Children's Photographer in Castle Rock, CO

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Ours was full of celebration!  We had some friends over to celebrate with us on Melia's birthday (we will be celebrating with my family in a few weeks, when my parents are feeling a bit better from their car accident). 

Yesterday was a day of much needed rest.  We went to church in the morning but spent the afternoon curled up on the couch with a blanket watching the snow fall, there was some pretty entertaining weather this weekend!  I love snow with thunder and lightening... I picture God saying "Hey!  Watch this!"  There were other times this weekend that I felt His personal touch and care for me this weekend and I am always amazed at a Sovereign God's tender love for me. 

 On Friday, I was with some of my favorite people.  There are some clients that allow me to crawl into their lives and make me feel like more like a friend than a photographer.  Chris, is one of those people...  she wrapped her arms around me, much like she is in the picture below with her little girl and it made me love her all the more.  

 In all our shoots together, this was the first time I was able to meet Chris's Prince Charming.  Don't they make for a beautiful family?

 I think the picture above of Ayla will win my "FAVE of the Day" I just love it... it's the sort of picture that brings imagination and stories to life.  I mean, just what is she watching over?"

 Aidan and I were having a little "contest"... oh, I'll never tell!!  LOVE that smile though!

Spring is in the air!!

This morning has been a thoughtful morning for me...  perhaps someone else needs to here message this morning.  Enjoy. Cija

www.3wishesphotography.com

cija@3wishesphotography.com

Happy Birthday Melia!

 Today we are celebrating Melia's 9th birthday (haven't had a chance to get her out for pictures yet).  How can she be 9 already?  I hardly remember my life before her, but at the same time it seems like only yesterday she was just a baby.  

Every year we do the annual "Birthday Interview"  Enjoy!!

What is your Favorite Color - "Bright colors, ya know really BRIGHT" (Neon)

What do you like to do? - "Play school."

What are your favorite sports? "Gymnastics and Dancing"

What are you favorite foods?"  "Spaghetti, Lasagna, Pasta, really any pasta"

What makes you happy? "My bunny and my bear"

What make you sad? "When people be mean to me."

Who are your best friends?  "Olivia, Megan, Emily, Cara, Nicole and Alex"

What are your favorite movies and TV shows?  "Good luck Charlie, Once Upon a Time, and After the fall."

What are your favorite books?  "Because of Winn Dixie and Junie B. Jones"

What do want to do when you grown up?  "Be a really famous gymnast"

What is your favorite Bible verse?  Psalms 91:11 & 14-15

Who is your teacher?  Mrs. Langtry

What is your favorite Bible story? "When God created the World"

What do you love most about Jesus?  "That he died on the cross for my sins and that He loves us so much."

Happy Birthday my sweet girlie!!! I love you so much!

Castle Rock,CO Photographer

Hey there!  Happy Friday the 13th!  So question as to the origins of the 13th's superstition sent me on a little quest for more useless trivia!  It wasn't all the interesting,  there was some italian guy who thought Fridays and the number 13 were on unlucky and thus the combination even that more unlucky and it just so  happened that he died on Friday the 13th lending credibility to his theory.

In the world of Cija it just seems like a fabulously fun party theme!  Imagine all those silly superstitions gathered into one great big grand celebration!

 But yesterday... I was with Rhonda and Blaine, recently married and expecting a baby in July they wanted to get some pictures to remember their D.I.N.K days!

Spring was springing all around us and not even a wisp of wind!  It was the perfect evening for a photo shoot!  Well, perfect for me... Blaine thought it was a bit brisk (my word not his). 

 Don't you just love the ring!  Gee-or-jus!!

Well, I can't dilly dally today.  Tomorrow is Melia's birthday and there is much and I do mean MUCH to do!  Add to that... Bunco tonight and I really must get going! 

TTFN! Cija

www.3wishesphotography.com

cija@3wishesphotography.com

Newborn Photographer in Castle Rock, CO

Oh my, it's been awhile!  Sorry to have been away for so long.  March is typically a slow month photography wise but I managed to fill it up with lots of things!  

