Warm Cookies and Warm Fuzzies

Here are some photos from the past few days. They start out on Christmas morning with Sue and Cade opening presents. Late Christmas Day we drove down to my sister Caren's house on the Jersey shore. She has a really great house in an artsy community a few blocks from the beach. She has a great kitchen that she made Christmas cookies with the kids. We came down here to do the Inside Edition photo shoot, but the real treat is visiting Caren and spending time with family. I've discovered that she makes the best little Lindser Tart cookies I have ever tasted.

Inside Edition

I did a Trash the Dress Session today in New York City for Inside Edition. I'm not sure when it's going to air, but it looks like the end of January. I will post when I know more definitively. We did the shoot around Columbus Circle with Debbie, who was one of my brides from last year. She was great, as was the crew from Inside Edition. Here are some images from the shoot.

Peace on Earth

On behalf of all of us here at Chesler Photography, I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope the holidays bring peace as you cherish the gift of spending time with loved ones. All to often we get caught up in the monetary aspect of the holidays instead of embracing what truly matters most, the gift of family, friendship and love. Without those three, all the material possessions in the world vanish into a veil of insignificance. May the holidays bring you together with friends and family so you can give your gift of love to each one of them.

Top Row from Left to Right:
The big man himself, Michal-Kathryn, Sue, Steve, Amanda, and Jess.
Bottom Row: Ellen and Kim

Holiday Spirit

I received a great e-mail from my Mom the other day. It's nice to see there is still good in the world and even better that it came from my Mom.

"Today started out like every other day....boring....Jimmy was working and I am just so tired of wasting my time in front of the computer playing games and sitting in front of the TV all day. I decided to go out and see the world. I went to TJMaxx, Marshalls and Michaels. When I was coming out of Marshalls and walking to the car this little old lady stopped me to ask me if I knew where the animal shelter was on Boca Rio Road. I said yes and she asked me if I was going past it. I said yes again and then she asked me if I could give her a ride. She had to get a new cat carrier because the one she has doesn't fit under the seat. She reassured me she wouldn't mug me, kill me or rob me. I did a Mitzvah.....I put her wagon in my car and drove her there. The whole way there she told me her life story from soup to nuts and included some of the poems she has written and had published. She was so sweet....we sat and talked for about 15 more minutes and when she got out of the car she wanted to give me some of the poems she wrote. She was going to give them to the animal shelter but instead gave them to me because I was so nice to take her there. The poems are so beautiful. I really felt so good in my heart for being able to help someone......What a great feeling. She just turned 80 years old 2 days ago.....

Love, Mom oxoxoxo"

PRECIOUS LIFE

I never knew how precious life could be

Until God came to me

In moments I could not touch

And showed me how much I really love you

Your caring

And your sharing

Is more than I can bear

It is a blessing only we can share

God keep you in my life forever

She Shoots, She Scores!!!!!!

Sarah had two hockey games this weekend. They played a strong Hamburg team today at the Greater Canandaigua Civic Center and lost 4-0. Yesterday's game, however, was a real nail biter. The Canandaigua 12U girls team had a 2-1 lead with just over two minutes remaining, hoping to hang on for their first win of the season. It wasn't to be though. The Monroe County team had a strong surge to finish the game scoring two goals in the final two minutes. Canandaigua goalie Casey Booth had her strongest showing of the year. Nice job ladies!

Praying for a Miracle

I drove out to Hamburg this weekend to photograph a beautiful 5-year-old little girl. Her name is Janie and she has the most adorable gap-toothed smile. While we were there, all she wanted to do was dance. She is so full of life. It's hard to believe Janie has cancer. She has been battling it for quite some time. Now it's back and it's in her brain and bone marrow. It's hard to comprehend why such a perfect little girl deserves such a fate.
I want to ask everyone a favor. Over the past month Sue and I have received hundreds of condolences with your thoughts and prayers. We have also reached a milestone of over 10,000 hits on the blog. If we could turn all those thoughts and prayers we received along with an army of 10,000 readers to band together and pray for Janie, maybe, just maybe we could lobby God for one small miracle.

Santa Favorites

Despite the weather, our Santa photos went very well on Sunday. I was worried that the weather would keep everyone home. Here are some images from this weekend and one from a few years ago that is one of my favorites of my kids with Santa. We will be at Dunkin Donuts in Geneseo this Sunday from 10-12 and next Sunday at Tim Hortons in Geneseo also from 10-12 with the same sleigh set up with Santa. Come visit!

...and Cade picking out a gift for Santa!

10,000 Hits

I started this blog a year ago on November 17th. It wasn't until February or March that I added a hit counter on to the blog, and as of yesterday we reached the 10,000 hit milestone with over 25,000 page views. It's exciting to see that so many people visit the site as a source of information and inspiration, and most recently as a source of healing. Unlike my website, the blog is a personal journey. I don't know where it will go from week to week or day to day, but that's the beauty of it. Thank you for sharing it with me.