This morning we woke up to green grass. There was barely any snow left on our property – was awesome to see! Even kf there was rain washing the snow away. It’s hard to believe that just 4 days ago we had this much snow! At least it gave our kids a good workout 😉
Just last weekend
There was SNOW! Snow angels were being made… Am I sad that the snow is now gone – nope! Come on mother nature bring on spring, sunshine, green grass, kids laughter filling the backyard while the dog runs around and we enjoy lounging on our deck! Ahhhhh yes let’s hope Spring is on the way!
Never sacrifice yourself
Living with PCOS, endometriosis and hypothyroidism can really dampen someones spirits… if you let it. After our daughter was born my husband and I began planning and talking about when I would be able to have my surgery we both knew I required, to live much more comfortably and most important have a much better quality of life.
As many parents, and full time working parents especially, you can plan all you want, but there will come a time that it just has to work. This is what happened to me this fall, I merely said to my husband, who had been telling me for over a year that I needed to have the surgery, that I was calling the doctor to book the surgery. I didn’t think twice about it, didn’t really even “plan” how we would make things work when I was out of commission. Never did I think I would get in so fast, but how thankful I was!
Looking back, I do wish I had done this sooner, would it have worked for us, with the kids being that little bit younger, mmmm probably not, The age they are, they were perfect little helpers to both hubby and I, it was wonderful. For years I put off my own health and sacrificed myself because I didn’t want to inconvenience others.
Never will I do that again.
Finally putting myself first was a break through for me as an individual, a mother, a wife, sister, daughter, friend etc… I felt immediate relief, immediate comfort upon my return home. Even my husband and I reached a new level in our relationship, there were countless times he just laid with me in bed and we talked, many evenings for hours upon hours, until we realized just how much time had passed. We have always had a close relationship, but this truly allowed us a great opportunity and time, as I spent most of my time resting, to truly reconnect on a level that we honestly hadn’t since our babies came into our life!
All of the wonderful times we have had as a couple and family for many more years before, when those times felt so wonderful – sure we had our good times and bad like every couple and family does – now finally feeling so much better, even though its been winter and we do not do as much, we have had SO much fun that we are even more excited for the summer, a summer that I will truly be able to enjoy my time with hubby and the kids!
Although I know the can and can-not’s for food, I still do not like to inconvenience if we are eating with others, the passive part of me. In the end though it only affects me and when it comes to food affecting me, its not good! With PCOS I must stay far away from anything made from white flour or white sugar – which yes makes it hard if I am eating somewhere and they serve pasta… I can only eat whole grain pasta, same with rice. Even potatoes I must limit, cooked carrots and sweet potatoes, even corn – all naturally full of sugar! And all affect me badly!
When I feel good, I feel gooood and its such a difference that I just love life so much more. Its amazing how one little slip can cause domino effects for days – its just not worth it. These are health issues I live with day to day, they are a part of me and there is no cure other than eating properly, getting lots of sleep, living a very happy and purposeful life … oh and exercise lol which I enjoy much more in the summer 😉
No I will not sacrifice myself. I will BE ME!
deck weather in march!
After celebrating our lil girls birthday we enjoyed a drink on the deck!!! SO nice out even at 10pm lol!!!
This is what I want to do…
When you can’t see the forest for the trees… you will miss out on so much !
Seeing my photo published in the Confederate representing the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival truly filled me with honour and re-ignited my passion!
This is what I want to do.
This is where my passion began, with my kids and our community. I provided these photos to the Chamber of Commerce for use in promoting the community. I co-created the Mount Forest Camera Club to bring photography enthusiasts together to not only learn from each other, enjoy being with other photographers but also to bring this enjoyment and art to the community.
As I took on sessions last year I began putting pressure on myself, pressure of what I “should” do or what was the “next” step. When really, there is no pre-determined “next step” in life – its what I CHOOSE. Truth be told last fall I felt the pressure come down on me hard – also with an upcoming surgery, the pressure was two-fold.
What do I want to do…
I want to thoroughly enjoy my custom photography. I will set limits and follow them. I will not feel bad for saying NO – this is a word that is so hard for me, I like to please. I will love and enjoy my photography. I take great pleasure in photographing our community and assisting in the growth and promotion with my photography. I enjoy being a part of the Camera Club without feeling any sort of competition at all, its a great feeling. Each of us as photographers, not only the ones in the club, but also photographers in general, we each have our own artistic eye which is true to us. If you put a group of photographers together and asked them to photograph a scene, everyone’s shot would be entirely different – and this is so amazing to embrace as an artist!
