let's be friends, wanna?

New Day.

click here to open post Aug 14, 2011 | posted in Personal | 4 comments

Sedona, AZ | 8.11.2011

What a big, beautiful world you are! I’m in the process of taking a fresh look at my life and repairing some leaks in my ship. Reinvention is such a fun, promising process (making even simple, minor changes in my life fires me up to no end)! It’s been a rocky ride over the past few months; I’ve gotten banged up a bit, but the beautiful thing is, today is a new day. And “each day comes to me with both hands full of possibilities” (Helen Keller). What a beautiful reminder from a beautiful soul!

Happy Monday everyone!

xo! N

PS. Hoping my cute sister in law has her baby today! Sheesh.

4 comments | add comment
  • Amie W: I'm gonna join you! Sometimes we need to adopt the wisdom of others and ride their wave of optimism while we work on "reinvention"! Whew! My goal for today is to get "fired up" as I "take a fresh look". Thank you for having eyes to see and sharing your vision with me. XXOO August 15, 2011 5:38 am
  • Laurel: Love this photo. Question...what's the secret to vibrant landscape photos? Mine always seem to be hazy. August 15, 2011 6:48 am
  • Natalie: Laurel: contrast and maybe a levels adjustment. August 15, 2011 8:07 am
  • Noa: Oh Nat!!! You just inspired me on so many levels..... LOVE this post, off to repair some leaks myself and enjoy the view my bountifull world offers me...... XoXo Noa August 15, 2011 9:14 am

Sock Monster Giveaway Winner!

click here to open post Aug 12, 2011 | posted in giveaway | 2 comments

Congratulations Ms Dixie Hatch!!!

I’m THRILLED that you won. Email me at natalienorton{at}gmail{dot}com and I’ll send you the information you need to claim your very own pre-made Umba Lumba OR to discuss your custom sock monster creation! Kiss the Congo for me! xoxo! N

2 comments | add comment
  • Bridget: Congrats Dixie! August 12, 2011 7:29 pm
  • dixie hatch: whoot whoot I WON!!!! Yipee! I will kiss the Congo...I do everyday!! Yipee for Liberty Jolene Allred, she's gonna be an owner of an umba lumba...from New Mexico!!! August 12, 2011 11:27 pm

click here to open post Aug 11, 2011 | posted in Personal | 3 comments

First day of preschool, 2009

You are worth every headache, every heartache, every worry, every fear.

Because YOU are made of magic.

You make me smile from my heart. You make me laugh from my soul. You make me LOVE in a way that is pure and fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to give you everything this crazy life has to offer.

xxoo, Mom

3 comments | add comment
  • Lara Jenkins: Feeling the love. What a sweet boy. August 13, 2011 9:24 am
  • Lisa: he truly has the face of an angel. i can feel your love for your little boy. what are we willing to do to help our kids reach their potential? anything. he is lucky to have you. August 14, 2011 1:44 pm
  • Malone Herbers: Hi. You don't know me, I ALWAYS check you blog but I never had the courage to leave a comment. But I thought you might like to know that whenever I need to feel inspired (to photograph, to live, to love), this blog is one good place to come and find inspiration. And your family is absolutely beautiful! xx August 18, 2011 1:07 pm

Pray for this beautiful family.

click here to open post Aug 10, 2011 | posted in Personal | 3 comments

This is a woman who I don’t know, except that I do.

Because I have fought this fight.

I have felt the horror of these never ending hours.

I have cried the exhausted tears of day after day of relentless fear and struggle. . . and faith. . . so much faith and hope you can taste it. You can feel it stirring around you in a way that is remarkable beyond measure.

Tonight, I knelt for this family. I asked God to uplift them in his perfect grace, to steady their hearts and to clear their minds. I pleaded with Him to give them the comfort that only he can provide. I prayed that that beautiful little baby will receive the miracle that her mommy’s heart desires. . . I prayed that this family will once again be made whole, here, now.

Please, join me in this prayer. God is good. He is mindful of his children as they suffer. He is a God of miracles, and he definitely answers our prayers of faith.

xo, N

PS. Please go to their blog and give them some love. I can never express to you what your words of love, kindness, support and faith did for me as we fought for our Gavin. . .  by the way, I love you. So much.

3 comments | add comment
  • Amie W: We just knelt with our 5 littles and prayed for Sweet lil Ruby. Her name has been added to the Prayer list in The San DIego CA Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She will be prayed for many times a day by some of the most faithful. I would encourage all reading this to do the same. Call your local Temple and add baby Ruby to their list too. The prayers will continue in our hearts. Constantly. Thank you for letting us know about this opportunity to serve today. Our 3 year old prayed first and than Adam, our almost 2 year old prayed next. He needed help of course, but his focus was keen and he said every word with the sweetness of an angel. Somehow I think the prayers of these little one travel at light speed X infinity. Really, straight to my heart. August 11, 2011 8:18 am
  • Hannah: Just saw the news that little ruby passed away. My heart breaks for them, as it did for you. Little Ruby and Gavin were both lucky to have such strong parents with such amazing faith. August 12, 2011 8:34 am
  • natalie: Hannah, Isn't it just so horrible? My heart is broken into a million pieces for them. I wish I had a magic wand. August 12, 2011 8:53 am

30.

click here to open post Aug 09, 2011 | posted in Personal, Portraits | 12 comments

This picture of Jessica and her husband makes me exceptionally happy. It’s always an honor when another photographer hires me to photograph her (his) family, and I have many more lovely images from this session to share with you, but something about this image in particular just really speaks to me.

