Sunset at the Oregon Beach

A Reason to Celebrate

My oldest child graduated yesterday. The mother behind me in the stands cried (a lot). I could relate to the tears, but I also couldn’t be more happy for graduation. I do admit that I cried too (briefly) when the speaker recognized two students that didn’t make it to graduation. There is no worse thought than losing a child in this life. It’s paralyzing to me and incredibly sad to think there are parents in this world who have felt that loss. I can’t imagine. I haven’t shared a lot about my parenting journey with my oldest child. It has been an incredible 18+ years of dancing in delight and wading through sorrow. In some ways, I feel like this child and I have parented each other. We have grown up together, experiencing life, and learning through each other's eyes. I’m just going to break the ice and say that HE has become one of my best friends and something like a third parent to my other children. As the oldest child being raised by a single mother, my son has grown into a car...

Peace on Earth

Well, it's been a hot minute since I've written anything fresh here. While I would love to sprinkle glittery joy all over this piece of writing and take the time to smooth any rough edges that might offend someone and/or give another person any reason to gift me with another label to disqualify anything I say, yeah, that's just not me anymore. Positivity is great. Hope is great. Encouragement is great. Uplifting others is great. There is a time and place for all of that, but there is also a time and a place to sink to the bottom and rediscover a vulnerability that propels you to act in accordance with your genuine self in response to the current situation you are facing. I'm a wordy writer, I know. I wish I was a simpler writer, but life and my thoughts are truly complex and intermingled in depth that is not easily expressed with simple thoughts. So here we go! Today is Christmas 2023. This marks the 10 year anniversary of the hardest and most profound experience I have...

G Family Mini Session Summer Lake Park, Tigard Oregon

With the photography season coming to a close in the suburbs of Portland, and Autumn going out with a colorful burst of love from nature, I get to sit here catching up on my blog today. It makes me happy seeing families that I have been able to photograph over the last 14 years of shooting portraits, as well as to establish client relationships with new people. Photography remains fun and exciting for me. The day is bittersweet, with such lovely weather and all the time in the world, and no more sessions in the books this year. I'd rather be out shooting this day away! That's your invitation to keep me busy as we dodge the upcoming rainy season and light change with daylight savings time! If you are still needing pictures done this year, I am happy to work with you to make magic for your family photos happen! Here's a little sneak peak of my last session at a park in Tigard! The color is still there, holding out to sneak in a few more sessions! Email crystaltheartist.onlin...

Crystal the Artist

Search This Blog