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11) Finding & being blessed by my job at OSU is tied with helping friends welcome new family members into the world.
10) Holding the first annual Camp Sharp for Girls.
9) Discovering photography.
8) Remodeling my kitchen.
7) Being a part of the 2010 Miss Ohio pageant.
6) Taking a road trip to Washington, D.C. & Arlington, VA.
5) Watching my friend become Miss Ohio 2010.
4) Traveling to Vegas for Miss America 2010.
3) Bringing our puppy, Carmen, home from the shelter.
2) Graduating from The Ohio State University.
1) Celebrating one year of marriage to my incredible
husband, Steve.
husband, Steve.
Have a safe, happy & blessed new year blogger friends & readers! 2011 is going to be great!
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It's a slow day at work today. Getting together with family tonight is what's helping me through. Our Christmas festivities begin this evening with a few family members who are "out of town." We're eating out...Mexican! Yum. Tomorrow we will be baking all day, preparing gifts and pies for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
I am singing in a wedding on Monday and have the rehearsal Sunday. The bride is the daughter of the Ohio Partners in Character Education director! I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully my days off won't go too fast. But then again the week after will be another short one as we prepare to ring in 2011!
Steve and I went to Sylvania on Saturday for Becky's send-off celebration to Miss America! It was such a great event and Becky did an outstanding job during the "show."
The party was at a country club that holds many memories for Becky and her family. She is remembered there as the "pot of gold baby!" I won't go into detail but it was one of many stories that her dad, Mike, shared with us. It was wonderful getting to see so many faces, family, Miss Ohio family, and friends as we all gear up for the holiday.
Christmas music it was for Saturday evening. Traditional Christmas carols were performed by most of Becky's Top 5 from Miss Ohio: Shannon O'Neill, Marisa Bucheit and Ellen Bryan. I was absolutely honored when Becky asked me to sing "Blessed" for her. I sang a 'different' version this time around.
As most know, talent selections for MOSP/MAO range from 90 seconds to 2 minutes in length. So the version of "Blessed" I've always performed in the past was that 1 minute 58 second one. Obviously there's more to the original song sung by the amazing Rachel Lampa. There's a break in the song that I will never attempt. (Who am I kidding? I've attempted it, but will never do so in public!) I got to sing almost the entire original version of the song for Becky on Saturday!
The song is very fitting for what she's about to experience.
As she introduced me to sing, she had so many humbling things to share about our history. Of course she made me cry so when I grabbed the mic all those things I wanted to say slipped my mind, so I would like to share them now:
I was truly honored to sing for Becky at her send-off that marks a new journey at this stage in her life. Becky kept saying she can't believe this send-off is hers, it's not mine, it's not Karissa's, it's not Erica's...it's Becky's! Believe it sister. God has prepared you for something and even though we don't know what the future holds we do know that God's plan is awesome and His will be done in January! Becky has touched so many lives all ready as Miss Ohio and she'll touch so many more as Miss America! Win or no win though, she's got determination to do the best job she can at whatever God has challenged her to. She has grown SO much since that day we met back in 2006 at Miss Greater Dayton! It's been such a joy to see her become this outstanding woman who is now and forever will be my "Miss Ohio Sister." I was so blessed at Miss America, Becky, and I hope you will be blessed; too.
Soapbox...sorry 'bout that.
I didn't take the "big" camera on Saturday and I so wish I would have, as these photos aren't the best quality. My paparazzi husband tried his best:
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Steve was a rookie but did a stellar job! About four weeks ago we volunteered at one of the S.A. office/church locations to get families registered for C.C. Last night we signed up to be shoppers in the toy shop during distribution! This was my first time as a shopper, years passed I checked families in as they arrived at the Ohio State fairgrounds.
Being a shopper was an eye opener! You get a one-on-one experience with the families! We didn't stop once for nearly three hours, but it went by so fast. I wonder how many families I took through the toy shop.
Steve & I are pictured here just as we were beginning to go through the toy line. I think he had fun, too!
There were a lot of great parts to the evening but I really enjoyed seeing some of the young kids faces when they were presented with gifts that you could tell just made their day! For instance, one young girl got her very own MP3 player and another 12 year old was asked if she liked Justin Bieber. She shook her head "no." She was then asked if she liked Taylor Swift and when she said "yes" they pulled out her latest CD! The look on this young girls face was priceless!
