Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sacrifice Isn't Made Only By The One in Uniform

This is Kayla & Stephen. Stephen is on his second deployment since the two were married 3 years ago. After doing the "Deployment Storybook" sessions and getting to know the families, I really wanted to shed some light on the other side of the deployment. I've gotten close to the families of the deployed soldier and sacrifice isn't made only by the one in uniform. These families are just as strong and brave as the men and women who put on the armor, to them I also say "thank you".

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Ten Things Someone Needs to Hear

I've been so busy with all the projects I have going, that I have been neglecting my outlet, writing. I have a book, that when I find a quote, or someone says something that makes me think, I jot it down. It's kind of like my little secret book of inspirations. So, when I am having a bad day, or need a little pick me up, I let my eyes stroll though my book to put my heart back where it belongs. I decided to share them, because let's face it, I share everything right? ;) 

1. Small accurate steps are better than big sloppy ones. 
    In the book The Tortoise and the Hare, "slow and steady wins the race". That quote has held true for me.
2. Be the Buffalo
     In a storm, a pasture of cows will run away from the storm, while a buffalo will run through it. 
3. Take CARE of your body
  You can only go as far as your body can take you. 
4. SUCK. IT. UP. 
  Not everyone is going to support you in life, those who don't, don't matter. 
5. Don't be so critical of yourself. 
    There are plenty of people in this world to do that for you. 
6. It could ALWAYS be worse. 
   It's so easy to get caught up in our day to day complaints. 
  "The weather is too hot." Most of us have access to air conditioning, what about the homeless.
   "My steak is over cooked." There are starving children in our own towns
   "I have to go to work."  Unemployment is at an all time high and the homeless population continues to rise. 
    "I wake up every day with aches and pains." There is a man or a women in a wheel chair somewhere that   would love to feel anything.  
When I have a case of the "poor me's" I remember, it can always be worse.
7. Feeling means your dealing, and healing. 
  I can't remember where I heard that saying, but it rattled my core. If you feel it, it means it meant something to you. It doesn't always feel good, but it means you're alive.
8.Look at your scars as a healing, not a wound. 
 A scar means the wound is no more, the skin is tougher because of the injury that was done to it. Just like our hearts, when they have been hurt, a scar grows thick over the wound to protect it. Let it be a reminder of a great healing, not an injury.
9. "If you aren't part of the problem, or the solution and you are discussing it, it's gossip."
That cleared up a lot for me. This statement makes it easy to decide if we are gossiping. Unfortunately, it also stops a lot of my conversations before they start.
10. We are bigger than we let ourselves be.
You were specifically designed to be a part of this universe. There is NO one that is better at being you, than YOU. Don't dream in the city limits. The world is a big place, and it has plenty of room for you.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Come Home Soon II


Again, with tears in my eyes, I present to you, a Deployment StoryBook session. I am so blessed to have been able to capture such precious moments, I hope you all see what I see in this sweet family. I know that our lives will move forward and yours will pause for the next year. Our prayers are with you, and your family until your safe return. God Bless.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

SPC Tyra's Storybook Session

Normally I don't load actual "sessions" to the blog. I try to keep this for funny stories and projects...however, this is too precious NOT to share! Donald Tyra is a police officer here in my hometown and being in public safety you bond with people pretty easily, Donald is no exception. I went from calling him the "asshole night patrolman" to respecting him as an officer, and friend, in a very short time. We won't discuss him pulling me over at 4:00 am last April, but we will just say he makes a TERRIBLE first impression!

When he received orders that he would be deploying to Afghanistan, he asked that I take some shots of he and his son Harper to surprise his family...we totally did. This was one of those sessions that made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. These images are precious in so many ways and the Tyra family has allowed me to share this video with the rest of the world.  Click the link below. Enjoy!

Regardless of your position on the war, political views, religious beliefs, or if you are a parent or not, this should touch your heart. These images are a reflection of unconditional love.....




Donald, 
On behalf of everyone who knows and loves you, we all wish you well and pray for your safety. You're in our thoughts and hearts until you return.

