Sweetness

Bridget & Maria this past Friday at Calvin

Bridget spent the weekend with Maria at Calvin for Siblings Weekend. She had looked forward to it for a long time and was not disappointed! John & I enjoyed a temporary "empty nest" for the weekend. Haha! I jokingly said to someone that it was the moment I have been waiting for since I brought Edward home from the hospital... and quickly added that I could only say that because it was temporary ;) The girls had a great time together.

Flash Back Friday 195

Maria, 2007

Love Thursday

Beautiful to the bitter end.

Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
~Song of Songs 8:7

Some Good Things About Snow

Amen!

I'm still enjoying the tulips a week later! Our snow was almost gone and then we got hit by another snowstorm - the perfect backdrop to these flowers. I highly recommend getting some of these if you need a bright spot.

The Amen! of Nature is always a flower.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Winter Break

Bridget had 9 or 10 of her friends over Saturday night to watch a movie and I took these before everyone got there. Such sweeties! They continued their winter break with a slumber party last night at another one of their homes.

Flash Back Friday 194

Bridget, 2002

Love Thursday: Flowers

I have to say that I love how Valentine's Day is strategically placed amongst the cold gray days of winter. I had a little bug that day, must have been a love bug according to my friend Pong, so John brought home a Subway sub which included onions and peppers and olives with daffodils and tulips on the side. It was the perfect bright spot to my day and and really my week because having something colorful to photograph is a very good thing.

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.
Georgia O'Keeffe

So I said to myself--I'll paint what I see--what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it--I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers. Georgia O’Keefe

Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time. Georgia O'Keeffe

I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty.
Georgia O'Keeffe



Have a beautiful Love Thursday!

Multiple Joshuas

Bridget with the Joshuas

Well, she wanted to have her photo taken with the 2 Josh's, BUT it didn't sink in till later, when I was looking at the pic that there was another Joshua on the wall! I also love her BFF Jessica peeking from behind. And the one Josh's purple shirt against the purple wall...

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

A Home for Every Heart

This past Friday, I went to help (and take pictures) at an event for Greater Hopes called a Home for Every Heart. My friend Cathy is the executive director at Greater Hopes and so it was also a fun time.

The event was at Celebration Cinema and showcased the 2010 Michigan Heart Gallery which includes photos of older kids who are in foster care. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and money to help Greater Hopes in the work they need to do to help find these kids a home.

Homecoming 2011

And Happy Valentine's Day!


Thankfully, the blue paint came out...

This past weekend, Bridget went to the Homecoming dance at her high school. Before the dance, she went to the home of a friend whose mother had cooked dinner for 24 friends! What a fantastic time they had! I was the official photographer - wow, talk about a little chaos! Very fun chaos...

We ended up getting those poor dears to go outside for a group shot in their sandals and strapless gowns! The momentum of the evening kept them warm though!

Cold Knight!

Maria became a member of the Cold Knight Club yesterday at Calvin College by jumping in a hole in the ice on the Sem pond! John was a witness.

Flash Back Friday 193

Marie, Abby & Maria, February 2008, Homecoming

Since Bridget has been getting ready for Homecoming this weekend, I'm flashing back to Homecoming 3 years ago when Maria was her age. This Saturday night, I get to take photos of Bridget as she goes with about 20 of her friends to the Homecoming dance!

Love Thursday: Sunny Days in February

Yep, You Can Always Come Home

Seriously, Bridget looked like the Prodigal daughter coming home from guitar lessons yesterday with her blue hair.


"Thing 1"

Silly Cat

Leo was looking for some attention last night...

A Way Out

Flash Back Friday 192

Edward, 2002

and his fans. Maria & Bridget.

I can't believe this was only 9 years ago!

Love Thursday: Blizzard Edition

So much to be thankful for during/after a blizzard: warm home, husband and snowblower, blue sky and lots of beauty!

Poor Bridgie

Bridget suddenly realizes she is eating supper with parents in matching shirts.

Happy Ground Hog's Day!

Self-Portrait...

... on a bubble, on a pine tree.