A Girl With A Camera...Capturing Her World....

The blog you are about to read is written by a girl who has a camera and a lap top. I do not claim to be a writer nor do I claim to be a photographer.... I play one however, upon this screen. Everything posted is true to the best of my recollection =D This is my story, facts are true, the people are real and Yep, I am truly this blessed!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Healing to Happy.... it's not a race!



When transition side swipes me & I find myself reeling in something I don’t completely understand, I tend to shove it all inside, put on a happy face, pull up my positive big girl panties and trudge forward.  I’ve always thought this was a great way of “coping”.  Who am I fooling?
Today, I’m going to be completely honest and raw ~ if the transition comes up from behind and knocks your world off its axis, well it just sucks.


I was in a relationship, with a great guy. Intelligent, fun, nice looking, kind hearted, thoughtful and a certifiable “commitment phobic”.   It’s not me being funny; it is a real deal technical term.  This isn’t something I have ever encountered and I am having a very difficult time wrapping my head around it.  In a “nut shell” kind of way, I’ll explain.   A commitment phobic wants, desires, craves a relationship.  They want a great relationship.  When they come to a place in a relationship where things are there, at the point of “great”… they freak out.  The anxiety of being at that place of complete happy and great in a relationship, what they desire most, scares those most.  Often times the one who desired this relationship the greatest is the one that does the most to sabotage it.  They start to pick it apart and break it down, causing it to end, and then the quickly move on, or not, to the next relationship.  Another way they “cope” when the relationship reaches a comfortable, happy and secure point is they completely disengage. You may have a fabulous date on Monday, ending it with conversation about how great you are, how happy you make them, how things feel so right and how they can’t wait to talk in the morning, to wake Tuesday and you hear nothing.  They completely leave the map and you are left behind, no answers, no explanation, nothing.


I will share it is an awful, terrible rotten feeling.  When you finally open yourself up to the possibility that there is someone out there who understands you, who ‘gets you’ who truly cares about you, to have it all come crashing down so quickly you’ve no idea what just happened.  And to be left standing there, pieces of your heart scattered throughout your body with nothing to justify or even begin to justify the situation of abandonment.   Abandoned, left there standing alone in a world that was so together and incredible ~ in a moment notice, gone.    
I’ve had a few, ok MANY long talks with myself about how I’d like to “fix this” and have come to the sad conclusion, that this is something more than I am emotionally capable of taking on.  I loved him, truly I did. I do. But not in invest myself fully, to be losing all sanity along with more broken pieces kind of way.   I don’t comprehend forcing myself onto someone who runs from happy? I can’t do that.  And I’m still reeling in the fact that as far as a real commitment goes, it was never insinuated, mentioned or assumed on either of our behalf.  We never talked about it. I was under the impression we were still getting to know one another, taking it one day at a time.  I was good there.


That brings me to this day, five days later after receiving a text which was our final conversation “I need time to think about us”   YES, you read that correctly a text.  I picked my phone up to call right back, nothing. So I text and inquire did I do or not do something? To which I received the reply “You didn’t do anything”…. And that was Good Bye.    OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!
I am going to open up the possibilities for a new way of life – to be honest when I’m hurting and say OUCH out loud. I’m human, humans get hurt..  I’m certain that God uses these hurts for grown and learning tools, but today I am wanting very much to stick my tongue out and say THUUURRRPPPPP … but I won’t.  I won’t because He also gave me the gift of reflection.  And when I look back over the past 5 months I see positive seeds that were planted and personal growth that took place.  Ohhh I’m not saying that it makes it all better, NO I AM NOT.  What I am saying, is that it makes it a little bit easier to swallow in this moment when my heart is hurting.


