This is one of the wild roses that were growing all over our campground. One day I will show it in all it's pink glory...but today I feel very antique-y, so there you go. :) Happy Monday.

endings

We got the call that my grandma died, half way to our camping location. We decided to stay at least overnight. At 2am, when almost our whole family was awake, including my husband who had come down with the flu, we decided to call it quits and get back home as soon as it was light out.

We have killed spiders and moths that joined us for the ride home, cleaned out my grandma's room, had 2 glasses of wine, and almost put away everything from our trip that was shoved into our minivan.

now I'm exhausted. I feel off. Just tired and loopy and tired again. Goodnight Saturday. I am done with you.

We're going camping tomorrow! In the midst of all of my grandma stuff (who is hanging on, bless her heart), we are going camping tomorrow. This is our ONE vacation this summer, so there is no way we would miss it. We need it. We really do. And our kids would kill us in our sleep if we didn't take them. Really. They are a little bitter that we have never gone camping before.
So, because we are the think-ahead type of people, we are going to Walmart today to get some gear. Like FLASHLIGHTS. And bug repellent. And snacks. And some kind of magical toilet that will flush. Wish us luck.

Lickity split Monday shoot

This shoot is for a very special project...more to come on that later for sure!!!




I was so honored to be part of this and do this shoot. So excited. And so honored. I LOVE what I do. I cannot believe I get to do this for a living. It overwhelms me. God is so good.

Rain rain go away! (yay!)

I was SO close to postponing our session cuz it was raining and there were dark dark clouds off to the north. But we decided to risk it and besides being a bit humid, the rain stopped and it was perfect. Thanks for hanging with me today! Enjoy your sneak peek!!! :)








And because I promised... :)

saturday

tense. that's what I am...despite the fact that I slept in til 9am, despite the fact that I am drinking one of my famous blueberry smoothies, despite the fact that it's relatively quiet around here this morning.

We are going to go for a hike and I am going to shake this off. Then I have a shoot (weather permitting) and that always helps to brighten my mood.

My grandma is hanging in there. Mixed feelings about that. It's been sorta exhausting. Thanks for your prayers and support. :) It means the world.

My Grandma

Please pray that she is released from this life and is just taken to heaven. She's been sick for a long time (decades) but she's really sick right now. I'm going this morning to hang out with her, and to try to take care of my mom, who has been taking care of my grandma everyday. Thanks for your prayers.

Hedgehog update:

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that finding a hedgehog (yes, you read that right) has been an ordeal. This past Christmas, we promised our almost 12 year old son a hedgehog (which is what he wanted). Well, we've been on waiting lists since then.
Yesterday, we found out that a hedgehog will be available in 3 weeks. Oh my gosh, I am so excited. Just think about the photo ops! A baby hedgehog? I'm sorry, but there is nothing more scrumptious than that!

This hedgehog looks a little angry. I'm sure our new little addition will have a lovely disposition. :)

smell-the-strawberries-wednesday

It's Wednesday. And for that, I am thankful. I have no headache today, I've already biked my 10 miles, and I'm listening to a Top Chef marathon on Bravo while doing some proofing. Sounds like a killer day.

Today:
Benadryl hangover that lasted til 11am
vacation bible school photo taking
swallowed part of a filling
massive headache
3 chocolate truffles
cheddar sunchips for dinner

I'm ready for a new day tomorrow. Anyone?

peace

Ever have everything sorta come down at once?
We have some decisions to make. Some changes to pray over. Some things we have control over....most we don't. Little things and big things. But in the midst of it all...I have this major peace that I know only comes from God. Because I am not a normally peaceful person. I have had my share of panic attacks and anxiety and nail biting and OCD tendencies and breakdowns. Right now...they are no where to be found.
I'm listening to the magic that is Jason Mraz and enjoying the quiet while the kids are at VBS (they are finally over whatever flu they had last week) and just loving my office and my little dog at my feet and the fact that the neighbor's dog isn't barking anymore. Praying for my grandma, who has pneumonia for the 100th time. Praying for a family friend who has to do a 3rd radiation treatment. Praying for my husband, who is just the best man in the whole world...he has some weight on his shoulders, pressures, concerns. I'm so thankful for this wonderful man.
I'm taking this wonderful peace and I'm going to run with it. Bottle it. Sprinkle it around the house. Breed it like bunnies.
I hope your heart feels peace today. I hope you smile and laugh and wave at a neighbor. And I hope we leave this day a little better than we found it.

