Christmas Cards

This year was not my year for FAMILy christmas pictures.   It didn't happen I spent the last 2 months getting other family's portraits done that I failed my family.   What a busy season I have had and I am truly grateful.  We did get this gem at Easter.  

and then during Tithing settlement  David's ward clerk took this....  His wife is also a photographer so that counts right?

 First time in over 12 years no formal pic for the Christmas card, but this will bring fun memories!

I have always taken family pics for others but this year having all the printed cards come in abundance has been pure joy!  

FYI 27 foto shoots this season.  4 more to go before Jan 1.  Already have 2 weddings, seniors, families booked for 2014!!

what's important?

My peeps.

I was recently in a conversation with a friend about how i don't socialize anymore.  

Much.

  I am very much a homebody.  I have found my people.  I have a few gals that I love to share a lunch or a double date with our hubby's, but almost always one on one.  Rarely groups. 

my friend had a response, she felt she needed to be social for her kids.  I remember those days.   They are gone though for me though.  I feel like the more people, the more I shut down.  I am so thankful for my sweet friends that understand that from me.

I feel like the older I get. You really do get wiser.  The big picture is more vivid.  I have always seen things, Black and white. ( which is evident in my clothing too, Lol) 

 I really enjoy the people around me.  

I'm so thankful for the people that have come in my life, and many back out because I realized something from each experience. I can't wait to find out someday why certain people do leave our lives. It seems like the ones that I think won't, do.

 Ultimately, my family.  Being a wife.  Being a mom.  That is what's important.

A little over a year ago, my Photography business website took off.  I had a page on Facebook and really have done nothing with either of them.  I am too busy really. I love the ease of the web.  All the technologies really.  I love the moments I get to capture in others lives.  Check it out, I am going to update it more frequently.

www.karyannphotos.webs.com

New

1. Sometimes the old is new. I found a bunch of pictures. I haven't seen in ages. I took all of  them but the minute I see them my mind is flooded of great memories Funny this is most of these are in California. A happy place  for them and me! Each step in my kiddos life is. A new step.  My little kids are newly in a new stage of life. I'm blessed 

These kids are growing up

SHARING

SHARING IS GOOD. ( and sometimes not so much)

 I have found my self in my old age :) more conscious of this verb.

As my summer pressed on and the questions and comments and concerns became more evident of the true love my favorite people had for me, I really reevaluated my favorite people and how much that helps recovery and gives you strength. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of the people in this world that i know. I actually was surprised by others I really thought were my peeps and reality sets in they are not.  Life is to short to let that ugly sadness sit, so today I share my love and gratefulness for my life.  The one that my sweetheart and sweet children  have given me. All the others are extra gravy!  I found a way to share my gratitude for those who have allowed me to be a part of their lives.... Stay tuned

No more

no more stitches ..... i hope.  there was 21 stitches on the outsid and 30 on the inside, and those have been slowly making their way out.  I pulled on last night.  the inscision sight on my face is healing, glad, can't wait til it's feeling normal ( it had no feeling rightnow because all the nerves are asleep they said for a few months.)

the big c word

I had struggled for a while to tell anyone and especially put it on Facebook or Instagram because it was a personal thing.  Different things were told and I wanted the truth to be told. I am so thankful for this experience I've had and that it has had a good out come. It was inconvenient because I did not have time to deal with it. But I made the time begrudegenly. 

  In January I noticed something on my face. Looked like a zit but would heal.  I ignored it and ignored it but i dint really think it was cancer.  I am talking about a tiny sore.  Like the size of a ball point pen mark.

Before any thing.  Looks like nothing. 

June 26th 2013

Marked for the first biopsy

July 9th 2013

After 6 biopsies on my face

July 9th 2013

So I headed off to Girls Camp and a friend said that looks like cancer.  then the next day another friend said that looks like cancer.  I don't know if it was the elevation or what but it would bleed and it was swollen.  We got home from camp Thursday and Friday I made an appt with a Dermatologist that came highly recommended.  My appt was 2 months out.  Well over the weekend I got more and more worried so I called and told them" my dad had this, my sister had this 2 months before!"  they scheduled me for the next week and I went in to get looked at.  She found 9 spots of concern. 6 on my face, 2 on my left leg and 1 on my right thigh.  The next week we were headed to Newport Beach so I pushed the biopsies out another week.  July 8th I had my first of 5 procedures. August 8th was the last of getting all the cancer.  The morning was getting the tumor out with MOHS Surgery.  and then off to get reconstructed from the defect. the ball point pen size was actually a huge tumor that had grown underneath the skin and was over an inch in diameter all the way around. I had a huge hole in my head and was told I had an 80% chance of the tumor growing to a point of me loosing my left eye. Dave and I were scared with the reality when the surgeon said, "I'm so sorry you have Cancer." I don't think people take skin cancer serious. I know I didn't completely. Telling the kids was very hard and we didn't for a few weeks until we figured everything out.

