MUST WATCH this video is absolutely incredible! We are FAILING the men and woman who have laid down their lives to protect us. It's time we do something about it. It's time we reach down and BARE THEIR BURDEN. PLEASE WATCH!
Connect with The Raider Project and find out how you can help!

THE RAIDER PROJECT IS A COMPONENT OF GALLANTFEW WHO IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT PROVIDING VETERAN MENTORING; ANTI-SUICIDE (DESC OF SPARTA); AND LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN EDUCATION AND DE-ESCALATION TACTICS.
Their mission is to facilitate a peaceful, successful transition from active military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose. 

-They have found Service Animals and placed them in 
homes for Veterans battling with PTSD.
-They give Veterans the resources they need to be successful in the private sector.
-They work with Veterans through late night coping issues 
using peer to peer approach.
-And have even provided short term immediate financial relief in a time of crisis. 

This is an incredible organization with a vision for our men of service.
Watch and Connect now! 

Without Hiding.

 

What does it take to be the most ingenuous version of yourself?
With the world in it's current condition... How do we stay true?
How do we stay ourselves without becoming jaded, rigid, sour, hardened or bitter?

How to we keep sincere connections with people?
It seems we are constantly crashing into each other, absorbing the impact, without even asking one another "Are you ok?"

I want everything to change and I want nothing to change.
We have to, as humans, protect one another.
We have to, as humans, protect ourselves.

The only way to be people we want to be, is to deal with our own condition.
If we refuse to take a good long look at who and what we have become... then we find ourselves amidst the disingenuous masses crashing yet again one into the other
and pick pocketing the souls of our fellow man.

THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME THE PERSON YOU WANT TO BE IS WITHOUT HIDING!

I am not saying you have to post all of your shit on every social media outlet.
Nobody wants to see your piles of dirty laundry.But I am saying.
We have to own our shit.
Our insecurities, our walls, our demons...

Be vulnerable... to someone.
Be honest... to everyone.
Be true... to yourself.
We have to deal with the pain. We have to express ourselves. Find your own cathartic expression. You can't do it alone.
We have to release the things that are the hardest to let go of.
And we have to move forward.

I am 29 years old.
I have probably made more mistakes than most people.
Actually I am pretty sure I made ALL of the mistakes that there are to make.

I can promise I will make more.
But what I won't do ... is make the same ones again.
Cause I'm not hiding anymore.
I am dealing with my shit.
:)

Follow Your Heart

Standing at a broken window
Keeping a storm from coming through.
-me

Sean and Heather

I had an amazing time getting to shoot engagements for my trainers Sean and Heather.

They are a beautiful couple inside and out.

They have a value for people.

And they show true care and commitment to what they do!

Heather is a chiropractor, mobility specialist and personal trainer.

Sean is a firefighter, cpr instructor and crossfit coach.

Come by and see them at Sky's Limit Crossfit.

www.skyslimitcrossfit.com

We picked a few of my favorite spots in to shoot photography in Kansas City!

Sean and Heather love fitness and they love what they do.

We really wanted to capture some images of them at the gym.

Engagement photos at the gym?

It sounded like a challenge to keep it from being cheesy.

But I really wanted to get them involved in what they love.

I was really happy with how they turned out.

Wish You Were Here

Not the biggest prog rock fan in the world.
But today is just a Pink Floyd kind of day.
Kind of WEEK rather.


Pink Floyd ~ Wish you were here by thefastlane2hell

On Days that End in Y.

Birthdays.

Anniversaries.

Holidays.

Special Events.

Monday.

Tuesday.

Wednesday.

Thursday.

Friday.

Saturday.

Sunday.

Each and Every Single Day.

It takes courage to be who you are. Do what you do.
 Work as hard as you can.

Think how you think.

And seemingly carry the world on your shoulders.

To everyone who does those things for the ones they love.

Imagine Dragons

Can't sleep. Thought I would share some of my latest.
It has been a while.

 I took my 12 year old to his first big show!
Imagine Dragons.

He freakin' loves the band.
I've bought him most of their music.

They aren't in my top 5... 

(Bonnie Raitt, Mumford & Sons, Black Keys, Tedeschi Trucks, Ray LaMontagne)

But I really love them too!

And when I heard they booked at last minute show at Starlight, I jumped at the chance!

He was a little nervous at first. He doesn't like crowds.
We sat in the
VERY FRONT SECTION! 

I totally spoiled him. It was packed, loud and intense.

First we saw Capital Cities. 

Then we saw IMAGINE DRAGONS.

His eyes were as big as saucers when they brought their bass drum!!!

He sang along, cheered... even got him to dance a litte ;)

One of the most intense shows I have ever been to.
 You know that feeling you get when you go to a show, and every thing seems... well... CANNED...???
THAT WAS NOT THIS SHOW. 

Dan Reynolds was drenched in sweat, jumping, screaming, and hammering the bass drum. The bright lights were piercing the darkness to every beat.

All he could say when we were leaving...

 "THAAATTTT WAAASSSS AWWWWWESOME!!!!!!"

 

 

May Came and Went

May Came and Went.

My hair is windblown by the speed of life that passes me by.

There was a time when life stood still.

I suppose it's like these little eggs.

They just rest, settle, waiting to hatch.

One morning they wake up and crack through their little blue shell.

Life is never the same.

I wonder if they ever miss it ;)

Maybe they are too busy enjoying their wings... the freedom of flying the skies.

Clair de Lune

I love April showers....

I love You, Love

I have had this album for years and years... I haven't listened in a long time... Got lost for a bit.

a U2 kinda day

One of my most favorite songs of all time.

Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and brings vision for tomorrow. -Melody Beattie

Eric and Katrina

Dakota's Seniors

                            

Erin and Brody

Jordan and Melissa

Thanksgiving.

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” -HDV

 Hopefully you are spending your life with the ones you love, and that makes everything worth the exchange.
Sometimes life can weigh us down. The mind is often a deceitful friend. Thoughts can send you to other places good or bad. You can master it not. Even if you try, she will only infiltrate your dreams. Just remember you're loved. Give thanks. Let God be your peacekeeper this holiday season. Remember you're blessed. Hold your loved ones tight. and look at the moon at night.

Loving this one today.

Happy Birthday SRV!

He was 36 when he died.

Would have been 58 today.