Reflecting Changes

Yesterday, I turned 27! Yep you got it, 27 (again). For anyone who knows me in real life, you know I’m ling though my teeth on that one.

The Therapist and I in September, the year I turned 27.

But yeah yesterday when everyone sang Happy Birthday, I said with conviction, I’m 27!

Looking back to when I actually turned that age, 10 years ago, I had no idea what life would be what it would look like, how much would change in a ten year span.

Elaina born a little over a month after I turned 28.

At 27 my life was about going to work, thinking about my next career move. Kids weren’t even on radar.

Just the three of us, I was 29.

 

As I reflect on another year coming and going, I reflect on all the changes a decade has brought.

Joshua born about a month before I hit the big 30!

 

I got a new name, a new job. I experienced joy that words cannot describe and sorrows from the depths of despair. And today, I wonder, what will the next 10 look like?

That I can’t imagine, and for now I’m not even going to think about it, I’m just going to eat another piece of Strawberry Pie!

The four of us! This picture was taken just before Joshua turned a year.

Claire was born when I was 31.

 

Here we all are right around my 34th birthday.

 

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror”

1 Corinthians 13:12

Getting Hitched

This is how my brother-in-law rolls, his wife told him they should carve their initials in a tree at their house. He picked a tree located right in their front yard, he tried carving their name with his trusty pocket knife, but the 100+ year old bark was tougher than any North Carolina pocket knife, so he brought out the hatchet. Yep that is how these North Carolina Boys roll, the bigger the better!

 

Elaina helped set up for the reception, a Pig Pickin’. The coolest “picnic” tables made from tobacco slides.

A little time for silliness!

Beautiful Southern Plantation home.

The Therapist would want me to point out that he is undefeated at corn hole.  

 

The perfect end to a perfect day! Claire with her Great-Grandma.

Many congratulations to the Bride and Groom!!!!

 

Since there were professional photographers at the celebration, I tucked my camera away, and assumed my role as sister-in-law; thus why there are no pictures of the bride and groom.

Running and Remembering

Saturday was a big, H.U.G.E. first for me. Ran my first half marathon.

It was a day of personal goals.

I ran with this crew! Other than me, this gang was first times at the races! These boys BOTH placed in their age group, and their mom rocked it too! Never felt so proud have my butt kicked by someone (oh, and they are all great friends too, the icing on the cake).

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My run on Saturday was in memory of the guy in this picture. I’m the little girl with the holding the ball. I’d say this picture was taken some where spring or summer of 1976, I’m here with my two older cousins at our grandma’s house.

Saturday would have been Jeff’s 46th birthday. This July 4th marks 18 years since our family said good-bye.

Jeff was 28 when tragedy struck. He went home, and was at peace with his Maker, but on this earth there was a huge hole left, a mother alone, left to raise two small boys without their daddy.

As I sit here searching for words to explain the message I’m trying to communicate; I hope they hear honor and respect.

This Journey was or is not black and white. A journey that at times there were more questions then answers. A journey that I’m sure some, at times, are still trying to figure out.

To those still on this earth, know that I gave everything I had in that race on Jeff’s 46th birthday a hour or so outside of his hometown because I want you to know I REMEMBER, that you are still on a journey, one we call life.

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“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1

From This Day Forward

From this day forward this man will be affectionately referred to as

‘THE THERAPIST’.

1. To protect our identity.  

2. Because he is working hard as a Intern Therapist, which only means that they can’t call him a therapist because he hasn’t completed the education requirements, but he does all the work of a therapist.

3. He is working on getting his Masters degree in Counseling. I think we are almost half way done!

4. Dog gone it does make for a funnier story when you refer to the father figure in our family as THE THERAPIST!

 

It should, however, be noted, The Therapist, isn’t completely on board with this name change. But I still love him!

Who does that?

Last Friday, April 20th, the therapist (a.k.a. my husband) woke me up to tell me that he couldn’t find Joshua. Now anyone who knows us well wouldn’t be shocked that our seven year old escape artist was M.I.A.

Once I was able to comprehend what The Therapist was telling me, we began our search. We checked all the “normal” places. Still unable to find our Joshua. By this point The Therapist isn’t handling the stress well.

My own mind is going to some pretty dark places. Due to the commotion our oldest daughter woke from her slumber and headed to begin her school day. We asked her, “Have you seen your brother?” A resounding, “No!” was the answer.

The Therapist walked though our bedroom and checked under the bed. And something clicked in my early morning brain, walk around and check under the pile of throw pillows and covers. And there, you guessed it was Joshua, curled up at the foot of The Therapist side of the bed, soundly and safely sleeping!

If the story ended there you might not think it ill of us, or there could just be a good laugh! I mean, really who looses their kid, IN THEIR OWN HOUSE?

Yesterday, was yet another day of thoughts of “WHO does that?”

