Debe's Place

Two Sides to Every Story

2010-06-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

I read an article on azcentral.com http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/27/20100627arizona-immigration-law-leaving-state.html
Undocumented couple leaves SB 1070 behind by Daniel González

I am tired of feeling like and being called a racist. I am a loving caring person. This article got me thinking really thinking about the situation our country has gotten it’s self into. Thank you Mr. González for making me think.

Side one. The story that Mr. González shared is one of people, real, live, everyday people that have feelings. People with families, people that want what’s best for their children. They want to live in peace and harmony. They are willing to work hard and take care of their own. Their children go to school. They are doing their best, the best way they know how. They have to give up everything because of a mean spirited law that judges them unfairly. They had to move from friends and family to an unfamiliar state so they can feel free. The story reminded me of the stories of the Jews hiding from the Nazis. The step by step the close calls to being captured, the tears and heart aches. Feeling like you are on their journey with them.

Side two. Wait a minute, these aren’t people being judged unfairly because of their religion, these are people that have broken the law for the past 15 years. These are people that left their family once already to start a new life. This isn’t the first time they have had to cross borders in darkness. They have skirted and broken laws for years. They forged documents and have had to watch their backs for more than 15 long years.

There are consequences for our actions. Many times those consequences affect our families, our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, parents and spouses. I feel deeply for others that have been effected by the consequences of others. I have known many who’s whole lives have been up-rooted and turned upside down because of the choices others make. When you break the law you have consequences. The couple in the story said the sweeps made them feel like prisoners. Well you can only feel truly free when you are obeying the law. Their children didn’t want to go to Mexico because they are Americans. The parents, not us, are responsible for the heart ache their children are feeling right now. It is the parents consequences that caused their children to leave their dog and puppies. Do I feel bad for the kids, yes, but that doesn’t mean I think we should change our laws. I hurt for the children but they aren’t the only children suffering because of choices made by loving parents. Millions of children have had to give up beloved pets to move, give up friends, start over because their parents choose to move.

Children are ripped away from their parents every single day in this country because of a parent that chose to break the law. The parent is taken to jail and their children suffer and they have bad dreams, and they cry and hurt because of the choices their parent have made. Has Mr. González and other forgotten completely that being an illegal immigrant means they have broken our law. Someone choosing to break the law does not make me a racist.

Reading this article has also got me to be thinking about the tens of thousands of people that have protested on one side or the other of this heart wrenching issue. Why don’t we get all of those people that feel so strongly together and come up with real solutions that would benefit everyone. Solutions are out there. I am tired of this and other issues ripping our beloved country apart. We are the UNITED States, not this group or that group. We should be working together to make this country the best it can be. A place of peace and plenty. A safe place for our children to grow and prosper.

If all of the protesters got together against the Mexican drug cartel they could conquer the real foe. If the organizers of the protests could organize people to work and create a businesses, if they could come up with a way to create jobs in Mexico those illegal immigrants never would have wanted to leave in the first place. They wouldn’t have to leave their families for a better life. Let’s put our time, money and energy into helping them make their country a great place to live. Let’s be good neighbors and help them take care of their own. Let’s look at why they feel the need to leave in the first place and help with solutions for a better world.

I am not a racist. That's my side of the story.

In Loving Memory

2010-02-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

~this is a repost from last year but since everything still applys I felt it appropriate~

Joseph Peter Berks

Feb 25, 1970 ~ Feb 09, 2000

I was so lucky to have even known Joseph. He was an awesome person that everyone loved. He was warm and friendly and made every person he was around feel like they were the most important person in the world while he talked to them. The happiest I have ever been in my entire life was while I was spending time with him. He brought out the very best in me. I worked every day being a better person because I just wanted to be my best for him, he brought out the most righteous desires in me. Anyone that knew him would say all the same wonderful things about him. His closest friends told me (after he died) that they wanted to be a better person when they were with him, he just had this incredible spirit that brought out the best in those around him.

I have forever engraved in my mind the moment I first met him. I wondered why this cute kid wanted to dance with me. He kept telling me how I was the most beautiful woman in the room (yeah, what ever... he was such a smooser). I thought he was funny and was just being over the top and that he was sooooo fun and I would probably never see him again. He and his friend went to the dance together and I ended up giving his friend a ride home. He NEVER let me forget that either. Since Joseph was so much younger than I was (10 years) I didn't take him serious for quite some time. I kept telling him we were JUST friends. He wanted me to be his girlfriend in the worst way. I remember telling him that he would stay longer in my life if he were my friend than he would if he were my boyfriend. He became the best friend I have ever known. He was my confidant, he was my shoulder to cry on, he was the first person I wanted to share anything with, he was whom I wanted/want to spend my eternity with. He would hold his fingers very close together and say "this is earth life", then he would hold his fingers as far apart as his arms would let him and say, "this is eternity", then he would say, "I want to spend eternity with you". One of the very hardest parts of dealing with any of this is that we weren't sealed when he died. Our earthly vows ended with his death.

Another moment that has forever been ingrained in my mind is Feb 9, 2000. My brother came into my room (it was very early in the morning and I was sound asleep) with his wife Cheryl, she standing in my doorway and he crouched close to me. His words were, "something horrible, horrible, horrible has happened". Never once as my mind raced through what could have happened that would warrant 3 horribles did I think of Joseph, I thought of my kids and what could have possibly happened to one of them. After all the LAST words Joseph uttered to me in person were that we had our entire lives to spend together and I needed to be with my kids right now, soon enough they would be grown and gone and we would still have each other. My brother went on to tell me about a horrific car accident where another very large vehicle rear ended Joseph's little Ford Festiva and that he had died. I asked about his friend but we deduced that since Randy only knew of Joseph that he must have already dropped his friend off. His friend later told me, that night Joseph was the happiest he had ever seen him. His accident happened less than 5 minutes after dropping his friend off.

One year to the day after he died our families traveled to Reno, Nevada to do Joseph's work for him. He wanted more than anything to be baptized and join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had taken lessons from the missionaries and had been doing everything he could to be baptized. I didn't want him to wait a moment longer than necessary to be able to have all the blessings he was able to. His brother Jacob was his proxy. It was very fitting because of the closeness of the two of them. Jacob was still on his mission but we got permission for him to do his brothers work but we had to do it at the Reno Temple. It was a cloudy day and while they were baptizing Jacob for Joseph the room seemed somewhat darkened but as Jacob went under the water the room became so bright that I HAD to open my eyes and the clouds had parted for only a moment and the room was filled with light! I think Joseph was so happy that his joy beamed through the clouds and warmed our souls.

After ten years I still have a deep hole in my heart. It doesn't hurt as bad on the surface but deep inside I still feel pure agony for his absence. The only way this has be even tolerable is knowing he is with our Heavenly Father. I have always had childlike faith in heaven and what happens to us after this life. I have never doubted. I have always felt very calm about what happens when we leave the earth all my previous experiences with death have brought joy and peace in times where that joy and peace were miracles in and of them selves. For the first time, now, I questioned if what I had always know was true. Would I see him again, is this real or just something I have always told myself to feel better. I was actually in shock that I was even wondering. I had NEVER wondered before. I thought I knew the answer, then why was I afraid of never seeing Joseph again. A deep humble pleading to my Heavenly Father once again brought peace into my heart. I WOULD see Joseph again and Heavenly Father loves me and I will be okay. When my mom died 4 months before Joseph the room filled with joy as she passed. I could feel my grandmother holding me and felt a room full of joyous angles bringing her home. When I was told about Joseph's passing I felt him standing near me but didn't feel joy, instead I felt his spirit so deeply saddened for me and my pain. He was morning with me for MY loss. He could have been feeling joy for himself but he chose to be with me through my pain. I know he truly loves me. I have felt him many times since he has been gone. I felt his presence allot in the beginning and still do from time to time.