Yesterday was an interesting day... yes, interesting is the word I am going to use.   It's so much better than  "crappy" or "totally sucked", so interesting it is.  It started out with carpool and then a photoshoot with the owner of these "Teeny Tiny Toes" (mom and dad have decided to keep her photos private).  We started out on location but she was struggling and we decided that I would follow them back to their house where we would try again, in more familiar settings.  Turns out we live about a 1/2 a mile from one another.  After the shoot was over, I teeter tottered with what to do next, go home, or go run errands... I had just  passed my turn when my indecision pushed me to pull over and gather my thoughts.   Home... I would go home to make a sandwich to eat for lunch while out running errands and save us a little money.  I went to make a U-turn to head for home and "WHAM" I got broadsided.  I managed to remain fairly calm, my heart just broke for the girl that hit me, she was just 16 years old and totally freaked out about getting in trouble.  So, I made it my mission to make sure she felt as safe and comfortable as the situation would allow.  I assured her that the only person getting in trouble would be me.   We chatted while we waited for the police tried to assess the  damage.  Her mom showed up a while later and we discovered that we live only a few houses away from each other.  I think perhaps they would have appreciated a basket of muffins as a neighborhood greeting far more than this.  

It took a couple of hours and two savvy tow truck drivers to get the cars apart.  Ya know, when I think about it, everyone was getting along great.  We were all chatting and laughing at the puzzle our collision had made, if it weren't for the accident part I would say we were having a really great time (even the police officer was friendly and chatting it up with us).  But when I got home, I fell apart.  Role playing all the little decisions and circumstances that brought me to that place at that time, going through the list of "what if's" and staring down the road ahead and what happens now.  Carpooling was out, our other car doesn't have room for everyone, would they total the van, 

worry and anxiety began to clamp down on my spirit.  

The day before, I had heard a message on the radio about "what can we put our confidence in?"  the answer was Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God."  Well, I definitely love God, so I qualify for this promise.  The preacher went on to point out the highlights of Joseph's life, thrown in a pit, sold as a slave, falsely imprisoned, but eventually 2nd in command of Eygpt.  What was meant for evil God meant for good.  I won't pretend to know what God will do through this "interesting" situation, but I can have confidence that He will work through it for good.  

So... I have to share an early answer to prayer.  I was really stressing about the carpool situation.  We open enroll our kids at a little country school and it's a 36 mile round trip, no carpooling meant that our gas expense would double.  This morning as I was backing out of the driveway to take the girls to school, the carpool lady drove up.  She said that she would drive the kids back and forth everyday and we could just pitch in for gas!  Well praise the Lord!

(oh and yes, I am okay.  I broke my big toe (what?!?!) and have some general day after soreness but I will be back to my old self soon.  The 16 year old said she was fine, but I image that today she is feeling some aches and pains too.)

My New BFF!! Haley

This is my new BFF.  Her name is Haley.

Haley is 9 years old and has had quite an adventure.  Her mom told me a little bit about her story this morning and I am sure that I will not get all straight but I will do my best to give you a little glimpse of her very remarkable story.  Haley was diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumor when she was 4 months old.  They extracted 3/4 of the tumor and she underwent 3 years of chemotherapy.  She was then on the brink of luekemia (there was a big medical word for her condition) and needed a bone marrow transplant when she was 4 years old.  Then it was 4 years of misdiagnosed food allergies that had her taking 10 different medications and suffering from chronic tummy issues.  A move to Colorado, a set of fresh doctors and a mommy with a idea led to Haley being tested for food allergies, bye bye medications!!  Haley's tumor has been acting up lately; if I recall correctly, it has grown by 25%, it is not currently life threatening but it is quality of life threatening and doctor's advised a round of radiation.  

(Haley is currently planning her "Done with Radiation" party!)

This is Kris, an Artist... with an idea for her thesis.  The idea is to paint portraits of these 

"mini"  S UP E R   H E R O E S

Kris, asked me to join her this morning to photograph Haley, then she will take the photos and work her magic, I can't wait to see what she comes up with!  

 Haley decided that she would be "Cat Women" or "Cat Gal" or maybe even "Cat Chick",  come to think of it we really never decided on the perfect name.

Haley gave me a personal tour of her room, I was a fan!  I mean who doesn't like fairies!!!

 But I was even a bigger fan of Haley, she was the sweetness of 10 wrapped up in one little package.  She was funny, expressive and down right entertaining.  I could have hung out with her for hours. 

 And this pretty lady is one of Haley's heroes... her mom.  

 Haley didn't let me leave empty handed; she colored a picture for me to take with me when I left.

 Haley is an extraordinary little girl with an extraordinary story, who loves an extraordinary God.  Please be praying for Haley, she will find out on the 18th if the radiation was succesful.

I wish you all a very Happy Easter!  

Jesus is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!!

www.3wishesphotography.com

cija@3wishesphotography.com