thankful for...

my family


and all the love


and car washing in november


and for his royal goofiness "joey"


and good food...


and thankful to witness moments like this...

what are you thankful for today?

when your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

when your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

there you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

the dark will be your womb
tonight.

the night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

you must learn one thing.
the world was made to be free in.

give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.
sweet darkness - david whyte

ten beautiful things...

inspired by her.


1. my mom
2. dan's hugs
3. joey's puppy kisses
4. my new bath tub
5. spending yesterday with my man who was ever so patient with me
6. tribe
7. books - lots of books
8. her smile
9. preppy fountain pen
10. pain free foot!

and YOU?

back in time...

one year ago today - this was my morning...


inspired by her.

the best surprise - EVER!

our last night in st. louis we had the most horrible storm. so bad in fact that we had a leak in our room. plop, plop, plop. maintenance came to check and asked if we wanted to change rooms. we were leaving the next day so it seemed kind of pointless. so we sat back and watched some tv. I started packing and shortly thereafter came a knock at the door. I was certain it was maintenance checking to see if we had drowned. I bent down to push aside the clothes that were all over the floor and making their way into the suitcase and when I looked up - GASP! there in front of me was dan and jille!

they drove thirty hours to surprise us in st. louis. I never knew that anyone loved me that much! turned out michael knew because dan had called to see where we were staying. he kept the secret all night and I was gifted with the best surprise of my life. I got to hug him over and over and just look at him. I couldn't believe my eyes. it was just what I needed.

they stayed the night and the next morning I was treated to my own private concert in the camper van. yes! the van! they are still on the road and continuing their journey. they just left phoenix last night.

enjoy!


-the journey-

one day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"mend my life!"
each voice cried.
but you didn't stop.
you knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
it was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
but little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recongized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.
-mary oliver-
she packed up her potential and all she had learned, grabbed a cute pair of shoes and headed out to change a few things...

thank you sarah (photo) and leigh (quote)