early morning stroll in paris

hey gid.

I knew it was asking a lot to wake up at 5:30 so we could take pictures, but you went along with it anyway. You even put on an especially nice outfit. I didn't even have to ask. 

Cloudy with on and off showers,

...and the occasional stray dog looking for a photo op.

Waking up early when you're already jet lagged is no fun, but having pictures without crowds of people in the background is worth it to me. I'm lucky that it's worth it to you too.

Now I just have to sort through the pictures we took and find the perfect one (two, three, four... ugh, eighteen) to frame.

And I've got you to thank for that. So thank you for the early drizzly morning. Thank you for such an unforgettable trip. And thank you for being my very best boy in the whole world. I love you with everything I've got.

ps- thank you also for taking some really special shots of me on the trip.
Its nice to not always be the one behind the camera. 

lock on a bridge

dear rain, 

We woke up to your dreariness on our last day in paris. And while

the white covers of our warm bed begged us to stay, 

there was just one more thing I really wanted to do before we left the city of lights. 

I knew a thousand other people would be doing the same thing, and that we probably wouldn't be able to get in even one decent picture, but I knew I'd regret it if we didn't at least try. 

Your morning drizzle was hardly noticeable until it transformed into an afternoon downpour as we got on the bus to our destination. I tried to think of you as romantic ("paris in the rain" swoon), but inwardly I scowled, wishing you would have come the day after, when we would be gone. The usually crowded streets emptied- tourists and locals dodging into shops and cafes to avoid you.

When we got off of the bus, you were still determined. It was cold, and so wet. My feet and lower legs were completely drenched; I might as well have been playing in a splash park in february. But after we got off, and began walking the 2 minute journey to the bridge, we realized your downpour had dissolved into a much friendlier sprinkle. 

You had softened, but the normal crowds had completely vanished. 

With the exception of maybe 2 or 3 couples, the bridge was exclusively ours. 

I like to think that you brought yourself just for us, rain. That you intentionally came on our last day in a heavy downpour so that for just a few minutes, we could create memories that would last the rest of our lives with a small amount of privacy.

I know the love lock bridge is a tourist trap, and the notion of a rainy day in paris probably sounds horribly cliche and overly romantic to a lot of people. 

But I'll never forget it as long as I live. 

And I think it was you that made it the perfect day, rain. (Well, you and the fact that we were in paris…) 

So thank you. 

Sorry I ever doubted you. 

ps- here's a link to a short video I made of our time on the bridge friends. xo

about love.

Hi, friends. 

Goodness, it's been an exhausting couple of days.

You know after finals how your body crashes? 

Mine has been on crash mode for what has seemed like an eternity.

  

This weekend I photographed the most lovely wedding, and as Gid and I drove up the beautiful idaho highway, I couldn't help but be grateful for him. Grateful for his support through the last year of school, grateful for his wise cracks when I'm feeling sorry for myself, and above all- grateful for his open arms ready and happy to take me in at any moment.

Gid had informed me that we'd be staying at a local motel the night before the wedding, and as we drove into the city, I looked it up on my iphone (he seemed to not really be sure where we were- so I was tryyying to help). I told him exactly the direction we needed to go, and even showed him the gps, but he wasn't showing much interest.

Finally he pulled into the driveway of the sweetest little bed and breakfast I'd ever seen. The sun was setting and cast this perfect  inviting glow on the lovely cottage. Gid smiled his warm smile, and I immediately knew that he'd made a surprise reservation.

I asked him what the occasion was (we don't usually stay at fancy places- especially if we're there for someone else), and his simple response was that we needed something special; a treat for finishing the first year of graduate school in one piece. (Barely.)

How I love him.

We had the most lovely stay. In fact, we had the place to ourselves. Terrific luck- the place was completely booked the night before and the night after- but the one night we stayed- it was just us.

 (the first course of our breakfast-- I didn't get a picture of the next one because I gobbled it up as fast as possible...)

Just what I needed after a crazy semester and right before a wedding job.

Often during weekends like these memories of my own wedding come sweeping in. As I photograph a beautiful bride getting ready, somehow I get transported back to the morning of my own wedding-- the present me staring (still holding a camera) at a younger version of myself applying mascara years ago on my wedding day. 

Goodness, how nervous I was.

I remember shaking. 

Being nauseous. 

Terrified and dreadfully excited all together.

As scared as I was to get married, loosing gideon was simply not an option. I'd decided I never wanted to say goodbye to him, and my mind was absolutely made. Thank goodness I snagged him when I did.

I was thinking about something while I photographed this wedding, friends. You know how sometimes when spouses get into fights something you often hear is, "he's just not the man I married..." or "I've fallen out of love with him..."?

As I look at Gid- I'm noticing more and more he's not quite the man I married. There are subtle differences that have developed over the last 2 1/2 years.

More tenderness in his eyes. 

Longer hugs. An incredible ability to listen, and to understand.

Also- He's gotten significantly funnier.

Oh- and I think he's gotten foxier.

I'm not sure the man I married would have booked the sweetest little bed and breakfast in idaho last minute just as a special treat. (Or would he have?)

I guess what I'm saying is that I love my husband more and more every day. 

