Leap Into the New

What does it mean to "leap"?...

                ...to jump head first into a new adventure... 

                ...to finally follow that little nudge you have ignored for too long... 

                ...to trust with all you have that the road you just turned on is headed the

                    right direction...

Are you nervous about leaping? Don’t worry. You are already an expert. The truth is we leap all the time...
 

We may not realize it, but we do. We take our kids to their Kindergarten Open House. We take a new class. We begin a new Bible Study. We let our kids spend the night at a friend’s house for the first time. We take up running. We call a friend we haven’t talked to in awhile. We ask for help.

We took a leap to begin this Sycamore Sisters journey and it has proven to be the most exciting adventure.  We’ve continued to plunge away on all of our goals/aspirations for Sycamore Sisters, slowly but surely.  There's been a whole lotta leapin’ going on, with more to come!  :)

We thought today, this special day we only get to enjoy once every four years, would be a great time to let you know about some of the leaps we are planning for Sycamore Sisters!  We'll be explaining more about each in upcoming posts...(you can get a sneak peek into some of them by exploring the blog, Sycamore Sisters Photography (SSP) website, and/or our Facebook page!)

• New "Passages" area on the blog!
• Informational, educational, organizational, fun, upcoming blog posts! 
• New Pricing Structure for Sycamore Sisters Photography
• Future Mini-Sessions - Easter!  Mother's Day!  First Communion! 
• Friends of Sycamore Sisters (Referral Benefits) 

These last few months have been filled with all kinds of activity...

We've had birthdays...

  Holidays...

Thanksgiving...

Gallagher Christmas

 

 Buechler Christmas

 
Sycamore Siblings (plus a few cousins...)

There's been sports galore!

Ben played on his first basketball team this year!  The kid has moves!

Andrew hooped it up in basketball, too!

Andrew and Will played on the same basketball team!

Will's first experience on a "club" team.

Matthew played "Club" basketball, too!

Tyler played CYO...

...and is now playing Boys' Volleyball and LOVING it!

Love these two pictures...not because they are the sharpest, clearest, most compositionally sound pictures, but because of the EMOTION they display.  Tyler was his friends' biggest cheerleader (okay - aside from his friends' parents) as they made it to and won the City Championships this year!  Look at the emotion on those boys faces (Tyler is on left in both pics)...true friendship!  ♥

We've had a Super Bowl in our City (click on the link to go to our recent post about the Super Bowl)!

We've spent time with Family and Friends...doing all kinds of activities...

Lauryn with one of our FAVORITE people...

We are super excited to continue this journey we've been on, taking some new leaps along the way that will strengthen us...help us grow...make us better. 

We want to celebrate this Leap Day “Day of Leaping” by encouraging YOU to leap into something new.  What’s something you’ve always wanted to try?  You get a whole extra day this year to try something new...to leap into a new adventure...to push yourself to grow in a new way. 

Happy Leap Day!!! Leap To It!!!

Super Bowl in Indy

All Eyes On Our City!!!

Wow! This week in our city has been amazing! The energy and feeling everywhere is one of excitement and pride! Indianapolis is alive and vibrant in a way that I have never seen it. I have lived here my entire life and I can truly say this is the most exciting week I have ever witnessed here. 

I am filled with pride at how our city has transformed into a Super City right before our eyes. Everywhere you turn, there are people out celebrating in our Host City! We have given the country a tremendous place to come and enjoy the Greatest Football Game of the Year! Hoosier Hospitality at it's finest!

Not only can we throw a great party, but Indianapolis has turned our Super Bowl experience into a way to give back. We have used this opportunity to create programs like 1st & Green, Indy's Super Cure and The Legacy Project.

1st & Green

What is 1st & Green?

1st & Green is a web-based program developed to encourage individuals, households, and groups to make a difference in our environment by offsetting carbon emissions and saving water. 1st & Green participants can log everyday actions that add up to a big difference, such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, carpooling, riding a bicycle or walking instead of driving, and using reusable bags and bottles instead of disposable items. The impact of planting trees can also be captured through 1st & Green.

Groups and individuals are invited to participate in the 1st & Green Challenge to see who can save the most water and carbon before the 2012 Super Bowl, with the contest ending on January 13, 2012 at 6 p.m. Groups can register in five categories: businesses, non-profits, government, schools K-12, and other groups. The winner in each group for carbon and water will be recognized on stage in the Village, the 10-day attraction on Georgia Street, during the week prior to the Super Bowl.

 Indy's Super Cure

The 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee is proud to partner with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at IU Simon Cancer Center ("Komen Tissue Bank") to develop Indy's Super Cure. Indy's Super Cure initiative capitalizes on Indianapolis' robust health and life sciences resources to propel the search for a cure. Continuing to make Super Bowl XLVI More Than a Game, Indy's Super Cure invites you to assist in this fight and make a difference.

Indianapolis Can Make a Difference:

• Indianapolis is home to the world's only known tissue bank (Komen Tissue Bank) that collects healthy breast tissue for cancer study and research.
• Local Resident, Traci Runge, has provided the Komen Tissue Bank with the first specimens of healthy tissue in 2007 and then cancerous tissue in 2010 - this unique collection could be instrumental for researchers in finding the cure for breast cancer.
• Indianapolis is the home of leading edge pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare initiatives as well as renowned physicians in cancer research.
• Indianapolis can add to the NFL and American Cancer Society's "A Crucial Catch: Annual Screening for Saving Lives" initiative that encourages mammogram testing and is promoted through NFL players wearing "pink gear" during October (Breast Cancer Awareness month).

 The Legacy Project

In the past, the NFL has provided each Super Bowl host city with $1 million to be matched locally to renovate, expand or build a youth center to be a lasting legacy of the impact the big game has on the community. But with Indianapolis' history of innovation and dreaming big, the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee had a much broader vision. Rather than a single building or project, Indianapolis' Super Bowl legacy project would include an entire section of the city-21 neighborhoods known as the "Near Eastside."  

 I am so proud to be a lifelong resident of Indianapolis. I will be so sad next week as things begin to clear out. We have so enjoyed taking it all in! WELL DONE, INDY!!! Good things are sure to come from all your hard work! SUPER BOWL XLVI has been an amazing success!!

I will leave you with one last thought......

INDY FOR ELI!!!

GO GIANTS!!!!