Made In America

It all started with a "tweet." Yes, a twitter tweet.

I'm really not a big fan of twitter, with only being able to express yourself in a total of 140 characters.

Yet, with applications such as Instagram, it makes it that much better.

I found the picture below taken by my friend Justin Hackworth and had to laugh. I don't know how many conversations I've recently had about how too many things are made in China, including this flag.

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Justin's explanation: "Ironic." Yes, isn't it ironic that something representing our nation is made in China. Then I thought about this series that ABC World News has been running for awhile now called, "Made in America." It's about all sorts of products made right at home and where we can find them. I included David Muir in the tweet to see what he thought and he obviously liked it. 

Apparently, from the tweet to David Muir, phone calls were made and an interview happened. I then found myself with a Twitter message from Justin saying that his pictures made the news. Awesome.

This is the story that came out of it. Well done, David. 

For once, I felt that what I'm learning in my New Media Journalism Master's degree is paying off. Now if only I could find an internship so I can do what David does everyday. 
The day ended with this phrase from Justin, "Twitter is funny." Twitter surprised all of us.

A Month of Photos-February

February just went by too quickly.

There were a lot of fun things that happened throughout the month.

Lovers Day cards,

Flowers from Kevin,

New pictures,

Insight on Photography,

Playing the piano,

and not to forget. . . 

Bath time!

"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know there are Spring violets under the snow."
 ~R. H. Newell

We're thinking that March is a good month because it's halfway through the semester.

We're also thinking that March is a bad month because it's midterms.

We're hanging in there and thank goodness spring is on it's way!

{which means Spring Break, big smiles there}

Don't forget the giveaway here.

Hardly anyone has entered so far and you have a really good chance!

Kevin's World - Portraits

I'm going to be frank.  I don't like getting my picture taken.  Those of you who have read this blog much know that Lisa and I often refer to the infamous "Chandler Smile."  If you haven't heard of that, go ahead and see our post on the Front End Grille.  After giving a fake smile at a portrait session and being asked if his chair was uncomfortable, Chandler responded, "No, I am."  To keep from dragging on too long, I will just say that I usually feel that way when posing for pictures.

When Lisa says it's time to take pictures again, I inwardly groan and outwardly say "yes, dear."  While she remains convinced that we should get pictures taken every few months, I am not so keen on documenting for posterity my slowly but steadily receding hairline.

The point of all this is really to highlight our experience with Justin Hackworth this month.  Lisa has already posted about our experience, so I will keep it short.  Suffice it to say that I felt more comfortable during that photo session than any other profession portraits I have been in.  I think it shows.  He is currently running a special for bloggers through March.  It worked out well for us.  It might for you, too.

Joyful Moments-Favorite Picture

No one has been able to capture a picture of how I truly feel and respect my husband, until now.

Justin Hackworth Photography

I love it's simplicity and how Kevin's blue eyes shine.

We've grown together this past year.

We spend more time together now than ever, realizing that whatever we put into our relationship will make it that much better. My husband is my best and closest friend, he always will be.

I will always have a shoulder to lean on, someone to talk to and help me through the hard times.

This brings me JOY.

Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through 

being the right mate.  

~Barnett R. Brickner

Please join us in the continuing journey of finding JOY!

I will blog about my Joyful Moment every Friday, 

where you'll be able to link up your blog as well, 

until the following Monday. 

Here's the details for you to join in the photo challenge:

1. take a picture that brings you JOY

2. blog about that Joyful Moment, include a link to our blog or grab a button

3. link your blog post up below

4. visit the other Joyful Bloggers and leave happy comments

5. enJOY!

Embrace the Camera-I'm in LOVE.

It's the month for love.

I'm in love with Kevin (as you already know).

But I'm also currently in LOVE with these new pictures.

Yesterday, Kevin and I drove down to Provo to meet the amazing Justin Hackworth.

And we embraced the camera, big time.

Kevin recently said, "no more paying photographers because I have the Chandler smile."

I laughed but I knew it would be time to update our pictures once again this year.

Little did he know what I had planned up my sleeve.

