The Continuing Story of Jaclyn Francois

Fancy Shmancy.

2009-06-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

I am by no means a website creator wizard so I have found it very difficult to create something to display my pictures to share with people. So, I have gone with a website that isn't some fancy photographer one, but it does displays my pictures and all I have to do is press the upload button! Hopefully one day i'll have the money and the knowledge to put together some amazing website, but for now please check out my pictures at www.flickr.com/jaclynfrancoisphotography. Enjoy!

Summer Job.

2009-05-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

Now that the semester has ended and I no longer work at the college, I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to try and launch my photography business. This summer I have set the goal to be a portrait photographer. Who knows if anyone will be interested at all but I guess I have nothing to lose. I have had a lot of practice lately in this area and feel that I have enough experience now to begin this venture. We'll see how this all turns out.

Latest Photo News.

2009-05-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

This semester I was chosen to display 2 photos in the student art show here at Chandler Gilbert Community College. I found out this week from my teacher that one of my photos was chosen by the school to be purchased at kept in their permanent collection! I was really excited about this because it is the first time I have sold a single photograph as a piece of art. I hope that this will be the first of many pictures sold! So for more news in my art world, yesterday I had the opportunity to display 4 pictures at an Art Revival Exhibition put on by the Hispanic Student Organization at the college. I had only found out about it the day before so I hurried at contacted who was in charge to see if there was still room for me. I was so pleased to find out that they were going to allow me to still be in the show, despite my last minute application. At the show they had many different forms of art! There were paintings and photographs hung up as well as people doing live painting which was amazing to watch. They also had a stage set up where 2 groups performed music, poetry was read, and a dance was performed. I really enjoyed experiencing all these different forms of art and was very grateful to be a contributing part of the night. There was one poet who before reading her poem which was written for her mom, told the story of what inspired her to write it. She said that she had asked her mom what love was and responded by saying "I don't know what love is, but I know what it's like to not have it anymore". Her husband had passed away and I thought that was a beautiful was of expressing her idea of love. I am so thankful I was able to attend this event and that people are willing to share their amazing talents with others. I am so blessed.

This is the photograph that was chosen by the school. I guess Brig is pretty famous now.

Amazing.

2009-04-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

This was sent to me by a friend. I thought it was pretty amazing

& wanted to share.

Progression.

2009-04-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

In my digital photography class at the college we were recently assigned the task of taking portraits. This seems like an easy enough assignment, but for me this is a challenge. The one area that I have struggled in photography is with portraits. The whole idea of bossing people around and telling them how to pose has been an obstacle since I am a shy person by nature. I had my first session yesterday which was actually not bad at all since I was able to take pictures of my niece & nephew. After reviewing my pictures I was able to see where I might improve which I can use when I shoot my next 3 sessions. I am hoping that through this assignment I will be able to progress as a photographer and not be timid about posing and working with people. We'll see who this turns out.

Easter.

2009-04-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of late with this post, but better late than never! This Easter we were able to celebrate with Adam & Jessica. We had a delicious dinner followed by an easter egg hunt for Benton & Emmie. Rather than collecting eggs, Emmie seemed more interested in finding and eating rocks. After that, Benton made some easter bunny cookies which he enjoyed lining up. He even snuck a bite out of one before placing it on the stone to be cooked. We finished off the day with a walk around the neighborhood and scoped out some empty lots where Jessica & Adam could possibly build a home. Overall, it was a wonderful Easter filled with great lessons at church and wonderful time spent with the family.

Family Photographs.

2009-04-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Of Course.

Thank you Jessica & Adam.

2009-03-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

I love having a nephew & niece to photograph.

Better Together.

2009-03-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

I have finally come to the realization of how incredibly blessed I am, particularly when it comes to my family. As some people know there is no one that I would rather spend my time with than my family. Throughout my childhood and entering into my adult years I have been so blessed with the opportunity to create many memories with my family, from vacations to just being together at home. Since i've moved back from Utah, there has not been an exception to this. I've been able to go to the Phoenix Zoo, Coon Bluff, California and many more places with them. I am so thankful for the memories we've created and continue to create and the friendships that we have, we are truly better together.

