Tuesdays with Danny

The last couple of weeks have been both overwhelming yet exciting at the same time. Tony and I know that big changes are around the corner for us. We just don't quite know what the means exactly.

We are asking, seeking, and knocking...

We are praying...

We are trusting...

We are walking...


This post is to remind me: to wait when I get impatient; to trust when I get anxious; to believe when I doubt!
May it encourage you with anything you might be struggling with.

Tuesdays with Danny

u·nique   
1. existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics 2. having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable 3. not typical; unusual





I was encouraged by these quotes and sayings to remember to be...ME.
Letting go of all that outside noise and lies.
Resting in God's promises.
I am excited for the next chapter in MY story.

Tuesdays with Danny

I know, I know. It's been a long time since my last Tuesdays with Danny but I am committed to doing them again this year. Check out my first Tuesday with Danny here to learn how it started.

I thought I would also start including some photos of my travels around the world so you can experience my heart a little more.
Many of my trips into other cultures and environments have changed my life forever. There is something fascinating to me to be able to document the stories and lives of other places and people through my lens.
CHALLENGES MAKE YOU DISCOVER THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT YOU NEVER REALLY KNEW. ~unknown

Happy New Year 2012

"THE OBJECT OF A NEW YEAR IS NOT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A NEW YEAR. IT IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A NEW SOUL". ~G.K. Chesterton


I love the feeling of a fresh start, a clean slate to wipe past failures away. To learn from yesterday so that today I can fulfill my purpose God has for me. Tomorrow is not promised. When really analyzed it changes my thinking and my actions.

At the close of a year I get busy on my "new goals" list along with my theme for the new year.
Last year my theme was "GROW". It meant so many things for my life and motivated me along the way. This year I wanted to build on this and chose "COMMITMENT" for my new theme.
(Commitment~ an act of committing to a change; dedication, application.)
It is the perfect follow up to a year filled with growth, of taking steps forward rather than backwards.
Now it is time to be diligent and committed into following through with these desires and goals.

One of my goals is to re-commit to our blog. Though God had bigger plans than photography for us in 2011 and at times I got overwhelmed (and even discouraged) with juggling my full time job and photography. I aim to stay dedicated to keeping photography a passion in my life. First and foremost I commit it to the Lord and want to serve His kingdom. Beyond that will be the cherry on top. I am excited for what He has in store for me this year. I commit to documenting my journey in 2012!

Tuesdays with Danny

In honor of the beautiful rainy day...
Today's quote:
"Most of todays worries are like puddles: Tomorrow they will have evaporated."
Because posts are more fun with photos. Jonas & Mac contemplating how bad they have to go potty because it was raining so hard and super cold.

We will Remember

We will never forget! We pray a special prayer of comfort, hope and peace for all those who lost their loved ones on September 11th, 2001. May this day be a reminder to never forget how short life is. To live life to the fullest. Be quick to forgive and slow to anger. Love. Simply love one another in spite of our differences.

Tuesdays With Danny

Quote for today:

"We cannot change the direction of the wind.... but we can adjust our sails."

Life Is Fragile. Handle With Care.

Life's Clock

The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just where the hands will stop

At late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed:

To lose one's health is more:

To lose one's soul is such a loss

As no man can restore.

The present only is our own,

Live, love, toil with a will-

Place no faith in "tomorrow"- for

The clock may then be still.

Mike, today we said goodbye with sadness, confusion & broken hearts but forever you will be in our hearts, thoughts and fond memories. We pray God will mend our broken hearts as we grieve the loss of YOU our beloved friend and brother in Christ. We look forward to the day we will see you again in the Kingdom of Heaven. We know God is going to use this tragedy for His glory. May we all grow from this and take nothing for granted as life here is short. Live with no regrets and forgiveness in our hearts. The end is near.

I want to end with some encouragement and my favorite scripture that I hold dear to my heart especially during times like these...

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Eleven Going on Thirty

Kiana,
To our Niece, our buddy, our pal, our "sister",
We love you and wish you an extra special day today as you turn Eleven years old. We love you like our own and cannot wait to celebrate your special day with you. We have surprises waiting for you when you get back home. So hurry up and come home. We miss you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIANA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

Make a wish!

Love, Uncle Tony, Auntie Danielle, Mac & Jonas

Ruff-Ruff The boys said Happy Birthday to you too! =)

Tuesdays With Danny

I love making new years resolutions even though I know by March they will have faded out; and I will feel like I have failed at accomplishing my big goals for the year. This fact however doesn't stop me from "Failing Forward" and trying anyways.

A couple of years ago I wanted to motivate myself into reading more. So I had this great idea to start a book club with some family and friends. I thought it would be fun to be exposed to new books I would never have picked out and also thought it was a great way to stay accountable to my goal of reading at least 12 books for the year.

As many resolutions go we started off on the right foot. Everyone was just as excited as I was and finished their books on time for our monthly club meeting. Over some yummy grub we analyzed our discussion questions, talked about life and just enjoyed each other's company. It was turning out to be far more than I had even imagined when I got the idea and I was touched. These kind of things in life are what make me go round. Relationships. Analyzing life.

