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Category Archives: .life’s moments.

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.dreams.

August 21, 2010 – 2:41 pm

Today I leave for San Francisco. Tomorrow I leave for Ireland. My husband Ben is coming with me. It will be our first time, being married in thirteen years, that we’ve been on a plane together. A dream come true. The next part of the dream is for the whole family to fly… anywhere! My kids want to ride on an airplane with all their hearts!!!

It’s so wild how things we dream for do come true. As I look at my life & all that it has become tears flow so gently down my cheeks! If you would’ve asked me three years ago if I was going to be a photographer, and even further, photographing a wedding in Ireland I would’ve said that you were crazy!!!! My life has changed in so many ways. Dreams are starting to unfold in ways that I couldn’t imagine. More interestingly, the dreams are not only my dreams, but I feel like they are the Father’s dreams for me. I always have an idea of how something is going to turn out or become, but most all of the time, when I link my heart to His heart, my dreams are even better!!! & they turn out even better!!!!

Don’t ever lose hope. Continue to dream! Continue to pursue your dreams!

With that being said I will be out of the office until August 30th!  Seniors, it’s not too late to book your session!!! Feel free to e-mail me to set something up!!!!

Dreaming–

..just had a photo session with the amazing photographer kara stewart & her girls!! such an honor!! & just a little glimpse of the shoot!!

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Family_ | Comments (9)

.chloe. {Redding, CA Photographer}

July 28, 2010 – 12:34 am

As a mother one of my greatest dreams for my children is that they would have the best childhood memories! At times I wonder what will their memories be? What will they remember?? When Conner was in Kindergarten he met the sweetest little girl named, Chloe Masten! They were best friends, Conner even named our little dog, Chloe, after his friend, because, as he would say “Chloe is so sweet!” We moved up to Redding, and haven’t seen his friend Chloe in four years! Thanks to face book, and keeping connected, Chloe’s Mom & I have stayed in touch, and guess who just happened to be in Redding?? Yes!! The Masten family!! It was so fun watching them re-aquaint with each other. So wish I would have caught it on video!!!! Thanks Masten’s for stopping by & for letting us create memories for our children !!! Chloe will always be in our hearts, as well as your family! Love you! (it’s gonna be fun when they see each other at age sixteen…LOL)

Meet Chloe & Chloe!!!!

Couldn’t resist taking their pics— sooo beautiful they are!!!

everyone together!!!!!!

I was able to find this picture of Conner & Chloe right before we moved from the Bay Area to Redding…. Almost four years ago….


and today……another memory documented!! the “air-hug!!!”

thanks for stopping by today, Masten family!!!! have a wonderful vacation!!!!!!

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Capturing the Heart | Comments (10)

.simply inspired by jasmine star.

June 25, 2010 – 9:12 am

Just over eight months ago I was just about ready to head down to L.A. to attend a Jasmine Star Workshop, but with some unfortunate news I had to cancel! I was very heart-broken, and could only hope that I would be able to make it into her workshop again (it books out super fast)! Six months to the day that I had received this news I registered to attend a Jasmine Star Workshop!! It was a dream come true!!!

I have to admit I was a little bit star struck! We had a little mixer the night before & when she walked in, I had to pinch myself! About half-way through the meal she came to the other side of the table & sat next to me. Okay, my heart was beating so loudly that room probably heard it! I had to keep telling myself to breath! LOL! Funniest part, though, she spilled her water all over my lap! (Probably from all of my nerves, sorry Jasmine!!!! ) Never gonna wash those jeans again.. haha!

Waking up to little birds chirping, I knew it was going to be the best day! I was beyond inspired throughout the day! Not only by her, but by the other photographers that attended! I felt so blessed to have met so many amazing people!

Simply impressed by all of the sweet details! I am a “details” kind of a girl, so the details meant so much!!! Jasmine personally wrote each attendee from her workshop a note, yep, she’s amazing!

The models, Joe & Jihan Cerda, were beyond stunning! Vivan from All Made Up did Jihan’s hair & make-up, & WHOA! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!! Dreamy!

