30/30 ~days of gratitude.
On this final day of the month, I am so grateful for doing this gratitude project. Grateful for being able to stick with it and enjoy it as much as I have. Grateful for everyone who has followed along and commented along the way. Grateful that even though the month has come to end in just 30 short days, I feel like I can keep coming up on a daily basis things that I am so grateful for and for that I am just plain grateful!!!!

I'm not dead, just falling.
~Pink

Tuesday blahs.
In tyring to get into the holiday spirit, I bought some new shiny and glittery ornaments.

And, above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." ~ R. Dahl

Have a good Tuesday!

27/30 ~days of gratitude.
Grateful for "pick me" up football games on Thanksgiving day. Grateful for being able to capture them in all the holiday fun.

Grateful for cousins.

25/30 ~days of gratitude.
Grateful for these two! Mine and hers. They could be twins of twins. In case you did not know, I have an identical twin sister. And, her little girl often makes me do a doubletake because she looks so much like my little girl. They share only about 9 months apart from each other.

So, on Day 25, I am grateful for their friendship. Grateful for having them both in my life. Grateful for the bond they share just like my twin sister and I.

24/30 ~days of gratitude.
Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving! May it be spent in the company of loved ones, much laughter, and many memories in the making.

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

May god give you the grace never to sell yourself short.

The grace to risk something big, for something good.

The grace to know that the world is now too dangerous for anything but truth,

and too small for anything but love.

May god take your minds and think through them.

May god take your lips and speak through them, and may god take your hearts,

and set them on fire.

amen.

Grateful on day 24, to be spending it with the ones I love.

23/30 ~days of gratitude.
Grateful for for my grandfather who use to take us down to the railroad tracks to watch the trains. When you're young, some things seem really boring and you really don't appreciate the true value of it all. My Pap would drive my sister and I behind the train tracks, sitting us on top of the hood of his old blue Ford truck. We would watch the trains go by for what would seem like hours.

I've been thinking about him a lot lately. Maybe its because of the holidays. But, for whatever reason, I just happen to be at that end of town today. I just could not drive by without driving behind to the old tracks. It just seemed so right to drive behind and watch the trains. So many memories came flooding back and my emotions kind of got the best of me. Maybe its because I know how much he enjoyed it. Maybe it because it had been so long. Maybe its because it was just time to remember. Then this older gentleman tapped me on the shoulder while I was snapping away and was sweet enough to want to talk and make conversation with me about the passenger train he just saw drive through minutes earlier. I suddently started bursting into tears. {Boy, I'm betting he sure wished he never stopped}. He was such a nice gentleman. Reminded me that maybe this is what my grandfather use to do down at the tracks. Stop and tap people on the shoulder and want to relive and tell all about his memories about working on the railroad.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." ~Mae West

So grateful I made the time and stopped to visit today even though it was wet, cold, windy, dark and dreary. So grateful that I have those memories he gave me. Even if I did not know how much it would mean until years later. How I appreciate them so much more now. Oh, how I miss him! What I wouldn't do to get one of those lazy afternoons back sitting on the hood of that old Ford watching the trains go by...

22/30 ~ days of gratitude.
Grateful for my iphone. I love how this little phone keeps me connected to everything and everyone; family, friends, FLICKR. Apps that make my life easier and, I who recently come to the conclusion that I simply cannot live without Instagram or checking in with Foursquare.




And, grateful for all the weather apps I have collected. Yup, all 4 of them and not one of them did I check or pay attention too this morning! I had to walk four blocks after work to my car today in the pouring down torrential rain....hmmmmm go figure! If I would have just checked one of them I probably would of have known to grab an umbrella. Yup, got 4 of them in the car too! :)

21/30 ~days of gratitude.
Grateful for this saying I found today. Grateful for how I stumbled upon it like it was written just for me and was jumping out in front of my eyes waving "read me". It's so what I needed to hear.

