What a Year!

2009 has been a momentous year for me.

There have been major changes, terrible tragedies, and unspeakable joys.

In Fall of 2008, JJ and I started to ponder what other occupation I could have that would

afford us a better quality of life.

We prayed for a change and direction to come by the following Spring.

In December, on our trip to my Sister's home in Arizona for Christmas,

we started to seriously consider photography as an option.

I have loved it since I took my first class at age 13.

Do what you love, and you'll love what you do - so they say!

I decided to test myself.

I went out into the stalls at Brenda's place with my little point and shoot PowerShot.

Could I take pictures I could be proud of, passiontate about, and lovvvvve?

I passed my test:

We went home and promptly started calling friends who are currently photographers,

and bought the gear they recommended, while taking every ounce of advice they offered.

By the end of January, I was outfitted.

But, something terrible and tragic happened first.

My Sister, Brenda, had a riding accident where a horse fell on her.

She broke her leg severely, and we did not know if she would be able to keep her foot.

Miraculously, the main vein/artery was not damaged, and she was able to.

It is a long road to recovery.

There were months of keeping ALL weight off of it.

The process has been more difficult for them than words can express.

Today, she is doing some walking, with pain...and a cane.

She is also riding, and doing a little roping again.

Her progress has been AH-MA-ZING, and the Doctors could not be happier with how well

she has been recovering.

Soon, we all hope and look forward to her walking without pain or help.

This is us, Christmas 2008, having a blast roping on a rainy day:

February rolled around, and it was time to test out my new camera gear.

The Denver Dog Show lasts for days and days,

and I spent all of them taking literally thousands of pictures and handing out business cards.

It was a blast and a success!

Shane, one of Mom & Brenda's poodles, won a 1st in the Non-Sporting Group,

and went to the Best in Show ring.

We were elated, and full of tears since Brenda couldn't be there after her accident.

It was bittersweet.

Shane:

Spring came.

I worked and worked on my photography skills.

Then:

My "position was eliminated" at work.

JJ and I knew that very day that our prayers had been answerd.

This was the opportunity to dive head-long into building photography into my full time business.

It has been the gift of a lifetime that has afforded me more freedom and time than I ever

could have anticipated. See my Thanksgiving Blog for that story: http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/simple-thanksgiving-eats.html

It was a new start.

After making a couple long hauls to dog shows to help Mom,

take pictures, and build clientele,

I took a trip up North.

JJ was working in Pullman, Washington for a couple months,

and I could now spend time near there visiting family & friends.

My first stop on the way was in Nampa, Idaho.

After a few years of being out of touch, my oldest friend, Tricia and I got to reconnect.

I stayed with her and her FIANCE, Boone, for four days.

We had a blast, caught up, and it has been like we haven't missed a day.

Don't you just LOVE friends like that?

Here is Trish with her Nephew, Grady, enjoying a lift.

I spent a few days with JJ's family in Kettle Falls, Washington.

Pops, Mama Rita, Neice Havilah, Sister-In-Law Lisa with her FIANCE Jerry.

They make a fine group, and it was my first stay without JJ there. It was a blast!

We made Mama Rita's specialty - homemade Raviolis

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/raviolis-that-feed-soul.html

For nearly three weeks,

I stayed with my Brother Judd, Sister-In-Law Shelby & Nephew Cameron

and kicked around the Coeur d'Alene area:

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/home-is-where-heart-is.html

We had a great time visiting a lot, and had a photo shoot with Cam.

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/cam-r-oni.html

He is a very serious flat-track racer and won his division for the year!

This is his "I'm gonna whup you" competition face:

When it was time to head for home, JJ & I went through Montana to see Dan!

Here he is giving us a map to the stash of all stashes for fising in Dillon, Montana.

You know it's a good spot when you get a map on a napkin!

It was a great stash, there is no doubt.

I officially counted 7 fish in the wake behind me while standing in the river fishing.

