BitterSweet

I just tucked my three little ones in bed for what is the last time in the only home they have ever known. The movers will be here on Thursday morning, and early next week we fly to Phoenix. I guess I'm feeling a little sad.

We moved into this house exactly nine years ago, in July of 2000. It was the biggest house that I had ever lived in, the first two-story, the first home that I owned, and almost too good to be true. Even so, it was supposed to be a temporary home, a two year pitstop, while we built our "real" home on some land that we had purchased in Bulverde. But while we were busy making those plans real life happened, and the dream house was set aside. The land was sold. The house plan books put away and forgotten.

Our "roomy house for three" became "comfortable for four," when G was born. T followed a year later, making it a bit tight, and finally M came along. Our house is now bursting at the seams with all of us. It is, after all, only a 3 bedroom home. And do I have to spell it out? There are SIX of us! We really need to get out of here.

I've been dreaming of getting out of this house for eons, but for the last few days, as I've packed and organized for the move, I'm feeling nostalgic. My oldest daughter has gone to school with the same kids since 1st grade. The other three have never lived anywhere else. And my youngest child was born right here, in my bedroom, with an amazing midwife and my best friend Carrie at my side. I think that single event has tied me to this house more than any other. Weird, considering I have absolutely no similar feelings for the hospitals where my other children were born.

This is turning out to be harder than I planned. What if I don't like Phoenix? What if I can't make any friends, or if the kids can't? What if there are bugs or snakes or scorpions or some other gawd-awful creatures in our new house? I worry that I won't have a neighbor to borrow things from, like I have in my next-door-neighbor Cindy. Or someone to call to watch my kids for a few minutes, like I have in Ashley, Judy, or Cindy. What if there aren't any kids on our new street, and the neighbors don't like for my kids to play outside on their bikes? What if...

I have worse fears, but I can't voice them (knock on wood for even thinking them).

Change is just so scary. But at the bottom of everything, I know that this is a good move for us, for our family. I'm super excited about our new house, and looking forward to cutting a new path in my jello.

And of course I know that we can always come back home if we don't like it there.

The pictures below are random images from the past few years. I'm looking forward to getting more, during the next few.

I ♥ Feet

The image below is my entry for the I ♥ Faces contest, which this week is focused on feet!



Yes, you've seen this one before, but its one of my favorites, and I thought it might do for the contest. I encourage everyone to check out I ♥ Faces , and start entering images. You don't have to be a pro, ya know!

Love this!

My friend April sent this to me tonight in an email. I almost forwarded it to my friends, but the list got too long so I'm sharing it here:

45 lessons life taught me (Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio)

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written." "My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Happy Independance Day!

We had an All-American kinda day yesterday, starting with a Red, White and Blue parade, then swimming and a backyard BBQ, and ending with watermellon and sparklers. Perfect in every way.






How was yours?

we found THE HOUSE

I'm in love...our new home in Phoenix has everything I was looking for-lots of open space, interesting architecture, wood floors, a huge swimming pool and spa, and IT SITS RIGHT ON A LAKE WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN! Can you imagine? I've been humming the song "Ocean Front Property in Arizona" for days now.

The neighborhood is called The Islands, and it is a gorgeous little piece of paradise in Gilbert, a suburb (I think) of Phoenix.

We found out today that our offer was accepted, and so we are planning to move in two weeks. Can you hear the smile behind my words? I am looking forward to this more than I can say.

I got a few images from the internet of the neighborhood and our house. I hope this isn't the most boring blog post of all time, but I can't wait to show these to everyone:
This is the neighborhood entrance. Very beachy.



This image is of the lake, from a public road:


And here is our house:


The view from the front door:


This is the cozy family room. Well, it will be cozy by the time I'm finished with it!


This image was taken from the house across the water from ours. Our backyard is the one on the right:


A gorgeous image of the Arizona sunset:


As I said, I didn't take any of these pictures so I don't think I'll leave this post here for long-I just wanted to share. Hopefully I'll have some images of my own to post pretty soon!

Charts and Checks- an update on our move.

In case anyone is wondering, I am STILL in San Antonio. Nope, we haven't moved yet, and although I've been saying this for four months now, we expect to move in about a month-at this time it looks like it will be sometime around the 15th of July.

I've become completly obsessed with house hunting. As anyone who knows me for even an hour can tell you, I am ready to get out of this house that we outgrew 3 kids ago, and the reality of finally getting a new home is HUGE to me. So I spend hour after hour researching our new destination of Phoenix AZ. Phoenix is enormous, and when I first started my search I had no idea of where to look. Where are the desirable areas? Which schools should we avoid? What are the neighborhoods like? I have so many questions!