Which means I'm not the girl he married either. 

At least I hope not. 

I hope I'm gaining the same qualities and characteristics he is.

Falling in love with him more and more every day.

just happy.

Two giants of the workplace left their respective offices last week friends: 

The first was michael scott of Dunder Mifflin/ Sabre. 

The second was myself.

In preparation for my graduate school adventure, I left the office reception position that I've held for over a year. Before I got my acceptance letter, I imagined I'd be so happy to leave; not because it's a bad job- it's a great job- but because instead of worrying about work, I'd be looking forward to a new adventure. And at first, I was so excited to be moving on, but the closer and closer it got to my last day, the more bummed I got, and the more second thoughts came crawling into my head. Boise has been so kind to gid and I. We both have (I guess had) great jobs a spectacular ward, and my favorite apartment I've ever had for super cheap. 

Today is the first day that I haven't been employed in a long time (not including my photography, which actually is fairly consistent), and I anticipated myself being depressed, feeling totally unproductive and worthless; eating ice cream and peeps in my underwear in front of a book, or worse internet TV. Although that wasn't too far from what really occurred, I'm pleased to announce that today has been nothing short of 

phenomenal.

Things that I've done today:

-skyped with my best friend in the world (highlight of my week)

-laundry which makes our house smell fresh and clean

-a bit of spring cleaning

-washed the dishes

-unloaded the dishwasher

-yoga & pilates with Jillian and Bob.

-listened to a few conference talks

-got dinner started.

-took out the trash.

-tried on my wedding dress just because (vintage stunning amazingness)

-edited over 300 images (about time)

-scheduled 2 more photoshoots

-talked on the phone with another friend as well as my mom and sister.

-fine tuned some travel plans for Texas next week.

-ate peeps and ice cream while in a bathrobe (better than just underwear, right??).

And it's only 3:30, Friends!!!!

There's no way I could have ever got so much done on a regular monday with my office responsibilities. I know I didn't earn a paycheck today, but I feel like I've gotten so much accomplished. More importantly, I'm feeling happier than I've felt in a long time. The reality of going to graduate school in a program I've been wanting to be a part of for years now is finally starting to set in, and I'm just so happy about it.

Thats all, friends. I wish you a lovely day.

confession time.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

(Ahem) 

Ok. Confession time. I have a few secrets to let you all in on. 

Confession #1: 

One of the reasons I've been taking dance classes at BSU is because I've been preparing for an audition.

Confession #2: 

I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to add too much pressure on myself. There's nothing like having to tell all of your friends and family when you've been rejected. (Frowny Face.) 

I wanted to avoid that situation if at all possible.

Confession #3:

I auditioned for the Graduate Modern Dance Program at the University of Utah on March 11th.

Confession #4:

 I got my letter in the mail 10 days later. 

{Gid woke me up at 7:30 in the morning to tell me the news, and I ran out to the mailbox (half asleep and in my pajamas), grabbed the letter stared at it for about 3 minutes. After letting my heart calm down a little, I opened it (as gideon video taped me like a proud grandfather).}

Confession #5: 

I was accepted. 

{Exclamation Mark.}

Confession #6: 

That's not all. 

{Exclamation Mark. Exclamation Mark.}

Confession #7: 

I was selected to receive a full scholarship for the Integrated Movement Studies Program. 

{Exclamation Mark. Exclamation Mark. Exclamation Mark.}

Confession #8: 

That means I start my studies in Salt Lake City in June. 

{You read that right. June. As in 12 weeks from NOW.}

Confession #9: 

I cried just a teensy bit when I opened the letter; I'm so excited I can hardly breathe.

So there it is, friends! Our lives are taking an entirely different turn and we can hardly wait. Gid and I are going to miss our boise family that we've developed over the past 2 years, but we look forward to starting this new season of excitement soon.

Confession #10:

 I have the best husband in the world, and I love him more than anything.
{But that's not really a confession as much as a statement.}

At first I really didn't want Gid to video my opening of the letter, but I'm really happy that we can share it with close friends and especially family (especially you, mom). I'd like to put in a formal disclaimer that I literally had just woken up (you can tell which side of my head I was sleeping on) and made no effort whatsoever to get ready because the only thing in the world I was interested in at this moment was the contents of this letter.

Enjoy, friends.

ps- isn't it sweet how excited gideon is? 
I know it sounds like he's more excited than me, but we're actually equally excited. 
He was just more awake than I was.

moment.

I think there come pivitol moments in everyones life where you take a look.

A look at exactly where you are standing
(or perhaps, if you are at your computer, sitting).

A look at where you are,

where you've been,

 and where you've found you're going,

and all of a sudden, you think to yourself,

"of course."

And all of a sudden as if it were magic, just for a moment, everything makes sense.
And you realize you'd do everything exactly the same
to find yourself in the exact place you are

 right now.

All the heartbreak, the frustration, the ups and downs brought you to where you stand at this very moment. And because it's so clear that this path was better than anything you could have imagined, you vow to never question the Master, and His plan for you again.

But, if you're at all human, you probably will.

And so the process begins again.

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?

-Alma 5:15

Happy Thursday, Friends.