I am sorry I have not updated in awhile, 4 kids, home schooling, managing a home and running my photography business are keeping me busy.

Here is a quick update...2007 I purchased my first SLR and first digital camera EVER!!! I had NO idea how to use it. No training and my commmitment was to NEVER use the automatic settings, I had no idea the amount of strees I had just committed to. January 2008, 4 months after the BIG purchase, I had my first session, where I actually got paid. Boy was I blind sighted by the response to my business....within 2 weeks I was bombarded with emails, several potential clients inquiring and my calendar was booking quickly. As I look back to those first few months I know God had His hands on me and His plans were taking form. I really had no idea what I was doing but I was passionate and determined to learn my camera settings, focus, as well as lighting. I was also determined to become consistent with my sessions as well as images. In the beginning I was extermely frustrated and felt I would never learn, but my determination has paid off.

I am consistently producing great images. I have had the opportunity to practice on Families, Seniors, Children, Newborns, a birthday party, a wedding, and a proposal. I have my stronger areas but am determined to make every area an area of excellence.

I have uploaded several recent session pictures to show where my year long journey has brought me!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post.....LIFE in a house of boys is right!!! My laundry is in the hallway higher than my head, I have hundreds of DON EDDY basketball camp shirts laying throughout my house....(That is what it is like having a coach in the house).....I have paperwork from my photographybyAshley business laying around as I am re-working my price list and I have orders coming and going.....There is dust everywhere, and if I am not mistaken I have seen a few dead bugs laying around....YIKES!!!! Where is the housekeeper?????

Where is my mother???? Oh yeah, she doesn't clean up after me anymore.....whaaaaaaa Sometimes I wish Mary Poppins came to visit and spread her spoon full of sugar over my house and not just my kids cereal.....eating healthy, one day!!!

okay so now to my story from the above title.... There is bound to be one....Those of you who think that if you are good parents and you consistently discipine your kids you will get sweet, compliant and just "do what you want" children....Move into my house! I have to say i used to be very proud, when I saw the kid screaming in the store I would think, "What are those parents doing?" Now I say " I understand!!!" I had two kids that if you so much as threatened a spanking they would shape up. Then we had KAI...dun dun dun...I need sound effects on that one, maybe you will figue it out!

We are consistent disciplinarians, we believe in spanking in certain situations, we believe in taking away privileges, and we definitely say no! We also have fun in our home, after all they are boys! But I have one that no matter the disciplinary tactics we use he will always show me how much he wants to be in charge. And if he gets bored....WATCH OUT!
Dr. Dobson tells parents not to let kids, especially boys, get bored, keep their hands and minds occupied, I know why.
I was putting Kai down for a nap the other day, he is "free" (3), without that wonderful 2 hour interlude from playing his octave level goes up several decimals when telling me no. It was one of those days and he really did not want to sleep, although he was more than tired he was exhausted. For some reason when gets all of his sleep we go back to sleep easier, but when we miss naps or go to bed late nap time is a nightmare! After over an hour of putting him back in bed, using different "tactics" I heard NOTHING! You might say, yes that is good, he is going to sleep now, I said "UH OH" what is wrong???"

When I checked on him there was jewelry all over my floor, my blush which had previously been broken and was in pieces had now turned my white carpet a beautiful "blush" color, and he was painting himself with nail polish....Now I have found him this way before. An entire BRAND new jar of foundation with an oil base had been scooped out with a $30 make-up brush and my room had been painted.... including my 300 thread count sheets! NOW ruined!!! Brown and purple make-up all over his cute little face....

Then the other night..another bedtime disaster....Daddy was gone, never good! I went to check on him and heard water running. I found the light on in my bathroom, the sink was full and overflowing everywhere, there were femine pads in the sink, toilet and strewn throughout the room, water all over the floor, my toothbrush was in the overflowing sink as well as a headband.

All to say he will probably become a preacher one day!

Oh HAPPY  HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our special boy!

Our "sweet" Kai is now "free"!  I have sweet in quotations because he is sweet although if you know him you also see a twinkle in his eyes that may not be so sweet! What a special young man he is and a blessing to our family. He has given us more hours of laughter than we ever could have dreamed.

I also believe God gave him to us to teach us how to parent. To break us of any pride and bring us to our knees.We have learned more about Godly parenting because Kai has "forced" us to be sure of our methods. He does not accept threats so you better be ready to follow through. He doesn't take no lightly....He is very willing to start a battle anywhere you may be, he really doesn't care that everyone is watching. He has no qualms with screaming no at you if he doesn't like what you are saying. And what a TRUE joy he is. He is REAL!!!! He is bold and courageous. He knows what he wants and he is not afraid to express his desires. He is intimidated by NO man! 

When we realized as parents our job is not to change our son and mold him into what we want but rather help him discover who God designed him to be long before we ever knew him our home became more peaceful. Our job is not to be his Holy SPirit but even at a young age help him learn to listen to the Holy Spirit himslef. Remembering that our "battle is not against flesh and blood" that we should be on our son's team not fighting him, allowing him to make age appropriate decisions for himself even if sometimes he fails. 

My favorite movie line BATMAN RETURNS "Why do we fall?" "So we can learn to pick ourselves back up!"

Oh how true and Biblical that is!

 Our Kai has brought us many tears, much joy and TREMENDOUS life, because it was through his ability to use his somewhat "ugly" tactics we realized how so much  of our parenting had focused on his performance verses his heart which is the only thing God looks at. And then as his heart becomes pliable his actions will align, for what is in the heart must come out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAI!

I forgot to mention a very important event in our home...although it is more meaninglful if you realize how long we have been buying diapers.... Our sweet Kai is now potty trained. A few days ago I walked into his room and saw we were almost out of diapers. I thought to myself I want that to be his last box. So that day we put him in underwear. There was a little power struggle, because he really doesn't like being told what to do...he prefers to think of it himself. So when we would ask him to go potty he would have himself a fit. But that day I gave it to the Lord. I specifically said, "Lord I am not asking to make this easy for me, I am asking for wisdom and strength. I need patience and an ability to make it through." It isn't as though I didn't think He would listen but I have to say I cannot believe how peaceful the transition was after that! It took him the next day he had one accident and by the 3rd day he was in the same underwear ALL day! Here is the BEST part....God knew his personality and his longing to have some control in his life, so Kai has told me EVERY time when he needs to go. I have not had to tell him or ask him one time!!!!! I am completely amazed and humbled by our God!