in 3D!

This weekend FLEW by – thanks to having Thursday off and then working on Friday. Friday night PM brought pizza and we watched movies like it was our JOB. We watched the old school BATMAN movie with Adam West and the POW! BANG! KERSPLOOSH! comments. We laughed and laughed – it was better than watching a recent comedy! Then we continued with the cheesiness theme and watched TREMORS! If you haven’t seen it – you should – it is full of cheesiness!

Then we decided to protect ourselves from a cheesiness induced coma and watch MI III – but I can no longer take Tom Cruise seriously – so more cheesiness.

Saturday we slept in a titch and watched LES MISERABLES in the morning with PM – not the musical edition – which I was a little bummed about – but it was good – I would love to see the musical now! My dad and Matt came over to journey with us and PM to Williamsport to watch BOLT in 3D! I had never seen a 3D movie – it was really cool! The glasses you had to buy were also pretty stylish!

We hit the mall and then a new 50’s style diner in Williamsport – which was really good – but way too quiet for my liking!

We came home and watched Meet the Robinsons with dad and Matt before they ventured back home.

A MOVIE MARATHON WEEKEND!

This morning I had a senior shoot in Wellsboro at the train station – in 18 degree weather – *S* was a CHAMP! The session took exactly an hour but there were no complaints about the cold whatsoever. *S* was my girl from GALETON – which is so cool that I am branched out that far – even if it is only 1 person so far!

I love doing senior sessions in the snow and am so glad that I had 2 this year!

Jared and I taught PowerKidz this morning since the other leaders were out of town – we helped them remember the 23rd Psalm – which they knew most of anyway – I was quite impressed!

Today Jared  and I cleaned up around the house in preparation for SCHRUTE and I read some of my book – CHANGE OF HEART – Jodi Picoult – so far so good!

This weekend is the EXPO at the  ARNOT MALL – so EXCITED and ANXIOUS! I will be going up with my dad on Thursday night to set up my booth and what not then staying with my parents Thursday and Friday night – coming back to Mansfield to stay Saturday night and then heading back up in the AM with my mom-in-law to come home later Sunday night.

MAKE SURE TO STOP IN AND SAY HELLO!

Friday 10 to 9.30

Saturday 10 to 9.30

Sunday 11 to 6

If you are a bride – I am giving away 4 free engagement sessions – so make sure you enter for those!

If you aren’t a bride – STOP IN AND SAY HELLO ANYWAY! I will have some good friends and former BARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY brides at the booth with me!

My booth will be right across from Things Remembered!

My goal for the year of 2009 was to have on average 2 weddings a month – which I figured would be about 24 for the year – right now I have 11 deposits and 1 on the way – making 12 – HALF OF WHAT I NEED! GOD IS SO GOOD!

Hope you all had a great weekend and maybe I’ll see ya at the EXPO!

I love this little child so much – she just oozes sweetness!

What a blessing she is!

Tuesday I spent the afternoon with my good friend Johna and her sweet babe. We went to lunch, looked for little Christmas dresses (with no luck), played with the babe, worked on Shutterfly, and just plain hung out and caught up. *M* is such a little sweetie. She steals my heart.

My dear friend KT and her boyfriend were in need of some fun pictures and single head shots – we thought the weather would be MUCH nicer – but they stuck it out in the wind and cold to get some awesome shots.

Oh green abandoned car – how I love you.

KT and *C* – you guys were awesome – you guys stuck it out in the cold and wind!

I know a GREAT massage therapist – Mary Love – she works at the clinic with me as our massage therapist. We had a Wellness Fair the other night and I grabbed this quick shot of us.

I am so glad to have met her – we are very different people but share the same sense of humor and sarcasm. Not to mention she gives GREAT massages!

Last night we went downtown to surprise *J* for his birthday. *A* had planned for a while to get together and have a surprise “party” for his birthday. *J* seemed pretty surprised to have everyone waiting for him. We asked the guy doing live music to sing Happy Birthday and had the bartender hunt down some birthday candles for *A* to put on his cake.

I love the new setting I discovered on my camera –

It was a fun night! Happy Birthday *J*.

Amy asked if I wanted to tag along and take some pictures of *A* and her first haircut.

I very rarely have pictures of myself – I don’t think I have hardly any of me and little *M*.

I had *J* take a few at our photo shoot.

Thanks again *J* for the shots.

This past weekend we went to Merritt Estate Winery for a dear friend’s wedding. Sara and I met in college at CCC in 2001 – I think – I am so bad with dates like those. Sara and I have the same sense of humor – thank goodness – ‘cus not many people do. Sara was a bridesmaid in my wedding.

Sara’s wedding is the first wedding in nearly 3 years (again – I think) that I have been to without being the photographer. I had to take my camera – of course. I had a great time just celebrating their wedding and not having an agenda.

Sara and Pete – thank you for asking me to be a part of your day. The scriptures you asked me to read were beautiful. I pray that you have love and happiness together – ALWAYS.

She looked gorgeous.

That picture is one of my new favorites.

Josh and his girlfriend Dana. Josh is also a friend from college.

Sara’s wedding was so much fun – Josh – you’re next!

As most of you know – Jared and I work with the PowerKidz on Wednesday nights at church. PM works with the youth group, RAY. Last night her message was on mentors. I heard a few of the kids coming up to compliment her after the message and when we grabbed ice cream at McD’s I asked her about it. She said that she told the kids about the importance of mentors and had expressed her gratitude to her mentors, past and present. I didn’t even hear the message and I’ve been thinking about it.

I have a mentor. I’ll bet you can guess who she is. My dear Aunt L. My mom always used to joke that I must have been Aunt Lori’s kid and not hers. I credit a lot of my self confidence to Aunt L. I was a goofy kid – looks – personality – you name it – I was goofy. Aunt L always helped me to be proud of who I was. One of the most important things I remember her telling me was – Danielle – you can have a boyfriend any day of the week – all you have to do is lower your standards. I used to get bummed out about all my friends dating these cute guys that I wanted to date. L would always tell me that little snippet. She helped me have the self-confidence that is very rare at that age.

L used to be our youth group leader at church – when I was in 8th grade we signed True Love Waits cards. I remember that moment like it was yesterday – L talked about what signing those cards really mean – about the promise you are making to yourself, your future spouse, and to God. I wish I still had that card – but I had that reminder written on my heart. L took time to talk about the tough stuff with us – the things that might make you uncomfortable to talk about.

L is one of the biggest supporters of me and my journey to being a photographer. She has a God given gift with words. She wrote all the blurbs on my webpage – she even “helped” me write my editor-in-chief spot when I was in high school – and by “helped” I mean wrote. She researches for me – encourages me – pushes me – promotes me – supports me.

She started the TMJ Relief Fund – she sent out prayers and prayers for me. She wrote me encouraging notes – she believed with me that God would heal me.

She is a strong woman of God and a woman I can turn to when times are tough. She prays. She is outspoken. She is bold. She is a mother. A new grandmother. A wife. A daughter. A sister. An aunt. A friend. A teacher. She asks for help. She cries out to God.

She is one of the reasons that I am who I am today.

I encourage you to take a minute to think about your mentor – thank them – and remember that your mentor is preparing you for that day when someone turns to you and looks for advice – encouragement – love.

Thank you Aunt L.