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Happy Thanksgiving! Or at least it’s supposed to be “happy.” I received a call this morning that Joshua (and all of us) are quarantined due to close contact with COVID-19. Not only are my kids gone, but now I am spending Thanksgiving alone. Sometimes it seems like life hits you harder when you’re already down. Thankfully, I have the material needed for Kasey’s hamster cage; it will give me something to keep my mind busy.

After delivering a few large canvases to some customers in Pentwater, I noticed this old church and started photographing it. The historic building is now a museum. I look forward to taking the time someday to go through the museum.

After several days of staying in the house, I left tonight and headed into Custer. I knew they had Christmas decorations up. Even though my photos don’t show it lately, I have still tried to put my whole heart into it. There are just some days your heart feels small, and that’s all you can give.

The kids and I have still been at home quarantining, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to get our Christmas tree up. It is filled with a lot of special ornaments, including my very first Christmas ornament. I always must put this one on the tree, and it must have a light behind it for it to shine bright.

Our assistant manager, Hannah Ruhlig, recently told me about a home near her house that was decorated in tons of Christmas lights. Tonight, while trying to figure out what to photograph, I remembered the house. I drove there and struck up a conversation with the owner, Bill Olson. Then I went to work making this image.

I think these modern Christmas lights are really cool. This home on West Ludington Avenue, a few blocks from the beach, looks brilliant and festive.

Finally, our results have all come back negative. What a relief! The anxiety of waiting for these results has pulled all my energy. I used what little I had left to make this image of the top of a gift box that is designed like a snow globe..

We celebrated Kasey’s and David’s birthdays tonight. They will be at their dad’s for their birthdays this coming weekend. One of David’s gifts was a sling shot, the handle was wooden and carved to look like a bear..

As I was wrapping Christmas presents tonight, I realized I still hadn’t shot my photo of the day. I bought this snow globe for Rachel’s parents. Mason County Eastern’s mascot is a cardinal and her parents have been staples at that school for over six decades. Also, cardinals remind them of their late son, Kevin. This photo was technically harder to capture than I thought it would be. After many attempts, I finally got one to work.

My kids love decorating the house full of lights, and Christmas décor. This wreath made its way to the boys’ room this year.

William R. Charette was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts as a Navy Hospital Corpsman while assigned to a Marine Corps rifle company during a Korean War battle that occurred on March 27, 1953. He was born and raised in Ludington. In 2017, a sculpture of Charette was placed in the newly updated Veteran’s Mall in Stearns Park at the Ludington beach.

HOPE. I think everyone needs hope this year. This is another one of my favorite Christmas ornaments. It reminds the kids and me of our friend Jamie Spore. One of her favorite sayings is “Hope Anchors the Soul.” It seems fitting to include a little HOPE in our project.

As I was grabbing the open flag from outside after work today, I noticed Grandma Reed’s Christmas dolls my dad had arranged recently in our gallery front windows. My grandpa and grandma had over a hundred of these dolls at one point on display in their home.

My entire life I have loved the Grinch. After celebrating Kasey’s and David’s birthdays at Rachel’s house tonight, I spotted an entire yard full of Christmas decorations in downtown Scottville. Upon further inspection, I found this giant blow-up Grinch.

I kept an eye out for a Christmas scene on my drive to Manistee, Michigan tonight. I passed by this nativity scene, and thought with the right exposure and angle, I could hide the house from the background, and it could make a very emotional image. I stopped on my way back home and worked the scene until I achieved that goal.

Ron and Donna Sanders are Betsy and Sean’s next-door neighbors on Riverview Drive in Ludington. After having dinner with Betsy, Sean, and the kids, I was getting ready to drive home when I noticed this family of snowmen in Ron and Donna’s front yard. With my tripod, I was able to capture this festive image.

My son, Ethan, and his stepbrother Aiden both used Christmas money and bought themselves each Traxxas RC cars. I think I have had more fun playing with Ethan’s car than he has. This thing really rips! I had Ethan do several donuts with his in the snow today so I could get my photo of the day.

I picked the kids up from their dad, and we headed to visit with Brad’s family for a bit at his house. This church is always so beautifully decorated at Christmas. The air was cold, and my fingers were frozen by the time I was happy with my composition.

Merry Christmas! I woke up early today to go out and plow snow for the first time this winter. Then I drove down the street to Keith and Courtney Hanson’s house to photograph a lit cross on top of their home on Washington Avenue. Keith and I caught up for a bit and then I headed home to get ready for Christmas morning.

Growing up, I didn’t realize how unique it was to have two Christmas trees in our house, especially one that was 15 feet tall. There is nothing better than stepping into the warm farmhouse, walking in the hallway, and seeing this sight. Christmas was different this year due to COVID-19, but I am glad we were able to spend it with Mom and Dad at the farm. Merry Christmas to all!