After a long season of colds, holidays, and winter blahs, I am back on the wagon! I am making it my goal to focus on the little moments this year. Although this picture is not my technical best, something about it draws me in and I am reminded that life is not in the perfect, it is in the little moments of glory.

Fly Sweet Girl...

This is a rare thing... like a strange bird that bird watchers lie in wait to see. Or the breathtaking start or finish of a favorite musical piece. You see, my girlie likes to blend in: to observe what is happening and figure out her place before she jumps in. For years I have been watching, waiting to see the created come to be. I have been sitting by, letting her figure out life, but inwardly shouting to see her come alive. She has a great persona: what others see is very good, but I know the awesome. I see it when she doesn't know I am watching: the dance, the song, the pretend.

I take a lot of pictures. I mean, you think you know those moms that take a lot of pictures, but just think of that crazy amount and double it. And I don't like to delete any. Even the bad ones: the tear-stained, the pouty faces and the blur. But I knew as soon as I took this one it was awesome. To see the smirk that I know oh so well and be able to keep it forever. I am in love.

So, baby girl fly. Take this world by the storm that was placed inside. I will continue to wait to see you come alive. 

Today I got to spend time with a dreamer. One who has struggled almost violently in the pursuit of the possibilities. Next week will be a triumph in her life; seeing from the other side of the hurdle she has been working to overcome. I heard a teaching about the dreams we carry, those unknowns that we will someday claim, "I knew this was going to come about". Sometimes in our struggle to understand why our arrows aren't hitting, we lose sight of the hope we can receive in cheering from the sideline. So this is my tribute to one whose journey is reaching a new skyline... 

Just like the lighthouse served as a warning, it also championed the mainland. Living proof that solid rock was waiting. As I am waiting to see my new skyline, my dreamer friend is now seeing her new reality, and in her living I see that faith holds out. Thanks for being a lighthouse for me. 

Froggy Paws

Oh boys! Endless pursuits of the slimy creatures. Nature's wet sensations. We girls would rather stay away, away from any danger. But where would adventure be if all the boys weren't free? Free to run, free to climb and subdue. 

Isn't it funny the way we change? One day we are running from all that boys champion. But growing old alone doesn't seem such a nice situation. Then one comes, all sly smile on, and wiggles into our hearts so dear. All of the sudden we long to join in the risks taken; adventure up ahead. 

Here's to life and journeys together, conquering what comes our way... to the age old tradition of tying the knot and endless summer days.