Welcome to my blog
So this is a place I rant and rave, wear my heart on my sleeve, gush on my family, and most importantly share my art...the photo stories of wonderful couples and people I cross paths with. Don't be afraid to bookmark it, or leave a comment. I love hearing from everyone and anyone. Check back frequently...I will try to keep you updated.
Twitter
Nothing makes me happier than pictures. Nothing makes me happier than having my family photographed by my best friends. Here is Stacy's blog post about our visit: Here. Stacy and Andy own the Center for Photography in Charleston and are doing some wonderful things for the V.A. Please take a few minutes to look at their blog. I feel so blessed to count my best friends as some of the most talented photojournalists in the world...yes I said world. Stacy Pearsall and Andy Dunaway are long time friends of ours...I have blogged about them a lot and love spending time with them. We have become a lot closer since we left the military, but we have that unique tie that binds us all. Andy and Bill are like peanut butter and jelly and my children (and myself) are HUGE Stacy fans. They are pretty fond of Andy too, btw.
Stacy is strong, but tender and I guess I can say that about Andy too. He was one of the main aerial photographers that trained me and taught me and I was initially really intimidated by him. He is an amazing photojournalist and I felt, back then, that I may never make him proud (if I could even pass my flying tests). You may remember the photo of Air Force One flying over the Statue of Liberty, well that was Andy. Maybe one of the most talked about aerial shots in a long, long time. (if not ever)
Stacy is strong, but tender and I guess I can say that about Andy too. He was one of the main aerial photographers that trained me and taught me and I was initially really intimidated by him. He is an amazing photojournalist and I felt, back then, that I may never make him proud (if I could even pass my flying tests). You may remember the photo of Air Force One flying over the Statue of Liberty, well that was Andy. Maybe one of the most talked about aerial shots in a long, long time. (if not ever)
USAF photo by Andy Dunaway
Here are the photos that Stacy recently shared with me from our visit. I decided to put them in order by child so I could talk about my kiddos again...sorry but it's what I do.
First comes Wesley. Stacy was there from the moment I pushed him out. She photographed his birth and gave me the gift of amazing photography from when I started pushing. I will never forget that. Those images I honestly cherish and look at often to regain focus and to regain my perspective. Here are some of those, for old-times sake.
So Wesley is my oldest and my only boy. He is so sweet and sincere and also stubborn and a huge stinker. He loves being tickled and legos and changing his clothes, A LOT. He is sort of confused as to who he is right now (aren't we all from time to time) as he has two "Yankee" parents that have non-regional diction, and lots of friends who frankly I can't totally understand all the time, but I love just the same. Wesley speaks with an accent sometimes and sometimes he doesn't. He begs to be tickled and knows no stranger. Everywhere we go he finds a new best friend. He is really popular at school and has a few female admirers all ready. Sweet Jesus please help us...I love me some Wesley. He kisses me on the lips at school when I drop him off and loves snuggling and I will hold on to those things as long as I can. I love you Wesley. What a blessing, what a sweet surprise you were.
Betsy was my first girl. I was petrified when I found out she was a girl. Secretly I had hoped for another boy at first because I hadn't put hair in a ponytail or braid for more than two decades. I was really quite scared of a little girl and if I would be sensitive enough, you know, all that stuff.
I couldn't have been happier. Betsy was born four weeks early and was my sweet little tiny perfect baby from hello. They took her away right after she was born and I have never felt more vulnerable. She was find, but it was cautionary I guess. Betsy is her own person...stubborn and sassy and a total princess. Everyone says that, about their daughter I guess...but she is something else. She wears costumes every day and jewelry and has me pretend we are getting married and we do our first dance....we did it yesterday as a matter of fact. She loves Barbies and dressing them up. Wesley stepped on one of her Barbies and broke her leg off so she now has a "special needs Barbie".
Betsy is loving and sweet and loves Bill and I in our own ways. She loves getting up early with her Dad and sipping his coffee before he leaves for work. She loves snuggling and attention. It is hard to share attention between a 4 year old and a 20 month old Betsy sometimes complains that i love Abby more, so I have to be really cognizant of that and really listen to her and be attentive. I put her first pigtails in her hair this week...and I think I did okay.
