I just found these on www.lds.org. I thought they were very powerful. What do you think? They and several others like them are being shown in test markets right now as the new wave of LDS public service spots. There is an article here.
Since my last post, the world has turned little bit topsy turvy and I wasn't even around to see it. I have spent the last 4 days or so living a very odd double life. On one hand, I was trying to support my husband in a most trying time through the tenuous connection of a cell phone. I was aching for friends, worried and unhinged, yet profoundly grateful for the truth I hold dear. All this was set against the backdrop of one of my dearest friends arriving from Seattle so that we could spend a once-in-a-lifetime weekend together in New York City. It has been very weird and now I find myself so drained and exhausted that I feel like writing will be the best way for me to put things in perspective and be able to sleep.
Side A of this Surreal Coin was the news that trickled home Wednesday night of the terrible breach of the sanctity of our church building and the temporary destruction of the precious feeling of warmth and safety that we feel there. A ward is like a family, and so what happens to one, affects all the others. Some of the most precious and vulnerable were endangered last week, and we are all feeling the shock and unrest on behalf of our beloved sisters and brothers. Heaven intervened and everyone is safe, but the difficulty is that nothing will ever be the same. Fortunately, based on what I know about my friends, I have every reason to believe it will be better.
In the long moments that followed, Eric was where he needed to be, but I was not here with him. Under the circumstances, I decided not to change my plans, so he had only the sound of my voice to remind him that someone was on his side no matter what. Of course, there were other helpers at hand, and he has been able to do what was needed and more, but each time we spoke during the weekend, I felt torn in two. The thing about time is that it passes whether you are miserable or not, so I decided to put myself back together and be where I was. So, from my vantage point, the situation stands thus: God is in the heavens; people are mostly good, with a few notable exceptions; my utter derision of the media continues to be justified; and people who love each other and pull together are the best. My family was watched over and the ward came together and had a great time at the annual Halloween Party. I still don't know most of the details because of my husband's faithfulness to his position, and I hope I will only find out when those involved feel it is right for me to do so. Because I was gone, I have been spared the rumor mill and, because I've seen everything through the steely eyes of my good man, most of the fear-mongering. For that I'm profoundly grateful. I have the easy road. It's the people I love who now have to start living in the after. I will do all I can for them. It is all I have to offer.
Side B of this Surreal Coin, if you're ready to flip with me, was a memorable weekend in the Big Apple with my pal. My daughter is her namesake because of my love and admiration for her. She was my older, wiser friend when I was far from home and family living in Seattle. Her family became my family and we have kept in touch for 18 years now. Her kids are grown and she has grandkids now, but we still find anything and everything to talk about. How I love her.
We started planning this in the spring when I was out in Washington visiting her. I've been saving my knitting money. She got time off work. Everything came together and we were able to get a hotel right in Times Square (thank you Hilton Honors Points!) and tickets to three, count em! three Broadway shows (thank you Amex rewards points and the TKTS booth in Times Square). Credit cards can be good for something if you use them right.
We had a ridiculously easy drive up to NY. There was no traffic except at the Lincoln Tunnel. It took us an hour to get through that last mile. Why have I always been afraid to drive there? Well never more! It is so easy to get into the Theater District. The Lincoln Tunnel DUMPS you right on 42nd street. Just like THAT. Our hotel was great. The shows were great. The food was amazing. I will never forget this weekend. For the rest of the story, I'll let you watch this slideshow for the Campbells Condensed Version
or
view this Picasa Album for the whole story.
Here are my Top Five Memories:
1. Conquering both my fear of driving in NYC and my fear of the Subway. Both are actually fun, once you get the lay of the land.
2. Wicked from the 5th row, center.
3. Singing along to "Let's Go Fly a Kite," my favorite song from Mary Poppins.
4. The full moon over the Chrysler Building.
5. Eating NY cheesecake in our hotel room Saturday night, in our jammies, after a long, full weekend in the city together.
And now, to sleep...perchance to dream. Hopefully not as Hamlet feared, but of more pleasant things.
