Allen's Glory - Superbowl 44

It happened. It actually happened. THE SAINTS WON THE SUPERBOWL! My husband has been a die-hard Saints fan since junior high, throughout all their years of struggle, and through all their loosing so you can imagine how this football season has been at the Witt house. Well, if you follow football at all, you should be able to imagine.

He meticulously followed the Saints website and ESPN...but I guess that's going to happen regardless of a good or bad year. He pretty much knows all there is to know about the league.

We had some good friends and family over for the game. Thanks for coming everyone! Didn't get pictures of everyone. Sorry.


We had a New Orleans feast, complete with Gumbo (yuck by the way). Too.Much.Food.No.More.Meat. Thanks for the surprise balloons Sarah. Allen loved that "prize." :)


WHAT A GAME! We went from this...

...to stressed...

...and back again.


Allen was in his heaven. It was so fun for me to watch him enjoy everything about the night.

Dear Sarah,
Forgive me.


First the NFC championship, then a SUPERBOWL championship?! It was a football miracle and it was quite the ride to take with Allen. I was jumping and screaming right along with my obsessed husband and it was a blast. I've never seen him so blissfully happy. :) It couldn't have been a more exciting game with a better ending.
Victory is sweet. WHO DAT?!


I hope it was everything you thought it would be Alno. I love you!

Give Thanks Thursday - Perspective

image courtesy google
I enjoy hearing how other people view the world. Perspective is valuable, varied, and educational. A person's perspective comes from intimate experiences and can shed light on the soul of a person. It also makes for some GREAT discussion, which I hope to have happen here.

I read something recently that made me think. This particular perspective I didn't and still don't understand. Maybe you can help. First let me explain my understanding and belief on a topic most important to me.

I feel as women, we are born with certain yearnings. We have built in desire to take care of someone, to nuture, to mother, to serve. I believe this is part of the beauty of women spoken of by so many scholars and prophets. It's an important position and I honor and embrace it.

I recently read as a woman described her role as wife and mother as something she "earned." I read her perspective and appreciated things that were said, but I just can't get myself to stomach the idea of these precious roles of wife and womanhood as something to be "achieved." I don't think I "earned" the right to be Allen's wife, or "earned" the right to be called a good one at that. To me, it's nothing short of a blessing (and miracle really) that someone who I love chose to love me back and bravely promise to spend eternity with me. (Good luck Alno) Too many women better than I have yet to "achieve" this role, so to me the idea of "earning" a husband just doesn't make sense.

I also don't think there are certain things I'm supposed to do in order to "earn" the blessing of having children of my own, and by so doing "achieve" motherhood.

Many of my close friends know that Allen and I have been wanting/trying to have children for over 2 years. Maybe that's why I was little put off by this comment of "earning" children. I still appreciate this perspective though. It's interesting for me to hear what people think, expecially concerning this. Becoming a mother (or at least getting pregnant) may have been granted this woman more easily than I, but I don't believe it's because it was "earned." As women, we have abilities; abilities that are God-given. Not "earned."

I'll step off my soap box now (even though I don't understand the phrase).

Thank you.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear some different perspectives, because today, that's what I'm thankful for.

This is Me...This is Who I Want to Be

"God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."

- Jeffrey R Holland

For me, the first month of every year is a time of reflection. I take the month and use it to remember and plan. I don't know if January is good for much else, so that's how I treat it. 2009 was a good year. I was blessed and stretched. I learned and changed. Change is so good...and uncomfortable.

I have so far to go...
I need to be kind.
I need to trust, and let go.
I need to see the glass as half full.
You see, I need more uncomfortable stretching.

So throughout the month of January, I have set goals, the stretching kind. Hopefully during 2010, I will be able to get closer to the person I want to be.

- More books, less TV.
- Hike on every possible full moon.
- Be kind
- 5 photowalks this year.
- Cross two things off my life list.
- Run a race...unless something happens to prevent training. Which I hope. Oh I hope...
- Explore the arts.
- And most importantly, better my relationship with my Father, and my Brother. They will help me stretch. I thank them for this last year, and for the hope I've found in the year to come.

This is Me...This is Who I Want to Be

"Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year's resolution I ask you to keep."
- Jeffrey R. Holland

Give Thanks Thursday - Bud and Beef

Yesterday was one of those days. You know the kind. Well on days such as those, there always seems to be someone who steps in and picks me up. Always. Intentionally or not, it happens. Thats's where the thanks comes in.

