Impressions of America Part 2

There are many people in Uganda that Damion and I adore and feel very connected too. However, we are so excited to have Pastors Michael and Christine Kyazze (Cha-zay) here with us in the U.S. right now. Not only are they exceptional people overall, but greatly inspire me personally to proceed with great vision and continue taking small steps to achieve a great goal.


Here is a little self-portrait of Christine and I, like-minded hearts. You see, twelve years ago, Christine is the one that began the Tender Mercies International program, which we have been supporting for almost 10 years now! In the past, Uganda ranked #1 in AIDS related deaths (Now it is Zimbabwe) and because of poverty, civil war, etc, there are many, many orphans. Twelve years ago, Christine was caring for 16 orphans in her own home and asked our organization , RIM, for help in providing care for them. Fast forward twelve years and there are almost 300 orphans being cared for at the Primary School that we've been privileged to help build, both in financial support and in carrying bricks! Each sponsor is asked to donate $25 per month, per child to provide them with an opportunity to attend school (not free in Uganda), and receive clothing and one hot meal per day (the only meal for most). Thanks to Christine's wisdom, she is able to stretch the $25 a month to bless more than just one child. For instance, our little one named Solome lives with her four brothers and sisters who are provided for to some extent as well.

Just as Christine has begun a great work with 16 orphans and now expanded to almost 300, my dream is to bring relief to many impoverished children around the world through providing food, clean water, blankets, clothes...whatever will make their lives richer. There are so many who need our help and once you see those little faces looking up at you, you just can't get them out of your head or heart.

This is Christine's first trip to America as well and she says that everything is beautiful...the houses are beautiful, the buildings are beautiful, the town is beautiful....and the food.....she said that now she knows why Pastor Michael comes home from America with a few extra pounds and looking like he was bathed in milk :)

Also, check out my gorgeous necklace that Christine brought for me. It's awesome!!! Believe it or not, it's a carved shell and it has beautifully colored layers that create a great design! I love it!!!! I gotta run, but I'll share more impressions with you next time and maybe even about the time that Christine took Damion to meet Solome, the young lady that we sponsor AND what happened two years later!

Impressions of America Part 1

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend!
Here is something that you might not know about us...we are half African. Well, OK, not literally, but we do love the people of Africa. Having been there twice and invested ourselves there for many years, it gets into your head and heart! You'll see this reflected in two places on our websites: 1) on the home page of our portfolio, there's an african drum which is actually a link to our "Personal Projects" including a slideshow from our last trip there and 2) our blog is linked to our new project called Wells of Life, which is set up to raise money to dig wells for our dear friends who are suffering in Zimbabwe (you'll have to read the WOL blog to find out more.)

Anyhow, we are so excited because several of our friends from Africa are actually visiting for a month, some for their first time in America! It's been so fun and enlightening to see our country from a different perspective, actually very humbling. I got to spend a whole day with our friend Bob Kaira, taking him shopping, to the mall, etc... on his second day in America. Here's a bit of his perspective :)

Re: riding the roller coaster at Santa Monica: "It will drive the fear out of anyone."

Re: driving down the streets: "Every place around here is so beautiful." He was amazed at the landscaping surrounding the sidewalks and center islands!

Re: our entry to a clothing store: "It's a whole world of clothes!"

Re: Sam Ash music store: Bob had never seen a store with so many instruments and almost had to touch almost each one, was amazed at cables, microphones, speakers "Everything I ever wanted!"

Re: seeing a police car: "Wow! It is just like the movies!"

Re: seeing a cab: "Wow! A yellow cab--just like the movies!"

Re: chinese food: He liked it, especially the sweet and sour pork "because they have that at home" but found the pepper chicken to be too spicy! He also enjoyed eating shrimp, crab, oysters at Gladstone's and an apple covered with caramel, white chocolate, and coconut from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! I don't think he had ever tried Granny Smith apples before..they were a shock.

Lastly, I asked him what his impressions were of America before coming. Most of what the world knows of America is only from the movies, so he was sure that "guns would laying on tables, in cars, and someone could just pick up their gun and I could get shot at any time!" and that "Americans don't care about families...but when I was at Gladstone's, I saw many people coming in with their families and thought--I don't think this is true!"

Next time, I'll tell you more about Mama Christine, one of my inspirations and some of my impressions of Africa!