I was so in awe of their beauty! I didn’t shoot a ton, as I just was taking it all in. Jasmine really had me thinking… What defines me? Why I am shooting what I shoot? Does it represent my brand? I love the challenge that she left me with!!!!

Floral designs by JL Designs! Absolutely stunning!!!!

and of course had to take one of Jasmine in action! Watching her was just as inspiring as listening to her! She is so real and so open!  I flew away from this workshop beyond happy & beyond ready to soar to higher heights!!!! Thank you, Jasmine Star for your amazingness!!! & for giving me courage to be a better me! You are so amazing! Also- have to say thanks to JD, both he & Jasmine put on a spectacular workshop!!!!!!!

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Capturing the Heart | Tagged , , , | Comments (15)

.lake night bbq. {Redding, CA Photographer}

June 24, 2010 – 2:34 pm

Yesterday I returned from an amazing trip to L.A & also my sister & her husband arrived for three days, as they are soon moving to Virginia! Trying to plan everything out, so I could mesh back into the flow of mommy, wife, and host, peacefully, thought a BBQ at the lake would be fun!!!  We packed everything up & headed to Whiskeytown Lake, about five miles out of Redding. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The kids LOVED it! We had the best time!

 I also must mention that my sister is pretty much all three of my kids FAVORITE person on the planet!!! She rocks.com! My house is buzzing with happiness as we visit with Riann & John!!!! Tonight we are having a “couples” date!!! Woot! Woot!

How I love my sister!!! We’ve both never really liked having our pics taken, but she let me snap a few of her!!!!… Thanks, girl!! You are beautiful!

Sliders are our new favorite way to make hamburgers!!! The “mini-burger!” Yummmmmm!!!

Auntie & the girls found Puff-Balls!!!!!! AHHH! How beautiful they are right now!!!

Making a wish….

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Capturing the Heart | Tagged , , , , | Comments (6)

.sweet gifts.

May 31, 2010 – 11:32 am

The other day I was chatting with a local photographer & he mentioned challenging ourselves capturing objects– doors, chairs, fences, rustic buildings, flowers, etc….

& yesterday afternoon we received a knock on the door and it was some of our lovely friends sitting in this blue chair! Instantly I thought, ”Let me grab my camera!!!!!”  They stood up, and she gave me her chair!!! Tears! My heart was smiling from ear to ear!!

Martin & Charolette– thank you!! I love you so much & we will miss you beyond words!!!!  BrentVanAuken–here’s to our conversation!!!

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments. | Comments (4)

.a spring recital. {Redding, CA proud mommy!}

May 20, 2010 – 11:54 pm

LOL! I love blogging. I try to keep it professional, but sometimes it just gets more personal!!! Tonight the girl’s had their Spring Recital! Bethel Christian School offers Dance as an option, instead of P.E. Both Kira & Madison LOVE dance!! They were soo excited for tonight! Madison woke up at six this morning ready to DANCE!!!!! I blog this post for their Gramma who couldn’t make it….Cannot wait until you live closer so you can see all of their recitals!!!!

and a pic with her bestest friend–!!!!

and Kira’s BFF–

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Capturing the Heart | Comments (10)

.Our Sweet Annete.

May 10, 2010 – 11:51 pm

Do you know how at times, you meet someone, and instantly they feel like family?  There is an instant connection?  Three years ago, on Mother’s Day, we met the sweetest girl, and instantly she became part of our family. My kids love her like their big sister! They absolutely adore her!  We love you, Annete!!!!! 

She is soon to be married, on June 12th. Her sister threw her the most beautiful bridal shower! After, we quickly shot a few fun pics!! Love when things are just candid!!!!

I love you, Anette! I am so happy for you! It was so lovely to see you & all of us be together! You are so beautiful!!!

As I was capturing Annete, I turned to find more light & Katherine, Annete’s sister, was sitting there in admiration of Annete. Their bond & love for each other is so sweet! I loved hearing them both giggle throughout the afternoon!! It brought back memories of being with my little sister!!!

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Capturing the Heart | Comments (10)

.being a mom.