Abbers!!! Abby is the cutest, softest, most loving, adorable, funny baby I have ever met. She has the best sense of humor and can even tell a knock-knock joke. She, like her siblings, is also stubborn but loving and adorable at the same time. The other night she refused to eat and flung food onto the floor. I got up close to her (so she would sense my seriousness) and said "Abby do you want a spank?", and she leaned over and kissed me on the lips. Bill and I tried holding back laughter so hard I couldn't even look at her. She has been such a blessing. We didn't plan on more than two kids and that is why I think she is so special. I pray for her every night and tell God how happy I am that he blessed us with such a wonderful baby. I love that she calls me Mama (or Momma- whichever you prefer) and with such meaning and love. I tell her, "Abby I love you", and she says, "you too Mama". She's a real stinker, as these pictures pretty much portray. Abby might have the softest skin I have ever felt...and I kiss it and smell it so much you think she would be tired of me. But she isn't, yet ;)
Here are the photos that Stacy recently shared with me from our visit. I decided to put them in order by child so I could talk about my kiddos again...sorry but it's what I do.
First comes Wesley. Stacy was there from the moment I pushed him out. She photographed his birth and gave me the gift of amazing photography from when I started pushing. I will never forget that. Those images I honestly cherish and look at often to regain focus and to regain my perspective. Here are some of those, for old-times sake.
So Wesley is my oldest and my only boy. He is so sweet and sincere and also stubborn and a huge stinker. He loves being tickled and legos and changing his clothes, A LOT. He is sort of confused as to who he is right now (aren't we all from time to time) as he has two "Yankee" parents that have non-regional diction, and lots of friends who frankly I can't totally understand all the time, but I love just the same. Wesley speaks with an accent sometimes and sometimes he doesn't. He begs to be tickled and knows no stranger. Everywhere we go he finds a new best friend. He is really popular at school and has a few female admirers all ready. Sweet Jesus please help us...I love me some Wesley. He kisses me on the lips at school when I drop him off and loves snuggling and I will hold on to those things as long as I can. I love you Wesley. What a blessing, what a sweet surprise you were.
Betsy was my first girl. I was petrified when I found out she was a girl. Secretly I had hoped for another boy at first because I hadn't put hair in a ponytail or braid for more than two decades. I was really quite scared of a little girl and if I would be sensitive enough, you know, all that stuff. I couldn't have been happier. Betsy was born four weeks early and was my sweet little tiny perfect baby from hello. They took her away right after she was born and I have never felt more vulnerable. She was find, but it was cautionary I guess. Betsy is her own person...stubborn and sassy and a total princess. Everyone says that, about their daughter I guess...but she is something else. She wears costumes every day and jewelry and has me pretend we are getting married and we do our first dance....we did it yesterday as a matter of fact. She loves Barbies and dressing them up. Wesley stepped on one of her Barbies and broke her leg off so she now has a "special needs Barbie".
Betsy is loving and sweet and loves Bill and I in our own ways. She loves getting up early with her Dad and sipping his coffee before he leaves for work. She loves snuggling and attention. It is hard to share attention between a 4 year old and a 20 month old Betsy sometimes complains that i love Abby more, so I have to be really cognizant of that and really listen to her and be attentive. I put her first pigtails in her hair this week...and I think I did okay.
