Love

I'm calling this post Love...for no other reason than I simply LOVE these people.  My parents.  Highschool sweet hearts.  Yes, my parents are the true example of soul mates.  What I love about them...they are involved in eachothers lives.  They love to do a lot of the same things and they enjoy eachothers company.
     My Dad, aka #1 fan (for all of us (4 kids!)), has always been on the sidelines in whatever adventure I'm up to, cheering me on.  He was always the loudest at soccer games (which I loved).  His enthusiasm for life is contagious.  In college, he would come up to Chicago to take me to lunch...to catch up and to again, say hey, Betz I love you and I'm proud of you.  In marriage,  he put my hubby to the test to make sure he was good for his little girl.  It might have involved a really tall tree and a chain saw.  Just sayin.   And now with my business...he gives me support and advise.  I love him.  I love who he is. And I love how he lives.  He is, with out a doubt, a really inspiring person to me. 
    My Mom, aka #1 fan (again, they are both huge supporters for all of us!), creative, loving, generous, affectionate (I might have to force her sometimes but she secretly loves that I still hang on her when I see her...yes, she does).  Also, my Mom is fierce when anyone messes with her babies...just sayin.  You really don't want to mess with her.  In highschool, the late nights we would spend analizing life, boys, where to go in college...loved those memories.   Home cooked meals, hugs and a "hey snap out of it" were just the thing I needed and still do.  And love that she gives them all.  She is creative...loves to try new things and when she LOVES something...she pursues it with passion.  And I love that about her. 
    Whats really amazing...my parents offer this support, this love to each of us.  They are, our families foundation.  Their love for eachother and for us...well, its simply what has made each of us who we are.  And Love, yes, love is how I describe them.  Love you guys!
   Now this session, was my first time photographing them...and it was such a BEAUTIFUL place.  I was in love with the mountains, the trees, the lighting, the water...basically a photographers heaven.  But my favorite thing...was that this session, was fun.  I mean, I was laughing the whole time...my parents were too.  And yes, I'm sure it was funny to see me at work.  But in every picture...you can see, that love I was talking about.  So everytime I look at these pictures I think about my childhood...I think about my future.  And I can't imagine a world without them.  I simply love them.    Here are a few pics of two of my most favorite people in the world.

My parents, caught, birding.  A favorite hobby of theirs. 

My parents dog, Beso, "nobody loves you Beso" (thats what my Dad says...only we all do. ;p ) 

 

Invictus

"Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.



In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.



Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.



It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul. "

William Ernest Henley

I chose this poem because my Grandpa used to read it on his boat named Invicta (the female term for invictus).    Its a strong poem for a strong man.  Sailing around the Florida keys and the caribbean islands.  Because he could...because he enjoyed it. 

I so enjoyed spending the morning with him...taking pictures and learning bits and pieces to this complex person.  He's travelled, loved, lived and given of himself.    I'm proud of him and so glad to call him Grandpa! 

I remember being a little girl and he would come to visit... showing me sailor knots, telling me stories and giving me WAY too spicy food.  Growing up in a little town called St. Charles...it was fun to see some of the buildings that he had designed.   He also played a huge active role in helping out the community in California.  A homeless shelter called first day...a preschool for a local church.   Basically, my grandpa lives.  He lives to help.   Generous.  Yes, he is.  Love you, love your spirit and love your cheerfulness.  You are simply a really, really cool Grandpa. 

A friend for life...

I met this beautiful crazy girl in 8th grade.  

                         Kate is  always the first to make you laugh till you cry, the first to suggest something crazy,

the first one to be standing in line to help you out.   She is simply put, a friend for life. 

           I have so many  memories with her...

soccer, Paris, London, Mexico, TP Bandits...um yes, we had a title (in our defense we

were really young...and it was cool),  we would punch each other in the arms so hard until the other one said

"UNCLE" (I, of course, always won. ;p ) staying up late laughing and pretend to sleep when one of our

parents would tell us to be quite, like I said, Friend for life.  Love you.  :) 

                Chris, a match for Kate.  Yes, they fit so perfectly together.  Both outgoing and both

of them are people I  would count on for anything.  Love them and LOVE the way they interact with

Charlie. 

          Charlie has a smile that is about a mile wide...and his eyes...so beautiful.  Sorry Chris...he just

is.    He laughs hard, and I can tell will be quite the  heart breaker someday. 



On this crazy cold day in Colorado...I got to hang out with these super special and important people to

me.    Enjoy some of our pics from that day!  :)