We're really looking forward to Becky's send-off tomorrow! I will definitely share pictures when we return. Until then...
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A few weeks back I had the honor to shoot maternity pictures for the fabulous Crystal Jo (of Crystal Jo Foto) and her wonderful hubby, Jason. I was nervous. She's the professional, not me, but she did teach me and she is the best! Myself and another photog snapped some pics at the shower, too.
Click HERE for Crystal Jo's blog to see awesome pics from her shower and beautiful moments captured at the same location as her wedding...
From maternity...the mother & father patiently waiting (& having a good time while doing so):
To shower...preparing to shower their little one with love:
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The Miss America Organization announced yesterday an opportunity for America to vote for a finalist in the 2011 Miss America Pageant, presented by DSW live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 15, 2011 on ABC. Vote now for Becky to become America's Choice!Becky's Video
Go Ohio!
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I told you I was getting new photos for a purpose. You'll see some of those in my portfolio, and some of them look like "head shots." Why would I need a new head shot you ask? This past Saturday, I put my character shoes on for a minute and auditioned for "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat." I was in Joseph years ago at a community theater and played the role of one of the wives. The theater bug has been nipping at me lately so I thought to give it a shot.
I prayed and prayed about this opportunity. Whether or not I should even attempt it. What song should I sing? What should I wear? And of course the ultimate question, what do I do if I don't get a "part?" Ladies & gentlemen, I was offered to be in the "adult ensemble" which is, the chorus. Sadly, I didn't get a part.
After lots of prayer, I decided to decline the offer. It was with a heavy heart though. I wanted that to be something "big" for this upcoming year, but that's obviously not what God wants for me...& Steve. So we'll see what He has planned next for us.
This whole photography thing is really taking off. I'm getting really great feedback on some photos from recent shoots. Maybe that's the route I'm supposed to go. Maybe I'm supposed to join a church choir again. Who knows?! I'm ready whenever you are, Lord! ;)
It's Thanksgiving tomorrow!!! I'm excited for this holiday, and Christmas of course. This year has really gone by so fast. I traveled to Vegas for Miss America, celebrated one year of marriage to my amazing husband, graduated, went to D.C., and got a job! Wait, Roberta...what am I doing?! We've got FIVE weeks left in 2010, don't rush it! Ha!
This is a photo from 2005, I think! Our second Thanksgiving together! So this makes it our sixth!
The Smeck Family (Shot at Franklin Park Conservatory)
The Smeck Family (Shot at Franklin Park Conservatory)
Annie & Finnigan (Shot at Darby Metro Park)
Have a happy & blessed Thanksgiving, all!
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Last year my farther-in-law "allowed" me to make the green bean casserole for the family get together. I wonder what concoction he'll "let" me bring this year, now that I have this amazing kitchen to work with. I've been contemplating pumpkin pie...yum.
It feels like it's been longer than a week since I last blogged. Ugh, time is flying too quickly these days. I feel like I should have something HUGE to blog about, but life has been pretty "calm" lately. Whew. So what have I been up to? Steve & I "celebrated" our 1.5 year wedding anniversary with dinner at Barrio Tapas...again, yum!
We passed out candy for trick or treat night in my neighborhood. It was FREEZING out, I don't know how those little tikes did it! I had a few favorite costumes from the evening: a green dinosaur, a 3 year-old UPS man, & Super Mario & Luigi!
I've been happily busy at work. I'm the "Bucks for Charity" resource in my department for the upcoming holidays and I'm also coordinating the department holiday get together. Yes! I think event planning is in my blood. Some people hate it, I love it.
I finished shooting & editing my sister-in-laws engagement pictures. Whew! I don't know how the professionals do it. No, I know how they do it, that's ALL they do. Ha! I also had a family photo shoot over the weekend & I'm actually editing their images now. I've got TWO other shoots lined up. Everyone wants pics now, for the holidays! I'm lovin' it!
Speaking of pictures...I had a little mini photo shoot myself with my (personal) photographer! She'd laugh at me for calling her my personal photog. ;) Love you Crystal Jo! As soon as I get some photos back from her, I'll be sure to share some on the blog. There IS a reason of course that I'm taking more photos! Jeeze, a girl can never have enough photos! Ha! I hope to be able to share that "reason" with you in four weeks or so. Wink.
But for now you'll have to settle for my mad photographer skills:
I think Genevieve is the new Gerber baby!
I think Genevieve is the new Gerber baby!
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