Happiness is a muscle that you exercise and a way of thinking that is not only practiced with daily positive influence but also with a healthy sense of humor.   Transition, it is a special place that can either make or break you ~ depending on your outlook.  I tend to find myself trying to find humor in this, any of this, but its impossible. There is nothing humorous about it. SO, I intend to let it MAKE ME… make me appreciate the people in my life who frustrate me, but cause me to grow…. Make me stop and reflect on my own attitude & gratitude and realize that all the bumps in the road make for a stronger me.  And to let it make me, take a step back and realize that what we hope for, what we receive and what happens along the way are sometimes unintentional road blocks along the way.
I truly believe that everyone comes into our lives for a reason, a season. You are given gifts through growth, through sharing heart ache, joys, happiness, madness, insights and big fights.  What you do with those gifts is up to you. Today, I’m taking all the little gifts that were shared over the past months, putting them inside my little broken pieces of heart and I’m going to do one thing with them – heal from them.    A new day, it is up to me what I will make of it… and I have every intention of making it BETTER!



Monday, December 5, 2011

If I have nothing but my children, I have everything!


Here we are again, looking forward ... 2012 looking at us, waving and saying COME... Let's Make Memories!   And that is exactly what I'm thinkin' we'll do : )

Sunday, March 6, 2011

SWEEEET SIXTEEN

Fresh Pineapple from Hawaii to celebrate 16
Blake celebrates being 16
SO proud of Blake - Took the written test the week before his birthday PASSED with flying colors :)


Celebrated turning 16 by cooking our family & friends dinner - he's a chef for sure! Everyone enjoyed his Chicken BBQ Wraps with salad., followed by not one but two YUMMY pie selections also,
MADE BY BLAKE!



Today, March 6th, 2011 we drove to Stevenson, Washington to purchase Blake's FIRST ride!  He found the truck on Craigs list - did the research & learned it was $1000 UNDER the Kelly Blue Book Price - We had to call!!  Learned the fella had posted it and was leaving for a week - we'd need to wait until the weekend to make the 3 hour trek to check it out & see if it was all we'd hoped for.  Blake made the call to learn that the fella was a Pastor (good sign!) and that we'd need to meet him after church.   It was a plan... so we headed west - on a BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY!  Crossed over The Bridge Of The God's *another sign? and met with Pastor Brett.  The truck was in great shape & rode well.  After test driving and poking around Blake decides THIS IS THE TRUCK, not the perfect truck but for the price- Perfect for him, for now!   SOLD
I drove most of the way home, but must say when we stopped and he took the drivers seat, it was pretty awesome to see a smile sneak up and take over my son's face - made me smile inside & out!  
We arrived home, snapped some photos and he was off (sigh) to take the canopy off and COOL UP HIS NEW RIDE... the plan is for selling the canopy - so NOT COOL ;) and using the $$ for gas, oil change or something of that nature.
So proud of Blake   *love that there is prayer over us ;)


It was a great day, SO happy that we got to share this milestone/experience together.  Blake is such a great kid, SO grateful, I'm soo happy I was able to help him - I know he's got a huge appreciation for his new found freedom & his new truck.... Man I love this kid!

*** I strongly believe that there was DEVINE ALIGNMENT in this ....Brett posted the truck on 3/2 and left on 3/3  gone for the week - we made the trek on a beautiful clear day, and all along the journey felt that God was really the driver... COUNTING BLESSINGS TODAY big and small ;)  ****

Saturday, January 1, 2011

1-11-11

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

















The first day of the New Year began with Charlie Mae starting the New Year with a NEW LOOK! We'd been arguing for weeks about her pullin' her tooth... it had hung by a thread & she'd wiggle it and freak out, so scared that it would bleed. It did bleed, but not too much She was pretty proud of being so brave & her new look!! :D

