My Parents, Their beautiful Granddaughters, and the Joy of Life.
Looking at this picture of my parents with my beautiful nieces fills my heart with happiness. It’s a reminder of the incredible joy and love that family brings. We’ve been blessed with only girls, each one unique and special. (The oldest, Aliza, couldn’t be with us for this photo.) These moments are precious, and I cherish every time we get together. I’m so glad I carry my camera everywhere I go. I made three trips to Texas last year to see my family.
2024 was a year of milestones. My beautiful daughter turned 15. No, she didn’t want the traditional QuinceaƱera. š Thank God. They are pretty expensive. Instead, she asked for concert tickets to go see Bad Bunny & Ivan Cornejo. Mind you, itās still not cheap, but I’m happy we were able to make her wish come true. She got her first job as a lifeguard at Six Flags and got her driver’s permit. Scary. I had to learn patience and to keep calm. We’re incredibly proud of the amazing young woman she’s become.
My 11-year-old started middle school. The transition from elementary to middle school went as expected. She’s happy. She went to her first dance and decided to play an instrument and joined band.
We celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary, celebrated lots and lots of birthdays, and worked our asses off. I’m so proud of everything we have accomplished up to this point.
The tragic part of the year was saying goodbye to our best friend, Shiloh, our 17-year-old full-of-life dachshund. That was very hard. He gave us many happy years. He will be missed.
Last year was a year of many new adventures, projects, new friendships and unforgettable experiences!
Google!, Married at First Sight!!, District 41 Schools, Waukegan Chamber of Commerce, Comedy Show, American Place Casino in Waukegan, marketing for Siegels Cottonwood Farm, Knapheide, Mentoring, Volunteering, Corporate, Headshots, Weddings, Quinceaneras, Graduations, worked for Bella Baby during the slow winter season the list goes on and on.
Yes, it was an incredible year. We are so grateful. Thank you!
Let’s be honest: not every moment of 2024 was sunshine and rainbows. We had a fuckin Eclipse, remember! That’s when it all went downhill.
No, I’m joking.
There were bumps in the road, moments of doubt, and times when I questioned my career. But in these moments, we learn, and our faith grows. One of the biggest lessons 2024 taught me was the importance of slowing down, mental health first, and being present in what matters the most.
My dad gave us a scare. He was admitted to the hospital and was blessed with a kidney. He had a successful transplant but had complications. I’m thankful to God for all the prayers and the excellent doctors. He is doing much better.
It can be hard to be creative as an artist when your heart and mind are not 100% there, but my clients need me, and I canāt let them down. It was a challenging year. I donāt know if anyone noticed, but I had to keep it together. Iām not good at managing stress. I neglected myself. My stress could have been handled differently, but I did my best, and despite the challenges, Iām so grateful for the beautiful moments I captured.
These images of my life journey remind me of the beauty and richness of life. Life is too short. Remember to capture every moment.
I can’t wait to share everything I was a part of. Stay tuned for upcoming posts showcasing all the amazing work.
Thank you for reading and for always supporting our small business ā we appreciate you more than you know!
This post is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend, Ken Flores, who left us far too soon. Ken, you were a comedian genius, and your laughter will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.
