Photo of the Day: {Pink Beauty}

Birthday Celebration Part 2: Floating the River

My husband is one of kind that is for sure. (Those of you who know him are probably shaking your head in agreement.) First, he loves me on a whole other level that I didn't even know was possible. I feel so very blessed by this man each and every day. So, things like my birthday and our anniversary - he seems to take great joy in because it is another opportunity to show me his love. And it really is amazing.

My hubby does not like to do the ordinary. In fact, if it is something that he thinks would be expected he won't do it. For example, roses on Valentine's Day. That would be a big no-no in his world. Instead, this last year he wrote this giant note out on poster board using different kinds of candy.

Back to my birthday.... He always tries to think of creative and original things to do and this year was no different.

This year he announced that he was taking me to float the river on my birthday. It sounded like fun. I love the outdoors just as much as he does. Okay, not in the survivor man, drop me off in the middle of no-where with only a pocket knife and I will walk 20 miles type of way but in the ohhh, isn't that lake so pretty and look at that butterfly type of way. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to make myself out to be a girly-girl because that is certainly one thing that I am not. But there is still a bit of an extreme between what my husband enjoys out of the wilderness and what I enjoy out of the wilderness. (As you can probably tell by the photos I take.)

Anyway, so we are on our way to float the river. We get on the river and this transformation began to happen in my heart. First of all, it was so stinking quiet! I don't get quiet. I have four children - quiet does not exist. Then there was the fun of working together rowing, avoiding being sucked under and dying, that kind of thing. Just kidding. There was rowing together but it was all pretty mild and not life threatening in any way.

Then, there was the picnic lunch. He was so sweet. He packed all of our favorites and we sat under a big tree just off the river and actually had adult conversation and, again, we just enjoyed the quiet. It was amazing and truly a moment I will cherish in my heart for the rest of my life.

On the river again, we made our way the rest of the way down. Almost to the end a friend of ours went by with a group of people and they all yelled happy birthday to me. It was sweet.

We finally go to the end and I swam in the river for a few minutes until my mom picked us and the boat up. It was amazing and definitely one of the very best birthday expenses I have had in 33 years. Thank you Jason for arranging it all and to my family for providing all the extra stuff like dropping off, picking up, and babysitting. Love you all!

These were just a few pics I took/had taken. I didn't take my camera with me because I was afraid it would get wet. I really wish I would have once we were on the river because there were some really amazing photo opportunities....maybe next time.

[the.beginning]



[the.end]

Photo Series: {Mountain Rain}

A couple of weeks ago we spent a Saturday at one of the lakes we are so fortunate to live by.
We got their early.
And at about 2:30pm the rain kindly signaled our departure.

Here are some photos I took of the rain after we left.
{The beauty of mountain rain.}

Photo of the Day: {center.stage}

Photo of the Day: {butterfly}

Photo of the Day: {Bird's Eye View}

I have a thing for bids.
Well, I have a thing for a lot of things.
But birds are included in that.

I also have a thing for butterflies.
And ironically I was taking a picture of a butterfly when this bird decided to pose for me.
Happy 4th of July to me!

I am always trying to take pictures of birds.
But those little rascals just won't sit still.
They are almost as flighty as my kids.
Almost.

Anyway, this bird evidently liked his {or her} photo being taken.
And I liked taking it.

Photo of the Day: {unexpected beauty}

I am definitely a "stop and smell the roses" type of girl and I think I always have been. I remember taking walks with my grandma in the mountains and her telling me about certain wild flowers. Or my grandad pointing out a tree and being able to tell me the exact name of it - even though they always looked the same to me. 


I always spent a lot of time with my grandma in her garden too. We would plant, water, and weed continually. She is a quiet lady so if there was any talking it was usually done by me. But I remember the quiet moments and just admiring the plants. 


She also had a ton of roses at the house they lived in when I was growing up. She can make anything grow. She would bring home these half-dead plants from the store she worked at and I swear within a couple of weeks they would be blooming like no other. 


To this day I love to garden and I love roses and lilacs especially because that was what was at my grandma's house. Although, I have grown to love all flowers. I am blessed to have both roses and lilacs at the house we live in now - a gift from the previous owners. 


The other day I was walking in the front of my house admiring the roses. There is a pink rose bush that smells especially delightful. Cale was out with me and I told him to smell one of the roses. He did. His reaction made me smile. He said, "Oh mom, this smells soooo good." Yep. I passed it on to the next generation. 


Anyway, I am so off course here it isn't even funny but I promise it does all relate.... I think. 


 I think my "stop and smell the roses" attitude irritates people from time to time. When they have a hurry up and go attitude and I am off smelling flowers it tends to be of some annoyance. Fortunately, my husband tolerates me well. Most of the time he is super patient with me unless I am making him late to meet someone and then he gently nudges me a long. 


 However, he does get a kick out of me and the photos I take. I am ALWAYS taking pictures of the flowers at whatever location we are at. I could be in a giant parking lot with a weed growing up through a crack and I will be taking a picture of it. When my time is done here on this earth whoever gets the job of sifting through my photos will think I am nuts. Oh well. It could be worse and maybe, just maybe, they will see the same unexpected beauty I so often find.