 Long story short.  It was CANCER.

Day 1 August 8th

Numbing  Worst part of the whole day!!! I was a awake for the tumor removal  Dave said the smoking and burning coming from my face was hard to watch as they cauterized it. Gross..

Here is the whole in my head. Sorry graphic.  you can see tendon, muscle fat.  

It was 1 inch by 1 inch 

Cancer Free!! 

Headed to the plastic surgeon in Scottsdale for my 1 sided facelift. :) 

                           +
 After Surgery.  

21 stitches on the outside and 29 in. 50 stitches

I had 11 removed many years ago, 4 with cancer and no major effects.

This time was different.... very different


 Long story short.  It was CANCER.  I have heard over the course of the last few months ( end of June to be exact) "It's just skin cancer"  Well I am the walking poster child that meeting with surgeons and plastic surgeons and dermatologists and being told maybe Radiation and Maybe Chemotherapy.  It's not just skin cancer.  It is major.  9 biopsies 5 surgeries, 1 being a 2 hours reconstructive with a Scottsdale plastic surgeon specializing in Ocular plastics. Lots of  bandaids and gauze and ointments, 100 spf sunblock that I have to wear forever now,  antibiotics and pain meds and almost $40k (before insurance).  It's not just skin cancer.  It's very treatable, if caught early but it's cancer.  My life has changed.  I have a 96% chance that within 5 years more of this cancer Basal Cell Carcinoma will show up in other places.  I have long sleeve swim wear and big hats.  This spot I had never sees the sun. It's covered by my big sunnies. I always wear sunscreen.  I still got cancer. I thought it was a zit or ingrown hair.  These pictures tell the story better than I can.

Around day 14

Day 2

Day 20th  Stitches opened up

Day 5

Day 12

I am so blessed to have so many amazing people to help me in this time of need.  2 months of surgeries and recovering, still have a few weeks til I am cleared for regular things but meals, cards, calls, service.  thanks so much for the kindness given on my behalf.

Day 30

Day 34 September 10, 2013

Now go get your skin checked!

I love to see...

 

Oh how I love to see the temple!

Tink had to make a photo collage for one of her last projects. She took the pictures and I am impressed!  She chose my garden.   I love that she chose this because she was amazed as to what great pics she took which made it all the more fun!  I love what a great picture can capture!

How do you know?

                

How do you know that he loves you....... Remember this song from Enchanted with the dreamy Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams.   She sings this song  and I love it.  I have it on my play list when Iwork out.  Its a fun song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MQsvpPWGmk
 

Well last night for Family Home Evening, I saw even more "how I Know that he loves me."  My sweetheart always says the sweetest things to me, about me.  He loves me, but last night as he taught the kids and myself our lesson he read from the scriptures and said, it is a Commandment to honor your mother and father.   Dave said, your mom is the most important thing to me and should be to you guys too.  He cried, I cried, my kids saw, which they have many times before.... He loves me.   

He was talking about me, he said it has nothing to do with the fact that Mother's Day/ Birthday are coming.  He is the sweetest man.     I love that he bore his testimony Sunday, and cried as he talked about me.  He said" I can't even look at her because i will cry"..  He was already crying. He is tender and kind, and not perfect at all but he strives to be.  and I know that he loves me! 

California

we had a great trip to Cali. While dave was in meetings I took the kids to our temple. The temple that began our life together forever.   It was fun to walk around the grounds of this majestic place and share stories of the day that I remember so vividly and have such sweet memories of.

The California Poppies were breathtaking. I have never seen so many in one place and so vivid. They looked fake.

 

My first visit to this temple was the beginning of my conversion story.  I looked at this sign and remembered that I said many years ago.  That I would go there someday!  I did and this sign means the world to me.

 

I don't know who took this but i dont like pics of me.

 I am the ph0tographer taking ever one else. not me.

 

my little little loves

 

we always right our name in the sand when we are there.

                             these 2 could sit and play in the sand forever and ever and ever

                                                                     my wave catcher.

                                                Until our next visit there...sigh...I hated leaving.