One of the greatest gifts Joseph has given me since his passing is he hand picked my, now, earthly companion. I imagine the two Joseph's in heaven trying their hardest to get Brent and I together. I know without a doubt that Joseph wanted me to marry Brent. He didn't want me to be alone and he wanted me to be with someone that would be kind and never speak a harsh word to me. He wanted me to be with someone that would treat me the way he did, and give me all the earthly things I would need and want. Joesph knew I could look past imperfections and see the spirit and potential inside of a kind, gentle man. He knew even better than I did that I needed Brent and would love him.

After he died I was looking through his things and found buried in his sock drawer a valentines card for me. He had already written in it and sealed it. How grateful I am he wasn't a procrastinater. There are too many stories to share on here but I am so grateful for Joseph and for being able to know him. I love that he loved me!

Loosing wieght

2009-06-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

I am still loosing. I have lost a total of 24 lbs. Yea me!! Some days it seems so slow but I look back and it really is coming off just right. I am so happy when a loose a new pound!

I have been buying clothes lately because I am being able to wear a size 14 again. Some 14's are still too tight but I fit snugly in most. It is fun not to HAVE to wear an 18 any more!!!

I am even getting used to eating right. I am doing better emotionally with it most of the time too. Being able to buy new (smaller) clothes has really helped.

I have been working at getting my house and yard cleaned up too. It seems the days I don't exercise but really work hard in and outside of my house I burn the most calories. Hows that loose weight AND get a clean house and yard!

Just a few more days until Zach, Manda and the boys come back to Arizona for a short visit, I can't wait!! I am so excited!!!

I got some other good news yesterday, Brent and I are going with our boss and his wife to Pittsburgh later this month! I love to travel and see new things and I am so excited to get more pictures for my I love this beautiful world our Heavenly Father gave us collection!!!!

Food, Diet, Health Choices

2009-06-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

Dieting has become my new normal. I don't hate it, or love it. I am ONLY eating right and exercising for one reason... because Joseph deserves to have a mommy in his life. I started a couple of months ago. I did really good for the first month, then I changed one of my meds and it messed my digestive system up and my weight loss (NOT my number one goal but VERY important to me) came to a complete stop for about 3 weeks. I also slipped into not so great habits while. My kind, supportive doctor was so pleased I had lost 8lbs. since my last visit and quickly changed my meds back to the outrageously expensive one that I didn't have any side effects on.
Now I feel like I am rambling... oh well it is MY blog.

I am ready to really hit the dieting/eating right again only even stronger. I have had a few off days or maybe they are just not my best days lately. But with my system feeling better and working the way it should I have lost another 1 lb. in the last week anyway.

I am kind of following the dash diet, the low sodium version and now I am ready to work on reducing my calories. The diet says to take things in steps... so first I got on the diet, not keeping track of calories but only eating things I should. I think that was the HARDEST part of the dieting so far. I cried more than I ate... booo, hooo.... waahhhh
I had no idea how emotional food was for me. I think I actually grieved for the things I couldn't eat any more.
Once I started eating right then I started exercising. Slow at first, then working my way up to 45 mins a day for about 5 days a week. I got so depressed from the one med that I really slowed down then got a really bad toothache that ended my exercising. I figure I will start my routine back at 30 mins a day on Monday. I also started the 3 meals 2 snacks a day routine. I have noticed that since I started doing that my stomach has shrunk and I can't eat nearly as much. I actually can't allow myself to be hungry so if I even feel remotely hungry I eat. I eat healthy but not always low calorie.
So I am now ready to start counting those calories. I had NO idea how many calories were in things until now. Wow somethings are Sooooooo high and others are really low. Like one of my favorite things to eat is avocados... bad no, no food... well high calorie anyway, good for you but I have to be careful of how much I eat. And another one of my favorites is mushrooms and it is low calorie but not a lot of nutrients in them...

So I am on a new adventure... a food one... probably why I haven't posted pictures that I have taken in a while. I am still taking them but the food thing is still consuming my world... for now.

Just for Fun

2009-05-11T15:27:00.001-07:00

This is my mom. She was soooo cute... so does she remind any of my kids of their kids?

How about me? does this look like any of the grand kids?

And here I am... There are only a few pictures of me when I was really little.

Happy Birthday Mande!!

2009-04-30T01:52:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Mande!
She was born after a very loooonnnnngggg pregnancy. I was on bed rest for a couple of months and that wasn't easy with 4 other little ones, then she came 2 weeks late and I had to be induced. I remember how HAPPY I was when they announced she was a girl! I wanted her to be a girl soooo badly! Lindsay was as happy as I was for her to have a little SISTER! She was only 4 but carried her around and made sure she was ok.

Isn't she a little doll!!

Mande often hung out with Lindsay and her friends as she grew up!

Mande liked the crazzzy rides!

she was such a little doll!

she did flag in school and was really good at it!

she got an award for her music, I have always been so proud of all her accomplishments!

I LOVE this picture... poor little Tate... squish!

I just want to wish my beautiful little girl a very happy birthday!!! Now she is all grown up and and two adorable little ones of her own!! She was always a fantastic big sister to Joseph and I picture her being just as good a mommy as she was a sister!!

Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

sorry I am sooo slow!

2009-04-27T16:26:00.001-07:00

Here is a darling baby girl... I LOVE pink!!!

She is such a darling baby!! Congrats Stephanie!!!

Easter is on it's Way

2009-04-06T16:21:00.001-07:00

So it must be time to break out the Easter Basket full of baby.

Bryce and Abby came over for pictures... I LOVE their outfits!!

Lindsay found this little sailor dress at Burlington's Coat Factory and I HAD to get it for Abby!

I saved my favorite for last... Thanks Ashly for bringing the kids over so I could get pictures of them!!

Friends

2009-04-04T01:18:00.000-07:00

Lindsay and Bryan have these two friends they always talk about... now I got to meet them. Yup, they are just as nice as I expected!! It was fun to take their picture!

they love little Kooper and wanted a picture with him.

Happy Birthday to my April Fools Baby... Zach

2009-04-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Zach!!

So the ONLY day of the year I DIDN'T want to have a baby was April fools day... However I woke up at 6am April 1, 1985 and was in labor... only 2 weeks past my due date. I was DONE being pregnant and he was done baking so... poof... April Fools Baby.

Zach had a FULL head of Black hair, it was long too, hung down past his ear. I would get stopped at the store by people asking to see this head of hair... LOL

Zach was the biggest Mammaws boy EVER! Even after she had surgery he slept in the floor by her bed, just to be close to her.

Zach is an awesome dad and has a wonderful family!

This picture below is the one that brings back the most memories of him... it is sooo him. It's how I remember him looking as a little kid! I love my Ack!!

Happy Birthday Zach! I hope you have a wonderful day! I love you! I am proud of the man you have grown up to be!!

Baby Boy

2009-03-25T10:53:00.001-07:00

Looks Like Jenny is done nesting....

lalalalalalala....la

2009-03-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

Here is just a few of Lala's senior pictures.
Sorry it took me so long to even post these.

Where Does the Time Go?

2009-03-19T08:11:00.001-07:00

I meant to post these days ago! Here is the Happy Birthday boy!
It is really hard to do all the things for the party AND take pictures. So this was the best I could do.
The Perfect Gift... one of his friends was so thoughtful she made him his own book to write music in!!! Love it!!

Lots of fun friends

He said this was his BEST Birthday EVER!

I thought I would be bigger

2009-03-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Joseph!

Joseph is 6 today

He snuggled up to me when he woke up, then said, "I thought I would wake up and be bigger today... but I feel the same."

I will post pictures and more about him later today.

My uncles, cousins, aunts, neice

2009-03-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

Just kidding... it's not really that complicated. My daughters, husbands, sisters kids came over today. They are really cute and great kids! Lindsay and Bryan got his mom a really great picture frame and wanted the same backdrop for all the grand kids pictures so, Amy brought her kids over to get them done.

Lindsay asked me to get a few of Jocelyn with her cousin. This first one made me laugh so hard I almost peed myself. It looks right out of them 1800's. The pose screamed photoshop.
And now for the REAL pictures...