Side A of this Surreal Coin was the news that trickled home Wednesday night of the terrible breach of the sanctity of our church building and the temporary destruction of the precious feeling of warmth and safety that we feel there. A ward is like a family, and so what happens to one, affects all the others. Some of the most precious and vulnerable were endangered last week, and we are all feeling the shock and unrest on behalf of our beloved sisters and brothers. Heaven intervened and everyone is safe, but the difficulty is that nothing will ever be the same. Fortunately, based on what I know about my friends, I have every reason to believe it will be better.
In the long moments that followed, Eric was where he needed to be, but I was not here with him. Under the circumstances, I decided not to change my plans, so he had only the sound of my voice to remind him that someone was on his side no matter what. Of course, there were other helpers at hand, and he has been able to do what was needed and more, but each time we spoke during the weekend, I felt torn in two. The thing about time is that it passes whether you are miserable or not, so I decided to put myself back together and be where I was. So, from my vantage point, the situation stands thus: God is in the heavens; people are mostly good, with a few notable exceptions; my utter derision of the media continues to be justified; and people who love each other and pull together are the best. My family was watched over and the ward came together and had a great time at the annual Halloween Party. I still don't know most of the details because of my husband's faithfulness to his position, and I hope I will only find out when those involved feel it is right for me to do so. Because I was gone, I have been spared the rumor mill and, because I've seen everything through the steely eyes of my good man, most of the fear-mongering. For that I'm profoundly grateful. I have the easy road. It's the people I love who now have to start living in the after. I will do all I can for them. It is all I have to offer.
Side B of this Surreal Coin, if you're ready to flip with me, was a memorable weekend in the Big Apple with my pal. My daughter is her namesake because of my love and admiration for her. She was my older, wiser friend when I was far from home and family living in Seattle. Her family became my family and we have kept in touch for 18 years now. Her kids are grown and she has grandkids now, but we still find anything and everything to talk about. How I love her.
We started planning this in the spring when I was out in Washington visiting her. I've been saving my knitting money. She got time off work. Everything came together and we were able to get a hotel right in Times Square (thank you Hilton Honors Points!) and tickets to three, count em! three Broadway shows (thank you Amex rewards points and the TKTS booth in Times Square). Credit cards can be good for something if you use them right.
We had a ridiculously easy drive up to NY. There was no traffic except at the Lincoln Tunnel. It took us an hour to get through that last mile. Why have I always been afraid to drive there? Well never more! It is so easy to get into the Theater District. The Lincoln Tunnel DUMPS you right on 42nd street. Just like THAT. Our hotel was great. The shows were great. The food was amazing. I will never forget this weekend. For the rest of the story, I'll let you watch this slideshow for the Campbells Condensed Version
or
view this Picasa Album for the whole story.
 |
| NY-NY October 2006 |
Here are my Top Five Memories:
1. Conquering both my fear of driving in NYC and my fear of the Subway. Both are actually fun, once you get the lay of the land.
2. Wicked from the 5th row, center.
3. Singing along to "Let's Go Fly a Kite," my favorite song from Mary Poppins.
4. The full moon over the Chrysler Building.
5. Eating NY cheesecake in our hotel room Saturday night, in our jammies, after a long, full weekend in the city together.
And now, to sleep...perchance to dream. Hopefully not as Hamlet feared, but of more pleasant things.
The View from Soccer Practice
October 23, 2007
Here is tonight's sunset captured, amazingly enough, on my phone's camera. I went to take a photo with my trusty sidekick point-n-shoot and discovered that I had forgotten to take the battery out of the charger and actually put it into the camera. So, I was left with a deep sense of unfulfilled artistic urgency but no tools. I considered writing about it but I didn't want to take that much time away from trying to catch up on my book group reading. So, I fiddled around with the camera settings on my phone and was pleasantly surprised to find a decent image. It really was a beautiful sunset, and every time I looked up from my book while turning the page, everything had shifted and become a different, yet equally beautiful panorama. I am grateful I had the margin in my day to be able to take it in, because many's the day when the sun rises and sets with no notice from me. So, the days when I really get to notice become special-evidence that life is still good.
