Jekyll & Hyde

What can I say about this last week.  I think 1 trillion things were happening at one time.  I am so not joking. At all. 

The week started out good, as I mentioned Daniel and I ran sound for the musical (Jekyll & Hyde) at Frankfort Senior High School.  And let me tell you--these kids are amazing.  Just ask anyone who went to the show and they will tell you that it was 2 seconds away from a professional show.  These students worked so, so, so hard for this show and it paid off!  I can't express to you guys how humbled I was to watch these kids sing and dance their heart out for 5 nights in a row.  It made me remember how much I loved theatre and how much I miss it!  Theatre is such a rewarding experience and I loved being able to watch these students experience something that is beyond them--beyond texting every second of the day :)  Here are a few shots I grabbed while they were warming up one night.  I didn't get any from the actual show because well...I was a little busy!  haha :)

Busy, busy, busy!

So this week will be pretty quiet on the blog.  Daniel and I are running sound for Frankfort High School's musical this week!  They are doing Jekyll & Hyde--let me tell you, these kids are rocking it out!  The set is incredible the kids acting and singing is great and their attitudes are awesome :) 

Last night was Daniel and I's second time running the show and it went really well.  It is a fairly complicated show in regards to microphones and I am in charge of these backstage.  Daniel is out in the house making everything sound good for the audience :)  But my job backstage is a little stressful!  And if anyone knows me...I get stressed out pretty easily!  There are switching of mics between different characters, switching of mics for outfit changes and all these switches have to happen in a matter of about 30 seconds or less.  30 SECONDS OR LESS.  It is crazy!!  But it is so fun and the kids who aren't on stage are always there helping me.  They are awesome :)

Shameless Plug: Come see the show November 11,12 & 13th @ 7:00 pm  Frankfort Senior High School :)

Anyway, all this to say--that I won't be blogging this week because this is what everyday looks like:

Work: 8-5

Home to eat: 5:30-5:45pm

At school to prepare cast: 6:00-6:45pm

Run show: 7:00-9:30ish

Notes with cast, clean up, prepare mics for next day: 9:30ish-10:30ish

Home to sleep: 10:45pm

WHEW!  This is what my week looks like!  Say and prayer that we can make it through....we aren't 18 anymore!  It is tiring :)

I will leave you with a picture of Daniel and I from our wedding day because well, I just love our wedding pictures :)  Have a great week everybody!!

Struggles

I have to admit something to you today.  I struggle with liking myself on a daily basis.  I struggle with not be OK with who I am.  I struggle with the fact that I am not good enough for everyone in this world.  Now, I can here all of the cliche one liners come out all at the same time.  "Who cares what others think" or "Be yourself and if people don't like it then too bad!!" or "Someone can't MAKE you feel anything, you choose to let yourself feel that way..."  While all of those are great sayings and very true--I just can't bring myself to believe any of them.  My question is, why am I always looking for acceptance from strangers or from other around me instead of myself or God?  Why can't I just be happy with who I am without having to please everyone?  And most of the time--I feel that just my presence in a room or even a comment on Facebook is an annoying to most people.  Most of all, I feel like I am the only person who feels this way in WHOLE entire world.  A little over the top, I know.

The sad thing is....as I sit here I don't know the answer to why I feel these things.  I wish I had the cure.  I wish I had the magical answer.  But the truth is that no one in this world can make or help us feel accepted.  Sometimes not even our spouses or closest friends.  Because we are all selfish--our number one goal is....ourselves.  Most of you are probably shocked to hear me say all of these things because everyone has always known me as a really happy positive person!  Which is most of who I am!  But inside every positive person, there is negativity that lingers inside.

Now don't think I am going all "Debbie Downer" on you!  I have good news :)  Even though all of these things go on inside my head--I know that there is One who loves me unconditionally and who will never, ever turn His back on me.  Someone who will always be there no matter what I do or say.  Someone who loves me for who I am even though sometimes I don't like what I see...

And that someone is our one and only Savior.  Because of this, I hold on to these scriptures:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

So I leave you today with the fact that I am not a perfect person.  I struggle with issues that are sometimes hard to overcome.  But I have hope in the Lord!!  I have promise that He will always love me.

Of course, I can't leave without a photo!  Here are Daniel and Chloe strolling through Petsmart :)  My two loves!

Jenkins Family

Get ready to meet the most attractive couple on the face of this earth.  My parents!! :)  Once I got started in photography and my mom saw my first pictures she immediately got on board.  She started talking about me on Facebook and all kinds of stuff.  Of course, I think she is a little bias ;)  But she then asked if I would take some shots for their Christmas card and of course I agreed! :)  Meet Mike, Katrina and their two dogs Callie & Jake.