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-03-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

My dear sister Jessica recently told me about the cutest blog on the net that is full of photography & handmade goodies (Two of my favorite things)! Browsing through this blog has inspired me to learn how to sew. I have already accepted that it will be a complete disaster at first, but hopefully with a lot of practice i will be able to whip something out that is a fraction as cute as the things that come out of grosgrain! The latest giveaway on this blog is a precious shirt dress that I have been drooling over all day. Her vision in making this was for a single girl in her 20's who spends her sunday evenings in a laundry mat and lives in San Francisco. I meet the first two criteria so I think that's doing pretty well! Check out the blog and I guarantee you will fall head over heels in love with the creativity of the photography and the brilliance of the things she sews!

Project Update.

2009-03-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

A Girl Can Dream.

2009-02-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

Even though I won't be hearing any wedding bells in the near future that doesn't mean I can't plan a few minor
details of my future wedding, right? As a girl with a little too much free time I have taken the liberty of picking out my future wedding dress, season of wedding & a couple more things that don't need to be revealed just yet. I got to keep some things a surprise! Anyways, I would like to dedicate this post to my future wedding (fingers crossed). So please, enjoy.

My Dear Aunt Cindy.

2009-02-24T15:26:00.001-08:00

It is sometimes hard for me to put the way I feel into words, especially at times like these. So for now I will let my big sister Jessica who I love so much do most of the explaining:

This morning my sweet Aunt Cindy passed away after a long battle with her health. She had a bone marrow transplant, which led to many complications and finally a hole in her heart. She was one of the most geniune and kind people I have ever known. She served, she loved, she truly cared. I loved hugs from her becuase she let you know you were special and she meant them. I remember spending Christmas with her and her family and how we would all sit and chat for hours. I remember one holiday we talked of the life to come and the joys it would brings, relief from sorrow, happy reunions, and life with our Savior. She would often talk of visiting places she once new, and those she's never been. She was genuinely interested in the lives of others. She showed her love by caring for her family. She always gave of herself. She showed this in the way she took care of her father-in-law (until he passed), her two boys Bryson and Josh, her husband Bill, and her daughter Amber and her family. Her grandchilren adored her. McKenna loved to climb in bed with her Grandma early in the morning and Mason just loved being with her. The day before she died was her son Josh's 16th birthday. They spent the day celebrating together, even though Cindy was in great pain. Even in her last few hours on Earth, she thought of her family first by hanging on just long enough for one more celebration. She loved others more than herself. We spent lovely vacations together, and enjoyed the beach. While going through Kemo, she would often imagine herself in Hawaii (her favorite vacation spot) and plan her next trip. Her quiet ways brought peace to the room. She was truly a choice spirit who taught us all how to love better and how to follow our Savior. She has a great work to do in the next life, but will truly be missed in this one. I love her so much and am grateful for the many lessons she has taught me. I only wish I had the opportunity to say goodbye.

The last time I saw my sweet Aunt was at a family get together at a cabin where we would spend some time during the summer up in Utah. She was sweet and loving as ever and genuinely interested in my upcoming plans I had for my life. Her and my Uncle Bill would always try to set me up with these young doctors that worked closely with Cindy. I loved how much I could tell they cared about me and my future. I am so grateful for each and every moment I was able to spend with her and her family. I will cherish those memories forever and will learn from her many Christ-like qualities. I am so thankful for her example and for the legacy which she has left behind. I cannot wait for the day when I will see her once again. I love you Aunt Cindy.

Making Something of Myself.

2009-02-19T12:38:00.001-08:00

After returning to Arizona I once again enrolled in my beloved photography classes. As I have already accomplished photo I & II at the college level, I am now taking an independent study course where I complete one project over the semester that would be suitable for an exhibition. I have chosen to take portraits of my family members but these will not be your ordinary portraits. I am only in the infancy of this project but am coming up with ideas faster than I can shoot. Being back in the darkroom has reignited my love of photography, especially film which has long been a favorite over digital. A day or two back in class I was approached by my teacher to be a lab supervisor. I was currently job hunting so this was the perfect opportunity for me. Being paid to develop & print my pictures is definitely the perfect job. I am just happy to be back where I belong - in the dark with negatives & paper in hand.

It's a Wonderful Life (Christmas in Manti).

2008-12-25T23:18:00.001-08:00

Comedy Hour at the Market.

2008-11-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

Ron, my elderly friend, is rapidly becoming one of my favorite costumers at the market. He never fails to make me laugh when he comes grocery shopping. The latest visit started out with:

Ron: "I just thought i'd come in & let you look at me, then I got to get back to work."

Manti Market.

2008-11-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

There are a few simple joys in life that I find & enjoy at the Manti Market.

I thought that I would share these things with you.

