What they've taught me

Seadra started it all. She is the one who taught me to love dogs. She did what no other dog had ever been able to do. I have been around dogs my whole life but no dog had ever opened my heart and taught me to love the way she has. And she is ALL mine, and what I mean by that is she only wants to belong to me and she does. That's the way she prefers it and that's the way I love it. She is most comfortable when she is in my presence. Seadra is 12 now and I don't know how many more years I will be blessed with this beautiful creature that has changed me forever but I do know that Seadra has given me one of the biggest joys in my life.... what it feels like to be loved unconditionally and also given me the joy to open my heart to other dogs.

Zoe came along from the simple fact that if I could love a dog as much as I do Seadra then two dogs would be twice the joy, right? And that's exactly what happened. Zoe teaches me that nothing in life is worth getting upset about. I have seen Zoe become so deathly ill that the vet thought she was in her final days and through it all she wagged her tail and kissed my face. Nothing and I mean NOTHING upsets her apple cart. Zoe is the most calm, relaxed, happy dog I have ever known. She loves anyone and everyone and asks for nothing in return. Dogs like Zoe are rare and we are so blessed to have her as a part of our family. Zoe teaches me to enjoy the small things in life.

Fiona is very childlike to me. At two years old I really feel like she is still very much a baby. And the mother/nurturer in me loves to have her around. Fiona won our hearts as we watched her endure her first year of life full of pain. I know that God lead us to Fiona to save her. Fiona can be the bully and the lover and everything in between. She's feisty yet very much dependent on us. Those eyes of hers will literally beg us for whatever she wants or needs, wether it's begging us to play toss the teddy bear, or begging to be curled up next to you on the couch. She is passionately loved by all of us. Fiona has taught us that when you give compassion and care to someone, or in this case a dog, you get so much more in return.

Enjoying the Rain

No it's not snowing here in Michigan yet. This was a photo of Fiona from last winter. I was going through some old photos and came across this adorable photo of F-Fi. Because Fiona is so dark (black) it's hard to get a photo of her where her eyes show up like this. I love this photo!

Work has been better the last few weeks. A little less stressful but the main difference is that I am no longer on my death bed. This one was a doozy. It's been almost 3 weeks and I am still occasionally coughing. Just in the last 2 days I have been able to walk out of the office at the end of the day and not feel like I had been totally beaten up. I hope I have paid my dues for a while.

When I let the dogs out this morning it was just starting to rain. I hardly have the luxury of being much of a weather watcher these days so I had no idea it was even suppose to rain today or for how long. On my drive into work this morning the radio said we were going to get more than 2 inches of rain.... yeah right. Well I guess they weren't kidding. It has poured all day today, a cold biting completely sideways raining. The wind is wild! And since I also do not have the luxury of staying home on this type of day curled up under blankets with a good book, I made the best of it anyway.

I have a wonderful big window in my office. Unfortunately my desk is set up so my back faces the window, which is probably a good thing or I would be day dreaming out the window all day. And also unfortunately my window overlooks a parking lot, a tattoo parlor, a Chinese restaurant, and a Christian book store (how's that for a combination!). I'm not complaining... most of the people in our office do not even have a window in their offices. Anyway... every few hours I'd turn my chair around and stare out at the rain. I'd watch people running to their cars, I watched umbrellas turn inside out, I watched the rain beating on my window. I've learned that I function much better if I take those little 5 minute breathers. My job can be so frantic that those 5 minutes are lifesavers for me. Even if my window doesn't overlook a beautiful stream with birds frolicking around (do birds frolic?) I'm making the best of it!

We've had wonderful weather this fall. For weeks we've had above average temps but now it seems fall has surely arrived. And I'm OK with that. I'm ready to move on to cooler slower days. We broke out the heating blanket for the bed this week and as we speak I have a pre-heated bed waiting for me upstairs. I love it!

Have a wonderful week.... and take 5 minutes to enjoy the rain outside your window.

It's been one of those weeks....

Sunday night it started. I could feel the body aches and sore throat coming on. Sure enough by Monday morning it was full blown. A raging sore throat and feverish. It was "the week" at work where we go live on a new computer software system and there was no possible way I could stay home. My thought was that I would go in for a few hours and then leave. That was my thought everyday this week but did it happen? Of course not. I walked out at the end of the day after working anywhere from 9 to 11 hours each day. By Wednesday it had all settled into my chest and I was a coughing maniac. It never failed..... the minute I would get on the phone with someone I would go into a coughing fit and have to hang up the phone... totally embarrassing.

The stress of the new computer software system is about to put our whole office over the edge. Especially the doctors. I won't go into details but it is not good!

By Friday I was beyond my limits. As I was getting ready to drag myself out the door on Friday morning, for yet another day in paradise, Craig was getting ready to go on a motorcycle road trip with a bunch of his buddies. They were heading north on a fall color tour and the weather couldn't have been better for it. What I wouldn't have given to go along. I wasn't very nice to Craig. I was feeling sorry for myself. Still feeling really sick, and pissed that my life sucked so bad at that moment. Why me???? Let's just say it was not a pretty moment.