Abbers!!! Abby is the cutest, softest, most loving, adorable, funny baby I have ever met. She has the best sense of humor and can even tell a knock-knock joke. She, like her siblings, is also stubborn but loving and adorable at the same time. The other night she refused to eat and flung food onto the floor. I got up close to her (so she would sense my seriousness) and said "Abby do you want a spank?", and she leaned over and kissed me on the lips. Bill and I tried holding back laughter so hard I couldn't even look at her. She has been such a blessing. We didn't plan on more than two kids and that is why I think she is so special. I pray for her every night and tell God how happy I am that he blessed us with such a wonderful baby. I love that she calls me Mama (or Momma- whichever you prefer) and with such meaning and love. I tell her, "Abby I love you", and she says, "you too Mama". She's a real stinker, as these pictures pretty much portray. Abby might have the softest skin I have ever felt...and I kiss it and smell it so much you think she would be tired of me. But she isn't, yet ;)
3 comments so far
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
The Bro-Fam by Stacy
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.ashleybrokop.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/148
A lot of people have emailed, facebooked, and text'ed (word ?- well it should be) me about where we are moving and when. Well I don't know.
What I do know. We are not moving to Texas. We don't have orders to move to Pope just yet. I didn't do the ole' school lottery here in Sumter, so our school choices are well...they are what they are. But that isn't what I wanted to write about...
I wanted to write about something that has been on my heart.
I feel it isn't so much about where you are going...but where you are.
I am happy right now. Sure I'd love to live in Columbia, Charlotte or Charleston...but I don't. God, the military, and our decisions have brought us here, and good things are happening and have happened. We have a church that is growing and if you are un-churched, you are invited!!! If you don't traditionally like church this may be a fit for you.
check us out- Elevation- Columbia. There is a series coming up about love and relationships and just the trailer made my eyes well up with tears. It is called Mr & Mrs Betterhalf. You can see a trailer online You are invited, you are always welcome...
No matter what happens, my hope is in him. I would love to find "home" but my home is with my family, with friends as close as a phone call so that can be just about anywhere. Jesus...drive this van.
I was just telling a friend today, after that crazy storm blew threw, that you go from being this carefree young woman that used to chase storms and want to feel the wind in her hair, to being the Mom that has to find the right room for us to all crouch in when we have tornado warnings. Wesley asked me if he could eat the hail that fell on the porch this morning...I was like "no you can't eat that, or can you?!?" The funny thing is there's no curtain that drops to signify the scene change. There's nothing that happens to let you know..okay you are responsible for all of these tiny people now...it just one day changes. I feel like the babysitter so much of the time. I don't have the gene that so many Mom's seem to have...the gene that knows how to creates schedules and knows when to have playdates and bakes and organizes and scrapbooks. I can barely get everyone's teeth brushed and breakfast down their throats in the morning before school. I forget book bags and permission slips and I forget to dress my kids up for pajama day...
I don't know if it will ever all click, but I do know that my children know I love them and I am just a girl chasing the wind without them. I never knew what living was until these kids entered my life. I may not be the most together Mom, or the most dependable "room Mother", but I love these kids more than... well...anything.
My proudest accomplishments can be seen below ;)
Lots of pics...sorry but I am so proud of them ;)
What I do know. We are not moving to Texas. We don't have orders to move to Pope just yet. I didn't do the ole' school lottery here in Sumter, so our school choices are well...they are what they are. But that isn't what I wanted to write about...
I wanted to write about something that has been on my heart.
I feel it isn't so much about where you are going...but where you are.
I am happy right now. Sure I'd love to live in Columbia, Charlotte or Charleston...but I don't. God, the military, and our decisions have brought us here, and good things are happening and have happened. We have a church that is growing and if you are un-churched, you are invited!!! If you don't traditionally like church this may be a fit for you.
check us out- Elevation- Columbia. There is a series coming up about love and relationships and just the trailer made my eyes well up with tears. It is called Mr & Mrs Betterhalf. You can see a trailer online You are invited, you are always welcome...
No matter what happens, my hope is in him. I would love to find "home" but my home is with my family, with friends as close as a phone call so that can be just about anywhere. Jesus...drive this van.
