From the Haugen Heart

January is a time of clearing out the clutter, centering, remembering what is truly important . I came across this wonderful quote from Martha Graham yesterday, the visionary founder of modern dance and decided it needed to be shared. This is dedicated to all who create or yearn to create but fear is holding them back from being all that they can be.   There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. And if you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is: Nor how valuable it is: nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You hav...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

"Newlyweds become oldyweds, and oldyweds are the reasons that families work." Still in love..... pretty clear, isn't it? I got to know this lovely couple as I visited with them in preparation for this photography session. My goal was to not just capture some nice smiles but to say something about the depth of their relationship. Ken and Mary are not newlyweds, they have been married for 44 years and have been very intentional about being in a loving relationship with each other. (Friday night is "date night") It shouldn't be a surprise that Ken and Mary have this kind of relationship. Ken is the founder of Friends of the Family Ministries in Corvallis which provides relationship counseling, pre marital counseling, classes and workshops so you can see that he practices what he preaches. Wouldn't it be awesome if all newlyweds became "oldyweds"?

"There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure."                                                                                                                                                ...

The early morning twilight was creating soft illumination to farm buildings and the rolling hills surrounding Azure Farms outside of Dufur, Oregon. It was 5:00 am and Sarah, her mom, and the hair dresser were just arriving at the house where she and the bridesmaids were going to be getting ready for the 11:00 am ceremony. Some of the girls were up and showering while others were tucked away in sleeping bags trying to ignore the hustle and bustle around them. There is a gray sleeping bag under the dresses and it is occupied! Curling irons and cosmetics were wielded with skill and artistry and 2 hours later fresh scrubbed girls were transformed into beautiful princesses. Meanwhile, it took the guys about 20 minutes to don their tuxes and were wondering what could possibly be taking so long. Finally the moment came for Joe to see Sarah for the first time in her wedding dress. Little sun rays peaked out from the clouds creating a dramatic backdrop for a romantic int...