This lasted for a few months and then something happened. What exactly I couldn't tell you. Maybe the busyness of life or a bad book choice by someone, or maybe simply the curse of the New Years Resolutions? All I know is somewhere along the way we lost our footing and our fabulous club came to an end. One of these days I would love to find a new group that is interested in helping me see it through. In the meantime I started my own personal book club resolution for 2010. With the same goal in mind to read at least 12 books for the year but this time I am accountable to me, myself & I.

Here are some of my reads so far...
January: Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell (this is my 4th time reading this book. It never gets old. This book changed my life a decade ago)
February: tuesdays with Morrie By Mitch Albom (Tear jerker. My inspiration for my very own Tuesdays with Danny here on my blog.)
March:Breaking Trail a climbing life by Arlene Blum (Very inspirational! Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it. ~Joe Clark)
April: Angelina Jolie's: Notes from My Travels by Angelina Jolie (I have been a huge Angelina Jolie fan since HS and I am moved by her passions and what she is doing in other countries. She is a very misunderstood person despite some of her poor choices in life)
May: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (thanks Brenda for this one. I loved it. Couldn't put it down)
My next book I am starting for June is The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

Oh I cannot forget to mention The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. Michaela one of my bride's told me about this book and I have been so blessed by it. As soon as I finish it, I start it right back over and plan to continue to do this for years to come.

I am always looking for new book ideas so please leave a comment with the next fascinating read around the bend for me. Thanks and happy reading...

Tuesdays With Danny

I dedicate this weeks Tuesdays with Danny to my little brother Joshy who isn't so little anymore. Congratulations Joshy, your wedding was so real and perfect. Josh married Marayat (Nony) Sunpichai this Sunday, May 16th in a traditional Thai ceremony. Stayed tuned for more details and photos.

His name is Joshua Nathaniel Reedy and he is very special. He is the baby of the family and one of my closest friends. We share this bond that is hard to put into words. All I can say is that I adore him to pieces and cannot imagine life without him.
Through the years we have amazing memories together. But, I am especially fond of our travels to far off places or our scuba diving accomplishments together. These are memories that I hold dear and close to me. As we reach new chapters in our lives I wanted to document my adoration for him and express how much this kid means to me. I LOVE YOU! I am so happy to be a part of your special day and you couldn't have found a more beautiful person inside and out. Nony we love you and welcome you to our family. Tony and I look forward to many more years of adventures and memories. Thank you for being YOU!
Love, Danny

A Lifetime of Devotion

You have spent your entire life devoted to your children and for that we thank you, mom. Being a mother didn't end when we all turned 18 and it's a beautiful thing to be loved so much by one person. How can we ever thank you?
You truly are a special women who loves the Lord and sacrifices for so many.



We had a fun afternoon celebrating with you and Dad. How blessed are we?!
Happy Mother's Day, to the greatest, most loving, giving mother in the world.

Beautiful Moments

Today is a special day. Today is my dad's birthday. Today is a beautiful moment for me that I want to remember forever. Let me give you a brief background on why it is so important for me to document and never forget.
In early 2005 my father had a massive heart attack while driving to work on just an ordinary day of the week. When we received the call we didn't know if he was alive or not. That phone called changed my life forever. A miracle happened that day as the Dr's said he was minutes away from dying. God however wasn't done with His plan for my dad's life and for that I am thankful. I am thankful I have more time to live in the NOW with him and enjoy every moment I can with him.
This event shook me to the core as I had never thought about life without my parents before. Boy, was it a scary thought.
I am thankful that something so horrible can be used for a good thing. It is a reminder to me of many of life's lessons and the kind of thinking God wants drawn out of us in ALL situations both good and bad. To see beyond our immediate circumstances and draw near to Him to find the answers. To break through the layers.

Time continues to go at warp speed and though 5 years have passed there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for His continued second chances at experiencing beautiful moments with my loved ones.

My dad has an obsession with plants. Really, seriously! There is no other way to put it. So my mom came up with a great plan to surprise him for his birthday. We loaded up and went for a drive to LA to the The Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. He loved it and we shared in many beautiful moments that warm my heart. Moments no longer taken for granted. Moments of God's magnificent beauty in every direction we turned.

So blessed to have such a wonderful, funny, giving, quirky, loving, amazing father who can fix anything! Yes, my daddy can fix anything.Beauty like I have never seen. Literally this peacock brought tears to my eyes as it's feathers brushed across my body. I get chills still thinking about it.





Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world!!! We love you more than words can describe and thank you for everything you do.
Love, Danny, Tony, Mac & Jonas

Tuesdays With Danny

Since I was little I have been obsessed with sayings, quotes, music lyrics, scriptures. I am an over analyzer. Ask anyone close to me. Always have been so I tend to gravitate to things that make me wonder and question life; things that make me remember and appreciate life; and things that make me challenged to be a better person, to have a better life.
Since I have a dozen of journal books filled with such sayings, quotes, lyrics and scriptures that I have compiled since a little girl, I thought it would be nice to start adding some to the blog. Simply for inspiration and a reminder to me through this journey called life. Hope you enjoy.

