It’s not very often that I get terribly personal on this blog. But, tonight I am. Forgive me…I know this isn’t what you’re here for…but, please indulge me. Today was hard…and tonight I’m writing just for me.

My little brother, Tommy Eaton, was killed in a car accident 13 years ago today. March 29, 1996. He was 19. He’ll forever be 19. That’s what my mom said today…and it’s so true. He won’t ever move beyond the youthful, handsome, full-of-life, boy that he was that very day. But, he should have. He’s supposed to have children…that play with mine. He’s supposed to have a wife…who’s one of my closest friends. He’s supposed to be there at Christmas, and Easter, and Thanksgiving. He’s supposed to be my boys uncle…and my hero. He’s supposed to be a catcher for the Diamondbacks…that’s what he’s supposed to be. Maybe what he would have been. I hate today. I hate that after 13 years I still cry when I let myself think about him for more than 2 minutes at a time…and I hate that I often don’t think about him for more than 2 minutes at a time because it’s too hard. He was my only sibling…and I still love him. More than words can express.

He played baseball…dang good baseball. He was a catcher. I used to make fun of him because his license plate for his truck said, URN IGN. I told him it looked like Urine Engine…but, it was really “You Run, I Gun”…and he did. He had an awesome arm. He could gun the ball to 2nd with such ease…on his knees! I admired him so much…and I really did love to watch him play. But, for a long time after his accident I felt like baseball had taken him away from me…I wanted to hate the game…but, I couldn’t because he loved it so much. His accident occurred while he was driving a team van for his college team to a double header game near Tucson. The tire blew on the van he was driving and it rolled several times before landing in the median ditch. He and another teammate were killed that day…the others survived with minor injuries. One of the players who survived that crash has gone on to play professional baseball, Cody Ransom, who is currently with the Yankees. My parents ran into Cody’s mom today and she shared with them the impact that my brother’s accident still has on Cody today and directed them to a recent article about Cody where he talked about my brother. The article itself was so hard for me to read…but, my mom reminded me afterward of how much she is comforted knowing that he is remembered. His jersey is retired at his Junior High School, his High School, and his College…and there are two memorials to him on the baseball field of his high school…Westwood. He’s remembered…by people that knew and loved him…and even by people who didn’t. Yeah…he’s remembered.

It’s funny…but, we still call his room Tommy’s room…although he never set foot in it. My parents were having a house built when the accident occurred…and his room…what should have been his room…well, it’s just HIS room to us. Even my boys call it Uncle Tommy’s room…3 of my 4 boys never knew him. I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around that…that he’s not here…that he’s not coming back…that I won’t see him again until I’m with him in Heaven…that my boys don’t know him…because they almost do. We’ve shared countless stories with them…there were lots of stories to share…he was a story-producing kind of kid! ;o) But…good stories…funny stories…genuine-love-for-his-family kind of stories. Lots of them. Today shouldn’t be anything more than just March 29th. But, for our family…March 29th is a terrible day. And it comes relentlessly every year.

Several years ago Tremaine and I had a little video business…and very early on in our business I made a little tribute video for my brother. Please excuse the poor quality…both video and pictures…as well as my fabulous 80’s hairstyles…and the teeny tiny window size from the link…and just meet my brother. He was genuine…a true friend…a kind, loving, and always FUN uncle to Lane, even though his presence in his life was only for 17 short months…a straight A student…the recipient of scholarships…loyal…possessed the ability to pull off any practical joke with a completely straight face…he was self-disciplined…self-controlled…loved the Lord…had Psalm 23 written inside his baseball cap…he was number 23…he lived baseball…he was confident, but not cocky…he ALWAYS said “I love you” when he would hang up the phone with me…and he was and always will be my little brother…My Bubba. 

TRIBUTE VIDEO FOR TOMMY

I know that I titled part of this post as “No Regrets”…and that’s mostly true. I had a fabulous relationship with my brother. I loved him…I admired him…I adored him…I was proud of him…and I honestly felt a little cooler than I probably was just because HE was my brother. But…I do have just one regret. The last night that I saw him…the night before he died…he had been babysitting Lane for us while Tremaine and I took my parents to see the house that we were getting ready to put an offer on. When we came to pick Lane up I was tired. I came to the door…but, I didn’t go in…I just chatted with my parents at the door. My brother had sat down to watch TV in the living room and when we were leaving I said Goodbye. I ALWAYS hugged my brother goodbye…ALWAYS…and that night…for some reason I saw him sitting on the floor and I knew I should go over and hug him goodbye, but…like I said…I was tired, and I was lazy…and I didn’t do it. I hollered to him that I loved him, and I so did…but I passed up my last chance to hug my brother. To hug him Goodbye.

