The Armstrong 5

We had our family photos done a week or so ago by my good friend Amber. She is AMAZING! She also did our family/maternity photos last summer and once again, she has given us just awesome pics! So, she's also giving me a free print if I can get 25 comments on her blog under our photos posting... go here...
http://www.eternalgracephotography.com/blog/armstrong-family 

and comment away!! Pretty please?? :) Enjoy the photos!


Oh, and hire her someday if you get the chance! She's in Spokane, WA but makes a trip down to Oregon a few times a year to visit friends and family... or for weddings too. She's worth every penny!

I'd like to save myself the hassle of logging in and out of difference google accounts all the time... we'll see if I can do this... I'll likely have to ask for Mark's help!

I've been trying to keep this under wraps until things panned out... no, not another baby! We love our kids, but two is good for now - and very possibly for a LONG time :)

I am super excited to announce that in Spring 2011 I will be the Jumps Coach for the Track & Field team at Corban Univeristy!! It's a Christian University in Salem, OR with a track & field program that is only 2 years old. This year, we've got several jumpers coming on board who have great marks and could use some more precise coaching than Corban has had recently. My friend (from my GFU track & field days), Brad Bates, is the Assistant Cross Country coach and the sprint coach at Corban, and he referred me for the position. The head coach, Norm Berney, is giving me a tremendous amount of freedom in coaching and he and Brad will be taking care of my athletes the 2 days a week I will not be at practices. (Also crazy... his brother lives in Coos Bay and he used to watch my HS coach Fran Worthen run when she was just out of HS!) Coach Berney & Corban are also giving me lots of flexibility with the kids... I'm still in shock that I get to do this!

Track has been a great passion of mine for a while. I'll admit it though, I'm kind of a wimp. I didn't work as hard as I should have, and I think I was afraid of trying my best and still not being the best... so I (ignorantly & ridiculously) went with the option of not trying at all. Sadly, I'm pretty out of shape now, though getting better every day, but I'm so blessed to get back into training and becoming a support and encouragement for young, Christian athletes. I know my coach at GFU has had such a great impact on my life... I don't know where I would be without his support and the friendship his wife has given me. I look forward to seeing how God will use me in this role.

This means all my other endeavors are getting kicked. I do love taking photos, but this summer has really shown me that it's just not what I want to spend my energies pursuing. It leaves me drained, not energized. I understand that work is tiring, but I am seeing that God wants me to get closer to Him and share Him with others and I truly see this as an opportunity from Him to do just that, while most of my photographic endeavors have been drawing me away from Him, tempting me to pursue the things of the world. I've never been closer to God than when I am out working hard at something He made me good at. I can't wait!! And I'm sure you will be hearing all about it! Mark is already calling me coach and Asher is chiming in right behind him. I know my boys will love going to track meets and I really can't wait to get the season started! Time to hit and books (or rather, google) and plan workouts... it's going to be hard work and I'm trusting God to use me in this role to impart His love to these students. Did I mention I am excited?? January is just around the corner... wish me luck!

Darlene Taylor and I have a little booth set up at Heiser Farms today! You can get a family photo taken and receive a 5x7 print for $25 or an 8x10 print for $30. You can also get the image on a CD for $50. No matter what you order, we'll ship it to your address within 1-2 weeks. It's a bit wet out today, but we're in a covered area so you'll be dry while getting your photos taken ;) We plan on being there every Saturday in October so come get a family photo at a great price and pay us a visit!!

My friend will often post a picture of her newest little boy, and then post another pic of her oldest son to kinda show how they look alike and differ... I haven't been doing this so I thought I would post a few from the boys' first year of life!! Fun huh?? And in case you hadn't noticed (you will soon), my boys don't look too much alike... ah well, they are both super cute anyway! Enjoy!!

Alright, after much deliberation and constant thinking and praying about this... I've decided to take my photography up a notch. I love taking photos and I love helping people, but it's time that I run this like a real business instead of a fun little hobby. That means checking profits, checking costs and inevitably, changing my pricing. Thanks so much to all of you who have let me take your photos and use them for portfolio use!!! I would not be where I am today without you! And for all of you big purchasers, thanks for choosing me for your portraits, wedding and whatever else... I love having you as a client!

I made a new website that reflects my new look and gives a general idea of my pricing. I'm excited to really be working hard at this and learn the self-discipline it takes to run a viable business that will compete with other photographers in the area. Stay tuned as I'll be changing my web addresses to reflect my actual site and my photography blog - both of which will still be called JoliPhoto. Also, stay tuned for updates regarding some photo activities my good friend Darlene Taylor and I will be attempting together! Including (but not limited to) a senior portrait party and Harvest Mini-Shoots at a local pumpkin patch! So fun!!

So, here's my site... I'll soon be removing the wix.com ads once I know it's working well and people like it... so give me some feedback and spread the love!!

www.wix.com/joliphoto/Main-Page

It's been a while since I posted here. It's been a busy couple of weeks. First the trip to Texas - and all the getting ready stuff for that - and after just a week we headed down to Coos Bay. Mark took a trip with my dad down to CA to hit some race tracks and visit old friends and family. I decided to come down and spend the week with my mom and 2 of my sisters, and of course, the boys too :)

Boy, have they been a handful! Cole is teething with his 1 year molars and has been hot and cold, so to speak. Great for a day or two, then crabbier as I've ever seen him for another day or two. Crazy that he turns 1 tomorrow! And Mark turns 31!!! Asher has been pretty good for the most part. He's been melting down more and more in the evening, most likely just from missing his papa. But overall, it's been a great trip. We had quite a few outings (wal-mart of course)... trip to a park, the playground across the street, the Boardwalk, the Blackberry Festival, coffee and more shopping... eventful enough to keep the boys busy but not too crazy.

But, I'm exhausted! At home it's tough to keep up with the boys, but it gets harder when the house isn't totally baby-proofed and when all your stuff is just in a bag :) I had lots of help tho, just not much sleep! But Mark comes home tonight... within the hour!! So, hopefully next week I'll get some sleep and a break. I also have a TON of work to do, finishing the last 20 photos from one wedding and about 200+ from two other weddings... I'll likely be needed a babysitter one or two days the next 2 weeks, maybe 3... feel free to volunteer!!

Lately, God has been really doing things in me. I feel like I haven't had the chance to break away and really spend time in prayer, talking to Him and listening to Him. I feel like our life is changing (what's new) and I wonder what the future holds. I have ideas, desires, obligations, responsibilities and most of all, I have questions about where God would have me. I know I want to give up all my personal pursuits to chase after His plans and goals, but what's the best route? What does that LOOK like? Does He want me to do stuff here or is there something, somewhere else I should be doing? I just wonder. No answers yet. So, I suppose the best route is to just keep seeking Him and putting all my efforts into what is currently going on in my life and the things that come up. I just wonder, at what point should a person, namely myself, just stop what they are doing and pursue something else? Like missions work or something like that. Anyway, that's a little sneak peak into my jumbled mess of a brain :)

I'll put up some photos over the next couple of days from our little trip. Hope to connect with may of you dear friends soon... I need some down time!!! Love you all!