Just Exactly Enough, Peace 2009.

Trusting in Just Exactly Enough

Always, always, always…..now, yesterday, tomorrow…there is always enough….but much of the time, it is just exactly enough…..not more…..but not a bit less either.
 Each day in 2009 held something that I learned from whether it be as random as knowing that I really should vacuum every single day to as important as thanking GOD for everything that happens, big or small, happy or sad.  My word of 2009 was FOCUS, and darn, did I try and stay on task.  I will keep the faith in the word FOCUS and combine it with my word for this year, POSSIBILITIES.

2009 was a year of lessons learned, memories made, good times had, tears shed, fights fought, hopes had, moments shared, all in all, it was a good year.  NOT a GREAT year, but not a TERRIBLE year either.  Personally I think that too many people just look at all of the despair, destruction, turmoil, etc. and really...from every single thing, God uses it for GOOD. 

I wish people would take a little more time to really listen to that and not only listen to it..but BELIEVE it.

"...always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15

Twenty-Ten.

uploaded by mandytrei via pretty good..

Happy New Year! Peace and blessings to you and yours!
.......................................................................................................

Bits Of Life Photos.

What happens when you give an unspoken wish a place to become a dream come true? 

How do you gather the courage required to help a new found dream soar?

This year was the year to start living my dream.  
Photography.
I am in the process of starting up my own photog site + blog + fan facebook page.  
Here is a start!  Become a fan on facebook to see photos I have taken from different photog sessions.
I'm excited!
Oh the Possibilities.

Lash Dash.

I've Got A Feeling.

I love winter.

I love holidays.

I love family.

And only another day until be start closing the shutters on 2009. I have some resolutions to figure out and some ideas and plans to take care of too. 
Twenty10 is going to be amazing. 
I can feel it. 

True Beauty.

Open your heart-prepare to be lovebombed!

This beauty is so easy to take photos of...I just love her to pieces!

She is a wonderful, amazing little Trei gal!

Winter Wonderland.

Tons of snow + A Beauties Wonder - A Fun Filled Day in a Blizzard!

We Love You.

I [Heart] Puppies.

Just Be You.

Even the messiest of messy faces couldn't take away from Alannah's beauty.

Be sweet.

Be sunny.

Be loved.

Be silly.

Be rad.

Be close.

Be you.

Lily Belle.

Darling.

Isn't she the cutest thing you ever did see.
I love this picture of her!
So cute!

Tis The Season.

Gifts.

Before I took the picture, I sat for a minute and watched her sleep, her face partially hidden from the afternoon light, her arms and legs limp with that enviable relaxation unique to babies + children.
As I brought her tiny foot into the viewfinder of my camera, I happily realized that I was doing the thing I was worried I would lose. I was enjoying the solitude. Celebrating the simplicity of perfectly formed baby toes. Discovering and capturing a beautiful moment.
In the midst of all the overwhelms, it's comforting to know that change doesn't always have to change you.

Cheers.

Happy Birthday to Me.

December Daily.

Goodbye November.

Goodbye November + Hello December.
Goodbye turkeys + Hello christmas music.

Goodbye leaves + Hello snowflakes.
Goodbye 31 + Hello 32.

Good things, lots of good things.

[Glad]itude.

It's the night before Thanksgiving. Today as I was thinking about all the things I'm thankful for, I started to get really specific. I'm, of course, thankful for my family, my health, my friends, my doggie, my art life - beyond measure. 

But I'm finding myself seriously thankful  for the beauty of home spaces, of art appreciation, of really good ideas.

I'm thankful for human graciousness + the ability to forgive + all the ways we are given choices to begin, to stop. to love. to unfold. to reach. to say yes or no. or i'm not ready. or I am ready. 

I'm so grateful for this vessel, this body, that carries my spirit in safety as i make my way into the world, as i forever find + reach for the best parts of myself. 

Happy Monday.

Fire Starter.

This week started by presenting me with a bunch of challenges. Which I totally FREAKED + took as roadblocks.

Silly girl.