May 9, 2010 – 11:28 pm

Is the greatest thing! Happy Mother’s Day to all of you amazing mom’s!  Celebrating Mother’s Day is always so special. I love all of the sweet notes & gifts the kids give me. This year Madison’s class had a Tea Party for all of the mom’s, it was so precious (Thank you Ms. Booth & Ms. Tabitha). Kira’s class had all of the mom’s come in & the students prayed over us & gave us special words (Thank you, Mrs. Hale). My heart has been melting the last several days!!! AHHH how I love my kids!! Such an honor to be a mom & to honor my mother’s! How I love each of you!!!!! Thank you for all you do and continue to do! I call you BLESSED above & beyond!

A challenge for me is to let myself be on the other side of the camera! I know, I know. So easy to photograph, but so hard to be photographed. One of my goal’s is to looove being captured!!! I can give you a hundred excuses why I don’t want my picture taken, let me tell you!!! I am constantly taking pics of the kids, but I have only but a handful of me w/ the kids! That is going to change… even if they are a bit older, and even if I’m not at my ideal weight, or my make-up is not glammed up, I am going to celebrate being captured!!!!! 

So for Mother’s Day I wanted a few pics with the kids! Here they are. Oh how I love my babies!!!!!!! Ben did an amazing job capturing us! Thanks baby!!!

Celebrating Being A Mom:

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments., Capturing the Heart | Comments (15)

.love came down & rescued me.

April 29, 2010 – 9:04 am

I have had the song Love Came Down & Rescued Me  going through my head for several days now!! If you haven’t downloaded it…….download it! So encouraging!!  Yesterday marked six months to my husband confessing his infidelity. Honestly I cannot believe how far we are coming & have come! It is amazing! I lift my hands for the life of my family! So miraculous! It has definitely been a lot of hard work & deliberate choices, but honestly I can say we are ONE!!! Chosing has been such a key part in this process. There have been a few times (maybe more than a few..LOL) that it seemed literally like an all or nothing choice, and at the very moment, just saying, “I choose us!” breaks all of the feelings of me leaving, or even just losing my mind with the amount of hurt that I have had. Life is a continual process! Growing is a continual process! We are growing together, more in love everyday!!! I love my husband & I am so thankful to have him in my life & to call him my husband!!!!!! He is amazing & I am so proud of him & how he is working through cleaning up his mess & showing me how he values & loves me…. I love you, Ben!!!!

Blogs are continually very inspirational for me. One particularly, I came upon, on my birthday… It was a God-send…. I e-mailed her & asked her permission to post it. Thanks, V25, for your inspiration & hope!! It is such a blessing!!!

photo credit: cllozdemir qute credit: josh mcdowell

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments. | Tagged | Comments (9)

.updates & myoldbluesuitcase. {Redding, CA Photographer}

March 31, 2010 – 2:53 pm

This week has been quite a week. I came down with a bit of a cold, and my youngest daughter, Madison, also came down with a cold. She, however, was spiking a fever of about 102-103, so both Ben & I thought we should take her in… Miraculously we did, because it ended up that she had pneumonia in both lungs. It was a scary thing for me, not any of my children have had anything quite that severe, as far as colds go, but the doctor said that we caught it early enough, and everything was going to be okay… Such a relief!!!!! Madison is on the mend, she still is fighting pneumonia, but is out of the woods, and on the upswing!! Hallellujah!! Thank you all who have been praying for her! Your prayers have been felt!!!

I know I have mentioned this before, but I so enjoy reading blogs, it is sort of a “morning paper” thing for me, but do enjoy them. Today, as I was catching up on my blog readings I found ME! I was in awe. Thank you, Charolette, for featuring me on your blog & for all of the super sweet things you wrote! It meant so much!!! I absolutely LOVE Charolette’s blog, just the name is worth taking a look– www.myoldbluesuitcase.blogspot.com!!!! She is sooo inspiring! I love her creativity & her passion to try new things!!! Love you, girl!!!!!

By Heather Armstrong | Also posted in .life's moments. | Tagged | Comments (5)