Love Thursday: April 24, 2008

The last few weeks, I've had an insane travel schedule -- in three weeks, work obligations have dictated I visit three different cities in three different countries, resulting in me almost literally not knowing which way is up anymore.  (The travel has also made it very difficult for me to keep any semblance of my routine in order, so thanks much to the lovely Tracey for covering for me for Love Thursday last week -- I owe you one, Trace!).  There's still a bit more travel in my future -- my husband and I are off to a friend's wedding in Virginia tomorrow -- but blessedly, after this last trip, I won't have to see the inside of a plane for a while.

While all this travel has been  absolutely exhausting, there have been a few  wonderful bright spots, in the form of connecting with some really  lovely souls I've had the privilege of meeting and knowing in my life.   The first was the opportunity to sit over a delicious cappuccino (shown above) with Andrea, a woman who I met in 2006 at a conference, and with whom I seem to cross cyber-paths often --  not the least of which is here at Shutter Sisters, to which we both contribute.   Our time together last week was the first we'd spent  in person since that first fateful meeting two years ago, and it was as wonderful and refreshing as ever.

The second bright spot was spending time with my friend Rachel, a woman with whom a mutual friend had connected me about 7 years ago, thinking that our personalities would click.  And so true:  we immediately got on like a house on fire, and even though it had been about four years since I'd seen Rachel,  it was like no time had passed.  I left our dinner two nights ago feeling so thoroughly pleased for her happy life, and her bubbly personality lifted my spirits the way they always have.

Finally, after dinner with Rach, I met my friend, Mark, who I hadn't seen in about 9 months.  Mark is my dearest friend, we've known each other for over a decade, and he's the godfather of my daughter.  We sat for hours until the hotel bar kicked us out, and caught up on each other's lives:  my husband and his girlfriend, our jobs, politics, religion, money -- we covered it all, and I was genuinely sad  when our evening ended.

On the flight home Tuesday morning, I realized how lucky I am that I have all these wonderful people in my life.  The intensity of emotion I feel for each varies, yet I feel equally grateful for knowing each of them, and thankful for the gift of friendship they've each shared with me.  I'm a very lucky woman.

 * * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.  Please leave your links of love in the comments section, below -- and check out the beautiful photos by barilynn8 and Nicky Thomas for inspiration.  

And be sure to take a moment to reflect on the friends in your life today.  Because, while I'm sure you know they're important, they're really important, you know?
 

Comments

[Kira]

My Love Thursday entry for this week is a little different. But it makes me happy. (If my pictures could look anything near the quality of yours, that would REALLY make me happy. Ah well.)
http://kiwords.blogs.com/kiwords/2008/04/love-grows-desp.html
Happy Love Thursday!

[kelly rae]

i am loved.
you are loved
http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/2008/04/love.html

[natala]

RI is loved too.
Happy Love Thursday!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atheart/2437442921/

[Sarah - Ji]

I'm so glad you had a chance to catch up w/ your friends. Makes up for the crazy travel schedule you've had lately.

Here's my Love Thursday post:
http://www.shutterbugmama.com/2008/04/love-thursday-from-heart.html

[Jennifer]

I finally found a heart in the wilderness of my backyard. Happy love Thursday!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/veridianblue/2437314389/

[melanie]

my offering for love thursday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23637958@N06/2428793668/

[tracey]

Today,I'm grateful for Love and Grace. Trusted friends.
http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2008/04/losing-sight-of-love.html

[kt]

Just noticing the love in shop windows. Happy Love Thursday!
http://kt40.typepad.com/kt40/2008/04/very-happy-ever.html

[bleeding espresso]

I don't know if it's just me, but I often have a hard time getting your photos to load, and I don't normally have trouble on other sites. Right now, I've been waiting 5 minutes and have also reloaded twice, and I still can't get the photo above to appear :(

But I do love cappuccino!

And lemons! Come celebrate lemons!

http://bleedingespresso.com/2008/04/love-thursday-lemon-love.html

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13029497@N00/2395028947/

[Chris]

It's not my best, but for this "Love Thursday" I'm reaching out to someone in need.
http://flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/2437628837/in/photostream/

[Cherrye]

Great sentiment. I love when I get to catch up with old friends. I'm glad you had a good time.

Cherrye

http://my-bella-vita.com/2008/04/24/italian-proverbs-good-things-are-ahead/

[DanaB]

Celebrating life, celebrating spring, celebrating love....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/windowswideopen/2437224019/

~~

[mel from freak parade]

This Love Thursday, I managed to catch a shot with my mom and my daughter. It may not be the most perfect shot, but I love it, because my mom almost never allows her picture to be taken.

Happy Love Thursday. :)

http://flickr.com/photos/muckyyuck/2438616132/

[Leslie]

This week I found love in my garden:
http://whatastitch.blogspot.com/2008/04/hearts.html

[Karen (from Our Deer Baby)]

I have been going through some hard times in my personal life, but every time I have a hard time, one of my friends reaches out and touches me with some lovely love.

Yesterday was a very hard day, but I felt super supported when a friend handed me a token of love. It is beautiful and it reminds me of all my friends, close friends, and farther away friends, but like you, I am very grateful for them all.

http://o-scientist.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-thursday.html

Happy Love Thursday

Karen

[Lauren C.]

It is the little moments that make the biggest memories!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sophiesings/2437810189/

[Elspeth]

This link is not a photo. It's a little video I did while at Nariva on Sunday. But it applies to Love Thursday - and Love Monday, Love Tuesday, Love Wednesday, Love Friday, Love Saturday, Love Sunday. http://nowiswow.blogspot.com/2008/04/not-tomorrow-today.html

[Melody A.]

