Hold on Tight

As I sat down, wrapped my arms around you, and prepared for the plunge...I was suddenly reminded of a time when you were small. Your hands held on to me, excited..but slightly afraid. I told you it'd be fun, that you'd love it. And you did. Your long blond hair flew in my face as we raced down the snowy hill. You giggled the whole way down. And when we reached the bottom, I knew what you'd say next, "Can we do it again, Mommy?"

Today, you're older...practically a teenager. You walked up that hill and I couldn't believe my eyes...so much like a young lady, not a little girl anymore. This time, I wrapped my arms around you, held on tight,and together we plunged downhill and laughed out loud. I couldn't help but think about how that ride was so similar to the way you live life, Lili. So free, so fun, just loving the ride...

And the more you grow, I'm aware I hold on a bit too tightly sometimes. But I love the way you love the fun. I hope you never stop loving the ride. I love you. ~Mommy

Rise Up

Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow

Gonna rise up
Burning back holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold

Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
And suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold

Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole

~Eddie Vedder

Hurricane Lili

This girl holds the ability to set a room on fire with her light.In her 12 1/2 years of life, Lili has seen many things, been to many places, made many beautiful friends, and said many heart breaking good-byes...and all the while, she's been growing. In the past year, our family has moved back to our home country and tried to blend back into our old lives. This was Lili's 4th school in 7 years. Now that she has officially entered Jr.High, there seems to be a premature pressure among the other kids to hurry up and figure out who you're gonna be. But Lili...she goes with the flow, experiencing everything. She has a side to her that does care what others think of her-but that thought is usually snuffed out soon enough when she gets the desire to make people laugh. Her energy can be contagious. She's witty. She's quick with the comments. She's animated. She makes me smile. She's exactly the kind of person I would have wanted as a best friend in the 7th grade. I am so proud of her and how far she's come.

Having said that, I am also proud of the fact that I KNOW my daughter...I mean really know her. I know exactly what she is capable of. It can easily be predicted that she will be unpredictable. And it can be safely assumed that absolutely anything is liable to come out of her mouth at any given time...anything. And although I sometimes say that I wish I had a crystal ball to show me what she's about to pull next...I really wouldn't want it any other way. I mean really, what else can you expect from a girl that was named after a hurricane.

Reflections of Christopher

I have often said that Christopher's soul has lived many lives before entering his body. At times his spirit seems much more like an 80 year old than an 10 year old. While I'm sure most parents have at times felt that our children have taught us more than we've taught them, I could write a book on the things I've learned from each one of my kids.

Christopher came with a lesson plan that was unexpected, at times frustrating, but completely enlightening. All his life, he's been set in his ways. Intolerant of loudness, insisting on a schedule, avoiding the uncomfortable, craving predictability. While some are terrified of being alone, for Christopher the solitude is like a warm blanket. The silence, for him, offers a peacefulness that I'm not even sure if I've had the pleasure of knowing in my own life. In short, this kid is brilliant...wise beyond his years. His eccentrics can be entertaining. (I mean, have you SEEN this kid draw?) And sure, he's liable to start up table conversation with random topics like, "Ok, who here wears socks to bed? Show of hands..." He brings a smile to everyone who knows him well.

Having said that, yes...he does enjoy a good jab at his older sister or poke at his younger brother. And yes, he has been known to provoke his siblings until they are wound to complete fury-then walk away smiling...I mean come on, he IS ten after all.

My definition of a perfect Sunday

Find tongues in trees,
books in the running brooks,
sermons in stone
and good in everything.
~William Shakespeare

Ripples in the water

"Its a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll" ~AC/DC

Why quote AC/DC when I post a picture of my 6 year old son playing his new guitar?? Well, let me explain...

Jude has decided, after watching the movie School of Rock (starring Jack Black) that he now wants to play for a rock-n-roll band. He wears his hair longer than most of the boys his age, and everyone who has met my son knows...he has a spark in him. He's spunky, he's witty, he's unique, he's curious, and above all...he's persistent! He wonders around the house with this guitar strapped over his shoulders playing "music" and feels special. Usually, his songs consist of one note...but he owns it! Being a lover of music myself, I was thrilled to see that he had taken a shine to the guitar! And there's no sound more beautiful than to hear him shredding out a face melting solo and proudly proclaiming, "I'm so good at this!" I love this kid! And yes Jude...you ROCK!!

Tofu Scramble

I love to try new recipes! Recently, I have started on a path of healthy eating. With that, I've removed all beef, pork, and fowl from my diet and focused on ways to make the dishes I already cook, more healthy. This is an example of one of my favorite breakfast foods ever! The Tofu Scramble!! Sauted onions, red peppers, and tomatoes...crumbled tofu, and topped with cheese and parsley! I love to make this after the kids have gone to school and I'm all by myself! This, along with a nice cup of coffee, is the perfect way to start my day!

November Rain

The deepest desire in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
~William James

The Masterpiece

We talk too much;
We should talk less
and draw more.
~Goethe

Jude and his discovery

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of you hand,
And eternity in an hour.
~William Blake

Little Wonders

~Rob Thomas


Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder.
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the End
We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
these small hours still remain

Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
and I don't mind
if it's me you need to turn to
we'll get by
it's the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain

All of my regret will wash away somehow
but I can not forget
the way I feel right now....

Children are messengers from a world we once deeply knew, but we have long since forgotten. ~Alice Miller

Saturday in the Park

Tattoo's and Feeding Ducks

Tears of an Angel

What an amazing Family!

You know when you meet people and you think...'Ok, these people are really fun!'

Well, today was that day for me. I had the privilege of photographing an amazing family today. The kids were beautiful...playing in the leaves and promptly posing at a moments notice! How lucky I am to be doing something that I love to do! And the best part for me is seeing the faces of those lovely, whimsical children! No wait, the best part is... hearing from the parents that I've captured a personality!

Remember what it was like to be young? To play without a single care in the world? To see beauty in everything? The highlight of my day was when little Camryn had captured a lady bug...she brought it over to me and was so proud of her discovery! Her smile glowed and I snapped a picture! I love my job!

The product of a fabulously fun fall afternoon with my son, Jude.

Man on the Edge

I didn't talk to this man...never introduced myself...didn't meet him at all. To interrupt him would have felt like an intrusion. But as he stood there looking out into the Grand Canyon, I'm sure he had something on his mind. Maybe he was praying. Maybe he was considering the beauty he was looking into. Perhaps he was just staring, meditating, pondering...I don't know. But as I walked by him, I was moved to take out my camera.

Sedona

Breakfast of Champions!

If you could only hear this laugh!

Day off with Daddy

Focusing on the Details