The Sun and the Moon...

When I was a little girl (and for always I guess) ...She used to sing that I was her sunshine.... and it donned on me today- she was my moon.  The moon is what helps to keeps us balanced on this planet- the push and pull of the ocean tides, weather and gravity, etc. 

She was my gravity... she kept me centered in the face of life's biggest storms. She was my safe harbor, my protector,  and she taught me everything I needed to know about life and how to be a good person.  She made me work hard, sing loud and laugh even louder.

Today my beautiful momma would have been 58.  Happy birthday mom... I love and miss you so much....  Thanks for being my moon. xoxo Doo-Anne

*I'm so glad that she let me catch a few shots of her- it was rare.  I ran across these the other day and it made me smile to see her smiling back at me.  Please don't put off having photos taken of yourself- you never know how much of a gift you are leaving behind!*

Happy Birthday!

I am sitting here in awe of the fact- that at this time- eleven years ago today.... I was being whisked down the halls of Everett General for an emergency C-section after 4 days of inducement (and they were the absolute longest of my life). 

My heart was racing- I was scared to death- and my heart was broken.  I was ready- I was going to push this baby out- natural with little or no pain meds..... I had take all of the classes- read all the books, had a Douala and my husband....

ME:    "Wait!  Where the hell is my husband????"

As we race down the hallway, she's up on the table with my gown ripped back and rubbing iodine all over my enormously pregnant belly....

NURSE:    "He'll be right here ma'am... he's still changing into sterile surgical scrubs."

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Meanwhile.. back in my hospital room.... Ron emerges from the restroom to find the room empty, me and the bed GONE... he freaks- grabs the first orderly he can find...... by the collar and in a rather uncharacteristic moment  screams:

RON:     "Where the hell is my wife??????"

ORDERLY:  "Sir, if you'll just put me down.. I'd be happy to take you to her..."

RON:     "OH! Uhm, thank you"...

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Clearly not some of our finest moments- and yet- they were- They had my strapped down and cut open in record time and with some pulling and prodding- they pulled out the most amazing perfect, little beautiful baby girl out of my abdomen. (I'd be remiss if I didn't say that I had a fleeting moment when I felt like Sigourney Weaver in Alien(s)... but it was the single most amazing and exhausting experience of my 28 years to date, on this planet.

Little did I know THEN  that labor and delivery was absolutely the easiest part about having children!!!!!  And yet- we choose to do this all over again two years later with Gabrielle... so clearly we were brain damaged from lack of sleep- or.... it really is as cool as we think!

Through the months and months that turned into years, with no sleep, teething, potty training and enough laundry to  wrap the entire planet in... we have survived.  We've survived the arrival of Onika M. Miles- (and Gabrielle L.) and their non-stop energy and talking, endless streams of homework, projects and sports practices... and we're only halfway done.....  We still have homework, and more homework.....more endless sports practices and games, driver's ed and more sleepless nights ahead when they begins dating and we'll long for the days that we could hold them in one hand and be the center of their universe.

I am so incredibly, ridiculously proud- and in love with my kids!  Happy birthday to my brilliant, beautiful and crazy talented Onika.  You make my heart soar! xoxo ~ Momma

Good book?

This caught my eye today- I'm intrigued.... anyone else heard of this book? Read it? Reviews?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeZgoQeebv4

Girlfriends

One of my girlfriends sent this to me today- I'm sure you've all seen it before- but it bears re-reading and a reminder to make time for yourself- by getting together with YOUR girlfriends. Much love~ Me
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A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother.

As they talked about life, marriage, responsibilities, and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

Don't forget your Sisters, she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass.

'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places & do things with them now & then.

Remember that Sisters means ALL the women in your life.... You need other women- Women always do.

What a funny piece of advice, the young woman thought.

Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I 'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.

As time and nature worked their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.
A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Big things to come for 2010

Hello my lovelies! :)

As the year seems to be racing at break-neck speeds to the finish line and 2010 is just a blink away.... I just wanted to thank all of you who follow us- for your support! Without my readers and photo clients this would just be my ramblings... oh- wait- it IS just my ramblings.... (never mind that)- with out all of your gorgeous bodies, faces, food and wine- my life would be so much less colorful....and that would make me so sad.....

I'm so blessed that you all like what I love to do. So from the bottom of my heart.... MWAH! A big old wet one! :)

With a new big girl website on the way for 2010- I'm super excited to make this whole photography thing more than just a hobby... (again- I thank all of you for helping me practice and play and get to this point....) So keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks as we girls (me and Big Bertha-) get a virtual face lift and Natural Approach gets ready to put our big girl panties on and go for it!

Much Love, Didi

Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Catching up- and Catching my breath...

I know, I know-

I don't call- I don't write and worst of all- I haven't been sharing any photos lately! ......And the soundtrack in my head is playing over and over again, what I've been hearing from everyone for weeks now....

"why aren't you posting lately?"

"where have you been?",

and the most popular question- "when will my pix be ready?"

All I can say is- Thank you ALL for your patience- this has been a most amazing and busy season for Big Bertha and me! After working like a demon possessed in nuclear overdrive for the last few weeks in the seated position at a pc for about 16 hours a day (between the day job and editing)........