Almost on a daily basis I have the pleasure of getting free food that is out of date. One of these being this delicious chocolate milk.
As the weather continues to take a turn for the worse I get to see the strange ways that kids dress while trying to stay warm. This boy in particular had cut off jeans, rain boots that met the end of his jeans, a bright red hood that would usually button on to a jacket but did not go with the one he was wearing, & large clear glasses.
You would never see this in Arizona...a Merrill Osmond CD next to "The Righteous Shall Prosper".
I have always found this sign humorous. I'm not sure if it's the out of date clothes with the generic "Chocolate Syrup" in the background or the similarity in her frown & mine that I find amusing.
This sign is also a goody. What a genius idea on how to keep your kids from purchasing sweets at the only grocery store in town. I also feel a little pity for this boy.
This morning Karalynn & I had the pleasure of cooking steaks while at work. What a glorious & filling breakfast it was. I especially enjoyed how the entire store smelled of steak for the remainder of the day.
Even the bags are Western Family.
This is Ron. He comes in atleast once a day & calls me his "raven-haired beauty". You can always count on Ron for some biting or witty remake like "How are you today" & he will answer "Oh well that's too bad" if your reply is positive. He also is a magnificent cook & once brought in enchiladas for me & Karalynn.

Be Grateful.

2008-11-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

I recently received some great insight about staying positive from one of my dear friends during times of opposition. One way that this friend does so is by making lists of things that they are grateful for. I was very intrigued by this idea so i've decided to give this a try. So, for all of your sheer boredom, here are the things that I am grateful for today.

- My Parents

- Jessica, Adam, Brandon & Brig

- Benton & Emmie

- Space Heaters

- Weekends with Chelsea & Michael

- Kevin Jonas Scarves

- Pancakes

- Meadow Gold Chocolate Milk

- Finding Answers in Scriptures

- Byu.edu

- Phone Calls Home

- Simon & Garfunkel / Neil Young

- Saving Money With Western Family

- Photography

- Remnants of Fall Leaves

- Fruit

- Spontaneity

- Draining Showers

- Electricity

- Old Homes

- Groceries That Ring Up Right

- The Manti Temple

20.

2008-10-25T09:04:00.001-07:00

Last week I celebrated my 20th birthday & it was such a glorious day! I woke up to Ashley and KD hovering over my bed with a plate of cinnamon rolls and orange juice. Ashley made me my mom's special cinnamon rolls and they were absolutely delicious! After breakfast I opened my presents from KD and Ashley. Soon after opening them I received a phone call from the flower shop to verify if I was home. About 10 minutes after the phone call I got a special delivery of flowers and balloons sent to me from my family! Later that day us three girls headed to a small town about 30 minutes away for a Fall Boutique. Everything there was so cute so I of course had to buy some things for my future home which at this rate will be completely furnished before I even have it. After the boutique we stopped at Stockman's Grill for lunch and some of there free scones. We found out once we got there that they didn't serve scones until 5. So, Ashley and KD told the waitress it was my birthday so she went in the back and made me some scones even though it was a couple of hours before 5. After that we went back to the house and straightened up for people to come over. We of course ordered some pizza from Lotsa Motsa and when that arrived on each box was written "Happy Birthday Jackie". We had no idea who did it. Later this girl came over that Ashley knows from work with her husband and his two brothers (one of which I work with at the market). We spent the evening playing Rock Band and enjoyed some funfetti/lemon cake with my favorite rainbow chip frosting. It was a very good 20th birthday and I was lucky to have KD & Ashley who made sure that I didn't have any time to miss my family. They put so much effort into making it such a happy day for me.

Moving Forward.

2008-10-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

Today is officially my final day of being a teenager. It is still hard to believe that tomorrow I will be 20 years old, it seems like these 20 years of my life have flown by. Looking back I think that I have lived these passed years pretty well and have been able to accomplish a lot. I have become an aunt (twice), taken hundreds of trips to disneyland, met some amazing people, moved away from home, started my journey in college towards becoming a photographer, and have strengthened my relationship with my family. I believe now that only good can come from the next 20 years.

As of Late.

2008-09-27T16:14:00.001-07:00

I have had a little too much free time & I have no life when Ashley is at work.

With this free time I have had a lot of time to think and I have come to the

conclusion that I do not want to waste any day or time doing meaningless things.

I want to make the most of each and everyday and enjoy them to the fullest.

