you'll love her, too...

I've never met kim in person

but a beautiful part of her now hangs in my house

I met her here in blogland

and

instantly knew she was my kind of people

with the biggest heart ever

~~

I talked to her on the phone before and after she went to squam last month

first

making sure she packed enough warm clothes

~and her bed pillow~

and

afterwards

to make sure she had a life changing experience

~~

today I received another surprise package from her

~the first one a few months ago was a bag of her painted rocks~

inside

was a handmade bird filled with love

waiting to be loved back

~~

and

a few more inspirational rocks

with a card that brought tears to my eyes

she smells like lavender

this new feathered friend of mine

and

flies around my kitchen

with beads and a pewter charm dangling from her belly

reminding me to dream

thank you kim

for having the biggest heart ever

and

hugging me across the miles

just when I needed it the most

~~

you are a special one

and

I love and adore you

*

at least yesterday was 48 degrees....

remember this adorable little munchkin

well

yesterday I got to meet the whole adorable and amazingly patient family

and

run around the park with them

we tried to keep the kids still

for some family shots

but mostly we just let them run

and

play tag

and

run some more

and

enjoy nature

and

kick balls

and

eat snacks

and

roll around in the leaves

and

laugh at each other

then we found an alley

to play hockey in

with crab apples

~~

chances are good that this guy won't ever want to use a hockey puck again

since crab apples bust open after you whack at them

and

if you're 7 years old

that is really cool

*

thank you guys so much for being playful and beautiful and funny

on a cold october day

and

making my job

which never feels like a job

so easy

*

when.....

when the world is cruel and I feel like stones are being thrown at me

he holds me close so I can bury my head in his neck

~~

when I dance around the house to really loud music and sing off key

he watches me with a smile on his face

~~

when I've done the best I can and I still don't think it's good enough

he tells me I'm a superstar

~~

when I want to be lazy on a sunday afternoon

he takes my hand and says me too

~~

when the days are long and I start counting them until he's home again

he counts with me

~~

when my thoughts are all over the place and I can't control them

he gathers them all together and helps me concentrate

~~

when I want to take a walk around the pond and take photos

he carries my camera bag and sees things I don't see

~~

when I miss him more than I ever thought possible

I let him know

*

why family and birthdays are so great...

my niece turned 8 yesterday

and

to celebrate it right

everyone jumped for me

~with only a little begging~

including her grandparents

~~

seeing my parents and her other grandpa laughing and jumping and maybe even still talking

about the experience tomorrow

makes me so happy

*

life is just too short not to jump

*

just fyi...my niece doesn't wear glasses. these are just play glasses that are pink and super cool

and when you're eight, you get to do and wear whatever you want.

I want to be eight again.

by the way, who's responsible for this photo shoot...

this family rocks

~~

remember the oldest daughter

?

she was one of my senior photo shoots from earlier this year

and

yesterday I had a blast {and a winter coat} capturing the whole family

look at how great these gorgeous girls are

~~

it was 39 degrees outside

~~

yes

you heard me right

39 degrees

and

they are totally hiding the fact that their fingers are numb

and

their bodies are freezing

you know me

~~

I really love outside photography

and

even though I did get some great inside shots of this fabulous family

~which you'll get to see soon enough and include the best dogs ever~

I love the outdoors

best

{and if you're asking why we waited so long to take photos, even though wisconsin is usually fabulous in october, this was the only time the whole family could get together}

and

even though at times I felt so mean making them be outside

wearing just a few layers

while I wore my coat and gloves and warm boots

~yes I'm a wuss~

I think they enjoyed themselves

at least a little bit

*

thank you guys so much

for making this shoot an absolute blast for me

*

who's looking back at you ?

we have had so much rain lately

and

whining about it was all I had been doing

until

I was on my walk the other day

~~

around my favorite pond

where the cranes no longer are

there is a little bridge bending over a tiny creek

and

as I stepped on that bridge

the sun poured itself into the wavy stream of water

taking my breath away

and

holding me still

~~

the glassy look of my reflection

was me

I even double checked

but I still questioned who I was really looking at

~~

when you see your reflection in the water below you

or in the mirror in front of you

who do you see

?

do you see the sharp mom voice that came out of your mouth this morning

while you were rushing around getting everyone out the door

?

do you see the eyes that you rolled behind the man's back

who bagged your groceries too slowly

?

do you see the lips that didn't smile when your busy waitress

finally showed up with your forgotten breadstick

?

do you see the cheeks that didn't cuddle enough with your hubby

this past weekend

?

do you see the ears that often only hear what they want to hear

?

~~

yep

me too

sometimes

~~

but

this summer

with a lots of work and patience and kindness as a gift to myself

I have gotten so much better

at not being "too busy" to appreciate life

while

I soak up everything around me

~~

which is why

I think

I had to take a second look at myself

first straight on and then over my shoulder

and

you know what

?

I liked who I saw

*

knot again...

my thoughts

are rarely deep and dark

instead

they seem good

like well behaved toddlers full of curiosity

~~

but lately

somewhere along the safe path that I have sent them on

they stop to pick up a shiny coin or an acorn

and

while turning around in circles searching for the most brilliant leaf floating above them

they veer off that path and end up in the moist mulch beds

where the branches on the trees grow low and purposely trip those thoughts

until they seem lost

~~

then the birds call out making them look in an even different direction

and

they are blinded by slivers of sun poking them in their eyes

and

before I know it

those well behaved thoughts are twisting and turning

and

starting to become knots

and

wishing they had dropped some breadcrumbs behind them

~~

I stand back watching those thoughts

with my hands on my hips

shouting out

"what are you doing"

?

"I sent you on a wonderful little walk

to explore and grow and bring back friends

and

just look at what you've done to yourselves"

~~

and

they turn and look at me and laugh

reminding me

that they're just little explorers

and

that I've been the one a little knotted lately

not them

and

I shake my head

realizing that they're right

and

they come running back to me

right where they belong

and

together we sit here and write

*

*