I can see light at the end of the work tunnel- and I'm certain- it's not a train....(though my ass now resembles my office chairs and my eyes are bloodshot and exhausted). I can say that I am almost totally caught up on every one's photos for the holidays!!!!

And a monster thank you goes out to my family- who- quite frankly, rarely see my face anymore- for the last six months- it's been me and Big Bertha running out the door to shoot pix or the back of my head at my desk- editing- having a close personal relationship with my Adobe products.

My kids have grown up a ton this year and are getting to be such good helpers. And Bid Daddy- is the King- seriously- I could never make a go of this photography thing without his help and support- He cooks, he cleans... (he slices, dices and juliennes quite well) he chauffeurs the kids to their practices while I'm at the day job and helps me shoo the kids to bed so that I can continue to work once I've gotten home from the day job.... So Miles family- I love you more than the moon & the stars.....

In the meantime- I leave you with Matt & Andrea's beautiful family- you're finished guys!

Much Love- Di

Where'd she go????

You know that my life has hit super-nova overdrive when I haven't posted in two weeks+, huh?

I have been on the fly for months but this last couple of weeks- is the collective end of my busy season, and I'm frantically trying to get every one's photos finished for the holidays, and fit in a few last minute sessions and some brand new arrivals- that you have to catch as they happen!

Our family went from the normal busy to uber crazed as basketball season is here- both girls are playing- and to make it better/worse... they were hand picked to be on the SAME team....a team that falls in the middle of their skill sets... so this first game on Saturday- should prove to be interesting.... Ron has the chauffeur duty for basketball and is helping coach the team with coach Scott. (God Bless those two- they have infinite patience with the girls!)

I have added official PTA membership and Chamber of Commerce to my resume this month, and have become an official business with the state... so it's been a truly exciting month! Natural Approach is growing up!

Thanksgiving was a great time spent with friends and family and some righteous food! We have so much to thankful for here in the Miles home... and I am particularly thankful for all of you- my friends and clients to visit regularly to see what's new. You keep the wind in my sails and your words of praise and the referrals you send my way - are what keep me going- so thank you, thank you, thank you!

Let's start decorating and baking- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......xoox Didi

It was exactly two years and one hour ago....

It was exactly two years and one hour ago ..... 730 days ago........17,521 hours ago.... that I kissed my dear friend on the forehead and told her that I loved her... and even in her coma state- she moved her head toward me- she heard me- I know she did. I told her that I'd see her soon....and walked slowly down the hallway, out the door and to my car. I sat there momentarily to gather myself- and as I drove away- I knew that I would never see her again...... At least not in the flesh.....

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I drive past the care center where she passed almost every day. Somedays I'm so absorbed in the now- that I don't always give it a thought. But from mid January to mid February- it's positively painful.

I wonder what my fabulous, vibrant, zany-crazy friend would be up to- if she weren't gone. What knitting or volunteer project would she be up to???? What photo or crafting project would she be trying to rope me in to????

I miss Nan so much- but particulary this fiscal month- I would have been celebrating her birthday, both kids' birthdays, Super Bowl, and Valentine's day.... but they all culminate on today, and tomorrow....

I met Nan durring an early childbirth Ed. class when we were pregnant with Onika. I can scarcely believe- that was almost 10 years ago! It was an instant connection- we just loved being around each other. We hired her to be our doula- and she was our childbirth educator. We formed a fast and lasting bond- she was in the delivery room when both kids were born. Our families shared holidays, birthdays and religeous milesones for our children (baptisms & Bar Mitzvahs). Mostly it was phone calls to cheer each other on and our favorite- a cup of tea.
At her 45th birthday tea- she had just discovered a lump- but told none of us.....

You'd never know it in this photo- at her son's Bar Mitavah--but she had found out just the day or two before- that the lump she had found- was in fact cancer..... she lived life with such gusto- that as we were setting up for this event- she told me so matter of factly- that I couldn't even fathom... but that's just the kind of girl she was- unstoppable!

The next couple of years brought much treatment- and hope- but then it began to grow- and spread- with a vengance- and it was like the chemo and radiation- was like fertilizer- it was growing and spreading- and they couldn't stop it. She phoned me the night before she and her entire family met with the enoclogist to decide whether or not to cease treatment. She asked me what I thought... .... I first asked her what she thought.... "are you able and willing to still fight? If so- you know I stand beside you- and will help you fight..... but if you are tired- and done- then I give you permission to stop...you are my friend- and I will love and support whatever YOU decide...."

The doctors told her they had done what they could- and so- we waited.... a couple of weeks later- she called me and asked me to come and cut her hair again- it would be the last time... I asked if she wanted me to shave it off again- and she said "no- I want to still have some hair...." and the pause in her voice- let me know- that she wanted some hair when she went..... it was a tough job as she kept passing in and out of conciousness on me... so I did the best I could to clean it up and make the semblance of a "cut".

I had come to visit not long after that- and she was sitting up- I was thrilled! She patted the bed, motioning me to come and sit beside her- and as I did- she fell into my arms... and she smiled and whispered- "you always smell so good!" and we laughed.... these were the kind of giggles and moments we shared..... right up until that night- 730 days ago- we were true friends- 'til the end.

Stay tuned....

For those of you who check in for my "pro" shots......I promise- the calendar is begining to fill up- so there really will be something other than my kids on here soon. :)