February

Around here the month of February is a tough one. It's not just the weather, which is usually brutally cold and the number of sunny days few and far between. In 2007 my 24 year old sister passed away after a short struggle with an undiagnosed heart problem. two years later, my grandmother's best friend(who was also another grandmother to me) passed away after a terrible struggle with emphysema. She passed away on the same day as my sister. This week, my cousins lost their stepmother to cancer, and the little girl who lives across the street, who has struggled with severe cerebral palsy since birth, was relieved from her struggle as well. I began to ponder what it is about February that it can be both a dark force to some, and a welcoming relief for others. What I have come to believe is this: for those who have been suffering, for those who have struggled, for those who have been in pain, February is a calling home. They are called to and told to just let go. Spring is a time of rebirth after all, and what better time to pass from this physical place to the realm of eternity? For us, February leaves in it's wake sadness, loss,  and a sense of something we cannot get back. But for those who have passed away, it is a welcome relief. A leaving behind of brokeness and pain. It still makes me sad and at times grasping at something I feel I should have had with my sister that I can't have. At least I know she is no longer scared and confused, and in pain. I just hope that for now, February has taken its toll for the year, and we can end the month with sunshine and happiness. 

New stuff

I think new stuff says nothing at all but everything. I have decided the time has come to start my own Etsy shop. I am taking it slow, putting it together slower than my normal self. As in, not in 1 hour in the middle of the night. I am gathering together my photographs and then I am uploading them based on how well they will reprint and that kind of stuff. Rather than just throw stuff on there and hope for the best. I would like this to be something I am successful at. Then I will make a link to put on here, and everyone can buy my glorious pictures:) Right?

self confidence breeds smiling breeds happiness breeds healthier habits breeds self confidence

I realized something while I was driving today. Last week sometime I went out and bought 8 new shirts for my self and some new pants.  I have been on Weight Watchers for 10 weeks now and have lost and gained the same 4 pounds because I just haven't put my whole self in it. I had previously thought that I wouldn't buy new clothes until I lost the weight. but as I watched my clothes get shabbier, and getting dressed was becoming more and more depressing I decided no more! Why should I wait to change my body before I can change my feelings about myself? So I went out and bought clothes. Then over the weekend, I decided to join the YMCA, which I had been thinking about for months. Then as I wore these great clothes, and fun headbands, and actually enjoying myself with what I put on everyday, it crept into my mind. Hey! You! In the clothes you look happy and confident! Are you even...smiling? At nothing in particular? Are you feeling perhaps lighthearted? It was true. I had found myself smack dab in the middle of grinning.
Then I did a Jillian Michaels Kettlebell workout. Then I ran at the Y. Then I beat my body into submission about thinking it needed chips instead of an apple. Then I was drinking more water.
The moral of my story is:
Wait for it...

Wait for it!
Don't wait till tomorrow to do something that you know will make you happy regardless of the reason. Don't wait till you lose 50 pounds before you by a shirt you like. Don't wait until your kids are out of the house before you learn photography. Don't wait until you have more money or more time or more anything before you do something you long to do.

The creativity portal

I stumbled upon a website I used to visit a few years ago when I was going through a period of wanting to be creative but not being able to figure out what and how and anything! There are tons of writing, photography and art prompts on here. There are also a vast amount of how to's, inspiration and just a lot of information! I would check it out were I you.

http://www.creativity-portal.com/

Enjoy it!

fun with pictures

I was just goofing around and changed these up for fun. Gotta love good photo software!

Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life

I have to share something that happened to me tonight because my heart is overwhelmed:) First of all I took my girls out to dinner tonight and we went to the Chinese Buffet near our house. As we walked in one of the waitresses commented on how gorgeous our headbands were which we got from a certain awesome person's Etsy store:

Then as we sat down a gentleman and a lady I would say in their late 60's asked me if I had a little princess with them because of course my youngest was dressed in a huge poofy pink dress, pink sweater, and pink striped leggings. I said of course and they told her she was gorgeous. Well we sat down to eat and after quite a while they got up to leave. The came over to me and this is the converstaion that insued:

Lady: Your headbands are beautiful!
Me: Thank you my sister made them.
Lady: Well she did a great job.
The she lowered her voice and said to me: "Your girls are absolutely beautiful.
Me:Well thank you very much!
Lady: Really they are.
Then her husband looked at me and said:
Man: I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you interact with your children. You are a joy to watch. Every parent should be that way with their children.
Me: (Bursting with pride) Thank you so much. They mean a lot to me
Man: Well, and they are growing up beautifully are they not?
Me:Yes they definitely are
Them:Have a good night enjoy your weekend.

It made me feel good to think that strangers would think that I am doing a good job with my children. it made me wonder. Are good parents in such short supply that it is a surprise when you do find them? Or is it that the bad ones make themselves known so much more?

Also my fortune tonight said this and I am so excited and love this!!
"Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life."

How perfect is that statement? How much better of a fortune could that be? Everyday the way you respond to the little things, is what makes up your big picture.
Kayla's was:
A great surprise is waiting for you
Emily's was
A happy life is right before your eyes

What a fun night at the Chinese place. Seriously.

here are some pictures of me and my girls in the headbands we got!

Awesome. Great. Fabulous Day. the end

Problems fixed and snow to enjoy

Well you will be happy to know that I fixed my Canon problem. It was not my camera. It was Microsoft! An update was installed on the 28th that managed to kill both the driver for my canon and my laptop speakers. Congrats Windows, great update. I rolled back my computer to the last day I knew my driver worked and lo and behold joy of joys!

Now like a lot of the country we got some snow this week. I didn't go to work because I didn't want to drive on the roads, so I was home with my girls. It rocked. We went sledding on Tuesday and I got some AWESOME shots.

I have so many more that I want to share. I guess maybe it's time to get like a Picasa album or something like that?