Thanks for sticking with me here…like I said…this was just for me…but, I hope that you’re inspired to go hug the people you love a little tighter today.

‘Til Next Time,
S 

Seriously…I’m having so much fun editing the pictures from the No Boys Allowed session last weekend. Miss M has been so much fun to get to know…as well as her lovely family. So…I have to take a minute to thank M’s mom, E…because she came along on our road trip to help and I was sooo blessed to have her there. At one point she said, “I don’t know if I’m being much help”…but, the truth is…the day would NOT have gone so smoothly had it not been for E…so THANK YOU a million times over!!! 

Miss M is from Northern Arizona, Sedona to be exact. And…I am so excited to expand my business up north this year. I love the Sedona, Prescott, and Flagstaff areas and I can’t wait to schedule some time up there over the next few months to do senior portrait weekends. So…without further adieu…the absolutely stunning Miss M…

Thanks so much guys! I had a blast with you!!!

‘Til Next Time!
S 

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Here begins the onslaught of sneak peeks from several lovely ladies who participated in my No Boys Allowed modeling project. I’m soooo excited for the final project to be completed…but, in the meantime I am having so much fun editing the girls’ pictures. We had such a blast on Sunday and I’m so excited to start posting their sneak peeks!

First up…Miss S. Such a sweeeeeet girl. They all were really! S – you did an AWESOME job! Thanks for working so hard Sunday…and for braving the crazy wind!

I’ll be posting another sneak peek later this week.

‘Til Next Time!
S  

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I just had the MOST amazing time yesterday! I spent the whole day with a wonderful group of girls for my super spectacular “No Boys Allowed” project! I could not have had a better time with these awesome girls who were so much fun to hang out with…and so easy going…and SOOOO gracious about the fact that we were shooting in crazy 30mph winds all day long! It was a blustery day if I’ve ever seen one! So, I will have some sneak peeks coming up over the next several days to show you some from this super fun day of urban modeling…and I want to publicly thank you girls for a job VERY WELL DONE! You were awesome to work with and I can’t thank you enough for your time and enthusiasm! You girls rock!!!

And…since no post is complete without a picture…here is another from my vintage pictures of my boys. I’m editing these at a very slow pace…but, I am having so much fun editing pictures of my own kids! You’d think my walls would be full of pictures…but, sadly, my own family’s pictures are always the last to get edited…so I’m plugging away here. LOL!

‘Til Next Time!
S 

Sorry for the day-late-post…but, my oldest son got home from a week long trip yesterday and so we spent the whole afternoon and evening together as a family and I never got around to my Photog Friday post…so you’re getting yet another Photog Saturday post!

Today’s photography tip is super simple…JUST ASK! Seriously…don’t be shy, don’t be afraid, don’t be embarrassed…JUST ASK!

Some of my favorite locations have been found by just being brave and asking for permission to shoot on people’s property. Every single time that I am driving around town I am constantly looking at everything from a “photographer perspective”…I even find myself looking at ugly, boring locations and thinking, “can I do anything at all here?!??! How could I make this look cool?!?!?” So…several months ago I just decided that I was tired of driving by things and wishing that I could shoot there, and I decided to start putting fear aside and just asking. 90% of the time people say yes…they’re usually flattered…or bewildered that you would see anything worthwhile to shoot (especially at some of the rural/urban places) – they just don’t see what we see! I’m convinced that photographer’s have some special gene that allows them to see beauty beyond the ordinary…because a lot of people will look at me like I’m completely whacked out when I suggest certain spots. However…I do have to admit that my hubby has found me some fabulous locations on his own…so maybe the gene has worn off on him. So…my advice for today…KNOCK, RING, CALL…get brave! 

So…yesterday I drove by this spot and I just knew that I had to shoot there…so I just decided to go for it. The owners were very kind and generous to let us shoot there…so, I took my boys back there a couple hours later and only had about 15 minutes to shoot, but I got some fun stuff. I’ve been wanting to find some great vintage cars to do some decorating in our playroom and I’m so glad to have found these. The only downfall was that my oldest was out of town and my 8 year old was in no mood for pics, (what’s THAT all about?!?!) so I only shot 2 of my four boys. But, I’m hoping to head back over another day with the others. You know…a girl needs consistency on her walls!

TOMORROW is the day that I’ve been looking forward to like a little girl on her way to Disneyland…TOMORROW is going to be exhausting, but more fun than I can fathom…TOMORROW is all about the girls…TOMORROW there are No Boys Allowed!!!…(except for my hubby because I don’t like to be away from him for too long ;o)…TOMORROW is going to ROCK! So, be sure to check back next week for sneak peeks from the models from the all day urban session..fun stuff!

‘Til Next Time!
S