https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-01-12 https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/refuge monthly 0.5 2025-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9023f1e9-1267-4cd9-aaa1-f940b154e58a/refuge5.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d52ede82-1942-40fe-96d3-5c255127147c/LJ8A7191.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/003f1d9d-82d8-4f82-9a7a-bad6fcc0cc63/LJ8A7282.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7fbb7fa6-528b-4782-adf3-42c34fe0ace7/LJ8A6674.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3596c9d3-4d05-4b1a-ab07-2f8a7a4b36ec/LJ8A0325.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7d3cb8a3-3b45-4b48-97b0-58e34159b43f/LJ8A7594.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ff9472d8-82ab-4811-8854-73b4dffe653e/quannah+parker+dam-1.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bf7c8f46-2082-404a-8014-6b1c3345ce4c/LJ8A0340.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c40f50f3-f1d2-4616-b01d-e9e7be4780e7/LJ8A0327.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/07b0c50b-3466-4771-9f70-b5355b3484d7/5-3-18-16.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/072e84d6-66cb-4d8f-8184-30708fc24ecc/burning+mountain.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/939e64c2-756b-4938-8cf0-ba798619f99f/sunset.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/77e70750-3404-4a96-bac2-e80130dfc959/reflections.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/61daefe7-356a-44a1-9d04-8049c7a75d13/5-3-18-12.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/744ea355-88fa-4171-944b-1a6e04a7c816/5-3-18-19.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/da203333-a004-40de-b968-3431105e860f/buffalo3.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/47b7a445-0522-4b23-bfad-97c7480660c7/LJ8A0280.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5a3c7066-94d3-4ed2-b2e8-f768beda444d/5-3-18-18.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671643225868-M94IBQ965CYSMEQYY9HO/refuge1.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/75ca3aac-9237-475f-8860-5f42643293a7/LJ8A5218.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fb0d7837-6997-4798-b658-131536d1900b/LJ8A0324-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671643165463-7Y1TMTHO14I3T9C6WYDD/5-3-18-4.jpg Personal Projects - Refuge https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/birdbybird monthly 0.5 2025-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d2a6dcce-0aff-44fe-97e9-2d057f33673d/cedar+waxwing.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/abdafde0-8b39-4750-ae14-669210104b76/May+10.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/512dfff5-bfb8-4091-b736-8351a381bc97/Feb24.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/28179141-5217-4280-912b-4e85382c27b8/Sept+6.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/beb00c78-87a4-4230-be53-1873236392e6/April+12.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2b807f26-4063-47be-bfc5-59dd6d40beed/Feb28.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b5f3cf0e-d0fc-4315-83ad-b3225636d88e/Jan11.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/94e11ea2-ee1f-4b96-b58c-1c647a237140/LJ8A4952.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8c0ff311-80c9-4ec3-a482-128253089e99/Feb25.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/68891437-6c4e-4f6e-aa47-d77604092c35/May+11.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2336bf30-40ba-46fd-85ad-f2f5d29b18b6/LJ8A2144-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686748843243-AL3PSSX8GPS5VHF3XODT/4A4A3290-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686748853317-PFOZXLLQEH6NQ560KPI5/4A4A3619.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686748851559-HVDZDOSEIBL1GOFKX2WR/4A4A3583.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686748855225-0NNIMZUQU9TTUJQEGCIG/4A4A3669.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9237a07d-7176-4085-ad9e-7b9a93b441b8/Sept+5.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/41312e3f-0596-4824-a9d9-4e18686fea00/May21.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7a2e42cc-b497-43a4-8b62-ba8eec50e812/Sept+8.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/10bb5000-c1f3-45cb-93df-0e8a0e27520a/August+22.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/865c79e2-fecb-4b78-86bb-34acfb2a16a3/June+29.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bc609b8d-9cf1-4f6a-9cfe-909b0b7903ea/June7.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/398ecb2a-f1d0-4059-a2dd-95bbb4c37d84/April+15.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4d234df3-e434-4143-a5d2-fb50795bdbee/july+26.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5cb76e11-1b7c-48c8-9adc-901a86050a51/May16-1.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/86e7b283-b477-4fe6-a534-b0b24ecbcd44/May19.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8da79180-2c25-4c32-972f-516b4ce2e852/May27.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b28c035b-e4f6-4903-a858-5648c52319c4/4A4A6343.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cbf714fb-d271-4cfa-8da3-9143e90d98bc/oct+3.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9ab2292d-df92-45b5-87bd-c60d2f0d23ea/march10.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/907b0793-f9f6-44dc-917e-18c8bf681a6b/August+23.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686749384616-KYVVO45UCPPOOTWG7Y4U/4A4A3503-Enhanced-NR.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686749382171-RCF351BKKQPWIF1OQMQ6/4A4A3491.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686749385304-YRBJVTGYCBK1KPVP3W4M/4A4A3517.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686749379690-21Z9LPERVXGQRGGL7H4B/4A4A3394.jpg Personal Projects - Bird by bird https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/lookcloser monthly 0.5 2025-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4f3d95e5-76aa-448d-a377-3f8afe49a16d/Sept+7.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out I researched sunflowers and came across this article - https://www.latimes.com/.../la-sci-sn-sunflowers.... Three things that strike me here 1. That any flower would have this ability to turn 180 degrees to face the sun every day. 2. That mature sunflowers always face east - the more mature, the more willing to face the sunshine and wait for it even when it's nowhere to be found. 3. That, while manipulated during experiments, the sunflowers try SO HARD to continue facing the sun. When they are manipulated away from the sun, their health suffers. When their nature is fiercely manipulated, they become thoroughly confused and move erratically during the night. All this to say, I am forever grateful to be surrounded by the sunflowers in my life. I am an optimist, but I am prone to consider worst-case scenarios and that can throw me off track into a fit of anxious thoughts. But I have people turning my pot towards the sun daily. And I am very aware of the blessing it is to have that encouragement in my life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1670860429932-Y7XU81375R62UX0XRN2J/6Mel_Karlberg.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bbc7ab37-62bc-4814-9bf6-7e3810321859/May23.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6188cb73-777b-4830-a9b4-d64e2d845c0f/LJ8A2083.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0cc1c108-afe7-4f3f-8fa0-7f4d00de6f4f/LJ8A5705-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674065689929-GS1LTSE3TTKTYFXNPS1L/LJ8A7792-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674065696419-UZ1SMEMKXQ18TXUSL876/LJ8A3030.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674065726036-EPW91QTGQ610ZNDXJ2AW/LJ8A4191.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6d13cacc-2fcb-431f-8c8e-08ff574312f5/LJ8A0280.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/018b4da8-1ec1-4672-b4d6-d0db87f89a35/LJ8A2535-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066104274-RU8CKNXCY88BAWMSNSAG/LJ8A5756.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066046379-Z2UV61XM1K612HTW8708/0R7A0297.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066046302-8EW7M0S66RR79CK3I8C6/5O0A8261.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8df07df2-7d51-4a8a-819b-8fd1dccf1ee0/LJ8A8566.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066350303-1HFE1MEAH0NQQ73R8TYS/5O0A8281-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066389502-7WZKLUI49WYEEFLN2W3W/LJ8A7578.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066381361-U62OEUO11WKUN0LKHHNJ/LJ8A7113.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066365159-04SFJN4Y4T6UR3Q3P0UD/LJ8A4682.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066372415-A6YR6W0P5WV7T0QMMOCD/LJ8A5062-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066399911-JUG0L1C5KYOM5F84RDWY/LJ8A9569.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671110403142-I736DCA5WM0F2F9N1RP0/mantis.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066841749-EJ6WJ0SDL229W3JAR9EJ/LJ8A9403.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674066849146-FDE0ELIGDJ1JKOYY6N2F/LJ8A0255.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f2339b8a-aaad-4ccb-bdc1-e2dd300d9556/sunsets-14.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a7e42a2e-27d9-4075-b4bc-161056145c8a/butterflies.jpg Personal Projects - Look closer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/wakingup monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1670861009320-6JQM43FVR05F7FBSD3G7/sunsets-8.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/da29bc86-daff-49c4-b5f9-6c6979313b0c/LJ8A2589.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7c2e72d4-5ee6-4378-bea5-b177e3c888b0/LJ8A7645-Edit-2.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/34cfbc6c-d648-4bb3-a04f-30ba1b2fef5c/LJ8A9252-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9ca2bd78-8db5-4a31-aa85-c7f63cc668fe/LJ8A0740-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/737e7fd5-ff9c-490d-b1fd-ef07e7efbc5a/LJ8A7282.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7271dbab-6f45-417a-bb91-89e6a8944ef4/sunrise+mooncover.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4fd7b82c-dde6-4eed-83cf-a607bea98687/sunrisefire.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dcb61ed7-b264-4b58-bdef-829460d87ca6/LJ8A7572.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4b8058f0-e55b-41b2-b9b7-df288bc7157d/sunsets-9.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/de591ac3-eb82-4e7a-9fdf-e650d4da6c18/LJ8A5605.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4e8eaaee-7ac8-4368-a78d-ffabb2cdf421/sunrisepurple.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1673992263024-X5D70AOKC6ZZKI4EFGQK/sunrisetree.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/58bac155-a8ad-43f8-a298-209c0ec8b377/rhythm.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d6ffc0e6-ba7c-4582-981a-105abce2e3f4/sunsettriptych.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/76ae1f94-38b2-4eac-9de9-b994a7cef9d1/LJ8A2644.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/49e4752f-0230-4319-8bfd-e2b19683b529/stand+tall+tree-1.jpg Personal Projects - Waking up - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/from-where-i-stand monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/72823cee-d13e-4140-ab20-c0afd2efbd88/letting+go.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671558713372-OESJXOUVLX9PRIU4BE4J/sheshine.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/148e67ba-7ae3-4ec9-9990-291d41036b0c/gofish.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7d514fab-7997-4a4f-9103-3c1633e319a7/sunfeet.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0c0a053f-3bf3-4df3-afb7-84e0922fb373/LJ8A7763.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/aba97f08-a2f0-4a37-8c7a-d876106346e3/LJ8A8242-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2fe26ab3-d6e9-46a3-b936-9f09ce530a48/LJ8A1917.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a7ca80c7-978a-4185-bb8a-e11474cdf943/scooter+in+rain.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0c6b2d71-48af-4250-a8cf-97da3bba0d90/jumpbed.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/234bfd14-eb26-4638-85ad-1eed2f12cc01/march4.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2be6dfe8-9065-4bb0-9137-450f670c1b3d/LJ8A7530.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e1d1c821-bb6f-47ca-a707-242c14d806c4/june+1.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/36a06ade-ce80-4d08-bbfb-404b32b62b60/determined.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0615d30f-f43d-4342-a306-ebbf58dfc98c/bus+watching.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e4fa21a9-07be-453b-856d-d6379ec4029c/tomorrowland.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/90125e17-2171-44a9-92dd-edef2bba67ef/May+1.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/77b3f1d0-f2a4-4c27-ab5f-3c2ade9ad086/adventure3.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0b817e15-db2b-43db-b355-6728488108f6/LJ8A1194.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8752f6f3-b609-4dcd-9006-6d4f7856356b/Sept+13.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a8b5da7b-de21-4ec4-8e45-b8f2351a0447/April+23.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dc90f222-49ac-485f-8896-d55e9a4b7b08/on+the+edge.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/068c7dc8-da39-43ad-b98d-7b0b6e56709e/9-2-19.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/773c6b9e-c8ff-4c5f-8307-b3de10775646/Feb+8.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671620541833-4EOC1JJT4KNTOOC0QUH8/birdwatching.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/44c82b80-d781-4bcb-96ff-b3dcb3814b41/July+30.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671621527991-M06CS8HSYUODMBVA1QQL/surveying.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/284d6d54-949c-4181-be17-861dfbcde945/kite+in+the+sun.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/86e02937-34d8-4401-accb-52cd20bf3e7f/9-19-19.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a695e061-d919-429e-954d-fbfe714cc980/4-19-19.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/443434d8-191a-4c25-b96a-95f9b019b668/stairs.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671620856420-WCSK00URLRC4BMR1KDWB/dancelegos.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b9046b8a-46af-42b3-a212-bf058773e284/chess.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e093024e-d4f5-44dc-b5aa-ce4cfe546b47/stormcomin-2.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d017e700-3afd-47a5-b668-3112ec13b1e9/bird+watching.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/176461cf-b8e2-473a-83e1-98e9b1af5ab4/LJ8A3752.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d52bf7dc-977e-44a3-a365-61822ffd5872/9-13-17-27.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671620539356-XXLWVUQ8MT69G809JFYW/the+long+walk.jpg Personal Projects - From where I stand https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/reflections monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ba0a67c6-3ed5-43cf-912a-ca1461f26aa4/DSCF6689-Edit-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/30b82a63-e053-4630-b304-eb751a33fd6f/5O0A0481.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/38849a2a-bcfb-460f-be36-7b2689dcc098/LJ8A0832.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0502857b-e0f5-466a-af69-b58d2eed556f/LJ8A0060-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ffc08d98-46ed-4fde-9445-da859b9bb757/LJ8A0067.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b9ff4ce4-8363-40a1-981d-3e619baccd2e/LJ8A0828.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3fd41bdf-93a6-4fec-af98-ae5704c1bebc/sprinklerpuddle.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/afa7e004-0448-4d32-8214-66b5981f91fc/DSCF6618-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1674067943031-RNKC2HBMISAOALMPR7PW/LJ8A1563-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ea9f7207-0235-4d50-936e-419a2a1b1750/LJ8A0822.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1bdac37e-c129-4ac6-92e5-dd0a92fc7fca/puddle-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ef7530a1-8423-4ac4-a563-bc9e47f1562c/5O0A1315-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9d6678b8-512f-429d-9a69-3c2651278b91/LJ8A0083.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8ec5f1fc-3d06-4f4b-8d37-5b2d254c53a6/reflectionwalk.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a3e52e69-a293-4454-aab4-23f852c6ea12/LJ8A9999-Edit.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8037db1c-5150-4d7a-9e0c-e10e2850888e/july+21.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/90ad652d-1288-4b61-9864-a927c654d54e/LJ8A8520.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1671558627378-OJWWDTV8195LRWRBI2VD/karlbergm_childrensingle.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0e97f0ff-05e2-4cb7-9748-37039a3e4348/DSCF9846.jpg Personal Projects - Reflections - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/the-gratitude-project-part-4 monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/27ee61cd-2e97-4f9c-8260-ebeb2ee92e36/the+whole+year.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/709f1300-0c7d-4073-845e-9ea4641e96e9/oct+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 275/366 10-1-20 It's my favorite time of day - the entire day ready to be discovered, full of hope and potential. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ff1c20c6-ce80-4509-853e-fed4f5886b60/121025838_10164135769425612_3860802628980374331_n.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 276/366 10-2-20 There's a lot of sunrise/sunset pictures showing up in my gratitude project, but the autumn skies are unlike any other time of year. I over edited this one a bit because I realized EJ's truck was in the picture and I wanted to document that because I'm sure he texted me about this sky as he headed out of the neighborhood for work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3b49ccf9-9963-45b0-9d3b-f9b17c113627/oct+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 277/366 10-3-20 I headed out to WyCo Lake this weekend and ran into some other birders (we all recognized each other by the giant lenses - "you like birds? I like birds!"). I love spending these homeschool days with my kids, but it was pretty great talking to some other bird obsessed adults, all of us completely understanding of the half attention we received while we scanned horizons and whipped our heads away from conversation at the slightest distant bird call. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5e74aba8-7dbb-451c-bed3-9ac3b4af483f/oct+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 278/366 10-4-20 "Mom, it's a rainbow sunset! Get a picture!" I was driving, so I set the exposure best I could and handed him the camera. And I love this shot that isn't technically mine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/caca5906-dd9a-41dc-9da7-6435b4dfa7d5/oct+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 279/366 10-5-20 Someone is learning a new instrument https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a9be3536-65a4-4b09-b0b6-d91ea2959a76/oct+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 280/366 10-6-20 The plan is to be back to in person school by November 1. I know they will love it and meet a bunch of new forever friends, and I know that I will find some wonderful self care and photography projects while they are gone during the day (I may even take the time to straighten that rug or fix that wonky drawer), but I am going to miss them so much. I feel like we are just getting into a groove here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/728939d7-d6fa-4bfe-ba29-65c4fa8b3d38/oct+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 281/366 10-7-20 I had my bird lens in the car so I dragged him to a trail after we dropped off M for her ukulele lesson. I didn't find any birds, but I got to hear all about Minecraft and space/time theories and secret worlds and his history paper andandand .... because he really is NEVER NOT TALKING. I think this kid with all of these ideas is going to change this world in the very best way. He's already done that for my world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6599ba54-2989-48bb-a71f-ab6d86520c31/oct+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 282/366 10-8-20 Ah, my sweet kiddos holding hands and exploring. 2 seconds later, they picked up that stick they just spied and started sword fighting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fdd4662c-ad24-4f21-85ed-54cfa4ba3b71/oct+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 283/366 10-9-20 There were so many fun pictures from the Fun Farm, but this was the pick for the project. You can tell a lot about a person by how he/she interacts with animals. If I'm ever concerned about the kindness in my kids' hearts, I can always return to this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9befacc1-1e8b-4872-b222-89564b40f90d/oct+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 284/366 10-10-20 Every weekend, I pick one day to roll out of bed early and drive somewhere to watch the sun rise. There is nothing more grounding and inspirational than watching this daily miracle, and one of my favorite places to watch is WyCo Lake. Lucky for me, it's only a 20 minute drive, so I don't have to wake up TOO early. