sisterhood stories...green inspiration

This month the color challenge is green.  Green is fresh & clean and reminds me of growth and new beginnings.  All shades of green and beautiful but I happen to like the minty green the best.

Here are some gorgeous greens from my flickr favorites...

1. 144/365: Happy as the grass was green, 2. ♥ Ferris Wheel ♥, 3. HOPE, 4. tea time, 5. Peonies for Sarah..., 6. Untitled, 7. Untitled, 8. Mint Bug, 9. Pretenders

Here is my contribution of green images...

What do you love about green?

This post is a part of a blog circle called Sisterhood Stories please follow along and visit my friend, Boo.

xoxo,
Kristi

sisterhood stories...if not for you

This week has been an extra challenging week in the parenting department.  And yes, it's only Wednesday.  My kids have been listening less, fighting more and have a major case of cabin fever.  We can't wait for spring with it's warmer weather and endless opportunities to be outside.  

My mom felt my frustration and shared this text with me.  I immediately loved it.  It helped put my role as a mother into perspective.  I think it is something we all need to hear and to hear it often. 

This week I came across this uplifting video. I don't normally share videos on my blog and I don't watch them on you tube. But, this one was different. I think it is amazing how much our every action makes a difference and an impact. I hope you take the time to watch it. It won't disappoint...

This post is part of a blog circle called Sisterhood Stories. Do follow along and visit my friend, Boo.

xoxo, Kristi

p.s. I wanted to share the above quote with you. The following links are for the different size downloads...
4 x 6 quote
5 x 7 quote
8 x 10 quote

sisterhood stories...

We never truly know who is 'watching' or 'observing' us.  We never truly know how far reaching our choices and actions will carry.  I often find myself just going through the motions of daily life.  Unaware of the impression I may be leaving.  Until recently.

A dear friend contacted me a few weeks ago and thanked me.  She was touched by a certain post that really meant a lot to her.  This came as a surprise.  I was actually considering shutting my blog down.  Turning it off completely.  I'm so glad I didn't.

It means the world to me that she found comfort.  There isn't a greater compliment than that.  Just to know that my words helped her feel like she wasn't alone.

I really don't think I'd still be posting here if it wasn't for her letting me know that I had made a difference.  Which got me thinking how many times have I walked away from a blog post without commenting or letting the author know how much I appreciated their words?  What events could unfold by my not expressing gratitude or vice versa...expressing my gratitude?  I'd rather not leave that to chance.

This post is part of a blog circle called Sisterhood Stories.  Follow along and visit my friend, Boo.

xoxo,

Kristi

sisterhood stories...colors of 2013

I always enjoy a good challenge.  Recently I've taken part in a color challenge started by a friend and fellow photographer, Eva Ricci.   It is called Colors of 2013.  Eva is encouraging us to start making collections of photographs in colors.  I actually started something similar to this last year but never completed it and I thought I'd give it another try.  For the month of February the color challenge is pink. 

I love pink.  It's such a soft, delicate and feminine color.  As much as I like it I'm afraid it's been quite a challenging color for me.  I don't wear it and there isn't much of it in the house...so I had to actively search for pink things to photograph.  Due to this I was only able to photograph a few things.

I looked for inspiration on flickr and here are some of the beautiful images that I found...

1. Pink Pastels, 2. Cinderella Wings, 3. cookies, 4. Pink Spool, 5. pretty pink tuesday, 6. 02.12.10 : tickle me pink, 7. kissed into a smile, 8. pink on white, 9. pink things

Here are some of my pink images...

This is part of a blog circle called Sisterhood Stories.  Follow along and visit my friend, Jane.

xoxo,
Kristi

sisterhood stories...wander aimlessly

I find that for the most part we as a society are too overloaded, too scheduled, too stimulated.  Yesterday I felt like just going nowhere, no plan, no agenda, just to wander aimlessly, an unscheduled adventure of sorts.  

