GivingIsAwesome.com

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $250 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 off their own portrait sitting. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Northern/Central Virginia. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : mjmphotography@hotmail.com

The winner will be announced on January 15, 2009 -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Molly

The Perfect Christmas Gift...

What's better than a new baby for Christmas? Nothing, really if you ask me!

Meet Corwen. He is the son of new friends of ours and he's absolutely adorable. This is from his first portrait sitting at 5 days old. I hope there will be more so I can capture this little guy growing up. I loved this session and that I was invited into a quiet, special time in their lives.... There was also a hawk that landed just outside of the window during the session (of course I documented that, too). Do you know that hawks symbolize a message and guardianship...to provide for one's family...and protection of the young? Neat.

ps: not sure if you'll be able to hear the music and i'm not sure why it's so small...I'll have to work on that...but if you want to see them all larger, go to www.mjmphotography.biz under galleries go to featured families and there'll all there. :)

Recent Happenings

Barb flew in and spent Thanksgiving and my birthday with Val, Rudy, Mike and I. It was so nice having family around. Rudy kept the fireplace going so it was nice and cozy, too. :)







Last week we went to get our Christmas Tree with Riley. Mike said that the one year we finally have the right vehicle (Toyota Corollas and a Jeep before)...his truck...we buy a small tree. Oh well! Maybe next year. :) Ps...the one directly below was not our tree but a nice Charlie Brown tree. We'll let him grow up a bit.

Middleburg Humane

I don't think I posted any from my first shoot with Middleburg Humane Foundation (www.middleburghumane.com) but if I did, I apologize for the repeat. I called them as soon as I got into town to see if they needed my help and turns out they did! I went for the first time in November and then again this past Tuesday (Mike came as my helper) :). I won't post all of them from my first session but you can view them all on my website www.mjmphotography.biz go to galleries and click on the non-profit section. It's so much fun and I wish I could bring them all home.

So, enjoy....

Above: I can't remember his name. He had just arrived at MHF
Below: Prince - he should have no problem finding a home.

Above: Gloria (mother to Puppy #1 and Puppy #2)
Below: Puppy #1

Above: Puppy #2
Below: Neveah ~ LOVE her eyes...very sweet.

Above: Mike and Neveah (Heaven spelled backwards). This was after she barked at him as he walked up....she apologized profusely! :) Very cute.
Below: Cindy. Cindy has been adopted but they love her and wanted a picture anyway. She's the sweetest pit bull I've ever met and is so cute with her stocky, wiggly manner.

----------------------------------------Below: From the first shoot in November-------------------

Above: Squishy. Squishy is the brother to Spartacus but he has a very rare disease and recently (thankfully) made it to his first birthday!
Below: Spartacus. Spartacus has found a home since our little photo session!

Above: Flip. Below: Burnie

Gratitude

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Mike will be working at the Inn Thanksgiving Day.

Side note: I ask that you keep in mind this holiday season those that do work on your holidays. Those that keep the world moving away from their own families while you spend time with your loved ones from near or far.

I have been fortunate enough to be invited to spend Thanksgiving with Rob and Taiya here at the farm with their friends. It will be a vegetarian holiday...which is new for me...but I'm looking forward to it. Barb arrives in DC today so on Monday...also my 25th (?!) Birthday...we will have a traditional family Thanksgiving together: Barb, Val & Rudy, and us. (there will be a turkey involved; to whom we are grateful)

It has been said that you cannot receive until you give.
If you are NOT grateful for what you DO have, how can there be change?

So what are we grateful for (listed in no particular order)?

We have a roof over our head that shelters us and keeps us cool or warm when we desire.
We have food on our table whenever we please.
We have means of income.
We have means of transportation.
We have the ability to walk, talk, & think, to hear, feel, & smell all that's around us.
We have the love of the animals and nature that surround us.
We have friends and family that love and support us.
We are safe.
We are healthy.

We are grateful for so much more and I know the list can go on and on.

So with all the talk of the economy...is it really that bad in comparison to those less fortunate around the world or even in our own back yard?

If we are grateful for what we do have.... then what else is possible? How could it possibly get better than this? Let's try it and see. :)

What are you grateful for this holiday season?

