catching up on photo challenge...

Yes, yes, I know.

I'm an awful blogger. I can't seem to keep a regular posting schedule. See, there's this thing called life, and it's pulling me at so many different directions. And I guess "blog" direction just needs a little more pull to keep up with the others.

No worries. It'll be alright...

Shall we catch up on the photo challenge?

Day 8 "sleep": this pup up to her hiding antics...just muffles her snore

Day 9 "holidays": can I just say, as much as I'm not ready for the full on holiday
marathon that we are about to embark on, I am getting pretty excited
about all the family we will see this year, including a trip back to Kansas... :)

Day 10 "kindness": finally got around to watching this movie...despite the tears
and harsh realities that can come in life, I just want to savor this kind of love:
"There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others.
Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger
than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the sir of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful."

Day 11 "friendship": I will never forget meeting Sasha in nursing school. We were practicing bed changes and transfers in our first semester....and we were the only ones that could not stop laughing. Fast forward through the early morning car rides to clinical sites and library days spent studying side effects of Dilantin. That began a special, unique friendship that endured the emotional roller coaster that is nursing. I am so thankful to call her friend...and though I can't stand the miles that separate us, I know that we will always be the best of friends...kindred spirits...always :)

Day 12 "music": with more time that passes, the more I have come to appreciate indie music. I get to a point that I can't stand the cliche tunes on the radio that get over played and idolized. Why should I let other people decide what my favorite song/s are? I like to go out and hunt. Back in the day I'd buy CD's or a cassette tape of a band and would find some hidden song in there that no radio station ever played and it got to be my own. I loved that. Now I'm a loyal Indie fan, thankful for Pandora to help me discover hidden sounds and lyrics with select "Indie" stations. Pixies, The Shins, Punch Brothers, Beta Radio, Ratatat, Vampire Weekend, Iron & Wine...Don't get me wrong, I still have a place in my heart for Katy Perry, Fall Out Boy, Kenny Chesney...and maybe I was bringing it back to the 90s with some Beck today. I guess when it comes to music I'm versatile, but damn do I like a stray tune...

Day 13 "time": I always struggle with this...trying to make more hours in the day. I guess what I'm finding out is that time is what we make it. Quality over quantity...like making salt dough ornaments on a Monday night to see your kid's smile the next morning when they're done...

Day 14 "creativity": I've always tried to light the creativity fire to keep the flame going...if I feel it's starting to dwindle to embers I panic, gather more supplies and become engrossed in a pyro fantasy with higher flames, and hotter coals. If I'm not creating within some part of myself I'm unsettled and uneasy...it's the cycle that keeps the heart warm, and the night less dark

Day 15 "family": I've always considered myself a very lucky person when it comes to family. Parents that loved and gave all they had, a brother and sister who always make me laugh, and not to mention the fantastic grandparents and now my extended family-Mark's family-who opened their arms to me and invited me into their hearts. But when I think of family, I can't help but mention this little crew that Mark and I have. Caleb and Katelynn: you have made this life for us an undeniable heaven. In my wildest dreams I could not have pictured the beauty of cinnamon roll breakfasts, fridge art masterpieces, living room break dance contests, paper sack puppet shows, bedtime stories, car ride sing-a-longs, playground imaginations, and earth-shatering I love you'd. I am humbled and grateful for it all...

Day 16 "inspiration": sometimes when I get frustrated with opposing schedules, one income, and weeks that "stress" can't describe, I look at this to remember that we are on a grand adventure....and we will look back on these days and smile

Day 17 "weather": working today did not lend itself to an opportunity to snap a picture of the outside world....however, I will share one of my favorite quotes

Day 18 "change": one of my favorite quotes...we are capable of our own changes and therefor our mark on the world...

Day 19 "laughter": when you have kids you have so much laughter living in your home...Like this bag Katelynn created, "get it! Just kitten', just kidding!"

That's all for now! Hope everyone's week is starting out well :)