recap

There's only one lonely remaining piece of apple pie. Football games have been on since noon. Tomorrow, with a little twisting of Mark's arm, I'll initiate "Christmas decorating" phase one. 

The last few days have been wonderful. A bit chaotic at times. But wonderful. We racked up points in the family-time column. All of which will surely be savored in the months to come. 

Though I may regret not pulling out my camera a little more frequently the last few days, I know that we have stored away new memories. Insert smile.

Thank you everyone, for your travels. Coming into our home and bringing hugs, laughs, and smiles. But most of all helping create lovely memories.

Goodnight all.

sibling love

We have a visitor coming in town tomorrow. It's been far too long since I've seen my singing partner :)

Funny thing about siblings. 

You grow up playing and fighting over toys, you have times when you are best friends, you have times when you don't get along. 

But through the years something wonderful happens. You have an unbreakable bond, a long lasting friendship that belongs only to you. I love my brother and sister. They are some of the best friends I have :)

Safe travels Kevin!

Happy weekend =)

thanks

It's a week until Thanksgiving.

That just amazes me. It seems like the days, weeks, and months are flying by. And we all know what happens the day after Thanksgiving (or thanks to the mall-now open the day of). We go into Holiday overdrive. There's baking, and parties, and decorating, and shopping to squeeze into a few short weeks. It's enough to make you go mad. It is stressful. Is it necessary?

We tend to lose focus on what this time of year really represents: togetherness, gratitude

The cold months help remind us to look for warmth within. To celebrate the time that we can be with each other. To laugh, to share, to be ourselves. It doesn't matter what we put under the Christmas tree. What matters is how we gather around it (metaphorically of course, it doesn't take a tree). Creating those moments that we can lean on all year round. Togetherness.

When we look back in our lives and find those people or things to be grateful for, it makes our life rich. We may not realize it, but we have so much to be thankful for. The people that we share our lives with, the little things…they are all worthy of deep appreciation. Unfortunately they can be the first thing we overlook, but this time of year take time to fully understand and recognize their worth. Gratitude.

Catch yourself when you're in line at the department store, when you're hurrying the timer on that casserole, or when you're driving in bumper to bumper traffic in a construction zone. Catch yourself then, in those moments, and find peace and joy in what you have. Forget about the deadline, the reason why you are rushing. Remember to focus on the happy, delicate details in life. It's a beautiful thing.

I am thankful for this…

and this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

And the opportunity to make more "this" moments. What this season is really about. 

Just keep in mind, when it starts to get hectic at the gift wrap station, or you get behind Ms. Buying-the-whole-store-paying-with-a-check:

the post I shouldn't write

I work.

Specifically, my work involves people. People at their most vulnerable moments. People trying to fight or fly. There are breaking points, learning curves. I am a nurse. My work is people.

I always shy away from writing about work. There's this frightening thing out there called HIPAA. And though it is very good and very necessary, it makes me afraid to type out and talk about what I do for a living.

However, with all that being said, it's hard to not talk about what goes on in those hours between. As nurses we see it all, we see everything. And we can't talk about it. Not really. Maybe to other nurses, they lend an ear, a nod, a "you did everything you could" when it calls for it. But others, maybe they want to hear maybe they don't. But you can't really talk about it. Not really. It's kind of like a secret society, an invitation only event. It's exclusive, and in that way it keeps me coming back.

What can I say? What can I write?

I can write about us: People.

We are brave. We are scared.
We are strong. We are weak.
We are brilliant. We are stumped.
We are vulnerable. We are closed off.
We are soft. We are calloused.
We are talkers. We are listeners.
We are each other's best friend.
We are each other's worst enemy.

But at the end of the day we pull through in little miraculous moments that represent a fraction of who we are.

I may not be able to talk about what I do, or see, or experience. I cannot express the moments that I have had that bring me to this place: the core of our human existence. We are people. All of us. And that is a beautiful thing.

I'll always remember that.

...it's a wrap

Day 31: treat 

I'm closing out this photo challenge with a some warm apple cider and an episode of Modern Family. It's been real, folks!

Night all!

BINGO

Tonight the kids' school hosted a family BINGO night. It was a lot of fun, and while we may not have won any prizes, we were winners in the family time category. That's always reason to celebrate.

Day 30: Wet
I've really been into the fall crafting lately. Seriously. New project: gooo-ing all these colorful leaves from outside and making a leaf garland. I'll post finished product pic when it's all said and done. Yer welcome.

Tomorrow deserves a "Happy Friday y'all!"

Day 29

Hair.

A girly post, but hey I'm almost done...

Really lovin' and diggin' this new ribbon hair tie trend. Simple and comfortable...please pardon the post 12 hour work day crazy hair :-)

Night y'all!

Day 28

Just for you.

Had a few moments to myself today, went to a few shops downtown. I found this by local artist Capman (Caleb's soccer coach), and it describes me in a lot of ways...

Day 27

Peaceful.

As I am closing on one challenge, new doors are opening. My next challenge, which I hope will be a source of peace for me, helping me hold up a spiritual magnifying glass and ask myself important questions. Today's question: who am I?

cabin birthday weekend

What a weekend. Visiting the land of wooden fences, winding roads, golden leaves, and crackling fires.

Enter cabin weekend. Mosey in and stay a while...

We celebrated these birthday buds...

Surrounded by this serene beauty...

We also celebrated togetherness…and making memories.

And then there was the cabin...

Carrying its own presence…it spoke in warm welcoming tones…

not giving up on my photo challenge: Day 26 Depth of Field

Fabulous views…reminding us that we must own one of these someday ;-)

These two were all smiles this weekend =)

Dear Mark,
I'm sorry I didn't get you a Hallmark card this year. Or a knock-off Hallmark card at that. How can I possibly find one that eloquently describes the man I love. The man who loves me without question, even when I may drive him half-way to crazy. The man who our kids depend on for not only their silly gene, but their 4th grade math homework. How do I tell you about the way I love to see the excitement in your eyes, even if I may look annoyed, when you talk about K-State football (and UGA now). The way I've been a front row witness to your growing confidence, seeing you light up when you solve a difficult calculus problem. How can I describe the way you make me feel proud and happy and over the moon excited every single day that I get to be with you. Where's that card? What can I say… there's nothing that I can write here or there that will be able to capture the love that I have for you. The love that grows in every moment that I spend with you. Happy Birthday baby. I Love You.

Goodnight y'all!