tell me a story, please?

Tonight I am taken back to a time, actually many times. It was almost every Sunday afternoon for months that this feeling began to creep in. It would move in slowly like a winter storm that you see building on the horizon. I would begin to drrraaagggg my feet in anticipation. The errands and excuses would begin to pop-up like wildfire. It was actually the beginning of..."Tell me a story!" :) The way I would stall for a just a little more time, to push back the inevitable a bit further. LOL, I remember the silliness, flirting, long conversations that would ensue when I was successful. Hehe!

Finally, it was way past time. Then the storm of emotions would break loose. The heart ached.

Now, it's a Sunday evening years and more years later. So different, so similar.

Tell me a story...

photography blog

Yea! I have a new blog! This one will be completely dedicated to my photography passions. It is really my hope that it will develop into something more in the future. For now, I just need more opportunities for practice and developing skills. There is SO MUCH that I do not know, but I'm learning! Sometime in the future, I would love to be able to capture special treasures for others. I can't imagine anything better than my hobby becoming something that would bring joy to others. That is a dream!

The best way for me to get practice is to take more pictures, which means people need to know that I am available...and the type of photos that I have already created. So as I share these ideas with others there has become a need for me to have some place to share what I've already done....which is where the idea for a blog of a more professional nature developed. I have to give a shout out to Chrissy for helping me think through the details to use it more efficiently! She is so great!

I used the photo shoots with my sister on Friday to get the new site launched. It might be a little premature, but maybe it will evolve with the rest of the adventure. Check it out~Moments by Mackey~and as always, leave comments!

july already?

My sister came to visit for the holiday weekend! It was truly fantastic having her here! She was a wonderful house guest. We were able to share some adventures and relax together. I am thrilled about how our back to back weekend visits turned out. I have to say I was a pretty good hostess, too! We did not eat out one time...and I didn't starve her...that's right, I prepared meals for her (and sent her home with "to-go" boxes for the beginning of the week)!!

Thursday, we fulfilled her requests for shopping and live music. I wasn't too excited about the shopping location, but it turned out that I left with quite the loot. However, I was very pleased that No Justice was playing at Hat Tricks in Lewisville. It was amusing to find out that Steve's favorite song is "Red Dress". Now, I know we share a little something in common! :) I'm becoming quite partial to this little neighborhood bar. Joe was there this week, too, so that also added a little excitement.

Friday was the photo shoot! I can't brag about Julie's skills enough...she was patient, photogenic, flexible, and everything I could have hoped for. We were worn out when it was over though. Three hours in the Texas summer heat is almost too much to handle when you are not near a body of water.

Saturday, we celebrated the 4th of July at our Dad's on Eagle Mountain Lake. It was a fun day spent with Jenna and Amy, too. Later, we watched the fireworks here in Lewisville.
Julie left this morning. Like always when my house guests leave, it's a little lonely around here.

east texas

This is the kind of weekend that makes me miss the things and people in East Texas. I figure that I will eventually go back, but the time is not quite right yet. It was a busy, long weekend in and around Tyler with people and things that I love!

Thursday night was a "Sister's Night Out"! Julie and I went down to Randy's Crawfish on Lake Palestine to see an acoustic show by Daniel and J.P. from WHISKeYFISH. We had a lot of fun! We sensed that it was going to be an adventure before we were out of her neighborhood and it only got better as the night went on. The little restuarant was not quite what I expected, but the shack charm grew on me. Our waiter was a sweet, cutie. He tried to protect the band from us by indicating that we would need to sit at any of the other available tables. I began to kind of stumble and hint, until Julie just said, "We are with the band." It made me giggle. As I'm sure you can imagine. It was nice to sit outside on this summer night and listen to the guys play. Daniel played some of my favorites. Julie harassed me and I harrassed her throughout the night~but it was all in sisterly love.

Friday was a day with Jenny! We ate lunch (I had a much needed nap on Grandaddy's couch) and then we were back together again at night. Some things never seem to change. Jenny and I have been listening to music together for the length of our friendship. It started back with our tapes of Sylvia in my bedroom, continued to the Oil Palace, Jacksonville Rodeo, Smirnoff Music Center, and now...it was another adventure on the town to support WHISKeYFISH at Electric Cowboy.