I have one brother. Just one brother who is younger than I, and who I look up to because he is so much more awesome..er than I am, and he technically is taller. Don't you love the words I create? I knew it. He is considerate. He is smart. He is beyond clever and so witty which makes conversation the best. Also, we look alike.

Yesterday afternoon I may have been a little pouty. I was fighting it anyway. Then I saw my phone light up with a text.

Bud
"Hey you gonna be home alone tonight??"

my response:
"Always and of course"
(note: you see Allen is super busy with work and school so yes...I'm often home alone. I've never handled alone well)

Bud
"Well you reckon I could come over and we can watch the finale of last cake standing and eat jcw's??"

my response:
"Oh.my.gooness. Sounds too good to be true! I'd love that!"

Bud
"Alright what is your order?? Bacon ranch combo with oreo shake??"

my response:
Sounds perfect

And it was.

Today I'm thankful for my little brother. So thankful that he is cool enough to love the same Food Network shows as his sister. We are not ashamed. (we actually discovered this shared love only last week...to our delight). So thankful he is willing to drive out to my house just to hang out with me. So thankful that on his way out to Saratoga Springs he stops to get big juicy and very fatty beef burgers, fries, and the most delish shakes ever made...and that he already knew my order.

For that, for him...I'm so thankful.

Love you Bud!

Ahem...

I normally like to keep my personal blog separate from my photography blog. As a friend though, I feel I should advise you to head over there and check out the deal that's going on now. Click on my logo to the right. Spread the word to your friends. Crazy affordable custom photography...plus I'd love to see you.

Cheers!

Update: I've decided to make a change. Instead of Mondays, we'll be doing mini Sesssion Saturdays. Apparently Mondays are terrible days for everyone...all around. :)

Contact me through call, text, or email to set up your shoot. Can't wait for the 6th!

Who Dat?!

Who dat?! Who dat?! Who dat gonna beat dem Saints?! HAHAHAHAHA Ten plus years of watching them suck finally paid off!!! The Saints are Super Bowl bound!!!!

(posted by Allen)

Give Thanks Thursday - Perfectly Placed

I believe in karma. I believe that we all put off energy that attracts others to us and us to them. I believe people are in our lives for a reason. Today I'm thankful for these people, the people who are perfectly placed in my life. There are reasons, and lately I've been very able to recognize those reasons.

I have complained about work. Who hasn't? We complain about where we work, what we do at work, and how LONG we have to be at work. I've done that too much. Here's why. I know that the people I work closely with every day were placed there for a reason...to help me. Call me selfish, that's what I believe.

Don't judge, but last night Allen I were sitting in our sweaty post workout filth (judgement begins), watching American Idol. ("pants on the ground...") We heard a knock on the door. I followed behind Allen who answered to find my beautiful friend and co-worker standing there. I'll call her "Prissy" so as not to embarrass. It's not an insult, believe me. She stood there with cookies in hand and tears in her eyes. She stepped into our house and cried. She sweetly explained how she had been thinking about me alot, and knew that I've been struggling with yada yada yada (I'll spare you). She told me she loved me. She hugged me. She made me cry. She told my husband that she loved his wife very much. It was sweet. It was one of the most heartfelt things I've ever seen. She was sincere and I thanked the Lord then and many times since for her, and the many people like her who genuinely care and show it. She makes me want to be better at that. Thank you "Prissy." I love you too.

I went to work today. I have another perfectly placed friend there. I'll call her "Nibby" so as not to embarass. I've felt since we met that we were kindred spirits, the Anne Shirley kind. We have been through very similar life experiences. It's almost eerie. She's adorably sweet, funny, and sassy. Love her. This morning we had a heart to heart. We have done that before, more often without words. I feel like it's that kind of connection. She's a support. She's a strength and huge example. I love you "Nibby" and will continue praying for you.

I've already told you about my neighb...no, my friends that Allen and I have become close to. I think I feed off of their good energies and abilities. Again...perfectly placed.

Today I'm thankful for people, the perfectly placed people who help and teach me every day. Thank you.

Post Script: I think Allen is thankful too. These people keep me sane afterall.

Enjoy some photos of this morning. I am ridiculously tired of this kind of weather, but I must admit beauty.

Yes, it's garbage day.