Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have a quiet moment this Thanksgiving Eve and thought I would sit and reflect on the things that I am thankful for. Let's just say that at this time in my life, it has been hard to see the good things, and I need to do this more often. (As I write, Maddy is hacking, wheezing, and whimpering in my bed after three days of fever, xrays, steroids, breathing treatments, and antibiotics. )

-I am so grateful for my three amazing, beautiful, smart, hilarious, sensitive, precious children. They make all obstacles and hard times worth every single moment. If they were all I had in this life, they would be enough.

-I am so grateful for this business. While I do complain quite a bit about the hours and the exhaustion, if I have to work, good LORD...I have got it made. I am here to kiss my baby's boo-boos and can meet them for school lunches and pick them up from school. I also am able to fully support myself and my children. We are so very blessed.

-I am so thankful for all of my incredible friends, both new and old. Friends who travel with me, friends who take me out for fabulous girls' nights, friends who pray for me, friends who reach out to me for help, friends who have my children over so I can work, friends who force me to get out of my house to decompress even though I don't want to, new friends who have taken me under their wing and make me laugh, and Suzanne and Colleen who assist me in so many more ways than work, they have been like sisters to me and I don't think they could possibly know how important they have been and are to me.

-I am grateful for all of my immediate family. All live close and help me out in so many ways I can't begin to name.

-Finally, I am grateful to be alive, healthy, and aware. God has shown me that I am strong (why He KEEPS having to show me, I don't know) and I can get through anything that comes my way.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Deanna

Last One

One more sneak before my break:

We're shutting down the office (I finally get to see my children again!!) :) and I'll be back in the office Monday Dec. 1 and Tuesday Dec. 2nd, then I'm off to New York for more sessions and fun! I wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving with your families!!

Oh Baby, I'm in Love

Just editing this session and dying over this one, must share:

Edited: had to add this one...must. smooch. BABY!!!!

Recent Work Schmorgasborg

Are you ready for sneak peek overload?

Except that only one set of these is an actual sneak peek as most of these have not only seen their galleries but ordered from them, but that is beside the point.

Here are some of my faves from the past few weeks and the reason I have been working til 3am every night since October (you can understand why blogging fell by the wayside):

If you haven't ordered yet you might want to start moseyin' those over to us, as we will not be working next week AND because after Friday, anything needed in time for the holidays will be charged a 50% rush fee.

(This doesn't include those who haven't received their galleries yet--I'm working on finishing everyone tonight and tomorrow night)

What's that ahead??? Is it the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel??? Could it be???

Important Dates

I'm sure I've lost all (two) of my blog readers by now :), but in case you are a client checking in I wanted to remind everyone that the deadline to order in time for Holiday Delivery is Nov. 20th.

Also some upcoming dates to remember:

Nov. 24-29 Closed for Thanksgiving
Dec. 3rd-6th New York Sessions
Dec. 19th-Jan. 12 Closed for the holidays

I do still have a few sessions available in December, please call ASAP to snag one!

Still cranking it out over here and trying to keep my sanity. Stay tuned!!

D

Chug-a-luggin'

Just a quick note: If you're reading this, God bless you for hanging in there with me.

If you're waiting on pictures, I have finished mini sessions and working on full sessions now for the month of October. I am buckling down the next 3 days and plan to be back to my normal turnaround times by Monday.

Orders are pouring into the office and Suzanne is staying on top of that department.

I'm so grateful for your patience if you are waiting on my attention. Aside from all the illness in our home, I've undergone an incredibly difficult personal situation over the past several months that has affected me greatly and also placed additional pressure on my already hectic schedule. I have been so blessed with seriously, the BEST clients ever, and it has helped so much have your understanding!!!

I'm really proud of the sessions I am currently editing and can't WAIT to share them with you all. Just feeling the pressure (albeit, all self-inflicted as usual!) to check in.

Can you believe it's NOVEMBER??? The kids and I heard Christmas music being played this weekend!!

More soon!
Deanna

Happy Halloween!

This pretty much sums up the past 2 weeks for me:

(somewhere my assistant Suzanne is nodding her head fervently in agreement)

You should have seen this unfold in person. I made the two big kids sit and hold their smiles. Maddy wanted me to hold her, but we take this picture every Halloween in front of the house before we trick or treat, it's a tradition. So I plopped her down, kids frozen next to her, me screaming "GET CLOSER!! HURRY!!!!!!!" *snap*

Let's see, the past two weeks.... Everyone in the house caught the awful stomach bug that is going around, each of us had it for 2 days, and none of us had it on the same day. I was the last to catch it of course. Then half of us caught another respiratory thing with fever, then Monday I finally took Maddy to the doc where she was diagnosed with severe bronchitis and put on daily breathing treatments, oral steroids, and antibiotics. Have your kids ever been on steroids??? (Suzanne, again, is nodding in agreement) Take one ohhhhh let's just say rambunctious toddler and put her on steroids and you have the equivalent of Richard Simmons on crack. I HATE YOU! I LOVE YOU! PUT ME DOWN! NOW PICK ME UP! BUT WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T WORK OR EVER EVEN THINK OF LOOKING AWAY FROM ME!!!!!

Thus the desperate plea for a Mother's Helper last week (still haven't found anyone...keep the word out!)

Phew! That was exhausting to relive.

So here's the scoop on my behind-ed-ness (I just made up that word)

I sent out my first mini-session gallery today and will continue cranking those out over the weekend and into Monday, so if you are wondering where the heck yours is, it's on the way I promise.

Mini-Sessions were 3 weeks ago so if you've had a shoot in the past 3 weeks then that gives you an idea of where I'm at.