The new room, which seems to be known in my head as my own Sequestered Nook (that is the name of the online book group I belong to), is just about finished. I am still experimenting with some pictures on the wall and getting rid of the last of the sorted clutter and oh, it's going to be lovely. The sort of room I've dreamed of all my life. It will make waiting for the real kitchen a lot easier. The impetus for this rather sudden room re-do is that my pal Sara comes in from Seattle tomorrow night and we needed a guest room. Normally, we put guests in the family room, but since I am teaching Seminary on Thursday before Sara and I leave for New York, it wouldn't work for her to stay in there. Thus this flurry of activity. It has been immensely satisfying to get rid of about 8 garbage bags and two big shredders full of junk. So, thanks, Sara for being a good enough friend and visiting my house for the first time ever so that I felt highly motivated to make things nice for you...I can do anything when I have a deadline.
Turn of the Season
October 21, 2007
After resorting to actually turning on the air conditioner on Friday, the last two days have been refreshing. It is still a bit hot for my taste, but I can handle the higher temperatures if the humidity is low. Thursday and Friday about did me in, especially since we went whole hog and cleaned everything out of our lower room to make way for a brand new Ikea office system. I will take a picture when I get it completely put together. It is coming along nicely and will be a real room, not a pathetic, cluttered, giant walk-in closet. I wish so badly that I had remembered to take a "before" picture, because it was bad, but once we got started, that was it. With everyone's help, the mess was moved out in about 45 minutes.
Tomorrow I start actually attending Weight Watchers meetings, since there is now a meeting at Supreme Sports Club. I am excited about that as my weight has plateaued after a measly loss of about 8 lbs. Not quite my lifetime goal, that.
The above shot is of leaves on the river. I was at the river doing a family shoot for my friend Holly. I'll let her post one of the family shots if she wants. She and her family are moving in a couple of weeks, so I was glad to have the morning to spend with her. Holly-I am torn between feeling so blessed that we met up and became such good friends so quickly and feeling completely gypped because I only got six months with you in person! I will choose option A in the name of true friendship because I am really excited for you. Thank goodness we can carry on in cyberspace.
As for my family, everyone is doing well. Evan had an awesome soccer game on Saturday-he scored his first goal of the season. His playing has been getting stronger and stronger this season. He is fearless and incredibly fast. He can keep up with and sometimes even outrun kids 6 inches taller than him. Johnathan teamed up with several of the other young dudes in our ward for Ultimate Frisbee and our guys won. He always underplays these ultimate games, and never invites us to come watch, but next time I so want to go. Sara hiked 12.5 miles of the Alonso Stagg hike (a 50 mile endurance hike along the C&O Canal that STARTS at 9pm) on Friday night. She has been having some knee trouble and it cut her walking short. Last year she went almost 20 miles. Someday I will try that, just for the "Now I can say I did it" file. I like pushing myself, and I am curious to see how it compares to a marathon. Everyone I know who's done both says that walking 50 miles is harder than running half as far. Especially during the night, when your head plays tricks on you. Sam is looking forward to wrestling. He considers football nothing more than staying in condition for wrestling, so he will be happy when Hammond's miserable JV season finally ends. They've gotten (pretty much) creamed every game. It is a little painful to watch. Sam is playing well, though.
So, life goes on, and our version of "The Office" is just about ready for primetime viewing.
Quote of the day: "Now I know why dad is always so bored. There is absolutely nothing interesting in a newspaper, and he reads them all the time." From Evan, after searching the paper for an article to take to school.
Phew!
October 15, 2007
What a week since I last posted. Most of the time was spent getting ready for Stitches, making samples, printing handouts and viewgraphs, packing visual aids and example sweaters, plus my own stuff, then the rest of the week from Thursday to Sunday was spent at Stitches. I am happy to report that before I left, every item of clothing in this house was washed, folded and put away. It was my main goal. Then no one could blame it on me if they didn't have socks or church clothes.
