Boo!

Scared you didn't I?

Happy Halloween!!!!!

What A Man

I have been blessed to have all four of my Grandparents around me and a part of my life for so long. Yesterday evening my Grandpa (My Dads Dad), just short of his 89th B-day, said goodbye to his wife, and family and passed on to the other side.
I grew up 3 houses away from my Grandparents, next door to my Aunt, and about 2 miles from my other Aunts and Uncles. Close is an understatment.
I have so many great memories with him and I am thankful for the legacy he leaves behind.
He taught everyone how to work, and how to work hard! If he asked for help it was expected that you do it - right away. It didn't matter if you were busy, because who is too busy to work a little more? =) He always appreciated any form of work you would do, and would praise how good it is to be a hard worker.
He was loved and respected by all.
He saw and said things the way they were, and I respected that in him.
He not only taught his family his beliefs, he showed them by being an example. I remember at a family home evening he said something about his legacy (5 children, 22 grandkids, 29 great grandkids (Thanks for making that easy for me Sandi) and how proud of them he is and how rare his family is. He said how happy it makes him that all of his family belong to the church and haven't fallen away. I feel lucky to be a desendant of his and come from the family that I do.
I consider myself blessed to have the family that I do. I grew up literally surrounded by my Dads family, and they continue to be some of the best friends I have.
I felt lucky to be there just moments after his passing, and be a part of his goodbye. It will be something I will always remember. It was neat for me to see his kids morning his loss. In that moment I was so thankful for them, that they have had all this time with him. What a great blessing it is to live a full life. To be able to say your goodbyes, and have a lifetime of memories.
I am comforted by this, and it turns a hard time, into a time of joy for me. I know that there was a joyful reunion between he and my Dad yesterday, and the heavens seemed so close for such a breif moment. On the drive over to say my goodbyes I was so comforted. I had Ella with me, and I said to her: "Do you feel it Ella?" I love it when I feel his spirit with me. I know that the veil is thin and that those who have passed are allowed to be with us at times. This was one of those times.
I love life. I love my family. I love my friends. I love that I know what this life is all about. I love that death doesn't have to be the end, and that one day I will have my own joyful reunions.

Halloween Shoot Mishap

I had a Halloween Mini Session this evening.
Here is a little sneak peak of a scary looking Mr. who really should have been dressed up in his costume from last year... THE DEVIL. He was SOOO bad for me tonight. All I have to say is sorry to those of you who were there to witness not only him, but both of my children in the middle of a crisis. I feel awful that you had to listen to two kids screaming. HUGE thanks to Ashley and Amanda for saving Ella. I REALLY appreciate it!
And thanks Tiff and Emily for acting like you didn't care that Tate was following me around crying... oh yea, and the wind blew!! Literally and a figure of speech!
I ended up canceling the other half of this session which will be rescheduled, and coming home feeling totally worn out.
BUT... I was pleasantly surprised when I uploaded the pictures and went through them.
Come to find out I did get good ones after all! Phew...
Anyways, here is a little sneak peek until the rest are done.

Awarded

I was given a Kreativ Blogger award from a good friend of mine Gina. This is a HUGE honor to me coming from Gina, and I have to admit I am a little nervous about the words I will write here. I have big shoes to fill following her and her creative way with words. So, I won't even try. Thanks G, for the sweet comments and the award!
Now to pass it along:
Holly of Life With us. She is a friend of a friend and takes the best pictures. I love to admire her talent. She has plenty of it!
Lauren of Tuttles because she is so funny and her kids have been blessed with the same humor... and she gives sweet giveaways!
Lindsey of Mangum Family because she also takes amazing pictures and I love to look at them, and she is oh so willing to help me out and answer my questions! (Thanks!)
Ashley of Life's Little Moments because she talented in everyway. She is crafty in every way... and because she has a beautiful family picture on her blog right now that you should all see.
Taylor of Tuesday Night Rides!!! Thats right, I'm giving this award to a guy blogger, but he deserves it for his last post!
Merrily of Merrily's Moments becuase her dating stories make me laugh.

Now it's ya'lls turn to pay it forward... pass this little goodie on!

Halloween Mini Session

For those of you who pay no attention to my photography blog, I am going to do a Halloween Mini Session.
Dress your kids up in their Halloween costumes and bring them to Lehi where I will be taking pictures.
The cost is $15.00 per family and I will have the pictures back to you within the next few days.
This will all be happening Tuesday October 21st
Starting at 4:00 PM
Email me at jessieoneal(at)gmail(dot)com
to set an appointment time.
It will be a good time, and I LOVE the location - it's perfect for the occasion.
Hope to hear from ALL of you out there! =)

(Please note that this is not a picture of the actual location, but trust me, it's a goody)

Pumpkins

We went to the pumkin patch for some fun play time with friends. These two boys had fun walking around holding hands being the buddies that they are.

Then we went through the corn maze in search of the witch, who we did find.

Then Tate made it up halfway on the rock wall, and then chickened out.
He is holding on for dear life here, and wasn't too happy that I got a picture of him before helping him get down.

Baby

This was my favorite session to date.
It is so fun photographing newborns. I have heard this before, and now I know it to be true.
Check out a few more on my photography blog here.

SPOOKY!

Fall Pictures

I went up the canyon to watch the lighting and scope a couple places out for pictures and brought along my little test subjects. I love Tate. He is so good for me when it comes to pictures. (As good as a three year old could be that is). I am going back up to see if I can solve a couple lighting problems.

