Ah-ha

I've got a startling revelation for you. Are you ready for this?

Just because I have decided to do something, or to behave in a certain way, doesn't mean the rest of the world has made the same choice.

Soak it in.

It is not the world according to me.

Shocking, isn't it?!?

No, but seriously, it doesn't surprise me when someone takes their coffee differently than mine...or they order something else from the menu at a restaurant, listen to another genre of music, drive a different car, pursue a dissimilar line of work, etc. So why does it bother me - or even make me grouchy - when I make a friendly gesture to a stranger and they don't return it. I wave and smile, they look the other way. I stop for someone to cross the road and they refuse to acknowledge me. (Of course this doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes the people I encounter respond very kindly.) But I found myself grumbling and feeling offended when people didn't respond the way I thought they should.

And then the "ah-ha" moment.

The only response I get to choose - the only actions I get to dictate - are my own. I never signed a contract with the rest of the world stating, "I will behave this way, and then you are required by law to respond in such a way that is pleasing to me." Are my convictions so weak that a few undesirable responses are going to cause me to behave in another way all together? I hope not. Afterall, I wouldn't feel obligated to order the same thing as the person in line behind me at Starbucks. They're getting an americano? Good for them. I like the non-fat white mocha. That's my choice and I'm the one who will be drinking it.

Dandelion Wishes

I know blowing soft, white dandelions just spreds the seeds...but I have never been able to grow up where that is concerned. They are fluffy and actually quite beautiful to look at. It's magical how they scatter and float on the breeze with a simple puff of air, releasing a wish out onto the wings of possiblity.

Take A Seven-Year Old Boy Out For A Family Photo

Take a boy - a seven-year old boy - out for some family photos and if you are lucky you will get a few genuine smiles. (If you are lucky AND really fast on the shutter button, that is!) Mostly, however, when you take a seven-year old boy out for family pictures, you will come home with a lot of funny faces...

and some pretend scenes of crashing and/or falling.

And if you think a good backdrop for those family photos would be a local river, then be prepared for the lure of the idle rocks and the rushing water to be more tempting than a seven-year old boy can stand! All those rocks...just sitting there begging to be thrown...followed by the satisfying 'plunk' and splash when they hit the water. Why pose and smile (boring!) when all that fun is waiting to be had?!?

But don't be surprised, oh photographer with the best intentions, when the little boy fun gets slightly out of control. Afterall, boys will be boys, and a little fun is always sweetened when there is a dash of risk involved! Risk like climbing onto a boulder that extends out into the river, and creeping over to see how much farther he can throw a rock from the edge...when unexpectedly...

SPLASH! Goes the little boy himself.

He will be sorry and remorseful at first, but more for the cold, uncomforable clothes and the fun that was ruined; less for the abrupt (and soggy) end to the quest for that illusive family photo. You, photographer, may grieve the loss of the nicely put together outfit and combed hair, but you'll find that the boy will recover quickly and make the most of the situation!

Then, without another thought, that boy will climb back onto the bank to resume the fun...wet or dry.

Yep. Cause there's never a boring or hum-drum picture to be had when you take a seven-year old boy out for a family photo.

Give It A Try

I am an admitted photo junky. (grin) No surprise there for anyone who knows me or reads this blog! And as such, I spend time online every week looking at flickr and photography blogs. I recently stumbled across a happy marriage of the two. Allow me to introduce Madeline Bea. In my humble opinion, her photography is beautiful. What is more, she seems to be an extemely real wife and mommy. But my specific reason for bringing her up is because she posts a regular feature on her blog called Realities & Blessings; and it's something I'd like to try over here on my own little blog. It is an honest, no frills statement about something going on in life - that's the reality side - followed by a positive, silver-lining type of comment on the same statement - which is where the blessing part comes in. In essence, it's all about being a glass half-full type of person and acknowledging that God can use all things together for good. So indulge me while I give it a try...

REALITY: A wet and gray weather forecast is stretching out before us this week
BLESSING: Around here, it's usually just a drizzle that won't soak you, even if you do get caught outside. Plus, there is often a window or two in each day when the clouds part and the sun peaks through. I had a moment like that this morning that I was able to squeeze my run into. AND...we have beautiful, lush grassy yards and flowers popping up everywhere thanks to those same rains.

REALITY: My floor is in a perpetual state of needing to be swept.
BLESSING: I am blessed with three active kids who are learning to be independent. Their being able to get up and see to their own breakfast is worth the crumbs on the table and the cheerios on the floor.

REALITY: Our house has been on the market for over a month with no bites on it yet.
BLESSING: We aren't on a time frame. We really have a year (or more) to see what will happen. I wanted the kids to be able to finish out the school year in their current classes, anyway, so this saves me from driving them in daily from who knows where. Plus, I figure God is using this time to line up the next house He has for us. Maybe that house hasn't been listed yet, or perhaps it's on the market now and the price will have gone down by the time we are ready to purchase. Oh, and truth be told, we needed this extra time to button up the baseboard trim in the closets!

That's all for me (for now). Thanks Maegan, aka Madeline Bea, for such a great idea. I think a little more time spent on being thankful and positive does wonders for a person's outlook. Happy Tuesday everyone!

A Glimpse of Sun

The mud puddles have evaporated and the rain clouds have moved on, leaving us to enjoy a few blissfully sunny spring days. The kind that beckon you out into warm golden rays and leave your nose kissed with pink. Days that provide glorious climbing trees, beautifully covered in April blooms...

And quiet, relaxing moments, stretched out in the sun.

I know the rain will make its way back (and at some point I will HAVE to stop blogging spring photos!), but until then I will take each blue sky day gratefully. Let the sun shine in!

Spring's In Bloom

Here are a few more spring-time photos. These first five days of April have had enough of the "April showers" (or nasty, windy, stormy, instant mud puddle, get soaked walking from the car to the store type of rainy days) that I hope we are rewarded with plenty of "May flowers". That is if the old adage proves correct ;^)

Makes Me Happy

I took this picture today...and it reminds me why I enjoy photography. It's just a flower from a little pot on my porch. The post processing was half accident, half intentional, but I'm pleased with the result.

Simple beauty right outside my own front door. It makes me happy :)