The Buerglers

Some light reading while we're at the wedding today..... Several years ago I found myself knee deep in a pile of unexpected car accident bills: car insurance, health insurance, hospital stay, emergency room visit, x-rays, and ambulance ride. While trying to pay off this mounting pile of bills, I had my regular bills: car tire credit card, car payments, two student loans from a private university, a computer loan, phone bill, and a credit card on a church employee’s salary. Sound familiar? Just thinking about those days brings back a headache and night sweats. There is a certain amount of underlying stress that comes with being a “slave to the lender”.  See, when you’re paying off loans, cars, and credit cards your money isn’t really yours. The second you earn it, the second you pay your “master” aka the credit card company or the loan company.  You aren’t really FREE to do whatever you want with your money. Paying off debt, managing / reducing bills by living simply, and ...

Gosh I've missed regular blogging...but I've been enjoying visiting with family and friends and preparing for some pretty incredible things. Last week I spent almost every evening interviewing potential future teen leaders for our Confirmation program and Life Teen program.  It is hands down  my favorite week each year.  Mandi and I get to spend 30 minutes getting to know and picking the brains of a high schooler.  This year we have over twenty applicants!  Needless to say I'm a bit exhausted after I get home from work. Evie and I have had some fun play dates with friends!  We were especially glad that Rebecca could bring Zoe and Evan for an impromptu visit last week! Over the weekend we traveled to Savannah, GA and to Beaufort, SC.  I can't to share all the photos and about our great weekend! Today I was able to spend some quality time with Mandi.  We went to buybuybaby to work on her baby registry.  It was SO fun talking ...

I love a good Miscellany Monday to catch up on all the random happenings around our house, so here are a few things that aren't full-post worthy but are fun to note or remember. Linking up with Carissa over at lowercase letters Valentine's Day, yes valentine's day. Eric and I exchanged a fancy meal at home. We bought grass fed filet mignon, a bottle of wine, and made some green beans tossed in chopped toasted roasted almonds. It was pretty much heaven on earth.  As per our tradition, we eat by candle light on a table cloth and china.  I love having a romantic night in with my love. Turn your head to the left. This was my heart-shaped breakfast from Eric. He's the most cheesy romantic and I LOVE IT!!!  Evie's little Valentine's from Mom and Dad :)  Eric's gift from me.  Note: I am equally cheesy. ********** Moving on.... Evie dropped my camera a while back.  There was minimal damage done to the body, thank God, but the ...

I took these photos on a whim a few weeks ago, edited them and forgot about them until just now when I was uploading to Lightroom. I was on my way from a family portrait photo shoot back to my parents to return my Dad's lens (while mine was in the shop) when my Mom called and said she was at the salon with my sister for her wedding hair and make-up trial run. Armed with my camera bag, I thought it would be great practice for me, but also great memories for Katie.  And on a practical note, a way for us to see how well her make up photographed.  So without revealing too much of the bride-to-be's look. Here are a few photographs from the day.  Just THREE weeks until the big day!  I can't wait to celebrate with you! {shoot! three weeks?  Guess I better write that Matron of Honor toast}

When I was at the salon for Katie's trial run we were all talking about our pre-wedding hair cuts and who is doing our wedding day up dos. It dawned on me that Evie's hair is growing like a weed, but is looking a little scraggily (scraggly? google is conflicted on the spelling). I inquired about getting her hair cut.  Thank goodness the receptionist leaned over and told me that since Evie is just 16 months old they'd ring her up as a "bang trim" instead of a kids cut.  Bang trims are free.  Kids cuts start at $18+ depending on the stylist. I'll take free, thank you very much. She told me to call the day before I came in for my hair cut to get on the books.  I did just that. Eric came with me so he could take Evie home while I stayed for my cut.  It was great to have another set of hands (read: photographer) We arrived a few minutes early which was great. Evie could warm up to the loud hair dryers and all the commotion. She's a lit...

Two years ago today we told our family we had a little shamrock cookie bun in the oven. I can't believe sweet Evie Marie is 16 1/2 months old already! She's so grown up!  I love the look of determination on her face climbing up the tree house latter. And the sweet innocent joy as she gets ready to go down the slide.  So precious. I love photographing the little details of her face.

Much like on March 4th when I documented the Pope's Last Day , I want to document today, The New Pope's First Day. It's registration week at our Parish.  That means all the Religious Education staff camps out in the office and meets with families to help them register for the up coming school year's PSR/Youth Group/Sacrament prep programs.  There's usually no less than 3-4 of us in there in a given moment. It was the PERFECT place to be today to watch conclave coverage. Of course, this was after I hit snooze on my alarm a dozen times this morning and then jumped out of bed to check Twitter to see if the morning votes had produced a Pope.  Thank goodness it didn't because I would have missed all the coverage getting ready for work! Anyway, so we sat in the parish office watching the chimney and the now famous seagull on our iPads. We passed the time by looking at memes and YouTube videos. By 12:30 there was no news = no pope for the first round of ...