Rodriguez Family Party

Here's the recipe for a great party...take one heaping dose of fabulous food, add one part live mariachi music, throw in a dash of family and friends who love you, and most importantly, secretly fly in all of your mom's siblings from all over the nation to have a surprise birthday celebration. Now THAT is how the Rodriguez's throw a bash!

Of course, you'll notice in the first picture, we HAD to feature little Giana, who just celebrated her 2-week old birthday :) (Be sure to click HERE to see her arrival into the world...it's tasteful, beautiful, and will make you cry :)

Rodriguez family, we hope that these images provide you with many years of great memories of this celebration. It is very easy to see that your family has a lot of love for each other! Here are a few of our favorite images, but be sure to check out the slideshow at the bottom to see everything! Happy Birthday Mom!

Mariachi Music provided by Epifario Nolasco (626) 337-2645
























































One of my personal favorites....

























Damion had a little help...just in case :)






































Here is your Slideshow!!

Jameson turns two!

As you might have noticed, the video link for the Damion's high flying adventure (below) isn't working yet, but be patient with us--Damion's working on it!



















It's hard to believe that Jameson just turned 2 on Feb 7. Isn't he getting handsome! We've been taking his pictures since he was just a little guy, so it's been a joy watching him grow! Here are a couple of our favs from his 2nd b-day shoot. Location: Jameson's room!

One of those grateful days....:)

Well, in truth, this was actually written Wed, but I'm still grateful today....


Of course, every profession (including ours) has those days that make you want to pull your hair out and quit. And then you have those days where you say "I love this job!" Today was one of those days.

The great thing about photography is that you get to spend major life "moments" with people, i.e. weddings, births, etc. and I think it bonds you together in a special kind of way. I was so blessed by one of our past clients and now friends when she called today and we were talking through some things (the kind of bumps that come up in the road of life). I was so encouraged in talking with her (still brings a smile to my face) when she was talking about watching my kids graduate and watching their future endeavors. Just listening to those things and thinking about how much we cherish our relationship with them filled my heart with joy.

And if that wasn't enough, I hung up the phone, only to receive a message from another of our past clients who heard that I hadn't been feeling well and invited me to her mom's house to share some homemade soup! The s and I gathered up and headed over and I have to say a MAJOR thank you to Mindy and Betty for the great soup and the incredible (!!!) avocado salsa. I'll be chowing on that for as long as I can! We will see you at the party on Sat!

We feel like we've been adopted so many times over and we are grateful for each person who has enriched our lives through their friendship and care.

I'm grateful for this job!

Please Fly right!!

There are not to many things in my life that I can say I am very afraid of. Unfortunately heights is definitely one of them. So mixing me, with a very very small helicopter, with room for two small to medium sized adults and a lunch box just doesn't sound appetizing to me. Sounds like a recipe for extreme girlish screams and perhaps the need for a barf bag. Hows that for a story intro?

Actually, today I did in fact journey to the Riverside Airport to take a helicopter flight with California Aviations Services to capture some aerial photographs for a local southern california corporation. Even thought my fear of heights is real I must say that once we took off, this helicopter flying stuff is better than Disney Land. It was like heights were never an issue and it was just the greatest experience ever! Seriously...it was incredible. In fact I'm still surprised that I loved it that much.

So needless to say we got all the photos we needed and on our way back in the pilot did some practice runs with me. Basically we did a couple of touch-an-go's and a couple of simulated engine failure landings, one of which you will see in the video below. He simulated an engine failure by cutting all engine power and headed straight for the river bed below. I must say...it was better than a rollercoaster. Seriously, if you have never been in a helicopter before and have always wanted to...contact these guys. Its only $207 per hour for the two passenger and its something you'll never forget!!

Enjoy my short very condensed version of my first helicopter flight.

Giana Elise Barraza

Saturday morning, Feb 2, we got the call that we had been waiting for. The newest Ms. Barraza was ready to come into this world. Damion made it to the hospital in time to witness and capture the birth of Giana Elise Barraza, weighing in at 7lbs, 5oz. She is such a beautiful baby and looks like a little doll! Congratulations to new mommy and daddy Melinda and Damien and thank you for allowing us to share such a special moment with you. Damion truly felt just like another member of the family (and loved holding your daughter :) We hope you are getting some much needed rest and enjoying this time with your new baby girl! I can't wait to see her (Julie)!


















Giana and her Daddy!














What a lucky guy....

Please click on the photo below to enjoy Giana's slideshow!