Sunday we had a small birthday party, for my kids and their cousins. What fun we had. My parents and grandparents all here for a birthday bash! We had a great time. When the party was over, I thought I’d give our dog, Molly, a special treat, leftover hamburgers that were on the plates.

Joshua took the burger out and fed the dog. About 9ish, after the kids were all safely tucked in their beds, I head out for a bicycle ride with friends. As I was getting ready I started looking for the dog.

I couldn’t find her. I quickly checked the gates in the yard and found one gate shut, but not completely latched. After realizing the dog wasn’t in the yard or the house, I was quick to enlist the help of The Therapist, who I may add was less than impressed that I was pulling him away from important graduate school work to find a silly dog.

We check the neighborhood, the house. A neighbor even heard us calling and came out to double check her garage. That night on our bike ride I, each time I heard a dog, I’d call Molly’s name. Came home rode around the neighborhood, and still couldn’t find that stinkin’ dog!

We left our back gate open, just incase she decided to wonder home.

Yesterday morning was, lets say rough! (good thing my kids dad is a therapist)

The kids were in tears! Claire was devastated. Their dog was gone. I went out and thought I’d swing by the borough municipal building. There I was told to check the police station.

So there I am at 8:15 in the morning with my three kids, no make-up, still not completely sure I had brushed my teeth. Two of kids still in PJ’s, and I’m filing a police report for a missing dog. The kids are crying, the secretary is almost in tears, and I’m thinking, “The Therapist, should have called in sick, we’ve got a crisis on our hands!”  

The ride home was full of tears and prayers. The kids in the back seat of the Suburban holding hands and praying. God, please bring Molly back, please protect her, please keep her safe. Dear God, I miss Molly!

I get home and we start settling into our day. I call the local S.P.C..A. and newspaper.

I go outside and start hanging up the laundry. I’m talking to a neighbor, telling her none of this makes sense. Our dog is a homebody. Sure she’s a golden, loves to run, but she sticks close to home. I start to feel uneasy. Uncomfortable. That feeling of, did someone come in our yard and take our dog?

Then your mind goes to dark places, if my dog isn’t safe, then my kids must not be either.

As I’m talking to the neighbor, I hear scratching. Our hearts stop. Wondering could it be? Could it be Molly? Trying to get in the gate?

Nope, no dog at the gate, but I did hear scratching on the basement door.

I open the door! And you guessed it out bounded an excited Golden Retriever named Molly!

Joy once again filled our home!

I mean who does that? Who looses a KID and a DOG in their home?

Telling a friend, her response, look at the spiritual implications.

How many times and I doing these things with God? Looking for an answer, searching high and low, enlisting the help of others only to find that the answer was right there under my nose the whole time.

My prayer this week:

Dear Lord- Please help me to SEE the things that you place in my path! Amen

B.U.S.Y

We’ve been busy!

February included a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge! I was less than impressed with the thought of donning a swim suit in the middle of winter with little or no color.

Enjoying the first warm day of “spring” by scoping out a place for a photo shoot.

Working with some friends for an engagement shoot.

Half Marathon Training! With this crew! Notice the bunny ears.

Oh, then we’ve got Easter!

Little boys turning 7!

Just hanging with my kiddos!

backpacking trips!

Little bits turning FIVE!

 

Now that we are almost done with school, two out of the three are finished and everything is handed in for the year. I’ve still got on straggler, any guess on who that might be? Point being, hopefully, I’ll have sometime in the morning to sit and collect my thoughts, put “pen” to “paper” and write some posts.

I told the UPS man I LOVED Him

Did you ever have one of those purchases that you mulled over. Gone back and forth with?

Well, I just made one. I upgraded my camera. So what does a girl do? Get a NEW camera with the money budgeted? Upgrade to to an even “better” one and get it used?

Buy the first camera with a lens kit or not. Buy a different lens with what what left over?

I can’t tell you how many photographers I talked to, how many reviews I read, how many web sites I stalked.

The hours I spent looking into a new camera, well, lets just say my house could be spotless and my laundry completely caught up.

I finally settled into a decision, actually, I had become so obsessed with this decision, spent so many hours mulling it over I even ask my prayer group to pray for me.

Pathetic in a way, I mean there are women in my life with R.E.A.L. heartbreaking B.I.G .stuff in their life. I get that some people actually wish the biggest decision they had to make was what camera to buy.

Well, that said, I finally found peace about what to get; Nikon D7000 + wide angle lens 11-16, for all you camera techies out there.

I got that sucker yesterday, popped a 1 GB memory card, that was all we had in the house, and started shooting. (The lens I used in these pictures was one I already had, not the wide angle.)

I was so overwhelmed with excitement when I saw that brown truck pull up to my house I told our UPS man I loved him. Of course if he had stood on my front porch for any length of time I may have just kissed him.

Here are some shots I took yesterday playing around with it. They are right from the camera shots. Still playing around with camera setting and getting a file I want for editing. But what do you think? I’m thrilled! Clean CRIP pictures!