Today's quote: "Remember: you cannot change what you do not acknowledge."

Soles4Souls

Life is hard isn't it? It doesn't always have a happy ending like the movies try to fool us with. It is simply just not always easy or fair for that matter. But so often times I can get caught up in my difficulties and struggles and feel like it is the end of the world until I am reminded of how blessed I truly am. How I have never really known hunger. How I have always had a roof over my head and clothes to wear. I am reminded that someone always has it worse, much worse.
Sometimes when I step back from my world I feel so ridiculous even embarrassed for even worrying about such selfish things. Let's be honest, I could go on for days listing the ridiculous things we can worry about. And even though I strive to be a better person making a difference in this world; I can get caught up in all this. So when an opportunity presents itself to have less of me and more of helping others I am moved to take action. Moved to actually get out there and do something that can really make a difference and spread the love of Christ. Sometimes these opportunities are right under our noses. Maybe a lonely loved one needs your comfort or a hurting friend needs a shoulder to cry on and then sometimes opportunities present themselves to help out a complete stranger. Helping our loved ones comes easy but I challenge you to open your hearts to complete strangers and make a difference in their lives. You will be surprised at how much it ends up making a difference in your life!

Recently I came across this amazing charity and wanted to spread the word about them and how we can play a part in helping with this great cause. Check out this brief video below about Soles4Souls.
Be sure to check out their website and ALL they are doing. I promise you will be moved by this and hopefully want to take action.



It starts with one pair of soles. Join me in taking a step toward helping another soul.

Happy Birthday to a Special Someone!!

People come in and out of your life but sometimes your paths cross with a very special person. A person you know is special right from the start. A person you know that has sooo much to offer this world. Sara is just that kind of person. I know God had our paths cross intentionally and for that I am thankful. Amazed really. Amazed at His master plan for our lives.

Sara is taking on photography with an amazing amount of passion at her age. I am so honored to be mentoring her through these major life decisions as she approaches her senior year in High School. A little bit of guidance, encouragement, and belief in another can do miracles. If I could help her make at least one less mistake than I did then I know we are on the right path. I am excited to see what is around the corner for Sara.

Look out world here she comes! Today we celebrate her seventeenth birthday. Happy, Happy Birthday Sara. We love you.

MCP Actions & Jessica Claire

Check out this amazing contest here by Jodi Friedman's MCP Actions and featuring Jessica Claire's Shootsac lens bags.

The photography business is so blessed to have such fabulous people like Jodi and Jessica. Thank you both for your willingness to share your talents and for this awesome give away!
I have had a Shootsac Lens Bag since 2007 and I love it. I cannot imagine shooting without it. I am hoping to win this contest for my dear friend Sara who is a Junior in High School and is already rocking the photography world with her talents. I have been saving up to get her a Shootsac for her graduation. It would be even sweeter if I could win it for her!
Sara this ones for you.

Tax Day

I am a procrastinator and so is Tony. We work better under pressure. It's just the way things are around here. So needless to say we here at Forever Keep Photography were scrambling around trying to meet the dreaded tax deadline and trying at all costs to avoid the line at the Post Office. To our surprise there was nobody in line at all. I was shocked! Fortunately for us we must be the only procrastinators out there.
Here is a photo of what the boys were doing while we were finishing getting it all put together. Apparently doing our taxes wears us all out.On a brighter note Free Starbucks coffee all day today when you bring in your own cup. I am more of a tea drinker myself but thought I would spread the love. If only they were offering free Apple Chai Infusions. Now that is a line I would be willing to stand in.

The Sun, the Moon, & the Stars....

The Sun, the Moon, & the Stars were definitely lined up. God is soooo good. He totally gives us the desires of our hearts even when we are least expecting it. I have been wanting ALL of Swiss Miss Designs Haus card & album templates by Amy Wenzel for a couple of years now but just haven't had the funds to get them. When I saw that Leah with Go{4}Pro was hosting this giveaway I was excited but not too excited as I am not one of those people who wins things. So I said a little prayer and followed the giveaway rules.
Then Wednesday morning I got the biggest surprise when I opened up my email. My eyes could not believe what I saw before me. Could it be true? Me, the winner? Somebody pinch me. I let out a loud scream of joy. My heart melted and it totally made my day.
I cannot wait to design my first album with Amy's awesome templates.

There is another cool part to this story. I was winner number 18. So What!, you say? Well this was just the icing on the cake for me. 18 is a very special number for me. Read here for more details. I believe this was God's extra little thumbprint to remind me to give Him the glory!

Go{4}Pro & Swiss Miss Designs Haus by Amy Wenzel

"I want templates from Swiss Miss at swissmissdesignhaus.com and I'm going 4 it at @go4ProPhotos / go4prophotos.com – YOU CAN WIN TOO!"

I am a sucker for giveaways especially when it's things I absolutely love. Thanks to the generous Swiss Miss Designs Haus by Amy Wenzel and to Go{4}Pro for sponsoring it. Check these links out and give them back some love.
If by chance the sun and the moon and the stars are perfectly lined up and I am the random winner please contact me at my email: danielle@foreverkeep.com.

I am crossing my fingers...