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People that know me understand that I love music and love photography.  I am lucky enough to have the use of my ears and eyes to enjoy both.  As I am learning from other photographers that I find through Facebook I am amazed and in awe of the talent that is out there.

I find that music often can enhance what you can visually take in.  This is why I often will create slideshows of my photos and add music to help create the mood or feeling.  Picking the appropriate song is sometimes easy and others not so easy.  Sometimes words fail where music can fill in the blanks of those moods we experiencing.

In networking with my Facebook Page I have virtually met many wonderful photogs out there.  Many of them share the same passion for photography.  There is one woman who has taken beautiful photos that just take your breath away.  I have been looking at her photos and you can tell that she appreciate everything that surrounds her.  It’s appreciating the smaller things in life that make each and every day special.  It shows in her photography.  What’s even more amazing that through her status’s she revealed that she was indeed deaf.  Most people would consider that a handicap but for this woman at the young age of 20 she has empowered herself to show others what she see’s and unveils the beauty she sees every day.  It’s not always the big things but the small things that you have to stop and look in order to see.  I strongly urge you to go to her site CJP Photography and see what she has created.

Here are a few projects that I have created through the use of photos and music.  The first one is of my boys over the past few years.

The next one is of the horrific storm that we experienced in the fall of 2011.

One of my favorite that I made was of Walker’s 3rd grade year and Peytons kindergarten year.  It was the first year after I was laid off and was able to help with their classes as much as I did.  I created the video’s for the teachers as a keepsake.  I will not post them as I do not have permission for the parents to post.  

These are just a few of the ones that I have made but hope you enjoy them.

This ad ran during the 2013 Super Bowl.  Growing up on a farm and being raised by my father I can tell you it rings much truth about farmers.  My father raised us three kids and ran a dairy farm on his own.  We were much better off being raised by a man that had such a work ethic and set an example not only to us kids but kids in town as well.    He taught us to be independent and how to fend for ourselves.  I have tried to instill the same values in my own children.  At the age of 6 my son was making his own lunch and packing his own snack for camp everyday.  Could I have done it for him?   Absolutely, but that would not be teaching him to do anything for himself.  Teaching your children to take care of themselves is the responsible thing to do.  

My dad used to listen to Paul Harvey year ago.  I played this ad for him as he missed it during the Super Bowl.  No truer words rang true to describe what a farmer goes through day in and day out.  You have to love what you do as you do it because you want to not because you feel you have to.

Peyton is becoming such the little man full of responsibility.  He walked home by himself yesterday as his big brother was home sick.  I asked if he wanted a ride home since the temperatures were nearing zero with the windchill but he declined the offer.  We are very proud of our boys and the responsibility they have taken on.  They wait for each other at the tree at school and walk home together.  So Peyton has reached another milestone in his life being able to walk home by himself.  I did wait at the end of our street as it was so cold.  Today he did the same thing and he was the only one to walk home as no other kids were coming down the sidewalk.   Since it was so cold I believe most kids were picked up.  Some of them have a much longer walk than our kids.

I believe it is important to give the kids more responsibility when they have proven they can handle it.   Both boys have made us proud parents and have risen to each occasion we have given them.

Proud as we may be we have had our scares as well.  So for many of my friends they have heard the story of when Walker walked home by himself at the age of five.  It was not with permission but he did arrive safely.  To read the original story it can be found here.