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b84ca972-fd9a-493e-ac62-d1a8e5cebe60/oct+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 285/366 10-11-20 He's always wanted a loft bed with a desk underneath. He's been asking for this for years and he had all sorts of plans about how it would be and what he would do. The first night he slept in it, it was a little creaky and he also realized that Chief couldn't cuddle with him. He didn't complain, but you could see that he was sad that maybe he had made the wrong choice about something that he thought would be so perfect. Now that we have settled in, this desk area has become his creative outlet, creating stories and drawings and entire worlds (many that he texts to me while I'm watching TV downstairs and he's supposed to be in bed). On nights when he's really missing cuddling with Chief, he'll sleep on the floor for a while https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c67b29a4-39c3-41ee-82b5-a3e04175f30c/oct+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 286/366 10-12-20 "If we have been created in the image of the Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry, and be sensitive to beauty, responsive to what has been created for our appreciation." -Edith Schaeffer, from Hansen's morning devotional reading on 10-13-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/84f1dfbf-69ba-4d3e-bbf2-4204481a8f5a/oct+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 287/366 10-13-20 Some days, she finishes all of her assignments in an hour. Other days, she spends her time drawing koalas on her hands. I'm trying to embrace it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b956b334-4d9a-4156-89d2-4846950c73e4/oct+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 288/366 10-14-20 When I taught high school English and the students weren't enjoying my lesson, they would "trick" me into telling stories about my grandma (there were a lot, and they were highly entertaining). I did this to my 5th grade English teacher, so I was onto my students - and I loved telling those stories more than they loved hearing them. And storytelling IS a Language Arts component, so WIN-WIN-WIN. My new students are masters at this diversion technique. My own private concert? Yes, please! Math can wait. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cc68fde7-8fea-4705-957e-29630237241c/oct+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 289/366 10-15-20 And sometimes we need a little stretch break before we move on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e3f286af-d6d7-4f44-8765-53daf7c279a9/oct+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 290/366 10-16-20 This light on the wall in my office is my signal that my morning alone time is coming to a close. They are early risers - they don't want to miss anything. If they haven't already come into my office to say, "GOOD MORNING!" this light is also coming into their rooms and I can expect to hear those feet moving around above me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1203200b-625e-418e-a8a0-17ea5c9e0281/oct+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 291/366 10-17-20 I was cutting the last of the frost bit flowers from the front beds when I heard H scream my name. He had been walking M to a friend's house and my anxious mom brain immediately thought someone was hurt, so I threw down the shears and went running barefoot in my pajamas to the corner. "Nothing's wrong. Don't worry." (The kid knows me.) And this was it, the source of the screaming for me to come - a baby mole. He was concerned it had lost its mom and he wanted to keep it. Luckily, I had my phone (which is how I was able to document this moment), so I could look up what to do if you find a baby mole. Answer - walk away, leave it alone, mom is likely hiding until humans are gone. But he wouldn't walk away. He was so worried - it was too little to even be afraid of us, so he stayed like this watching it for quite some time. I called Grammy for some reinforcement and she suggested we move far enough away to not spook the mom but so we could still see it. We took her advice and moved down the cul-de-sac a bit and waited. "This could take a while, H." "Should one of us go get snacks," he asks. When we walked Chief later that night, H ran ahead and texted back , "The mama mole found the baby." The baby mole was gone and my optimist child always chooses the happy ending. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ece7a026-6649-46c4-ab8b-e9b8e49e7349/Oct+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 292/366 10-18-20 Technically, this is from the 17th. I haven't been super motivated to shoot everyday, so some days end without a photo. I tried switching cameras to up the motivation, but the quality isn't as great as my Canon, so that isn't motivating me either. The positive thing is that these lulls always end in big inspiration, so I'm riding it out. In any event, this was from Homeschool Art Day (which was pretty much the best day ever, where we watched YouTube art videos about what colors sound like and then painted to music all afternoon). Even though this isn't always how homeschool goes, this is how I want to remember it once they return to school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/80dfdc32-1d05-431a-af25-4eec60a1040a/Oct+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 293/366 10-19-20 I heard something and glanced around the corner from my office to find H like this. We are trying to follow the school curriculum as much as possible since he's returning in January, but sometimes it's material he's studied before and he gets bored. He can't skip lessons (it's not perfect, but overall, this curriculum is great for him.) This lesson was on story structure, which is something H practices EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. He said doing push ups made the lesson go faster - whatever works, kid. Now to decide if I will record this as PE or Language Arts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/45425a36-fa19-4296-8c00-2f16fa0867ba/Oct+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 294/366 10-20-20 Clearly, homeschooling in a bar is some serious fun. Learning their/they're/there is proving to be a laugh riot. Who knew? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d34fa017-82ad-4e7b-b63a-537297695054/Oct+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 295/366 10-21-20 Autumn is my favorite season. The flush of red and gold a brief reminder that everything is sweeter when we know it cannot last. -Gabriel Andreas My kids are downstairs fighting. Literal "I'm not touching you, you're touching me" fight, neither willing to move from the MIDDLE of the couch. It's not like this often. When it is, I walk away because 1) that is clearly not a place for reasonable parenting, and I try to avoid being unreasonable & 2) I want to get away to reflect and remind myself what a blessing these 4 months are. Although I will get way more done on my to do list, I realize how empty this house will seem when they go back to school. There will be no more Wednesday morning walks in the fog, searching for fall leaves for descriptive writing projects. There will be no more long uninterrupted afternoons sketching together to classical music. I won't get to experience those a-ha moments when one of them finally breaks through a learning barrier. I'll miss pulling up next to H to watch an algebra video so we can work through new material together. And M snuggling up close (sharing her blanket even when I don't ask because she knows I'm always cold) as we read about Sacagawea and the electoral college and dragons. I'm fairly certain the fighting has stopped, but I think I just heard crumbling paper, likely the narrative writing graphic organizer I left on the table. The first balled up paper this week, so I'm calling it a win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/108d6be4-6d59-4d48-833b-e5ac59272300/Oct+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 296/366 10-22-20 I don't think the hungry 12-year-old will agree with this lunch menu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2a8ff8ee-8c31-444c-9237-496b696de50d/Oct+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 297/366 10-23-20 Well, I guess we are doing this. I panicked a bit before bed, but then Chiefy came and cuddled with me and reminded me that it can all turn out amazing (even if the beginning makes me question my sanity). These two great dog-loving kids have watched videos and read about strategies to avoid littermate syndrome, we're stocked up with treats & collars & leashes & toys & kennels and we're ready for our 2-week trial (this rescue won't commit until the potential families do a 2-week run). Pray for us. Seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4b0b0088-3033-449b-8946-c9b5de46e5e8/Oct+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 298/366 10-24-20 Adopting a puppy is challenging. Adopting two puppies is more challenging. Adopting two puppies during the coldest week of the year is insane. But having two great dog kids helps. H couldn't handle watching her shiver on her first walk, so he stole my scarf and bundled her up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/167684cf-0874-46cf-acfc-04835f67fd62/Oct+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 299/366 10-25-20 This may be the point where the gratitude project becomes the puppy project. But, come on, how adorable are these kids with these puppies! I can't even handle how sweet and good they are. M could give lessons on dog training - she's so confident and determined and patient. It's cool to watch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/75f03d4d-2dd6-4009-a714-a7621f1dbc29/Oct+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 300/366 10-26-20 My days right now couldn't be better summed up than this (well, maybe if there was a little razor teeth tear in that paper). Puppies and homeschool - it's way more chill than it sounds. On a related note, my kids learned a new phrase this week, "Let sleeping dogs lie." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/24db2d59-f2c9-40cb-8cb7-ac067fcbc520/oct+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 301/366 10-27-20 Once we get them not chewing on the instruments, they absolutely love music. It's how we get them to calm down and nap (usually YouTube videos, but sometimes they get lucky and get a live show). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5de56b36-4770-450e-b654-b93f8c74f324/oct+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 302/366 10-28-20 Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting - over and over announcing your place in the family of things. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/73b02dc9-ecec-4153-a16f-a3d90349e3ae/oct+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 303/366 10-29-20 Cool dog and Kool Kat (he would cringe if he read this, but that's my job as the mom of a teen son). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1043fae7-81e5-41b3-87d5-e86d29bdeaca/oct+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 304/366 10-30-20 The hardest part of getting puppies this time of year is the weather. It's not easy training dogs when we're confined to the basement. It looks like we get a break for a while - mostly 65-70 through next Monday! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a80b93ca-45b9-40d3-9506-fa58d2177415/oct+31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 305/366 10-31-20 So, this is what has become of my life - making sure these puppies are never out of sight. For puppies, though, these two are heavy on the cute and light on the destruction (though not completely void of it). It's possible that Chief just prepared me for anything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d2a8eb98-f0f3-4914-bc08-62a9fcb7cd5b/nov+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 306/366 11-1-20 I'm not playing favorites - Zelda just chose to pose in some pretty light, so I took the opportunity . This puppy reminds me so much of sweet SpotDog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/91db147e-1705-46df-836e-7dd8858c8887/nov+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 307/366 11-2-20 School is a little more fun with a puppy friend to "help" - not sure exactly what is happening here, but I'm hoping M is reading to Lily. History isn't her favorite subject, so most days it's a struggle. Math all day long would be her dream day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/709d8309-9249-48de-9029-f44c8adff5f0/nov+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 308/366 11-3-20 It's a photo without a puppy ;-D What's happening? I really just needed to grab my macro lens and escape reality for a bit. What I pray for is more listening and less shaming, more grace and less judgement, more patience and less labeling. When we stop sharing our stories or shush those who are trying to share theirs, we've given up on progress. As far as we seem from one another, there is always common ground that can lead to conversation (talking with, not to or at) that, ultimately, can lead to change. No one has ever changed their opinion because they were shushed and told they're not worthy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/62602601-8947-4380-abab-b8a9d9d6587d/nov+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 309/366 11-4-20 I asked the kids for the entire week if they had their Halloween costumes prepped. Both were adamant that they were ready. (We have a lot of costumes, so shopping for Halloween isn't always necessary). On October 30, M asked if we could "just check Amazon and see what they have for one day delivery." With a warning that one day delivery can mean well after trick or treating, she picked out a flowing dress and giant butterfly wings .... which arrived well after we started trick or treating. She found an option (after three quick changes and a full face of Koala face paint applied and washed off) and was able to enjoy the night. And now she has the perfect leash training outfit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bb3fafab-0182-43b4-9f6e-85d081e37e10/nov+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 310/366 11-5-20 Almost to a fault, I'm always looking for the lesson in the struggle. I can't sit in the hurt and not have faith that there is something to be gained from the experience. Maybe this spiral will snap us out of hate. Is it too optimistic to think we can collectively learn from this impossible year and be better from it? But, really, even one is a start .... one at a time is the only way anything big ever happens. Dawn is always the worst (the best) for me in this regard - the new day, hope, the miracle of those colors and the comfort that, despite everything, the sun comes in the morning. I'm a realist, though, and I know where we are and how much there is to overcome. I live through the harsh afternoon sun as well. But I will always sit with a sunrise, taking the time to latch on to the hope and everyday miracles. I think it's the only way to the other side - if we just stay angry or anxious and don't believe things can change, there really is no chance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/050e24b4-4fbe-41a3-8787-8443ce46bdab/nov+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 311/366 11-6-20 Every day at 3, we do doggy brain work. Sometimes it's commands, sometimes obstacle course and sometimes, M's favorite, the treat hunt! We thought this contraption would be the easiest - it's an old LEGO advent calendar insert and we just dropped the treats in. What we didn't realize is that the containers are about a centimeter beyond their noses, so they couldn't get to the treats. M gave them some help, lifting it up and dropping it so a few would pop out at a time. Eventually, the puppies realized they could do the same things with their paws. Not saying this is "easy," but I don't remember puppies being this fun. In the past, I focused on the digging and peeing and annoyances and forgot to take in the childlike wonder of a puppy and these cool moments when they learn something new. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2daa0946-3a4f-4632-93f8-501e81886e79/nov+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 312/366 11-7-20 Three dogs (Chief, usually the smiler, wasn't having it), a family who hasn't "dressed up" since March, wind gusts that could knock you over, one lost remote so we had to use the self timer (Mom, RUUUN, it's blinking faster) and me misjudging the sunlight timing, BUT we are all in a 2020 picture and that's what I wanted. Sorry, family, you will probably have to dress up again before November 2021 because I'm hiring a professional family photographer for our next portrait. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ceaf5e11-2d9c-4aac-87a0-6c2ca8f74c72/nov+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 313/366 11-8-20 I turned the wrong way after dropping H at youth group and had to turn around at the end of someone's driveway. When my car lights hit this pole, I gasped and paused at the scene and thought, "I should take a picture of this." And then I thought how weird that was - it's just a pole and some weeds. But something about it kept me there. The movement, those colors, that sky and just the whole midwestern journey feel of it. And then I realized that pausing at all means that I may have gone off track in my thinking about this project. It's right there in my description of why I am doing it --- "This project isn’t about proving a talent or perfecting a skill. This project focuses on noticing, on being aware of the blessings placed in front of me and capturing them, and on being grateful for the gift of seeing ... this project is about noticing those things and then gratefully documenting them." I'm glad I stopped. I'm printing this one. It resonates and I can't really put my finger completely on the why. It gives me emotions that I haven't quite wrapped up yet and I feel like it will do me good to look at it more often. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bb5e8f9f-abda-4962-a5a5-ef4bdfcc6df4/nov+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 314/366 11-9-20 We knew we only had one day left of this gorgeous weather, so we took advantage. Playing guitar barefoot in November. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6f2317b1-5a49-493c-83a5-ce124c03fa25/Nov+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 315/366 11-10-20 H is way more chill with his training methods. Luckily, his puppy is pretty chill too, so it's a good match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b0414f02-d4c4-4eff-8aa0-5968cc8764b5/Nov+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 316/366 11-11-20 I have the wake-up shift with the puppies. I'm not a huge fan of the cold and not sleeping in, but seeing these sunrises makes up for all of that! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8900efc7-1025-4600-bb81-d393f09a2778/Nov+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 317/366 11-12-20 She's always had her own way of doing things I learned a long time ago to encourage her to trust what works for her even if it's not the "normal" way. She is rocking this new instrument and getting us all in the Christmas spirit with multiple Silver Bells performances daily. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a05ee2bb-3d9c-4384-8f53-07ea18476603/Nov+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 318/366 11-13-20 I've said it before - it's not what they teach at Sagasu, it's HOW. Look at all of those cheers surrounding H as he kicks the bag over. That's not coincidence. They've worked hard to build a culture of support, a place where kids are empowered to reach their goals but humble enough to celebrate others' achievements as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/97ae6243-c10b-4913-92b5-c2411b9994ba/Nov+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 319/366 11-14-20 I'm always pulling off on the shoulder to photograph pretty skies. The kids don't even question it when they feel the car slowing to a stop on the shoulder as the window comes down. The other night, H got annoyed because I said he was taking too long to get off the couch and take the clearly-about-to-pee-in-the-house Zelda outside. "I'm going - stop telling me to do something I am already doing." (and then some sort of grumbling in teen as he walked outside.) This is pretty rare for H, and I kind of get the short temper with two new puppies and, well, just the whole stress of everything 2020. About a minute after he was outside, he came to the door and yelled at us to get outside. His tone had changed so much, I thought something had happened with Zelda. But it was the sky he wanted us to see. There was a lightning storm in the distance turning the clouds all sorts of great shining colors all around him. Two things here. 1 - The awesome sky instantly changed his mood. 2 - He wanted to share it with all of us. About half the time, I think I'm screwing up this parenting thing, but if he lives his life being awed by nature AND wanting to share that with others, I'll take that as at least one win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/edd1773b-60d2-4086-add5-5f3447711040/Nov+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 320/366 11-15-20 This year was going to be the first time we hosted Christmas since before H was born. We're always the ones traveling to Dallas or NY over the holidays. We rarely even decorate except for the inside tree and some LEGO advent calendars on the dining room table. It's not awesome that COVID is keeping family away, but it is awesome that we are decorating early (and maybe even a little overboard) in our new home. And I know EJ is grateful for his two "helpers." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d7135c17-55cd-4ab6-bb5b-dda656480510/Nov+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 321/366 11-16-20 It seems like an insignificant photo - just a group of kids playing in a parking lot. But this was a giant blessing of an afternoon for us. Right about the time I was at the edge of panic for my kids (and myself too) that this groundhog day schedule was pushing us close to depression, I got an email from a local homeschool group about their weekly meetups. Just getting out was great, but it went beyond. My kids actually found kids they clicked with and those kids' parents were awesome too. It felt amazing to be outside WITH PEOPLE, and to know it's a weekly thing has made us all a little perkier this morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/eb1743f9-9b81-44a2-9d99-e84d70f19dc5/Nov+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 322/366 11-17-20 Did you know it's fairly common for littermates to have different dads? It's not something I really considered until it was mentioned in one of my Facebook groups. It's pretty obvious Zelda and Lily are not the same breed. I used to wake up with coffee and my computer, but now it's coffee and puppies. And even when I get on my computer, it's pretty much all puppies because of the Facebook groups when we got these two. My feed is all puppies, birds, gardening and homeschool. It reminds me of old Facebook and it's nice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/40d3e1c2-409e-4e92-9d39-b61e57b894eb/Nov+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 323/366 11-18-20 There's a lot of talk about the negative ways people are handling this virus, but I am really overwhelmed with the amazing sacrifices and willingness to adapt. It's hard to isolate, it's hard to try to run a business with COVID constantly in the background, it's hard to sacrifice all the best things about teaching but continue to teach because of the love of kids and it's hard that when we finally do get to see people, hugs are banned and all of the smiles are covered by masks. But most of us are doing it - the majority of people are making the sacrifices and it's okay to take a break from the frustration and celebrate those victories. It was pretty last minute when I asked our music teacher to switch to a virtual lesson, but she and the kids didn't even flinch. They set it all up, no complaints, and made great music through the screen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cdbf9cc7-870e-4ba7-8a2a-bcc5b10cf065/nov+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 324/366 11-19-20 I'm not gonna lie - the first couple of weeks, I had sudden moments of panic. What in the world had I done bringing 2 puppies into the house?!? Just when we were settled and in a routine, I find these two crazy puppies for the kids. Now we have a completely different schedule, a puppy-proofed basement (to include all of the basement carpets rolled up and stored until potty training is complete), an increased vet and pet food budget and, the best part, a whole lot more cuddling. Their personalities are coming through and the nicknames are piling up (a sampling for the curious - Lily ->Lilycakes, Elle, 2x4, Lil and Zelda -> Zeldabear, Zee, Trash Panda), they have suckered us into a basket full of new puppy toys, and they have full reign of the basement couch. Maybe settled and routine is overrated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ed90e29b-db8e-4e5f-b153-bbd018cced55/nov+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 325/366 11-20-20 We're spending a lot more time in the basement now since that's the puppy's space. H was lounging next to the big sliding door with that light coming in just right, so I made him pose for me. Unbrushed hair, sweatpants, quite likely the shirt he slept in, but I love it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/12e6ecda-e4ac-4fa2-931b-6304ace2c041/nov+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 326/366 11-21-20 She lost a tooth and told us that she needed to show her friend immediately. I don't know who was more excited. I have a lifelong best friend like this where the celebrations are mutual, where the important events aren't quite complete until the news is shared with her. I wish this for these girls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fbaabaf5-745f-4c2c-bf27-e722173a9260/nov+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 327/366 11-22-20 I haven't been down to the ponds in weeks. I was worried I had missed the best colors of fall, that everything had shifted from autumn hues to winter blah without me taking it all in. But there it was, this shiny warm leaf, waiting for me in the middle of the sticks and cold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b02809d8-9ff1-485b-88e4-34394c1954cb/nov+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 328/366 11-23-20 One bad thing about the puppies - the transition back to the classroom will be even more difficult (for the puppies and the humans). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a0eef8a0-b92e-4854-9899-417919b010c1/nov+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 329/366 11-23-20 48 hours before dinner and these two are prepping the turkey. Thanks goodness for them because I can't imagine prepping dinner two days in advance. I'm patting myself on the back if I've even planned dinner 2 HOURS before it happens. I do help with Thanksgiving dinner, but it's more last minute stuff like cranberries and creamed spinach and Brussels sprouts. And I don't mind doing dishes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/185328d3-f295-4f99-9d4b-7fd74b7194ed/nov+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 330/366 11-24-20 What we have here is a child who didn't like wearing her glasses, so she lost two pair over the past year (taking them on and off and on and off). Now she has no pairs of glasses and her eyes are really starting to bother her. She has vowed to wear them constantly this time around. As we are all learning this year, sometimes it takes losing something to realize how vital that thing is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1f135470-a26f-4a79-ae9c-1a3d21fa19b3/nov+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 331/366 11-25-20 Anytime I see an airplane, I go to the stories on board. I imagine where the travelers are going. Is it a honeymoon? Are they traveling to someone's deathbed to say final goodbyes? Is it just a fun trip where everyone can drop the everyday stress and relax for once? But this is 2020 and this is Thanksgiving, so the airplane stories just made me sad because I want it to be my family coming to visit here. But this is a gratitude project, not a what am I sad about project. And here I am walking my dogs in my safe neighborhood looking at this beautiful sky knowing that, when the time comes, we are all healthy and able to travel. And those are wonderful blessings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d5b34b32-2223-40c6-94ec-b629a405faeb/nov+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 332/366 11-27-20 After this pandemic has passed, I am begging my best friend to visit immediately so we can fall back in uncontrollable fits of ridiculous best friend laughter. It is one of the very best experiences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3e908674-c941-47e5-a789-5231d97eb841/nov+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 333/366 11-28-20 Still, what I want in my life is to be willing to be dazzled— to cast aside the weight of facts and maybe even to float a little above this difficult world. I want to believe I am looking into the white fire of a great mystery. I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing— that the light is everything... And I do. ― Mary Oliver, House of Light https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/38ada4a6-27e9-447c-ad75-858926bafa73/nov+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 334/366 11-29-20 I loved that first night after the sun set and all of our Christmas lights were shining in the darkness. But nothing beats coming downstairs to the quiet of the tree lights and the sunrise. It reminds me of that calm before the storm on Christmas mornings, the anticipation and wonder and joy. It stinks that we won't be spending Christmas with extended family this year, but I'm excited about starting new traditions in our forever home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a9adec6f-c192-4acf-be6a-36950be73743/nov+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 335/366 11-30-20 Our new homeschool group couldn't meet in person, but we were able to do a LEGO Zoom meetup and the kids absolutely loved it! I think this was when they were doing the " build your favorite Thanksgiving treat" challenge. (H=apple crumble & M=stuffing) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/21fb6e47-2e43-48c9-b1d9-0a7b6ab6805b/dec+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 336/366 12-1-20 With 2 new puppies and 2 homeschooling kids, we are on a pretty strict schedule. Otherwise, we might just cuddle and watch YouTube videos all day, which is exactly where I found everyone after I got stuck on a phone call well past the scheduled break time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4ea24cd4-a262-4b91-a312-1e7786bc2012/dec+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 337/366 12-2-20 December 2nd, National Mutt Day, encourages us to embrace, save and celebrate mixed breed dogs. Guess we are going all in for that in this house. I said I would never get another puppy and certainly not another large breed dog. I said our next dog would be the scruffy, lazy type. And I see these three here, basically Chief and two miniature versions of Chief and it's obvious what has happened. It would happen to anyone living with Chief though. Despite being the most challenging puppy in the entire history of puppies, she may be the very best dog in all history. And, thankfully, Lily and Zelda are proving calm (for puppies) and cuddly and wonderful and the perfect fit for our family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/93cd2590-f12d-46a0-b2fb-12035fa9458e/Dec+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 338/366 12-3-20 This light shows up every night in our living room. It lasts for about 2 minutes as the sun sets through the porch door and then disappears as quickly as it appeared. I always think I should grab my camera to document it because this light makes me feel at home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e1761a91-b697-4a74-a33f-dd39f169daac/Dec+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 339/366 12-4-20 "H, do you mind if I stop for a minute to take a picture of that cloud bird?" "Of course not - you have to take a picture of that! That's so cool!" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7b71222e-ba40-4bf0-9b1e-ce203a48b2ac/Dec+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 340/366 12-5-20 This is two seconds before she pounced on her sister. I have to say, though, these are the easiest puppies we've ever had. I don't want to jinx myself - maybe I'm remembering incorrectly and the chewing and potty training headaches come later? For now, the sibling rivalry is the only frustration and that's not even that bad. Fingers crossed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d89363f2-146e-4e13-8329-2bd36c9e024a/Dec+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 341/366 12-6-20 I'm kind of obsessed with M's Christmas ornament making skills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c72dabb8-e072-46c9-aeb0-02387006e59a/Dec+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 342/366 12-7-20 Another great time at our new homeschool group! This game was hilarious! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e1c1b8e4-6b8d-47c0-a6ce-0c9229de9a20/Dec+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 343/366 12-8-20 These two crack me up. I don't know what M will do once Lily is too big to lift because she is always carrying and babying this sweet puppy. Lily is eating and growing like crazy, though, so it's going to be soon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a1f205f6-83c3-434b-8b87-42923516b133/Dec+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 344/366 12-9-20 M came running in from the backyard exclaiming, "Mom!!! I heard an owl out there!! There's an owl behind our house!!!!" I often worry about the mistakes I am making that will screw up my kids, but there is one thing I've helped influence that will certainly make their lives fuller - they notice things. Colors and bird calls, a cool new shirt that they are quick to complement or the way people's faces shift when their mood shifts. They notice the details and they aren't hesitant to share the wonder with others. When these geese came flying overhead, we all shifted our gaze, even the puppies. I guess they are noticers too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f7c2519d-37e1-4035-973c-1ad881cc4c51/Dec+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 345/366 12-10-20 There is absolutely no way this puppy transition would have worked without H&M being so helpful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7b98fb61-aeb8-43c6-8d00-29d31f15632a/Dec+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 346/366 12-11-20 I've been trying to get away with a simple IKEA magnifying mirror for years now, but I finally gave in and bought the 10x lighted one. It's not labeled like the 90s ones, but it has the different lighting settings - daytime, evening, indoor. I remember how much fun we had with these as kids, switching the lights back and forth and playing with the different magnifications. Mila could sit here for hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0bc7b17a-e277-438a-9733-044567c0bff5/Dec+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 347/366 12-12-20 It's cookie time!!!! We have, hands down, the best family sugar cookie recipe from EJ's mom. There are a lot of rules that make it the best, starting with the timing of when the cookies are cut to rotating them on the oven racks to icing (this is the only rule I don't agree with - I think you can have blue & red stars and yellow Christmas trees, but EJ is a little more strict). The kids were trying to be extra efficient, saving as much space on the roll out as possible, puzzling the cutters to utilize all the space. They took too long and the timing was off, so we had a floppy first batch. After some eye rolls and deep breathing, we got our assembly line on track and did Mimi's recipe justice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0fba9fe3-ebe6-4b0d-991d-3239a8b4aae0/Dec+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 348/366 12-13-20 Cookie making, day 2. We're pretty much professionals now. Messy professionals, but still. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3e8e4eb8-ef2f-4955-b1e0-8737ce7f0195/Dec+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 349/366 12-14-20 We really had no idea, did we? During that first week, it never occurred to us that we wouldn't be celebrating Easter together. And here we are, a 4th of July, 3 birthdays, a Halloween and Thanksgiving later (and a Christmas & New Years on the horizon) away from family. We need good news. And we got good news. The light at the end of the tunnel. A glimpse of an end to this dark time. Here comes the sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c9cee124-3605-498c-b98f-a8d742e40a9e/Dec+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 350/366 12-15-20 I wonder what will be hardest when they go back to school - no nap time, having to sit in actual chairs, not having cuddly puppies around, not having 3 people home all day to take care of the puppies? And who will be hit hardest - dogs, kids, mom? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/261bdba3-733e-4886-bebf-f5f84e637b9e/Dec+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 351/366 12-16-20 As a kid, one of my favorite places to be in winter was over the floor vent covered in a sheet. I don't know if I told her about this or she figured it out on her own, but I think I may sneak over there with my own blanket later today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/daa0049b-e239-4eeb-a74e-85974f92c8ff/Dec+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 352/366 12-17-20 The video monitor is supposed to be for me to watch the dogs - I want to slowly give them the chance to be alone in the basement, but I don't want anything destroyed. Until the kids go back to school, they are always down there cuddling with the rups and watching YouTube Minecraft videos and cracking up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/393e8f5f-8b34-4d8e-a6e9-cbce2aeee73a/Dec+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 353/366 12-18-20 This kid has a chopstick obsession. He tried to use them on the little bead sprinkles, but you can guess how that went. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1e3d2502-fdbd-4a6f-82d7-77a9296c69d4/Dec+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 354/366 12-19-20 This upcoming Christmas Star event had us looking up more this week. I don't have lenses that allow me to photograph planets, but that doesn't keep me from trying to photograph the sky. It's almost as therapeutic as macro getting lost in the craters of the moon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/10eab9c6-fd2d-4c2d-bc31-04178e800213/Dec+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 355/366 12-20-20 It was such a blessing to find this homeschool group; I only wish we had found them sooner. (photo from the left/right present exchange game) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3548660e-0f58-4519-b09a-bee64ce6da37/Dec+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 356/366 12-21-20 Making the transition to 7th grade is hard already, but add a new district (which starts middle school in 6th grade unlike our last district which still has 6th in elementary) and a pandemic transition from homeschooling, and I was extra nervous for H. When we enrolled, the Delta teacher immediately took over, testing him to determine the right math class and letting him tour the school before he became a student. Then she made the extra effort to invite him to Delta classes these past two weeks so January wouldn't be such a shock. It has made all the difference with this transition, and I don't see any of that anxiety he had when we first started discussing this. (To avoid embarrassing the teen, I sat my camera on the dash and just pushed the button hoping for something usable to document this moment.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/aa849ad7-d79f-4afb-bac5-23d5920cfa0a/Dec+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 357/366 12-22-20 ZOOMIESx6 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9b038e5d-2bdc-456b-a829-2d582cb22651/Dec+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 358/366 12-23-20 Even when we travel to NY or Dallas, our evening Advent is something we carry with us every year wherever we are. This year, it was just us in our new home sharing my favorite of our Christmas traditions. Slowing down, sharing the story of Jesus' birth, hearing the family pray for one another and sharing gratitude, singing together before blowing out the candle & distributing treats - I can't pick a favorite part; it's just the entire collection of sharing something as a family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f0188af3-9a36-4f50-86e8-b1ac57ebd00f/Dec+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 359/366 12-24-20 I think the best part of this year's present opening was how excited they were for one another. It helps that LEGOs, laser fights, Nerf wars and Switch games are at the top of BOTH of their lists! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d2b62d5b-ac94-4159-968d-e05510c20df9/Dec+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 360/366 12-25-20 I'm not complaining that a video game is their favorite Christmas gift this year. WIN/WIN for crossing off fitness and screen time with this game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ddd0c0bc-e2d5-4943-b290-804f6a13e640/Dec+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 361/366 12-26-20 I was hesitant about the idea of a 3D printer - it seemed like a high value gift that didn't have a lot of usefulness. I'm not sure if his first creation is because he loves me so much or because he felt my hesitancy and wanted to prove its usefulness, but I LOOOOOVE my new elephant! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/47d3972e-5a5c-4212-83ec-6385852962db/Dec+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 362/366 12-27-20 Chief with the stare of "please don't ever put a tree in my space ever again." I don't know how to break it to her that it will happen every December. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/911c6291-29a5-44ff-8ad4-62b690d441aa/Dec+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 363/366 12-28-20 As much as I want all the LEGOs upstairs in the Creativity Room and rest of the gifts stowed away in their rooms & the basement, I have to admit that I love the chaos of the week after Christmas when our dining room table is a building table and friends are in and out all the time sharing the excitement of new gifts and free time before the new school semester begins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0f04fc2f-4532-4636-9a31-9310606159ec/Dec+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 364/366 12-29-20 Yes. Those are treats on her paws. I would like to report that this is due to our incredible training ability, but Zelda does not do this - she looks at us with her smarmy expression and makes a game of stealing the treats as fast as possible. And Lily hasn't mastered all of our commands at this point either. But LEAVE IT with treats is her specialty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8384e965-5ac0-4578-84b6-767fa7c5b291/Dec+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 365/366 12-30-20 I love birds. So much so that the phrase, "I love birds!" is a joke around our house. But as much as they joke about my passion, they always support it. I get texts and yelled alerts and gasps when cool birds are around because they know how much I appreciate them. They push me to take time to study and search and photograph the birds. I'm sure I falter, but my hope is that they feel how I honor their passions as well, that I pause and take in what awes them and find opportunities to share the joy that a passion allows us. I can't really explain why I love them so much .... it's just a part of my soul, I suppose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e318e05a-b3a9-466c-9d65-26b4e9cd75d4/Dec+31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 4) - Make it stand out 366/366 12-31-20 I have been loving the On Pointe docuseries on Disney Plus. It wasn't until yesterday's episode that I realized the episodes were created in 2019/2020. As their Nutcracker performances were wrapping up, the chatter was in the background - no panic yet, but there were mentions of "a virus" and a scene with an RA disinfecting front desk pens. I was already sucked in but, in that moment, I wished I hadn't started the series. I knew what was about to happen to these kids. Their passion, all of their hard work prepping for spring performances, spending every day with others as excited about dance as they were --- it was all about to come to a screeching halt. And they had no idea. As they packed "just a little extra" for the extended Spring Break and waved to friends as they stepped into airports, they had no idea. Like all of us, they had no clue what 2020 had in store. As the Zoom classes started, I had to turn it off. For then, at least. It was too much. I wonder, had I known what was in store for 2020, would I have started this project? As it ends, I see the benefit. I realize how the reflections helped me survive it. But I don't know that I would have signed up for a Gratitude Project knowing we were about to endure what this year threw at us. Yesterday, I realized that my project numbers were off. Somehow, I was at 358 of 366, so I had to go back to 1/366 and figure out where I got off track. As I clicked through the year, I was overwhelmed with the emotions, the growth, the longing for friends and family but also the extra time with my immediate family. I know the project was beneficial, but I don't think I will experience the full impact until we are away from this pandemic for some time. I think that's when the messages will sink in, like watching a long ago docuseries about my own life, with my own reflections, about an important time of growth that I would not have chosen given the choice. But that's the thing, isn't it? We can't choose what we live. We can only choose what we give to it and, eventually, hopefully, the lessons we take away from it. -------- (New Year's Eve tradition - awful selfies with new year's glasses after watching early fake countdown.) https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/the-gratitude-project-part-3 monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5e9b8a75-ce7e-4e23-bde1-4fd173e51208/the+whole+year.