This picture is so dear to me.
It portrays the way they are together perfectly.

Top Three

I LOVE conference. There is nothing better to me than to be spiritually fed from the comforts of my own home. I was especially touched this session. The littlest things would put a lump in my throat and I would choke up with emotion. This may get a little long, but it is all so good.

1. The music. Few things move my soul like music. It is such a powerful instrument to my testimony. I loved that the opening song was I Know That My Redeemer Lives. I was going to write down my favorite lines from the song, but couldn't narrow it down:

He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with his eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives to bless me with his love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

2. I loved President Eyrings talk on unity. He was so sincere. You could feel how badly he wants us all to know how happy we could be if we can unite as one with our Father in Heaven, by keeping the commandments, and becoming more humble. I know that the most happy times in my life are when I am living as close to my heavenly father as I can. When I am giving 100%. He reminded us of how awful pride is and how it can destroy us. He instructed us to be peacemakers, whether in a conflict or as an observer. He said that our differences with others can unite us. What a better way for us to reach out to those around us, differences aside.

3. Hales talk on having Christian Courage.

He told us when we are responding to criticism (and I'm thinking of this in every situation we are faced with) to take a moment, step back, and to pray. This will help us to act not as the world acts.

Love our accusers. Do good to them that hate us - (I suppose that takes some courage.) What a hard thing to do. Imagine the way things could be if we all took this to heart and tried our best to love everyone. He said do not retaliate. To turn the other cheek is not weakness, it is Christian Courage... and in doing so we stand with God! I love the way he words that.

Meekness is not weakness, it is strength. My Mom and her parents are such great examples to me on this subject. I think they may be some of the most Christlike people that I know. They are so nice, always turning the other cheek. I think they illuminate our savior in so many ways. I got a little more of my dad's blood in me, and don't come by this as naturally. I am so thankful for their example of Christian Courage to me.

I also loved how he said not to confuse boldness with Satan's counterfeit, overbearing.

Be like a child; slow to take offense and quick to forgive.

The greatest test: to be in the world without becoming of the world.

4. President Monson: Change

(I know I only said my top 3 but I can't stop there)

I just loved how uplifting his talk was. Too often I find myself in cruise control going about life.

He said there is no tomorrow to remember, if we don't do something today. There is no going back. Don't dwell on the past, change the now. The toys all over the house will disappear all too soon. Deal with the stress the best we can, but don't let it get in the way of those around us! (I think he could have just said, Jessie that was for you, did you get that? )

Send a note to someone you've been neglecting.

Children grow up, loved ones pass on. Relish life as we live it. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.

The speaker before Pres. Monson (I didn't catch who it was) spoke on the work of God. He said this is not a time to be superficially righteous. (I'm not surprised by this comment, I was just struck with the profoundness of it) I notice such a big difference in the way I feel when I am really doing all I can, and when I'm just doing. (again, cruise control)

Elaine S. Palton said Don't underestimate the power of your individual infulence. So on that note I am just going to say how thankful I am to be who I am, and to have a testimony of these things that were spoken in conference. I do know that my redeemer lives, and I find so much joy and peace in this life that is so full of heartbreak and pain. His spirit lifts me up. It keeps me the happiest I could ever wish to be. I am thankful for our savior. I love my little family with all my heart and I am forever thankful that I am blessed to have them in my life. Being a wife and a Mom has taught me how deep our hearts are capable of loving. It is comforting to me to think that that is how much our Father must love each and every one of us. I think of my kids doing things that will hurt them, and how much I want to protect them from EVERYTHING. Again, I think of our Heavenly Father who must feel the same way. It must hurt him so to see us suffer and make bad choices. He must love us so deeply that it must feel unbearable. I am so thankful to be able to feel of our saviors love. It is a love like no other love. It is always there for us, and that my friends is a great comfort.

Sitting Up

Almost seven months and finally sitting up!

Well, not that great anyways.
But she is improving quickly.
I couldn't help but watch her in her own personal turmoil here.
Oh to be little again and think that the worst thing is to be lying on the sharp uncomfortable grass.

Boys being boys.
Tate is SOOO much fun to tease lately. I can't help myself.
98% of the time he wakes up in a bad mood and it's not one of my favorite traits. Yesterday I had to wake him up because he was sleeping too long. (He didn't end up going to bed until 11:30 - Cole and I were in bed waiting for him to fall asleep.) I kept roaring at him like he is constantly doing to me but it didn't faze him. So I got his sword and started jabbing him with it. Again, no reaction. So then I thought it would be funny to put his hand in warm water. As I was filling up the cup with water, Cole rescued him and woke him up all sweet and lovingly. Another time! =) And just for the record, it took him a good hour and 10 minutes to calm down from his bad mood. (Bad mood is the nice way of saying he was being a hellion) Cole repeatedly reminds me that this is the way he was when he was younger. I've taken it upon myself to try to teach him to take all of his "energy" and use it in a more postive way. I still don't know how I will do this, but I'm hoping that as he get's older it will get easier. He is so strong willed, I just pray it will be used in positive ways. It is such a blessing to be strong willed, as long as you are obedient with that power. I can't blame him though. Cole and I are both strong willed. Sometimes to a fault.
Anyways, one of these days I'll get his little hand in warm water and we'll see if the theory holds true.