I love Elephants and hate the circus

Today, we had planned to go see the Barnum and Bailey circus at the Lakeland Center. We were pulling into the street where everyone was looking for parking and behold there were protestors with signs that said "Circus beats their animals" and "Don't support animal cruelty". I saw a woman holding a big poster of images of an elephant that had been beaten and I burst into tears. I told Brian to just go somewhere else and forget it. I am NOT going to support an organization that beats animals to get them to perform. Brian was like "I thought you knew that. Don't get so upset." He went on to tell me that he watched a History Channel or Discovery Channel special about the circus and how they beat their elephants and torture them with electric sticks. He proceeded to pull out his iPhone and show me a video of what an undercover detective released of an elephant being screamed at and tortured. I cannot believe that they are allowed to do that! AND TO THINK, I wanted to go pay an outrageous amount of money (like two movie tickets per person plus popcorn and a drink) to see some tortured elephants perform acts for people who have no clue what they've been through.

Elephants are my favorite animals and it breaks my heart to know they are being treated that way. I guess I will never see a circus then. Instead, we went to Busch Gardens and saw the animals who are in captivity, but at least they are not being tortured into performing stupid acts. Anyways, I will end with a really cute picture of my mom at Busch Gardens on my 20th birthday. She loves elephants too!

Mike & Quetcy

A good friend of mine asked a wonderful favor of me on New Year's Day. A young couple from the children's home, Mike and Quetcy, were getting married and needed a wedding photographer! Of course, I said YES! I have known Mike for years, since I used to be a youth leader at our old church. He is a shy, sweet, good looking man and his new wife seems to be JUST THE SAME! They had the cutest cake at their table and they threw a pretty cool food fight with the cutting of the cake!It was a pleasure sharing that special time with them and I hope they will always remember how happy they were and keep it that way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here comes 2010

My New Year's Eve celebration consisted of flying hotdogs, electronic monopoly, and of course; fireworks.
We played frisbee and chicken catch with Lilah and taught Precious, the dachsund, how to fly! Brian and Kevin very much enjoyed their duty as pyrotechnic managers and shot off $150 worth of firecrackers and Roman Candles. We finished the night off at my Aunt's house eating sushi and all types of finger foods. I hope 2010 offers me plenty of new opportunities to photograph life's special moments for myself and of course many others!

Happy New Year!