I want my photography to be custom, when I take on a shoot I want to truly be able to embrace my clients and provide them with what I stand behind as my style. Ironically this also has to do with a post I have been working on… Never sacrifice yourself. Also working in my family business, a business that has a very deep meaning to me as well, which I also am so fortunate to bring my photography into to showcase our work with the plumbing and heating, also family business that I am the 4th generation in! Business that one day I would also be honored to have my children joining us in. A full time business that will always be a part of my life.
In life setting limits is necessary, at times this can be very hard to realize and actually admit. Ironically I had been talking to my husband about this for a couple weeks now, I have even blogged previously about not taking on as many sessions this year and setting limits as to how many I would. Since making this decision I have had so much enjoyment in photographing my kids and family, capturing their moments, processing our photos… all without the pressure of pushing for more. When something I love and enjoy, begins to feel like work… you can begin losing the passion. Ironically this can relate to any relationship, always have fun, always feel passion!
When you take away the unrealistic misconceptions you are fully able to enjoy what it is you are actually doing. I admitted to myself that the more I felt I had to push my “business”, the less passion I felt. All of which had nothing to do with how many sessions I was actually getting, it had to do with my own mind set of what I thought “should” happen.
As an artist, I am unique and so is my photography.
This is how I want my photography to be showcased and known. I dont want to create a big grand business, I want my photography to represent ME, my family and my community. This is what makes me shine, this is what brings out the best in me. In life there is give and take, am I any less a photographer for making this decision, No. In actuality it is much like many of the other photographers around our area, I never wanted this to be a full time job for me, unfortunately I began putting pressure on myself to build a business all while working full time AND being a wife and mom. Something had to give. Anyone that has chosen me as their photographer I feel greatful, they value and appreciate who I am as a person and as a photographer, my style and artistic eye. This is what I will be known for. I treasure all of them and their images I have captured and created.
2012 truly is a year of change and opportunity for me… and for my family!
Fireworks Festival “Top 100” @FEOntario {Mount Forest}
For the fifty consecutive year the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival has been recognized as a “Top 100” Festival in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO)!!!
http://www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca/
I am honored to have had my photo chosen to represent this wonderful Festival in our town and community of Mount Forest! Photo can be seen in the Mount Forest Confederate on page 4. Once the online guide is updated with the current years guide 2012-2013 (it is still showing April 2011-March 2012) I will post the link!!!
Fireworks Festival, Holstein Rodeo in the ‘Top 100’
March 7, 2012
Lynne Turner
www.mountforest.com
For the fifth consecutive year the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival has been recognized as a “Top 100” Festival in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO).
Committee members on hand to pick up the award on the weekend were Debbie Hunter, Linda Spahr and Helen Kestner and Township of Wellington North Mayor Ray Tout. April Marshall, the township’s economic development committee tourism manager also attended the conference in Niagara Falls.
FEO (www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca) is a non-profit association, representing, over 3,000 events that happen across Ontario annually. The “Top 100” recognition puts Mount Forest on the map through national and international media releases. The annual Festivals and Events guide, highlighting the “Top 100” festivals, is also direct mailed throughout Ontario.
…read more in this week’s Confederate.
Time-Out
One of the biggest things that both being a mom and my kids have taught me is amazing patience. However… Sometimes time-outs are just necessary. For mommy. Kids will be kids, they aren’t perfect, we aren’t perfect.
As a mom and wife I have learned, well I have learned a LOT lol, but the one thing that sticks out is moms NEED time outs, not the kids, mom does behind a closed door in silence. It doesn’t need to be long, 5 or 10 minutes – it makes SUCH a difference!
After a busy day at work, I honestly left on a high… our daughters birthday is tomorrow and hubby was bringing her gifts home. However… the kids didn’t want to be as agreeable during pick up, yes it happens, thankfully not just to me (or us) all kids go through it. Our kids, especially when they are tired, like to be extra silly, our boy was EXTRA tired tonight haha. Suffice to say, when we got home hubby had arrived home from school just before we arrived (and was unloading the dishwasher bless his heart 😉 ) I walked in the door and all I had to say was “I need 10 minutes”…
10 minutes makes SUCH a difference !