I was just telling a friend today, after that crazy storm blew threw, that you go from being this carefree young woman that used to chase storms and want to feel the wind in her hair, to being the Mom that has to find the right room for us to all crouch in when we have tornado warnings. Wesley asked me if he could eat the hail that fell on the porch this morning...I was like "no you can't eat that, or can you?!?" The funny thing is there's no curtain that drops to signify the scene change. There's nothing that happens to let you know..okay you are responsible for all of these tiny people now...it just one day changes. I feel like the babysitter so much of the time. I don't have the gene that so many Mom's seem to have...the gene that knows how to creates schedules and knows when to have playdates and bakes and organizes and scrapbooks. I can barely get everyone's teeth brushed and breakfast down their throats in the morning before school. I forget book bags and permission slips and I forget to dress my kids up for pajama day...
I don't know if it will ever all click, but I do know that my children know I love them and I am just a girl chasing the wind without them. I never knew what living was until these kids entered my life. I may not be the most together Mom, or the most dependable "room Mother", but I love these kids more than... well...anything.
My proudest accomplishments can be seen below ;)
Lots of pics...sorry but I am so proud of them ;)
6 comments so far
Steve Vogl says:
Thanks for sharing these pics of your family. I love them. Great work. Nice to know that other photogs children sometimes are not the best subjects. But you did get your son to finally give a smile on the porch. Again great work.
(04.28.11 @ 07:35 PM)
Sue Brokop says:
These pictures are wonderful, Ashley. I just love looking at them.
Hilary says:
You continue to inspire me everyday... and although it may not be in our best interest to eat hail, we are never too old to dance in the rain. :)
(04.29.11 @ 01:40 PM)
Rebecca Daniels says:
LOVE them - they are the cutest kids Ashley I love family photos!! And I have a theory about the organization part....creative people are hardly ever organized!! No FUN mom ever got mother of the year - even though they should have ;)
(04.29.11 @ 07:27 PM)
Rebecca Daniels says:
LOVE them - they are the cutest kids Ashley I love family photos!! And I have a theory about the organization part....creative people are hardly ever organized!! No FUN mom ever got mother of the year - even though they should have ;)
(04.29.11 @ 07:27 PM)
Kristin Williams says:
I love you friend...just they way you are!!!! And I know for a FACT that you are an AWESOME wife, momma & friend...xoxoxox
(04.29.11 @ 11:18 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Older, Wiser?, Happier
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.ashleybrokop.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/147
I know that everyone might be wondering what is going on with us, as I was, until yesterday.
The back-story. We got an assignment to Texas right before Christmas. We were shocked and excited for a new adventure. All the while Bill's squadron is moving to Pope Air Force Base to align with their group (which is always attached to an Army unit- in this case Fort Bragg). Bill was asked, by name, if he would move to Pope to help with the move continuity, and be the interim First Sergeant. He was really flattered and we prayed about it and both felt led, to just "say yes", and see what would happen.
We wanted to do what was right by his unit, and for our family and to put it in God's hands and let him take us where he wanted us. Getting the orders canceled would take an act of God, so I knew it would be up to him, where we ended up. It didn't really matter to us in the long run. A new start is always exciting! A lot of people hate Fayetteville, but to me it's like Shaw with a lot of Army- and Target! We would plan to live in Raleigh, which looks like it would be great for weddings and for schools and well just about everything.
The Texas job had a few negative aspects that I was really dreading. Bill would have to be there by 14 April and leave us behind till the end of June for us to finish up the school year here and the summer wedding season that is going to be pretty busy and crazy. I have nine weddings in between the time he would be leaving and my last wedding the third week in June. Not a big deal when he is home and we don't have a house on the market that has to stay in show-ready/open house condition.
Also I have weddings after June that I would have to fly back for at my own expense. Also...I have been getting lots of inquiries that I have to turn down because I would be so far away.
Don't get me wrong, there were tons of positives (great weather, good free public schools), but this area has become home.
So Thursday, Bill finally gets the orders to Texas. I was a little disappointed because the idea of living in Raleigh was growing on me. But I quickly digest that and start searching for my dream home online. I had picked out neighborhoods we were going to look at on spring break and was getting really excited. We were even getting Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish.
So Friday (the NEXT DAY), Bill gets an order cancellation that states the Texas orders are canceled. Now the unit is waiting on Congress to sign the paperwork to move everybody to Fayetteville. Not to sound like I am crazy, but I was disappointed again. I had quickly adapted to the idea of Texas and had owned it.
