Christmas Best

Happy Holidays, Everyone!  Those cheery days are drawing near ... which gave me a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with one of my very favorite families!  I really do love these guys!  We had a blast in the park and the kids had fun in their Christmas best!  This is just a little teaser.  The rest of the pics will be posted on the Organic Soul Photography Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Organic-Soul-Photography/181995555150912

Look for us there!

Happy Holidays to ALL and may the Lord's richest blessings be with you this season and always!

Peace,

Jackie

sleepless nights ...

Hi everyone!  I've been battling back and forth with a slight case of insomnia for about a month now.  Although I am exhausted by the end of the day, once I get into bed (next to my wonderful hubby - it's my favorite place to be) and settle in for the night, my brain decides it's been far too dormant for the day and makes up for lost time.  At warp speed. Yeah, I know you've all been there.  

One of the plethora of thoughts to cross my mind last night was a theme that was woven throughout my childhood - a mother duck and her ducklings.  Weird, I know, but just bear with me for a minute ... My Dad always referred to my Mom as the 'mother duck' and my brothers and sister and I were her 'little ducklings'.  When we were well behaved, we would be 'all in a row' and when one of us strayed, well, you get the picture.  He would always give her cards, pictures, figurines depicting this theme.  Quite sweet and endearing. This led me to remember a time not so long ago when Gracie - our youngest - and I were returning from the store and crossing our street were a mother duck and her fluffy little ducklings.  Not too far prior to this, a different female momma set up her nest against the side of our home.  Needless to say, she proved to be quite neglectful because she would lay an egg or two a day and then take off at night to do God knows what and leave the eggs unattended!  I remember the entire family being horrified!  We have many rogue animals here in Florida, not the least frightening of which is the wily 'o-possum', who loves to feast on freshly laid duck eggs.  Those yet-to-be ducklings never stood a chance.  Every one of them.  Eaten.  One or two a night - as if the o-possum knew it's meals were set for the week and planned his menu ... 

Imagine how refreshing it was to see that even though the Heidi Fleiss of ducks chose our home to try to do as nature was calling her to, although she was well, quite unsuccessful; nature, instinct, life ultimately prevailed.  

What's the purpose of the thought process?  I asked my brain the very same question. ( ... at 2:25 am)  I think the point of the meandering journey was that even though we are surrounded by so many influences that have the potential to veer us quite far off our destined course, the truth is, each of us has an instinct, a voice, a pull - conscience, will, God - that draws us nearer and closer to that right thing.  Thankfully, as human beings, we have a far greater potential to realize when we are dangerously off the mark and even once we've gone quite awry, are basically still able to make it back.  That awareness - that belief - gives me hope.  

I do wonder if the duck who chose our home will ever have the ability of hatch little ducklings?  Not this spring, anyway, but there's always hope for next year!  In the meantime, even though these aren't part of my 'professional repertoire' - Gracie was the artist in this shoot - I thought I'd share the pictures of the little ducklings we saw that day - the ones that made it!

The Heidi Fleiss of the Muscovy Ducks

Oh, and PS:  any suggestions to scare away the wide-eyed nights would be much appreciated!

Thanks for dropping by.  Please visit my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Organic-Soul-Photography/181995555150912 - I added some new pics!  Here's to soul-searching!

Jackie

embarking on a new journey ... sort of

Christmas is my very favorite time of year - ask anyone who knows me ... Christmas carols start resonating throughout the house on November 1st, much to the dismay of my family members.  And I never really take down ALL the decorations; there are usually a few stragglers ... pretty much whatever my favorite new acquisitions are for the season, they earn their keep and become permanent fixtures in our home.  My family does tolerate me, thank goodness, which is one of the blessings I count in my day to day life.  (I wonder if they would be as tolerant if they knew I actually play the carols on my iPod in July ... I'm thinking 'no'.)  At any rate, I thought with it being Advent and all, this would be the perfect time to start putting a little extra effort into making a name for myself in this business world.  So, as they say, '... AWAY we go!'

Although I've been taking photographs for years, I never actually put myself out there (mostly because I've never really been sure where 'there' is ... ) to try to obtain business.  I haven't done much advertising and really only relied on referrals from friends who have trusted me enough through the years to allow me to be privy to some of the most endearing and captivating moments in their lives.  What an incredible honor.  So now, I think I've finally arrived to the point at which I wish to spread my wings.  This is going to be fun. New people, new places, new moments.  I can't wait.

So spread the word - to all your friends and family - my goal is to capture those moments which nurture the heart and soul of a relationship, a person, a pet ... in a special setting, at a special event, or for a special holiday.  I look forward to getting to you know and those who are special to you.

Thank you for sharing my inaugural post and embarkation into my newest, most enthralling endeavor.  Please check back as I will post teasers and comments often.

Here's to soul-searching!

Jackie