The conference was right in Baltimore at the Convention Center, but I went and stayed at the hotel anyway-it just makes it easier on the fam and on me. I taught 18 hours of classes over the course of the 4 days, and it was quite fun. I went back today and picked up several of my fellow instructors at the hotel to take them to the airport. We ate lunch at a wonderful tapas bar called La Tasca in Harborplace. It was delicious. I am still physically tired, but teaching energizes me mentally so I am pretty well back in the saddle of everyday life. Seminary went well today and it was fun to have day to relax with friends that I don't see very often. I still have a little unpacking to do and the laundry piled up while I was gone, but as usual, Eric and the kids did well without me. That used to bother me until I realized that them doing well was evidence I'd done my job-to teach them how to survive without me. So now it makes me proud that they can run the house pretty much on their own if I'm gone.
Today's letter from Jeff was, as usual, full of faith, good news and humility. He sent along this photo, which now takes it's place as my second favorite photo from his mission.
I think I will frame this one right along with my most favorite. You can see that one here.
I have missed reading everyone's blogs. Now that seminary has started, when I am good and try to sleep, I either do well at posting regularly or reading others' blogs regularly, but don't seem to do well at both. So, I will get around to making those connections a little at a time because I have come to treasure them, but please don't anyone think I've stopped reading or being interested.
I've discovered some challenges that my children are having and while it's hard, I'm trying to be solution oriented and not wallow in blame or self-doubt. In the meantime, the thing I feel I most need to do is take better care of myself so I can be more available to them. So there it is. Choices, choices.
The conference was right in Baltimore at the Convention Center, but I went and stayed at the hotel anyway-it just makes it easier on the fam and on me. I taught 18 hours of classes over the course of the 4 days, and it was quite fun. I went back today and picked up several of my fellow instructors at the hotel to take them to the airport. We ate lunch at a wonderful tapas bar called La Tasca in Harborplace. It was delicious. I am still physically tired, but teaching energizes me mentally so I am pretty well back in the saddle of everyday life. Seminary went well today and it was fun to have day to relax with friends that I don't see very often. I still have a little unpacking to do and the laundry piled up while I was gone, but as usual, Eric and the kids did well without me. That used to bother me until I realized that them doing well was evidence I'd done my job-to teach them how to survive without me. So now it makes me proud that they can run the house pretty much on their own if I'm gone.
Today's letter from Jeff was, as usual, full of faith, good news and humility. He sent along this photo, which now takes it's place as my second favorite photo from his mission.
I think I will frame this one right along with my most favorite. You can see that one here.I have missed reading everyone's blogs. Now that seminary has started, when I am good and try to sleep, I either do well at posting regularly or reading others' blogs regularly, but don't seem to do well at both. So, I will get around to making those connections a little at a time because I have come to treasure them, but please don't anyone think I've stopped reading or being interested.
I've discovered some challenges that my children are having and while it's hard, I'm trying to be solution oriented and not wallow in blame or self-doubt. In the meantime, the thing I feel I most need to do is take better care of myself so I can be more available to them. So there it is. Choices, choices.
Into the Memory File
October 8, 2007
The rolls came out of hibernation about 30 minutes before we were supposed to leave and rose up nicely.
The miracle of ovenspring (that big rise that happens in the oven just before the yeast finally succumbs to the heat) did the rest. We were well over a half an hour late to Mom's but no one seemed to mind. Warm from the oven, slathered with cream cheese icing, they were a lovely reward for all my worrying.
The rest of these pictures just make me smile. Just in case you think we are one of "those" families for which everything is perfect, think again. I hope I made it clear in my previous post that conference with kids is an ongoing work in progress. The pendulum swings from trying to keep little kids happy to trying to keep teenagers (and husbands) awake. The point is, we try. Here is the real story of the Nusses watching our church's General Conference Broadcast:
Here are Eric and my dad "pondering."
This is Johnathan after working hard to encase his entire hand in silly putty. At least he is awake.
Here is Sam in the final 10 minutes of the last session (there are 4 two-hour sessions). He had been awake the whole time and then finally couldn't take it anymore.
Here are my neice, Sara and even my mom getting into the hand-encased-in-putty action. This is Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty, one of my favorite products ever. It is like silly putty for grown-ups: big blobs in tins that come in brilliant, beautiful colors. I have used it for years to help my kids stay quiet in sacrament meeting, in primary and I am even using it sometimes in seminary for kids having trouble staying awake. It is cool stuff. It helps dissipate kinetic energy so you or your kids can focus. I really do use it to think sometimes, when I'm at the computer and I can't keep my hands busy knitting.
