Story of Now

I have had a new fascination with retro-looking birds lately. So, with this new fascination I decided I would design my own Photoshop bird brushes. I also have a bit of an obsession with quotes, if you hadn't already noticed :) Fascination with retro birds + obsession with quotes= new card designs Creating bird brushes led me to create some other brushes including: trees, flowers and text. Enjoy and please let me know what you think! I would love to hear your comments!!

I got two wonderful nominations for the Kindness moves Mountains contest. Both of these women sound extraordinary! Here is wishing that everyone has someone that is a blessing in their life. Please read the nomination stories and vote for your favorite. Poll is on the right side of the blog! Names have been substituted by just the first initial of their name. #1 I would love to nominate my dear friend and co-worker P. P is an inspiration to me. She has dedicated her life to helping others and worked tirelessly in the process. Whenever I need to get turned around P is always there to guide me and help me see things as they are. She and her husband raised two children who have now moved away from home and her daughter has children of her own. P is a volunteer through her church, for the school, and is also an advocate for social justice. She has taken trips with students to poverty stricken areas and helped those in need. She has also been a sponser for a special gentleman who recently ...

Ava was 7 months on the day we did these pictures. It had been a long day, and she was pretty tired but she did a great job! Here is just a few to show off her cuteness! To love, cuddle, play with, adore, that's what baby girls are for. Unknown

This poem truly touches my soul. I read it and felt peaceful. It brought images of my past into the present; things I have done, people I've known, emotions I've felt. _____________________________________________________________________ Kindness By Naomi Shihab Nye Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved, all this must go so you know how desolate the landscape can be between the regions of kindness. How you ride and ride thinking the bus will never stop, the passengers eating maize and chicken will stare out the window forever. Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness, you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho lies dead by the side of the road. You must see how this could be you, how he too was someone who journeyed through the night with plans and the simple breath that kept him alive. Before you know kindne...

A couple of weeks ago I got to be part of a great act of kindness; a renewing of an old picture and a reliving of memories. You see my Grandparents are a part of an old neighborhood. Years ago the neighbors would get together to celebrate many occasions, one of which was New Years. One of the guys from the neighborhood was a great illustrator and drew up a picture of "New Years 1962" and gave it to my Grandparents. This great illustration has been given a new life; taken from it's plastic bag, matted and framed and now hangs prominently in my Grandparents den. The idea to get it framed came from one of my brothers and then my dad took the idea and ran with it. To witness my Grandparents delight in this gift and to see them reliving the memories of yesteryear was so moving!! Here they are, 91 years old, married for 60+ years, and just recently in and out of the hospital for three months...and then before my eyes taken back 40 years. I will never forget the joy they emitted...

As I continue to take nominations for my "Kindness moves Mountains" contest, I thought I'd say what kindness is to me and how I have experienced it and witnessed it through my life. Kindness makes ripples across the world. Just as one little ounce of anger can turn into a whole pool of destruction, one ounce of kindness can turn into an ocean of joy, peace and happiness. Kindness is in the every day things. It is listening and hugging. It is cuddling. A sweet note. A door held. An unexpected gift. A heartfelt thank you. Encouraging words. A phone call. A favor. Volunteering. Donating to charity. Helping a friend move. Speaking words that connect. Doing a chore that's usually not yours. Making a special meal. Patience. Tolerance. Teaching someone. Reading a book to a child. Letting someone go ahead in line at the store. A shoulder to cry on. A smile. Showing love to a hurt animal. Sending flowers to someone who is ill or has lost someone. Making a meal for someone goin...

Please click the above image for full view! I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. William Penn

In his eyes, the world is perfect. He does not see war. His simple needs are met. He knows true love. He spreads joy to all those who are near. Babies are very humbling beings to me. Their wonderment is so amazing! Their eyes tell the truth, they cannot tell a lie. A baby is a simple little being, with no desire to hurt anyone. A baby does not have prejudice or judgement, although they know the difference between harsh tones and kindness. They do know whether someone is tense or relaxed, attentive or distant. They know the true nature of others. Babies are such a blessing to this world! This is my very dear friend Emmy's baby boy! So precious! Emmy, you are a wonderful mom!

An attitude of gratitude. A simple thing really. A choice. A way of life. An appreciation for life, for the way things are, for the way things work. This video is not able to be embedded , but please click on the link for viewing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus Life truly is amazing if you take a moment to observe and ponder and appreciate! There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy. Ralph H. Blum

Hugs. More than just wrapping your arms around someone. A hug can instantly connect you and another person. It can heal your wounds. It can enliven you. It can break down boundaries and bring forth growth. A hug can bring security and warmth. Hugs are free. Hug someone today! Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

After 6 weeks in the hospital/transitional care, my Grandpa is home. I am happy the sweethearts are back together. I am hoping they take care of eachother and stay safe! As a family we will continue to watch over them, cook some meals and clean. Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

The experts say that when you dream of a house it represents "self" or ones soul. It makes sense to me. A house has so many rooms, sometimes each with a different theme...their own character. We each have different "rooms" within us. There is the room of "I like..." and it's opposite "I don't like..." There is the room of "I get sad when..." "I am happy when..." "these are my favorite people" "these people rub me the wrong way" "I have these talents" "I can't do..." I have been doing some examining of myself lately. It all started a few days ago at lunch. I got a meal that came with pudding. Pudding belongs in my room of "I don't like". I looked at the pudding, it was butterscotch and thought "Hey, I like butterscotch". So, I thought I'd bring a spoonful to my mouth just to test whether pudding still belongs in the "I don't like" room...