Nature isn't far from our home.  We live in a small town and you can literally drive down the street and run into nature. So, we explored the desert.

Drew is the best wanderer.  He loves walking off the beaten path and finding his own way...

We found treasures...

We looked down...

 We looked up...

We talked to each other with out phones, computers, ipods or anything with an 'i'...

We wandered...and found ourselves...

How about you, are you too overloaded, stimulated, or scheduled?  If so, what do you do to unwind or reconnect?

This post is part of a blog circle.  Follow along and visit my friend, Isabelle.

xoxo,

Kristi

sisterhood stories - how do you measure a life...

{As you will read from the following, this post was a hard one for me to write.  Really all posts are hard for me but, this was exceptionally hard.  I wrote this 2 years ago (Aug. 2010) and never posted it.  I have a problem writing things and never posting. Here I am two years later mustering the guts to push the publish button.  One of my goals this year is to take more risks.  And letting people get to know me better is a risk.  I'm risking that through my writing.  So here we go...}

I've had a difficult time writing this post.  I've written, re-written, edited and re-edited so many times over the past couple of weeks. The words don't fit or do justice. I have something to say but, it's too hard to say.

My father-in-law, Gary, passed away three weeks ago after a long and courageous battle with cancer. My sister-in-law, Kourtney, and I were given the honor of gathering and compiling photos from his life and making a display for the funeral.  While compiling pictures I was challenged with how to show an ENTIRE life.  How do I show everything he accomplished, everyone he loved, what he valued, his personality, his hobbies, his life's profession, his character, and the lives he touched.  Ultimately...how do you measure a life?

“The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

Schooling, hobbies, marriage, family, awards, church service, organizations contributed to, humanitarian efforts, etc. all could be counted as accomplishments.  In today's society a marriage of 40+ years and children who still like you are major accomplishments.  Gary cared about family and was always there for the important things in our lives:  weddings, birth of Ashley, bringing home of Jaden and Emma, adoption finalization of Jaden and Emma, birthdays, holidays, baby blessings, baptisms, and just being there for us when we needed him.  

The one thing that stands out about my father-in-law is that...everyone felt as if they were his best friend.  He was kind, generous, always willing to help.  He didn't speak ill of others and always tried to see the best in them.

When it all comes down to it I believe a life is measured by ones legacy...what kind of impact they had on the world.  I wish that I could've shown in pictures the countless hours and ways he served...instead it was shown by the amount of people who attended his viewing and funeral to pay their respects to a man who touched their lives.  So many good things were said and many thanks paid to his children and wife for the man he was.

Relationships were so very important to him so we made sections:
Youth, Brother, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Friend and Hobbies

Here are pictures from two of the displays...

Gary is a wonderful example of a life well lived and one who will be always remembered by the kind man he was.  I truly hope that my legacy is one of kindness, friendship, service, love and family.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said it perfectly, "To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."  He succeeded...

This blog post is part of a blog circle, Sisterhood Stories.  Follow along and visit my friend, Jane.

xoxo,  Kristi

sisterhood stories...a color story

In November I had the rare chance to photograph our abundant crop of pomegranates and my sweet little 3 year old, Emma.  We had a lot of fun and she enjoyed the one on one attention I was able to give.  I happened to catch her in a playful mood and she enjoyed posing for me.

I love the deep and rich colors that fall brings and the reds of the pomegranates are so beautiful.  I'm longing for some color as we are right in the middle of winter but wishing for Spring.  How about you?

Please follow along in the Sisterhood Stories blog circle by visiting my friend, Boo.

xoxo,
Kristi

sisterhood stories...normal day

This post is belated but inspired by the events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 2012.  I am sending prayers to those who have lost a loved one and may be wishing for one more 'normal day' with them.

Feeling the fragility of life is sometimes so crippling to me.
I know that life can be taken at any moment.
I know I should embrace each moment and live it to the fullest but, sometimes I just tremble in fear.  Fear that within a second someone I love could be gone.  Just like that.  Gone.


I do go on.  We all do.
Going on and moving forward.
What choice do we really have?
Somedays it is harder than others.
It's been harder lately.

I tell myself that each experience has its purpose.
It works for me more often then not.
I just wish it made it easier.

The beauty of life lies in the small, insignificant, life moments.
Pure magic is what they are.
We just have to have the eyes to see and the heart to feel them.
These are moments that we will never experience again.
I take some of these moments for granted because I do them so many times in a day.
They often feel like chores.
Oh, but they are not.  I need to remember that.
They are fleeting.  I just want to hold onto them forever.

I don't want to forget what it feels like...

to be able to cup my child's tiny hands in mine while I help them wash up for dinner

to hear the word 'mommy', my most favorite thing I'm called

to find crayon works of art all over the van door or the many other places in the house

to wipe yet another runny nose

to hear the giggles that follow after someone has passed gas at the dinner table (yep, it's super funny at our house)

to breastfeed a new life no matter how painful it is at the time

to feel so tenderly about my son that when I try telling his Kindergarten class about him I start crying after 3 words and have to let my husband finish for me

to watch my middle three sit excitedly looking out the window just to watch the garbage man drive by on Fridays

to have a full dishwasher and sink...because it means we have enough food

to have my cat waiting by the front window to welcome me home

to look at my husband across the room and smile because both of our laps are full

to find rocks and sticks that my son has placed in my pocket, trusting me with his treasures

to brush my babies delicate hair behind her ears

to have the amazing power of healing that only a mother has...to heal boo-boo's with a single kiss

to hear the contagious and body shaking laughter of my 5 year old

to listen to my baby girl sucking on her thumb, knowing she's content

the enormous piles of laundry...because it means we have played and worked hard

to hear the sound of my mothers voice on the other end of the phone because she is always there for me

to find yet another, wanted and cherished love note left by my teenager

to be smothered with slobbery kisses because I am mommy and I am loved

So many mundane, normal, ordinary moments.
With the right perspective...
Magic is always there.

I hope that we can all remember to find the beauty and the magic in every 'normal day'.

Please visit the next blog in the Sisterhood Stories Circle, my friend, Jane.
xoxo,
Kristi

free printable christmas tag roundup part 1

I love the holiday season but I don't love all of the stress, commitments, and over-loaded to do list that comes with it.  What I do love is finding something that someone has already made for me that simplifies my life.  I have gathered a bunch of free printable Christmas tags that I have found and would love to share with you.  Below each of the images is a link to the free printable.  I hope this helps lighten your holiday load. 

xoxo,
Kristi

The Sweetest Occasion

Ellinee

Eat Drink Chic

and more lovelinessfrom Eat Drink Chic

knit gift tags

typographic gift tags

mail stripes gift tag

reindeer postcard tag

Jones Design Company

Eat Drink Chic

Domestifluff

Gifted Magazine by Ez of Creature Comforts

Domestifluff

Sass and Peril

Blush Printables

The Black Apple

sisterhood stories - a seed of good

I'm a believer that things happen for a reason.  But, when bad or difficult things happen it's hard to understand why they are happening.  It is easier to ask, 'why me?' about our trials in life than to look for what we can gain from the experience, especially right when we are in the middle of the trial.

I'm trying to figure out why a cousin and dear friend is fighting breast cancer for a second time.  I want to know why she may not be here to watch her children grow.  I want to know why she may not be able to see them graduate from high school or college,  why she may not be there for their weddings or to see her grandchildren born.  Why she may not be able to grow old and travel the world with her husband?  Why her?  Why someone I care about?

Amidst all of my 'why's' I do know that there is a reason and that God has our best interest in mind.  I know we can't see the the lessons that will be learned, the growth that will come, the knowledge that will be gained and the strength that will be rightly earned.  He can and I have to keep this in my mind at all times.  Does it make the trials easier.  No.  It just helps me understand their purpose in our lives.

I recently stumbled upon this quote.  It helped shed some light on adversity and the role it plays...

"Search for the seed of good in every adversity.   Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valleys you must traverse.  Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from a mountaintop.  So you will learn things in adversity that you would of never discovered without trouble.  There is always a seed of good.  Find it and prosper."  -Og Mandino

I'm hoping and praying that you and I will find the seeds of good in our adversities.

Follow along in the sisterhood stories blog circle to my friend Isabelle...
xoxo, Kristi

sisterhood stories - she left proof...

I hate having my picture taken.
Hate.  It's a strong word but it fits.

I don't like the way I look.  I'm overweight.  I wear the same jeans and t-shirt almost every day.  I rarely put makeup on.  My hair has been in a permanent bun/pony tail for the last year and a half.  I have wrinkles and dark circles under my eyes.  I always look exhausted...because I am.  I don't want to remember myself this way or for anyone for remember me this way.  Therefore, I just stay of the pictures.  If I happen to make it in one of them I just delete it.  I am very happy with this arrangement.

Until...I heard about this mother...

“Many scrapbookers knew Aleida Franklin. She was a wonderful wife and mother and a brilliant artist. I didn’t know Aleida personally, but she taught me something I will never forget.

She emailed me last year to tell me she loved my blog and to ask if I liked my short hair-cut. This lead to a series of emails which eventually led me to remark that I really loved how often she posted pictures of herself with her children on her blog. And she replied to me, “Have you ever seen a photograph of your own mother and thought to yourself how fat she looked? Or how she wasn’t wearing make-up? Or wasn’t dressed in a glamorous outfit?” Of course my answer was no.

She then responded with saying that she made it a goal to take a picture of herself with her children at least once every month. And that to use excuses about how we look, as women, is ridiculous, since our children will never care what we looked like, but only that we had physical evidence of the bond between mother and child.

Aleida tragically and unexpectedly passed away in an auto accident in September of 2008, leaving 2 small children and a grieving husband. After she passed I thought of how those children must feel to have those precious photographs. I have made it my personal goal to follow her wise suggestion and I try to take photos of myself with my children….double chins, make-up free, bed-head and all.

I invite Mothers everywhere to take Aleida’s Challenge. To photograph yourself with your children each and every month. And to post them here so that we can see Aleida’s legacy unfolding.”
(this is from Aleida's Challenge flickr group written by Emilie Ahern) 

 

Aleida and her daughter 

Isn't it true so true?  We are usually the ones behind the lens.  But, us being behind the lens doesn't tell the whole story.  The part that shows we were a huge part of the memories and moments even though the pictures don't show it.   

I only have a handful of pictures with my mother when I was little.  I cherish these photos.  When I look at the photos I don't notice whether she has makeup on, if her hair was done, or what her clothes looked like (ok, I do notice the sweet polyester pants but, I'm not judging).  I do notice that she is smiling.  She is happy to be holding me.  She loves being my mother.  She loves me.  And that is what I want my children to remember.  The love.  There's lots of it.

We never know when our last day with our loved ones will be.  We need to live each day to the fullest, and I know this is easier said than done.  We (the ones with the cameras) are the family historians, the memory keepers, the capturers of moments.  So, ladies what do you say?  Will you be brave with me and get in front of the camera?

To get us started here is a free photo checklist from Rebecca Cooper's blog.  I love how she encourages us to capture the real everyday moments with us in the photos. 

So get out your camera phone, or set your camera timer, or set up your tripod, or schedule a professional session, or give the camera to someone else...just get in the photo and be a part of the moment.  Years from now we will thank ourselves and so will our loved ones.

Here's my perfectly imperfect photo with my kids...thanks to my husband for taking the photo...

Follow the sisterhood stories blog circle by following my friend Siegrid...

xoxo,
Kristi

sisterhood stories - change

Change is inevitable.  Change is constant.  We can't stop it.

Often it's welcome. Sometimes it's not. 

The changing of the seasons got me thinking about change in the first place.  Here are some of the recent changes in my life.

I love my son, Jaden's, new art of conversation (if you're new here...Jaden has autism and has difficulty with communicating).  He recently sat down at the table and said to my husband, "Dad, what do you want to be for Halloween?"  He proceeded to talk about skeletons and ghost and what he wanted to be.  I was beaming with pride and so happy to hear this complete sentence with a question included.  Definitely a huge milestone for him.

The changes in my two daughter's are more apparent.  Ashley is 13.  She's been more reluctant than most to the changes that come with being a teenager.  But, as of late she is quickly getting there.  She thinks that friends are her whole world, she has a new love for facebook, and she's constantly listening to her music.  Hopefully the teenager attitude doesn't come too quick.

Addison is 6 months old and changing rapidly both physically and cognitively.  She is starting to sit up on her own, rolling over, switching objects between her hands, interacting with her siblings and laughing.  

I welcome each new stage of my children's lives because it is so rewarding to see the growth and progress. But, a large part of me does quietly wish that I could freeze time to more fully savor the sweet experience.

A change that I don't welcome is the aging of my parents.  I'm the youngest of 8 children.  Sometimes I feel like I got the short end of the stick because I'm the youngest and therefore didn't get to spend as much time with them.

My dad was recently diagnosed with cancer and while this is a bad thing a good thing has come out of it...we talk more now.  It's a wake up call.  He won't be here forever.

I can see my mom changing.  I see it in her face, her hands and in her aches and pains.  She recently said, "I'm in the winter of my life, the end."  

This makes me cry.  I wholeheartedly want to stop this change.  I cannot.  I am trying to come to terms with it.  But, I cannot.  Not now.

My mom read this excerpt from the book, The God Academy to me today.  I thought it fit perfectly into this post.

"Allow every event and each new circumstance to wash over you, to come and go as softly as a butterfly resting on the back of your hand. As you walk across life’s bridges, try to resist inspecting every piece of rope, the integrity of every knot, and judging every step you take.  Make a daily practice of trusting the events unfolding before you, and their proper place in the universe of your experience. The bridges of life are not composed of bamboo, or knotted ropes, or steel or anything else susceptible to the corrosive powers of time. We are suspended by a robust latticework of trust and faith interwoven. Enjoy the view, knowing fully that the bridge will hold you." 

This post is part of a collaboration and blog circle of fellow photographers called 'sisterhood stories'.  Each week we will share a part of our lives as they are in that moment.  I am looking forward to this circle of sisters that I am a part of...it is a good change.  One I need right now.  I hope to cultivate friendships and to learn from these amazing women.  I also hope to learn more about myself as I change, evolve and grow.

What changes to you look forward to and which ones do you not?

Do follow the next blog in the circle of stories...Siegrid

xoxo,
Kristi 

freebie friday: dance in the rain

This printable was inspired by my daughter.  She loved the quote and wanted it to hang in her room and to have a color scheme that matched her decor, which also happen to be her favorite colors.  She loves dance which also makes this a perfect quote for her.  I've created a printable version for you: download here.

freebie friday: i'm going to make everything beautiful

What a wonderful and positive way to look at life.  Can you just imagine what the world would be like if we all followed this?  Let's find out.

I love this quote so much I decided to make it into a print and I'd love to share it with you...you can download it here. 

things i love thursday: buntings, banners & flags

I love buntings, banners and flags. They have such a whimsical and carefree feeling about them. I wanted to share these wonderful examples of buntings, banners & flags from some truly amazing photographers. Please stop by their streams... 1. summer is in the air, 2. Pastel Flags, 3. Untitled, 4. {postcards :: the cheerful flags}, 5. Bunting inside marquee, 6. Banner Year, 7. Untitled, 8. Embellished sky, 9. Bunting in Eckington

I was so inspired by these beautiful images that I wanted to take one of my own.  This print is new in the shop.