It’s no surprise that juggling being a stay at home mother and a business owner is beyond a 24/7 job, but lately it’s wearing.  I noticed the other day, to my shock, that I’ve scheduled myself in for every single weekend til June.  Don’t get me wrong I’m so excited to meet everyone of these clients and am honored to photograph them, but I’m going to take this opportunity to change things for the future.  I need my weekends for my family.  So starting in June I will only be opening up 1/2 the weekends each month. The other half I won’t be scheduling any sessions.  That being said if you are going to need a weekend spot, even as far out as fall you might want to schedule early.  🙂  Right now I can only schedule a Saturday appointment in June for the 5th and 26th.

I wanted to share a few more images from a previous session. 🙂

I sound a little bit excited don’t I?  I AM!  My birthday (we won’t mention the age) was back in February and I told Andy I really wanted the iPad, but it wasn’t due to come out til April.  He was all ready to pre-order it when I told him to just forget it and we’d look into getting it later.  I hadn’t really thought about it since.  I mean sure, I read about it, googled it and stared at Apple’s website each day, but i wasn’t thinking about it.  😉  So Saturday morning I was gloriously taking advantage of sleeping in and letting my husband do breakfast with the kids that I never knew they left!  Sure I was aware in the back of my mind somewhere that I was sleeping peacefully for once…but no clue they were gone.  When they got home I was washing my face in the bathroom.  The kids all came running in with their Chick-Fil-A breakfast and Walmart sacks in hand.  Still, no idea.  Andy throws down the sack yakking away about something (I can’t remember what exactly) while I start brushing my teeth.  When he throws down the bag a box drops out and he just smiles.  I looked at what fell out and there it was….my new baby!  Ben took a bet that I’d scream when I saw it, and he would have won if it weren’t for the Colgate in my mouth.  🙂

Translation for image above:  my mom thinks this is her’s.  But it’s Mine!

I have really enjoyed reading all these Single Parent Contest emails.  I’m feeling just a tad bit inadequate and pathetic to be honest.  😉  If you haven’t entered the single parent in your life you only have SIX more days to do so!  To learn about the contest and find out how to enter click HERE.

MJW Photography will be closed from April 18-21 as I travel to Oregon for a photographers retreat. I am so excited!  🙂

If you are interested in booking a spring session email me soon.  All April weekend spots are now full, but there is still weekday room.  To find out how you can earn free session credit click on the red heart at the left or HERE.

With all this rain yesterday and today I need some sunshine….

I pray I never know what it’s really like for my brother to be a single parent.  I’m so thankful that not only do my children have a mom and a dad, but that my husband is so active in their lives.

My niece, Taylor Jade was born early at just 24 gestational weeks.  Not something anyone thinks will happen and not something that could have been prevented.  Not only was my beautiful niece born into this world much too early, but she came with a host of problems.  Taylor had a hole in her heart, partial cleft palate and since she was not full term not everything was fully developed.  She was months behind in every milestone and had to have therapy.  It was absolutely heartbreaking to see her walking around pulling her tiny oxygen on wheels.  She had this tank until her heart could be fixed.  Despite so many obstacles God granted our family a miracle.  Taylor will have her eleventh birthday this May.  Isn’t she beautiful?

This is my inspiration for my single parent contest.

I think about my life with 3 children.  Doing laundry, cleaning the house, making sure homework gets done.  I think about getting my kids involved with activities, giving them my undivided attention.  I think about running a business.  Then I imagine not having my spouse to fill in the blanks.

If you are a single parent or if you know one that could really use some good news pass this post along.  I want you to email me their story.  Tell me about their life as a single parent.  I will be accepting stories throughout the entire month of March.  I’ll be looking for these stories to be genuine and heartfelt.

What will they win you ask?  I’m so glad you asked.  🙂

Like last year the winner will receive a complimentary session along with a** $500 print credit!** This credit may be used towards prints, proofs, albums…whatever.

BUT….

This year I’ve gone one step farther.  Trudi, at Illusions for Hair in Bentonville is giving the winning single parent a complete hairstyle.  Cut, color, whatever you want.  Not only that, but she will also do the children’s hair!  My kids and I go to Trudi every month and I gotta tell ya…she’s good!  She even has a stash of suckers in the top middle drawer.  😉

See, told you my kids love her.  🙂

So start sending in those emails!  In the subject line write ‘single parent contest’.  Here is a sample of last year’s winning session.

Can’t wait to start reading!

M