Out with the old...

In with the NEW!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go and check out the new blog! The time has come that I must leave this blog and move on to the next. It has been a great run with 'just another day...' but I needed something that will work better with my photography so I'm saying adios!

Please don't forget me, I'm still here just somewhere else. That makes sense, right? So go now, right now www.ashgenephotography.com/blog

Construction: Part 1 'Am I in Hell?"

Well, construction is in full swing. We have poured the slab and are starting on the walls. If I could describe our life right now in one word I think I'd use 'crazy', well...maybe I'd use 'dirty'. I tried to prepare for this, and I was doing good until the rain came. Oh, the rain. RAIN + DIRT + CONSTRUCTION + 2 DOGS + 2 KIDS = MUD, LOTS AND LOTS OF MUD. I really do think God is getting a real kick out of this, we always said that once we began building Texas's prayers for rain would be answered! I know, I know, we need the rain, I know, I'm trying to put my big girl panties on! Here is a look into our life since construction has taken over...

But the kids are taking lemons and making lemonade!

My very own Black Beauty Story: Sparkle Eyes Returns

The summer of my freshman year in high-school my mom and me headed to Ft. Worth to "watch" the Paint World horse show and just kinda "check out" the World Paint Auction. The auction is where they sell about 100 qualified Paint horses from all around the US. The day before the auction each hose is taken into the arena and given about 15 minutes to show off for potential buyers. One horse caught our eye, she was a sorrel paint mare, very elegant, long legs, green broke but showed sooo much potential. Well, just "watching" and just "checking out", quickly change to bidding. Within a matter of minutes my mom was bravely flashing her paddle in a bidding war. As the price kept rising my mom looked at me and said "this is it, this is my last bid, if its meant to be we'll get her". So I guess it was meant to be, my mom and I were the proud owners of a four year old Paint mare, name Sparkle Eyes.

I trained and showed Sparkle for 3 1/2 years. We did everything from western pleasure to jumping. My mom and I hauled her all over the state of Texas, and California. We had so many amazing moments. She taught me so much about training a young horse, because of her I was introduced to tons of people in the horse industry that helped me along in my journey. And, I cannot tell you how many days and nights she brought me and my mom together. She gave me and my mom memories together that we will cherish for a life time.

The summer after I graduated high-school I showed Sparkle at the APHA World horse show and won third. What an amazing accomplishment it was to have taken a horse from a youngster all the way up to placing in the top ten at World. Unfortunately that summer would be my last year to show. I was going off to school and Sparkle was too nice of a horse to just keep in the pasture. We made the decision to sell her which at that time was our first horse to ever have to sell. After the show we left Sparkle for the last time with our trainer to be sold. I remember sobbing in the aisle way at the barn as we left her and my mom saying "we dont have to do this, we can take her home".

After she was sold we kept up with her for several years. While at college I drove an hour and a half once a week to go and ride her with her new owner. Unfortunately she was not a great match at her new home and was sold. A few years later we lost track of her.

Several months ago my mom and I got to talking and wondered where Sparkle was and if she was ok. We tracked down her new owner and sent them a letter, but it was returned. My mom however is a genius and looked them up on none other than facebook. Low and behold they still had her. They're story was similar to ours...they're daughter who rode her was going to school and no longer had time for her.

This past sunday, after TEN years, Sparkle Eyes has returned home to us! At 15 years old she is still as elegant as she was at 4. We had our first ride yesterday, it is like she never left.

me and sparkle, 10 years ago.


me and sparkle, the day she came home for good.

Did He or Didn't He

Okay without further a due, the answer you've all been waiting for...YES, he conquered the wild, Jason Roberts shot himself an Elk!
After sleeping in a tent in 28 degree weather, hiking in 10,000 elevation (good thing he did not come down with altitude sickness), and tracking this bad boy down in over 3 million acres, he got an Elk.
And here he is...

We are calling him Edgar. Have you ever seen the movie Hanging Up with Meg Ryan, Lisa Kudrow, and Diane Keaton? Do you remember how they're dad has a bullet statue that John Wayne had given him and he was always saying, "come on girls, lets go sit with the bullet". Well, now instead of saying lets go sit with the bullet, we will be saying "come of kids, lets go sit with Edgar". Thats right, Edgar's rack, horns, antlers, whatever you call them, are coming home to live with us. I am SO excited. Dont worry I will let you all know when I find a place for Edgar. One hint...it will not be over the mantel.


OK, OK. HE SHOT IT WITH A BOW AND ARROW, HE IS AMAZING!

Its beginning to feel a lot like FALL!