Monday, January 11, 2010

Zooom Zooom


I'm practical. But I'm fun too! When it comes to buying a car, well I think long term, I think safty and I think kids. So when it came time to say SoLong to my 99 Ford Explorer, which I've lived in for the past almost 11 years, I was a little sad...but got over it quickly at the thought of something new (er). Sadly the car that I purchased for nearly $30,000 is now worth a whoppin' $3000.00 UGGG I was forced to purchase a new car... well forced isn't a good word, It was time! I could put $2000 into a new engine orrr I could buy a new car. Doing the math, it was a no brainer ... even for someone who isn't good with math.
Zoooom Zoooommmm
So  I set out to find a new vehicle. WOW... so many options, so many choices, so many colors, styles... mind blowing. I'm not good with choices, I prefer them be made for me... Like when buying a washer or dryer. I really truly could care less about bells and whistles, I just want clean clothes. Microwave, who cares, just heat the food. Dishwasher.. umm get the dishes clean with minimal noise and I'm thrilled! Yeah, now if we're talking about yard decor or something new in the house... I'm all over it! .    Ironically I always said when I turned 40 I was getting something FUN...keeping practical in the back of my mind I'm sure ... because there also lingers the word KIDS.
 
PRICELESS was the smile    I picked Blake up from a friends house, he walked out and a smile overtook his face BIG GRIN, he got in, spun around looking through the car, turns and looks at me "Very cool Mom, you are so not a soccer mom now"... Yeah.. I wasn't worried about that, but hey UP'ING my COOL MOM status, I'm soo good with that ;) Charlie Mae hasn't seen it yet... I'm pretty sure she'll be smitten with it, although really her biggest thrill will be moving from a carseat to a BOOSTER...waahhhooo BIG GIRL!

Yeah... lemme say, it's pretty fun...being the COOL MOM..and having a new car, That's FUN too



Thursday, December 18, 2008

Its Like Learning To Ride A Bike....

One of my favorite photos from childhood is learning to ride a bike. My dad, who I lost at the all too soon age of 5, removed my training wheels & with a push I was off...and wrecking. He'd pick me up, dust me off. We'd begin time & time again with his racing along side the bike. I'd get balanced and he'd let go..... I WAS RIDING MY BIKE. Of course this often ended with crash! boom! or bang! There was great Independence in the moment, I was riding all by myself. I needed nothing to hold me up and no one to hold on to me while I was going.... I was INDEPENDENT...
And now it has come full circle. I have a little girl with a curl who has found her own independence ~ May she always have the confidence in herself, the courage to try and the ability to pick herself up and brush herself off... May she always find her independence.














READ..... SET.......... GROW................

















Thursday, October 9, 2008





My Girl With The Curl Is FOUR!!!


















Charlie Mae turned four on September 3rd. Tradition is a special breakfast and a photo of yourself before the day begins =) She woke up in a mood... as she typically does A GREAT MOOD.. the kid never wakes up crabby, maybe once and even then I think she was giving it a try, didn't like it and smiled. HAPPY is my girl =D


Charlie Mae invited her bestest buddy Kinley Jo McAnally to her party ~LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN! Kinley Jo's Mom Maya and I went through our pregnancy's together, sharing fears, joys, movements and morning yuck ... It was special to share it with someone and then to have the girls become good friends- SPECIAL! The girls from the start have had a fun and silly bond...much like their mothers =) Kinley Jo stayed the night to celebrate... It was the FIRST SLEEP OVER... and what fun it was!!













The girls got creative after a good nights rest and decided that they weren't going to do their hair, but the were going to utilize the pony bands for SHOES.. They put the bands on and with hair sticking up were on their way to find FUN!



FRIENDS WHO CELEBRATED WITH CHARLIE MAE




Mary Kate, Bella, Tanna, Jeaneal, CM, Ellie, Kinley & Drew








I LOVE CHARLIE MAE SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

So as I looked at the beautiful little girl I gave birth to four years ago, it made me smile...I am blessed with such a vibrant and fun loving little girl. She knows no stranger and is a friend to all. She never hesitates to talk to others or to share and make them feel included. She is kind, loving and so nurturing. Her favorite activities are playing with her baby dolls, she lines them up in a row, on a blanket and covers them up snuggly. She is sweet in the way she makes sure they all have a spot and a place to call their own. I predict that my precious little darling will have a minimum of 5 children! And a houseful of laughter if they are anything like her! And I hope they are exactly like her, for she is an incredible girl full of life & love!!! xoxoxox