Part of this was brought on by the fact that I will be 20 years old this coming

October and I still cannot believe that I have been alive THAT long. I don't

want to waste any time because it is flying by and I want to get the most out

of life that I possibly can. So, I will no longer allow meaningless things bother

me and I am going to spend more time doing things that matter and that I will

help me grow as an individual. I am on a quest to become the best I can be.

I Wish I Was Homeward Bound.

2008-09-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the effect that music can have on a person. Lately I've become quite found of the song "Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel. They have long time been favorites but I never listened to that song much. Since I've been here in Manti I've listened to it quite often and it always makes me homesick. I've decided to dedicate this blog post to those who I miss dearly and whom I wish I could see if I was homeward bound.

Letters & Packages.

2008-09-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to Manti High School's letter lighting with my co-worker KD. I was curious what a letter lighting was since we never had one at the high school I attended. At this event they have bags arranged into huge letters for each grade level with candles inside and each class races to light all of their bags before the other grades. Afterwards they all go celebrate and dance around the letters. It was really fun to experience this tradition and take pictures! Today I finally finished this package that I put together to send to E.B. I'm sending him a mini cassette player with a tape I recorded a message on for him, a utah raspberry truffle (my FAVORITE), and some pictures of the life in Utah. Now all I have left to do is hope that it actually gets to him. As always, enjoy the pictures.

Siggin'

2008-09-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

These past couple days (from Friday until today), Ashley and I had the great pleasure of having our dear friend Meredith Wiscombe come and stay with us. It was so fun having someone here to show the house to and to take around town. We spent yesterday showing Meredith the sites of Manti which consisted of the Manti Market, Millers Bakery, Candies on Main, Simmons Hardware, and the Brambleberry Basket. We also took her to Ephraim to a little boutique there and then did some shopping at Walmart. After that we went to our singles ward Bishop's house and visited with them for a little bit. We were able to pick some of their fruit from the orchard and played in their yard. Today we took Meredith to church with us and Ashley gave her first lesson in Relief Society. She did an amazing job and definitely has a gift for teaching. After church we went up to the temple and took some pictures in a field by our Bishop's house. This was one of the best weekends here and I think the best way to describe it further is through pictures. So, enjoy!

Time Flies.

2008-09-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that I have just finished my third week or working at the Manti Market and that I have been living here this long. The longer that I stay here and get to know the people of Manti the more I can't imagine leaving. I absolutely love all of the co-workers and the people that I have met in my singles ward. I know, what a shocker...I like singles ward. There is just something about this ward that I love. Everyone that we have met in it so far has been so friendly. This past monday Ashley and I had a chance to go to the first Family Home Evening activity with just our ward and it was such a good experience. We played "get to know you" games and I have never had so much fun at a singles ward activity than I did at that one. We played the game where you have to name everyones name in the circle and then red rover... it was a very mature game of red rover since we are college students and all. During this and afterwards I had the opportunity to talk with and meet a lot of people. We were invited to a swimming party and to watch a movie at these girls dorms but it was already late and Ashley and I had work the next day so we had to pass. This was also a very good week at the Manti Market. I got to work this this girl named KD yesterday and it was probably the best day there that I have had. She was kind of upset about something when she first got there so I was determined to cheer her up. So for the rest of the work day KD and I shot rubber bands at various targets such as our co-worker Mitch, cigarette signs, and even a lady we weren't too fond of. KD was very grateful to me for teaching her to shoot rubber bands and for cheering her up. She turned out to be a person that I can get along with very easily and is now one of my favorite people to work with. Soon after I got home I realized that I had forgotten to get some things at the Market so I headed back and ended up staying for awhile to hang out with KD and Mitch. While I was there KD and I waited for the market to be empty and then we got on the conveyer belts and walked on them like treadmills. Now I can cross that off my list of things to do before I die. Who knew that working at a grocery store in a small town could be so much fun? I don't think i've ever had a job where I actually looked forward to going and being with my co-workers. I guess anything is possible in Manti.

Bringing Week One to an End.

