{A Rose by any other name} December Gratitude Challenge

“We have to recognise that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence.”
― Cornel West, Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life

Thankful today for the beautiful friends like my dear friends Rose, Brandy, Nadina,Kathy, Alan, Emily,Michael, Earl, The Finley Fam, Kolby, Lisa, Sarah, Owen Fam, Joshua ,My parents, Jessica, Barb, Vicki and others who thick and thin and messy and tears stuck by me during this messy and nasty divorce. Not many have the virtue of loyalty, myself included, at times. But hold the ones that do have close to your heart. Tightly. And I know I left out many including the fine people I met on the road...

Tomorrow, I have the privilege of photography my lovely friends wedding. I could not be more blessed.

Happy New Year and blessings!

{Dog. Meets. World} December Gratitude Challenge

“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”
― Jane Austen, Persuasio

Thankful today for rough waters, the strong women in my life and in the world, for my strong daughter and for my son who loves strong women.

{Seaside} December Gratitude Challenge

“Te amo como se aman ciertas cosa oscuras,
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.
(I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.)”
― Pablo Neruda

Thankful today for the sea. For self discovery. For poetry and movement. For the low and high tides. For grace.

{Ir. Vine} December Gratitude Challenge

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”
― Jim Morrison

Thankful for the Fineley's in Southern California
Thankful for safe travels and laughs
Thanful for Bop it
Thankful for Father Frank Finley

Most of all thankful for new starts....

{Coaster} December Gratitude Challenge

“Life is truly a ride. We're all strapped in and no one can stop it. When the doctor slaps your behind, he's ripping your ticket and away you go. As you make each passage from youth to adulthood to maturity, sometimes you put your arms up and scream, sometimes you just hang on to that bar in front of you. But the ride is the thing. I think the most you can hope for at the end of life is that your hair's messed, you're out of breath, and you didn't throw up.”
― Jerry Seinfeld

Today thankful for the ride called life and all the amazing people in my life from my roommate to my neighbor to friends far and wide. Happy holidays and hold onto that handle bar. Life is a crazy wonderful ride!

{Checkers} December Gratitude Challenge

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”
― C.S. Lewis

Merely thankful today for the beauty of the day

{Tests} December Gratitude Challenge

“Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, "Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?" ...Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, "We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay.”
― Charles M. Schulz

Thankful today for warm sun, a talk with my children, an invitation to photograph a dear friends wedding. Happy Holidays!

{Dream a little Dream with me} December Graditude Challenge

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

What more is there to be thankful for than children. I love mine, of course, but children seem to take the must nots, should nots, and can nots and realize it is a bunch of bull. Today I am thankful for our world's children and of course my own. May you stay children as long as you can, and may as adults we come back to the child inside us.

{Raindrops on Roses} December Gratitude Challenge

The truth about the rain
Is how it falls, how it falls, how it falls
-Dar Williams {Beauty of the Rain}

Even in the desert there is need for rain. I am thankful for a cozy day to relax, edit, rest and recharge. The sound of the rain calms me. May it calm you too. And on a side note....Go Steelers!

{Sunrise, Sunset} December Gratitude Challenge

“The sun burnt every day. It burnt time.”
― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Simply thankful today, after a bit of a break, for making it home and the many blessings along the way.

(December Photo/Gratitude Challenge)

"The truth does not change according to your ability to deal with it" Flannery O'Connor

No picture again today as I drove13 hours

I am thankful for humanness . As I travel I meet the most amazing people. See the most amazing things. Truly blessed by the beauty of the human soul. For better or worse.

(December photo/gratitude challenge)

"if you reject the food, ignore the customers fear their religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home" James Michener

No photo yet again today as i am on the road but thankful for
Sweet goodbyes
Safe weather
Good friends and family
Cheap gas
Goodbye hugs from my kids
A warm bed in Nebraska to rest my head

Peace out

(settling down) december photo challenge

Walk like you are kissing the earth with your feet-Thich Nhat Hanh

No picture today but thankful for my lawyer, settling down and finally feeling both feet touch the ground. And cannot be said enough but the never ending love and support from family and friends.

{First Comes Love, Then Comes...} Scottsdale, AZ Maternity Photographer

“When a child is locked in the bathroom with water running and he says he's doing nothing but the dog is barking, call 911. ”
― Erma Bombeck

Fun, Fantastic and Fabulous Session with and old friend from ASU. What a lucky guy to have parents that are smart, sweet, have a wicked sense of humor and don't take life or other stuff too seriously, very refreshing in these times. Easy going, I even had them at one point stuck behind a palm tree. Thank you for having me photograph this session. It was a true honor and I cannot wait, much like them, to meet the new pint of joy.

{December Photo Challenge} Chandler, AZ Photographer

Rien ne se cree
rien ne se perd.
(Nothing is born
nothing can die)
-Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier

Today I am thankful for waking up to these beautiful views. The contrast struck me. How daily the same view can change, minute by minute, perspective, light and contrast.