Monday, February 21, 2011

30 Day Challenge In A 5 Minute Read

There's a "30 Day Photo" challenge going around Facebook where people are uploading a photo a day with an explanation regarding each photo. Cute idea, except my A.D.D will not allow a project to go on that long...seriously, I am THAT bad. I love the idea and decided I would Jamie-ize it by not using photos but words. I will be picking ONLY the ones I want (benefit of being the blog owner/writer) and I will try to keep this simple, however, we all know I am a woman of many words. 




Ten Facts:
1. I am tall and I've always wanted to know what it is like to be petite.
2. When I was little I wanted to grow up and be in a marching band. I couldn't even play that stupid recorder  in Middle School. 
3. I am a closet Twilight fan.
4. I don't usually think before I speak. (That's how I have gotten so good at B.S.ing)
5. I eat Mexican 3-4 times a week.
6. I have a very tender heart.
7. I sweat like a man.
8. I am a true romantic. There is nothing hotter than a creative man. (Not the lame overdone crap)
9. I would swear to you that I am a man trapped in a woman's body 21 days a month.
10. I have a love/hate relationship with surprises. If you are going to attempt to surprise me, don't give any hints just hit me with it because the suspense for me isn't worth the agony. 


Habit I wish I didn't have...
Over-thinking-every-thing. I am not sure if it's a habit or a mental illness. Jury is still out on that one.

Favorite memory:
Here is where I should say "the birth of my child", no that hurt like hell and was the most tragic day in history. Or I could use "the day I married my husband", no that was a stressful day that ended in too many Miller Lights and an exhaustion coma. I guess one of my favorite memories was the Christmas I opened a HUGE box that had a rock taped to the bottom of it with a note from my parents that read: "It's a bike!" You had to get up pretty early in the morning to pull one over on me, especially when it comes to surprises. (See # 10)

Person who makes you laugh:
Shane. Hands down, without a doubt. Shane. No matter what we are doing or where we are at, he makes me laugh. He is one of the few people on the planet, besides my poor husband, that really, "gets me" and still loves me anyway. He can just look at me and send me into a snot throwing, belly rolling, eyes watering, seizure laugh.

Someone I couldn't live my life without:
My daughter. I had her at 17 and we've pretty much raised each other, or she has raised me rather. She saved me. (That's another blog post)


Someone who inspires me: 
Maya Angelou, you should all Google her and read her works. Really though, I get inspired all the time by people everywhere. I am easily moved by acts of kindness and human interactions that show kindness and love for others. There is a 96 year old woman in my home town that still plants and cares for her own garden, to me, that's pretty inspiring.

Something I want to do before I die: 
Leave my print. I want people to remember I was here.

Biggest Insecurity: 
Not being enough.

Something I am afraid of:
Not taking risks. Letting "myself" get in the way of me.

Something that always makes me smile:
Text messages from my Dad. He still forwards those cheesy chain messages or sends a random fact about his day that always makes me smile. For the first year he had a cell phone he didn't know how to space soallhistextmessageslookedlikethisandihadtoreallyworkatreadingthem. He's that coolest dude ever!


Someone I miss: 
My Nana. Perfect example of grace, class, kindness and devotion to her family without getting lost and forgetting who she is. She loved herself, and proved that when you love "you", you love everyone around you even better.


Final Thought: 
There are LOTS of things that make people who they are. These are just some silly, some serious, things that make being me different from being like everyone else. We are all different. We are all alike. As long as we all remember BOTH of those things about one another, it will make this experience called life a little easier.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

"Bare It All"

As a part time photographer, I see women with make up applied, every hair in it's place, clothes ironed and coordinated and ready to bring their best smile forward. They ask me to get their "good side", "don't make me look fat", "smooth out my wrinkles" and "do something with the bags under my eyes". I'm asked to do LOTS of things to make the photographs of women perfect, and am guilty of editing my own to perfection as well.