2008-09-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that I have successfully survived a week (and a few days) of living on my own. During this week I have learned a few vital facts of life. Number one being that grocery shopping is NOT as fun as it seems. Sure it looks pretty fun going to the store and buying all the delicious food that you want. WRONG. In fact it is quite depressing trying to buy groceries for the week with a job that pays 6.55 an hour. The second thing that I have come to realize is that people enjoy venting their woes to cashiers at grocery stores. Also, people enjoy complaining about grocery prices to cashiers even though we have no control whatsoever on how much something costs. Another thing that my eyes have been open to is how sad being a cashier at a grocery store can be. It breaks my heart when someone comes in with their food stamp card and they don't have enough on it and I have to be the one to tell them that they exceeded their balance and have to put their food back. I have been so tempted many times to just pull out my debit card and pay the difference. I realize now how lucky I am to have money to pay for food and other things that aren't exactly necessary. The last thing that I will share is how much I have come to love the small town atmosphere. I am determined to raise my family in Manti now. I want to be able to bring my family to all the town activities and not have to worry every second that my child is in danger when I let them out of the house. There is such a sense of security here that I never felt in my hometown of Chandler. The only thing holding me back is convincing the person I marry to pack up and move here with me. The pictures that I posted with this help sum up this first week of living on my own. Enjoy my dears.

Ode to Manti.

2008-08-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

With each passing day I think that I am falling more and more in love with the quaint town of Manti. Who knew that one town could be filled with some of the nicest and most helpful people I have ever met. It's not just a couple of people either, it's almost every person that I have met. Many things have happened since my last post, for example I got a glimpse of my first rodeo! Saturday night while Ashley and I were lounging around the house we could not help but overhear men on a loud speaker. We decided to investigate so we hopped on our bikes and rode over to the Manti fair grounds. What we saw was amazing! There were people of all ages participating in the rodeo from little kids to grown men. This has inspired me to raise a family here so that my children can participate in the rodeo and wear cute western clothing and boots. There was also a fair going on at the same time. Although it was smaller than the one in Arizona, I believe it was a lot nicer and less trashy. The next day Ashley and I attended our first singles ward sacrament meeting here which was still as weird and uncomfortable as always. On monday we had family home evening with the singles stake. This activity reaffirmed my deep and burning dislike of choreographed line dances. There were a few positives to the evening such as free ice cream and exchange students from Hong Kong. The following day was my first day working at the Manti Market. Oh what an experience that was. Thankfully when I took over the cash register for the first time my boss supervised and corrected the many mistakes I made. I think that anywhere else the people would have been very frustrated with me but all of the customers were very patient and understanding. Working at the Manti Market turned out to actually be quite enjoyable. One of my favorite parts of working there is my new friend Shaya. She is four years old and is one of my bosses children. She loves to climb up on the check out counter and draw pictures for me, help bag groceries, and spray windex all over the conveyer belt to "clean it". Another person that I work with is named Mitch. He's a pretty cool kid that I talk to during work and that Ashley and I play jokes on after work. For example, Mitch thinks that it is a good idea to leave his car keys in the ignition with his windows rolled down so Ashley and I thought it was in his best interests that we teach him that this is not wise. So, after work today we drove his car across the street to the town hardware store. Eventually I felt a little remorse and confessed to the deed. So far living in Manti has been overall a very enjoyable and rewarding decision. I cannot wait to see what experiences each new day brings.

Day One.

2008-08-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today was definitely a day filled with "firsts". This morning Ashley and I went to a singles ward activity which consisted of a bbq and swimming in Palisades Lake. This is probably the first singles ward activity that I attended semi-willingly. We tried to mingle, Ashley already called dibs on a couple of guys, and we found an asian girl to be the Vanessa of Manti. After the activity Ashley and I took our first grocery shopping trip at Walmart. Overall, I think that we did pretty well with that since we planned our meals for the next week the night before and only got what we needed for that. Tonight I made our first actual meal, stroganoff. To my surprise it actually turned out pretty tasty. All in all, an eventful day.

I bid adieu.

2008-08-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

I will be 20 years old this October so i've decided that it's time for me to grow up and experience life on my own. I thought that the best way of accomplishing this was to move to Manti to a house my parents own with a dear friend, Ashley. So, after a emotional goodbye thursday morning Ashley and I bid adieu to the only home i've ever known and set out for Manti. There were a few minor setbacks (faulty fan wiring in engine/overheating every 2 seconds) but we finally made it there... the next day. We were forced to stay over night in Page, AZ due to some car trouble which we had to get fixed friday morning. This all came as no surprise to us - it wouldn't be a trip with Ashley and Jackie unless it had a couple adventures like that. We finally made it around 5 and then I had a job interview at 6 which went smoothly. I am now the newest employee of the one and only Manti Market. Now that were here and partially settled in we have no choice but to get involved in the singles ward festivities (I don't have my home ward safe haven anymore) and ichat every night with Vanessa.

Farewell Arizona.