Somewhere in the lunacy that has been the last couple of months of my life, I turned 30. THIRTY.  It’s ridiculous (and somewhat embarrassing) that it hit me as hard as it did. I normally pride myself in being unaffected by events like this. I honestly anticipated the date to come and go with little notice or care, but it didn’t. I’m not feeling old, or having a midlife crisis, or anything of the sort, but I do find myself reflecting on the last 30 years and realizing that I am, in fact, in the second third of my life. Gosh, when you think about it that way, it feels pretty darn significant. What do I want to do? Who do I want to become? Where have I been and what does that say about where I may or may not be headed? My mind is constantly dancing in and out of these types of thoughts, and I keep having to consciously pull myself back to my mantra: Make a plan. Keep it simple. Work your plan. Every single day.

So here it is: I want to love better. To listen harder. To serve and give from a deeper corner of my soul. I want to be more grateful for the abundance with which I’ve been blessed, and I want to reach out to others with greater kindness and compassion. I want to make a difference. And that’s it. Everything else can fit in as it may (or may not).

THAT is why this image makes my heart sing, because it makes me want to love, to give, to cherish, to LIVE.

I hope you’re having a beautiful Wednesday.

xx,

Me

PS. Don’t forget to enter the fun sock monster giveaway from Umba Lumba!

12 comments | add comment
  • Melody: I love this. I turned 41 in June and wonder where the time has gone and 'what have I done with my life'. I love how you put things in such a perspective. (For me) It's not about becoming a CEO of a company, of graduating with umpteen degrees, or being a world traveler.... It is about the things that make my soul peaceful and make me feel like a more complete human being. I love that you have put it into words that make me feel like my getting older isn't a bad thing and that my life hasn't been wasted because I haven't achieved some of the things that the people I compare myself to have accomplished. I needed to read this today. Thanks Natalie! August 10, 2011 5:11 am
  • natalie: Melody, I LOVE this thought: "It is about the things that make my soul peaceful and make me feel like a more complete human being." You're right. That's what this life is about at the end of the day, peace and knowing that you've been good to yourself, God and others! Happy belated birthday! ;) August 10, 2011 6:40 am
  • Melissa Oholendt: Heart renewing. I love you so much and can't wait to spend this second third of your life with you and see where God leads you! August 10, 2011 7:14 am
  • Shelly: Loved this post AND the photo! Both so awesome. And I have to add, Just wait 'til you turn 50! Now, that's a doozy for reflection... August 10, 2011 7:53 am
  • Tristen Lawrence: I recently turned 30 also, it was kind of a surreal feeling. ALMOST felt like a mid-life crisis but mostly it was just a crazy reflection on where I have been, where I want to be, how to make this period of my life as meaningful as possible. I finally got out of my funk when I sat down and wrote a list of accomplishable goals and specific ways to make things happen. And then I realized, THIRTIES ARE WAAAAY better than twenties!! Enjoy!! August 10, 2011 8:46 am
  • natalie: Melissa, You are my favorite. xo! August 10, 2011 6:10 pm
  • natalie: Tristen, That's really good advice! August 10, 2011 6:11 pm
  • natalie: Shelly, You are so old. ;) I love you! August 10, 2011 6:11 pm
  • Liz: Happy Birthday Natalie! Being a mid-thirtier myself, I can tell you one thing. You're not old. You won't even be old at 40. Every person I have talked to over the age of 40 says that that is when it really happens. There are days when I think I am too old to even start any of my dreams and goals. We're not. No matter what society says, we're spring chickens who are making things happen! :) Hope it was a wonderful day for you! August 12, 2011 7:43 am
  • Noa: Its mind blowing to me, Miss Nathalie, with the amazing life experiences you've had and the family you've built, that you just turned 30. I can honestly tell you that my 30's (I'm 32) have been utterly amazing thus far. I feel rich with happiness and gratitude... One of them also having had the opportunity to meet you and embrace you into my life. Wishing you health, happiness and success this year my friend... and forever. with love Noa August 14, 2011 4:34 am
  • Jenn: I am going to pull up this post in October when I turn thirty. To remind myself that it isn't the end of anything but all the doubt and chaos of my younger days, it is a fresh start and a chance to make my life what I want it to be. Thanks Natalie. August 15, 2011 2:36 am
  • mer: you are amazing and so sincere. love you and all of your 30-year-old goodness ;) August 17, 2011 12:04 pm