Time to update our profile pictures. ;)

No Chandler smiles here!

Actually, this was the BEST photo shoot we've ever done.

And no, I'm not getting paid to write this, it's the truth!

Why?

1. Justin actually took the time to get to know us. This is the first and only time a photographer sat down and got know us!

2. He really listened and laughed with us (even though I stumbled over my thoughts, studying long hours of communication law will do that you).

3. We felt like we had gained a new friend.

4. No stupid twist your arm that way, stand on one leg, bend your knee a little bit more (btw, I'm about to fall over), and now smile poses.

5. Like I said, no Chandler smiles.

6. Easy, fast, better than I hoped for. Did I mention these were just done yesterday?

Justin's site is found here. 

They turned out great!

Wouldn't you agree? 

That's why I'm in LOVE.

These pictures make me smile and bring me JOY!

Because we're in LOVE.

I LOVE IT! 

{Come back tomorrow to see my most favorite picture from 

the shoot and to link up your Joyful Moment}

I love NieNie

As part of our birthday months, I convinced Kevin to drive me to that school down south to hear NieNie speak. I was thrilled.

We arrived almost a half hour early, thanks to leaving early and some pretty fast driving by Kevin. What we didn't expect was an already filled auditorium. We couldn't find a seat anywhere and didn't know where to grab one (both of us have never spent much time in Provo). We ended up camping out by a post and stood for almost the whole talk (Kevin stood the whole time, I almost made it). We were just glad not to be in the very back. It was a pretty good view of the overcrowded room.

You can see Kevin's blue shirt by the post on the left. I'm right next to him.

Photo by the amazing Justin Hackworth

I was amazed at how brave Stephanie was and how she just stood right up without any hesitation to so many people. She told her story of her plane crash, I hadn't heard all the details before and can't even begin to imagine how hard it truly was to live through it all.

NieNie's Mormon Messages Video, just in case you haven't seen it.

I love it. It's my favorite one by far. It has given me hope during the hard times and strength to continue down this road we call life.

A few things that were hard for me to hear:

-Stephanie explained how she never got to see her Arizona home again. Her house was sold and Stephanie's sister prepared a new home for her family in Provo while Stephanie was in a coma. She explained that it was the house that they worked so hard to have; painting and decorating every nook and cranny.

-Once Stephanie woke up after being three months in a coma, still not being able to see her children. I can't imagine how difficult that was not to see your kids and miss out on all the wonderful things kids do for that long.

-When she did finally see her kids, Jane (her daughter) wouldn't look at Stephanie for the longest time. Stephanie said that it wasn't until she was home and had started taking care of the kids again when Jane could look at her. She said that she had to sneak up on Jane while she was in the bathtub and no where to run. Jane finally had to look at her mom again. Stephanie said she screamed, "We're doing this!" and a smile came from Jane.

-Stephanie shared of when she looked at herself in the mirror the first time. I didn't like hearing about how hard it was for her and how the moment built up. It would have been a hundred if not a thousand times harder for me. The doctor who was taking care of her in the burn unit had suggested having her look into a mirror. She didn't right then (I wouldn't have), she took more time and some encouragement from her husband before she really took a long look at herself in the mirror.

What I loved most:

-Hearing Stephanie say that she overcame it all.

-How she encouraged everyone to ask Heavenly Father to confirm that they're beautiful.

-Seeing all her family there to support her (and seeing all the people there to support her).

-Listening to one of my favorite people in the world be so amazing in a simple way.

I hope NieNie inspires you too, the way she does for me. The last thing that touched me the most is that when she came home from the burn unit, she started trying to doing things that she did before the accident. Such as putting on eye makeup and wearing earrings. I used to do all of that too and rarely do now, my energy is just gone for something like that. She said that her kids would remark that she was bringing herself home when she did those things. I am learning too, how to bring myself back from being so sick and taking it a day at a time. I'm trying hard to do those things again. It wasn't that long ago.

While it's terribly hard for me to say I'm beautiful, know that you are. I look at everyone and I can tell everyone that they're beautiful, without a doubt.