Fast forward a bit..... It is now Friday night and I have made it through the week from hell. It is 6:30 PM and Craig calls to say he is almost home. I put my motorcycle helmet on and go sit on a stump at the end of the driveway. Along comes my tall, dark and handsome motorcycle dude (OK, so he's not tall but he is mine and I love him like crazy). I hop on the back of the motorcycle and we are not a 1/2 mile down the road when I close my eyes and concentrate on the wind blowing around me. I can feel my body starting to relax. I wrap my arms around my hubby and the tears are streaming down my face. Craig reaches back and touches my leg..... I am loved and safe.

A Walk on the Beach

Living in beautiful southwest Michigan we are never more than a few minutes away from Lake Michigan. Yet we only visit the beach a few times a year. We took Zoe with us a few weeks ago. Zoe is 8 years old and this was the first time we ever took her to a beach. She loved it.

More than anything else I think she enjoyed the attention of being the only dog without Fiona and Seadra to compete with.

This was my favorite photo! Love that dog!

The Beauty That Surrounds Me

In the adult Sunday school class this morning we talked about different types of prayer. Pastor Jeff also talked about it during the sermon. I pray, I talk to God but there are so many different ways to pray. I like to think of my photography as a way of prayer and worship. Not the photos themselves but the act of taking them and how grateful I feel when I'm taking them. It's the beauty I see through the viewfinder, whether it's a bird, a flower, my dogs or my family I am so grateful for it all. When I see things that make me happy I know they are gifts from God.

When I don't take the time to reflect on the beauty around me and appreciate all that surrounds me I become anxious and stressed. When I take the time be aware and conscious of it, a peace surrounds me. A peace that is a gift from God.

Take time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. And know Who to thank.

Time well spent.....

I was able to get away for 5 days over the holiday weekend. Of course with camera in tow. I LOVE my camera. I LOVE trying to be creative, whether it's peaches or people.

Remember those old cameras we had when we were kids? Mine was a 110. I'm sure I got mine as a Christmas or birthday gift. If I was lucky I was able to take 12 exposures to be developed once every 6 months or so. I would be so particular and stingy with those 12 photos. I would have to have just the right subject as not to waste a one. I can specifically remember wanting a photo of myself and only having my younger brother who didn't have an artistic eye for anything to snap the photo of me. I'm smiling right now as I remember myself instructing him to not stand too far away and make sure I was in the center of the viewfinder. Then I would have to wait weeks, maybe even months until my Mom got the photos developed for me. Torture I tell you! Gone are those days! Now I have instant gratification. Just snap away to my hearts content, hundred of photos, not just 12 every 6 months, then stick the memory card in the computer and VOILA! What I wouldn't have given to have this technology when I was a kid. Surely kids take it for granted these days having never known any different.

We camped up north in the Silver Lake area. We've been camping there now for some 25 years. Don't suppose we will ever stop going there... hope we never do. Craig LOVES it and I love it because he does. We stopped at a farm market/petting zoo and you know I loved having my camera there. Do you know why I loved this photo? Look at Craig... he was laughing. Craig always smiles when I point the camera at him but rarely do I ever capture him in a true belly laugh. There was some joke going on between him and Jordan. I don't even remember what was so funny, I'm just happy to have captured it.

This is the typical pose I get from Craig. I know that inside he's saying I really don't feel like smiling but I know it's important to my wife so I'll give her what she wants. Another reason I love him so! And look how cute he is. He's irresistible.

What a great carefree weekend. I tried to get Craig and Jordan to climb in the spiderweb with me. They don't know what they were missing.

We took Fiona and Zoe camping with us. They are get camping dogs. Who doesn't love having a puppy curled up in their lap when sitting around the campfire?

And of course no trip to Silver Lake would be complete without time spent in the dunes.

These weekends are so special to me.

Goodbye Summer

Summer is winding down. It's been one of the best summer for me in a long time. As I have stated before, summer is my least favorite season. But I think I've changed my mind on that this year. Usually, I am so wore out by the end of summer with all the running around of activities and obligations that I am so ready to say goodbye and head into the cooler slower days of fall.

This year summer was different. I don't think there was any less activities, in fact we've had many packed filled weeks. I just allowed myself to go with the flow and enjoy whatever we did. Plus. I've had more energy and felt better than I have in a long time. Amazing what a difference 50 pounds will make!

Jordan stayed at school all summer but was able to come home most weekends. It sure does my heart good that these two enjoy spending time with each other.

This photo was taking on Mackinac Island. Another great summer day!

These two guys are inseparable. Sure do love them.....

Awesome camping weekend.

Jordan is always a huge help when she is home.... mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, washing the vehicles. She is amazing.

Thursday we took Jordan back to school and moved her from the apartment to the dorm. It was so much easier this year. No tears during the goodbye.

I know Jordan will have an awesome year.

And I leave you with this adorable mug. A pug mug.... lol.