My Time- HopeLights Photography

As a mother, I know I and maybe others, get caught up in the dailies. The daily grind of to and from. Getting the kids to and from school, activities, and many other things. Sometimes we blink and are so focused on the daily grind, we miss the years as they go by. Just seems like yesterday my kids were little and not in school. Now one is going into 5th grade and the other 3rd.

B. K. (Before kids), I went to college and I majored in Liberal Arts.  My focus was on photography. This was an interesting time as this was before digital photography became a 'thing'. So, I spent all my free time in the lab developing my prints and learning how to make beautiful pictures. For one assignment I decided I was going to take pictures of run down buildings. One time my hubby and I went to take pictures of this amazing old apartment building, this crazy lady came down and started chasing us. This was a hilarious site, my hubby and I running to our car while a lady with a pan chased us. My shoot became one of the fun activities we did in our college days.

Then I moved into a management position at a portrait studio. Which was a little experience, but slowly took away my photography joy. Off and on I spent 10 years working for that company. At that point I just didn't want to do any photography. I got tired of complaints and people not appreciating my artistic view.

So, now after Bug & Bean was born, they became the center of all my photography. Then,they grew up and we're willing participants.

Fast forward to now. Judy and I have built an amazing Avon business that has allowed me to be a work at home mom for the last three years. Now, we are currently in the car headed to Pennsylvania which will be our new home. Judy and I will continue to grow and flourish our very successful Avon business. However, I am going to follow my passion as well.  Once we get there HopeLights Photography will officially be established.

I love seeing the beauty in the ordinary. So, surrounded by God's beautiful landscape, I will capture our journey. My photography specialty will be nature, landscapes, and art pieces.

So, stay tuned as HopeLights Photography takes off I will always keep you up to date.

Why?

I think my favorite question so far to our moving has been Why? Why are you up-heaving your family and changing your entire life? Why? So many people have asked, why couldn't he get a job closer? Why would you leave Las Vegas? Why would you move to a cold place? Why? Why Why Why Why?

My answer is simple, I will follow Luke wherever he goes, and God is sending him to Pennsylvania.

For those who don't know Luke and I have been together since High School. We were sophomores in high school and met as opposing debate team captains. We battled it out in several debates and we were intrigued with each other.  18 years later, here we are today.

For our entire relationship we have lived in 3 places in Las Vegas. Throughout our entire life he has always put me first. He always made sure I was comfortable. Everything that happened, he made sure I was first. When I wanted to shine at work, he supported me and helped me as much as he could. When I wanted to be a stay at home mom, he worked tirelessly to make that happen. He sacrificed and drove a car without ac for 5 years, 45 minutes to work in the Las Vegas desert, just to make sure the kids and I were safe and in a vehicle with AC.

At first, I thought I needed to have this long drawn out answer. Explaining our financial situation, huge house bad market issues, bad job, and then I realized I only needed one answer. Because I am in love with my husband.

He truly is my partner in life. This man has made so many sacrifices for me and my kids. He has worked hard to provide and dug in deep. He worked long hard days enduring many things that made him unhappy, and yet came home with a smile on his face for us.

So, Why? Because it will make us happy, and I will follow him to the ends of the earth.

Welcome to our Family Blog

HELLO!

Thank you for clicking. This blog will just be a little more expansive than information shared on Facebook. We will share pics and everything here as well. 

For security reasons, the kids will be going by nicknames, Bug & Bean on this blog!

These past few months, we felt like things started to get a little sticky with paycheck cuts, and looming lay offs. But, we just kept calm and carried on. One of my favorite songs is "I will praise you in this storm." This song just played in my head those few months. As a whole, I began to just be grateful for everything thus far and just pray.  God answered our prayers during the rough times. Providing an amazing opportunity of a lifetime.

In May, my hubby received a call that changed all our lives. We are selling the house, packing up a few things,

and heading to a life changing place (for us at least), Pennsylvania. 

We have secured an apartment 

to start right next to an amazing school for 

Bug & Bean. Going from a 6 bedroom custom-built home to a 

small town-home is going to be an adventure alone.

(future simple living blogs to follow)

Things I know about Pennsylvania so far:

It's cold

It's humid

It is near lots of history

It snows there, A LOT

Cars will need to be "winterized"

It's a different culture than Vegas

We will be cold

The schools are awesome

Hello New York, DC, Philadelphia

HERSHEY, PA (That is all I need)

The Grandma and I have been working our Avon business and will be continuing to work it there. The Grandma will actually be working full-time with me on the business. Thanks to this beautiful technologically advanced age we live in, all our friends and family can help us grow in this as well. Be sure to subscribe to WAHM with Lipstick with your email address for all our business updates and all the latest deals online. I will be sharing FREE SHIPPING offers on there and we appreciate everyone's continued support as you purchasing makeup helps keep cleats and goalie gloves on Bug and TKD lessons for Bean. We are very excited about a new place to grow our business.

I will begin to pursue my photography. I will not be doing portraits, but architectural and landscape which has always been my passion. With the plethora of landscapes and interesting places, I will be much more invested in my skill and will be pursuing selling my work online and in local galleries.

Finally, the Daddy has landed an amazing position in a company that will nurture and grow his skills in programming. He is excited to be in such a great environment and sees this as a company he can be with and rely on for the long haul.

So, if you want to join on this journey, please subscribe to this blog to receive all my latest blog updates. I will try to share on Facebook as well when I update.