Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks...

I'm praying that everyone's Thanksgiving was a beautiful one :)

Mine didn't quit turn out the way I had planned unfortunately.  Got sick (possibly bronchitis), BEYOND major traffic to see the in-laws, haven't really slept much for the last few days (cuz I got sick), missed Black Friday with my girl (cuz I got sick), my girl got her heart broken (which in turn broke mine), and I couldn't even hardly taste the turkey (cuz I got sick).

BUT!!!  I sit here tonight, looking at all that has happened, choosing to let go, choosing to forgive, getting better and most of all giving thanks because God has answered a big HUGE prayer of mine!  He is faithful and He cares.  I'm so grateful that I am "worth more than many sparrows".

(Luke 12:6,7)

Happy Fall Everyone!

Finally Fall and a Few of My Own....

It feels like an eternity since I shot anything for myself and blogged anything for myself.  I've missed my photog walks.  The weather here has been so horrrid, dry and crackly dead that I have been rather amiss in my desire to even enter the abyss know as "Texas Summer".

We have finally gotten some drenching, refreshing rain and along with it, some glorious temps!  It's finally fall :D

One of my favorite things about this time of year is our local pumpkin patch, "Sweet Berry Farm".  This is a simply glorious place to do family photos.  In the fall, they have beautiful patches of zinnias to pick, pumpkins to buy and paint, haystacks and goats, and the fav.... face painting!  My daughter enjoys this job and does a fabulous job.  She and the other facepainters she works with get to paint each other to show off their talents to the hundreds of parents and children that visit.

I blogged about one of my all time favorite designs Hannah showed up with one year, here.  Today she came home with some asian symbols and I just had to take some pics :)  Finally!  I shot something for me and actually blogged it the same day!!!  Shock of all shocks, I know.  It sure feels good :D

(Courage, Love, Dream)

Sunsets and a slap on the hand.

Well, I did it again.  I left the camera at home.  I don't know why I do that but I do.  I guess I don't want to be known as "the photographer" all the time.  I don't want to seem reclusive when I'm at functions.  It's all too easy to hide behind that piece of equipment, also known as my added appendage.  I want my family to know that it's not all about getting "the pic" for me.  It's about them... too :)

Well, tonight I went with my hubby to the BIA (Builders Industry Association) fall mixer.  We had a wonderful time chatting with other business owners and meeting new people.  We had the absolute BEST pizza I've EVER had, catered by JD's Brick Oven and some fabulouso margaritas!

Day was fading into night, my tummy was full, I was relaxed and happy.  I walked toward the glass doors leading out to the parking lot and what did I see?  Only the MOST stunning sunset I think I've ever witnessed!  I've been watching the sky, hopeful to find another sunset to at least match one I saw around this time last year.  Here it was!  It didn't match last year's, it FAR exceeded it!

The sky was ablaze in hues of florescent oranges, brilliant pinks, and shades of deep blue!  Guess what.  MY CAMERA was nestled cozily AT HOME!  Of course!  So yet again, here I wallow in the fact that I still haven't learned my lesson. 

I guess I can be grateful for cell phones,though sadly, they just DON'T do anything justice. This was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.  We left maybe five minutes after I got these shots.  Another ten minutes drive home and the sky was STILL on fire!  The string of clouds were a deep reddish orange and they stretched on for miles.  I've never seen a sunset last so long.  Not long enough for me to gather equipment, of course, but a site to remember none-the-less.  Another slap on the hand for me tonight.  Someday I'll get it through my head.  Someday.

NEVER leave home without it!!!

GRRRRRR!

Well, fall is upon us and I'm THRILLED! It's been an incredibly cool one temp-wise so far and that is the icing on the cake :D


Wanted to throw a little HOORAH! out to our local pumpkin patch, SWEET BERRY FARM..... They are fantastic and they have so much fall fun to offer the entire family!!!! I happen to know from personal experience that the face painters are INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!  They actually get trained to do this, it's not your average run of the mill school fall festival.  It's the real deal!


If you are looking for a wonderful place to take the kiddos, come on this way. Just a hint, if you plan on making it a weekend jaunt, you'll wanna be at the gate at least 20min before open on Sunday! Otherwise you just might be waiting in a loooooooooooong line just to GET to the gate :D

GRRRRRR!
Originally uploaded by bubbly b {Nouvelle Vie ♥ Photography}

To everything there is a season....

And I'm so glad!!!!!!  This was my type of morning!  I have been sick for the last week (ergo no posting, my bad) and I've still been pretty yucky. This morning, however, things are changing!  Today we got to experience the first, open the windows, take a DEEP breath, shiver, grab a sweater, the camera and the dog, and go on a photog walk with God, morning of fall.  It was FABULOUS!  My lungs felt better today than they have in a long time :)

Greg and I just got back from a very quick jaunt to Lubbock for my step-sis-in-law's wedding.  It was a harried weekend and I'm so pooped.  I got to shoot some of the wedding and that was great :)  (to be blogged later) but it was tough to do while feeling so awful.  Today, I get to rejoice and renew!  Breathing in the fresh air, counting my blessings and blogging while having a cup of Rooibos tea.  Happy GLORIOUS morning everyone!!!!

See ya Summer, it's finally FALL!

I'm attempting more changes with this blog and I don't know what the heck I'm doing!  I've now changed this blog to a larger format but lost my dashboard.  Talk about FREAK out moment!  I have gotten it back (obviously since I'm now writing this, lol!).  I just didn't realize that in order to become a photographer I was going to have to become a computer specialist as well.  The things God has me learn :)

Well the main reason for this blog isn't to scream about computer stuff, it's to celebrate the end of summer.  I'm not a huge fan of 100+ temps and 200% humidity ;)  I am however a HUGE fan of fall color, cool temps, pumpkin patches, and spicy scents.  I figured I'd celebrate by posting a few images from our summer.  Kinda killing two birds with one stone.  I am also entering a contest for a Tamron lens (cross your fingers!) titled, "Summertime Rituals", and these are my entries.

I figured I'd say my official "hallelujah!" to the beginning of fall....  "HALLELUJAH and THANK YOU JESUS!!!!"

We celebrated Em's 10th birthday back in May.  She decided she wanted a *SPLASHTACULAR Birthday* complete with a slip-n-slide, water balloons, races, and of course FOOD!  They had a fabulous time flying down the slide, and I had a BLAST capturing it, teehee!

Ahhhh, summertime picnics....  nothing like a romantic moment with muh hunny down by the lake around sunset.  I have to admit though, while my hunny WAS with me, he was there as my assistant, lol!   I actually took this for a sweet friend of mine for her wedding "Save the Date" cards :D  Truth, yeouch!

And the final entry, my precious man's FAVORITE food....  :)  This one's for you Greggy!

I can't believe it's been a year already.  I can't WAIT for fall!  We had such amazing color last year.  I'm praying He displays His glory even more fantastically this season :)