy photo shoot on Saturday with Ana and Matt. Ana is an Occupational Therapist at tiny-k Early Intervention (my real job). Her baby girl is due in January.

Their dog, Rosie, is a hoot. I had her complete attention due to the dog treat in my hand. When I finally went to give it to her, my hand disappeared to the wrist in her slobbery mouth.

The wicker chair was a gift from her grandmother. I would love to get all the generations of women together in it sometime.

Day 33: Night at the Nelson Art Gallery

What do you do after an exhausting week, without a dime to your name? Go have a great time at the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery in KC! When something is free we don't value it like we should. The Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery is one of the greatest art history museums in the world. Did you know that they only show certain pieces every 40 years due to how fragile the art is? So it is quite possible that the Monet vase and flowers picture on paper you saw last week will not be out again until your children are getting ready to have grandchildren (personally speaking of course)! Everyone should make the trip several times a year.

They just opened the Native American Indian exhibit. It wasn't like anything I'd seen before. It was really beautiful. Art was always purposeful and added to useful, everyday items. We came from there inspired to make art a part of our lives. We have all been given talents from God that we need to be using to make things bright and beautiful.

Susan and I went there on Friday. On our way out, we decided to make shadow art on the wall of the Bloch building. I love how she is up for anything! I finally set the self-timer on my camera and joined her. The museum guards were fascinated too!

Day 33: More on Karla

I just wanted to make sure you saw the picture that changed our hearts about supporting a child through World Vision. All the other hundreds of pictures of smiling children, and there Karla was with her perpetual frown.

Tomorrow I have my first pregnancy photography shoot. I am really excited about trying some of the pose ideas I found on the internet. My challenge is to take someone that feels swollen and uncomfortable and make her appear peaceful and happy. She's a cutie so it won't be super difficult.

Day 30: About Karla

A couple of years ago, David and I were at a Building 421 concert. They were signing up people to support children through World Vision. On several tables, they had an assortment of photographs of children and you could pick the one you would support. I let David take the lead on this since I knew it was a long-term financial commitment. Watching him hover over the boys, I was sure he'd pick one since he didn't have another male at home. Then I saw her eyes - and David reached to pick up her photo.

Since then, we receive a letter from her every 6 months or so. She was happy to share that she was recently de-liced and de-wormed so that she could stay healthy. We take so much for granted!

This is a picture I took with my camera timer so Karla could see herself on our fridge. She stays there so we can remember to pray for her and her family.

Day 24: Lil' Treats

Here is a little Halloween kitty.

We spent Saturday evening at my friends, Ange & Al Amon's house. It is funny how much can change in a year. Last Halloween, Ange was recovering from surgery to repair her 2 broken feet from tumbling down a ravine on a first date. Life looked pretty bleak. Today, she is happily married to the man of her dreams; the very man she impressed with her tumbling abilities.

We had a blast eating, singing, and laughing. I love watching the interaction between Ange and her sister, Amy. They make me do that gut laugh thing where you end up crying between gasps to suck in air.

DAY 20: Fall Fun

It was such a beautiful weekend for photography. My poor camera worked overtime with Trick or Treaters, visiting the Skinner Farm, and scouting out fence ideas for our replacement fence. I learned how to use the self-timer function and decided that I wanted to make a series of pictures called "Reflections" where I seek out reflections in shadows, windows, water, eye glasses, etc. Here is an image of a barn that I caught in the Skinners garage window.