Too bad I couldn't catch a single one of them. Of course, J did.

Then, joy unspeakable happened on the 4th of July

when my Dear and Lovely Friend Kendra got married to Joe.

She was a beautiful bride and I was so honored to be part of their day:

Back at home, weekend after weekend was spent fishing at the cabin.
I had my best day ever when I had 11 fish on, and landed 9 in one seam!
For the day, I ended up with 14 landed.
Finally, finally, I am getting better at this!

My Darling and Beloved Cousin came to visit us in Denver.
This is monumental.
I think she is actually my FIRST family member to come stay to visit with us in 6 years!
We had a great time earlier in the year, up in Sandpoint:
http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/apamazen.html
We had a blast, too many laughs, and enjoyed every minute of it!




Then, Whoa Nelly of all Whoa Nellies.
We are having a baby.

The combination of excitement and anticipation of a total life-overhaul
just cannot be put into words.

In September, it was time for a trip back up to the Northwest again...
JJ's Sister Lisa married Jerry.
It was a terrific day, and they are a wonderful couple.
I was honored to capture their day for them!


We had a great time monkeying around and helping get ready for the wedding.

We extended our trip to include a jaunt up to Nelson, BC.

Our honeymoon was in Nelson 7 years ago. (Thank you Uncle Jay & Aunt Evy)

This time, we stayed with our friend Gray's family - the Beauchamps!

They have a cabin on Kootenay Lake and the view from our room could not be better:

I wish this picture was lighter, so you could see how warm and wonderful they are.

We made new friends for a lifetime:

On our trip, we caught some serious lunkers on our fly rods.

Dolly Varden had come up from the lake to spawn in the river.

These were fish of a lifetime and I was proud to land this lovely lady:

Come October, it was time for another visit to the Northwest, and another wedding.

This time, for Tricia & Boone.

I am overloaded with joy for them,

and so very grateful they chose me to capture their day:

And, well, I started to show.

This is the mid-point, 4.5 months along...

At which time, we got to find out we are having a BOY!

Here is a profile shot:

Thanksgiving was subdued, but so unusual that it must be included in the year's recap.

The pre-packaged Thanksgiving:

http://erinlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful.html

I love seeing my RichardBerg and we had a great day hanging together.

Then, momentous of all momentous events came the week of Christmas.
My Brother called and was taking Dad to the hospital.
My Sister, Nephew and I flew in - it was serious.
We were able to spend time with him, talking with him, holding his hand, telling stories.
He deteriorated fairly quickly after that, and we lost him the day after Christmas.

We are all still trying to sort out how to move forward,
what this means to us,
what he has meant to us,
how to work together and love each other well.

He built houses for years, and always had this dry spot in the middle of his palms.
Carpenter's Hands, he called them.
It was from swinging a hammer too much, he said.
He'd put bag balm on them all the time, but it never seemed to get better...
Here is a shot from the hospital of those Carpenter Hands:

This Summer, we spent 5 days in a row together - quite a feat for us.
We had breakfast every day, then Dad would take me to show me his favorite places on the lake.
He wanted to show me all the options for Tricia's upcoming wedding.
Little did I know how much I would later treasure this time with him.
A few of the days, we followed our lake-viewing with a visit to one of his car buddies.
They would talk engines and cars, and I would try to grasp every other word and piece together
what they were talking about.

For me, it was like listening to Spanish in Mexico.

Here he is enjoying the Spokane River that feeds Lake Coeur d'Alene
at Corbin Park in Post Falls.
He's fished and swam here, picnic'd and played here,
even got a truck stuck in the water once here.
This spot just off the lake is his official favorite spot of them all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for hanging in there through this long post.

Thank you for sharing in 2009 with me.

Even if you're not listed here, you are still very special to me,

and I am grateful for you in my life.

Here's to 2010!

May it bring us all new wonders and monumental events that shape our life

for the better.

XO!