{Sleeping In The Forest}

I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts, her pockets full of lichens and seeds. I slept as never before, a stone on the riverbed, nothing between me and the white fire of the stars but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths among the branches of the perfect trees. All night I heard the small kingdoms breathing around me, the insects, and the birds who do their work in the darkness. All night I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling with a luminous doom. By morning I had vanished at least a dozen times into something better. - Mary Oliver

{An Armful of Sweetness}

“We are mosaics. Pieces of light, love, history, stars... Glued together with magic and music and words.” ― Anita Krizzan I just love everything about this picture taken at my sister's wedding. Grandpa holding his sweet, curly headed cutie tight in his arms. Sharing with her a special moment. Her eyes glued with the 3 year old wonder on something as simple as a jingle bell. People are mosaics and just beautiful. I tear up a tad, feeling lucky enough to record a moment as perfect as this one.

{Tap Tap}

“To be great, be whole; Exclude nothing, exaggerate nothing that is not you. Be whole in everything. Put all you are Into the smallest thing you do. So, in each lake, the moon shines with splendor Because it blooms up above.” ― Fernando Pessoa, Poems of Fernando Pessoa

{On this Thursday}

Oh life. Thank you for your beauty. Thank you for reminding me how lucky we are to be part of something so big-Tyler Knott Gregson I'm coming to a place where I am more solid in my belief of something larger than myself that guides the universe. It's something I've always looked for, being of the more sensitive nature. There have been times where I have written anything off. It brought moments of sadness and feeling as if I was working through the motions. Something would always happen that would renew my faith. When I stand in faith, the light enters and so does purpose. Most days than not I believe in a God and/or a Universal Force that is Love. Past that I can't say or define what it could be. But it's there and I'm so grateful.

{Shine On}

“Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.” ― Rumi Festive Holiday Bokeh is what I'm grateful for today. I would also say that this picture might be a good visual for how my brain works. More specifically a brain that just finished working at a crazy busy flower shop the day before Thanksgiving. Yowza! Lots of exciting energy filled the ail. A day full of hard work and celebration.

{Giggles All Around}

“I cannot stress enough that the answer to life's questions is often in people's faces. Try putting your iPhones down once in a while, and look in people's faces. People's faces will tell you amazing things. Like if they are angry, or nauseous or asleep.” ― Amy Poehler I'm thankful for this charming, considerate, sweet and funny boy I call my son. He is more than capable of making countless faces, ranging from puppy dog eyes sad to laughing hyena joy! He is quite expressive with his face to the point of exaggeration at times. Oh..... And the dimples...I could eat up those dimples for dinner they are so precious. In general I think peoples faces are amazing complex and interesting. I could be partial as a photographer, but I think it's because faces tell stories. And I love a good story.

{Hug it out}

“I promise if you keep searching for everything beautiful in this world, you will eventually become it.” ― Tyler Kent White I am thankful for and a big fan of hugs, both giving and receiving. There is a big emphasis on touch and hugs with child development in the early years. Then it seems to trail off and become less important. I love to hug my children, even now as they are older and it could be considered embarrassing. When I worked with the little ones at the YMCA, the kids were hug magnets. Everything warranted a hug. It was sweet, even on the days where it was overwhelming. Hugs release the feel good hormone oxytocin. When done appropriately...I see no reason not to try to hug more:) And one last plug for hugs... They are particularly awesome in the winter to warm you up AND to make you feel special...