The sun is out, and the temp is only in the 80's. You know what that means...fall is almost here! I can't wait. Fall is by far my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the crisp air, the PUMPKINS!

After months of nothingness, I have a ton to blog about. First I must to compile my thoughts or its all going to come out as one big blog mess. Coming up on the topic list...'Jason's back from his Hunting Trip: Did he, or Didn't he, shoot an Elk?', 'House Construction: Part 1', 'My very own Black Beauty Story: Sparkle Eyes Returns'. I know, I know, I'm sure you are all on the edge of your seats, and I promise to post more soon!

Her name says it all...

Sweet sweet baby Joy. I had so much fun photographing this little doll. Just a few days, she was so sweet and tiny, well not so tiny for a newborn...she weighted 9lbs at birth! Joy really was such a joy to meet. Her cute little hands, sweet curly body, and oh the adorable baby feet! I dont think she could be any sweeter. Thank you so much Alison for letting me photography your newest addition.





More of sweet baby Joy

HE will hold the rest

I think anyone that God has given a heart for adotion will understand where I am coming from in the post. We have all been here before, we have all felt this intense feeling of not being able to do enough. When I came home from Ethiopia, and almost everyday since I have thought of all those faces that were left behind, all those children without medical, without fresh water and food. The children like Bennet that have small medical needs that just cant be met. I feel waves of anger, waves of great saddness, waves of feeling such questioning and doubt. Earlier this week I recieved information of Bennet's birthmother, attached was a picture of her with her beautiful 9 month old baby girl, Bennet's half sister. In the email it said that she was in a great economical problem, only earning .5 cents american money a day. Her baby often gets sick with colds and she cannot provide her with medical care. Today I drove 15 miles down the road, waited an hour and got antibiotics for Ella's ear ache. It leaves me feeling so unworthy, I was complaining today about how long it was taking to get the perscription. This week a large group of orphans being hosted by families in our area, were put back on a plane to go back to Ukraine. Many of these children are unable for different reasons to have forever homes. many of them will grow up in the orphanges and then fall into prostitution, drugs, alcohol. As I look at Bennet and even though I celebrate his life with us and his future, I am so sadened by all the rest. The numbers are just unending it seems. Then today I came home and was reading a blog that often inspires me and I found some rest in what she wrote:

"I am sad and I am angry. Between no sleep and a million doctors appointments (imagine that in Uganda you wait even LONGER in the hospital than you do in the US...) and Bible club on Thursday and Saturday program tomorrow and trying to raise 13 children and spend enough time with each of them, maybe you will right my saddess and anger of as the rantings of an exhausted mother and maybe they are, but this is my blog and I am going to say what I feel like. I am MAD. I have been sad and broken for these children for so long and it has finally turned into a hardened anger. I am angry that this culture so lies to women that Michael's stepmother believes that she does not have to care for this child who is not biologically hers, though she has ample means to. I am angry that in the "Pearl of Africa" and the most fertile region of it at that, a mother has litteraly NO food to feed her baby, not to mention herself or 6 other kids. I am angry that the result of this is that these sweet ones suffer in their innocence. I have said it before and it still holds true: I DO NOT BELIEVE that the God of the universe created too many children in His image and not enough love or food or care to go around. In fact I believe that He created the Body of Christ for just that, to help these little ones, the least of these. And I believe that except for a handful, the Body of Christ is failing. And its not just me who thinks this. When I'm angry, I like to research so that I can at least feel a bit justified in my rage ;) According to several differnt resources, there are an average of 147 million orphaned children in the world today (this statistic includes children who have lost only one parent as well), 11 million children starve to death each year or die from preventable, treatable illness. 8.5 million children work as child slaves, prostitutes, or in other horrific conditions (making things like that cute baby Gap dress Jane wore today...) 2.3 million children world wide are living with HIV.

That is 168.8 million needy children like Michael and Patricia. Seems like a big number, huh? It shouldn't, because there are 2.1 BILLION people on this earth who profess to be Christians. Jesus followers. Servants. Gospel live-ers. And id only 8 percent of those Christians would care for just ONE of these needy children, they would all be taken care of.

And now I'm just sad again. And I want to take care of all 169 million. But as I look into Patricia's eyes, that since just 48 hours ago have turned bright and smiley, as I smell her hair freshly washed with baby shampoo and snuggle her into her new footie pajamas (side note: is their ANYTHING cuter than a baby in soft cotton footie pajamas?!) God tells me that this one is enough. That He will hold the others while they wait for someone to come along and hold them tight and give them their milk and their medicine. That He doesn't ask me to take them all but to stop for the ONE because that one is Jesus, His son. Stop for the little boy with white haid and scabs covering his body, stop for the baby with feces covering her dress, so weak she can't hold up her hear. Stop and take the ones right in front of me any trust Him with the rest. He whispers that it will be ok and that I can smile because tonight 2 less children are hungry and that is good for today.