With Love, Mike & Molly

Some pics from our day-trip to DC. Went to the Smithsonian Museum of American History on Tuesday. Can you believe they already had this up in the Presidential Hall Time-line? We had a great day...it was nice having a day off together. :)

Please Help Stop Puppy Mills

Give Your Pets the Gift of Health this Holiday Season

Alecia and our Izzy

Click here to go to 5 Weeks to Wellness for Pets

I am so excited that Alecia is offering this class. Please take a look at the website and please consider (and take) the class. It's a great, great value and can...and probably will...change your and your pet's lives. Alecia has been a instrumental ally in all of our pets, the animals we have been responsible for, and even our own lives. What she has to offer is priceless and I was shocked when I saw the low price she was offering this class for - I honestly was.

Check out the website. If you need anymore personal testimonials from us please let us know...we have tons we could give you! Feel free to pass along to anyone you might think would be interested. She is also available for phone or in-person consultations.

Also - loved this video, too. :) http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid960594369/bctid1716406566

xo, Molly

Kali Made it to VA!

Kali made it safe and sound from Colorado on Wednesday night. We're both so happy that she's finally here. We just want the best for her (she deserves it!) and will do all that we can to make sure she lives a long, healthy, happy life. She's still adjusting but will get there soon. She lived at the same place for over 14 years so we understand this is a big change for her. But she'll have Eve (also a Thoroughbred and also her age and also bay), Pan (the yearling - Eve's baby), and Thunder (Belgian gelding) to keep her company. We did adopt her from our rescue - All Beings Equal - if you'd like to read a little bit more you can go to my website, galleries, and find the All Beings Equal page.

Mickey (top)
Izzy (bottom)
Also - I met Izzy's "brother" before I left Colorado. Some people that we knew were so impressed with Izzy that they wanted a Jack from the same breeder. So they bought him and had him shipped from Wisconsin. He's pretty mellow like Izzy. I could see similarities in their personalities too.

That's all for the animal update for today. Things are going well here. Just looking forward to getting some portraits soon.

*Molly

very cute. :)

i've seen this before and have shared it but i think it's amazing.

this makes my heart smile. so innocent. so real. so honest. enjoy :) .

Vote today, Vote Today

Just a reminder to vote today. :) We'll be watching some the results coming in from our coffee shop in town where BBC is broadcasting live. Should be fun!

Mike had yesterday and now today off so we're getting to spend time together! We drove to Charlottesville yesterday to visit the Dover Saddlery to buy a few small things for Kali before she arrives. Not sure when she'll get here but hopefully soon.

A rainbow that I saw while with Ana and her family my last week in Colorado. Very pretty. :)

A shot from our day together yesterday. I loved the colors and the green on the old barn. The colors will be different depending on your screen.

How old??

Ya know, when I was a kid and I'd see family members or friends of my parents and they'd say, "You're how old!? Wow, that makes me feel old!"....well, over the past few years I was starting to understand exactly what they meant. But this year (I'll be 25 in December!) I'm really starting to get it - OK, I've got it. I've been so blessed to have so many kids in my life and kids that I've known from young ages and even birth for some. I've seen them grow and change and learn about life and I'll always be here if they need me. I'm not related to all of them but consider them family none-the-less.

Here are a couple of recent sessions. The Searcy Family: Ana was the very first person I talked to in Colorado when we met at the jumpstart orientation the june before school started. She has been such a gift in my life and I adore her and her family: Chadd, Kaylin, and Kylee. I also dug out 2 images from 4 years ago when we did our first session - I cannot believe it has been that long - that I thought were a great nostalgic moment. :) Ana's an amazing photographer as well: www.anasearcyphotography.com

I also have my little cousins: Moriah and the twins: Josh and Jake. Again, can't believe how they're growing up so fast. It was a fun, quick session while I breezed through Illinois on my roadtrip out to Virginia.

Enjoy! :)

Congratulations to Ana and Chadd...they just celebrated their 12th (right?) wedding anniversary! :)

Josh, Jake, and Moriah

Can anyone see what my absolute favorite thing is in the image directly below?

Have a wonderful day... :) Molly

New Images+

I'm updating my website fairly often now so make sure you check it out. :) Mike and I also have uploaded a testimonials section on the Dynamite line that he distributes. These are personal testimonials and we hope to have more up soon. Go to www.mJmphotography.biz and click on Galleries then Dynamite (it's the last gallery as of right now).

Here are a couple of images from the farm:

Thunder

Pan - the baby

Eve (the momma)

Eve (again)

below: Kali
Kali was one of our rescue horses. She and I definitely "clicked" and I think she's just wonderful. Mike and I decided to adopt Kali to help Alecia and Christy with the strains of running the rescue. She's a 19 yr. old Thoroughbred mare and she'll be here around November 5. We're so excited! We can keep her at the house while we're there. We're happy to have her in our little family. :)
Isn't she beautiful?!