Friends

" Friendship is born at that moment

when one person says to another,

" What ! You too ? I thought I was the only one. "

Seriously.

there is absolutely.

positively.

without a doubt.

no substitution for

 good friends.

+

 fresh air and sunshine.

=

instant happy. :)

good things...

a beautiful Spring day

long bike rides

gorgeous lake trails

friendly small towns

having a basket for my bike

enjoying the scenery along the way

good friends :)

XOXO

Forgetful

That awkward moment, when you show up to photography class...

and realize you forgot your camera !

my instructor

my instructor lent me his camera for class *sweet

Yeah...that happened this week.

I truly believed I had my camera with me.

I remember loading extra lens cleaners and my camera into the bag.

I had thought about stopping at the camera shop on the way to check out a lens.

[but ran out of time]

I worried about the camera getting too hot in the car,

when I met Brandon for lunch.

[so parked where it might be shaded]

I even arrived at the park early, where class was to meet....

so I could explore, and snap a few pics. on my own.

My instructor had already arrived as well...

so I gathered my notes...my tri-pod and my camera ?

Where's my camera ??

I was truly convinced I had it with me.

I even checked in the trunk.

*PANIC*

Then the realization hit me...

and all I could do was laugh.

I told the instructor.

Then he laughed.

He said that it was the first time someone showed up for class without a camera.

And we laughed some more.

And then I got to thinking... what if I had known I had left my camera behind ?

I probably would have been so mortified, or embarrassed

that I would have skipped class.

So things didn't go exactly how I had planned.

But !! 

Those unexpected things in life ?

The things we painstakingly try so hard to avoid ?

They aren't always so bad.

[I mean...if you know me....you know I rarely leave the house without my camera !]

Everything worked out and it was OK.

Maybe better than OK.  Maybe even great !

good things...

instructors with a sense of humor

grace

my classmates and instructor sharing their own stories of forgetfulness 

and putting me at ease

being able to laugh at myself

being OK with being imperfect

having fun, and learning together

when you see someone...and know you have seen them before...then remember

[one of my classmates used to be leaving as I was arriving to teach fitness class. We always greeted

each other. It's been a few years.]

walking in the park

watching kids play in the park

dogwood trees

waterfalls

friends

XOXO

Hero

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere

 and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. "

Because...this is my Mom, and the the older I get...

the more I can see and appreciate the hero that she is.

I love you Mom !! *kiss*

grateful for....

My mom, and her strength, determination, and sense of humor.

For doing it on her own....

and for her grace.

forgiveness

a kind and caring son

who will teach us snap chat.., then endure the results

time spent with the people I love

 a hero being born everyday

a Heavenly Father that provides us with love...strength...and everything we need...

XOXO

Slow

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss

by going too fast - you also miss

the sense of where you are going and why. "

Because, some times it feels like all I do is go, go, go !

And it is pure *bliss...

when I say "no" to busy,

  and take things slow.

good things...

having a girls day

coffee at the bookstore

stopping for ice-cream

getting a heart rock from my girlfriend

learning how to use my camera in manual mode

wooden bridges

windows all open & a nice gentle rain 

slow days

XOXO