The One with the Photo Projects

Lately, I have had the pleasure of taking on a few photo projects and I am so thrilled with the results. 

The first two projects were birthday parties for kiddos, most recent of which was for my best friend's daughter. This precious little gal is one year old already!

Aaaand, I always love taking pictures of my own pups. Remy exhausted himself playing fetch outside while I clicked like a mad woman.

The One with T.H.E.E. Camp

See Ted at Panera. Rock out to old T.H.E.E. Camp CDs. Let me fill in that gap now.

I was out at dinner with my parents last night at Panera when a big man with a very familiar face walked in. I immediately knew the face although I thought myself crazy for believing my face recognition. After checking with my mom to see if she remembered Ted from T.H.E.E. camp, and hearing “Ted” over the intercom to announce that his order was ready, I decided that I would say hi. Saying “hi” when I run into someone in public is a really big deal for me- I do not like to do it. Confession- I often chose not to even bother with it.

Although I spent little to no one on one time with Ted, he was always one of my favorite people at church camp. He played in the worship band and told awesome stories one of which I remember hearing in the cafeteria during lunch when Ted chose to sit at my table of friends one day.

That to say, I was actually excited as I approached the food counter and introduced myself as a fellow T.H.E.E. camper. The very short conversation that followed was so simple yet genuine. I am amazed at the power of people and the power of connection (especially when food is involved). We quickly connected our dots and went our blessed ways.

Considering my current feelings towards church, religion, and the like, this encounter was a breath of fresh air. It was really neat for this man, who was simply in town visiting his family and out at dinner, to accept my greeting so eagerly and ask questions about my current life versus merely dismissing me as some teeny bopper church camper high on life and God.

This is my story, this is my song…

The One with Lake Therapy

Lake therapy always comes at a good time. The times when I feel lonely, impatient, overwhelmed, and sad. Staring out over the ripples in the water is calming to my soul and my brain. Even on the lake my thoughts keep running, however, the change in atmosphere attempts to offer a different insight. Being on the boat offers uninterrupted think time. And, even more so, uninterrupted time to capture a sunburn.

It is not a new revelation, but it is one that I am finally owning up to about myself- I would rather hold on to something that is good, even if I know that better may exist, than to say goodbye. I have done this with jobs, relationships, bras, just about everything.

Another revelation that is not new to me is that happiness is a choice. That said, I feel like I should be happy about the possibility that people keep reassuring me is awaiting. Their assurance will eventually sink in as truth, I know this, but for the moment I have too many emotions to work through before I have enough courage to make the choice to be happy. Through the good memories and uncertainties looming ahead (and now the insanely uncomfortable sunburn), sometimes happiness is the most courageous decision to make for the day.

Special thanks to these two for having a special way of loving me and being there to reassure me and invite me out on the boat...

The One with the Book List: I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Ramona Quimby has been a favorite character of mine since I can remember. When I was a kid I used to read the Beverly Cleary books all the time and even checked out Ramona videos from the library. I especially loved the mystery meat video. 

Paired with "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" was a book called "I Was Told There'd be Cake". This book is a compilation of essays written from a real life twenty-something gal whose quirky ways hooked me from the first page, much as Ramona is loved for her quirks.

"I Was Told There'd be Cake" had me laughing out loud, admiring the crass description of feelings, and left me wanting to be real life friends with the author, Sloane Crosley. Sloane and I could chat about our wedding less futures over tarts. 

The One with Dizzy Possibilities

This quote is particularly true of my life right now, "All this possibility made me dizzy with a strange kind of grief."- Karen Russell

I am grieving as I say goodbye to my days at Rainbow and as I say goodbye to a fun relationship. As these things end I realize that it opens me to new possibilities, but I am not good with endings. I mean, it took me an absurd amount of time to recover and move on after I finished the Harry Potter series and those were only books. So, at least for the moment, I am left dizzy. My brain is dizzy, my heart is dizzy, my life is dizzy. I am dizzy with the choices of possibility. 

The world is mine, I can do everything or nothing, all I have to do is anything. Thanks J.M. Barrie and your story of Peter Pan for helping me with this revelation. Now, to live it...

The One with the Book List: Never Let Me Go

     My first experience reading The Giver was in 8th grade English and it quickly became my favorite book. With it still being one of my favorites I was excited to see a book paired with it on the list. Never Let Me Go was written in a very conversational way which did not lend many quotes and that was somewhat disappointing. I like for a book to be quotable. It was, however, easy to picture myself near the pond on the Halisham campus or sneaking along the narrow lanes of the seaside town Norfolk. 

     I am finding that it is hard to read these books for what they are and not be so intentional in looking for similarities to the books they are paired with. Although the ideas in Never Let Me Go were thought provoking and it was a neat read, it is not a new favorite. 

The One with Lent: Easter

Weekends are basically what I live for and Easter weekend was no exception because it was an extra day long. The days were spent sitting in the sun, eating delicious food, watching movies, snuggling with my favorite cuddle buddies, coloring with my goddaughter, and... wait for it... going to church.


After an invite from my cousin and his family to join them at church Sunday morning I told myself that I would go if I happened to wake up by 8:00 a.m. My eyes naturally opened at approximately 7:59 a.m., so I took that as a sign of Divine Intervention and got myself out of bed. I arrived to church early, although not early enough to get a good parking spot, and as my best friend drove by I could hear her cackles through the open car windows. 

After parting ways with my friend and her family at the Cry Room I slipped into a pew with my family. I received play by play information throughout songs, prayers, kneelings, and communion. I opted out of receiving a blessing during communion; I figured actually being at church was good enough for the morning. It was nice to be at church on Easter Sunday and to see so many adored faces.


Every morning is Easter morning!