Evan and his cousin went upstairs and "watched" the broadcast on the internet but from downstairs it sounded more like they were staging a performance of Riverdance or maybe re-enacting some Roman battle. They made a pretty elaborate fort, among other activities. They've each been able to come up with a favorite talk when asked, though, so something seeped in.
So, I'm not sure if my family really got that much of substance out of conference, but they have the memories and as the years go by, they will appreciate it more and more, just as I continue to do. I would love to have an Enrichment class about this-everyone could share their ideas and we could make conference books for kids. I think I still have all my templates.
The miracle of ovenspring (that big rise that happens in the oven just before the yeast finally succumbs to the heat) did the rest. We were well over a half an hour late to Mom's but no one seemed to mind. Warm from the oven, slathered with cream cheese icing, they were a lovely reward for all my worrying.
The rest of these pictures just make me smile. Just in case you think we are one of "those" families for which everything is perfect, think again. I hope I made it clear in my previous post that conference with kids is an ongoing work in progress. The pendulum swings from trying to keep little kids happy to trying to keep teenagers (and husbands) awake. The point is, we try. Here is the real story of the Nusses watching our church's General Conference Broadcast:
Here are Eric and my dad "pondering."
This is Johnathan after working hard to encase his entire hand in silly putty. At least he is awake.
Here is Sam in the final 10 minutes of the last session (there are 4 two-hour sessions). He had been awake the whole time and then finally couldn't take it anymore.
Here are my neice, Sara and even my mom getting into the hand-encased-in-putty action. This is Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty, one of my favorite products ever. It is like silly putty for grown-ups: big blobs in tins that come in brilliant, beautiful colors. I have used it for years to help my kids stay quiet in sacrament meeting, in primary and I am even using it sometimes in seminary for kids having trouble staying awake. It is cool stuff. It helps dissipate kinetic energy so you or your kids can focus. I really do use it to think sometimes, when I'm at the computer and I can't keep my hands busy knitting.
Evan and his cousin went upstairs and "watched" the broadcast on the internet but from downstairs it sounded more like they were staging a performance of Riverdance or maybe re-enacting some Roman battle. They made a pretty elaborate fort, among other activities. They've each been able to come up with a favorite talk when asked, though, so something seeped in.
So, I'm not sure if my family really got that much of substance out of conference, but they have the memories and as the years go by, they will appreciate it more and more, just as I continue to do. I would love to have an Enrichment class about this-everyone could share their ideas and we could make conference books for kids. I think I still have all my templates.
Cinnamon Rolls
October 7, 2007
I overslept. The tradition of the cinnamon rolls rests on my shoulders and I overslept. Didn't even hear the alarm. See, every year since I was maybe, 5, we've had the same big, wonderful breakfast on General Conference Sunday. Back in the day, we could only get a rebroadcast of one of Saturday's sessions. That was it. No radio, no nothing. My parents decided to make the most out of it, though and invited friends over and made cinnamon rolls, apples and sausage, eggs, fruit salad and tater tots. I have grown up looking forward to conference ever since. Then, we used to go to the stake center and listen to a telephone feed of conference. No video. That was fun as a pre-teen. Sitting in the dark, seeing no faces, trying to stay awake. Whew. But, we still had breakfast to look forward to. That was the good part. I was glad when we got actual satellite hookups and could go and really watch the broadcasts. I was like any kid or teen-conference was something to be gotten through, but I loved the weekend because everything just sort of stopped. We could be together, it was pretty relaxed and, most importantly of course, my parents created a conference habit. I think it is kind of a pioneer thing for me. My parents were reverse pioneers, coming east to build the church after their ancestors went west from Massachusetts and Illinois and Norway. They were thrilled to have any kind of connection with Salt Lake and really gave us kids a sense of being grateful for it. Now, we can watch it at home, and my mom has kept the breakfast tradition alive. The benefit is that my kids look forward to conference each time and know that it is a sacred weekend. My kids don't love every session, and usually about half of them fall asleep, but we do watch every session that we possibly can and they just know that's the way it is. We eased into it-Eric and I used to switch off going to sessions by ourselves, then taking the kids to one session as a family so they could practice. When they turned eight, we started taking the big kids with us when we went on our own and leaving the little ones, then eventually, we started going to all 4 sessions if we were available. I did the whole deal-conference books, games, rewards, everything, so they would have good memories of it. I guess it worked out okay. They don't question that we will participate. I am proud of them.
