National Teacher Winner

I am so thrilled to send out congratulations to a long time client and now friend, Paula Tate. Paula is a teacher at Draughn High School and was recently named Teacher of the Year at Draughn and now she has been awarded the First Freedom Teaching Excellent Award. You can read more about this national teaching award and Paula here.

Paula’s students secretly recommended her for this honor and she is so deserving of it. Over the years of knowing Paula, I have seen her dedication to her students. She is a true educator and perfect for the job. As a parent, I realize how lucky we are to have such wonderful teachers like Paula molding our children.

Above is an image of Paula’s pride and joys from a recent session. She has two of the sweetest boys and they are the joy of her life. Congrats! Paula and keep up the good work!

Over The Rainbow…

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” – G.K. Chesterton

The Lord gives us some gifts some times. We just have to stop long enough to be able to see them and then to enjoy them. While helping Sarah with her homework, I glanced up and saw the most beautiful rainbow. We went out and enjoyed a double rainbow for a little while. One was very faint and one (the one here in the image) was very strong, but both very beautiful. I guess getting soaked while trying to mow grass earlier was worth it.

What other gifts of the Lord’s are we too busy to see and enjoy?

The Mountain Called And We Had To Go…

Every once in a while Sarah and I take a day and have a mommy & me day. We always have fun and it is really nice to have some fun time just me and her without worrying about housework or homework. This past week she was off for spring break from school so we took yesterday and went to one of our favorite places, Grandfather Mtn. Sarah loves to go spend time with the animals and will watch them for hours and I just love being on the mountain.

We could not have asked for better weather; well the photographer in me would have liked to have had some clouds in the sky. But otherwise it was awesome; not cold or hot, virtually no wind. Yes, my GFM photography friends; no wind. Hope that is the case in May for our weekend up there. The sky was a perfect solid Carolina Blue, no polarizer needed. I am sure that was just Hugh Morton’s way of celebrating UNCs becoming National Champs again! Yeah!!!!
One of my favorite quotes is by John Muir, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” I go to GFM (short for Grandfather Mtn) several times a year and wish I could be up there more. The mountain and the staff up there just make me feel like I am at home each time I am there. It was neat to see just how much progress has been made on the new gift shop on the top. Sarah is ready for it to open so she can go spend some money there.

I can remember the first time we took Sarah up there and she was scared to cross the bridge, but she did. Yesterday, I could not keep up with her skipping around on the rocks up there. She is really growing up and becoming more like me every day; yes a scary thing. I did beat her by finishing my ice cream sundae from the new fudge shop up there.

I am not sure where we will head for or when our next mommy & me day is, but I am sure looking forward to it. I am also sure we will be making another trip to GFM soon too. I will be heading up there to photograph a wedding, a family portrait session and for a photography weekend all in May and I can’t wait. In fact someone better hide my keys, I think I hear the mountain calling me…