She’s really, really home!
I spent a morning with my sister-in-law.
I asked if I could take some photographs around her yard because she has really cool stuff and, frankly, I’m a bit tired of seeing my stuff.
She and her family live in a beautiful Victorian-style home, which was built with sweat and tears by her husband. A true romance, really
I love our times together. She is a true friend...
cute strawberries...
The following is crooked, but I loved the bokeh-haze. No preset for this!
The Artists’ Studio...
Thanks so much, Lois!
Long-Overdue “Self”
I’m not sure what’s wrong with me except for my age, but I have these days where all I can do is cry. It happened today as the church service started. I had a sense of vulnerability as we approached the door and was already tearing up as the Bono song played while people seated themselves. I sensed trouble. And, sure enough, by the end of the worship set, my sleeve was wet. I don’t love showing public emotion. But, the more I tried to get it under control, the wetter I became... Ugh!
I’m not usually able to define what I’m so emotional about, but I am usually able to come up with ways in which I am unhappy with something inside me. I become very reflective and, more often than not, I leave having resolved a thing or two in my heart.
Today, one of those things is that I don’t want to forget this day, and this is where the blog title develops a double meaning.
I want to hold on to the voice of God inside me, calling me to a new place of maturity. To do this,I need to find a place inside myself where I can accept His grace for my failures- a place where I can find what I need to leave the past fully behind me and move forward. A place where I can begin to be all I was created to be. I learn in these times. I learn deep things and not so deep things. I learn to let God love me… and to never leave the house without tissue!
Me… in the aftermath
I’ve been walking... pretty regularly.
Today, I even went by myself.
Sometimes, it seems as though I have so far to go.
But, today, I think I could see the end…
My college daughter is home for the Summer, but today she left for a week in California with a friend...
She left a messy bed with some of her favorite things, including her giant purple pillow and Dennis, the puppy-sized elephant.
…So I fell behind.
But it hasn’t been laziness or busyness. I really just hit a creative wall.
My thoughts turned from the art and spent some time on the technical things that I need to work out, such as Lightroom upgrades, which Photoshop should I invest in, and which lab will meet my needs while I am a non-pro?
These are random shots acquired during these weeks. I couldn’t tell you which days were which...
The Best Weekend Ever!!
…Well, in recent memory, anyway!
We picked our college girl up from school. This time, my husband and I went alone instead of taking the whole family. It was a peaceful trip.
Love THEM, but loved this time alone with my guy.
We gathered our daughter and met some of our closest friends for lunch, where we visited for two hours and left with pie and muffins. Yeah. Yum.
The following day, back at home, we went to church, which never disappoints these days. Afterward, we walked in a beautiful city park until the rain came.
Maybe I’m just getting older, but I loved the rain today.
We then dropped the boy off at his aunt and uncle’s house and took the girls to the amphitheater to see the long anticipated concert that was the bulk of their birthday presents.
They got really wet, but were able to fully enjoy She & Him with Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.
Here’s the official concert tee (so I’m told):
What happened to us? Well, we enjoyed Robin Hood and each others’ company.
(though I think my husband slept through a bit of it. He doesn’t remember anything about bees)
We grabbed a hot drink at Dutch Brothers and visited with my brother and sister-in-law before we picked everybody up…
More days like this. Please.