Aren't they cute :)  They have been married for 31 years!



Wow mom--you are beautiful!

When we were talking about were we would go and what we would do my dad asked if there was any hope of making him look good.  I said yes of course dad :)  Here is the proof!

Thanks mom and dad for hanging out with Daniel and I this weekend!  We had a great time :)

Husband of the Year

I'm not gonna lie, this week has been pretty rough.  So that's why my husband wins the husband of the year award yesterday :] 

 I came home to this....

My wonderful husband fixing dinner!  I thank the Lord everyday for preparing this man for me.  For bringing us together.  For supplying me with a husband who knows just what I need to feel better, to feel loved.

Thank you Daniel.  Thank you for being my companion for life.  Thank you for loving me even when I don't deserve it.

Children Portraits: Randall Family

The Randall kids are crazy.  I mean absolutely loony.  But that is what I absolutely LOVE about these kids :)  They aren't afraid to be kids.  They aren't afraid to go into a dead sprint in the middle of the woods.  They love being free.  I am so excited to show you these kids (and I was sneaky and got mom in there too!) because I have known them for a while.  I used to work with Beth, and even though I haven't been around every day, I have witnessed them grow up in just a few short years.  Beth is an awesome mother to her children and I hope I was able to capture their spirits and I hope these are images she will cherish forever.

so without further ado...here are Anna, Gus & Oliver! :)

Since these kids are so crazy, I am surprised I got them all to sit down and smile all at once!!

 Here is Anna....isn't she beautiful with her cute little freckles?  This reminds me of myself when I was her age.

Oliver!

 And of course the handsome Gus :)



Anna is so pretty.  She was so hilarious when we were trying to get her to do her serious face!  I was laughing so hard I could barely take the picture :)

Gus was getting a little tired of the picture taking, so I let him take a break to have a star wars battle with Oliver :)

Oliver is such a ham for the camera!  He was doing all kinds of poses!  I loved working with him.

One of my favorite photos.  If you know this family then you know that laughter is the glue that holds them together.  They love to laugh--that's why this picture is a perfect reflection of these two :)

Whoa!  Gus is working it here!  He wasn't a fan of pictures (and what boy his age is...am I right?) so I had to get really creative.  But look at him here--what a heart breaker :)



Finally got mom in the picture!

Ok, so I know this isn't the traditional picture, but I just HAD to post this!  This is soooo them :)  I mean, come on...Gus is over there shooting me, Anna is just so over it, and Oliver is trying to climb the wheel whilst mom is begging him to stand still.  Priceless :)

I told you he was a ham!



So the kids one request was....to throw leaves.  I think on the way there they asked me about 3 times.  Then, once we got there, Anna stopped me and whispered in my ear....."Don't forget to let us throw leaves!!!!!"  So I couldn't disappoint them!

I will leave you with their last request.

This is reminds me what childhood is like.  Free, fun, carefree.  Oh to be a child again!

Thank you Randall family for letting me be apart of your crazy life!  Can't wait until Christmas to come help decorate your tree & to have some of your amazing grilled cheese!!! :)

Catching up...

Hello Internet! :)  It has been a while, hasn't it?  Well, I can tell you things have been quite hectic around my neck of the woods lately!  Between the new addition to the family and trying to keep our house clean, and cooking and the group--yikes!  Needless to say, I am emotionally and physically exhausted.

Thankfully, TDQ (The Disciples Quartet) is slowing down for the next couple of months since it's holiday season.  The house work will never dwindle down because, well, it's house work and since I don't see dust or dirty dishes becoming invisible anytime soon....the house work will continue!  But Chloe is a whole story within herself.  Since we got her from a rescue, she has a whole past life of abuse (she came from a puppy mill) that we have to correct.  So we just have to be patient and wait for her to trust & love us.  So in the mean time, we are giving her alllll the love that we can possibly give! :)

I do have an awesome announcement!  I finally have gotten my own camera!!!! :)  Wait.....now that I am typing this....have I mentioned this already??  Oh well if I did, it is still exciting!  I am so excited to start using it as soon as possible.  I have a really fun shoot plan for next weekend and I know that it will be put to good use.

I don't want to make this post all negative or depressing...but I just need to be honest with you guys.  You know when you are in the in between stages in your life? In between your worst nightmare and your future dreams?  I guess that is where I am right now and I would appreciate prayer.  I have such a passion for photography and I can't wait until I can get more clients and really dive into this profession.  But until then, I am stuck in a place where my dreams are just......dreams. 

But I am so thankful for my family and friends who support this dream that I have and who encourage me daily that I can do this.  That I can succeed.  That I can take people's love & emotions and show that through my camera lens.

And a post wouldn't be a post without a picture.  So here is one of our precious Chloe :)