After being hit with some interesting + diverse solutions I suddenly remembered that 'challenges' are little puzzles free for the solving. Not roadblocks. I also remembered that delegating is good. And that nothing never turns out the way you picture it. And nor should it. And that minds are complex. And that in a couple weeks I'll have long forgotten about the little fires I was busy putting out today. Oh, and that I'm a better fire starter than putter-outer.

SO much warm + fuzzy remembering going on here.

Hope Now.

I am so excited.  I'm attending an Addison Road concert.  Did I say I was excited, I totally am!  I'll be sure to get some good snaps!

Lights, Camera, Action!

When our lives become pageants, we become actors. When we become actors, we sacrifice authenticity. Without authenticity, we can’t cultivate love and connection. Without love and connection, we have nothing.

"We need to get away. We need to regroup and renew. We need to sink into some perspective. We need to fill our reservoirs with: Trust, Gratitude, Inspiration, Art, Friends, Laughter, Play + Song.  Because sometimes when we’re strung out and exhausted, the reflection that we see when we look into those deep ponds of renewal is the truest image of ourselves."

Holiday Snaps.

This was so much fun!  This family is so full of love + life!  Here's a sneak peek at our photo session...enjoy!

Something "Wicked" This Way Comes!

SO MUCH HAPPENED BEFORE DOROTHY DROPPED IN. I can't wait!  This is going to be so much amazing fun!  

Blessed.

Queen Of Capture.

A blog just for my photos....join me!  Click here to take a sneak peak!  I'm really excited!

So Happy.

Exhale-Out.

It's totally possible that you are already making this more complicated than it needs to be in your head. Take a deep breath and do one little thing at a time. 

Hocus Pocus.

Well, Halloween week is upon us. Whether you celebrate this spooky time of year or not, you will probably be bombarded with lots of orange and black this week.

Sweet Goodness.

t's going to be a great weekend. I'n in the process of taking lots of news pics of the fam + designing my pic blog...stay tuned!

Up With The Story.

Regardless of how you tell your story -

in words, pictures, song, or art - the power is in the telling.

Be Calm. Be Still.

FootPrints In The Sand.

Seventeen years ago today my life changed.

Seventeen years ago today I was filled with sadness.

Seventeen years ago today I was so all alone.

Seventeen years ago today I let my guard down + was carried.

Seventeen years ago today I was given strength.

Seventeen years ago today I met my best friend.

Seventeen, what a grand number!

In Her Shoes.

I believe there is sincere value in telling our stories. It’s how we learn from one another. How we unearth treasures + wisdom inside ourselves. It’s how we connect to the joys + hurts of the human spirit. I try very hard to represent all the pieces of my experience in my writing - the broken pieces + the joyful pieces. It all matters + it all connects us.
My greatest creative inspiration is finding connections inside everyday conversations. It’s exploring the small moments in life that hold all the deep meaning. It’s finding, then releasing, my very own possibility into the world with the hope that it will do good work out there + maybe come back to me in some other moment or shift. It’s the stories of the people in my life - all the courage + tenderness + strength.

Over The Moon Excited.

Ok, Whew...this weekend has been super eventful. I got out with a super GREAT friend! And in doing so permanently vamped my self esteem! We had a blast on the VIP list, oh yeahs! We got it like that! Thanks TJ for keeping me in great hands, even after I told the NBC news anchor that he worked at FOX, oopy dasiy!

Vintage Glam.

Fall Favorites.

No Worries.

Half Full.

See It.

Compassion = Understanding+ Listening +Acknowledging + Caring

Alannah Jade.

What A Spectacle.

Be Happy.

Her.

TGIF.

Today I'm trusting that I will once again find my voice.

Today I'm grateful for the supportive friends + family in my life today + always.

Today I'm inspired by possibility + dreams.

Hard Times...No More.

This is my favorite remake of a timeless classic. Shhhh.... just listen.

Beautiful +Rare

Enchanting + Inspiring

24 Months.

Happy Birthday Baby Gal!

Polaroid Me.

There's No Place Like Here.

Grow.

Who said huge flower headbands are for little gals only...NOT ME!

Say Cheese.