That being said, I took some pictures just over a month ago from a trip to the park with my friends and their kiddos.  And I really truly could not have been happier with many of the pictures.  A few weeks earlier I had gone and shadowed an engagement shoot with Tanis (yeah, those pictures are yet to come on eday…probably), and I definitely noticed a difference in how I was seeing my photography.

Now, all of THAT being said, I still haven’t brought myself to edit more than 2 pictures of our park extravaganza, but I had to put those 2 I did finish up.  Especially because Noah keeps growing and changing so much, and soon, he’s not going to look anything at all like he does in these pics!  He’s already so much bigger and self relying.

So, here they are.

The sleepy and adorable Noah (my pseudo nephew) in his momma’s arms

The ever growing and gorgeous Madeline (yeup, you’re right, it’s my little buddy, suddenly a big girl) with her monther’s eyes.

Mom and Dad, Sister.  Kim and Jamie, sweet bean of a boy Noah.  Minus my Steph who is off in a seemingly distant corner of the world, this makes my immediate family.  Though at times we scrunch our eyes at one another in moments of frustration, in the end – my most precious loved ones.

Talking, laughing, food, pictures, and sweet baby boy cries and coos took up the hours.

And everything seemed right.

The sun beating down on my back, flowers twisting and turning to face the light, bumblebees zipping in the distance, the taste of butter on my tongue.

It all seems right inside this moment.

I’ve said before that this last year has been the hardest that I have had to endure during my meager 27 years.  Almost self proclaiming in a way, I anticipated and chose to expect the worst before it even hit.  I gave up and let myself fall.  I stayed down.

But the last few months I’ve been growing.  Trying to.  Forcing myself.  Changing.  Bettering.  Talking to the Creator.  Actually wanting to hear His answers.

Another of my loved ones, Ashley, knows me inside and out, and in spite of this, still chooses to love me.  I wasn’t able to see her on my birthday, but she loved me on this day like she does every other.  The day after she sent me a note telling me she had been thinking about me celebrating.  A reminder of her support withstanding; enduring with me what has many times been my sadness and pain.

She sent a verse and asked me to bring it to Jesus

“The LORD said:
Forget what happened long ago!
Don’t think about the past.
I am creating something new.
There it is! Do you see it?
I have put roads in deserts,
streams in thirsty lands.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

Lump in throat, tears in eyes, a warmed heart; loved in-spite of its callousness.

Learning to wait and see for answers.  Learning to trust. Learning to give, to take, to let go.

Being loved; A fathers pat on the back, a mothers cooking for you. Notes that speak to your heart, cuddles with a little boy who’s parents have blessed you with the gift of being an Auntie to, laughs, hugs, sharing stories, listening with intent.

Everything is right.  This year will hold twists, turns, ups, downs.  But all these things.  Family, friends, assurance, sunshine and even butter and bees; these things let me know that no matter what, everything is right.

In my defence (which of course, I have) I have been dealing with some wildly time consuming things of late…including but not limited to:

• spring cleaning
• trying to become a gardener
• being an Auntie
• spending time getting my camera learning on during shadowing with the amazing Tanis Katie (see very VERY professional pic below)

AND OH YEAH, the biggest thing to change of late

• completely changing my eating habits due to some silly allergy stuff.  like, completely.  it takes up a lot more time these days.

But don’t worry my lambs! AFTER the Canada Day/My Birthday long weekend has passed, I will be working hard to update you.  With photos of engagements, babies, munchkins…personal stories and tips of how to deal with a large lifestyle change…recipes and food photos…references, products and stores to find au natural foods…and some of the general merriment that you have come to expect from me (and by THAT, I mean more stories of ridiculous workplace happenings: bathroom edition)…

Hang on, because from here (here being after July 4th of course…) it’s gonna be a ROUGH RIDE.

Wondering how to keep your hair in tip top healthy shape this summer?  Thinking it would be nice if you knew a professional, licensed cosmetologist to guide you?  Wondering where this is going?

Well.  In case you didn’t know, I am a licensed cosmetologist!  Hot diggity dog.  And I have some tips to keep those tresses of yours as tantalizing as can be!

One hitch:  It’s up on that other blog I write for, EveryDay Betty. It’s an easy hitch to get over though.  Just CLICK HERE to go look at it!

Woot Woot!

Rip it all down, but leave the pretty part of the wall

A still very, but not AS ugly, sort of endearing building with a happy wall had been hiding for years!

I decided I liked it.  I liked that someone went to the effort to paint all these bricks.  I am confused as to WHY though…but who cares.  Every morning, I walked by this mostly ugly building and was happy.  And that’s what matters.

Here’s their latest

Will Do ~ TV On The Radio

But still.  I am crazy digging on this new Phantogram tune…the debut full length album Eyelid Movies is going to be a must have for me

When I’m Small ~ Phantogram