{December Photo Challenge} Chandler, AZ Photographer

We're all bozos on the bus,
so we might as well sit back
and enjoy the ride.
-Wavy Gravy
(from the book Broken Open)

Today I am thankful for all those bozos on the bus. For the book written by Elizabeth Lesser called Broken Open that discusses how those points that brings us to the edge are the ones that can heal us if we turn to it instead of away. I am also thankful for my quick trip back to the tundra this week so I can kiss my cute kiddos faces. May you all have a great day.

{Saturday Inspiration}

Source: thatgirlkate.wordpress.com via Stacey on Pinterest

{December Photo Challenge} Chandler, AZ Photographer

“Someday, somewhere - anywhere, unfailingly, you'll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life”
― Pablo Neruda

Today I am thankful for my beautiful children. For the slow process of rediscovering myself after years of hiding. I am thankful for the autumn leaves, the colors that I see in technicolor, and the precious messages I get from my kids over the phone and Skype.

{December Photo Challenge} Chandler, AZ Photographer

“Do you ever think if poeple heard our conversations they'd lock us up?"
All the time.”
― Wendy Mass, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Today I am thankful for good friends who understand my somewhat morbid humor, the run and biking I did today and for the lovely crane that is quite the view from my balcony. I think I heard a rumor that it will be wrapped in holiday lights soon. Perhaps a Santa on the top?

{Almost December Photo Challenge} Phoenix, Arizona Photographer

“Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
(often misattributed to Benjamin Franklin)”
― James Bovard, Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty

Thankful today for the right to be free, speak my mind even if it shakes and comes out stupid, protest, not protest, walk the streets without fear. I am thankful for the many family member and friends who have served to protect that which I often take for granted. Blessings.

{Stacey Cordes Photography Open House} Phoenix, AZ Photographer

Examples of mini-sessions and fine art

{Almost December Photo Challenge} Phoenix, Arizona Photographer

“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

A bit tired today so no big words or deep thoughts. I am grateful for the power of daily renewal. I was blessed to have been asked to photograph a wonderful baby shower in Scottsdale filled with loving people, laughter and old friends. This morning I am grateful for the daily power of healing and renewal....and my warm cup of coffee:)

{Almost December Photo Challenge} Phoenix, Arizona Photographer

“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
― Mary Oliver

Every year I embark on a 30 day photo challenge or selfie challenge or some other thingabob on Flickr. Inevitably I fail, lose time, pitter on facebook or my new obsession Pinterest. But not this time. I have been going through a rather challenging time and spent it wallowing. Well I am done with wallowing cause as stated above their are too many beauties in life to wallow. I am going to post a picture a day til the holidays of what I am blessed for. Below is a beautiful Arizona sunrise. Pretty much straight out of camera. I am blessed I could wake up, drink my coffee, endure the cold (yes my body took about 3 days to adapt to 50 degrees being cold...laugh away) to take and breathe in this beauty. The mountains. The golden and pink sunrise. The quiet of the desert.
In times of challenge solitude of the desert brings peace.

{Count your Blessings} Chandler, AZ Fine Art Photography

For my children who share a special place with me at the sea, for my wonderful parents, sisters, relatives galore, friends that are too many to count. I am truly thankful for your constant love and support for better,worse, and when I could not offer much in return. I am thankful today that my life is rebuilding inch by inch and while I try to practice staying in the present....I am hopeful about the future has in store. Enjoy your Thanksgiving day, may it be a full of grace, love and joy.


“For Equilibrium, a Blessing:

Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.

As the wind loves to call things to dance,
May your gravity by lightened by grace.

Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth,
May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.

As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.

As silence smiles on the other side of what's said,
May your sense of irony bring perspective.

As time remains free of all that it frames,
May your mind stay clear of all it names.

May your prayer of listening deepen enough
to hear in the depths the laughter of god.”
― John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Invocations and Blessings

{Sit Down} Chandler, AZ Fine Art Photographer

“The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

Daily dose of humor...

Source: weheartit.com via Emily on Pinterest

{Kolby Granville for Tempe City Council} Tempe, AZ Portrait Photography

“Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their peers, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.”
― Robert F. Kennedy

Check out the website of this up and coming leader....and rock the vote.

Kolby Granville Tempe City Council

{ready.to.bloom}

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou

{Mama love} Minneapolis, MN Family Photography

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

just breathe

{Times to remember} Minneapolis/St. Paul Photographer

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa

{Stacey and the City} Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN Artist

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships.There is those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up a lot of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you, you love, well that is just fabulous"
-Sex and the City

{The space between} Minneapolis, MN Artist Life

The space between the tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The space between the wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain

But will I hold you again?

These fickle, fuddled words confuse me
Like, will it rain today?
Waste the hours with talking, talking
These twisted games we're playing

We're strange allies with warring hearts
What a wild-eyed beast you'll be
The space between the wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain
-Dave Matthews Band
The Space Between