One Year Since My World Broke To Pieces

Wonderful Husband
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

March 18th, 2007 was a day like any other. I was sitting at church in a meeting when I got a text message from my mom. "In the ER with dad, thinks he has pneumonia. Possible mass in his lungs instead. PRAY."

I went silent in this meeting. Nobody in the room existed. The lump in my throat was huge and breathing became a physical pain. I wasn't going to cry, there was so much uncertainty in her text message. Through a series of tests, it was confirmed to be a mass in his lungs. Then later confirmed to be Stage 4 cancer. Most of you know the story ... it progressed until we lost him in December of the same year.

He was a smoker who quit too late, and his body lost the fight. I will never smoke. I am truly repulsed by the act of smoking. It's something so simple that took something so great from me.

One year ago today, my world shattered into pieces. I'm still picking those up. I was changed through this event. Some good, some bad.

I never believed people when they said they miss somebody everyday. Now I do.

Leslie 3

Leslie 3
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So now that it's been a couple months since things all started, I figure it's safe to introduce you kids to my girlfriend. She's absolutely wonderful, and obviously extremely patient to be dating me. We wandered through the back roads of some tiny towns and found an amazing field to shoot pictures in. Leslie didn't really feel like being my model, but that's the price you pay for dating a photographer. When there's a shot to be had, and a model is needed...well, you become the model.

So this field was just a total piece of heaven. Across the tiny road, there was a train track overgrown with weeds and it was just gorgeous. Words don't describe how great this place was.

Expect more photos of this "model" in the future. If you need somebody to blame for me missing around here lately, she's the one. :) Just know that it's good, and I'm glad she occupies my time. If we can ever find this field again, there will be more photos to see. I promise you this.

5 Months And Counting...

Emma @ 5 Months 4
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

My super cute niece, Emma, is just over 5 months old now. Her daddy got her an M&M's outfit of "Green" and she looked adorable in it. I have been taking photos of her on the 3rd of every month, since her day of birth (October 3rd, 2007).

This entry was just to show you how cute she is.

I'm heading up to Big Bear for the weekend. A good time of personal silence, and hopefully some picture taking.