Sessions like this make me think about  my Nana, SHE was a woman of TRUE beauty. She was a kind, genuine woman, who wasn't afraid to tell you what she thought about you and follow it up with a hug afterward, sounds familiar huh?  I can't remember what she looked like with or without make up, I can't remember what she smelled like, I don't remember a bad hair day or bags or wrinkles, I remember grace. I remember her soft touch, her soothing voice, her unconditional love and kindness to people she would meet. I can't remember her having "roots" or a "bad side", "love handles" or "muffin top", I remember her telling me she loved me " a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck" and meaning every word. Those are the things I want to be remembered for, not for a great head of hair or flawless skin.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think women feel better when they look nice and there is NOTHING wrong with dressing up, and feeling good, I just think the emphasis on appearance is blown out of proportion. These days our young ladies are so bombarded with the medias "idea" of beauty that we are forgetting the real meaning of being beautiful. We can't expect men to respect us for what's inside if we don't spend as much time on it as we do our outside.  I want my daughter to know that real beauty is inside. Make up can't hide someone who is ugly on the inside and true beauty shines through your soul regardless of your looks.

Those of you who REALLY know me, know that I can never just take things as "face value" and that I am a perpetual "over thinker" and allow my mind to carry things off to places that dream up these ideas. And so, "Bare It All" was born.  I asked my dear friends of Facebook to pose "naked"...well naked faced anyway. I asked each lady to pose for a photo without any make up and to complete the sentence. "I am beautiful because...."





I am beautiful because I know that being tenderhearted shows my strength to love unconditionally.




I am beautiful because I know my smile lines are laughter scars that mean I have lived a life of laughter. 





I am beautiful because God made me to be beautiful.




I am beautiful because my husband reminds me each morning, my daughters laughter reminds me as she connects my freckles and God reminds me in Proverbs 31.




I am beautiful because God made me who I am. 



I am beautiful because I know my flaws. 



I am beautiful because of my God given strength, forgiving nature and ability to love and be true to myself despite my mistakes.



I am beautiful because I am alive, I am a fighter and I am strong. 



I am beautiful because Jesus Christ lives in my heart. 



I am beautiful because I've learned how to have compassion and love despite my heartache.



I am beautiful because God MADE me. 



I am beautiful because I am not afraid to show my strength. 



I am beautiful because I am Bekah, not Barbie.



I am beautiful because I love openly and forgive easily. 



I am beautiful because I always find something to smile about. 



I am beautiful because I can forgive people who greatly disappoint me. 



I am beautiful because my personality is contagious.



I am beautiful because my age shows I have earned my place on this earth and I've learned that true beauty doesn't fade with age.



I am beautiful because I know that true beauty doesn't come from hair products or make up but from the reflection of God in my heart.





Final Thought: 
As usual, after spending time with a bunch of awesome ladies, my cup has ran over with emotion.  I have laughed, cried, laughed and cried some more. I have ladies from age 4 to age 67 "Baring It All" to show other women true beauty is all on the inside! I hope everyone reading this really gets this message. If you have a teenage daughter, I urge you to send them this link. We are women, we are strong, we are beautiful and together we can rebuild the meaning of true beauty.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

"To Whom It May or May Not Concern"

So this thing says my last blog post was sometime around Thanksgiving but it feels like 6 months. I have had several inquiries on "when I am going to post another blog", "why haven't you posted anything", " the blog isn't current" blah, blah, blah. There are two truths to the reason I haven't blogged in a while and, against my better judgement, I am going to take the classy route instead of the white trash route in explaining my feelings.

1) I have been super busy (and blessed) with doing lots of part time photography.
2) I was a little discouraged by some things people were saying. Granted, I am a smart ass, say what's on her mind kind of girl, and you wouldn't think things would get to me.  Most things don't, HOWEVER, questioning my value as a person and reason behind my actions of the heart DO! I am setting the record straight RIGHT NOW...I am in NO way trying to be something I am not.What I do for people is what I want to do for people. Putting things on Facebook is a public challenge for others to step up and do for others as well.  I still burp like a trucker, fart like a man, cuss like a sailor, and ask for forgiveness for it all daily. I am a human being like everyone else that makes mistakes, says things she shouldn't and probably hurts peoples feelings doing it, but no one is perfect, certainly not me.

Final Thought:
My Daddy says " I can't look at your ass and read your mind" Daddy is right, I can't fix it if you're telling everyone but me...If people would spend as much time building people up as they did trying to knock them down, the world would be a much better place.  



.