Am I a bad mom ? No. They are kids, and are 4 (tomorrow!!!) and 5. Testing their parents is their job – heck we did it to our parents, haha my mother in law, bless her heart and may she rest in peace, even warned me when we got engaged of how much of a class clown her son was…. hmmmmm I bet she is laughing as she watches down on us as our son, well he is very much like his daddy hehe 😉
A mama has to do what a mama has to do… I could have screamed, yelled, slammed things, stomped my feet, threw my things everywhere – heck ya that would have probably got some tension out – and then I would tense up twice as bad when my kids did the exact same thing 5 minutes later because mommy did it !
Sometimes thats all a mom needs, as a fulltime working mom to two busy kids, a hubby in school and working full time, a busy puppy, running a household – is just a little time to herself to actually hear herself think, to let her clear her mind. It truly is the little things that matter.
and… get back to focusing on the important things in life … like our little girls birthday tomorrow 😉
Yes I love my kids dearly, but a mama does need her time-out’s! 😉
Redhead’s… to be a thing of the past?
I heard something very interesting the other day, that as time goes on the natural redhead hair colour will be a thing of the past… to hear that redheads might actually loose their gene, that is just sad! I’ve always joked that I am one of a kind, now just think of how true that is 😉
On a funny note… I found this online when doing just a general search for “redheads”
“Gentleman may prefer Blondes, but it takes a real man to handle a Redhead!”
From the MarieClaire.com website
Redheads are “fiery lasses.” Redheads are bubbly blondes with a “I’ll kick your butt if you step out of line” brunette streak. Like brunettes, redheads can be intimidating, but in a different way — more like a brazen confidence.
AND
The classic redhead women are strikingly beautiful: Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn. For me, the redhead personality consists of polar opposites: She’s either the beer-swilling barmaid, giving every guy a run for his money…or the classic confident beauty, understated and graceful, possessing all the answers before everyone else.
Being a redhead comes with many stereotypical statements such as we are evil, angry all the time, mean, promiscuous, wild, passionate, and talks like a trucker.
Real life being a redhead we do have a unique personality, just like each and everyone one of us, what is different is we are among the minority of hair colour. I had always hoped that if I had a daughter, she too would be blessed with my red hair gene. Although she does not have red hair like her mama she does have the tinge and the personality to go along with it!
As Ive grown up Ive begun to appreciate my red hair, accept the compliments when people ask me if this is my “real” hair colour – why yes of course it is 😉 I am 100% a natural woman, including my red hair! I am passionate – especially for my family. I have a heart of gold, until I am crossed. That is when the firey red hair personality ignites. Ironically this is one thing my husband said first attracted him to me. Someone who is shy and reserved at times, certainly can and isnt afraid of having a great time or when I need to speak my mind! 😛 I don’t think I will ever loose my redhead nick names, “big red” and red”, ironically one of my past co-workers called the office today and what did he call me… red lol!
Yes we red heads are truly one of a kind 😉
Fortunately this is merely a myth! I didn’t get my red headed daughter however perhaps one day (a long time from now) we will be blessed with grandchildren who will carry on my golden locks!
Tuesday Daddy Love
Tuesday mornings are always ‘off’ for us because Daddy is not there. He is in school and has to leave at 530am – crazy time! This morning the little darlings were getting dressed and the two of them came running up to show me… They were little “mini-me’s” of daddy! Cars of course in his Patriots hat and he “let” Mady borrow his JAZ hat (when we had his contracting business lol) and the sunglasses, just like daddy wears them when he isn’t wearing them on his face 😉
Of course had to send a pic to Daddy!
Why take the. Time?
Why have I begun blogging more?
When looking back through my photos from last year sure I had some, but I didn’t have as many from our daily life, I had our family trips or when we got our puppy however I had been so busy with sessions -which do not get me wrong was awesome – that I wasnt as motivated to pull out the camera at home.
Admittedly, this also had to do with my comfort and satisfaction, with my health I was always uncomfortable and in pain, which in turn literally sucked the energy and any motivation out of me. Somedays I am shocked at how much more alive I feel, how much more like ME I feel! How much more fun and enjoyment I now get out of life!
Why do I blog? Why do I take the time…
That is simple, it’s for me. Remebering all the fun times we had not only as a family, also as a couple and me an individual. It is for me to reflect on life, the good and the bad, to share my passion for photography, most likely some cooking and of course wine – we joined the Niagara Estates winery and are so excited to receive our first membership batches.
Life is and can never be planned, it happens, some of the most amazing things come from the ‘unplanned’ or unexpected to change our life in such an amazing way forever! Both of our children are the perfect examples of this, two of many, but the two most important. I have taken photos of the kids on a snow hill like this every year, they even remember, I just love looking back at how they’ve changed or using these photos to display as art in our home…
Your Life As Art
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