We are closing up laptops, taking midnight drives to look at all the lights, sitting by the fire with Christmas letters and a juicy book, singing carols around the tree with friends and family (who entertain my poor piano skills :)), and thanking God for every wonderful promise and blessing He has given.

Brian and I wish you all a wonderful, beautiful Christmas and New Year.

Our daily FB contests will still be going until Friday, December 30th.  But the blog is going to go dark for next week as we sink into the quiet of being with each other, reflecting on all the goodness and triumphs of 2011.  It has been an AMAZING year with all of you.  We have dreamed big, worked hard, laughed from a deep place, stood a bit taller in our confidence, and cried together while uncovering our creative voices in the process. We’ve grown to a readership of 30K plus unique visitors a month.  Hard for me to fathom… And in it all, I treasure our conversations, our dream building…you.  I treasure you.

Our cameras are a little less intimidating.  Our lives are a little bit richer.  And our kids still capture us with every new season of life they enter.

It is a honor to journey this life with you.

Much, much love!

xo,

m

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Stocking Stuffers for Your Photo Lover!

1. A copy of my bestselling book, Your Baby in Pictures!

2. Give your wife the gift of CONFIDENCE with her camera in 2012!  Need help being convinced?  Here are the Top 12 Reasons a Husband Should Send His Wife to CONFIDENCE.    We have limited spots left in our Seattle and Orange County/LA, CA Winter workshops.  Women only (sorry guys!).  Tampa, FL is SOLD OUT!  CLICK HERE for Seattle Details and Orange Country/LA Details!

3.  Our instructional, award winning DVD series, Refuse to Say Cheese and Beyond the Green Box They won’t make it for Christmas morning arrival, but husbands who give New Year presents are A+ husbands! 🙂

4. And, if your looking for a photo lover-stocking stuffer, join me on my FB page every day at 10am for a new contest and giveaways that your photo enthusiast will LOVE!

*New Beginnings Photo Contest Update!

For all of you who entered your AMAZING, INSPIRING photos to the New Beginnings Photo Contest, I was told yesterday that the panel of judges decided on the winners and called them yesterday with the good news.  I plan to post the winners on my blog soon, so we can all be inspired!  I’m super proud of everyone who entered.  I think the most wonderful part was reading some of the emails you sent about how entering the contest–picking your best shots–was scary and empowering at the same time.  Kind of like deciding to come out of the dark with your passion.  This photo contest was so much fun that we are going to have a new one start in early January with some new categories that will make you smile!  Stay tuned for more details!