How lucky was I that they had two shows while I was in town? This show inluded the whole band. Rule #117 of following the band: It is not time for the show to start, until it starts. Seems I would have known that already, but now I have experience from a different perspective. It was fun to have Julie and Jenny around. We were early enough to get a prime location right down front. :) The picture that I wish I had captured was a photo op with some young fans and the band after the show. It was a preview of the future.

Saturday, Julie cooked brunch for me...I was thankful! Then, I was off to the GABC Youth of the 90's Reunion. It had been many years since I had seen some of these people who had played important roles in my life during middle and high school. I enjoyed catching up with them. This is Leigh Ann, Jennifer, and I--talkative girls together again. It was interesting to find out how many things I did not remember from those days. Wow! I guess there's the proof to the brain research that I had heard...I'm already on the downhill slide.

The news of Michael Jackson's death finally hit Becky and I on Saturday night. We watched music videos, documentary clips, and movies about his life. I tried to convince her to put her t-shirt from the 1984 tour on ebay, which was unsuccessful. However, I did manage to get a picture of her wearing it. I was strictly prohibited from posting it on the internet...but Nonda did anyway. See Facebook for that image!

Finally, I got to see Mitchell on Sunday. We ate pizza and went to the park with Mom.

The worst part about the trip was getting up at 5:30 am today to come home. It was very early for a day in June...and I could have stayed a while longer. I'm sure it was the cable TV that was giving the magnetic pull?? You think?

with the band

Haha! I found this song on my iPod this morning on my way back home. It makes me giggle when I find songs I really like on my own iPod!

...I can't believe we made it this far
Country singin', bangin' loud guitars
The biggest stages to the smallest bars

We were cold beer drinkin', what was I thinkin'?
Just the other night at the after party rockin' just right
This little country girl caught my eye

She was backstage, legal-age, hangin' with the drummer
When a big dude attitude grabbed her by the collar
I looked at him and said, "It's all good, brother"

"She's with the band, hired on as a local stage hand
The one in charge of the microphone stands"
And the lead singer told her to get the one in his dressin' room
We might even have a beer or two
Don't worry about the backstage pass, man, it's cool
She's with the band

Well tomorrow is another town
But you know we love a party crowd
So if you've got the right stuff we'll meet you on the bus
But you better get the lingo down

Just tell 'em that you're with the band
Hired on as a local stage hand
You know we got a lot of microphone stands
And the lead singer told you to get the one in his dressin' room
We might even have a beer or two
Don't worry about the backstage pass, y'all, it's cool

You're with the band...
~Dierks Bentley "With the Band"

God is good

Wow, I am so humbled and amazed this morning.

Over the last few weeks I have been a bit out of sorts. I have been characterized by laziness, complacency, and reclusiveness, especially in my relationship with God. I have seen the effects trickle across my scene. During this time, I have been concerned about my upcoming finances. It's not that it was going to be the end of the world. However, it is not what I had in mind for my recent feat to save some cash.

Then this morning I received a phone call regarding some work that I agreed to do. It was announced that I am going to be payed 5 times the amount that I expected! And....wait for it....the amount of the financial burden!

It is more than I can comprehend! There is no other way from my perspective that this could be anything except from God. Why at a time such as this...would he choose to bless me? Grace! Praise Him!

Heavenly Father, You are so amazing! Thank you for providing for our circumstances despite our sin and humanness. You have such gentle ways of bopping us upside the head sometimes. I am appreciative that you do not allow us to wallow for too long. I love you!

another small step

My little photography dream is developing! Each time that I learn a new technique, I fall more in love with this hobby. I hope I can improve my skills pretty quickly so that I can continue to chase this idea I have in my head of what it might become in the future. The excitement inside of me just might explode if it takes too long.

Yesterday, I requested the design of a watermark with my trademark name~Moments by Mackey. It arrived today! That is quick service. Thank you, Chris! Well, that meant I needed yet another toy to continue this task...more advanced photo editing software. I acquired a new program and "Viola!". It was so easy to add this addition to my favorite photos. This is what it looks like...

One of the things that brings joy to my heart about this project is that it is a family affair. Without them, I would not be able to pursue this interest in this way. Anyone still wondering what I want for Christmas?

P.S. I also got a little table-top tripod for my Flip Video camera this week. Videos to be posted soon!