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This past year has been a particular challenge with the opening of my amazing studio on Main Street and growth in the business that I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams. To top that off, my hubby, Jason, has been on the road juggling unimaginable growth in his own business…the one that actually pays our bills! His company, Hoerr Racing Products  http://www.hrpworld.com/ , has grown insanely in a record bad economy in an industry where the competition is closing their doors right and left. Yet, he keeps on growing…because he is amazing. He has managed to GROW and be PROFITABLE in times that most people are finding themselves searching for jobs and struggling to pay the bills. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this man at the wheel in our lives. 

Now, you are wondering…WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS BLOG POST? Well, here goes…the RIGHT  thing. We are moving. We miss Dad. We want to be with him every day of our lives. He is vitally important to the success of this family and we don’t want to do it without him anymore. He has to build a new building to support his growing business, and he needs to be instrumental in the day to day activities at his main office in Peoria, Illinois. He needs to be THERE…and he can’t be two places at once. So we need to go where he is. I told you it wasn’t easy. But it is RIGHT. 

We will miss this town and these wonderful people soooo much! Even though we are going back “home”, it feels like leaving home. We have become woven into the fabric of this community and we love it. We are incredibly lucky that we will be able to keep our beautiful home here and continue to spend our summers on the lake, so we aren’t gone for good! Most people have to leave their life behind when they move away…we are so lucky to still get to keep a piece of that life. 

So, you are wondering…what will happen to Dreamcatcher Road Photography? Well, we are still working on that. I will be taking some time off to focus on the impending move…preparing my children, packing our belongings, and orchestrating a bedroom wing addition to the home that I was BORN in where we will be moving our family. How exciting is that? I get to live in my childhood home with my own children! The home that I pretended to be mommy in is now the house I WILL be mommy in! (fingers crossed that the builder gives us the numbers we are hoping for!!!!) I will shoot a few select sessions for existing clients this spring before the early summer move, but I will not be taking on new clients. All new business will be referred to Katie, who has been my right hand this past year. She is awesome and will do wonderful work for her future clients! 

As for me? Well, I get to decide who I want to be when I grow up! How many people get the opportunity to step away, take time off, and re-envision their entire business? For now, I will be Mom. I will photograph for myself, work on my craft, hopefully do a lot of blogging, writing and teaching, and then decide when the time is right to launch the business in my new/old hometown! I will miss my beautiful studio that I have poured my heart and soul into. There will be tears…LOTS of them. But I am so incredibly excited to spend every day with my husband and watch him coach football and toss the ball around in the yard with the kids. I want to go out to dinner and see a movie instead of juggling logistics before his next trip. I feel so blessed to have a healthy family, a strong marriage, and the confidence to know that I built this business once and I CAN do it again when I am ready. 

If you are a current client, don’t worry, your images are not going anywhere. I will still be available to place orders for you. You can always reach me via email and my website will still have online ordering available. Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you need anything! 

So keep on following me…I will be sharing along the journey. You might be tortured with photos of my crazy kiddos, wonderful hubby,  and our new home, but I am confident that the journey will bring me to new levels as an artist…and I am ready!

So, I have this friend…the kind who puts every girl in town to shame with her fashion and design sense… She always looks adorable, her kids always look like a page out of a magazine, and she is ALWAYS there when you need her. EVEN when she is tearing her hair out busy. I remember the first time I talked to her. My daughter had decided to give herself a haircut…TWO days before school pictures! I was new in town and just looked for the most adorable mom I could find so she could send me to her hairdresser! Well, here we are 4 years later…and that fateful haircut brought me one of the best friends I could have ever imagined. Over these past few years, there have been incredible amounts of change…She quit her “day job” and had another baby, I opened my Main Street Studio, She started her online fabric shop, Her hubby started his frame business http://www.facebook.com/MyRedheadDesigns , our girls have grown to be buddies as they turn into little “ladies” ….and now this friend has realized her dream of having her own fabric shop in downtown Hayward! I could not possibly be happier for my friend, Morgan Poppe!!!

If you want to meet Morgan (or if you already know and love her as much as I do), stop into her GRAND OPENING today and tomorrow! She has amazing fabrics, handmade items, modern vintage clothing – both new and previously loved, and she BAKED for the occasion! I wish her the best of luck in this newest adventure and hope that you all will take the time to stop in and support her!!!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheScarletPoppe

http://www.thescarletpoppe.etsy.com

When we arrived, I was greeted with this fabulous bouquet of flowers that my sweet hubby and kiddos had our friend Katie, with In The Woods Floral and Events coordinate sending. Apparently the transaction required a bit of translation, but the end result was fabulous and such a surprise!

I was really excited to spend some time answering questions in the Certified Professional Photographer Booth…I met some awesome people that I look forward to keeping in touch with! One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to spend some time with one of the PPA jurors who judge International Competition. I got to share some of my work and get his insights on how to best improve them for competition…such an incredible learning tool! I even got to spend a little one-on-one time with Vicki Taufer, who has been a valuable mentor to me as I have grown my business! Although we were there on “business”, we still managed to find some time for a few cocktails and some AMAZING meals in the french quarter. YUM!!! One night we even braved the streets with our cameras in hand…

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Rock the Shot does a fun monthly contest and I am finally taking the time to participate. This month the challenge is self-portrait. So, here is my entry… enjoy! (and don’t laugh!!!)

The foyer

the foyer

Our amazing new frame from My Redhead Designs!!!

as always, Katie with In The Woods Weddings COMPLETELY outdid herself!!!

 Heather at The Brick House in Cable made us some scrumptious treats…this was my personal fave!

AND the winners are…

Oil Change from Naylor’s Auto Repair: Becca Zeigle

Oil Change from Naylor’s Auto Repair: Jaime Harris

Basket of Scentsy products (donated by Michelle Christian): Tom Dierl

Handmade tutu and cupcake purse set  from Sassy Pants Couture: Wade Bishop

Red 5×7 Frame from My Redhead Designs: Allison Somerville

Bottle of Walleye Blush Wine from Hookstone Winery: Laura Zeigle

Mary Kay $40 gift certificate and Satin Lips set (donated by Michelle Christian): Brittany Staeck

A visit from Santa (donated by Paul Eckerline): Sundee Hansen

Marrakesh Hair Care set from JC Salon: Trina Starr

Damask Diaper Wipe case filled with handmade items from Sassy Pants Couture: Bobbie Petersen

Momma’s Boy Tie from The Scarlet Poppe: Emily Williamson

Skin Matters Spa Bioelements skin care package: Paul Shagan

17″ Strand of Freshwater Pearls ($129.00 value!)  from Anthony Jewelers: Lori Clifford

Paparazzi Party!!! (GRAND PRIZE): Laura Haack

Our Generous Sponsors… 

Naylor’s Auto Repair 715.934.3015

Sassy Pants Couture www.sassypantscouture.com 715.634.2412

JC Salon 715.634.3437

Anthony Jewelers www.anthonyjewelers.com 715.634.8385

In The Woods Weddings www.inthewoodsweddings.com 715.558.1712

Hook Stone Winery www.hookstone.com 715.634.9463

Skin Matters www.skinmatters4u.com 715.934.2003

Mary Kay 715.558.4559

Scentsy http://mchristian.scentsy.us 715.558.4559

Paul Eckerline as SANTA CLAUS! (ask Kelly for details!)

The Scarlet Poppe www.etsy.com/shop/scarletpoppeboutique 

My Redhead Designs (ask Kelly for Details!)

The Brick House Cafe  www.thebrickhousecafe.net (715) 798 – 5432

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