The last one is one of my favorites! Thanks Amy for letting me practice on your kids!!

Kooper = 1 Month = 4 Weeks

2009-03-03T01:41:00.001-08:00

I can't believe he is a month old already!! I am not sure how often babies have their 1 month birthday the same day as being 4 weeks old... but Kooper is!

I had been DYING to take more pictures of him... not sure why because he is extremely uncooperative. But I finally got to take some more.

He is such a sweetie and I love him so much!!

I took 711 pictures yesterday... not all of Koop but at least half of them are of him.

we started out in studio... where he doesn't like the flash and bugs his eyes out funny so we didn't get a lot of good ones.

then we ended up at the end of the day out side. He did MUCH better!

he did get hungry quite often.

and he got to meet "The Cousins" today too.

And THIS is why I made the outside ones black and white... he kind of clashed. We told him... your mom dresses you funny... LOL

Expecting

2009-02-26T22:16:00.001-08:00

My friend is expecting and said she feels big as a basketball...

Lollie-Pop

2009-02-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Joseph LOVES orange, so when I saw this egg shaped lollie pop at Wal-Mart for only $1 I couldn't resist. And of course I was thinking how fun a photo session would be with it!

I stood him up on a chair and I walked around him with my camera until I got the bluest sky... then he started posing for me.

Happy Birthday Lindsay

2009-02-24T08:06:00.001-08:00

so these are super out of order but it's the best I can do... maybe I will fix them when I get home.

Here is my beautiful daughter and a look at how she has grown and matured through the years!

Lindsay

more pictures... go figure

2009-02-23T13:15:00.001-08:00

So I am really lame and haven't got any new pictures... I am posting more from the first week. sorry... Hopefully I will get some more this afternoon!

Kooper is 2 Weeks Old

2009-02-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how time flies. He is already 2 weeks old. He is such a cutie!

I had all these fun things to say but I burned my finger last night and even though it feels better it is hard to type.

My Muse

2009-02-16T21:42:00.001-08:00

Meet Jocelyn...
my Muse
–noun
2. the goddess or the power regarded as inspiring a poet, artist, thinker, or the like.
She came willingly to have her picture taken and brought her own props with her.

She is ready at the drop of the hat to go shopping (definitely her mother's child)

He dad bought her a new outfit (mom had dad trained to shop too) and she loved it so much she wanted her picture taken in it.

And she is thoughtful and loving

She has a fun and sparkly personality

She told her mom she had so much fun, but her favorite part was holding the real flower!

She inspires me! She is darling and fun and a wonderful granddaughter! I love you Joce.

Green Jelly Bean

2009-02-15T22:16:00.000-08:00

Green used to be one of my least favorite colors. Not any more... I have learned to really LOVE it! Maybe because it was associated with things like green with envy or when you are sick you turn green. When I was a young mom someone made mention that money was green. I think that was my turning point. Money is such a pretty color. I think after living in the desert for so long I have gained a distaste for the lack of green. I LOVE green grass and green trees.
I do have to admit I don't like every shade of green... take our house for instance... yuck.

Since Valentines Day has come and gone and I needed to change my background, I found this cute St. Patties day one and it got me thinking about green.

So in honor of the color green... here are some pictures I have taken that are green.

Funny Faces and Parts

2009-02-11T22:40:00.000-08:00

Our little man was WIDE awake today and made the funniest faces.

he looks like a miniature old man... so cute.

he is all wrinkley...

and has the cutest toes...

and hands...

and ears...

and tummy button.

and when he is done... he's done!

Nesting

2009-02-10T21:24:00.001-08:00

I guess since Lindsay never had time to engage in nesting, I did it for her.

I need to get some pictures of the other kids too but there are several pictures we really wanted to get of koop before he grew out of the curl stage. He has been so sweet but he really hates to be naked and doesn't want put down if he is... not really easy to get the pictures. Hopefully we will get some more tomorrow. Lindsay and I get really worn out trying to get him to sleep and do pictures.

Jocelyn has been a sweetie and a great helper when she hears you. I asked her to do something and she just ignored me. I confronted her for not listening and she said her hair was over her ears so she couldn't hear me.

Joseph is having a hard time with the baby thing... he LOVES Kooper but doesn't think it is fair that Chase is so little he still uses a high chair and is already a big brother and Joseph will never get to be a big brother. Kids!

Tire Guy

2009-02-08T00:20:00.001-08:00

If your dad is a tire guy then you automatically become a tire guy, like it or not.

Kooper REALLY didn't want his picture taken on the tire. However, just as much as he didn't his mommy did want the picture so in the end they compromised and he got to be swaddled and she got to get the picture.

I Love this little boy

2009-02-06T22:01:00.000-08:00

I have thought about poses and props for taking this little boy's picture for months! I am so happy to have him here and feel so blessed that he is healthy. I just didn't expect to be so tired when he got here. Not sure why since I didn't get very many pictures of Chase since I was way too tired then... you would think I would remember how much work it is to have a new baby around.

I had so much fun today taking his picture... what a joy he is!

The hardest part of getting his picture is he hates to be naked and he doesn't want to be put down. Other than that... argh... he was great!

Little Boy Blue

2009-02-05T08:10:00.001-08:00

This is our Kooper Benjamin. He was born at 35 1/2 weeks because his mommy had preeclampsia and was not doing very well. They started inducing her Monday afternoon and he was born Tues. night. We were all concerned that he would be healthy but he came out healthy an beautiful! He is a sweet joy!

Day 2... First Vist

2009-02-04T19:27:00.001-08:00

I took the kids to meet their baby brother and they fell INSTANTLY in LOVE with him!

They couldn't get enough of him.

There were lots of HUGS

and KISSES!

We all had to take turns holding him...

Uncle Joseph and Jocelyn even did their homework while visiting this new bundle of joy.

Kooper Benjamin

2009-02-04T00:38:00.000-08:00

Kooper made his way into the world 10:12 Pm Tues Feb. 3. woooo hoooo!!

He weighed in at 5lbs 9oz

His head is 13 1/2 inches

his chest is 11 inches

and he is 19 inchs long!

More practice

2009-02-01T06:51:00.002-08:00

My little sister had winter formal last night and asked me to take pictures... the lighting was really dark by the time the kids got there so that was a challenge but the table was set so pretty I couldn't help but to take a few pictures of it.

And then there was the fun shoes! I love them. Oh to be young again and be able to just have fun!

My Poor Baby

2009-01-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

Lindsay is more miserable than ever. Baby has dropped and now she can't hardly even pick up her feet to walk. She was already miserable but now it is just pure agony. She came over today asking for maternity pictures while she can still move some. She could only stand up for a few pictures at a time.

Just ONE... but boy is it cute!

2009-01-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

This cute little dirty faced imp was wanting to go out by the street so his mommy kept him close to her and entertained by just giving him a few drops of water at a time!

Practice

2009-01-19T22:03:00.000-08:00

I have been reading all about HOW to use my camera and it all seems more complicated that it probably needs to be. So I took a little time to practice. Nothing great, I just stayed within the walls of my yard... or fence.

Meanwhile Joseph rode his bike and drew on our walkway.

I have a very pokey yard with pokey stuff.

I do have this strange flowering plant that photographs nicely.

And lots of cactus.

Practicing has actually been fun. I am going to get a book on exposure this week and it has some fun assignments in it, so you will be seeing much more of my yard in the future. Anyone want to come play and learn more with me?

For Lindsay

2009-01-17T08:02:00.001-08:00

Ok... here is the one you asked for.

Chase's feet crack me up in this one... such a ham!

Another Day Another Photo

2009-01-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

I need way more practice and the more practice I get the more I can see I need. Today was almost a wash except for a few. I couldn't believe how bad my pictures turned out. I was tired and frustrated. Granted we went out late morning and the light was way too strong. I guess I will have to go out a lot more often!!
this was a very UNWANTED but very well TOLERATED kiss. Jocelyn LOVES to kiss Joseph but he very much dislikes being kissed by her.
I have a very BEAUTIFUL daughter. She glows when she isn't completely miserable in this pregnancy... Lindsay, I love you!!
We took pictures outside the Mesa Temple today and then Lindsay suggested that we go into the visitor center... great idea... love this shot!