Sneaky Peeky Saturday

I am totally in love with this family. They are sweet, loving, beautiful, and they laugh easily, which I adore. And they have a boy who keeps everyone entertained. The hardest part of the shoot was for me to keep shooting...cuz all I wanted to do was sit down and laugh. :)
What every good shoot starts with...

(Click image to see bigger)

Friday sneakity peekity...

Yesterday's shoot was at The Mining Museum. Although no burros or turtles showed up, we did see a dead mouse, so, you know, that ups the level of the shoot big time. :) Thanks for hanging with me. You guys rocked it out!






Oh, and by the way, to answer a comment left the other day, a beach cruiser is a bike with no gears, big white rimmed tires and a big fat seat to sit on. It's the best!
Today, my kiddos are sick, so we are laying low with some Sprite and TV. Happy Friday y'all!

Recycle Wed

Anyone else freakin' over gas prices? It's like a bad car wreck...it's so awful, but you can't help but stare in horror.
It's my goal this summer 1. to stay home ALL day one day a week and 2. to walk or ride my bike to the grocery store if all I need is a loaf of bread or something else small. :) I have a killer basket on my red beach cruiser, and I'm ashamed to say that I have never used it. That changes today.

Uber sweetness

Well, miracles never cease...I HAVE journalled 5 days in a row! Wow. My journalling doesn't look like it did in my teens, when I'd journal volumes of feelings and thoughts and dreams...not that that's a bad thing! But now I'm using my journalling so that I can settle down at night...so many things swirling in my head and I just need to get them OUT. So, I journal lists. And I pray over my lists. I write what we did that day (good for scrapping later) and I journal what's going through my head about tomorrow.

What's so great about this for me is the FREEDOM that this gives me. I got rid of my preconceived notion of what journalling was going to look like. I LOVE lists. I think in lists. This makes sense to me. It makes me happy.

I'm curious...are there any things out there that you have found freedom with?

A saturday morning sneak peak!

I am kicking it into high gear this morning! Today is full of more soccer games and family time and sun and iced coffee. AND a sneak peek from yesterday's senior shoot!







I drive 20 minutes to get to the Tri Lakes Center for the Arts building. I call it "THE yellow wall." I love the crackeled yellow stucco...it looks great in pictures and is flattering on almost everyone. Well...I just found out that in the next 6 months, they are going to re-stucco and paint that building! The horror! People, we need to save this yellow wall! It's like saving the whales, only better.

Do you hear the angels singing?

I CAN NOW SEND EMAIL!!!!! And now I think my server is the bestest ever. Not comcast...no, not the best...but my server rocks the casbah.

Today:

I still cannot send email out. I keep leaving messages with my server. I think they are ignoring me. I don't even know what to do. Any suggestions?



I have a new song in my sidebar..."Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait. I didn't even know Jason and Colbie knew me and Chris...but they must've, cuz it's perfectly US.

I'm gonna make banana bread for soccer tournament treats.

I'm going to start journaling again. Maybe this time I'll get more than 3 days in a row.

I have a shoot this afternoon. It's cold and rainy. On Tuesday, the skies magically cleared for my afternoon shoot. Maybe it will happen this time as well.

Oh, and my Tip of the Day for Recycle Wed is: give something away. Anything. Anything that's been sitting in your house or garage that someone else can use. If you haven't used it in a year, you probably won't. Let that George Forman live on. Send that platter you got at your wedding on to other parties. Give the business suits you never wear anymore to a charity that helps women get back on their feet.

And then breathe deep and enjoy the empty space that is left. :)

Sneak peek Wednesday...

Every time I come home from a photo shoot, I feel like it's Christmas. I cannot wait to get my photoshop hands on all the images. The possibilities are endless. And I LOVE doing sneak peeks! Here's one for today. :) (Click on the images to see super-sized.)








This picture was taken up against the best green dumpster. I {heart} dumpsters.

Oh, and recycle Wed is being moved to recycle Thur this week. :)