This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

Ok, so he’s actually not a wrecker, but he does love to bite little toesies, drag my son’s backpack around the kitchen, and chase our 10 yr old Lhasa-Poo around the house. But isn’t he just oh-so-cute???? He won’t be little for long…..

A beautiful family, a beautiful beach, and a beautiful sunset – what more could I ask for??? We had so much fun playing by Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.  This is the stuff that all family sessions should be made of! So much love and joy! And I just love their sense of adventure and how carefree they were. I mean, we’re at the beach, so you might as well become one with the sand and the waves!

When we planned this session, we weren’t really sure how the boys were going to behave for the photos – all mom really wanted though was one good family photo – the rest (if we could get anything more than that) was just an added bonus. Well, these boys must really love their mom because they were great the entire time and gave us way more than just one good family photo! To the Janik’s: You are doing a great job raising these little men! I can’t wait to work with your family again in the future!

It’s been way too long…. I should’ve wrote, but didn’t.  Life just has its funny little way of getting busy and moving on, whether or not I decide to blog about all the sessions that I’ve been doing.  I promise that I’ll post up some of my recent favorite sessions very very soon, though!

I have a lot of fun things planned and am super excited with where my photography is going, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to love it too!

I’ve received some feedback on my decision to shut down the fan pages (both for photography and my designs). Just to clear things up, I am still offering sessions and designing templates, but I just feel at this time in my life, God is calling me to be more involved as a wife and mom (and friend) and less involved as a professional photographer/designer. It’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time. I have a deeper desire than ever to create lately, but in more ways than I have limited myself to since my babies were born.  And not for personal gain, but personal satisfaction that I’m creating and being the Jennifer God created me to be.

In my journey of becoming a wife and mother, I found photography and photoshop along the way and it really helped me to keep in touch with my creative side, but somewhere in all of that I lost sight of creativity and became hopeless about ever succeeding as a professional photographer – due to time constraints, economy, market and more – You try working a full time job, raising children, and being a good wife and homemaker while trying to start up a business!!!

I have gone back and forth, tossing around lots of ideas. I’ve felt so torn because I love photography but couldn’t see how it would fit into my life, since my husband and kids are my number one priority and ministry. Yet, I couldn’t understand why God would put such a passion for photography in my heart if it weren’t meant for more than just a hobby. Even today, I look forward to photographing a new little one this weekend, and in that I will have to give up some of my precious family time, but I feel good about it. I finally feel like I’ve got my answers – or my orders (from God).

At this time in my life, I do not plan to push the my photography & design business. I will still take on sessions and design at leisure, but without pressure – I will do it as I feel called to do it. If requested to do a photo shoot, I will consider what else is going on in my life and base my decision on that. So, since I’m not pushing the business side of things, I’m taking down the fan pages. I’ll post any new photos or designs on my blog and on my personal facebook page and assume the people that truly care will see them.

I’m excited that I finally am at peace about how to go forward with my passions. I know now that God has blessed my little family so much and these gifts he’s given me are also blessings that I can share with and use to minister to others.

- I’ve decided to start my diet / exercise plan… again… I’m starting over for the 4th time (at least) this year.

- I’m excited for tonight – dinner with my mother- and sister-in-law… I just hope Grace cooperates for daddy

- I should be a new auntie before this day is done I wonder what she (who is yet to be named) will look like…

- I’m probably more excited than I should be that many ants, spiders and any other creepy crawling thing in our yard will be dead before sundown. It’s time to spray again…

- I’ve got a list a mile long for the weekend – here’s a sample: clean house, groceries, laundry, bedding, car wash, play with my kids (yes, i have to write it down!), workout at least twice, spend time with my sweet hubby and find time to be creative

- and on that note, it’s time to get going! Have a great weekend!