By the time Ev was eight, we got BYU tv and could start watching it at home. I guess it is a blessing from all those years of my parents' faithfulness making conference a non-negotiable. Usually it is a highlight of our family year.
Except for the fact that today may be the first time in 35 years that we have no cinnamon rolls. I have them rolled out, but the dough was in the fridge all night, so they are very sleepy and I am not seeing a lot of rising action. We are supposed to leave to go to my moms in about an hour and a half and I am scared. I will share a poem to distract myself.
This is about my parents who came to Maryland in 1970. Both were from Utah, born and bred, and both came from pioneer stock, but my dad had not been to the Mormon church in 10 years and my mom had never been baptized. When they got here, they found a ward meeting a mile from the first apartment they rented, felt lonely away from their families and decided to go back to church. The rest, as they say, is history. I am grateful for their faith.
Heritage
My strength
Comes from a deep well
Dug by ancestors who
Searching for truth came
First from Motherland to New World
4 centuries ago and
Kept the well full and
Dipped in often to
Water their hardy souls
Then from Illinois to Utah
Came those who knew Joseph and
Understood the source of the water
From craggy fjords to High Desert Valley others came
Always coming west and
Digging a little deeper
They have filled our family well
With Living Water
That sometime ran low
But never completely dry
So that when my father and mother
Came east and
Took up buckets to
Slake their thirst
They found a trickle then
Took up shovels and
Found the shining stream
The well is full again
Kellie Nuss
2002
By the time Ev was eight, we got BYU tv and could start watching it at home. I guess it is a blessing from all those years of my parents' faithfulness making conference a non-negotiable. Usually it is a highlight of our family year.
Except for the fact that today may be the first time in 35 years that we have no cinnamon rolls. I have them rolled out, but the dough was in the fridge all night, so they are very sleepy and I am not seeing a lot of rising action. We are supposed to leave to go to my moms in about an hour and a half and I am scared. I will share a poem to distract myself.
This is about my parents who came to Maryland in 1970. Both were from Utah, born and bred, and both came from pioneer stock, but my dad had not been to the Mormon church in 10 years and my mom had never been baptized. When they got here, they found a ward meeting a mile from the first apartment they rented, felt lonely away from their families and decided to go back to church. The rest, as they say, is history. I am grateful for their faith.
Heritage
My strength
Comes from a deep well
Dug by ancestors who
Searching for truth came
First from Motherland to New World
4 centuries ago and
Kept the well full and
Dipped in often to
Water their hardy souls
Then from Illinois to Utah
Came those who knew Joseph and
Understood the source of the water
From craggy fjords to High Desert Valley others came
Always coming west and
Digging a little deeper
They have filled our family well
With Living Water
That sometime ran low
But never completely dry
So that when my father and mother
Came east and
Took up buckets to
Slake their thirst
They found a trickle then
Took up shovels and
Found the shining stream
The well is full again
Kellie Nuss
2002
"Little Else"
October 5, 2007
I was reading last night's post and I just laughed. I said , "I have little else to write about," and then ended up with this huge, long post. I should never try to avoid my tendency to ramble and just admit right up front that I'm writing a long, detailed post about mostly nothing. Then if it is actually short, everyone, including me, will be pleasantly surprised...
Waiting up
October 4, 2007
Eric has "Korean Week" this week at work. That means the Korean big wigs from LG (his main client)are in town. The firm here goes all out to entertain them and the Koreans return the favor by holding lots of meetings all week to educate the lawyers about the company. So, Eric has been gone till extremely late every night this week. It's almost like he's been out of town. So, I'm waiting up to actually speak to him before going to bed. I can take a nap tomorrow after seminary.
