Every week, for two years, my youngest little guy has been going to preschool.  Over these two years, the teachers have changed, some of our little routines have changed, his clothes have gotten smaller (because it COULDN’T be that he is getting bigger), and I truly have just basked in it all.  I love dropping him off.  Not because I’m glad to get rid of him, but I love how regular it is.  I really love our routine.  I feel like it’s a sweet and loving routine, and I love how stable it is.  In lives that can get so chaotic, routines can help center us, and for me, the whole preschool routine is very calming.  Very centering.  I know I’ll miss it.

This weekend, he graduates.  And over the past couple of weeks, as I have pondered this momentous occasion, I have realized how much I will miss our little routine.  Just the regularity of it all.  For most of this year, this has been our routine:

Don’t step on the cracks.But, Mommy, if you do, it’s okay.  You can step on them twice.  And that will give you power.

I love that he gives his mama and himself the okay to make mistakes.  We all could learn from that: mistakes can give you power, if you’re willing to learn from them.

Once inside, he puts away his lunch box, his stuffed animal, and collects any artwork that has made its way into his cubby.

Then he signs in.  Every time, I tell him what day it is: “It’s T-T-T-Tuesday.”  “It’s Th-Th-Th-Thursday.”  And then he figures out where to sign his name. These pictures were taken on three different days.  But the routine is always there.  Always the same.And then his best friend comes over, hugs me, attacks me, tells me a something important, and the two get silly.

As I prepare to go, I need a lot of loving.  A lot.  This is best accomplished by telling him that he had better NOT HUG ME.

My son, such the rebel.  We kiss and hug, snuggle and giggle.

I seriously love it.

Then, he goes to the window to watch me go.

Every time.

I love it.Sometimes he gets lost in looking at the artwork hanging to dry or finds something to play with.

I’m seriously just dying.  I love his curiosity and lust for life so.dang.much.

Sometimes, his friend comes over to say goodbye too.Aren’t they perfect?As I drive away, I wave goodbye, my heart does a little smile, and I call my mom as I drive to work.

It’s always the same.

It’s my routine.  And I love it.I invite you to take a look at the routines in your life.  Pick up your camera and take some pictures to help keep those memories  alive.  This routine will end, and new ones will replace it.  And those routines will be special too.  But for me, THIS routine, has been nothing short of magical.  I know there will come a day where he will run off as soon as I drop him off.  He won’t linger to wave goodbye.  He will definitely not be interested in hugging and kissing me, ESPECIALLY in front of his friends, and very likely, his friends will have no interest in hugging me either.

My boy will grow up.

But maybe if I just keep not stepping on those cracks, he’ll stay my little boy just a little bit longer….…

I am blessed. Very very very very blessed. I have a wonderful family, wonderful children, a loving husband, and a passion for photography that brings me a lot of joy. And I just got even more blessed by being the recipient of an incredibly generous gift.

My mom’s friend recently saw a blog post about my mom. If you missed it, you can read it HERE. Well, he liked what he saw and thought I had a good eye and ability to capture true emotion.  SUCH a compliment and something I definitely strive for in my images.  Well, this guy liked it so much, he decided to give me his studio lights that he no longer uses.  He gave me 3 alien bees (those are lights), 3 light stands, a case to carry all the lights, a backdrop stand, triggers, lots of backdrops, and a new belief in the kindness and generosity of mankind.  I was floored, honored, and a bit scared that I wouldn’t be able to do anything very special with these lights.

I have been a natural light girl.  Only.  I didn’t even own a flash until very recently and still need to tackle how to use that thing.  What was a natural light photographer going to do with studio lights?

Well, I certainly didn’t want to disappoint the guy by not putting the lights to work, so I got started.

And here we have it.  My first image.  And can you believe it?  It’s my OPUS.

Bwahahahhaaaaaaaaa!!!!  Get it?  My Opus?  Teeeee heeeeee heeeee…..  There’s problems with this picture, for sure.  The first one being that my shutter speed was too high and I didn’t even expose the bottom half of the image, hence the loss of Opus’ feet.  But, I still love it.  Cuz it’s my first picture.

And then, later in that session, I got this of my husband.  My hunkahunka husband. 

This was gonna be fun.

Next try, I got close to what I wanted, but not exactly.  Note to self: black stool on black background makes child float.

So, I tried again.  BINGO!

And, so the journey has begun.  I still have a lot to learn, but I am determined to make my friend’s mom proud.

I am determined to not waste the gift.

None of us should waste the gift.  Whatever that gift may be.

And if I can not waste the gift at the same time that I have some fun, then hey, I’m doing something right.

…

To apply, please do the following:
1) jump up and down and scream “what an AMAZING opportunity!!!!”
2) catch your breath
3) fill out this form right HERE
4) cross your fingers and say “ooooooh, I hope I get chosen!”

I will let you know by March 29 if you have been accepted.  If you don’t hear from me, then I am sorry, but the position has been filled!  Thank you so much for your interest.

Oh, and the “high school senior” is in quotes, because we are just looking for someone that could “pass” for a senior. 

I am SO excited to be able to offer this amazing opportunity!  Please help us find some amazing models by applying and spreading the word!  Free photos don’t come along all that often, and I’m telling you, I KNOW they’ll all be AMAZING!…