I completely agree. I just had dinner with a friend that I hadn't seen in almost 10 years.

http://thehipmommasjournal.squarespace.com/journal/2008/4/24/before-and-after.html

[emily]

Spending time with friends is a great way to celebrate love.

Here is what meant love to me this week:

http://pyattfamily.blogspot.com/2008/04/love-thursday.html

[Leah]

Here is mine:

http://lakelinesthoughts.com/?p=603

[Susan]

I saw this at my son's soccer prac this week...
http://flickr.com/photos/suswhit/2435652303/

[maya]

Toddlers love kitties!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23558661@N03/2436118779/

Happy Love Thursday!

[Janet]

It's nice that you got to reconnect with your friends; my friends are so important to me!

I found the most amazing stone at the beach last weekend: http://fondofsnape.com/?p=1654

[cuzamora]

Yes-friends are love that you never expected. I love and miss my dear friends terribly since most are so far away. Then there are the friends you see every day...http://www.flickr.com/photos/74752856@N00/2431104957/

Happy Love Thursday

[Mrs. Eaves]

Thank you for posting this. The opportunity to reconnect with friends is absolutely wonderful.

Here's my pic for today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrs-eaves/2438723894/

Happy Love Thursday to everyone!

[Amanda]

My dearest friends are so far away... and I miss them terribly!

It was a hard week for me. Love was missing most of the time, and this is what I captured...

http://amandasfavoritethings.blogspot.com/2008/04/rules-on-playground.html

[lys]

Here are two of my love thursday shots, I can't remember if I shared them before!

My boy loves to garden
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lysrian/2421087137/

Daddy Love
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lysrian/2431347517/

[Jen]

Here here to Friends -- the ones you see everyday and the ones you see once every five years and it seems that no time has passed at all :)

My pic this week has nothing to do with friends, but Happy Love Thursday all the same!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24279798@N03/2437932637/

[LaShawn]

From my first engagement shoot.

http://flickr.com/photos/lashawn/2434382771/

[AscenderRisesAbove]

comparing friends to flowers
http://ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress/?p=3276

[Beyond A Mommy]

Nothing like the love of grandparents! Happy Love Thursday! www.beyondamommy.blogspot.com

[Mir]

Happy Love Thursday to all! http://wouldashoulda.com/2008/04/24/love-blooms-in-its-own-time/

[Kate Baumert]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-love.html

I've never looked forward to thursdays as I do since discovering the shutter sisters! :)

[camerashymomma]

wonderful photo! you always remind me to step back and take a look around me.

here's the heart i found this week in my son's snack. yum, kashi cereal!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2437380666/

[Liz@thisfullhouse]

Joining in with a pic and post:

http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/04/love-thursday-q.html

Happy Love Thursday!

[Robin]

Love the cappuccino heart! I'm new-er to Shutter Sisters and have never contributed before, but I thought, the anniversary of the day my husband proposed would be just the right time to start.

http://tranafamily.blogspot.com/

[Abby]

"Baby Love"

http://blog.abbymathison.com/

[Amy Jo]

I am blessed to have many special people in my circle of friends. They each have many wonderful qualities--kindness, compassion, empathy, and much more. Our friendships inspire me to cultivate these same qualities in myself. They inspire me to be the best person I can be.

Also friends I see everyday, but rarely do I get to watch them play, a quality we could all cultivate a bit more of in our daily lives: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetrubydeer/967615535/in/set-72157601128513148/

[Finn]

Happy Love Thursday!

Here's my link: http://grrlathr.com/2008/04/24/thursday-photo-cookies

[Dawn]

i've been lurking for a bit! finally decided to post for love thursday! mwah! happy day everyone!

http://nolegirl.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/04/love-thursday.html

[toyfoto]

http://ittybit.blogspot.com/2008/04/automatic-pilot.html

[Ashley]

my friend's kids...

http://thelightersidephotos.com

Happy Love Thursday!

[LivinginChicago]

Here's my contribution:

http://livinginchicago.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/red-winged-blackbird/

Happy Love Thursday

[Toni]

My very first Love Thursday ever!

http://flickr.com/photos/travelswithtoni/2438980094/

[FireMom]

A moment: http://stopdropandblog.com/2008/04/24/love-thursday-a-moment/

[cotterpin]

I'm loving that I get to spend a quiet(er) summer in my garden after so much going on this winter and spring...

http://cotterpinhouse.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/sawdust-in-my-hair/

[Brené Brown]

great post karen! here's to my friend Charles! hook 'em!

http://ordinarycourage.squarespace.com

[nicky thomas]

Hello Shutter Sisters

i cant remember whether i have posted this photo here before, excuse me if i have.

This man is one of my oldest friends. We dated at school, age about 14, for a few months and lost contact after leaving school at 16. We met up once at about 18 by chance and hit it off (schmooch!) but again lost contact. I saw him about 6 years ago on 'friends reunited' a website for old schoolfriends. We got emailing, we met, we telephoned, we met again, gradually we fell in love, i left my husband, we had a couple of cute kids and we got married a couple of weeks ago.

He is my dearest friend and my biggest love. Waking up next to him makes every day a love thursday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2416360365/

nicky x

[psumommy]

Mmmmmm...books....

http://psumommy.livejournal.com/112984.html

[Heather]

HLT!

http://flickr.com/photos/strawberrygoldie/2439059492/