What NOT To Do

2009-01-14T09:20:00.001-08:00

While heating milk...

BLOGGING!!!

I Am a Big Baby

2009-01-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

I should have been a man for as whiny as I feel about being sick.

Brent called home yesterday to see how I was feeling and he offered to write down everything I was complaining about... no thanks... just give sympathy.

I just want to feel better so I can take pictures and photoshop and have fun again. I would even settle for sleep. I went to bed around 1:30 am which is okay but I woke up and thought it was the middle of the night, so I would be able to go back to sleep after an hour or so but NO... it was 6:30 am and there is no way I will get back to sleep before my little toad wakes up... hence I need to be up and happy... argh...

I can almost handle everything else I am feeling but every time I swallow my right ear and throat kill me... well not KILL me but they really hurt and I am being a man about all of this, remember.

Just Before...

2009-01-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

I decided to die... or wished I could. Brendl cut Lindsay's kids hair... they look so cute! So I took their pictures right before we left to take the kids to school and do a little shopping for baby showers Lindsay and I had. While we were gone I got what ever is going around and it hit me like a Mac truck!! or two of them!

I still haven't had a chance to play with my new light... other than what I have posted. I want to play!!

My Brain Hurts

2009-01-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

I love my new camera and today I got a new light, so now I have 2 lights and can take pictures even at night and in dark places, like the church.... yea!

My camera is still a mystery to me and my new light is way beyond what I know how to do. I will need lots of victims to practice on so I can learn how to use the two of them together really well and be consistent. I took 60 pictures tonight and this was my fav. Unfortunately having two lights make the glasses glare problem twice as bad, not that was my real problem. I am sure with practice this will become natural and I will figure it out.

Oh, I got a new background paper... Cinnamon... LOVE IT!

I also really love this one in Black and White! wooo hooo!

I actually don't mind too much my brain hurting... hopefully it is growing!

I Had a Play Date

2009-01-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

With my camera!!

I spent the morning proofing Josh's family pictures and Joseph asked to go outside to ride his bike... so my camera and I went out to play.

Joseph was irritated with me because I had to get a picture of the horn he had on his old bike that he put on his new bike by himself, before he got to ride it.

This one is for Lindsay... a perfect world for her would be full of polka dots. It is actually a very close up of a Discount Tire chair I have.

I have never been any good at taking pictures of plants and flowers... I love to take pictures of them but I usually take about fifty pictures and if I am lucky one is useable.

So off I went taking picture of any random plant I could find.

As always I am amazed at my camera... this is a very tiny crop from a whole bunch of leaves.

Something similar to this one.

this was part of a cactus. I am thinking about color more and wanting to use it to express myself... not that this one means anything.

While I was just hanging around taking pictures I was sitting on my neighbors porch and decided to practice on her silk flowers.

Lindsay loves daises too.

While I was playing with my new bff camera, Joseph was playing hide n go seek with his friends.

When the kids came over to my house one of the friends asked when I was going to take down my Christmas lights or if I was just going to keep them up forever. So camera in hand, I thought that's a cool shot...

or two...

or three.

Then there was the box sitting next to my chair... hmmm... kinda cool.

Joseph was busy playing but did stop from time to time for me to take a picture or two or twenty.

He was really aggravated I kept telling him to hold still... then when he saw the picture he smiled because he thought it was really cool I only took his nose and lips.

Not only are the lights still up but so are the other out door decorations.

So Santa stood really still too so I could get a shot of him also.

Sorry for the picture overload... I had a lot of fun! And I have probably 50 more I didn't put on here... aren't you glad!

Josh's Family Pictures

2009-01-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

I took Josh's family's pictures on New Years Day. Ashly wanted to have pictures of them with Josh in his uniform. I am glad we did. My only regret was that I used my 24-70 lens instead of a prime lens... darn. The images across the board are a little soft. I don't know if there is something wrong with the lens or if it just doesn't like shooting outside. It is always tack sharp in studio light pictures.
Anyway, all and all I am happy with the pictures... couldn't pick a favorite if I tried but this one would be in the top 5. I love the emotion in their faces! He is so happy and peaceful just holding her and she is obviously not wanting the moment to end but knows he is leaving very early the next day.
Josh is sooooo much fun! I love that Bryce's hair was combed back for this one!

Seeing Abby looking up at her daddy as she often does just melts this grandma's heart away!!

Bryce was super cooperative and I got some good shots of him... loving this one.

I am not done editing family shots and this wasn't their best one but it is the one I randomly grabbed... sorry Ashly, I will finish the rest in the next couple of days. I am 3/4 of the way done editing.

I have several others posted on my flickr site.

I Am Feeling Sad

2009-01-02T17:49:00.001-08:00

Josh has gone back to Florida. I am hoping his training starts up soon so he can move on and his family can live with him again!
Josh... I love you!

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T23:48:00.001-08:00

Have I Mentioned That I Love My New Camera?

2008-12-30T02:47:00.001-08:00

I do! I really love my new camera! It is awesome! I don't even know how to use it yet. It will probably take me years to learn everything about it and HOW to really use all those settings.

I am just posting my test pictures because I have to share them somewhere.

My 1 1/2 year old grand son was checking out our ginger bread house that Joey and I had made and it must have smelled good because he ate the tops off some of the trees.

As you can see my glasses are really dirty but I couldn't see that without them...

Aunt She-she did Abby's hair while her daddy fixed my car and her mommy cut down my weed trees.

Joseph has lost his first tooth! Yea! and we have no idea what Tate was getting into behind him.

Jocelyn is serious about getting her picture taken. She has been a very cooperative model while I practice.

Chase has been sick since Christmas and just wanted Mamaw to hold him... does she, yep, but not until after she takes his picture.

Tate didn't want his picture taken but did want to show me Bryce's new toy.

A Very Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T21:30:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas!
I love the anticipation, the fun secrets, the shopping (some of it anyway), the joy, the good will toward others, the story's of hope and love and service, the tree and decorations, the presents, the excitement, the stories of Jesus' birth, the love.
We had a wonderful Christmas.

Santa brought Joseph a new bike. He was super excited!

He took off riding right away! Ummm, Joe, no riding in the living room. You will just have to wait until it stops raining to ride.

Well around 5pm it finally stopped raining and off he went. He didn't even seem to notice he had his helmet on backwards.

Only in Arizona in the dead of winter on a rainy day does one venture out to ride a bike with flip flops on.
It was a beautiful early evening.

Christmas is wonderful! And children make it the best ever!

The Getting Ready for Christmas

2008-12-26T16:55:00.000-08:00

So in the blog world I am behind. So sorry, but that fits well with my life at the moment. I am not happy about it but am working to improve.
I loved Christmas Eve and other things pre-Christmas and wanted them to be here.

Bryan (my dd, Lindsay's dh) likes to take cinnamon rolls into his guys Christmas Eve morning and since Lindsay wasn't up to making them I went over to their house and got them started for her.

Chase was in his high chair eating donuts and staying out of my way.

Tate was just milling around watching.

Christmas Eve night we traditionally have a dinner and program at my house. This year with Lindsay down and out I felt overwhelmed and canceled, but only until my nieces got word of me not being up to it. Cheryl and the girls made dinner for us all (very sweet of them) it was a wonderfully delicious meal!

Abby came over a little early and mamaw got to enjoy her before the party got started.

Bryce wasn't sure why I was taking pictures, but stopped what he was doing long enough for me to snap a picture of him.

Abby was ready to go home and go to bed even before the program started.

Uncle Randy entertained the little ones.

Chase decided to hide under my rug.

We have a lot of diversity in our family... we all like different kinds of shoes.

Tate and Jocey posed while Erin played her song.

Kristen sitting back and enjoying everyone's songs.

Jocelyn is all about the cousins.

Courtney was teaching Joseph the fine art of technology.

the girls kept Jocey silent

Chase didn't want his picture taken... didn't let that stop me.

Aunt Cheryl read a really nice story and helped Chase follow along.

We all love Cheryl's story.

And the evening was full of beautiful music!!

I am so grateful for my family and loved spending the evening with each one of them!

My New Camera Is Here!

2008-12-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

I got my new camera around 9:30 yesterday morning. I was and am soooooo excited! I LOVE this new camera! The first thing I had to do was of course charge the battery but that was OK I had to leave to go visiting teaching soon anyway. Then when I got home the battery wasn't done charging and Lindsay and I had a ton of errands to run so we left. The entire day I was wanting to be home to play with my new baby but the urgency of being ready for Christmas took precedence. We didn't get back home until after 5pm and by then it was raining and dark. Oh well it only gave me a reason to really put all the good things I heard about my camera to the test.

My new camera doesn't come with a built in flash and I didn't grab mine I just kept lowering or raising the ISO. So ALL these pictures were taken in natural light with no flash.

My very first picture... hmm... not so good. the lights from the tree fooled the in camera exposure to think it was bright enough... thank goodness I can still take a thousand more pictures : )

I am selling my old camera to my sweet daughter Lindsay. She was playing with it for the first time while I played with mine... see what I started!

Chase is such a doll. I will have to blog about his saying no when ever Mamaw says please.

The best way to capture Joseph is when he is doing something else.

And he is always happy to let me take pictures of his work... he thinks his candy cane is the best drawing on the page.

I love my new camera!

Just playing around!

Jocelyn BEGGED to get her picture taken... I messed one up and said, look we can try 342 more times to be able to get it right... she said that was a lot of times... LOL

Joseph suddenly became interested in having his picture taken after seeing Jocey having so much fun. KIDS!?!!

This was my very favorite picture from this first photo session... or play time. This is straight out of the camera.

and here it is after I played with it in photoshop.

I LOVE my camera. It is so awesome. I don't even know how to use it yet and am in awe of how fantastic it is. I know I won't even be able to scratch the surface of what it can do for months... it is really smart too. It knows what lens I have on it even... how cool is that!

I'll Be Home For Christmas

2008-12-21T06:39:00.001-08:00

We are all so happy that Josh came home for Christmas!

As a mother I am thrilled to be able to see one of my children again after him being gone for 5 months. I think that the excitement I felt for myself, as huge as it was, paled greatly compared to the excitement that I felt for his sweet wife and darling children to be able to hold their husband and daddy again after so long.

I love Josh! He is an awesome person. As an adult he is one of my favorite people in the whole world. He is fun to be around, he is a kind loving person that just brings a smile to my face to even think about him! He is a fantastic son and is one of the most grateful people I have ever met. He never forgets to thank others for even the smallest tokens of kindness towards himself or his family. I am so happy to have him home for the Christmas Season.

Josh surprised his wife by coming home earlier than he told her he was going to. She was quite upset when he said he couldn't come home until Dec. 23. She had hoped to have him here to do all the preparation for Christmas for their kids. With him coming home so close to Christmas she had all but given up hope for much help from him. I think she had every moment of his stay here planned out to the last second.

He didn't have much money and wanted to do something wonderful for her so he came home the very earliest he possibly could. He even spent the night at an airport in Mobile Alabama to be able to get the first flight out the morning he came home. We were all "in on it" and avoided her like the plague trying to keep his secret. I went and picked Bryce up telling his mommy that we were doing like Josh asked and taking him shopping to get something for her from him for Christmas. After picking Josh up from the airport I called Ashly and told her we were done shopping and could she come get Bryce. She was like, "yes but that didn't take very long"... nope!
Josh was hiding under my Christmas tree!

The rest of the kids were hiding around the room.

Ashly came in talking to Josh's step mom (who Knew what was going on and even that he was already at my house) and she was completely oblivious that anything was going on.

Bryce said, look mommy daddy has your flowers but I don't think she heard him. She said she saw something moving out of the corner of her eye (Josh was moving her flowers) so she looked to see what it was... She sounded like she was instantly at a loss for words and crying and said I have to go, hung up the phone... threw the phone at Josh and walked out of the room trying to regain her composure. About 5 minutes later she came back in, still crying and in Josh's arms. I think as happy as she was it was a bit much to take in all at once. She has been beaming ever since!

The kids took to their normal routine as if he had never been gone and stayed by his side wanting daddy and uncle Josh's attention

Bryce was trying to be like his dad and tried on his hat!

Abby wasn't sure about all of this at first, She probably thought she was dreaming.

she kept looking at her dad it was really cute.

We are all soooooo happy to have Joshie home and love him with all our hearts with love!

I Did It!

2008-12-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

I ordered my new baby today!

I am soooo excited! They don't have them in stock so I could only back-order it but that's a start! There is even a possibility it will be here before Christmas! I have been giddy all day!

Dashing Through The Store

2008-12-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

Dashing through the store with a broken cart today,
Over the toys I go,
Screaming all the way,
Bell out side stores ring,
making quite a sight,
oh what fun it is to shop and buy the sales tonight.

oh, shop and spend,
shop and spend,
spending all our money,
oh what fun it is to buy for my kids and for my honey,
Shop and spend,
Shop and spend,
Spending all our money,
Oh what fun it is to buy this... got to go shopping will finish later.

Prayer Project Begins

2008-11-10T09:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't have to look far for my first test. My willing participant was easy to find and was even willing to go change back to his jammie top after he was already dressed for the day. So what do you think? Also do you like black and white or color better?

So what do you think? Also do you like black and white or color better?

Project Prayer

2008-11-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

I have been praying for quite some time about what to do with my photography. I love to take pictures, I really do. When I have tried to work towards building a portfolio so I could start a business I realized that I am too slow at proofing and become overwhelmed and take way too long in getting pictures back to people. I don't ever want to stop taking pictures for my friends and family. I want them to have a hard copy of today... a photograph of how things are right now at this very moment. I love trying to capture peoples personalities for memory sake.

Lindsay is very encouraging when it comes to my photography but is a true friend and gives constructive criticism when appropriate. She has often told me that my scenery pictures are her favorites. It is kind of funny to me because I am always telling her she reminds me so much of my mom Millie. Once again she follows my mom's path, because when I was young and drew and painted pictures all the time she always wanted me to do scenery. I take pictures of beauty when I see it. I have taken many trips with Brent with the sole purpose to take pictures of specific areas of nature. We have gone out to the desert in the spring, to Oak Creek in the fall, in the mountains in Utah, and while in Oregon we did a road trip just to see the beauty. When I am trying to channel into my creative side I take my 100mm macro lens out and get an up close look at the world around me... hmmm... that sounds like a fun thing to do tomorrow!

My kids say I am long winded and pointless sorry I ramble so much... back to my prayer. I have been praying of how to best use my talents to benefit others. I have been praying for several months about it with no real answers. He always answers my prayers and I haven't felt let down because I haven't felt the answer yet because I assume that I wasn't ready to hear the answer yet.

The election this fall has impacted me like no other election ever has. I got myself to be ok with the outcome of the presidential race but have been really struggling with the reaction in California of the prop. 8. I am so offended that people are protesting the majority because it wasn't what THEY wanted. They are vowing to get it deemed unconstitutional and have the proposition revoked. I want desperately to find a way through photography to stand up for family and for what is right. I turned to prayer of how to do this.

Also I must mention after having Brent's big birthday party we created a new project for my sweet husband. We want him to do a concert of his music but didn't feel right about just having a here's my music come see me concert so we have come up with an idea of doing a program that will bring comfort, conversion, and commitment for those that attend... in other words to try to do something that will uplift those that attend and perform. As part of the program he wants a slide show of some of my photography. For weeks I have been praying to know what to do.

So with all of these areas that I have been praying for what to do and finally getting my self in a place where I can hear my answer... and the ironic part of it is that I am going to do a project of PRAYER. I have other ideas also, like family's working together, family home evenings, reading scriptures, the beauties of the world, temples, and the list goes on.

My first project will be one of prayer. Family prayer, couples prayers, old couples, young couples, families just starting, families with teens, large families, small families, single moms and dad's with their children. Teaching children to pray, old prayers, young prayers, happy prayers, sad prayers and the list goes on. I am thinking that I would like to go into peoples homes and take pictures of the way THEY pray. To capture the essence of those praying. I am even toying with the idea of getting people of other religions in prayer. I am not sure where this is going or what purpose if any it has but I feel really good inside about doing it. I will probably wait until I get my new camera to go into full swing on this project but would like to start the project sooner than later. I thought I have no idea what I am doing and need to do many practice sessions and figure out lighting in peoples homes and things like release documents for people to sign. I don't know if I feel more excited or more humble by this project but I do know that I don't have to please anyone other than my self and my Heavenly Father which is very liberating to me.

So why am I blogging about this. Because as with any good project I need help. I need people to be willing to let me come into their homes and take pictures. I need ideas for poses (not really the term I want but I couldn't think of another way to say it). I need ideas of angles to use to be creative. I want to use a diversity of families. A symphony isn't a symphony without lots of different instruments. I need ideas for who to use. If you are interested in you or your family being photographed in my project please feel free to post to this blog or email me at debe at azsong dot com if you would rather be private about it. If you have ideas of other people I can ask please email me. Anyone know anything about writing release forms?

A New Day

2008-11-05T21:29:00.000-08:00

I love fresh new beginnings. Like the dawn of a new day. A new baby. A first tooth. A hug and a I love you mommy (no matter how many of those I have had in my life, each one is just as precious as the first one) A new job or a new promotion. A new seedling poking it's tiny head through the soil for the first time.

This election has really made a huge impact on me. I think the comment I feel says the most about what happened was that, Obama promised change. He was vague. Change would have come with or without him. He promised what everyone wanted and left it to be so vague that millions of Americans filled in their own minds what that meant to them. I hope not too many of them will be disappointed with the future that this new change will bring. I, for one, want them to get what they want and I want them to have wonderful productive lives. I hope this will be a good change. I hope that this country and our freedom we all take for granted becomes a better place in the coming years.

As Obama promised we will see change. Tomorrow we will wake up and we will make new decisions that will mold our day. As our days become molded our lives become our works of art and who we really are become set in gold. The only control we have is over our decisions today. We control our thoughts, our feelings, our attitudes and our actions.

Today for me is a new day. A new beginning. A bright beautiful day. The birds are chirping, the grass is green, the sky is blue (sometimes we have to look through the smog to see it but it is blue), children will laugh today, they will play and find joy. Today will find humble children kneeling in prayer, singing songs of worship, reading their scriptures, hugging their children. Heavenly Father gave us the day and the night, so we will have a new start every 24 hours because some of us need to start over that often.

I want to be a better mother, daughter, sister, neighbor and friend today. I want this new day to be more special than any day before it. This election has taught me to appreciate what I have and it has reminded me that just because I live in this wonderful country doesn't mean I am entitled to everything I want. I have to make the most of what I have. I have to appreciate what has been given to me. I want Heavenly Father to know that I love him, that I am truly grateful for me being born in America. I appreciate the opportunity that I have been born period. That I get to have a body, that I get to have this experience. I appreciate that I have a family. I am grateful for our living prophet and for the technology that makes it so I can instantly hear the things I need to know to be the person I want to be. I am grateful too for the agency that I have to chose good and bad, truth or lies, to be righteous or a sinner. I am grateful that he trusted me to do what it takes to return to him and is giving me a chance to prove myself. I am grateful for the atonement. I am grateful for today, a new day.

Cute Baby Alex

2008-11-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

There is no greater miracle than a new baby! He is so loved and we welcome him with all of our hearts into our family!

Lucky Number 13

2008-11-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

Our lucky baby arrived today in Alaska.
Alex David Ridgeway
7 pounds 6 ounces
21 inches long.
Born at home at 12:42pm
Monday November 3rd 2008

Sunday Game

2008-11-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

We were being bad and didn't go to the Regional Conference. I know I should have gone. I know I needed to set a good example for Joseph. It just didn't happen.
Sooooo.... I decided that I needed to do something fun and spiritual by nature to replace the time we should have been at our meeting.
We played the game from the new Children's Friend. It the Scripture Picture Game but we had to adapt it to just the two of us and one of us can't read good enough to play this game. What we did was when Joseph landed on a scripture I read it to him and he drew the picture. When I landed on a scripture I drew the picture and had him guess (most of mine I even had to explain to him what the scripture was... it turned out to be a really good learning experience)
Here is the pictures we drew (not everything was scriptures and drawing, some were singing a song or naming an ancestor, etc.

The first one is Joseph's from Jonah 1:17
17 ¶ Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish athree days and three nights.
Then mine from Ephesians 6:13
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Then Joseph was asked to draw 2 ways to show reverence.

Then he got D&C 119:4

4 And after that, those who have thus been atithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

Joseph then got to draw 2 ways of being a good friend. He cracks me up. His niece is his best friend... he has glasses and she has pretty eye lashes. The first picture he is sharing and the second he is letting her go first on the slide.

He then got Alma 46:12&13
12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—aIn memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his abreastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the btitle of liberty) and he cbowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of dChristians remain to possess the land—

I got Exodus 3:2
2 And the aangel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of bfire out of the midst of a cbush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

We got (in two separate turns) the story of the Wise and Foolish man. I got 3 Nephi 14:24-25 and a couple of turns later Joseph got vrs. 26-27. I love all the pieces of his house just laying around next to each other.
24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a arock—

25 And the arain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it bfell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a afoolish man, who built his house upon the bsand—

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

This is 1 Nephi 4:8-9, this one surprised me to be in there to draw, but they didn't add the scripture where he kills him.... hmmmm

8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.

9 And I beheld his asword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.

D&C 29:2 (I am not sure I ever got Joseph to understand the concept of this one... he was happy to draw a mommy chicken and her baby)
2 Who will agather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and bhumble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.

this one cracks me up. when there has never been a picture of an object it is subject to interpretation... and this is Joseph's go ahead take a guess of what it is before you read on... LOL

1Nephi 16:10
10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round aball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one bpointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.

And what LDS scripture game would be complete without 1Nephi 16:18

18 And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine asteel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food.

Joseph thought this was the best game ever and we spent some real quality time together and learned more about the scriptures...

He also memorized the first Articles of Faith during the game...

Joseph THE Recording Star

2008-11-02T12:01:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was Joseph's first time to go to a recording studio and record a piece of music. He played the song he did for his dad's birthday party. "The Gospel of Jesus Christ Can Bring Me Peace" is an original song his dad wrote. He played it perfectly! He sang it wonderfully! We were super happy and it only took 2 takes to get it perfect!

He loved playing the grand piano! His dad does too!
He wasn't nervous at all he was just super excited!

My little recording star!

Halloween

2008-11-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

I am a day late and a dollar short but here are a few of the kids at Halloween.

Family Reunion

2008-10-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

My dad's family had their annual family reunion today. Lindsay and I went together, since both of our husbands had to work. We have been so busy lately that neither of us were too excited about going. It wasn't too bad. Lindsay worked on her sharing time (she has sharing time for the entire primary time tomorrow after the Primary program which she is also in charge of) I got to Chase, Chase the entire afternoon... he is such a doll but completely wore me out! It is much easier going to things now that Joseph is getting bigger and can stay where he is supposed to be. I don't have to worry nearly as much.

Peace again

2008-10-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

I have peace again in my life... my computer is back and better than ever. It is faster and it has a new video card witch makes things better. I have already proofed one session since I got it back... yea, me!
I didn't realize how much I missed my computer until it returned...

It's Almost 4 AM

2008-10-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

It is almost four in the morning and I am still awake.... so this blog is an enabler and I get to whine all I want with no one to stop me... bahbhahbhah

Joseph and I went to bed at 7:30 PM, which is ridiculously early for me. I am not sure what woke me up but my body thought after an hour or so I had just taken a nap.

I know I will have to get up in a couple of hours so I need to fall asleep, maybe I can count sheep.. naw... that's no fun. I miss my computer more in the middle of the night than any other time. I think I would have to be sedated if it weren't for my work laptop.

BTW... Joseph and I are loving the new wii fit! I am glad I got it!

AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG......

2008-10-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Can you feel the pain of my soul? My computer died! ARGH!! Double and Triple ARGH!!!

Timing in everything... this is awful timing! I have 3 photo sessions proofed and should have already been too their families. I wish I didn't procrastinate.

I haven't heard back from the computer repair store yet but their best guess was that it was "only" the mother board that died. They indicated that the hard drive should be fine and after they replace the Mother Board and buy new memory for it; since each new mother board upgrade the computer makers make sure you can't use some of your old stuff, like memory; and of course the outrageous labor costs. I am looking at $450 (that includes a new video card that I desperately needed and was planning on getting in the next six months anyway).

I went out and did some retail therapy... not a good idea, actually I was out with Lindsay because she needed wipes... and she found a wii fit... I have been wanting one forever... ok since June. Anyway... on a day I shouldn't want to spend any money at all I bought a new toy. I figure it is cheaper in the long run than a gym membership I probably won't use very often. Lindsay lost 20 lbs. until she got pregnant, so I am hoping I can loose weight and maybe even get my blood pressure to head back down.

And all of this while I am waiting for my beloved new camera to be ready to make it's debut in my world.

Spring Cleaning... In The Fall?!?

2008-10-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Yup the best time to spring clean in Arizona is the fall. Think about it. Those from cooler climates look forward to no longer being couped up in their homes. They want to dig in and really clean with the windows open and fresh air finally coming in.

In Arizona all winter long our windows are open. It is our extreme summers that keep us couped up indoors. So now that fall is finally here in the valley of the sun we can finally open up those windows and enjoy our lives once again.

My Office

2008-10-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

My of·fice 1. a room, set of rooms, of a professional person is. 2. a room assigned to a specific person

has been a disaster area for quite some time. argh... ok double argh. I have been meaning to clean it, but when ever I start I quickly become overwhelmed and have no idea where to start or what to do with all the crapolla I have. I HATE throwing things away. You never know when that scrap would come in handy. It also seems so much easier to have a pile somewhere with the mail that just needs stredded than getting the shredder out and doing it.

I promised Joseph I would keep all of his nieces and nephews out of his room so they would leave his precious junk alone and not break any more of it. Problem is I don't want all the toys in the living areas of our home and what fun is it to go to mamaws house if they can't play with toys. So I got this bright idea that we would make my office the

play·room
a room set aside for children's play or adult recreation.

That way I could keep an eye on the kids while I am on the computer, and watch to make sure they don't go into Joseph's room (which is right next to my office). The kids tend to want to be with the adults any way so it just seems to be what would be best for now, or at least this week.

Well I am too embarrassed to post a picture of how bad it looked to start with, I even very rarely let anyone see how bad it has been. I will have to wait until I am done to post the pictures of the after only.

Working From Home

2008-10-10T12:03:00.001-07:00

Working from hom has it's advantages... like working in my night gown... yup it is noon and I haven't gotten dressed yet.

ZZZZZZZZ...

2008-10-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

I worked two days in a row. My poor brain is dog tired! Thanks to Lindsay my mouth and tummy are happy. Thanks Lindsay for the wonderful fried chicken dinner!!!

The Fine Art of Bubble Blowing

2008-10-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

I am cuting and pasting this from Joseph's blog because both he and Lindsay enjoyed it so much and since so few people have access to his blog. I hope you all enjoy.

I got some bubble gum from my friend's party and Lindsay could blow bubbles with it so I wanted to learn too. She is a great sister and a lot of fun but I am not so sure she is ready to teach someone like me to blow bubbles. She spent more time laughing at my faces I made than teaching me the basic how-to's.

So Step one must be to blow spit in the other person's face.
Got it!! I was very good at that step.
Step two was to put the gum on your tongue. OK, so I am not so good at this one but it sure is funny watching Lindsay do it... she makes some pretty funny faces too. She said she blew a bubble and that I wasn't looking. Sorry Lindsay. You kinda got a lot of gum on your nose.
So this was the best I could do for now. I won't give up, someday I will be as good as Lindsay at getting bubbles to stick to my nose too!

And by the way I got this cool face painting from Salsa Mama ... Thanks!

I Am Cheap

2008-10-06T13:26:00.001-07:00

I have been wanting a new rug to cover up my nasty front room carpet for quite some time. I have just been too cheap to buy anything. But Lindsay my favorite shopping partner whom finds all the best deals found this rug for $20 at Target. I love saving money. I could do 20 bucks. I love that it was originally $79.98 yea me!!

I Am A Person Again

2008-10-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

I got up and worked on proofing pictures. Then went to the dry cleaners and to get Joseph's hair cut. Then went grocery shopping (during the day). I am a real person and doing real person things! Yea for me!!

Oregon is only a memory

2008-09-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

What a lovely memory it is! We had a great time and would have loved to see more but time wouldn't allow.

The Portland Temple is right off the freeway so you really can't miss it.

The temple is covered in marble. Very beautiful!!
The ocean is always one of my favorite places to see. I am in awe of it's beauty and vastness!

Every Saturday in Portland they have a street market. We went early and left soon after it opened avoiding large crowds. There was a huge variety of items for sell as well as variety of type of people selling and buying.

Brent tried the African chicken wrap and I had an English pastie for an early lunch. Mine was much spicier than his was.

There is a river running right through the city... totally a foreign concept to me. I am not used to rivers that actually have water in them.
The city streets were just amazing, a combination of old and new. A Paradise for a photographer.
This guy was juggling knives as we were leaving.

There are waterfalls about 30 minutes outside of the city. Of course it took us about an hour to find them because we got very lost but we got to see things we wouldn't have if we would have stuck to the highway.
I told Brent after I get my new camera I want to come back to the falls and bring my tri-pod and hiking shoes and take more pictures. There were more falls about a mile up but I wasn't up to the climb in my flip flops and we were extremely short on time after our little detour.

I am completely fascinated by moss... you could say I have a moss obsession.

Looking from the bridge by the falls I could see the river across the way.

When we got to the bridge there was a guy taking pictures over the edge so I had to look down to see what was so cool to take pictures of below us. It was right over the small waterfall.

Out of 4,000 pictures of me I found one that I photoshoped the heck out of that I wasn't too embarrassed to post.

Fall was just beginning. In a week the whole area would be in full fall colors!

Brent was amazed that I found these furry creatures just hanging out watching the tourists.
And a tiger caterpillar for Joseph
And at last heading home. a blurry view out my window.

If you have made it this far and want to see any of them larger check out my flickr.

Day Trip in Oregon

2008-09-26T06:32:00.000-07:00

(I didn't take any of these pictures, I forgot to bring the cord to download pictures off my camera. I found these on the Internet and will post my pictures when I get home.)

We got to Portland safe and sound and checked into our hotel room and then headed out to see this absolutely beautiful state. We got a late start and the weather was, well lets say it was like a woman, it changed it's mind every 10 minutes. It was mostly sunny then 10 minutes later it was completely overcast and start to rain, then viola it was spotty clouds 10 minutes later. Crazy!!

Our first stop was the temple. Just like in Arizona Portland is the main city with many large cities surrounding it. The temple is beautiful (aren't they all). This one has marble walls. The parking is very different. There must be 7 or 8 different small parking lots all around the Temple. There is one really nice place to get pictures but most areas are too close to the Temple to get the temple and people in the picture. It is so green and beautiful!!!

Then we went to the local Deseret Book Store. Brent likes to see how different stores display his books and ask what sells best etc. So we go in and they only had 2 or 3 Organ Chain books and that's it. He talked to a couple of different clerks asking about books until one said there were a stack of primary piano books behind the counter. maybe 10 books. They said they had to keep them there because they sell out so quickly. So he told them he was Brent Jorgensen and they got all excited and said they couldn't keep his books in, they sell so quickly. I just laughed... Brent is just Brent.