I have little else to write about other than it has been a good week overall, in spite of the fact that my body is hastening my progress toward the celestial kingdom by giving me my monthly opportunity to conquer the natural woman two weeks early. Isn't the plan of salvation great! Yep, twice in one month. Double points! Yippee! It happens pretty often so I might need to talk to my doctor again about going back on the pill. I actually feel worse during and after than I do before, and when it gets all cattywampus like this, I never know when things are going to happen. Okay, 'nuff about that. I was talking about my good week. It was full of happy moments, mostly shared with other people.
Well, one happened to me: I got the proofs to my friend who got married on the 22nd, and she and her family were happy with the pictures. We actually ended up with about 300 keepers. Welcome to the digital world. It is satisfying to feel like my skills are actually increasing. I felt very relaxed and free because I've known this family so long and so well, so I was able to go to new creative heights for me at a wedding. Weddings are so regimented that it is actually hard to be really creative. There are so many shots you just have to get. Not everyone is comfortable with "journalistic" weddings that avoid traditional set-ups and composition. Anyway, I took some risks this time and really played with the light and the composition. When M. came over to see the proofs, she seemed really thrilled with what I'd done.
Another highlight of the week was that I got to spend an entire day with a darling blonde...he was about 2 1/2 feet tall, and he stole my heart by playing in the sand, shooting baskets and playing with trucks with me and me alone. There is nothing like a sweet, warm-from-playing-outside two-year old snuggled trustingly into one's lap to read stories before naptime to make one remember every single thing that is good about being a mom. :o)
In other news, I got another friend's wedding announcement today and it made me weep with joy. I got to see yet another friend and her precious newborn daughter on Sunday, plus several other loved ones experienced and shared major good news this week, and I just love good news, especially when it happens to people that are special to me.
To top it off, Eric just got home and brought me this amazing looking cake from one of the fanciest restaurants in D.C. He had to miss Wednesday Chocolate yesterday as he did not get milk on the way home at midnight, bless his heart. I would say this more than makes up for it.
To close for the evening, I share my favorite T.V. line from this evening's episode of The Office: "No, let me cook for you. Cauliflower and noodles...baked potato on the side."
I have little else to write about other than it has been a good week overall, in spite of the fact that my body is hastening my progress toward the celestial kingdom by giving me my monthly opportunity to conquer the natural woman two weeks early. Isn't the plan of salvation great! Yep, twice in one month. Double points! Yippee! It happens pretty often so I might need to talk to my doctor again about going back on the pill. I actually feel worse during and after than I do before, and when it gets all cattywampus like this, I never know when things are going to happen. Okay, 'nuff about that. I was talking about my good week. It was full of happy moments, mostly shared with other people.
Well, one happened to me: I got the proofs to my friend who got married on the 22nd, and she and her family were happy with the pictures. We actually ended up with about 300 keepers. Welcome to the digital world. It is satisfying to feel like my skills are actually increasing. I felt very relaxed and free because I've known this family so long and so well, so I was able to go to new creative heights for me at a wedding. Weddings are so regimented that it is actually hard to be really creative. There are so many shots you just have to get. Not everyone is comfortable with "journalistic" weddings that avoid traditional set-ups and composition. Anyway, I took some risks this time and really played with the light and the composition. When M. came over to see the proofs, she seemed really thrilled with what I'd done.
Another highlight of the week was that I got to spend an entire day with a darling blonde...he was about 2 1/2 feet tall, and he stole my heart by playing in the sand, shooting baskets and playing with trucks with me and me alone. There is nothing like a sweet, warm-from-playing-outside two-year old snuggled trustingly into one's lap to read stories before naptime to make one remember every single thing that is good about being a mom. :o)
In other news, I got another friend's wedding announcement today and it made me weep with joy. I got to see yet another friend and her precious newborn daughter on Sunday, plus several other loved ones experienced and shared major good news this week, and I just love good news, especially when it happens to people that are special to me.
To top it off, Eric just got home and brought me this amazing looking cake from one of the fanciest restaurants in D.C. He had to miss Wednesday Chocolate yesterday as he did not get milk on the way home at midnight, bless his heart. I would say this more than makes up for it.
To close for the evening, I share my favorite T.V. line from this evening's episode of The Office: "No, let me cook for you. Cauliflower and noodles...baked potato on the side."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons