I'm Off....

And, in a few hours...i'm off!




To here:







Alajuela, Costa Rica


I'm so excited...now I better go finished getting ready and get out the door!

See you when I return!

Can

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.

John Wesley


Considering how long I've grown up in the United Methodist Church, I was quite surprised the other day when I came across this quote but didn't recognize it.....yet when I was telling it to my mom, she could recite it to me. Huh. Interesting.

I. LOVE. THIS. QUOTE.

I think it's going to become my life focus...my goal. I want to use it to center myself when I become off focused. Of course, it's just a reference...but I think it's a good motto for life. So, that's it...it's what I'm living by. Along with all my other moral standards, etc......

In honor of that, a picture of feet....a representation to show how I am going to do good....we all start with our feet!

My three favorite little people...

I haven't been much in the picture taking mood lately.
I'm not sure what my funk is about.....but I'm working on it.
I'm leaving for a wonderful Mission Trip to Costa Rica on Saturday.
I have plans to hit the camera again when I return.
I just love capturing images, and capturing things that are important to me.
I'm thinking about some ideas....
Alphabet in a day (shooting a picture of things starting with A, working by way through Z, all in 1 day)
A color a week...shoot a picture of a color for 7 days...

Who knows what else....oh, and portrait of the unknown person too...
taking pictures of people in my daily life, after getting to know them a little...
just enough to write a little snippit about them, but to work on portraiture at the same time.

Okay, so....life is good. I suppose. I've gota a killer headache tonight.
These three snapshots just make me smile.
Cross that.
These three kids make me smile.
ALL.
THE.
TIME.

Whether it's Will calling to sing me "The Bear Went Over the Mountain".....




Or just gazing into Andrew's eyes.....and I am dying to visit again to hear the new laugh he has....

Or the phone calls from Miss Kate, who just wants to talk...and talks so much like a little adult.




These three kiddo's are my life....and I love them to pieces.
Can't imagine what it was like before they were created.
So glad they are here.....and hoping for them to be in Tulsa soon.
I can't wait to watch them grow up.....and learn all sorts of new things.

Anyway, I'm doing well....but I needed to update a little about life.

I've been contemplating which graduate program to start....thinking about doing the Early Childhood Route...
I've always wanted to be a teacher....and I'm thinking that's the way I want to head.
Oh, to have summers off! ;)

I am leaving on Saturday for a week long trip to Alajuela, Costa Rica for a mission trip.
Can't wait.
Totally excited.
STOKED.

Should be fun, and I'll take a ton of pictures.
However, I'm taking the Rebel, not my new 40D.
Hoping I get some good ones...and plan to take lots of memory to capture the time!

I'll try to post soon when I return.

Love to you all......

And, by the way....if you visit my blog, sign in.
I'd love to know that someone comes here and read it.
I have no idea who reads it...I do know that one person has it saved in their Google
Reader feed...(which by the way is the COOLEST THING EVAH)!!

Bottom line, I want to know if you read this!

I don't know that anyone reads this thing....but I do love writing it.
It's somewhat of my online journal.

Alright, that's it...I'm off for some caffeine...and maybe some chocolate too!

Night.

a difference...

a year ago today, this little girl walked into my life.....and she changed me forever.
here she is just a few days after arriving.....so innocent, so quiet, so wonderful.
how she would change my life, and the lives of others, i would not know.




i had the joy of taking her to kindergarten....she was a jumping joey.
it was the {most} perfect match for her disposition.
she was a very busy little bee.
she was perfect in that way.
she kept me on my toes allllllllllllllllllll the time.

she loved having her picture taken....and was a gracious model.
if only i had all my photography classes prior to having her in my life.
but, i did manage to get some good memories captured.
the one below was from a wheatfield photoshoot.
it was cowgirl day at daycare....she was so cute....she wore pink cowgirl boots.
(she was mad, wally [the dog] chewed the tops a few months later, but she kept wearing them)

she also had a way of capturing the hearts of others, including my lovely niece and nephew, kate and will.
here they are dancing at the air show in texas.
i think you can see the smile on will's face.
they loved her.
she loved them.
she just wasn't as fond about talking on the phone....to anyone, that is.

i could go on and on....and i wanted to post lots of pictures.... i think i might try to find one more...
but if i don't, here's the few i grabbed off of picasa.
anyhow, a year ago today.....
she stepped into my heart for 9 months...she's been gone a little more than 3 months.
i miss her. i'm doing better.
each day it gets better.
i know she's happy. she's with a new family.
she's loved.
that's what matters.
i know i made a difference.
she changed my life.
i know i changed hers.

forever.