My anger is gone and I am just a mom who is tired and going to make another bottle and tuck her children into bed and love them the best that I can, as we as a family love the ones God has entrusted us with. Tomorrow I will brainstorm and pray and come up with the best way to take Michael and Patricia back to their homes, possibly find their parents jobs, or supply them with food and medicine. Tomorrow I will remember that they were never mine to begin with, that they are HIS and He will go with them where I cannot. But tonight I will just be. I will just sit with my Father in my sadness and brokeness and anger and ask Him why His innocent children must suffer and beg Him to move people to action and let Him hold me as I hold the baby He has blessed me with for today."

For the Full Story

So today I will try and trust that God is holding the rest until more people are moved to action. And I will celebrate in Bennet's life and be honored that God has given him to me.

Bagley Family

I had so much fun documenting the Bagley Family. They are all so much fun and easy going. When Connie emailed me about a big family shoot I wont lie, I was a bit nervous. They were the biggest group of adults, minus sweet baby Kaydee, that I had done, not to mention that Robin, Connie and Donnie's youngest daughter, has been my best friend since forever, my roomate in college, my bestest bud! We really did have a great time. It was so cool to see they're whole family together, and getting to be a part of documenting they're family.










Click to see more of the Bagley Family

Wheelock Slideshow

Thanks again Wheelock family, it was such fun shooting your family...with a camera of course!

Wheelock Family

I met the Wheelocks through my sister, who met the Wheelocks through adoption. They are not only an amazingly beautiful family, they share the same heart beat of adoption. It was so wonderful to see them all together and to see God's work first hand. One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is being able to capture special moments in peoples lives, and I am grateful to have been a part of theirs. Here are just a few...

Summers coming to an end

Summers almost over...I'm both sad and happy. I cant wait for cooler days, and some structure. But for now, for our last week of summer we are just being bums. We are sleeping in, staying in our pjs, and Ella's favorite... eating way too much junk food. I am swearing off junk food once school begins and determined to get back in the gym. All my hard work is going to mush, literally. Oh and have I mentioned that a miracle has occurred? Bennet has finally gotten into a preschool. Thats right after a year of being on a wait list he has made it! After a year of pretty much zero time in my house without children, my little boy will be heading off two days a week to much needed school time! Yea!

New Coffee table book design

Super cute new coffee table book design! This one is the same size as the 'classic' album but has a little pizzaz! It can also easily be made to fit the smaller brag book size for grandparents.

Gotcha Day!

Just one year ago today we held our little Bennet Toufiq-y for the first time. I say 'we' held it was more like I held, if you remeber Bennet wasnt always such a fan of his dad! Wow, how he changed! Bennet has gone from an angry, confused, sad little boy to a wild, loving, outgoing 2 year old. He has been such an unbelievable blessing to this family. I honestly cannot remember life with our him. He is soooooo strong willed, and can sometimes drive me out of my mind but he has the sweetest little heart with the most expressive face you've ever met. Today we celebrated with family, we celebrated Bennet's life, and how he has forever changed this family. We went around and all said what we loved about him the most, the favorites were anywhere from his beautiful eyes, his adventurus spirit (thanks allee) to always ready and willing to play (love those potts). I said my favorite was his snuggles, he gives hugs that will melt your heart. I really cannot believe its been a year since we met him it seems like yesterday that I was in the airport getting 'the call' that we had a son. At the same time it seems like Bennet has always been here, I can't imagine my day with out him.


Our referral pic.


This was taken right after Travis left Bennet with us. 10 minutes later he was out cold, just a little stressful on the little guy.




And here he is last week playing with his two favorite princesses, sorry Ben one day you will kill your Tia!

Warner Bros. 'Orphan'

Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life.....


As most of you know that read my blog, it started out to document my journey to our son, Bennet Toufiq. Those of you that have read since the beginning know that choosing to adopt has its many ups and down. It is not always the easiest path. The process is long, and uncerntain. There are many fears of the unknown. Will this child fit with us? Will he be healthy? Can I love him as much as I love my daughter? What will my and family and friends think? The list goes on. But at the end of the day we choose to follow God. And he faithfully answered those questions. Somewhere in middle of all my fears, I handed it all over and walked the closest walk I ever have with the Lord. After almost a year and a half of waiting, on Aug. 4th we held our son for the first time. The moment was of course different, but just as special as the first time I held Ella. Being blessed by adoption has changed my life forever. I will forever be changed by the children without families that we met in Ethiopia, I think of them daily. I am changed by seeing a mothers love for her child and the sacrifices they will make for their child's future. I am changed by God's unfailing love for his children. I am changed by the strength and ability a child can have to overcome obstacles and trials. And I am forever changed by this little boy, this 'orphan', that God has chosen for us.