I will be caught up on editing and sneak peeks by the end of this week. So help me GOD.

Suzanne has all other office work caught up, so orders that have been placed and deliveries/pick ups are running on time, no delay.

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween tonight. Send me pictures of your kids in their costumes!!!

Deanna

Help Wanted ASAP

Last week's round of illness has me behind in a BIG way... so I am looking for a MOTHER'S HELPER who can work part-time starting ASAP.

Mother's Helper
Duties: help with 2 year old, light housekeeping and laundry, errands
Part-time hours M-F now through December only
Am willing to pay hourly or barter for pictures

Please if you know of anyone or are interested, call 972-596-5500 or email deanna@devine-memories.com

Possibly, the first true fall session

We had some pretty colors last week for this family session with my dear clients, thought I'd come up for air from all the illness around here and share (READ: I was having panic attacks in bed about how far behind I'm getting by being sick)

Sloooooow

Well, the sick bugs...every......single.......one of them.....have hit my house.

It couldn't have happened at a better time **dripping with sarcasm** as the craziest holiday season yet is in full swing.

Sneak peeks, online galleries, emails, phone calls, etc. etc. etc. will be very slow while I semi-shut down and get my kids better. 2 of 3 of them have fever and are vomiting, and I'm sure the third isn't far behind.

In the meantime, head on over to my buddy Jen's adoption blog and see a few of the images I took of her family officially bringing home their new baby girl.

Thanks, as always, for your understanding and patience as I try to get through each moment.

Deanna

Get ready for some serious sneak peek-age

Finally (it has been a LONG WEEK)... the mini sneak peeks!!

These were SO MUCH fun!!! I am chin-high in editing but had to share my faves!!

(these three cuties below belong to Suzanne, one of my assistants!)

Ohhhh, how I LOOOOVE my new lens

(more mini sneak peeks to come soon!)

Funeral Services for Christopher Seibert
Friday 10:30 am
St. Francis of Assisi
8000 El Dorado Pkwy
Frisco, TX

Burial following funeral servies at cemetary behind church
Reception at church following funeral and burial

Denise has requested that in lieu of flowers, she would prefer if everyone would either donate to the American Cancer Society on behalf of Christopher, or donate to the Seibert Family Fund to help Ethan for his future.

Christopher Seibert

I am so crushed and saddened to let all of you know that Christopher Seibert passed away early this morning.

Arrangements are being made and I will keep everyone updated. Please pray for Denise and Ethan. Even though Christopher was very sick, this is still so shocking and sudden in the grand scheme of things. He was so young and so full of life and fight.

Donations can still be made for Denise and Ethan at http://www.ourseibertfamily.com/

Caroline and Matthew

(in case you are wondering why I'm posting so many sneak peeks, I have mini sessions tomorrow and trying to get caught up)

This was such a fun session with these two cutie pies who totally knew how to WORK. IT.

(Can you believe the hair on this lil' doll? Color me jealous!)

The coolness factor was HIGH

Sophia in the Garden

5 year old girlie girl + Arboretum + mom's brilliant choice of clothing = Homerun for photographer!!!

Adoption Session-A Family United

I do realize that I am skipping a couple of sneak peeks for my very patient clients (sorry guys!) so don't get mad at me, but I just got home from this amazing event and just cannot help myself.

Aaron and Kara are old clients of mine, and when they called and asked if I could be there to photograph the LONG, LONG awaited arrival of their adopted baby Sophia at the airport, I have never been more honored. Or excited!!!

Kara has been overseas since mid-August, going through the very long process of paperwork to bring their baby girl home. Finally, today was the day, and after an incredibly long trip, they arrived this evening to greet a huge crowd of loved ones, waiting to meet the newest member of their family.

This was also big brother's first time to meet his new baby sister! But the instant they met, you could already feel the connection. When they put Sophia down, she crawled STRAIGHT to Brother. *tears*

I couldn't help but look thru them tonight and thought I would share them with you guys. After 2 long years of waiting for their daughter, I didn't want this family to have anymore waiting!!! :)

The arrival...

Getting to see Daddy!!!
Meeting her cousins..

Crawling to brother

(ps--I was lucky enough to have the one and only Jen of Sugar Photography accompany me on this shoot, and even luckier that she offered to take some additional shots! The last two are hers)

Mini Session Opening

I have a last minute opening for the mini sessions on Saturday that I have not been able to fill via the waiting list...it is for 11am. Please call or email ASAP if you are interested!! ****EDITED TO ADD--SPOT HAS BEEN FILLED. THANK YOU!!

972-596-5500
deanna@devine-memories.com

Back to the Sneaks

It's Maddy's b-day today and I'm swamped for time, but I wanted to quickly get a sneak peek up for some of my "regulars"(you may recognize these twins as babies on my website)

I have to say, I think I may have rocked this session...but you be the judge!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear everyone...

If you are waiting to hear from me, aside from the obscenely busy holiday rush that I'm already weathering, October is THE CRAZIEST month for me personally.

But I did want to stop and wish my precious son Michael a HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY today!!!!!! It still pains me to say that he is TEN, double digits...but I am so very proud of my boy and hope today was his best so far. Here's a picture of him from his birthday party this weekend...

(the cake is a 3D guitar...email me if you want the cake maker's #...she's amazing!)

And tomorrow is Maddy's SECOND birthday...I know I don't even have to say how fast time has flown by. And while Maddy's short little life has definetly been the WILDEST ride I've ever been on, I'm loving every minute of it and laughing the whole way.

(The following picture is what I'm dealing with most of the time these days)

D