This week I am featuring my cousin Deanna. She was born exactly 7 months and 2 weeks before me. We were always friends as kids. We didn’t grow-up together, but we were inseparable anytime we were together. I call her my twin cousin, and she is one of my favorite people.
- What is your full name?
Deanna Renee Campbell
I get called Mom, Mamma, and Ren. (Josh and his brother are the only ones that call me Ren)
- What is your favorite childhood memory?
We always had a girl or two living/staying with or visiting us. From friends to younger kids that did not have a great home life or even a place to live, we took in everyone. Mom never cared that there was an extra mouth to feed or not enough beds, if someone needed a place to stay…They were welcome!
I also share some of the memories my sister had about her taking care of me. She’s always stood up for me and was always my biggest fan. She’s a God given best friend!!
- Describe what it’s like to live in your house now.
It’s LOUD! The girls and I love radio a lot more than we like T.V. We are always listening to music, signing and dancing. We sing and dance even while fixing dinner around here.
Plus, are just loud people.
It’s FUN! It’s not the vacations, holidays or ‘fun days’ that make up my kids childhoods but the everyday days. I decided a long time ago to make those everyday days super special! I make sure everyday in my girls’ life has something fun in it. That means dancing while fixing dinner and signing as loud as we can on the way to school, to name a couple. I try to fit in fun everywhere I can!
It’s CRAZY!… but anyone who knows me or has been to my house already knows that.
- How long have you been married?
10 YEARS!
I don’t think there is anyone that could be more perfect for me then my husband, Joshua. He’s amazing, talented in so many ways, smart as Einstein, caring, loyal, and freakishly strong. He understands my quirks & passions, lets me have countless animals and even put up with the goat I let live in our home. He’s a goat farmer with a mission to provide top quality but affordable show animals to FFA and 4-H kids. It was our dream and it’s been an amazing journey that we’ve taken together.
I dislike him immensely pretty regularly, but I hope and pray I will never be without him!
- What advice would you give to new brides/newly married couples?
HANG ON! It’s going to be a really long and bumpy ride. (Most days are worth hanging on.)
- In just a few sentences, can you tell us about your kids?
“A few sentences are not nearly enough, but I’ll try”… My kids are fantastic, creative, fun, happy, outgoing, and smart. All of them have such an amazing sprit, huge personalities and are very caring. They truly have a heart for people in need.
They love God, goats, and Joshua and I (in that order!).
- What advice would you give to new moms?
See answer to question 5, except EVERYDAY is worth it. It’s the hardest job you will ever love.
I also suggest and believe in discipline! Kids need and thrive on consistent discipline. We will always love our kids but it’s our job as their parents to raise them so others will love them as well. Also, I want my kids to learn adversity from me (someone who loves them) rather than from someone else. This will allow them to be great friends, students, employees and one day excellent wives and Mom’s!
- Tell us about your business.
I have a small photography business, DCampbell Photography, specializing in custom photography.
I say I capture a journey more than a moment. I love to be there to document the day a child is being born and get pictures of the first moment that mom and dad meet their child, or a small intimate family only wedding where everyone in the room is crying happy tears. I also like to capture all the happy everyday moments of babies, children, and high school seniors.
I love that I am there for the happiest milestones in people’s lives, and I love to see the smiles when they see their pictures for the first time!
- What is the best advice you can give to amateur photographers?
Start with the best used camera you can afford. (If you buy it used you can get a better camera then what you could have afforded new.) Put it on manual, and shoot everything!
- What is your favorite blog post that you’ve written?
Deanna let me use some of my favorite pictures of her girls. The following are some of my favorite pictures of her work:
I hope you have enjoyed reading about Deanna. Let me know if you or someone you know, or a business or cause you believe in, would like to be featured.
I love feature Friday! It's so fun reading about everyone! :)
ReplyDeleteCute idea!!
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