It seems to happen to me every Winter. I get in a rut. I don't take out my camera as much. Tonight I decided it was time for a little picture project. I grabbed my glass ice cream dish, food coloring, white tagboard and my camera with the 50mm lens on it. I had fun and I really like some of the images I got. I would love to try this outdoors on a sunny day too! Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

The Tea tag reads "Your choices will change the World". I thought it was brilliant. It wasn't a completely new concept to me, although it was worded in a way I had never seen. Yes, what I do matters and changes the pace for the rest of the world. Every choice, from whether I choose to stay in my pajamas and chill at home, to what kind of beverage I drink, to where I shop and what I drive, to the job I have and the people I talk to. Every choice matters. What can I do to help others? I want my choices to have a positive impact. I want the World to move in a progressively better direction. What choices do I make everyday that have actually become habits? Everyday I make choices that I am not even conscious of. How can I become conscious of my choices and my thinking? It begins with awareness. It begins by stopping and analyzing. It begins NOW! Live. Love. Laugh. Embrace.

Sometimes I am strong, sometimes I'm not Sometimes I cry when I'm happy, and sometimes when I am sad Sometimes I love the questions, and sometimes they drive me nuts Sometimes I have the answers, and sometimes I don't Life is very Yin and Yang right now. So many happy- good things happening, and a few things happening with no solid answers. It is the way life goes and I am a firm believer that when something is going not the way I'd hoped, that means I need to have a heightened awareness. My Grandparents are getting older and having some difficulty and I find myself noticing more about them and the way they have lived and loved. My family and I got together last night to discuss all that is going on. I am very thankful that I have such a wonderful, supportive family, who are all willing to take action and help out. This picture is an old one but I thought it applied to what I have been feeling! One of my favorite quotes! I beg you…to have patience with everything unreso...

HOPE By Emily Dickinson Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune--without the words, And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me. I have adored this poem forever. After watching the inauguration today, hope is the feeling I was left with.

Aging is an interesting thing. You see my grandparents are 91 this year, still happily in love, and quite healthy for their age. It seems though that their bodies are slowing down and their role in the family may be changing. When I think back to my childhood, my grandpa was always setting up a game or telling a story of some sort...a man with an amazing memory. He is the type of guy who could brighten the whole room...he has a huge heart, beautiful smile and an amazing spirit. And for Grandma, she always showed her love by making the most wonderful, delicious meals. Food can't taste that good without love. She'd always make sure you were well fed. Grandma has got this quirky sense of humor that makes you recall it days later, and have another chuckle. These two people are beautiful. They have lived so long and so simply. They inspire me. In December, my Grandma was having some back pain and ended up being in the hospital and then in transitional care. She was away from home fo...

I had the pleasure of spending some time photographing my brother Lance, and his friends Brandon and Ben. They went to work painting and I captured them doing what they love! I had alot of fun seeing their creative process in action and seeing them collaborate on a painting (or 4). They will be having a gallery show in October 2009, I will let you know the details when I find out. Without further explanation, here are the artists at work!! These kind of moments, where I am capturing people doing what they love and just living, creates great energy in me. This is the type of session I am looking to do more of. Think of those times when you are just enjoying life. Whether it is playing with your kids, reading the Sunday paper and drinking coffee with your sweetie, walking in the park, building a snowman, that is what I want to capture. I want to capture the day to day activities, the ones that often go uncaptured and yet add so much to our lives! A "Day in the Life" session cou...

I have always enjoyed the beginning of a new year...it refreshens me. I do not long to make resolutions because I don't feel there is anything to resolve. I do yearn to be a better person day after day and year after year. I do yearn to be a healthier me. Connecting with people on a deep level is what is important to me! Being with my loved ones warms me. With this New Year, I am welcoming opportunities! Just as a brand new baby discovers its world for the first time, so shall my senses discover the world in this new year!!

Like I said before this year just felt a little different. I did not have the pre-Christmas excitement like I normally do, but when Christmas actually got here, it was a different story. Matt and I had so much fun at our various Christmas celebrations. What I love is how much "togetherness" there is and how the hugs and laughter are in abundance. I did not miss the normal gift exchange. I do not feel empty. I feel fulfilled. I feel blessed to have my family and my friends. My life is trully abundant! On December 20th, we celebrated at my moms. Here is my mom "cheers" Matt and I Brother Eric preparing the bruschetta We had fondue! We cooked steak and shrimp in oil and then dipped them in flavored butter....mmmm. For dessert we had Orange Chocolate fondue with pound cake, raspberries, strawberries, and pears. Our 6th annual Looneytroupe Wonders performance: Me, Matt, Juliana, Eric, Lance and Brian...just before getting on stage. We danced to Optimistic Voices from th...