Life

Life. 

It's the main word of this blog,

the foundation of my photography business,

it's what I believe in 

appreciating deeply, living fully.

I've posted recently about loving the outtakes of life and even more recently about the local marvelous mayhem of our household...

but thought I'd share just a little rundown of the way our life is. 

And sometimes words aren't quite enough, 

so I'll include a few (okay, more than a few...) visuals for support.

Our day starts at different times around here. On a good day, when J wakes me up before my alarm gets pounded, I'll fill my largest coffee mug, rock, nurse and browse the social networks in a quiet and dark baby room. Might even get to pin a few beautiful crafts that I know I'll actually never do. 

I really like when this happens because then I usually get a few more silent hours which might be filled with editing or reading or writing or music or all of the above...but always coffee. 

Always.

Coffee.

Any questions as to why? 

Didn't think so.

And soon enough it's seven, or a little before and someone usually cryin' "Mama?" from a crib, closely followed by a little higher pitched, "Tristan?" and then it's me jumping into the closet for real clothes and the hubs down the hall for diaper changes, teeth brushing, sock digging and sending some munchkins down the stairs for toast and fruit or waffles and applesauce or oatmeal and whatever might be moldless from the fridge.

If I'm feeling in good spirits, I try to Target-sack up a lunch for the business man of the home but always make sure to smooch him good before he's handsomely out the door.

He always gets at least four every morning. 

Not many men get four smooches every morning.

He's got it good.

At least that's what I tell him.

And then it's a sweaty workout, perhaps a grocery trip, sometimes a playdate, always at least one nap or attempt at one, breakfast dishes are joined by lunch's, some book time, some play time, always Legos, and then it's the hour of two of three in bed. 

Sleep, quiet...negotiable. 

But the location, bed, is not. 

And I run through the shower. I have a thing, I have to shower and have to get the mascara on. It's a thing, it's true. But then it's a run, run through the house looking for the matches to shoes, the hamper for clean and dirty clothes, always more dirty than clean, might take a moment for a phone call, might chop some onion or fry some burger, might dig out the Crockpot or nix it all and plan out my takeout order for the evening...another batch of smiles to edit, might sneak some chocolate... everything else is burning calories I tell myself. 

Because soon enough...my life is awake again or just plain done staying in one spot...

And it's back to the legos and books and discipline and juggling and refereeing that is my so very beautiful life.
Ah.
It's a beautiful thing living life.

...Hope you all are enjoying, appreciating, living fully your  own beautiful life today...

(embracing the camera here today.)

Between

I have a friend-blogger (much different than a blogger-friend) who I recently connected with before she started another teaching year, between our hot Jazzercise dance moves, over photography, about guest blogging...(How's that for some teacher prepositions?)

Anyway, this friend-blogger is just beautiful and so very creative and has her own spot over at Draw the Line At where she shares about appreciating and creating the beautiful and creative in life...

which is what my blog is really all about...and what she's sharing about today...

When Allison asked me to guest post over here I was immediately sent into a state of excitement and a sheer panic. “Just be creative”. It is amazing how you can be an art teacher, an avid crafter, an artist, and a freelance photographer yet you still get butterflies in your stomach when you step up to the plate of creativity.

The in-between.

That is the magical moment that happens in-between the last photo you took and the next.

When I go out to capture photos it isn’t all about “hit this pose” or “try this position”.

Don’t get me wrong, that is important.

But it is also important to show who the subject is.

That usually happens during the in-between moments.

Keep your eyes open and camera ready for the in-between.

Maybe it is a laugh.

A second of pure silliness.

An off-guard glance that speaks volumes.

A transition from one position to the next.

When your focal point changes from the expected.

When you suddenly see something in a new way.

You can’t just be creative when you get behind your computer or editing program.

Creativity starts as soon as you pick up your camera.

Are you little nervous?

Even better.

Embrace the butterflies in your stomach and step up to the plate.

A laugh.

A moment of pure silliness.

An off-guard glance that speaks volumes.

A transition.

When your focal point changes from the expected.

When you suddenly see something in a new way.

Find your own ways to be creative.

Show the world who your subjects really are.

Above all, start embracing the pictures that happen during the in-between.

Them

We spent the weekend with Papa and Nana this weekend.

Our own photo shoot with them,
(Photo credit above goes to our friend, Willow Brandt Photography)

blue skies
a chili festival, plenty of mexican food,

hopscotch,

leaf crunching,

yes,

plenty

of

leaf

crunching,

and some attempts at yard work...

It was just a nice weekend
of being together,

with him,

with them.


I've mentioned before that my Pop's writings were to be published soon.

And, last night, just about nine months after he reunited with his Savior, my heart was full carefully reading the first few pages for the first time. 

Let Them Say

it's called.

The ending phrase to his highlander family motto,

Do Well, and Let Them Say.

It's the epitome of him, really.

A strength, an inspired leader but with such a gentle humility, a divine grace not able to be completely appreciated, even known, until just his legacy remains here.

My grandma wrote in the foreword composed on her first Valentine's Day without her sweetheart that they had been together for fifty-seven years.

And after fifty-seven years, she still wishes she knew him better, more deeply.
How beautiful.
I reread that phrase a few times.
Lost in the romance, the miracle of a lasting love,
Lost in the man's lasting legacy.
Let Them Say.
He did well, and we all said then, and we all say now.
But it leaves me
just pondering
my own life,
my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors,
my them.


How can I more completely, more fully validate them,

appreciate them

love them.

Really, it's all just about
leaving them the legacy I've been left.

Mayhem

A beautiful picture like this

hides the marvelous mayhem that is my life.

Sometimes, I manage to get through an hour, a day, sometimes days run into a week where I don't realize just how marvelous this mayhem is, 

but then it will hit me and my response is somewhat unpredictable. 

I've been known to just need a cry.

Or, sometimes something will just strike me as so very funny that it turns into rivers of tears.

Like when showing up for a photoshoot for another family of five, the mom climbs out of the car, a terrified look on her face with the confession that she has forgotten her son's pants. And he has none to wear for the family photos. 

Tears, tears, tears ran down my face the rest of the day every time I tried to tell the story.

Or when out the other night, two of the three in tow and a third crying in my husband's grasp, I realize he has nonchalantly thrown my purse across his chest and is wearing is as proudly as can be out of the restaurant. 

Or when my house looks like this

and I just don't know where to start.

Or, when I read articles like the following and I can't decide if I'm actually laughing or hysterically crying when I'm reading it because someone else appears to "get it", 

to "get" the marvelous mayhem of our beautiful life.

"Three Under Three"

by Paige Kellerman

It’s safe to say the general public is less at ease now that the Kellermans have multiplied.

September brought with it a new baby boy, and the certainty Husband and I have no idea what’s going on anymore. Really, the only thing we’re sure of is leaving the hospital and making it back to the right house. At least, we’ve been paying the mortgage on this place, so I hope it’s ours. The dirt on the floors feels familiar.

Also, I’m fairly sure I recognized the neighbors and the fear in their eyes when they realized we hadn’t just bought a minivan for show.

Now that the split-level is home to two adults, three kids under three and a dog with serious emotional and high maintenance issues, the chaos that was once turned to a dull roar has been unceremoniously turned up again. Because of this, Husband and I have little time to finish a complete thought, let alone feed ourselves.

I really miss eating.

The lack of energy, sustenance and a place to use the bathroom where we’re not being observed like apes in the wild has led to mental delays on both our parts. On occasion, it can take hours to get an intelligible response from the other person. For example, early on Saturday morning, Husband will ask, “Did you remember to buy toilet paper?”

A whole day will pass before I find the presence of mind to answer. This leads usually leads to something embarrassing, like screaming, “Yes, I bought toilet paper. It’s quilted. Quit asking,” at the poor gas station attendant on Sunday afternoon.

When we’re not working on remembering to answer the other person’s questions, Husband and I are staring at each other, trying to figure out what day it is and who we owe money. After we narrow it down by what utilities are on and whether we put stamps or smiley face stickers on the cable bill, it’s time to check on the children. Husband looks at me expectantly. “Who needs to be changed?”

“Who?”

“The kids. Which one needs to be changed?”

I stare into space. “Probably all of them. How many do we have now?”

“Three.”

“An even number. That’s good.”

Husband grabs my shoulders, trying to get me to focus. “That’s not an even num…. never mind. Just tell me where they went. And try to keep it together, woman.”

Motioning towards the stairs, I manage. “Well, I did see two people run through here, and I thought they smelled. They were also drawing on their hands with pen, pointing at me, and yelling, “We find you.” I suggest you head north. Godspeed.”

The end of the day usually finds us sitting on the couch and watching TV. There’s nothing like having a beer, relaxing and jumping at every little sound:

Was that the house settling, or did someone throw a stuffed animal that lost favor into the box fan?

Does the baby need to eat again?

And most importantly, how have we been watching TV for the last two hours without ever remembering to turn it on?

Read more here: http://joco913.com/news/paige-kellerman-three-under-three/#storylink=cpy

Let's marvel in the mayhem today, friends.

Whether it's absurd deadlines or crazy bosses or mountains of laundry... 

or the shattered lunch plate across my kitchen floor presently from a certain nameless toddler,

ah...

the mayhem.

There's something beautiful in it...


right?