Join me in Defending the casue of the Orphan.... From Tom Davis' blog:
This is the opportunity to defend the cause of the orphan. But instead of cursing the darkness, lets put the truth on display.

Tom is challenging his readers and friends to write 500 positive blog posts about how an orphan has impacted and changed your life. Post this on your own blog so that when people search for the movie, they are flooded with positive messages about adoption and orphan care.

Just finish this sentence: "Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life..."

This is the heart of defending orphans. Help push back the darkness and deceit here by holding up as an example the powerful love that adoption and orphan care can unleash.

Heres how you can defend the orphan:
1. Write a "positive protest post" on you blog that references the movie, Orphan.
2. Focus on your orphan care or adoption story that is positive, redeeming, and full of love.
3. Link your post to www.tomdavis.typepad.com
4. Send out an email, Facebook message, or tweet to get others to do the same thing on their blogs.

Baby Jackson

Here is a sneak peak of little boy Jackson's one year old session. This sweet sweet boy couldn't have been a better boy. Seriously he is such a happy boy, big boy... really, he just turned one and is wearing 3T! Me and Jackson's mom, Sarah go waaay back, we used to play barbies in the closet of our condo at the beach for hours together. I cant count on one hand how many summer trips we went on together. She is the daughter of one of my mom's best friends, so it was so awesome to get to take her son's pictures. And let me say she is one braaaave girl, she is expecting her second baby in December! That's right, she'll have two in diapers! Seriously though it will be so great to have them sooo close and to see them so bonded.

Ready, set, go!

I cant believe it, we are actually doing it! We are actually preparing to start our MASSIVE house addition/remodel. We are still in the planning stages but are hoping to have the slab started by September. Right now we live in my grandmothers old house, right now its cute, and functional but oh soooo small. It was a one bedroom one bath until last summer we turned the garage into a bedroom for the kids. But we are busting at the seams, Jason's closet is now the laundry room, the one bathroom with no bath tub is driving us nuts, and the kitchen/living room could use some TLC. A part of me cant wait to tackle this project and the other half is saying, NO NO NO, we cannot possibly deal with a construction site. Can you even imagine Bennet living around a construction site??? I have nightmares just thinking of it. The dirt, the hammering, the NAILS, the constant people working around my home, wow. I just keep telling myself that the end result will be worth it. oh and did i mention that Jason will be the general contractor? Wish us luck!

Worst Blogger Award

I know, I know, I have been the worst blogger ever. Its just that every time I sit down to write something my mind goes blank. Must be the dog days of summer. Here are some pics of Ella at the beach.

Back from the beach

We are back from the beach! We all had such a wonderful time. Here are a few of the MANY photos taken. I'm slowly sifting through them all and doing some editing.

These are of my sister's gorgeous family. Seriously, have you ever seen a more photographic family? I would stick out like a sore thumb if I had to be photographed with this group!

what i'm lovin...

I am lovin my cup of joe. Seriously, such a great time of day. I have coffee twice, both times are completely different. My cup in the morning is more of a wake up, get movin, time to tackle the day kinda cup. My cup in the afternoon is more of a wind down, chill out, nobody talk to me kinda cup. Both cups very different, both cups equally good. I'm lovin my cup of joe!

Bribery...works every time

Every few months we try our best to get out to the farm and stay for a night or two. It is so nice out there this time of year, before the 100 degree weather hits. We usually go out there to just get away, to mow the always over grown grass, check the horses, and the farm dog Sandy. I still have a couple horses there being boarded so I usually make a quick drive out there once a week to check and make sure they are doing ok, but getting to stay a night is always a treat. It is truly God's country. The rolling hills, oak trees with limbs that touch the ground, a babbling creek, that really great grass that blows in the wind just right. Seriously it really is this nice! The only down fall and the reason we moved is that its a bit off the beaten path, plus it is a ton of work I tell ya. Always grass to mow, fences to fix, usually some sort of water well crisis, you know, typical farming issues!

While there I was able to fit in a quick photo shoot. These days, the minute I pull out the camera my kids seem to magically disappear or turn into little monsters. Seriously, Bennet refuses to look at me when I have it out. So, as any good mom/photographer would do, I resorted to good ol fashioned bribery. You guys act like precious little children while I take pictures of you, I give you some m&m's. It worked like a charm!