I started writing this post this last spring (around February, I think), but life just got away from us and here we are. If anyone’s too terribly upset about us not posting this sooner, maybe we can find a way to make it up to you. 
Thanks,
-Mark
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As you can see, it’s been over a year since we posted anything on this blog. Last November, Judy and I sat down & took stock of our lives and how we were spending them. I especially took a long look at what I had been spending my time on, what I wanted to spend my time on, and how that all had been affecting my growing family. I could go ’round and ’round giving many details of how and why we arrived at the conclusions we did, but I’ll spare you all of that rubbish. It mostly comes down to one issue.
Don’t get me wrong, and don’t mistake me for wanting you to cry me a river, either. I love photography but I love my family more; this was not a hugely emotional decision for me. By (at least temporarily) giving up my dream of being a photographer and business owner, I’ve gained back my ability to grow with my wife and children and truly become more connected to them as we go.
I also have many other dreams that I hope to attain and add to my list of dreams I’ve lived out (move to a Latin country & learn Spanish… CHECK!!!). Some items still on my personal list of things to do are:
Obtain my Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) certificate;
Earn my bachelor’s degree;
Become and live debt free for the rest of my life (we’re Oh-so-close on this one);
Learn how to live a sustainable lifestyle;
Live a sustainable lifestyle in a house that we build ourselves and that is completely paid for (shoot for the moon, right?);
Help people;
Write Andoid apps (that newish phone thing);
Learn how to shoot well (real guns, that is);
Get my pilots license;
Expand my knowledge of theology dramatically;
Help people;
Produce my own music CD (with songs I’ve written or helped to write);
Teach my kids how to live without limits (but inside boundaries);
Buy my own (little) airplane;
Play well with others;
Help people; etc., etc.
In January 2010, Judy and I officially closed our business with the State of Washington. Our affinity and love for photography endures, however. So, if you count yourself among our friends and would like a few good looking photos of yourself, we’d be so happy to get together and create some with you! If you’re a past client of ours and would like to place one last print order we will keep files on hand until at least March 2011.
It has been a pleasure working with all of you, our clients, many of whom we now call friends. Maybe someday we’ll be back at it, creating art with and for people who value enduring keepsakes. Until then, may you be blessed and may you find the path the G-d has for you.
Cheers,
-Mark
P.S.:
Did I mention I’ll be writing some Andoid phone apps? If you have any ideas on an app you’d like to see in the Andoid Market, please let me know. Who knows, it might be my next project!
