10 Year Anniversary...today!

Wow...it's hard to believe Rana and I have been married 10 years! It seems it was just yesterday when we moved into our first apartment in frigid Indiana...the apartment was about 400sq ft...and then we got our "first babies"...2 cats...and then we moved to Jacksonville without jobs...and landed an apartment in a brief visit! And now we have a house and 2 "real" children...hahaha! Incredible...how many days of our lives we've spent together...we know each other pretty darn well!

Well, I wanted to share OUR song with my readers...it's "Is This Love" by none other than Bob Marley (by the way, Rana is the person who got me hooked to Bob Marley...so it's all her fault!)....this song reflects our motto in our marriage...all we need are the simple things...Love and we'll let Jah/God take care of the rest...

Here's the Lyrics:

I wanna love you and treat you right;
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We'll be together with a roof right over our heads;
We'll share the shelter of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread.
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
I wanna know - wanna know - wanna know now!
I got to know - got to know - got to know now!

I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I - I'm willing and able,
So I throw my cards on your table!
I wanna love you - I wanna love and treat - love and treat you right;
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We'll be together, yeah! - with a roof right over our heads;
We'll share the shelter, yeah, oh now! - of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread.

And because I know Rana reads my blog when I'm not looking...I love you! Can you believe we've been married 10 years! Yes, we have endured through a lot...and we have stuck to it...and worked really hard to make this work (marriages aren't fairy tales)...and it has been the most favorite part of my life! You sacrifice so much for me...you encourage me to follow my dreams...and you're the best mother ever...sorry Mom, but Rana is incredible with the children! I love you Rana...see you in a minute!

Enjoy!

Michelle - Oeil Photography

#2 of my personal project...yes, my voyage to photographically document the working Latino/a in Jacksonville...

Today I introduce you to the very talented photographer, Michelle (Hernandez) Dearing. Michelle is the person behind Oeil Photography...go check out her work for yourself!

Michelle is 100% Mexican (both of her parents are from Mexico). Michelle was born in Los Angeles...and then moved to Texas...and then Pensacola...and now she's here in Jacksonville. Michelle is married with two boys. Michelle's husband serves in the military.

Here's a few fotos from our session today...enjoy!

Check out this animation - by Blu and David Ellis

Hope my blog isn't considered a commercial website...if so, no offense intended...just wanted to display something AWESOME for other's to enjoy!

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens...First Anniversary!

Today I had the opportunity to document the First Anniversary of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens...which was a nice occasion to document...especially b/c my family goes here often.

When I drove up the road the place was FULL...cars were parked about 1/2 mile or so from the actual park! Today's festivities included guided tours, an albino skunk, vendors offering everything from beeswax down to citrus trees. They had face painters...Let Them Eat Cake...and live music. Here's a few fotos from the day...enjoy...and visit the Aboretum to enjoy it in real life!!!

Lawyers...they can have fun too!

Lawyers can have fun too! Today I spent my morning with Maggie Jo (Maggie Jo Law)...they broke every stereotype that lawyers are dry and boring. Maggie Jo and her associates - Tiffany, Sarah, and Crawford are loads of fun...I spent quite a bit of my morning just laughing...and photographing. Here's a few fotos from the day...enjoy!