Pick me up

I've had a rough couple of days. You know the ones. Where everything goes wrong and there's not enough time and you just don't handle things well. Where you lose your cool and let everything get the best of you. The days when you just look forward to bed. I know we've all been there but somehow it doesn't make it any less disheartening.

I was wallowing around, groaning and grumbling about what was probably nothing discernable to anyone, while my husband opened a package that came in the mail. As he pulled out a bundled wad of newspaper about the size of a grapefruit, he slowly uncovered a small box made of polished metal and shiny black plastic.

"I got this for you because...because...you're having a bad day", he said soft and kind with his gentle smile and extended his offering to me.

I went from miserable to grateful in an instant. As I studied the pristine vintage Kodak Brownie Reflex 20, I marveled and smiled back. Totally speechless.

"And look, " he continued, as he lifted the lid that covered the large viewfinder at the top, "it's just like you wanted."

Indeed. There is was, a viewfinder that framed the beautiful world outside of my muddled head; saturated color, bold shapes, bright light and clarity. Like a child, I began to squeal with delight and so began the instantaneous shift from pity party to creative celebration.

Playing with my new toy for about an hour pulled me out of my mood. Not for good unfortunately, for I do believe that hormones will have the best of me for a few more days, but certainly for long enough to be reminded that sometimes a kind gesture, a simple spark, a tiny new way to see the world is all it takes to shine light on the darkest places.

Tell me, when was the last time you had a shift like this, from blue to blush? Was it something someone said? What it using your own camera to mine out the gems of your life? Share with us they way you've experienced your own kind of "pick me up".

Image of me holding my new muse (above) courtesy of my 8 year old daughter via my iphone.

sunday story

Sundays, don't you just love them?  The slowing down, a hot homecooked breakfast, or maybe a trip to your local donut shop for something sweet. Gathering around the table, a newspaper, maybe some knitting, a book.  Your favorite mug with something steaming in it. Perhaps a day or worship or gathering family for a meal. Or maybe a day spent lingering in your pj's.  :)   I love Sunday stories and capturing them in my lens. These shots above are from a few years ago and they still make me smile.  My little ones were really little here. (the old days of sippy cups. my youngest one is even sitting in a booster seat for goodness sake! so small...  sigh.)  Acting silly grabbing the newspaper and hiding behind it.  Looking at these shots takes me right back, I think I can even hear their giggles.

What does your Sunday story look like today?  Click and share.  XO.

Holiday Memories

When my brother and I were growing up, we would help my mother make desserts for the holidays.  She would dig out her favorite holiday recipes and we would bake dozens of sugar cookies with sprinkles, homemade fudge, Peanut Butter And Butterscotch Rice Krispies Treats, and milk chocolate marshmallow treats called Church Windows.  It was the one time of year when a silly contraption known as the Cookie Shooter came out of the pantry. 

It was always an afternoon filled with laughter, love, holiday music featuring Gene Autry on the record player, and mugs of hot cider with cinnamon.  Each year, the memory of this tradition brings me back to my parent's kitchen and fills my heart with warmth. 

Today, I invite you to share a favorite recipe that fills your family with cheer, year after year.  

the story of tradition

When I was growing up, our family's holiday traditions looked quite different from those of my friends. Our December revolved around lighting a menorah, eating latkes, & spinning dreidels. My friends used to express how jealous they were of me. "You get to open presents for 8 days?!!" they would enviously proclaim. But little did they know, I spent my childhood jealous of THEM and their special traditions instead. Especially their Christmas trees trimmed with sparkles, twinkles, and radiance.  I'd visit a friend's house and simply stare in awe and wonderment at their tree, standing tall and proud in their family room.  I was mesmerized by this symbol of family, faith, and love on prominent display in their home. I'd walk around and inspect each special bauble hung with care on it's branches. Each one unique. Each with a story or special meaning. I'd spend time asking where each one came from and what made it so special. 

Fast forward 20 years where I've married into a blended family who is now crafting our own special holiday traditions. It came as no surprise to my husband that during our very first holiday season together,  I insisted that we go out and purchase a tree with all the trimmings. During that same year, our "Annual Ornament Hunt" was born.  As a family we take time to reflect on the year that's unfolded and we choose an ornament for our tree that represents the path we've traveled together. A way to package up our year's history into one beautiful, tiny hanging symbol. 

2004: The brick building with the glowing light in the window from the year we bought our first home together.

2006: The letter 'Y' studded with diamonds from the year we were married. 

2009: The little white angel from the year we needed to embrace the memory of our Bella, our first daughter, stillborn at 20 weeks pregnant.

2010:  The pink newborn bundle from the year we welcomed our now 15 month daughter Brielle and celebrated her entering this world healthy, happy, and inquisitive. 

Our tree is the timeline of our life and our family. Our beginnings. Our celebrations. Our challenges. Our suffering. Our moments. Our joy. To us, that tree is an annual symbol of peace, beauty, reflection and renewal. It's our story documented and on display as we conclude another year together.

Do your holiday traditions have a story to tell? What special ways do you make holiday magic with your family?

Image and words courtesy of Guest Blogger Beryl Ayn Young. For more information about her transformative and healing work, visit the Illuminate blog.

small snippets

Sometimes days are long and time is short. Sometimes we have more to-dos, work, and responsibility than we even have time for. Sometimes we are far too busy to muse, ponder or reflect. This is what life feels like for me these days. And when it gets like this I find it hard to pick up my camera, to update my blog or even to blurt something out on facebook. But my story being written every day of my life, whether I have time to acknowledge it or not. The things that happen, the people I meet, the places I go, the time I spend...it all means something. It's all a part of my story.

I am finding lately that it doesn't take much to document my life these days. As a matter of fact, these small snippets of my days and nights captured with a simple camera phone are enough. This is what my life is like right now. Tiny slivers of light. Stolen moments in time. Amidst a very tight schedule my story is being written.

And as you go about your daily life, whatever it looks like, yours is being written too.

Today, as we end what has been an inspiring month of stories, share a small snippet today. Something that may have only taken a split second to capture but means the world.

Today we want to give a very special thank you to Paper Coterie for affording us so many lovely giveaways and encouraging all of us to tell our stories. We are giving away our last $100 gift certificate today. Please leave a comment here for your chance to win.