Ok before I share I have to show you a new photo of my family that my friend Natalie took!!  I am in love with it and I just purchased a nice size canvas that will be arriving on Friday to hang above my desk!!  I’ll post pictures of the canvas when it arrives!!

Now, I just have to share something…I was doing a shoot a couple of days ago for an amazing couple that just celebrated 25 years…a peek at their session in a couple more days, but I had photographed their family last year for Christmas.  We were talking about my business and what has happened in the last year…changes, growth, etc. and I was suddenly compelled to tell them that I didn’t really care about the “business”…WHOA!!  It’s not that I REALLY don’t care about my business, but in this day and age a business can come and go…it’s not my life and it’s not who I am.  Do you know what my business is to me?  This might sound crazy maybe business suicide, but this is me!  My business is a vessel…a vehicle to be with people.  I LOVE people!  This life is short and our relationships are what it’s all about.  For me relationships are the foundation of who I am…my relationship with the Lord, my relationship with my husband, my relationship with my kids, my family, my friends, my clients…people!!!  So, it’s not that I don’t care about my business because of course I do I just care about people more…I pray that my business grows where God wants it to grow and not because I did anything more than care and love on people (oh and that I take a decent picture too I guess!).  I hope that my clients can see the joy in my life…and the joy I have that I get to do something I love with them…capturing their family, wedding, whatever with my camera!!

So, speaking of relationships…how about one of the most important ones if you are married…your spouse!!  So, my hubby and I are going to celebrate TEN years in January…it feels like we were just in high school!!  We have had our shares of highs and lows as we all do in relationships; especially marriage.  We have had some tough bouts that we’ve had to work out with help…we have had some amazing joys like bringing three beautiful children into this world.  I have learned that nurturing my relationship with my husband is so important and yet it is really hard sometimes too.  The day to day is almost exhausting enough…between my kids, my business, whatever…sometimes he get’s put low on the totem pole and yet God didn’t design it that way.  He should be right under my relationship to the Lord and then after hubby comes my kids, my family & friends and then my business…wow!  So, since most of you reading/looking at my blog are women I want to share something fun with you regarding all of this!  I bought a book this last week called “The Husband Project” by Kathi Lipp.  The tag line under the title reads “21 Days of Loving Your Man - on Purpose and with a Plan”.  Well tonight as I was peeking onto Kathi’s website I saw that she has a Blogger - 5 Day Mini Challenge!!  Although this blog is mostly used for business purposes I also use it for my personal thoughts too.  Since I am in the business of loving people I thought this was awesome!!  I want you to have amazing relationships with your spouses…why not give it a try??  You may even win a book from Kathi!!  You can also purchase the book here.  Well, even if you don’t try this mini challenge…I would love your encouragement…I am going to be doing the whole shebang!!  Inbetween some of my client sneak peeks I’ll let you know how it’s going!!  Oh one more thing…this is a SECRET…don’t be telling my hubby if you know him (or yours if you do the mini challenge!) - thankfully he doesn’t look at my blog all that often!!  So, here is a little info on the book and the author…tomorrow I will post the first challenge!!  Hope you are up for it! 

Short description of The Husband Project

Do you feel like your marriage has gone from “I do” to “What did I do?” Recapture the romance that made you and your husband fall in love in the first place. The Husband Project provides 21 days of fun activities to show love and honor to your husband.  Kathi Lipp will help you discover:

* Proven ways to return fun and flirting to your marriage.
* Inner assurance to meet your husband’s unspoken emotional needs.
* Increased confidence when it comes to meeting your husbands sexual needs.
* New levels of warmth and tenderness in your relationship.
* A deeper sense of security with your husband.
* A greater ability to boost your husband’s belief in himself.

Author Bio

Kathi Lipp helps women renovate their life with projects for the soul. She is a national speaker and author who inspires thousands each year to take beneficial action steps in their personal, marital, and spiritual lives. Her wit and wisdom will give you new ways to:

* Avoid settling for less than God’s loving plan for your life.
* Develop new levels of warmth and tenderness with your spouse.
* Return fun and flirting to your marriage.
* Boost your confidence to follow God-given dreams and goals.
* Create an environment of encouragement in your friendships

Kathi is the author of The Husband Project: 21 Days to Loving Your Man on Purpose and with a Plan and The Marriage Project: 21 Days to Reigniting Your Relationship (coming Fall, 2009). In addition, her articles have appeared in Today’s Christian Woman, Bay Area Parent, Focus on the Family, Discipleship Journal, and Christian Parenting Today.

Church leaders and women’s ministry directors rely on Kathi to help women move from living out of obligation to enjoying godly passion. She shares her cheerful humor and biblical insights over 45 times a year at conferences and retreats.

Kathi and her husband, Roger, are parents of four teenagers and live in San Jose, California. They are members of Church on the Hill where Roger is the programming director of the worship arts ministry.

Renovate your life with a project for your soul!

Author Mini Bio

Kathi Lipp is a national speaker and author who inspires women to take beneficial action steps in their personal, marital and spiritual lives. Her wit and wisdom will give you new ways to:

* Avoid settling for less than God’s loving plan for your life.
* Develop new levels of warmth and tenderness with your husband
* Return fun and flirting to your marriage
* Boost your confidence to follow God-given dreams and goals.
* Create and environment of encouragement in your friendships