So "it is what it is" we are moving to Raleigh. Not forever but for a few years. I can shoot weddings that I would normally shoot and anyone that I have turned away due to our Texas relocation, send me an email if you haven't found anyone else yet.
God wants us in North Carolina incidentally. Do with us what you will...we are ready.
The back-story. We got an assignment to Texas right before Christmas. We were shocked and excited for a new adventure. All the while Bill's squadron is moving to Pope Air Force Base to align with their group (which is always attached to an Army unit- in this case Fort Bragg). Bill was asked, by name, if he would move to Pope to help with the move continuity, and be the interim First Sergeant. He was really flattered and we prayed about it and both felt led, to just "say yes", and see what would happen.
We wanted to do what was right by his unit, and for our family and to put it in God's hands and let him take us where he wanted us. Getting the orders canceled would take an act of God, so I knew it would be up to him, where we ended up. It didn't really matter to us in the long run. A new start is always exciting! A lot of people hate Fayetteville, but to me it's like Shaw with a lot of Army- and Target! We would plan to live in Raleigh, which looks like it would be great for weddings and for schools and well just about everything.
The Texas job had a few negative aspects that I was really dreading. Bill would have to be there by 14 April and leave us behind till the end of June for us to finish up the school year here and the summer wedding season that is going to be pretty busy and crazy. I have nine weddings in between the time he would be leaving and my last wedding the third week in June. Not a big deal when he is home and we don't have a house on the market that has to stay in show-ready/open house condition.
Also I have weddings after June that I would have to fly back for at my own expense. Also...I have been getting lots of inquiries that I have to turn down because I would be so far away.
Don't get me wrong, there were tons of positives (great weather, good free public schools), but this area has become home.
So Thursday, Bill finally gets the orders to Texas. I was a little disappointed because the idea of living in Raleigh was growing on me. But I quickly digest that and start searching for my dream home online. I had picked out neighborhoods we were going to look at on spring break and was getting really excited. We were even getting Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish.
So Friday (the NEXT DAY), Bill gets an order cancellation that states the Texas orders are canceled. Now the unit is waiting on Congress to sign the paperwork to move everybody to Fayetteville. Not to sound like I am crazy, but I was disappointed again. I had quickly adapted to the idea of Texas and had owned it.
So "it is what it is" we are moving to Raleigh. Not forever but for a few years. I can shoot weddings that I would normally shoot and anyone that I have turned away due to our Texas relocation, send me an email if you haven't found anyone else yet.
God wants us in North Carolina incidentally. Do with us what you will...we are ready.
3 comments so far
Brenda says:
Well, isn't that how the military works? (I'm being sarcastic) Wherever you end up just believe that it will be where God will want you to be in order to prosper, whether TX or NC you will. You are an amazing photographer and you will blossom wherever you are planted. I personally don't care for Fayetteville (but LOVED TX) but I know Raleigh is much better. As Shane usually says, it will work out just like it's supposed to...
(03.04.11 @ 07:34 PM)
Beth says:
I truly believe in fate and that where god wants us to be is where we will end up!
(03.08.11 @ 12:51 AM)
lizzy says:
SOOOOO happy you are staying in the Carolinas!! your faithfulness and trust in the Lord is very encouraging and inspiring!
(03.12.11 @ 05:06 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
And the Brokops are moving to....
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.ashleybrokop.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/136
Ashley and Bro-Company,
(05.04.11 @ 09:35 PM)I love you all very much and can't wait to be part of your lives as the babies continue to grow. Soon, we'll be at graduations, weddings, births and more. That's the beauty of life and of life-long friendships.
XXOO,
Stacy
What fantastic pictures! Stacy captured each of their personalities so well.
(05.04.11 @ 10:08 PM)Ashley those are such precious pictures! You really capture emotion and I can feel the love and the fun looking at those pictures! What a beautiful family!
(06.16.11 @ 05:36 AM)