Santa is on His Way

This past week I was driving through a neighborhood and saw some of Santa's spies lurking around San Antonio. I know they are spying and trying to find out if we have been naughty or nice. I personally think that I have been nice..."Santa, did you hear that?". In San Antonio, we have white tail deer everywhere, in fact some San Antonian's hate them because they eat up all vegetation. My yard is deer free thanks to our neighborhood brick wall and gate (if deer want to get in they have to punch in a code ;)

However, I am willing to give the code...if they are working for Santa.

A Treasure

A treasure can take many forms. This past week I have found many treasures. Unexpectently, I had to go back "home" to New Mexico this past week to be with family. My dear aunt Dodie was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma and immediately left our arms for the arms of our Lord. She is a treasure.

The love my dad has for this person... his sister, his friend, and in sorts, his mother figure, compares to none. The love they shared is a treasure.

The warm welcoming and love my aunts, uncles, grandpa, cousins, and wela bestowed upon me was so genuine. It seemed as if time has stood still for the last 20 years, as if I had never left. That is a treasure.

The warmth of my grandma's hand and the smell of her beautiful jet black hair as she lay and take a nap. Her small body and big heart is such a treasure.

The pictures that had been tucked away in a box that I never knew existed, is a treasure. My dad realized that I have become a photographer/historian. I realize that time stops for nobody and all we have are those precious preserved memories. I think that is why I am such a perfectionist when it comes to my photography work, because I want my clients to embrace those memories and leave a legacy or a "treasure" for the day that one realizes that time can stop if you allow it....in a magical portrait image. The pictures shared with me this past week, are a treasure. This picture is a tribute to my aunt Dodie, who helped teach me the importance of family, love, and God. You are a treasure in my heart and I will miss you.

A picture taken, in my grandmother's writing..... "Christmas Eve, December 24, 1955". I am a better person because of you.... grandma....grandpa....dad....doy....and lando..... each of you are my treasure.

Special Heart Footprints

Great friends happen to come into our lives every now and then.  They tend to leave a special imprint on our hearts that last forever.  This year marks the 18th year of having a special person like that in my life, she is my best friend.  We have lived through final exams, mud puppy, lamprey, cat, and shark dissections in college, marriage, divorce, graduate school, childbirth, etc.  We have shared so much with one another.  We are alike, yet so different.  I love that in my friends.  They help complete who I am as a human being,  they give me that "something" that the good Lord did not provide in me.  Allison....thank you for taking time out of your life to come visit me this past week and add you dash of "life spice" to mine.  Together we are quite the recipe.  

Santa's Little Helper

Christmas photo sessions are well underway, in fact, only 2 more weekends of photoshoots left. Oh, yeah, and I guess I should fit my family and my camera self timer in to take our own Christmas card...dang...forgot all about that. Thanks for the reminder dear bloggie.

This little angel was a favorite. She is super duper cute and her sister, mommy, and daddy are just as gorgeous. This little one was so easy going and let me snap as many pictures of her as I wanted, ummmmm....I love it. Mom and dad were so easy going with their kiddos, truly an amazing family. Thanks Reifenberg family for letting me capture some images for you and your angels who could easily be Santa's little helpers, they are so dang cute in their red holiday dresses!

Bye....Bye...Birdie

Another day to give "Thanks" has passed us by. All day I talked about how many blessings I have in my life... my family, my friends, my job, my new found friends/clients, my internet friends (i.e.  momology) , the blogs I like to stalk (Jasmine Star), my MAC and even my other MAC, my health, my.... the list goes on and on. As I get older I am more aware of how thankful we should be for everything, things I always took for granted.

This Thanksgiving was wonderful because we had family and long time friends visit. I cooked up a turkey feast for my visiting queens and kings. I hope they enjoyed. For a first time this year I used one of those "turkey bags" and yum-to-the-O. Delish! The little guy even browned in the bag!

So this is what is left after the pumpkin and pecan pie is gone and all the turkey taquitos were made the following day.... bye bye mister birdie...until next year.

I hope your family had a wonderful and blessed feast!