THIS IS YOUR LIFE. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something change it. IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR JOB, QUIT. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you START DOING THINGS YOU LOVE. Stop over analyzing, all emotions are beautiful. When you eat appreciate every last bite. LIFE IS SIMPLE. Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. LIFE IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET,
AND THE THINGS YOU CREATE WITH THEM SO GO OUT AND START CREATING. LIFE IS SHORT. Live your dream and share your passion.

Really, really grateful for these words today. I needed them.

A thought.

For a Monday morning.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
~Anne Frank

20/30 ~days of gratitude.
Grateful for today. Grateful for being able to spend the day with my sister and laughing with her. Grateful for today just being a beautiful day.

We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be like other people.
~Arthur Schopenhauer

Grateful for a higher presence from above today.

19/30 ~days of gratitude.
Grateful for such great childhood memories. Grateful for my Mom saving this cup from so many years ago and giving it to me. Grateful for her making the best hot cocoa and serving it to us in our "special" cups on cold winter days. Grateful for being able to tell my kids all about it when they asked where the cup came from.

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. ~Madeleine L'Engle

Note to self.
Never sleep in on a Saturday morning thinking you are going to wake up to a normal house.
Because, this is what you find when you leave them alone in the morning....

....forts being built out of the tons of bed sheets and comforters from the linen hall closet.

And, TVs being moved so you can sit under the fort and watch cartoons.

And, this is what you find from the dog after the linen closet door is left open where the rolls of toliet paper happen to be kept. Because the kids so happen to let the closet door open after retrieving their fort building materials. And, overturned water bowls because he probably has a few sheets of toliet paper stuck in his throat, I would imagine.


Are you starting to see the viscious pattern here??? Good morning to me...I am off to run the sweeper...right after I get a cup of coffee. Somehow, I think those few extra precious minutes of sleep this morning is not going to pay off.

18/30 ~ days of gratitude.
On day 18, I am just so grateful that I made it through a pretty stressful week. I am grateful for it being Friday. I am grateful for being able to look forward to spending the whole weekend relaxing in the comfort of my home surrounded by things that make me happy.

Dorothy was right when she said "There is no place like home".

Hope you all enjoy a relaxing weekend surrounded by the things you love.

When I grow up.
When you’re young, turning 30 is a milestone you talk about. “When I’m 30 I’ll be a millionaire”. “When I am 30 I’ll be married and a stay at home mom with two kids”. “When, I am 30, I’ll have my life all figured out, right now I’m just young and having fun.”

Well, let me say 30, really sneaks up on you. And, now that I am well past 30, and at the ripe old age of 34, even closer to 35 now, I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I want to do with my life. In fact, I’ve barely even put my fingernail on that surface.

You know in the beginning of the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where the room keeps getting smaller and smaller and there is only that tiny door left to get through. Well, today that is what I feel like. Today, I feel like I have reached that tiny door. I have hit that brick wall head on. Today, the low point is where for the last 15 years you get up every morning, leave your family behind and dedicate your whole life behind a desk, pour your heart and soul into a job that turns out being a total disappointment. Not rewarding. And, most definitely not appreciated. I feel like I have wasted the last 15 years of my life behind a desk that clearly does not make me happy.

So, on days like today, where I find myself discouraged, unhappy, and just feeling plain old….I make myself feel better, by reminding myself of some people who were still clearly on their way up over the age of 30 before they ever decided what career path was right for them.

Did you know Julia Child didn’t even enter cooking school until age 36?

Or, Sylvester Stallone, was a deli counter attendant well into his mid 30’s before he hit it big with Rocky?

I guess what I am trying to say is it is never too late to make change and start doing what you really desire and what truly makes your heart sing. And, maybe I am writing this more just for me, but sometimes I think it is good to take a step back, lay it all out there and keep working hard, keep moving forward until that right moment and opportunity of change can happen. And, photography does that for me.

So, I am going to keep pursuing this passion of mine. Too keep finding ways and opportunities. I am willing to learn and work hard to get myself there. To get myself to the top. I can do this!

“Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage”

~George Patton

15/30~days of gratitude.
Grateful for today being my 15th wedding anniversary. I am so grateful for having him by my side. For being a father to our two beautiful children and for being the strength I need to get through most days.

It's weird how a ring can represent such symbolism and have so much sentimental value. Most days it seems just like yesterday that he gave me this ring my senior year in high school. So hard to believe how time flies.

"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all."

Don't get me wrong, it hasn't always been a perfect 15 years. Like most married couples, we have had our ups and downs. But, when another day is coming to an end, he is still my bestest friend ever! My true soulmate for life. Happy Anniversary!!! I love you!

A Snowtober Wedding ~ Denise & Matt ~ Lebanon, Pa
As I'm sure many of you are aware, the East Coast had a bit of unexpected weather. Snow!! And we're not talking some snow flurries, I mean big, fat, cotton ball sized snowflakes. I think we were all in denial as the weather predicted heavy snowstorms for that Saturday. Really? The day before was so calm and sunny....and beautiful. How is it possible that Denise's cell phone kept ringing off the hook of out of town guests calling to cancel? Surely the weatherman has to be wrong on this one? Right?? Nope!!! There were right. The white stuff arrived right on time.

I am so glad that I was able to arrive a day early before all the snow. I had such a great opportunity to meet Denise's parents and enjoy such great hospitality and home cooking by Denise's mom. And, was able to get some great detail shots of Denise's dress, flowers and shoes before all the snow.

By the way, all the flowers were done by Denise's mom. How awesome is that? Hand touched with Denise's theme - owls.

But, I think creativity runs in the family. Check out the fingerprint tree hand drawn by Denise's sister for all the guests to print and sign. Way too cool!

Denise always wanted a winter wedding, but decided to plan her wedding for October for fear that guests would not be able to make it...(always remember....never forget what you wish for). Denise did get her winter wedding...only it would be in October. But, it could not have been more perfect. The snow may have put a cramp in a lot of the wedding plans and outdoor pics...and, we may have not been able to get to the specific place that Denise wanted outdoor pictures, but not from lack of trying (good driving Matt) . It just so happened the roads were closed!! But, what we did get stopped alongside the road could not have been more perfect!!


In the end, I think this freak snow storm was just meant to be!!!

Denise and Matt thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be apart of your special, snowy day!!! It was such a great time and not one I will soon forget.

To view more of Denise and Matt's snowtober wedding, click the link below. And, leave Denise and Matt some love in the comment section and you may end up being the lucky winner of a $10.00 gift card!!!! Just because I am feeling so generous!!!! (I'm thinking all that snow may have gotten me into the holiday spirit!!!)

An outake.
As I sit here and edit through these, it is usually the outakes that end up being my most favorite!!!! Just because it is so her. Her quirkiness is what I love the best.

Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading. ~Kazuo Ishiguro

Definitely favorites.

13/30 ~days of gratitude.
I am so grateful for his whiskers. I love how they wake me up every morning...tickling my face. And, everynight after work he always is so excited to jump and sit and visit with me for awhile. He's just the type of company you need after a hard day at work. Simply does not ask for much, just an occasional little scratch behind the ears.


He's the best little furball ever. And, those whiskers are the best alarm clock one could ever ask for.

The battle.
A few weeks ago, we went to the play park two days after it had snowed. Much to my kids excitement of not only being at the park, but the chance of snow still lying around....BONUS!!!!And, you knew it was bound to happen....right?? Snow and kids....

The battle was on...that is Lizzie armed and ready....

And, that is my firstborn armed and ready and trying to be sneaky...

So, I wandered away and took pictures of things like stones with snow on them...

And, pretty little park benches with snow and leaves....

And, more leaves...

And, yes, you guessed it....more leaves.

Totally zoned and in my own little world and not really paying attention to what they were doing would prove to be my first mistake. I just so happened to be apart of their masterplan and wound up being the TARGET. Yup, that picture below was right about where it all went south for me.

That sweet, innocent looking boy actually had it in for his mother.....

And, don't let her fool ya....she was it on it as well!

Have a super Sunday!!