Oops!

So about 3 months have passed and this blog has become exactly like my journal....lost. I had the best intentions to blog several times a week, but it just hasn't happened. This is my second attempt to do this, and I am going to do it.

The summer has been a busy one. It is the first summer in a long time that I've been able to enjoy the warm weather, wear shorts, and go swimming. This 25 hour work week is amazing! I've been able to attend two of my nephew's birthday parties, go to my grandfather-in-law's wedding (82 and got remarried), and actually have a garden.

My friend Paula is an amazing photographer and asked me to accompany her on a wedding shoot. It was so fun and such a great learning experience for me. I love taking pictures and it was just one more opportunity for me to do it.

I am going to be posting more of my pictures on the site so you can see what I've been up to.

Stuck on the couch

 So when your husband is sick and you take care of him, more often than not, you yourself will get sick within the next week or so. For the most part, I've done well avoiding that truth. Today, not so much.
It's that fog in my head that keeps me from focusing on anything farther than 5 feet away; the fog that makes me what to close my eyes and sleep for hours. But when I lay down my nose stuffs up, I can't breathe, and sleep eludes me.

So while my husband is at life group with some of our church friends, I'm left at home to watch Clean House and sift through my pictures I've taken over the past two years.
It's always been a dream of mine to do photography. Not necessarily professionally, but to take pictures, enjoy doing it, and have great photos as the outcome. So, I'm going to share just a few with whomever might be reading this :)

I took this picture of Dan when we were in a little restaurant called "The Little Skillet" in Kinsale,         Ireland. It's probably my favorite picture I've ever taken.

This is one of the little bridges on the walk to The Blarney Castle.

Bailey outside during the first blizzard of the winter, December '09.

 Matt and Brynn Dixon got married this past summer in Ohio.

 Wesley the cat looking good.

 Emmeline Leins looking adorable in black and white.

Hope you all enjoyed these pictures as much as I enjoy taking them. 

I never thought I'd have one of these

So I never thought I'd have one of these. A blog, I mean. I did one on xanga years ago, but not since I discovered it might not be the best idea to put all of your thoughts, emotions, concerns, etc... out there in the open for others to read. I think I'm old enough, and hopefully, mature enough to determine what is healthy and what is not. So, here I go again.

There's been a lot of change in my life, especially the past few months. I turned 29, got a new job, came to grips with not being 'in charge' all the time (realizing that the blessings that come with it often lead to the curses as well), am transitioning into spending more time with my husband than ever before (this is a blessing), and then realizing, that as he's only known me with the other job would he like who I was without it? Like I said, lots of change, but mostly on the inside.

I had an interesting epiphany this weekend. It all started with having lunch out with the ladies from the office for one of the girl's birthday. We went out, had lunch, which the company paid for, and returned to the office. As I went to clock in my boss said "Why didn't you clock in before we left?" And completely dumbfounded I looked at her and asked "You would pay me to go to lunch? Which YOU paid for?" She said, "Yes, it's what we do here." I couldn't believe it then, and honestly barely believe it now. For some of you it may not seem like much. But coming from my background of managing a retail store where you are paid for 1/2 of the amount of work you do, and noticed only for the bad you do, or whatever you may not do at all... THIS was astounding to me. I came home to my husband who, after hearing this tale, said "That's what good bosses/companies do. They take care of their people." That's when it hit me. The day I put in my notice at my last job was the FIRST time my former boss had let me know he appreciated me and that what I did really mattered. THE FIRST TIME! I have been at my current job only 4 weeks and already feel more appreciated, treasured, and encouraged than ever before.

At the age of 29 (which I know is not OLD, but it's older than I've ever been before) I don't want to spend my time where I don't matter. I thank the Lord for this new job, a wonderful husband that supported me in this change, and the lack of stress that now exists in my life.