Then we went back to the Temple because now it was super sunny and all my other pictures had massive clouds behind the Temple. I took a picture similar to the one here of the Temple.

We headed to the coast. Brent wanted to go through a forest (I didn't get any pictures we couldn't see the forest for the trees, n open over looking places just down in the forest). It was a beautiful drive, their pine trees are gorgeous and I loved looking at them. By the time we got to the coast it was very overcast. It took us about 30 minutes to find public access to the beach. I got a couple of pictures. The ocean was raging and with the heavy overcast looking toward the sun it all looked golden. Not the yellow gold but a very light cream gold, and very shimmery. I am hoping that my camera captured the color, it was beautiful, but very ominous.

We went north up the coast. There are a lot of small towns along the coast and most are farming towns. I would crack up over and over again as we would see just these beautiful farms with houses far apart then come around the corner to see huge factories, they seemed so out of place. Then it would go back to farms again for miles.

Tillamook was a larger town that had several factories. That is were they make Tillamook cheese. We went to their factory

and were sad because we got there at 5:30 and they closed at 6 pm so we had to really rush through it. I really enjoyed the self tour and wished we would have got there earlier because it was super interesting. But it is what it is. We bought some cheese, ice cream, fudge and my favorite soft cream caramel's that were to die for. Sorry I didn't know they were so good until I got back to our hotel room and ate one or I would have got some for everyone!!!

Then we went back to our hotel and got in about 8:40 so I started to watch the season premiere of Survivor but fell asleep around 9:15 from pure exhaustion from such a long but wonderful day.

Oregon

2008-09-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

I am off to Oregon for work, and fun. Mostly work but am hoping to get some scenic pictures while I am there. Brent made me get up at 4 freaking am... argh.... just to wait at the airport an hour and a half. Oh well as Lindsay and I always say, "at least we are in good company".

Note to self: check weather yourself before you get to the airport, I would have brought something warmer to wear. Nights are in the upper 40's so I won't be out at night... LOL

Joseph's 1st Parent Teacher Conference

2008-09-23T23:41:00.000-07:00

So my baby that has started school is doing well. I used to dread parent teacher conferences with my other kids. With 5 in school there was always at least one really bad report and a couple of not so good ones. Today was different. His teacher called him a genius at least twice, he had the highest scores he could get on everything and she said he and Jocey are a joy to have in class. She said that she has to be careful of how she corrects baby J because he is a perfectionist and becomes on the verge of tears if he does anything even slightly wrong. She also said he is shy and she tries to call on him quickly if he raises his hand because he doesn't raise it very often. I am so proud of the little guy I could bust!! He is such a great son. I feel so blessed!

I Just Felll Head Over Heals In LOVE!!

2008-09-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

I want this so bad!! I am so in love with it!!! Just think of what I could do if I had such a beauty in my life!!!

21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion (16,384 colors/each of 3 primary color), wide range ISO setting of 100-6400 (expandable L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600).
Full HD Video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution for up to 4GB per clip with HDMI output for HD viewing of stills and video.
Next generation DIGIC 4 Image Processor for faster processing of fine detail and color reproduction as well as reduced image noise.
High performance with 3.9 fps continuous shooting, new shutter with a durability of 150,000 cycles and improved weather-resistant body.
Live View Function for stills (Quick, Live and Face Detection AF modes) and video.
3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) monitor with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings for improved viewing and smudge protection.
Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System specifically designed to work with a full-frame sensor.
Compatible with over 60 Canon EF Lenses and most EOS System accessories.
Highest ISO Range to Date.21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion (16,384 colors/each of 3 primary color), wide range ISO setting of 100-6400 (expandable L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600).
The EOS 5D Mark II features a huge, full-frame sensor. A 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor delivers images of up to 5616 x 3744 pixels. And since it is full-frame, all lenses will deliver the angle of view they would on a 35mm camera without a conversion factor. This comes in handy especially when shooting with wide-angle lenses. For the flexibility to shoot in even the most dimly lit situations, the EOS 5D Mark II offers Canon's highest ISO sensitivity to date, ranging from 100-6400 (expandable to ISO L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600). Thanks to improved noise reduction technologies, images shot even at highest sensitivity will be remarkably smooth.

Now I Just have to figure out how to pay for it!!

Never Too Young

2008-09-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

I guess you are never to young to find fault with yourself.

I think when ever most of us see a picture of ourselves we find something wrong with it.

My 5 year old took one look at his picture and said, "my teeth aren't loose they just look funny" He was referring to the gap between all of his teeth. I explained to him that there is just extra room so when his big teeth come in there will be room for them.

He is way too cute to start this so young.

I guess he comes by it naturally, the first thing I noticed when I saw his picture was the dirt on his face and thought I should have washed his face before I got the camera out... and then I thought I should photoshop it out... he is cute, a little dirt never hurt anyone.

Amazing

2008-09-20T23:35:00.001-07:00

So I am probably just easily impressed but anyone that has been at my house in the last month will understand. My darling grand kids took it upon themselves to destroy my curtains. They pulled down half of the curtain that is attached to the ceiling and the rod was bent down at a 45 degree angle.

My wonderful father in law with the help of my sweet husband came over today and pulled the whole thing down fixed the rod took all the broken pieces off and replaced them. My mother in law sewed the tops where the kids unpleated it when they pulled it down. So I now have brand newly constructed curtains and no longer have to be embarrassed to have people come over. I also don't have to use the giant clip to hold the curtain closed any more. Yea!!

lone flower

2008-09-19T22:56:00.001-07:00

lone flower
Originally uploaded by Debe

Just Trying out something else.

Just trying to figure this whole thing out

2008-09-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

Blogging could be fun if I could figure out how to make it do what I want. So I am just making a post to see what I can figure out for myself. This is a picture I took last Sept. while I was in Alaska.

This is really bad that it is actually easier for me to figure all of this out in the HTML side of things. But now that I am thinking about Alaska I couldn't help but to remember how pretty the fall colors were there!

Brent's Surprise Party

2008-09-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

For Brent's 50th birthday I decided to have a surprise party. I told him this elaborate lie, something about one of our good friends son (that is going on a mission) was having to get married. It just so happened that it was going to be on Brent's birthday and I couldn't do anything about it. I was the perfect ruse because Brent knew Janie would be all upset and need to do lots of phone calls talking about this horrid happening (anytime ANYONE called about the party I told him it was Janie and Brent would tell me to take all the time I needed talking to her and completely understood we needed to talk privately and he didn't mind me leaving the room to talk to her) The party was actually a concert of his music. He writes, arranges and composes church music. So we had 15 songs sung by wonderful singers or played by wonderful violinists. It was an incredible evening. The party was a complete surprise to Brent!
He got to the church and the parking lot was full of cars (which fit for the wedding) then he came into the building and saw Janie in the kitchen and said hi to her. He said as he was walking down the hall he thought it was odd she was in the kitchen but by then he was too busy trying to figure out why I was standing by the chapel and was wondering what was going on in there. By this time he began to wonder why the organ was playing at wedding reception. When he got to me I handed him a program and he got this super confused look on his face. I told him, "Happy Birthday". He was still standing there looking confused so I told him to follow me.

People on the stand said they could see the confusion on his face and see the wheels spinning. He said as he walked into the chapel (we had the concert in the chapel, it was very much like a fireside, prayers and all) he realized that all these people (125-130 people) were there for him. It wasn't until he sat down and looked at the program that he realized that it was a concert of his music. At that point emotions took over and I have never seen him so happy. He said now he knows what it would be like to attend his own funeral.

The cake was BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you Janie!! It was also delicious, yummy and probably the best tasting cake I have ever eaten!! I know who I am paying to make every cake from now on!

Hmmmm... I have to start somewhere

2008-09-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

So this is my starting post. Not that I have time to blog but my friends make it look way too fun!