Luckily, I have a couple of friends to steer me in the right direction, as well as the fabulous internet. Suzi, one of my high school classmates, lives there and she has been key in helping me narrow down the search. She also hooked me up with a great realtor named Jeff Duncan. I haven't met him face to face yet, but so far he has been incredibly personable and helpful, and I can tell that he is committed to helping us find the house that will be our home.

I'll be going on a house hunting trip very soon, with the intention of securing a house in only two days. Oh my gosh I'm so excited! I'm the kind of person who house hunts for no reason-I drive neighborhoods, stop in at open-houses, and generally window shop even when we have no plans to move. The idea of actually looking to find one is like going to Disney World for me, and I am 100% prepared. I have charts and maps, color-coded and organized to perfection:







So far, there hasn't been a single house that is perfect in every way. If it has all the features we want, it is out of our price range. Of those we can afford, we will have to give something up, something important like the number of bedrooms or bathrooms (critical with a family of 6), or the distance Chip will have to drive to work, or grass in the backyard (can you believe many houses don't have ANY? It's the desert, ya know).

And now I'm terrified that one of my top picks will be taken before I can get there. Terrified is not too strong a word, either, as evidenced by my obsessive computer checks every hour to make sure they are all still activly listed. We just lost one yesterday. I mourned the loss of my possible home. There is, however, a silver lining-new houses get added every day as well.

In fact, I think I'll check in now...because you never know!

The Mud Monsters

Last night while digging around my newly built computer, and attempting to restore some order to my mixed-up file system, I came across some images I snapped my my kids on Memorial Day. We were at my in-laws house, preparing for a great day of fun and sun, when the sky opened up and POURED rain for about 20 minutes, leaving a lake of water standing on the lawn.

I was inside during the storm, trying to have a conversation over the thunder and rain. My in-laws live in an apartment that they have built in their airplane hangar, and the sound of the rain hitting the metal roof is louder than you can imagine.

When I ventured outside to check on the guys and kids, my husband informed me that he told the kids it would be OK if they got their feet wet.

As I soon discovered, this is his idea of "wet feet":


Oh, how I love this photo:

My son G is almost impossible to photograph without a surly expression, but he was so happy to be wallowing in the mud that he couldn't contain his joy. Gotcha!

The is T, and yes, he frequently looks like this:

M-sweet as usual:

Another fav, even though he is filthy. I don't think I'd recognize him all cleaned up anyway. G is all boy:


Believe it or not, I don't take as many pictures of my kids as I should. I am trying hard to change that situation!

Published in Design Aglow!

I am completly thrilled to have my marketing tip published in Design Aglow Magazine! It is a photography trade magazine that I happen to love, and on their blog a few weeks ago they requested that readers submit their "Dirty Little Secrets" about how they do something within their business, so I sent one in right away.

(Mindy, if you are reading this, M's picture is featured as well and it looks fantastic!)

For my submission, I recieved a free copy of the latest digital edition, a value of $30. I've already torn through the entire thing, and plan to go back over it again this evening. I highly recommend it for photographers!

Gone Fishin'

I have to apologize for the terrible neglect I've given to my blog in the past weeks. Its a crying shame, and completly ironic, that when life gets busy and I have a zillion topics I want to share, I can't find the time to share them. From the insane baseball schedule at the end of the season, to the last weeks of school with parties and slideshows to create, then my computer crash, and now fighting with the kids for computer time, it seems like I need a work vacation so that I can get some things done.

Just me and my computer for a week or two, now THAT would be heaven!

Several weeks ago, I headed out to Landa Park in New Braunfels to photograph a couple of boys that I've known since they were itty-bitty. This is was my third session with them, and they just get cuter and more adorable as they grow.

I mentioned some time back that I was planning a "Gone Fishin'" mini-session, and Andrea jumped at the chance to book one for her boys. Check them out:












Guys, you were absolutely wonderful and so much fun. Thanks for a great morning!

Computer Issues

Last week, during what was already one of the worst days I've ever had, my computer crashed. I think it caught the swine flu. It is now fixed, mostly, but I am in middle of a long and frustrating process of reloading all of my programs to my newly rebuilt computer.

It ain't going so well.

I am thus far unable to check my Ever After email address, edit photos or create slideshows. I think things will be at 100% in the next few days, but I'm asking those of you who are waiting on your images and slideshows to please wait just a bit longer. Also, please email me at my personal address-LeahGodfredson(at)AOL(dot)com.
(Sorry to type it so cryptically, but I'm not interested in getting more spam than I already do.)

The kids are home for summer vacation, and so are also vying for my attention. God knows why, but they expect me to feed them.

When things are back to normal, you'll be the first to know.

Peace!