Monday, September 17, 2012

TIME Out

Time is a funny thing. It moves so quickly. At this pace that most often, you can never keep up with. Time makes me remember that it is in fact, fleeting. I don't have all the time in the world - yet - I long for more time, daily.

When I think about my time left on this earth, I want to make it lasting. I want my time to not be wasted on being angry. On being hopeless. On being right. On being wrong. I want my time spent embracing every single moment I am privileged to share with those that I love the most. Because in the end, those are all you have. Moments.

I think about my life, up to this point, and I cannot even describe all the amazing moments I've been privileged to have - and now remember. Growing up, my parents gave us the world. At least in our youth, that's what it felt like. They loved us. And sacrificed for us. They loved us with reckless abandon.

As an adult and parent now, I'm forever grateful for the time they spent with us - to show us the important things in life. That the BEST things in life cannot be bought. And that even in trying times, if you give it over to the Creator of all things, He will bring you out on the other side.

These are the things I want to pass onto my son Eli. I want him to know that despite life's ups and downs, that HOME will always be a place of refuge. That God can do all things, big and small. And that no matter how bleak tomorrow looks, we have today. To live in the moment, and embrace the beautiful 'things' we have been blessed with.

I never thought I wanted to become a parent years ago. To think about that thought now, I ask myself, 'what was I thinking?!' I've found some of the greatest joy in his almost two years of life than I've ever known. My time with him is CHERISHED. And I'm forever grateful that God thought me worthy enough to become a mother. And my husband a father.

I'm thankful for my TIME. I'm thankful that I still get to enjoy the moments of daily living. And I'm forever grateful for the CHERISHED memories that I've made along the way. I never want to take another one of them for granted. Because no one is promised tomorrow. And TODAY is all we have.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Mother Teresa

Eli's smile makes me smile from ear to ear. He looks at things in awe and wonder and I'm so thankful I get to call him my son. He makes me so happy. And I cannot say it enough - I'm so grateful God blessed us with him. :)

Friday, September 14, 2012

Reflection

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...

Perhaps that is a saying that you know, perhaps youve never heard it ... nonetheless, we can all relate to what we call the best of times and what we call the worst of times - they are moments in time that seem to cover our minds, our hearts, our souls, they change our lives forever.

Perhaps the recent 11th anniversary of 9/11 can be depicted such as this. It was the best of times, as the human spirit was truly revealed throughout that fateful day, and then months, even years after. The people who helped in time of need, running into danger rather than away from it - many people were enveloped by the support that seemed to echo throughout the nation, and really, throughout the world - the endless emotion to one another of the loss of perfect strangers; it was the love for another that seemed infinite.

After the terrorists took the lives of many that day, the nation showed them they could not take the one thing away from us that still, was so prevalent: our undying human spirit.

Sadly however, we remember the worst of times on that beautiful September day, as extremists attacked American soil, hitting our country at a vulnerable time. The lives lost was unbearable, incomprehensible, uncertain, and most of all, unwarranted. How could someone do such a thing many of us thought? How could people be so evil?

Now, 11 years later, that question and many others remain. However, what also still lingers, is the uncertainty of tomorrow, as nations recognize the world's most common enemy: terror.

Remembering the terrorists attacks of 9/11 should not be merely a day, but a lifetime - to honor the men and women that were lost that day, and now, the men and women who have fallen to the cause of freedom - who continue to fight for that freedom daily.

Despite your views about the war on terror, despite your views about the men who attacked our country in such a vicious way September 11th, 2001, remember that day, remember that moment in time, remember what we lost, but most of all, remember how it brought us together.

{I took these photos on Sept 11th, 2012. This memorial is at a park in my hometown and I just felt I needed to go, to reflect. To remember. To pray for those that lost loved ones that day. It's a simple reminder that we won't ever forget what happened that day - nor will we ever forget how it united us.}










Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Kaehr Family | Bethel College | Mishawaka, IN

Meet John and Melissa. They're a beautiful young couple who just so happen to have one of the cutest little girlies who just turned 1! Hannah is a doll baby. And loves her parents to pieces!

Spent some time with them a few weeks ago, to commemorate the monumental milestone. And I must say, there were lots of laughs and lots of love. Thankful to be in this family's life! And thankful that I was privileged to capture such special moments! You guys are beautiful. :)