The View

Step up. Grab the glossy metal frame in your hands. Draw your face in close and take a look.

How's the view from where you're standing?

Is it a grand vista, awash in color and life and creation? Does it take your breath away and inspire you? Perhaps the landscape is veiled in fog and muted tones of grey that smudge lines, only to hint at what lies underneath? Or do you look out to see heavy, dark storm clouds? A cold, hard panorama that causes you to shudder and withdraw?

How is the view from where you are standing...but more importantly, what is your point of view? Because I would suggest that the way you look at things carries far more weight than the tangible things alone. With the right point of view, every scene has value and the opportunity for beauty. You need only to look intentionally; to open your heart and mind.

Now, take another look and tell me...how's the view from where you're standing?

The Children of A Photo Addict

The saying goes that the cobblers child goes barefoot. The bedroom of an electricians child has no working light. And the painter...well, you get the idea.

Ah, but the photographers kids. They have a whole different struggle. You see, it is not the trouble of going without that they face. No. The pendulum swings to the complete opposite. You see the photographers child can't get away from the lens!

Tell me...do you think these children belong to a photography addict?

The pictures say it all :)

Rollercoaster

Isn't life a rollercoaster ride?

Our bodies form and grow, safely nestled inside our mothers womb. Like waiting in line for our turn to hand over our ticket and climb in the seat of the rollercoaster, infant bodies develop until the appointed time to be ushered into this life and join the ride.

Our childhood and youth is all about the ascent. Progressing ever forward up the initial hill...anticipating...achieving...each click of the track bringing us higher and higher.

One more click and we are at the crest of the hill...adolescence. Ah, the teen years. On the cusp of adulthood we look back to where we began, and at the peak we feel we have arrived. Only the ride has just begun.

After all, in our adult years, the rollercoaster boasts extreme highs as well as lows. Twists and turns. Moments that thrill and take our breath away; moments that feel terrifying, as if we are falling. Weddings, birthdays, graduation, successes. Medical diagnosis, cancer, struggles, death. A rapid succession of peaks and valleys, and no way to know if your ride will be short or long.

So enjoy the ride. Soak in the view from the top and cherish the moments you soar high. And when you are pulled down, hold on in faith and embrace those who ride next to you. Trust in the One who controls the ride. Believe He will never let you go too far or too fast, and that He will let you off when the time is right.

In Remembrance

This weekend, Paul and four other firemen from his department went up to Seattle to participate in a 9/11 tribute in honor of the fallen FDNY firefighters. I was lucky enough to tag along and watch the event.


There were over 200 firefighters in attendance from various departments in Washington and Oregon.

Each man or woman was given a photo of a fallen firefighter to wear around their neck as they climbed the stairs at Two Union Square; up 55 floors.

Once they reached the top, if they had the desire or stamina, they were asked to return via elevator to the ground level to carry a new photo up the 55 floors. They would climb until each of the 343 were honored individually.

You knew each man and woman was proud to be there...honored to carry an image of one who gave their all.

Their presence a silent affirmation that they would not forget.

Just Photos, Just Because

I can't seem to leave my camera alone today. There are days like that for me...it's like an itchy trigger finger :) Just some random shots to share...

I take photos of this barn every year, at least twice - once in the fog and once in a snowfall. It's right outside my door and I can't seem to resist!

Earrings

Our eldest daughter, Emily, got her ears pierced for her 10th birthday. It was a much anticipated event as she began asking to get her ears pierced somewhere around the age of 6 or 7. I remembered getting my ears pierced...at age 5...and the drama that ensued. My poor mom! There were a lot of tears each time we had to clean my ears or change the earrings. I try to be one of those people that learn from my experiences, and therefore I set the magical age of 10 for my own daughter's first experience with earrings. I am extremely pleased with my decision! She has been very self sufficient and able to handle it all on her own, no whining involved.

Having and wearing earrings is a pretty trivial act in this day and age. You see it everywhere...on women and men alike. But I have a clever God, who likes to teach us not only with big life lessons, but also in the trivial, everyday matters. What have both Emily and I learned from earrings? Allow me to share...

Sometimes it is in our best interest to wait. Waiting is hard and I will be the first to admit that I am not very good at it. I like to have things worked out now, if not yesterday! However, there are times it is in our best interest to wait. Waiting could make the situation easier, more meaningful, enjoyable, or all of the above. That extra time will allow us to be more prepared to handle what comes our way. Emily really wanted earrings, but by waiting, she was able to have a very positive experience. Learning to wait is a valuable life skill.

The other lesson I am reminded of is not to cut corners. If you are going to do something, then take the time and put in the effort to do it right. Emily is dying to wear dangly earrings, but our care information sheet recommended only wearing post style earrings for the first six months. "Mom, my friend wore danglies right away, and her ears are fine!" Emily pleaded. My response? No. Wait. Not only because of the reason listed above, but because I want to teach her that even though it is tempting to take short-cuts, even when everyone else is doing the minimum to get by, there is no substitute for a job fully done and done well.

All that from earrings. Who would've guessed? I wonder what will be next. Hmm...what could the TV remote be saying to me???