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/85e545a0-b282-41c0-abbf-6f61a7e7a73f/July+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 183/366 7-1-20 I made it half way through the project and I'm making a new album because it's getting tedious scrolling through all of these images. I've done a fair job sticking to the goals of the project, but I do think there is something lacking that I haven't been able to put into words just yet. I'm fairly certain it has something to do with being as effortlessly cool as this girl, not thinking so much about my surroundings but still somehow noticing all of the good stuff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2ca6add0-d8a9-439e-a2e3-773ecd59f080/July+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 184/366 7-2-20 Soften. Soften into the world around you. Allow the air and earth to heal, revive, rejuvenate, reawaken. Remember how wildness always holds you close- strong, consistent, slow, and steady. Rocks you in scents and sights and rhythms. Is always there to ground us. Is always soothing and knowing, and simple, and ready. - Victoria Erickson Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there. ~Rumi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1403f60d-5707-4d84-b991-0916fafb40b7/July+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 185/366 7-3-20 It was a night that felt normal, making childhood memories that will last well into adulthood. Childhood memories that weren't filled with what they were missing or who they were avoiding or what was threatening. Just complete amazement brought to them by explosions and sparks and friendship and celebration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3a2ab4d4-1f36-4cf3-b0f3-23a30b493f1d/July+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 186/366 7-4-20 This Pokemon Go obsession has made for some amazing hikes this past week. Okay, so their heads are in a screen a lot of the time, but at least it's not news or social media or lazing on a bean bag playing Switch. They are moving and stopping and even tearing their eyes away from the screen when I point out a cool bird. And we are all escaping, which I think is healthy and necessary right now. I know that the troubles don't end when we turn off the TV or stop scrolling the feeds, but those screens seem intent on escalating the hate and eliminating discussion. I truly believe that our individual stories are the only thing that will help us co-exist, and all I see on screens is people being shushed and shamed on all sides. It's difficult to counter-balance when no one is communicating off the screen either because we are all social distancing. I don't know how we are going to come out on the other side of this, but I know it won't be because we refused to listen to the views we don't agree with. H is taking the daily news the hardest, mainly because he is an optimist and a fixer. These are tough times for the optimist fixer. We've had some heartbreaking conversations, and I don't know all of the answers, but I feel like what I do know is this - Be kind, talk less and listen more (especially when you disagree or don't understand -- more "Why do you say that?" less "You're an idiot for saying that.") and trust that God is in charge -- some of my darkest days were part of the necessary path to my greatest joys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/81f7c39f-4620-43db-bf1c-fa1bb007780f/July+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 187/366 7-5-20 We have babies!!! And, since these are mockingbird babies, I totally risked my life getting this shot. You've never met a more protective momma bird than a mockingbird. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c70826df-0b89-4d20-a02d-3c92c33d7fc4/July+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 188/366 7-6-20 I love these nightly family walks so much that I don't even care that those bent elbows mean they are playing Pokemon Go AGAIN. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9db14524-e798-4984-b704-72c0756a6d9e/July+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 189/366 7-7-20 We pumped up the music from the video and made a chalk Amarelinha Africana and it was AWESOME! But be prepared to be wiped out because it is also way high energy. I kept wishing we had made a shorter hopscotch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/185543df-54c6-403e-8668-9bd0dc0abdf9/July+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 190/366 7-8-20 One of my favorite pictures of M is In our Carlisle front door, complete with "I'm taking on the world" eyes in her Supergirl Underoos. While I was cleaning the windows, she came out to talk with me and I made her stop for a picture. I think this will be an annual event from now on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/eae96bb2-ac22-470f-92fa-4de1c372ca2a/July+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 191/366 7-9-20 We finally found a guitar / ukulele teacher we love, so they are back to weekly lessons and daily (well, most days) practicing. At their first lesson, she let them choose any song they wanted to learn. H chose Lean On Me - he hopes to learn it well enough to post online because he thinks people need to remember to lean on one another during hard times. M chose Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds because she loves The Beatles and that's her favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/193a573f-f16b-47a7-a720-279cdbb5fc96/July+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 192/366 7-10-20 I didn't used to consider myself a morning person, but I have a hard time functioning throughout the rest of the day if I get up too long after the sun. There is peace there, a fresh start and an optimism. Slow and free of distractions and snap judgements and chatter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0faa9a58-6973-46ec-b9b1-b6315460f861/July+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 193/366 7-11-20 I saw a poem about lessons a poet learned from her grandmother and that, combined with new purple flowers in my garden, got me thinking about my own grandma. She was blessed with an effortless beauty, an hourglass figure and hands that automatically posed themselves when a camera turned her way. But, should she think about it too long, she would override that natural instinct and flip you the bird. And then you would likely see a smudge of petal or line of dirt competing with weekly manicured nails. I don't think I ever witnessed my grandmother walk past a flowerbed without leaning down to deadhead a stem or pull a weed, and it didn't matter if she was dressed for church or in cut-off jeans and an apron - gardens are not wardrobe specific and gloves are optional. It was as natural as breathing to tend to the flowers. It wasn't work because it was something she loved, and she passed this on to my mom, my sister and me. And what a blessing that is for all of us, to have that escape to a place full of life and lessons and memories and connection to one another. This poem (and this flower that appears to be flipping me the bird) were the inspiration for today's gratitude project photo reflection Grandma once gave me a tip: During difficult times, you move forward in small steps. Do what you have to do, but little by bit. Don't think about the future, not even what might happen tomorrow. Wash the dishes. Take off the dust. Write a letter. Make some soup. Do you see? You are moving forward step by step. Take a step and stop. Get some rest. Compliment yourself. Take another step. Then another one. You won't notice, but your steps will grow bigger and bigger. And time will come when you can think about the future without crying. Good morning - Elena Mikhalkova, "The Room of Ancient Keys" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e17cd96f-d1f3-41a0-aef6-ddb7b59134f8/July+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 194/366 7-12-20 With all of the routine and normalcy we've had to give up, it's nice to be able to make create some traditions. Sunday morning = family swim time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0001e01f-4f84-437f-afc3-e3efbee52ddd/July+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 195/366 7-13-20 Even with this project, there are days I forget to pick up the camera. This picture is not from the 13th, but it is a memory from this summer that I want in my Gratitude Project book. This pool has been a place of escape for us, providing much needed exercise and Vitamin D and laughter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a28bb497-b379-4eab-90cb-d63f8f38bcc2/July+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 196/366 7-14-20 H and I started running again yesterday after 2 weeks off (not intentional, just slowly stopped running and then my shorts weren't fitting, so I made us start again). As we ran, he commented how fast the time went during our walks but how slowly it ticked away during the runs. As anyone with anxiety knows, anticipation is like that. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was more hopeful, thinking maybe our nationwide staying at home would halt the spread. I had a few sleepless nights, but mostly I just gave in and enjoyed the time with family, looking forward to the time when things would be normal again. I'm not naive; I knew it wouldn't disappear, but I didn't anticipate this level of spread. I didn't anticipate moving to our forever home only to limit our kids from making any new forever friends or not seeing extended family for over 6 months or rushing through Target trips to avoid contact. It's better that I didn't anticipate that - it would have crushed me in those early days. I needed the hope. And I'm still holding onto hope. There are the moments when I go into full panic, though, wondering how schools and elections and tension are going to fuel a full-on meltdown. If I go there, though, I miss the now. Getting lost in the anticipation takes me away from the present, and even though the present can seem pretty grim, there is beauty to be found here. It rained last night - crazy wind, flash floods and thunder - so this hibiscus isn't the grand flower I anticipated. I'm grateful I took the time to enjoy the bud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bc581135-0457-4e1e-9250-a26002c97c4d/July+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 197/366 7-15-20 Family walks and cool skies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fe0bca61-073b-4ff9-8ce6-6ff0fc326500/july+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 198/366 7-16-20 We don't use this room as much as the kitchen eating area, but I was packing up some large boxes in the foyer and M came in here to eat breakfast and chat while I did. And just look at her, that sweet face in that sweet light. I had to pause and capture this blessing of a moment when she chose to break her routine because she wanted to be near me making conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0d29160e-c929-4950-84c8-3c3ae680677c/july+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 199/366 7-17-20 I wish you could hear that sweet voice coming up the stairwell... ....Picture yourself in a boat on a river With tangerine trees and marmalade skies...... Lucy in the sky with diamonds Ah.... Her "ahs" are the sweetest sound. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/648b3dd7-70fd-42a1-bda1-48c20b9608af/july+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 200/366 7-18-20 I'm grabbing milk at Target yesterday and the announcement came on. That surreal announcement about masks and social distancing that makes me feel like I'm in the opening scene of a spooky pandemic movie. And even though we've been living this spooky pandemic movie for months, it always makes my gut twist and my throat catch. My days are mostly spent like this picture, just me and the kids and no intercoms, so I can cut off the reality of it all at times and feel like we're living a normal life right now. But then a random kid swims too close to us and I bristle or there's a mention of summer ending, which means school is starting and then I just get mad. The whole situation of impossible choices and the uncertainty of when these kids can go back to being kids breaks me if I don't shift away. But there is this. This toothless giggle right in front of me and her only concern is how quickly I'm dunking her over and over in the water. The little things, the magic in the moments where everything floats away and I am distraction free enough to focus on the absolute bliss that's right in front of me. I've lived my life believing there are lessons in every struggle. I write those lessons down in hopes that, when we get to the other side of this, the lessons don't fade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bbebf6df-2588-4ae9-b4a6-b0e53a93f666/july+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 201/366 7-19-20 They don't always work together as a team, but, when they do, it's golden! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2e3923ba-44ef-4640-b814-1f2d0661395e/july+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 202/366 7-20-20 Looks like we've picked our summer game and soundtrack - Spikeball and Hamilton it is! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/404fd29b-0835-43d5-96ff-339d53cfc4f9/july+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 203/366 7-21-20 Never can resist the puddle shots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d72970c6-7eb2-4255-94a8-eff435611ecd/july+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 204/366 7-22-20 This photo feels a little depressing for a Gratitude Project, but our world is kind of depressing right now, which makes finding the gratitude even more important. They had physicals yesterday and are in perfect health (beyond rashes caused by sweating too much because they are outside so much, which I see as a win). I'm hopeful that next July, I can look at this memory and be grateful we aren't living this socially distant lifestyle any longer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7172bfc6-4825-438b-9a2f-b2f8c53a068e/july+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 205/366 7-23-20 Having early riser kids isn't always a benefit (I need that one cup of coffee before I interact with anyone ), but when we are able to get to the pool first thing in the morning, it's awesome! We had the pool to ourselves for an hour and then it was just one other family for another hour. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2d00e5ad-2710-48c4-8f81-d870a9326a6f/july+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 206/366 7-24-20 It's all kind of running together, isn't it? The days, the isolation, pulling out as much joy in the allowed activities as we can, wondering how resilient these kids are and wondering, "where is their breaking point?" Are they holding it all together for the grown ups? Do they see the Stepford-like smiles covering our fear and anxiety and wonder if they are the only thing keeping us sane? Or maybe it's just so much their reality that they don't realize, as we do, what they are missing. We're comparing their reality to our own childhood memories .... of chicken fights in the shallow end and high fives and hugs at home plate and being packed arm to arm in the middle school cafeteria, respiratory-droplet-full waves of dramatic gasps and laughter overhead, waiting for school to start. ------ These masks and this social distancing - it's awful. People can downplay and shame, but the reality is that it's really freaking hard. It takes away smiles and touch and drives a wedge between connection and reconnection. Not being able to embrace old friends, to clearly hear that laughter as you lean in to share an old memory. Being scared to give into raw emotion because you’re afraid to touch your face to wipe your tears. It feels isolating and claustrophobic and confining & seeing an entire room masked up is a surreal lonely that brings the reality of pandemic to the forefront ... and that's almost just too much to handle. The only thing getting me through it is knowing this too shall pass. And hopefully we are learning from it - solid lessons that cement themselves into our psyche because they are that difficult. It's the hardest gratitude lesson of all - losing that which we take for granted in order to fully appreciate it when it's returned. ------- In middle school, I was a hugger. Somewhere along the way, I fell out of that. The rush of adult life, maybe a bit of cynicism, maybe the fear of adults being offended by huggers. I forgot how great a hug was until it was denied. Fair warning - I'm going to hug you so big on the other side of this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7c4975f4-5700-4f64-9f52-5f7ae4b8b760/july+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 207/366 7-25-20 There's nothing quite so satisfying as being the oldest kid in the piñata line. #dontholdback (and he certainly didn't!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9b0ae957-1cc2-4395-bad9-8423b9d632fd/july+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 208/366 7-26-20 When I first started walking this trail, I was amazed at the variety of birds, but the lack of even the simplest social interaction was unnerving. People would pass and look at the ground - it was during that quarantine phase when social distancing meant not even smiling or greeting one another. It was like we forgot how to be kind after being inside so long, or we were afraid that a smile was an invitation to not socially distance. Over the past few weeks, people have started interacting more. I'm seeing people for the 5th or 6th time and that long lens makes them curious - and we've finally figured out how to have conversations while social distancing. The best part is that the people who stop me are so excited to TALK ABOUT BIRDS!!!! I guess the COVID has one perk - way more bird people now. Like real bird people - they want to talk about calls and habits and other locations where they can find birds and they get really excited when I tell them about new birds I've seen on the trails. This isn't a new bird for me, but I like his bright cheeriness in the midst of the darkness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2f80dc95-cb5f-4e73-9ef1-e78dbab2c9ea/july+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 209/366 7-27-20 She will let me walk her most of the way to playdates, but then turns around and says, "I can make it the rest of the way." And then she bolts. I have to sneak to the other side of the street to make sure I see her get in the door. This independent child - it will serve her well, I know that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/18ce3b4f-c198-459a-a1ed-51660903ee7d/July+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 210/366 7-28-20 .... why try to explain miracles to children when you can just have them plant a garden? .... Robert Brault Grammy sent us Plumeria seeds. We prepped them, per her instructions, with a mixture of peroxide and water between paper towels & then planted them when we saw green. They started out looking like dead leaves but are now starting to sprout. We only used 1/4 of the seeds, so we plan on experimenting with different growing methods with the remaining seeds. Once we have several plants, H&M will each choose one as their own and the plan is for them to nurture it for several years until they have their own homes. Then they can pull off seed pods for their own children and grandchildren and share the miracle of gardening throughout the generations. .... where flowers bloom, so does hope .... Lady Bird Johnson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6eef42cf-1fa2-4b8d-8a81-10ed7a18355a/July+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 211/366 7-29-20 I don't know what I love more - that H was brave enough to paint directly on the bar or that EJ asked him to create something back there. H had me reading The Book Thief out loud while he painted, and I'm pretty sure that inspired some of it. If you haven't read that book, WOW! The poetic descriptions had me wanting to jump back there and paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8814ae2d-e7bd-47df-a9e9-9ae860110bac/July+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 212/366 7-30-20 She doesn't mind the rain, so she decided to cover him from the rain. (He doesn't mind the rain either, but he appreciated the thought.) I know it's hard to find since most of our lives are constricted to home and social media and news, but there are people weathering the storm together, helping one another. It's difficult to get past the political fights, the people giddy about someone dying from COVID and even wishing the disease on others , the constant divisive posts and memes and new stories, but the solidarity is there. I see moms on local pages giving away their old home school stuff even though they could make a bundle selling it, I see kind no-judgement conversations with people scared to send kids back to school, and I see people going out of their way to stand up for the rights of others (not because it will benefit them, but because it's the right thing to do). There is bad, but there is also good. Sometimes you just have to search a little harder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9bf8d21c-d65a-42aa-927d-00537e6cec9c/July+31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 213/366 7-31-20 I pulled out my camera to photograph how cool this pre-storm light was on the water, but then they started playing "which umbrella floats in the air the longest," and I decided that was the memory I wanted to keep instead. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/80c400a0-0ca8-43e0-8d20-1161aab98c96/August+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 214/366 8-1-20 The hummingbirds have arrived!!! It's all the talk in my KC FB bird groups - they were so thin in July that people were getting worried. I was out trying to capture some shots when these two (three) showed up. How adorable are they waiting for the birds! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e9d684e0-fff2-4985-a82b-0ecfd478f41d/August+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 215/366 8-2-20 It's not always the birds that catch my eye. I love how this butterfly matches the flowers and sky. Nature is so cool! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/68f75a43-3c52-4fd1-9f49-d35ad7428a53/August+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 216/366 8-3-20 A mom once told me (and I can't remember which mom) that each year gets better. "You think, 'Oh 5 is the best. But then they are 6, and that's better. And it just keeps getting better.'" Her kid hadn't reached pre-teen years, so I'm not sure if she would still give that advice, but I would. I just keep loving him, and the man he is becoming, more and more each year. I know it looks like just another kid on a screen here, but the stories he tells and the dreams he has that are connected to this screen - that's some gold right there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/86272361-3aa1-488e-b3a9-2a7976830b54/August+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 217/366 8-4-20 It's where the dark meets the light - that's where the magic happens. It's not always dramatic, not always rainbows or flare, but the edge of dark and light is the photography gold. And so it is with life. The helper in the midst of the turmoil, the good news at the end of a bad diagnosis, the one person willing to listen when you've been constantly talked over. The light Is brighter at the end of the tunnel, on the other side of dark times. It's the flowers after the rain, the strength because of the struggle, the saving grace at the end of defeat. It's feeling so dark now, but we have dealt with dark times in the past. We can learn from this, grow from this, maybe even appreciate life more because of it. We have a choice how we come out on the other side, and I really think it has much to do with how we treat one another, especially those we disagree with. Are we listening or shushing? Talking down or talking with? Asking "why is this important to you" or just jumping to "you're such an idiot to think/act/believe that!" Reading headlines and making decisions or slowing down and researching what we are sharing. I've always been an optimist. I have no doubt we WILL come out on the other side (I would collapse into a puddle of anxious sadness if I gave into pessimism), but I do wonder how long it will take and what darkness we will face along the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a66f32f7-c6ba-4197-9721-4424ae758cb1/August+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 218/366 8-5-20 Turns out, Pokemon Go takes you to all the cool places. Those Pokestops mark the landmarks we would probably never find in this little town if we weren't on the hunt for more Pokemon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/539876bf-9f0e-4f15-8b0a-b2bf692ef6b0/August+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 219/366 8-6-20 We didn't have to move yet. We have two more years until retirement and could have stayed on post for that time, but we wanted to get the kids into their "forever schools." COVID had other plans. Based on last quarter, we aren't really virtual school people, so I've been gearing up to homeschool. I called the middle school yesterday to tell them our plan and was reminded again why I chose this district. All of the kindness and willingness to meet us where we are was exactly what I experienced when I toured the school last year. I talked with the principal yesterday about my concerns teaching math - I'm completely comfortable planning everything else, but Algebra is not my strength. We won't enroll in the district until we plan on returning to the building, but the principal offered some extra math workbooks to keep us in sync with H's class until we are comfortable enrolling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/078364c6-7571-4515-8d3e-1d775faf2b9a/August+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 220/366 8-7-20 I've stopped trying to figure out her inner thermometer. We can all be bundled up and she's running around in nothing at all - and here it is, mid-August hot & humid and she's wearing a winter sweater (and winter sweater I begged her to wear when it was snowing and she was in short sleeves). I can just hear her, "What?!? My thermometer is different than yours!" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a1abd76a-35e2-4f8d-8fdf-9f2be85392d8/August+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 221/366 8-8-20 Summer sales on cool M shell necklaces, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a08ee5c3-2ac7-4313-8f31-578b35e06277/August+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 222/366 8-9-20 You know what will get me almost as excited as a new bird? A frog. I think they are funny and fascinating and I will always drop the water hose to grab my camera when I see one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c0539fc5-16f8-4dc4-9f63-078beadd5b8c/August+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 223/366 8-10-20 We FINALLY went to visit Grammy & Poppy! I hadn't even unloaded the car when she ran outside in her suit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4901d13f-a133-42db-bffb-72155875592d/August+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 224/366 8-11-20 One of my favorite places in the world - Grammy's greenhouse. There's always something magical happening in there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/84a73476-3b91-4bea-8e4d-69ad5eb430e3/August+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 225/366 8-12-20 When I asked the kids what their favorite part of the visit was, H said it was helping Grammy dig up her plants. If I didn't know him so well, I would think it's because she paid him $20, but he really loved being able to be with her and help her with something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4aa11b95-731d-4c80-9c36-b7d43ac3bacb/August+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 226/366 8-13-20 That look! This one is so competitive and beats us all at every game given enough time. She didn't master Gin this trip, but she will. Be certain, she will next time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8c8595e0-a09f-429b-9a83-edcdce3c1735/August+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 227/366 8-14-20 It wasn't nearly long enough. Until next time.... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e567d7ef-12ec-455d-8ea7-7d801dadd0dc/August+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 228/366 8-15-20 There's a bird here sitting in a tree on the upper left hand side of the picture - he's hard to see because I shot this with my "walking lens" - a tiny 40mm pancake lens. But it's there and it's a KINGFISHER!!!! We have seen him in the neighborhood but always at the other pond that's hard to get to & awkward - no paths and right up against neighbors' backyards. This is right at the ponds we walk around every night, the same ponds I walk to in my pajamas if I see mist or herons flying over in the morning. It's my new mission to capture him. They are the coolest birds! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7e1813f0-f390-41d0-9c0d-6706e7c70822/August+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 229/366 8-16-20 I've been growing passion flowers for over 10 years, always from the same vines from my mom's house. Sometimes I can carry them over from the previous year, but more often than not, she's digging up around her yard to mail me plastic bags full of healthy rooted starts. I've been waiting on this year's plant to finally bloom, but it wasn't budging - lots of leaves but no flowers. I yelped out loud when I saw the first bud this week - exactly what I needed because I am really missing her after returning from our too-short trip. This is like having a bit of Grammy right in our own backyard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/deaca522-0ef6-40c9-a64b-260ac0e06b56/August+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 230/366 8-17-20 We got back from our after dinner walk and I realized I hadn't taken one picture all day. We started half-day home schooling today - just pre-testing so I know what I should teach them - and time just got away from me. I was sitting at the bottom of these stairs watching the hummingbirds and hoping for a pretty sky when she came out. "Can I cut one of these flowers for my hair?" And then she sat down right in front of me and asked if I could take her picture. This beautiful human has taught me such valuable lessons. Be flexible, say "yes" more often, pick your battles, communicate with intent to compromise (not win) and let go of control - the unplanned & unexpected are so often the biggest blessings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/250ddc65-3a17-4f2d-a0ef-c79119b06e42/August+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 231/366 8-18-20 We started half day homeschooling this week - easing in for our official start date next Monday. Some things went really great (like learning fractions while baking shortbread cookies) and some not so great (reading comprehension lessons). I got overconfident with my ability to teach language arts and worked hard to make math fun. We're all learning lessons this week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e1ee9a02-ffb7-4db3-88a7-1a05fcaa79d9/August+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 232/366 8-19-20 I should have an "I BRAKE FOR BIRDS" bumper sticker on my car. Because I do -- ALL.THE.TIME. Doesn't even phase the kids anymore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/80081fb4-bf51-428f-bbf6-23909f2f25db/August+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 233/366 8-20-20 In an effort to learn from my mistakes earlier in the week, I created this "cool lesson" that combined language arts with PE & science. It was pretty involved and resulted in a scientific study on something they collected in nature, some poetry, a few tears and a tantrum (ugh - I'm still learning) and this cool picture of a dragon fly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/526949c0-901d-4e94-ad5d-141fb2cc467f/August+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 234/366 8-21-20 Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France Chief was meant to be H’s dog. He picked her out - twice (we wanted a boy dog, so when H initially picked Chief from the litter, we did a "turn around and shuffle the dogs" move, putting the boys out front, but H moved them out of the way and selected Chief again). And even though she smelled like a pig farm, H cuddled with her for 10 hours in the back seat while we drove back home. Over the years, Chief has been most drawn to EJ. She's very clearly "EJ's dog." But H still claims her even when she shuffles away to be closer to EJ. I will come into rooms and find Hansen like this quite often, just cuddling with Chief and petting and hugging her. When she moves onto something or someone else, H kind of frowns briefly, but he moves on and smiles to have had the time with her. He does this with people too, which can be wonderful but heartbreaking. I think H is probably the most doglike human I have ever met - there is a loyal naïveté with that boy that fills and crushes my heart at the same time. I struggle to balance teaching him about the world while letting him stay young & innocent as long as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/61f2ab6d-145b-40ba-a5a8-8594d35c07e4/August+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 235/366 8-22-20 I took the R5 out to some new locations this weekend. I'd heard a lot about this Craig's Crossing in KS photographer groups, but I was surprised to find a single trail surrounding a long, green sludge-covered pond. There were some cool birds and animals around, but that sludge was just EVERYWHERE and so green. I took a few pictures by the water, but then just decided to duck back into the trails and get some exercise. I didn't expect to find anything to photograph back there, but something twitched and caught my eye and there was this gorgeous heron on top of this log bathing in the sunlight. Herons are like that - you can be right up on them and have no clue they are there, perched in a tree or hanging at the edge of the water, and then there's movement and they are so obviously present and beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/decabb46-1749-43fb-bc9b-1cebed4ab13c/August+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 236/366 8-23-20 I woke up at 5am so I could be caffeinated and out the door by 5:30 so I could drive 36 minutes and hike 10 minutes to be in the perfect place in time for sunrise at Black Hoof Park. It was the most underwhelming sunrise I've experienced in some time. No clouds, no big ball of sun, no drama at all. Walking to my perfect viewing perch, I passed a fisherman. Possibly the happiest fisherman I've met on my lake visits (most are pretty focused on relaxing and fishing and they certainly don't want to talk - they would have stayed home if they wanted to talk). But this guy, he wanted to talk. Not a long conversation, but just a comment on how amazing this morning was and how lucky we were to be experiencing it. You could see it by the way his breath kind of stuck in his chest as he talked that he was grateful to be in this place. After my underwhelming sunrise, I headed back down the path and passed the fisherman again. "Did you get any great shots of the sunrise?" "Not really. Did you get any good fish." "Not really." And we both smiled as we walked away ... just being in the middle of the miracle of a new day emerging was more than enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/140e3fd7-1e40-45c4-ad98-d9c6e7681d47/August+24+copy.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 237/366 8-24-20 Theoretically, this is my time to shine. I spent a LOT of time and money on a Master's in Education: Curriculum Development. I taught for two years after that and then left teaching to stay home with my kids. I've always felt like maybe that degree timing wasn't optimal, but here we are homeschooling. Looks like I can develop some curriculum after all! (In between being in charge of the front office, custodial team and food service.) As great as it is to be prepared for this (I use this phrase loosely - it's obvious in the first two days I was not prepared for THIS), this is not what we wanted. After visiting many school districts in the area, we fell in love with this one and moved to this town so our kids could start in their "forever school" as soon as possible. Then COVID. I debated sending them back - the district seems to have a solid plan and their summer school was successful. We decided to homeschool for the consistency and also because we can opt in at any time instead of making a semester long decision. I've printed out the state standards, the schools are working with us sharing scope and sequence documents & even donating workbooks so we can transition in as seamlessly as possible. But beyond all of that curriculum stuff, I really hope to use however much time we have as teacher and students to build a love for learning, to attempt to let go of the reins a bit and let them control the pace and subject matter based on their interests, to use this one on one time to identify strengths and build up weaknesses. Bonus that I really like these kids - here's to a fantastic school year (or semester or month or whatever). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/913c56d6-f6e5-4cd1-92b3-62e5b3a9dc2b/August+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 238/366 8-25-20 Afternoon game of D&D or as noted in the Karlberg Academy standards tracking English Language Arts Grade-Level Expectations Grade 7 Speaking & Listening Collaborating 1A-B Conversations K-5 correlation SL1A, SL3A - Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed. Questioning K-5 correlation SL3A -Delineate a speaker’s argument and claims, evaluating reasoning in order to pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others' questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed Grade 3 Develop and apply effective listening skills and strategies in formal and informal settings by: a. demonstrating active listening through body language and eye contact with the speaker, according to classroom expectations b. asking questions to check understanding of information presented, staying on topic, and linking comments to the remarks of others https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3625a969-2381-4df5-aa0c-2cf6304615ac/August+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 239/366 8-26-20 I've always known it was important to look for the positive, to hunt for the joy and search for the light. I didn't know just how important that would be in 2020 when I started this project. There are days I am SO OVER this project, discouraged that everything feels the same, boring, like I'm not pushing myself enough. And then I remember (again), that was never the point of this project. It's hard to quiet voices from past goals as your own goals change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/715d8a7a-c7ec-47e9-8fd3-4bbad0d6fce9/August+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 240/366 8-27-20 Looking forward to pink tips was the motivation she needed to push through a rough day of homeschooling. (Note the goggles on the chair because the shower was the only way to wash out the hair color.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b88e6392-23fd-49d5-97fa-4e3ab11c9141/August+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 241/366 8-28-20 I met my (then and now ... and forever) best friend in elementary school. We don't always agree & have had a few good fights (with fists and words, and maybe there was biting one time ), but we always came back together because we are bonded by a connection that only best friends can understand. There's an "I get you" and an "I got you" code with us. We are often laughing until we can't breathe while the rest of the room stares in silence. We can be together for hours, sometimes talking the entire time, sometimes just happy to be sitting in one another's presence. When we are together, there comes a confidence in knowing that this person understands all of the flaws and strengths and will build up the former and magnify the latter, especially if we are being challenged by someone else. We are invincible, and maybe it's just in our heads, but that's enough. I see this kind of fierce friendship in their future. I won't force it, but I will certainly encourage it, because I see so many of these traits in them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ec3244a0-28cd-49b0-b984-5f00fb521e57/August+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 242/366 8-29-20 Scenes from a Trader Joe's bouquet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/30f9e0c5-34c8-406e-a6b0-2ff4bbf10671/August+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 243/366 8-30-20 Every night is the same these days - dinner, family walk, hang with EJ on the couch. Every once in a while, we throw in a family game to mix it up. I'm not complaining; they are beautiful, love-filled days. But I am ready for the next phase (bad moon pun) of this pandemic, where we all look back at it and sigh with relief that it's over. I don't know when that is, but that's one of the great lessons it has brought me, truly giving up control over something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9cdbb532-689d-4335-921e-523f0491d775/August+31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 244/366 8-31-20 I'm getting a lot of side eye these days. All the teacher training in the world can't prepare someone for a one-room schoolhouse (where the kids are yours and it's in YOUR house). We are slowly figuring it out, adding and taking away things that work and don't. They are obsessed with Latin, but M isn't excited about writing (but she will read all day if I let her) and H isn't too thrilled about algebra (if he could just do geometry and logic puzzles all day, we'd be golden). My main goals are to keep them loving learning and to help them slide seamlessly back into the curriculum when they return to their schools so they aren't as thrown by all the other challenges that await there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6c883f9d-a329-42e4-9fcc-2720468f56a4/Sept+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 245/366 9-1-20 I could just schedule music class all day long. Not sure that would prepare them for going back to school, but we would sure have fun I love that their teacher is prepping a bunch of duets for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/576e8e6e-bf3d-41ec-8012-cbf3b49813f7/Sept+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 246/366 9-2-20 I've really been missing my Oklahoma sunrises lately, but last night's Missouri sunset was pretty phenomenal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2522fb0e-20ea-4c3e-8eee-afe59771a99a/Sept+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 247/366 9-3-20 I'm so proud of this kid. He started online TKD in March thinking it would be a short term thing. Now, here we are in September and he's still online. A lot of kids would have given up, but he's in front of that computer for every single class, even when we traveled to Dallas. He's testing for his next belt this week, so he carried the computer outside to show his instructor the correct long stances that the basement layout cannot accommodate. After I took this, he looked up and gave me the knife to the throat "cut" sign. So no more pictures during TKD class. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1dad847a-7a57-4ebd-8d9c-17065057b4da/Sept+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 248/366 9-4-20 Since we've had pretty perfect weather, I've been heading to the ponds every morning again just as the sun comes up over the neighborhood. There really is no time of day more magical than dawn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c3508a60-d960-41e5-a941-6d052899dd41/Sept+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 249/366 9-5-20 The herons have been absent from our ponds for about a month, but now they've returned I can watch these birds for hours - fishing, grooming, flying, trying to hide from the walkers and golf carts - they are fascinating. And a giant bird in a tree is always going to entertain me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dd15bb9e-2901-4e24-a626-be97f2beaee8/Sept+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 250/366 9-6-20 I thought this area's waxwing season was over months ago, so I was shocked to see one on my morning walk. They rarely show up without a life lesson, but other than hope and the reflection that times passes and we survive it (even when the circumstances seem debilitating), I didn't experience a big epiphany. I thought maybe I should search for one, so I set off to find the symbolism of the Cedar Waxwing. One of the sites I came across said, "Waxwings are beautiful and gentle summer birds. {it} has the appearance of wearing a mask and invites one to examine the concept of masks in one's life." Um, no. We've all examined that concept way too much lately. There has to be something else. Then I found these descriptions - "No matter where you read about waxwings, one thing that is sure to be mentioned is their deeply ingrained sharing customs. From an early age, they begin practicing sharing with one another. They eat mainly red berries and they love to pass them on. I read one account that said sometimes a group of the birds will sit lined up, the first one with a berry in its beak, and it will pass that berry to the next bird, who will pass it to the next, and so on to the end of the line." .... "Spiritualists believe waxwings to be a symbol of selfless generosity. The symbolism of the waxwing totem is believed to teach selflessness and the practice of giving to others for their benefit, and not your own. Waxwings are traditionally associated with the politeness you should have when you give away to others the thing you have craved for or cherished for so long." I'm still not clear on the lesson here, but I still have the hope. Hope that maybe all of this social distancing combined with being inundated with impolite behavior at every turn will flip a switch in us when we finally come together again. Ignites in us the importance of being social, sharing, being kind, selflessness. I happened across the American Birding Association's announcement of the 2020 Bird of the Year. Yep, Cedar Waxwing. Maybe there's a reason. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ce98ff40-278d-4795-a949-99694d8035c0/Sept+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 251/366 9-7-20 I've got the teacher vibe going I suppose. I researched sunflowers and came across this article - https://www.latimes.com/.../la-sci-sn-sunflowers.... Three things that strike me here 1. That any flower would have this ability to turn 180 degrees to face the sun every day. 2. That mature sunflowers always face east - the more mature, the more willing to face the sunshine and wait for it even when it's nowhere to be found. 3. That, while manipulated during experiments, the sunflowers try SO HARD to continue facing the sun. When they are manipulated away from the sun, their health suffers. When their nature is fiercely manipulated, they become thoroughly confused and move erratically during the night. All this to say, I am forever grateful to be surrounded by the sunflowers in my life. I am an optimist, but I am prone to consider worst-case scenarios and that can throw me off track into a fit of anxious thoughts. But I have people turning me towards the sun daily. And I am very aware of the blessing it is to have that encouragement in my life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/febd1d6a-8919-4ea8-9973-803dfede13d6/Sept+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 252/366 9-8-20 I was wrong. I thought he would pick the kicking pictures, but he wanted this one that showed he earned his belt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/55520a1d-8ba1-4a1b-8bab-c8fb5f850428/Sept+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 253/366 9-9-20 I always mistake the robins for a new bird. It's a joke with H&M now. I'll gasp, "OH!!! Look! A new bird over there! Grab the Merlin App." "Mom, it's a robin." "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure - look at its chest." "Darn. You're right. It's just a robin." After a similar exchange this week, H asked why I didn't like the robins anymore. I told him it wasn't that I don't *like* them, I just don't get excited about them. "You used to. When I was younger, I remember you grabbing me to show me the 'cool orange birds.' You used to be super excited about them." I remember this, too, and I remember singing "Robin in the Rain" and telling him how they are the first spring birds to appear and how exciting it is to see them because of that. How they are as playful as they are beautiful. How easy it is to discard the wonder in the novel things that, over time, become commonplace, but those are some of the best blessings. The ones you can count on, the constants, the not so awe-inspiring because they are so genuine. I needed that reminder to not take the everyday blessings for granted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/90bcd348-2d30-4418-b6c7-6bb1e01b119e/Sept+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 254/366 9-10-20 One bonus of homeschooling - you have the freedom to create your own comfy learning space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/33b03891-24d4-4184-bb37-75e1ee497676/Sept+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 255/366 9-11-20 One of the best parts of this project is that it forces me to look for things that make me happy, that stir my soul ... to search for the gratitude in the mundane. And September has been especially difficult in its monotony. I need these daily walks more than ever and it's so little about the photos I get on those walks. It's the sitting, reflecting, stopping my brain to take it all in. It's a little like yoga for my brain, trying to stop down everything but the looking, focusing on the now instead of rehashing the past or worrying about the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/700cfd40-a236-46ed-bbdd-653fb65fe37d/Sept+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 256/366 9-12-20 The trails have been amazing this week, beautiful light and misty fog even late into the morning. We are also in the middle of migration season, so I have a small window to see birds I don't get to see very often. On this trail walk, I saw a little baby indigo bunting (so cute!), a million cedar waxwings, a yellow billed cuckoo eating a cricket and this beautiful brown thrasher. It's hard to tell in this picture, but they have the coolest yellow eyes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/872f06a8-a604-41b2-a073-244b279fe876/Sept+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 257/366 9-13-20 So many of my pre-COVID images were in public places - stores, schools, zoos - and it always felt completely natural to have that giant camera around my neck, documenting these daily adventures. But with a mask and the distancing and the surreal world we are in now, this felt awkward. It was just us and the paint department associate, but it still felt like I was inconveniencing someone somewhere, taking up too much space. Maybe that will be one of the positive outcomes of all this - respecting one another's space. We went to Home Depot to find paint for an in-bed bookshelf EJ made for M. The last time I washed sheets, I found 34 books in her bed. This is pretty typical. Rather than pile them all up and drag them back to the bookshelf on the other side of the room, we are going to try this bed shelf. She picked Placid Sea and we will be adding glitter before painting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/49f80a7a-d436-446e-956e-2746dc919a30/Sept+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 258/366 9-14-20 With so much hate filling our screens, it's easy to get swallowed up in uneasy feelings, to worry that the good is spiraling away and that we are left with only negativity and tension. But there is a choice here - you can choose to seek out the positive. Even more important, you can BE THE POSITIVE and make finding the good easier for others so desperate to find it. You can make the effort to smile so big at the weary cashier that he goes beyond your mask and sees it in your eyes. You can slow down and wave the rushed mom into your lane even if she's being a punk driver. You can be the everyday miracle that turns a person's entire day around just by being kinder. It may seem small and simple. Not enough. But it's not an insignificant contribution to make the extra effort to make another person's day easier. It's an important purpose to have a loving heart for strangers. That smile, the selfless gesture, that escape from constant negative - those are the actions that change the world one moment, one person, one life at a time. Every person has a story. Have patience, give grace, accept that you can't know what led to a person's negative attitude and that your positive response could turn it all around. ----- I think this post can sound preachy, like I'm telling people reading it to do these things. I actually write these posts for myself, to remind myself of lessons I learn as I lean into seeking gratitude this year. This post was inspired by my sister, Cindy, who is always kind to the cashiers and the servers and the random people she meets in the grocery store aisles. I wonder how many days/people,/lives she has turned around with something as simple as her kindness for strangers. Her example makes me slow down and be more considerate of strangers. I (and the strangers I encounter) are very grateful for her example. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d6574900-9277-4631-aee0-00069acb2d1e/Sept+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 259/366 9-15-20 Sometimes we close the living room blinds when it gets too bright or hot, but we always leave the last one open for the spoiled Chief dog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9feb6d52-e00f-4660-965e-8ada2f4b6a2f/Sept+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 260/366 9-16-20 This picture is taken at 5:30 pm, long after our school day usually winds down. At 8:30 am, she became frustrated with this "mapping the neighborhood" assignment (something I thought would be super fun for her as we study Lewis and Clark), wadded it up and threw it in my general direction. We moved on to math. This may seem like a fail but for us a it's actually a huge win because 1) I didn't take it personally and we just moved on and 2) she unwadded it on her own and completed it before the end of the day and 3) our discussion after she finished showed it helped her understand the depth of the Lewis and Clark journals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c1d54c18-c607-4f18-9f95-56b162530b62/Sept+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 261/366 9-17-20 The bed bookshelf is almost complete! "Not enough glitter," though, according to M. So we are adding more during the poly stage and hoping that does that trick! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b62aa0e4-a471-4e75-a614-023f8d06e94c/Sept+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 262/366 9-18-20 It was the end of the day and we were supposed to do some Latin quizzes in the basement. It was absolutely GORGEOUS outside, these two were fighting over every little thing and we all needed a break. I sent them outside with one mission - "make a hopscotch with points listed on the side -- we're doing a pop quiz battle." I took way too long coming outside (we ALL needed a break) and found them making these cool dragon hopscotch creations for our game. These kids really need to be back in school, but while we wait for that, I'm cherishing these moments I get to watch how their brains operate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0fe7f74b-093a-4e89-a3b3-15c4338586a7/Sept+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 263/366 9-19-20 I'm always impatient waiting for the first hibiscus to bloom, often thinking they didn't survive the winter, but then when everything else seems to be prepping for the winter, they kick into high gear. Look at all of those little buds behind this flower! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/17e4894a-d4fa-4b3a-a999-4f2ddad4f0ff/Sept+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 264/366 9-20-20 I have so many messages that just say, "SUN!" Lately, during sunrise and sunset, it's been this giant hazy ball of orange. I wanted to capture it not just for the visual, but to remember that EJ & H think of me enough to send me those texts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/55b3df51-95c1-4df0-b85f-5178361ad7ea/Sept+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 265/366 9-21-20 I've been having a hard time keeping up with this project. It's a time thing, but it's also a Groundhog Day thing. Our weekdays are mostly homeschooling in the basement. The moments and light down there are pretty amazing, but how many "homeschooling in the basement" photos do I really need? And then I thought, with all this freedom, why are we spending so much time IN THE BASEMENT?!? So we took our Lewis and Clark study outside and headed over to the actual trail. (Bonus is that this is a huge bird siting marsh trail, including hundreds of pelicans! We didn't see those yesterday, but we will be headed there again so fingers crossed.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5c83a123-a315-4b71-b7db-c4581931b3bd/Sept+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 266/366 9-22-20 Lesson 1, every morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e6da11f6-0e8a-44b2-a40c-7eebc929fb41/Sept+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 267/366 9-23-20 The days are up and down ... and this day was more down. Endless sibling bickering and frustration with lessons. So we just stopped and walked to the tennis courts for a PE break. And then they bickered there. But at least it was outside and we got some exercise in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6df705db-0b91-499e-aacf-9a8f6f1d32fb/Sept+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 268/366 9-24-20 In person Taekwondo!!!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ac14802b-dcba-49d3-8dc1-8db4aa8d015e/Sept+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 269/366 9-25-20 We've been studying MO history and much of the curriculum we got from the local school focuses on geography's influence on Missouri's past and present. Reading Lewis & Clark's original journals, studying Underground Railroad routes, and watching documentaries on the Missouri River have put my morning walks and nature trail visits into a new context. These accounts we are studying put so much emphasis on nature and its details that it's impossible not to ponder the lives we are studying as I walk through this living history that surrounds us. I float between sadness and hope as I consider the past but realize the progress. More than anything, I'm reminded that time moves on, seasons change and pandemics pass. It seems endless sometimes, but the perspective of these studies gives me hope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e851a4cc-b31c-4295-87a1-2fd837e45c9f/Sept+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 270/366 9-26-20 They think I'm too strict with the screen time. Maybe they are right? Being in person to watch how hard they work during the school week, I have absolutely no reservations letting them spend Saturday mornings like this. Chilling on the Switch, decompressing from the week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3f064f17-d870-442d-b044-49dc230f2a7b/Sept+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 271/366 9-27-20 It's just a Target picture, but I'm grateful for a small sense of normalcy returning. And I'm grateful that she asks to go along on my errands - it's a win that she enjoys spending time with me because I certainly enjoy her silly company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/005ba11d-0cad-4b93-9468-5ce647484deb/Sept+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 272/366 9-28-20 I've always wanted a kitchen herb garden. It's possible I've gone overboard (this is about 1/4 of the entire setup), but I love it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/415a98f7-962d-4d8e-9149-a5efd491811a/Sept+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 273/366 9-29-20 Looking through my sunrise folders, these calm ombre (calmbre ?) skies always happens just as fall is taking hold. My favorite season is just around the corner. (I realize it's officially fall already, but I mean the consistent feeling and events that make me love this season). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/434a5f67-17a2-4766-80b6-434cf4f726d3/Sept+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 3) - Make it stand out 274/366 9-30-20 It's a blessing and a curse - the absence of a strict timeline when homeschooling. She gets the work done, but she doesn't always do in on my schedule. I am trying to find that balance between meeting her where she is and preparing her for her return to in person school. https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/the-gratitude-project-part-2 monthly 0.5 2024-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a4d1c362-ba02-49cd-a890-eec3ad08757a/the+whole+year.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dfd9ec08-6c2a-4c3a-86ed-1fd3a0ffda6c/april1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 92/366 4-1-20 We bought this awesome loft bed for H, but it's the wrong color so he needs to sand it down and paint it. He's out there often, but the rest of us, with very little else to do, have joined in to help with the project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/73e1560e-364a-4bf7-a1c6-bb3f39a77104/april2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 93/366 4-2-20 We caught Lunch Doodles with Mo late in the day, almost 5 o'clock by the time we tuned in. At the beginning of the episodes, he reads letters from fans and one kid asked what Mo misses the most right now. He answered, "I think I miss going to a restaurant and running into a friend that I didn't expect to see and giving that friend a big hug and then sitting and having a drink with that friend and talking with that friend. I really miss that. I wish I could do more of that." Ugh, the lack of normalcy right now is gut wrenching. His words dug in hard, making me miss things I didn't even realize I was missing ... and helping to explain this cycle of roller coaster gratitude and grief that I can't seem to control. I keep seeing these memes about how our grandparents went to war and we are complaining about sitting on our couches at home. But the thing is, isolation is a big deal. Suddenly being ripped apart from routines and interactions and plans - that's huge. I think we need to acknowledge how big this really is if we are going to get through it. Yes, there are beautiful things happening right now, glimpses of humanity that remind us how wonderful people can be when we all come together, but that almost makes it worse in moments when we realize how much we were taking all that for granted when we had the freedom to be around people. I can't imagine how much harder this would be without internet and cell phones, but I'm over screen conversations. I want hugs and big, in-person laughs and birthday celebrations and the normalcy of "running into a friend that I didn't expect to see and giving that friend a big hug and then sitting and having a drink with that friend and talking with that friend. I really miss that. I wish I could do more of that." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/47264091-311a-431f-97d2-8f875303e715/april4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 94/366 4-3-20 We ZOOMed with some old OPQ friends last night and I was reminded how important and soul-filling it is to laugh, especially during the difficult times. When I don't have ZOOM, I have my back window and these birds entertain me way more than they should. (No birds were hurt in the making of this photograph) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/adcf21d9-7874-4216-8d98-858b1025a0bc/april3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 95/366 4-4-20 It's not a comforting new normal to be advised to wear face masks in public, but I'm grateful to have a husband and mom who can create ones that put the kids at ease. After spending all week at work, EJ spent his afternoon cranking out koalas and rainbows and fire and robots and a cool golden shield. Grammy has a package in the mail with face masks that match the kids' favorite clothes. EJ is essential so he's never stopped going to work. I don't go in public much except for groceries. The kids haven't been in a store or restaurant since March 14. But we are all prepared with new masks when we need them https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fe0eb038-d23e-44be-ae10-175dac41c4f8/april5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 96/366 4-5-20 I know... it's another movement in the sunset picture, but this is what makes me happy. And I'm really needing to latch onto happy, shiny moments right now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e1184ec3-77c8-49d3-98e4-62ecf7df092b/april6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 97/366 4-6-20 There was no time for pictures yesterday. House closing and contractor phone calls and Taekwondo classes and rushing to finish up online schooling at the end of a busy day. So I have one more from Sunday, the day M taught me to play the ukulele on the back porch (I'll spare you the video). She's not the most patient student in the world, but every one could use a teacher with her patience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7f213b34-f3df-4b30-84ea-d10bccabf835/april7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 98/366 4-7-20 We are slowly moving stuff to the new house. There's a severe shortage of places to sit since we haven't moved any chairs yet. Not surprised to find H here in the reading nook (but this is in M's room, so he will soon need to find a new reading nook). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a6540a27-f33a-468e-854e-75d7a12e9ad5/april8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 99/366 4-8-20 I am still consistently sleeping through the night. The only thing keeping my days straight are the kids' Zoom meetups, and even then I get confused. It seems unbelievable that it's been less than a month since the national emergency was declared and states started shutting down. In the midst of it all, we have our new house and are slowly moving stuff (thankfully on a very loose timeline). With so much, and so little, happening in such a short period of time, I wonder what hindsight lessons we will have when there is time to breathe and think. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/92af0b1a-b9a8-464b-90b6-fdd23aea35e6/april9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 100/366 4-9-20 She found this packaged bird house and decided it was her project. She found all the tools and paint and got to work. She painted the inside first because "they need to feel at home once they are inside." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e80363eb-3fc4-4e84-b14e-11721dec1e2a/april10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 101/366 4-10-20 No question, this will be my favorite room in the house - The Project Room! First project is putting together all of these giant LEGOs (IKEA desks and tables). Lucky for me, I've got a few people in the house well versed in organizing by bag, size and color. We would have completed more, but in my Ziploc bag of tools, I only brought one (non-electric) screwdriver. So, guess where we will be all day? One cabinet down, 10 cabinets and 6 tables to go! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/64c4f52f-7f0c-4d5a-919c-23d03757a31f/april11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 102/366 4-11-20 Chief and I both love the light and windows in the new house. And I really look forward to meeting all of these people walking the neighborhood paths when we are finally allowed to socialize again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ef445da9-fa04-4083-ba07-a85dcc90f519/April+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 103/366 4-12-20 This was the first bird that greeted us when we moved in last summer, so peppy and joyful with that beautiful song. We named him Tweets and he's back to be the first to welcome us every morning now that spring has arrived. (I'm sure there is more than one Carolina Wren out there, but we have convinced ourselves that it's Tweets every time one lands on our deck.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e5bb4e42-d677-4341-9e00-af730c122ab2/April+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 104/366 4-13-20 The drive between the two houses is really gorgeous. Yesterday, I pulled over to take a picture of the landscape and neither kid said anything like, "why are we stopping" or "what are you doing?" I questioned why and H said, "we get it - it's beautiful and you want to remember it." I woke up super early today and had some fun in my painting program with this shot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/806a2e35-b2d2-4981-aedf-4f80bb4e492f/April+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 105/366 4-14-20 I read about everyone without a schedule, bored in their houses, and I realize that this moving during a pandemic, although a little stressful with the doing it ourselves and being on a (long) schedule, is a blessing. Every day, I am driving between the two houses with loads in the back of the car, slowly transferring our lives from one house to the other. I can fill up my tank for $20 and it's only a 17 minute drive that often involves a phone call to my mom or sister, so the daily commute isn't so bad. Some days, I drive in silence and take in the beauty that is rural KS/MO and am thankful we managed to get back here to retire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/01e95975-45b9-4b65-864b-dab34d9dbb8d/April+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 106/366 4-15-20 This time of year, I would normally spend a lot of time walking trails and taking pictures of birds. Corona and moving into a new house have altered that routine. Yesterday I decided to take an hour alone and see what was out there. I spent about 45 minutes just sitting in nature, hearing the birds but not seeing any. As I got in the car to head home, this guy caught my eye. We've been hearing them around our house, but we had convinced ourselves that they were dove calls. When I got home, I was excited to show the kids that we actually HAD been hearing owls. "That's a BARRED owl, mom!" said M. Yes, yes it is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2585b797-3c0e-401a-b553-bcf1c33c6635/April+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 107/366 4-16-20 How beautifully anchored is this hope that does not change in changing winds. https://www.weekend-creative.com/thoughts/inspiration46 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c4ed730f-3d60-440a-a1ce-e6b0ed3fa5d6/141734949_10164645413245612_4746903967300188930_n.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out inspiration for above https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e3628d79-aa26-4936-a90c-2f54d27f708a/April+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 108/366 4-17-20 I'm not a fan of squirrels. And not just because I never can remember how to spell squirrel. They mess up the bird plan and they poop too much. When I see one, I usually yell for Chief and let her chase it out of the yard. But yesterday, I decided to watch this one steal all of the peanuts from the blue jay ring. Watching him climb and stretch to gain access was pretty entertaining, but then the squirrel caught my eye, froze, threw the peanut out of his hands, and then stayed on this perch like, "what, I don't even like peanuts?!?" - all while not breaking eye contact. It was probably the funniest thing I saw all day (granted, my day included 7 hours of installing adhesive shelf paper in the new kitchen). So the squirrel gets some allowances for the entertainment factor, but once this pandemic wanes.... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f66b3f87-a697-4ed8-baa1-1f1bf21feaee/April+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 109/366 4-18-20 We move A LOT! I have so many of these transition pictures, inflatable mattresses and card tables and boxes as dinner trays. Big, empty houses as we anticipate a new life in a new home. It's surreal knowing this house will be home for so long. Even more surreal moving into one of the friendliest communities in the area, only to not be able to socialize beyond a wave. For now, they have roller chairs and NETFLIX, which they aren't complaining about, but I really wish they were out tossing Frisbees and trading Pokemon with new friends. But we have time, lots of time in this new home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9313fb8b-6ca0-4808-87b6-64a8390d9b62/April+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 110/366 4-19-20 I woke up at 4am. I probably could have packed some boxes, but my life is starting to feel very Groundhog Day, so I chose to drive over to the river. Since EJ's an essential worker, I'm the responsible parent at home ... until the weekend. The sun rose into a cloud covered sky, but it was still wonderful to sit there as the birds chirped it up over the horizon, even if I only saw a sliver of light before it disappeared behind more clouds. The birds kept chirping - they didn't seem to mind that it wasn't the most dramatic show. And neither did I. I found a surprising satisfaction in choosing to be alone somewhere - funny since I've been missing interaction so much this month. But this was my choice, and I was close to things that make me content & grateful - a sunrise, the birds, blooming trees and God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/21996f64-c17f-42d1-b2cd-026c24d05849/April+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 111/366 4-20-20 It's springtime. Normally, my days would be filled with too many morning trips to the nursery and afternoons of digging in dirt and planning the NEXT trip to the nursery. Our new home has some good landscaping bones, but the front flowerbed is just a mess of overlapping, overgrown plants. I've had to replace buying & planting with pruning & weeding and ... the best part ... discovering what is hidden in the depths of the bed. These bleeding hearts were way in the back, buried under holly and evergreen and dead leaves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/82104803-164b-4c21-b01d-0d93d02a8312/April+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 112/366 4-21-20 (disclaimer - I'm up at 3 am writing this, so you are basically reading my insomnia journal. When I write it out, I can usually get back to sleep faster. But it will ramble - there's a lot going on in this sleepless brain.) There were no pictures to share from 4-21. It was a rough day. The pandemic overshadows everything, creating a stressful framework that isn't healthy for any psyche. Throw some additional everyday stressors and unexpected situations on top of that and we can't really be expected to move forward without some help. The personalities in our household handle it so differently, and I suppose that's good if we harness our strengths and work as a team, which would be way easier to do if at least one of us was operating at 100%. And sometimes it's just so confusing to figure out where words and actions are manifesting so we can help one another through this, even harder when the speakers and actors aren't even sure. At the end of this very hard day, after tears were wiped and fears were discussed and every one of us knew every one of us was going to bed with anxiety and a bit of defeat, a commercial came on. It was a commercial celebrating hospital staff, Lauren Daigle's Rescue narrating the scenes. I cried my own tears, grateful for the reminder of God's grace but also still feeling defeated as a mom, knowing my kids went to bed with worries because I couldn't find the right words. I often ask my kids What Would Jesus Do? Sometimes it's in serious situations, where they actually needs guidance to make a difficult moral choice. Sometimes I say it to make them laugh, like if they can't decide on an ice cream flavor or are taking forever to finish homework (on a side note, these have led to some interesting theological musings by these kids). So, at the end of this hard day, after we were all in bed and my brain was going 100 mph, I looked for comfort in that Lauren Daigle song. .....I am surrounded and seen and loved unconditionally. ....Although I may feel like it, I am never defenseless because I am not fighting alone. And as I got some comfort, I got the guidance. This song isn't about solving a problem, because the truth is, there is one big solution and it's constant. This song is about the comfort of knowing you are seen, loved and have someone willing to fight for you in every situation. What a comfort, what a peace. I have worked my entire life fighting the urge to "fix" everything, and I can finally say I'm winning those battles more than losing. Not every problem is to be fixed, some problems are just meant to be understood and comforted (and some problems aren't really even problems at all once they are turned around and inside out). So, in my What Would Jesus Do? parenting version, I'm taking this song as my guidance. It's easy to get frustrated and react in retreat or anger (neither the best reaction) when my kids deal with this stress in big ways. I want to yell, "COME ON!!! JUST DO THE WORK" so we can get in the car and get this house moved. It's tempting to say, "Look, kids, we are all going through this pandemic. You think you're the only one pissed off at everything right now? How about you cut Mom some slack?!" Or just walk away. Ignore it because it will pass (but, spoiler alert, it will return, likely bigger). But my WWJD guidance tells me that, during those hardest times, when the kids are being their most impossible, it's likely fear, insecurity or uncertainty at the core. If I can find the words and actions to let them know that they are surrounded by a God and family that will always see them, always love them and always go to battle for them, that comfort will go a lot further in making the days more manageable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bdb19dcf-3adb-4f88-9f8f-0153b747f2ba/April+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 113/366 4-22-20 Of all the beautiful birds I've seen behind my house, I've never seen a bluebird. We have a ton of house sparrows that keep them away. Luckily, I just have to cross the street to find a nest of them, but I don't take the time to do that very often. I took a break, alone, and walked with my camera after dinner and found this sweet guy singing above my head. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ac2542fc-47e7-40b4-97b1-86560c25c841/April+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 114/366 4-23-20 Every day, we bring a load of boxes to the new house, slowly moving in. When we arrived yesterday, there was a giant surprise on the front porch - my Wayfair chair had arrived a week early! But there were boxes of books to carry in from the car before I could tackle the chair project. I sent M to the craft room and H to the car to help carry the book boxes. When we were done, I found M here, box open, instructions out, almost done building my chair (probably faster and better than I would have). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cf25e837-12ed-4d93-a583-757421040dcd/April+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 115/366 4-24-20 "Hey, H, are you putting up your boxes of books?" Well, at least he wasn't surfing his phone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6addb6ca-3a39-467e-8151-45f7f66bb839/April+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 116/366 4-25-20 Yes, he IS taller than me. He passed me last week. He's growing up in other ways too. We can't do a drop off at the new house without him asking what he can do to help. And then he will carry boxes without any effort that have me heavy breathing. He's starting to ask harder questions and laugh at jokes that he wouldn't have caught a year ago. His voice is lower, his mustache is growing and I can't keep up with his snack/meal count. But he's still H - joking around lying on the couch in the driveway, begging to watch Pokemon with M, telling me story after story of worlds and inventions he's creating in his head. I'm sure I'm setting myself up by saying this, but I kind of like this in between age of 12. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/957ed60a-b83d-4b51-af9c-04c47260e653/April+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 117/366 4-26-20 The Creation Room has been such a blessing! It's the first room we set up in the new house. They both have had hard times transitioning to the new house, but this has been a constant for them and now they are even asking to go over there just for this room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dcec17a4-7d1d-4d2f-a282-fca317005be1/April+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 118/366 4-27-20 We had to buy flowers. We couldn't stand it anymore. We headed to a local nursery and I let the kids pick whatever they wanted and I spent WAY too much, but I don't even care. While I was planting the first barrel, they both came out and did the second one. Theirs looks better. I'm discovering all sorts of hidden talents during this move. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/19711c19-a6f0-4f90-8d61-a066763ea982/April+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 119/366 4-28-20 She always finds the coziest places to cuddle up with a book. I had half-packed this box of blankets, left to make lunch and came back to find her with a camp light, books and two pillows just making herself at home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7d69b119-ef52-4149-9bd5-a18cc33ce039/April+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 120/366 4-29-20 Only one more night of sleep in the Leavenworth house. This doesn't mean that we are done packing and moving - we're moving the beds and a lot of the big stuff this weekend and then we have one more load of big stuff once the basement is completed. With EJ being essential, the kids still in school and daily packing/hauling, it's been chaotic. These early evening nature walks have kept me sane. I'm grateful that even though the grocery store trips are more stressful than usual, at least I'm not required to pull worms from the ground to feed my young. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0ecb6c79-ed37-4d0d-b680-85bd6095bd41/April+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 121/366 4-30-20 The thing about nature is, it can take me in with an overwhelming sky, vast and encompassing and reminding me how powerful and grand God's world is. Then it presents these beautiful surprises of life emerging in the spring, almost hidden in the thicket of the woods, reminding me that God notices and focuses on the smallest of details. What peace there is in that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/319519bc-94bf-4872-b43d-3aa3fea95e97/May+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 122/366 5-1-20 Chair upgrades! They moved up from the spinny office chairs to the leather barstools. This is the last day of the empty house. Beds and couches and big TVs are on the way! We are sleeping here tonight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dc3b4fab-4216-47d2-b759-0cffd66a1837/May+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 123/366 5-2-20 I woke up early, ready to organize the new kitchen. I went out back with Chief, sat on the deck and didn't make it back inside until well after sunrise. Good morning, new neighborhood! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/547fc0f0-05a2-4b0b-94d0-5ea0a2643548/May+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 124/366 5-3-20 We looked at houses for about 6 months and didn't find any that fit. The night we found our house, we actually found TWO houses and had to make a pro/con list to decide. One was on its own, at the top of a hill one block from an historic town square. Then there was this one, wide open sky streaming in from the giant windows in a neighborhood packed with kids. It was the neighborhood feel that tipped the scales (okay, that light got me too). Our kids love people - as much as I wanted chickens, our kids needed to be surrounded with friends. So we signed the contract and a few days later the pandemic became the forefront of everything. We move all the time and the best part is meeting the new people, exploring friendships and being excited about new relationships. Transitioning to this new home and not being able to hang with friends has been different ... different and hard. I'm thankful that the neighborhood developer took advantage of the natural surroundings, leaving trees and creating ponds and trails to explore. It's what will get us through until we are back to fire pits and playdates and community swimming pools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bca2ad94-95b2-4b09-9646-0da2cfdf7f25/May+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 125/366 5-4-20 This ridiculous dog. She keeps me laughing, for sure, lounging and people watching, sitting like a human on the couch, while her dog bed goes unused by the window (because it's chilly by the window in the morning and Chief refuses to be cold or wet). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3e2f9d16-f956-4e80-8cd8-5eecd754df7e/May+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 126/366 5-5-20 I'm going to have to watch that the Gratitude Project doesn't become the window project, but we all are pretty grateful for these windows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0bfb83e1-45b4-41bb-be13-4d8f81091d36/May+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 127/366 5-6-20 You know those people in your life who have taught you all sorts of amazing lessons and you always intend to tell them thank you but then life happens, you forget, and you just go on being a better person because of their lessons but a worse person because you haven't thanked them? That stops here for my friend, Lisa. I met Lisa over 30 years ago at student council leadership camp in Arkansas. We stayed in touch for a while after, but there was no social media back in the day and we just kind of drifted off into life until about 10 years ago. I think it was Facebook that brought us back together, and it was only one visit to her house in Dallas, but it set in place so many lessons. H was barely 2, I believe, and I just wanted to keep him in bubble wrap 24/7. Lisa's 9(?) year old daughter was cutting a watermelon in the kitchen with a giant knife and I remember both her and LIsa's confidence in that endeavor - I wondered if I could drop my guard enough to empower my kids to *ever* weild a knife. When H whittles in Scouts or when M cuts strawberries, I think of Lisa every time. During that visit, H was taking forever to get down the stairs and I remember Lisa saying something about how letting kids struggle to learn was the hardest parenting skill, but so important. (Little lessons now so the bigger ones have stepping stones.) It wasn't preachy or questioning my parenting style; it was just conversation from a genuine person and smart parent. But beyond all of that, it's the kindness. From day one, making people feel seen. I imagine it's a big reason she ended up at leadership camp. Yesterday, M posted a sweet tutorial about how to loop yarn through a small cut in fabric and Lisa made a bookmark using the steps and posted it for M to see. I wish I had been ready to document that look on Ms face. This is her typing back encouragement to Lisa for a job well done. Those little moments seem trivial, but they explode into huge life lessons built on example. Thank you, Lisa, for the impact you've had on my life. It shouldn't take this project to express my gratitude, but I want to tell you I am very grateful for your lessons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/677ec2fc-e1fa-4976-a0b0-0acf0f08c6a3/May+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 128/366 5-7-20 I'm missing those colorful, textured Oklahoma sunrises. Until the earth shifts a bit, I won't get them unobstructed out my back windows, so I created my own on my dirty van door. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7eab62e4-4485-439a-80a3-7ff0c81e86b7/May+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 129/366 5-8-20 I went on an early morning bird hunt before EJ went to work. He leaves early, so I was out before the sun came up ... and look at the moon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/aa9337ca-19ff-4223-90c4-968c6868fd90/May+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 130/366 5-9-20 I miss church, especially worship. I feel closest to God 1)during worship and 2)when I am with birds. Since we can't go to church yet, I spent both mornings this weekend at the lake with the birds, cranking Grace Fellowship's recorded worship services from the past three weeks. I couldn't capture the true beauty of this moment, but I still wanted to record it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/16c5072f-ade3-4d93-849d-77038c08207e/May+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 131/366 5-10-20 This weekend, EJ suggested I forget about moving and responsibilities and spend both weekend mornings at the lake with the birds and nature. To say, "he gets me," is a gross understatement, but I do want to acknowledge that he does and how important that "getting" is to my sanity. The first morning, I came back and told the family how the place was covered in cedar waxwings (remember the elusive bird, the one that always comes to me in times of great need and lessons?). I mean, they were everywhere. I don't know that 500 would be an exaggeration. I went to the lake hoping to spot some new birds that I had never seen before, but these cedar waxwings were taking up all the branch space. "It sounds like you weren't even excited about seeing them, Mom. That's your favorite bird, right?" Ah, I see it now. There's never a waxwing (or 500) without a lesson. With us going on week 10 of groundhog day and limited social interactions, these kids have been my daily companions. Day in, day out, we are together. Have they become my cedar waxwings? Am I becoming complacent? Am I missing their gifts, being less inclined to discover their new ones, missing out on these precious days because I'm so busy with moving and making sure online school gets completed? It's a mission, now, as I reminded myself to do with the waxwings when I returned to the lake, to slow down and discover/rediscover all the things. Beauty and awe only escapes when we let it, when we stop seeing it, when we take it for granted, when we let busy take over and forget the priority list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/575dbb02-4869-465f-b629-026d386262ed/May+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 132/366 5-11-20 I get ridiculously excited when I see a new bird in the backyard. I told my kids it's kind of like Pokemon, all these different species and types with all of their individual traits and personalities. "Uh, no, Mom, that's nothing like Pokemon." Ok, well, I tried to relate. Go fix your own breakfast while I photograph this rose-breasted grosbeak. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/89175d9f-86f0-435a-b58e-d684660877fe/May12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 133/366 5-12-20 Bird Village is open for business! We've stocked up on grape jelly and oranges for the migrating orioles. They won't be here long so we are trying to see them as much as possible before they head north. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7cadf619-4561-46ca-a906-8c7f66f1efe9/May13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 134/366 5-13-20 An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil–he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f20d1cb1-3f2b-430d-9b51-59b6534c9ada/May14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 135/366 5-14-20 I was taking pictures of a Great Blue Heron (YES, a GREAT BLUE HERON -- EEP!) and heard their laughter behind me. I have really been blessed with their relationship during this Great American COVID lockdown. They do bicker and as M says, "H is different - he's growing up." But they still play and laugh and make up stories together and love each other so much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/095eb5dd-a802-48bd-93e1-ec604ed79635/May15-1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 136/366 5-15-20 I taught high school for several years, mostly seniors. This last quarter was always my favorite time. The stress of the big research paper was over, kids were starting to choose what they were doing after graduation and the reality of this all being over soon was just starting to kick in. That last quarter is pretty magical as those seniors shift from taking every day for granted to desperately trying to hold onto every last second with their friends and the traditions and the routine. This pandemic is hard, but I try to focus on the positives and push the negatives away until I want to grab them for life lessons later on. But there have been a couple of times when the weight of what Is happening refused to be ignored - one was seeing nursing home residents celebrating birthdays through windows and another was this parade. As sweet as it was to see the entire community lining sidewalks to celebrate them, this isn't the way it's supposed to be. I couldn't push away the reality of what this is doing to our students and teachers. It went straight through my heart and into my gut and stayed there all afternoon. So why include such a depressing moment in the project? When we get past this pandemic, I don't ever want to start taking the simple things lost for granted. When we have school plays and high fives and bleachers full of screaming fans, when we can see each other smile in grocery stores and visit family for birthdays and congratulate one another with giant squeezing hugs. I want to remember that we lost that, that even the smallest guestures of human bonds were taken away from us, and I want to remind myself to not take that for granted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/60b27267-8b34-4540-82cf-ebc167947442/May16-1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 137/366 5-16-20 I'm obsessed with this blue heron. It was difficult to pick one image to share because I love him so much. I chose this one because this is how I first witnessed him, flying past my windows to the ponds down the walking path, where I followed him and have spent the last three mornings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a09bdfe6-dd52-4914-b37d-d4539788bd34/May17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 138/366 5-17-20 Although I'm sure momma robin has had enough, I can't get enough of these sweet babies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ed01e717-8eda-4135-900c-85afae54d5bd/May18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 139/366 5-18-20 When we lived on post, we would throw the old apples out to the wildlife. We recently had a bunch of apples going bad and they bagged them up to bring over while we packed out. I will miss this little ritual Can't really throw old apples over our back fence here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/70c11718-b746-4690-83a8-e07aab8a62ad/May19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 140/366 5-19-20 I know, it's a lot of birds this month, but there are so many and I'm incredibly grateful for my morning walks around the neighborhood pond. Yesterday, there were so many cedar waxwings, their high pitched calls filled the air. I watched a giant pileated woodpecker almost clip a woman who was running the paths - she didn't flinch. The herons are still there every morning too. I do love the red wing blackbirds - I feel like they are hiding a colorful surprise in their wings and it makes me happy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bb120709-cce3-468a-ab4e-4c8ad9bea1a6/May20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 141/366 5-20-20 I'm 100% ready for them to start making new friends, but I cherish these lazy late spring days, just the three of us, rock hunting & bird watching & "fishing" with cat tails under the bridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8473b770-2a29-40d4-8d68-11c79bca1556/May21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 142/366 5-21-20 I usually hear the birds before I see them. Sometimes I will hear a call I've never heard and get really excited - A NEW BIRD!!! And sometimes that call ends up being a cardinal because they have a bazillion calls. Once I find the bird from the call, I approach it differently depending on the bird - is it a bird that will let me get close (hummingbirds are pretty chill, woodpeckers are skittish), is it a bird whose flight I can predict (herons have an entire rev up before they finally take off), is it likely to have friends in the area (I've only seen a single waxwing one time, and they are so loud that it's impossible for them to sneak up on you). Sometimes I throw this all out of the window and screech its name because I'm so excited (pileated woodpecker) and scare it away. At the end of the kids' Pokemon shows, they show a silhouette of a Pokemon with some clues and they are supposed to guess who it is. I try to tell my kids that birding is like that. So many categories and traits and colors and behaviors. Gotta catch 'em all! But they say there's no magic, that's the difference. I disagree. I don't know this bird. I don't even remember taking the picture -- I may have just been testing the light. It looks like a warbler of some sort, but the beak is more orange than I would expect, but that could have been a trick of the sunrise. I see he's calling. If I could hear him, I might know. I think it's a new bird, though, one I haven't photographed before, and that makes my next morning walk that much more exciting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ef14d6ea-4188-4a07-8ae6-ff9833abcf47/May22+copynonames.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 143/366 5-22-20 It's really too much. There are events that feel too big to put into words, that can't even begin to be summarized, wrapped up, quoted into how powerful they actually were. Maybe it's the extremes of it - I'm heartbroken for them, but I'm so proud. They did this year, this impossible year, with more grace and resiliency than a child should ever have to. A 2nd grader shouldn't be experiencing a third unexplainable and sudden goodbye - it's too short a time for that much trauma and I pray that her walls aren't too tall and solid to break through over time. A 6th grade boy desperately needs other 6th grade boys. It's hard enough dealing with all of these body and brain changes even when you see others dealing with it - but to go through it with your birdwatching mom and Pokemon marathon sister day in and day out - I mean, poor H. And in the middle of figuring out online school and isolating from old friends, we moved our entire house, day by day, to our forever neighborhood full of new friends they weren't allowed to meet. I'm not saying there weren't fights and tears and misunderstandings, but the fact that they got up every day with smiles is impressive in itself. And I love how they leaned on one another to get through it. But they went beyond. M learned to cope better, used her words more to acknowledge those walls, read more books & built more LEGOs when she was feeling sad instead of lashing out. H carried boxes and furniture that hurt my back, grew 3 inches and a mustache and is half way through training for a 10K with me. Honestly, I just can't. I can't put this experience into words. I'm sad that our kids (all of our kids) were part of this pandemic and I hope the character building aspect trumps the trauma of it all. Mainly, I'm grateful that I love (and like) these kids so much because that was a lot of time with just the three of us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f2fff611-2ad6-421e-97a9-76216e254236/May23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 144/366 5-23-20 I take a lot of pictures of dandelions. They are "the official flower of the military child ... why? The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it's almost impossible to destroy." As a parent of a military kid, I can't count the number of times I've read or heard how "resilient" our kids are, how they can blow here and there and put down roots anywhere and bloom. While it's true (a military neighborhood during PCS season is a master class on how to make new friends), all of us parents worry at some point if the end result is worth it. It's impossible not to question how the goodbyes and transitions and changes affect the overall makeup of our kids, how each seed drifting off stays with their hearts. I love that our kids are able to grab a new friend and start building box houses or trading Pokemon cards after a brief 5 minute introduction, but I do worry that they are saying goodbye to friends every 12-36 months. We are finally staying put, in our semi-forever home for at least 10 years, and I'm grateful for this consistency for them. They've built a solid foundation of adapting and accepting, but I'm not naive to the fact that they have also built an expectation of short lived friendships. My hope for them is that they focus on that acceptance and adapting and funnel it into lifelong friendships in this new community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/016efd51-329d-415b-b07d-f3eedd90778a/May24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 145/366 5-24-20 We slow moved for over a month, but it really doesn't matter how slow you go, the last few days are always hectic. We are 3 days away from clearing now. Some quarters cleaning and last minute moving, a little free garage sale for my block and we are ready to have one house again, our forever home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d170fa39-d69e-4be5-8a5e-d9f2d54bce87/May25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 146/366 5-25-20 What I love about my morning walks around the pond is that there is always something new that takes my breath away. Sometimes it's a majestic heron or a surprise frog popping its head through the algae, sometimes it's a bunny that lets me get so close that the experience can't be captured with a telephoto lens and sometimes it's a missed focus photo of a bird on the water that feels like a surreal painting. It's only 20 minutes of my day, but it's a 20 minutes where I can be completely absorbed and captivated by nature. We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d097d08d-cc4b-4de8-84ac-b8364b5dfc49/May26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 147/366 5-26-20 Waiting on birds, getting lost in a flower... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2dd8115e-285e-4f67-82a1-10d087f8bb49/May27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 148/366 5-27-20 When I first started walking the pond, these geese were tiny little yellow things that wouldn't stray 2 steps from their momma (that's the mean one who always hisses at me). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/62cdcb9f-e141-4dd4-84aa-09e438cad47f/May28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 149/366 5-28-20 The thing about macro photography is it encourages me to look closer, to discover beauty that I hadn't noticed before. Many photographers call it "photography therapy" and it's because of how your mind resets when you are looking for the beauty in everything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/67b58deb-9623-4beb-94a0-b2cc8f67229c/May29+copynoname.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 150/366 5-29-20 One of the worst parts of the pandemic for H is missing Taekwondo classes, but the school has adapted. After many Zoom lessons, struggling to keep track of his uniform between the two houses, trying to find space amongst the boxes to kick & punch and dodging M as she bombed his online classes, H earned his green with black stripe belt during this social distancing parking lot belt ceremony! I love the celebration in his teachers’ faces - those are some amazing humans teaching him Taekwondo and life lessons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c5e5e0ae-f88c-4c22-9f88-5e2ef3db0f99/May30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 151/366 5-30-20 So she's riding her broom and he's doing forms with his, but I'll take it - at least they are helping! EJ is busting out these floors and these kids have been a tremendous help during this move. I'm hoping after this week that we can finally feel settled and moved in so we can relax and start enjoying this forever home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/20f5e405-316e-4bdb-a592-013ce38530f2/May31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 152/366 5-31-20 I found a new place to shoot yesterday and it's like a dream world. I kept feeling like I was in one of H's multi-level worlds he draws and talks about on our runs. There were bird calls from every corner, tree trunks shaped like dragon heads, wooden paths built into the woods over creeks and waterfalls and a perch where I could view it all. It was like Donkey Kong Country meets Narnia meets Wild Kingdom - surreal and amazing. Just as I was about to leave, I caught this guy watching me. Usually I'm the one hiding and stalking, so this just made the experience that much more storybook for me. Now I just can't wait to bring the kids. (Parkville Nature Sanctuary) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1177c84a-7108-4c01-88de-6cd52977badb/June+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 153/366 6-1-20 We found some tennis courts in the new neighborhood and then some cheap rackets on FB marketplace. We don't take it super serious, but I can see H has a natural gift for it, so maybe I should focus more on building that talent than making him stop when I see a fun shadow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d110b22e-a3ee-46b4-946a-fe621fe2c128/June+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 154/366 6-2-20 This picture is from Monday. I didn't take any pictures yesterday. It's not that I was unable to find gratitude throughout the day, but focusing on that was difficult. The day started with, "Why can't we go to the [very crowded] pool? Isn't the virus over? I see all those people on TV crowded in the streets?" And answers to those questions led to more hard questions about what led to the protests, where we are as a nation and how can we "fix" It from H - the kid always wants to fix things, and he's still innocent enough to think he can. We talked about when it's important to speak up and when it's best to stop talking and listen and we went through some challenging "lunch room scenario what-ifs" and how his example around friends can have a bigger ripple effect than he could imagine. He won't "fix" all of the problems, but he can initiate change one interaction at a time. And that's great - there's gratitude in that small thing, but the overwhelming brokenness of it all can make it feel too small. I'm a recovering fixer too. I find myself wanting to get to the happy ending without going through the necessary pain to get there, even though every best things in my life show me that the most powerful positive endings require challenge and pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/96e01c16-827e-4027-b5c6-d6c2a4346f88/June+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 155/366 6-3-20 I've been spending time with the kids, walking and experiencing the new neighborhood. One of my favorite things here are the bronze statues scattered throughout the paths. What I love about them, but what also guts me when I see them, is the innocence portrayed. The happy-go-lucky play and childhood naïveté. It feels so contradictory to what's happening right now, and it makes me pause and consider where we are headed. Sometimes I'm good with words, but it's when the emotions are the biggest, when something deserves words the most, that I tend to lock up. My mother-in-law passed away last year. She was the most pure, good person I've known. My gratitude for what she poured into my husband, who she shaped him to be, is beyond measure. But I couldn't write anything about it at the time. It was too big, there was too much important to be said, and I was paralyzed by the fear that my words wouldn't do her justice. That's similar to how I feel now. But maybe that's okay. Maybe words aren't the point at times like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/dfddafb1-b4e7-4872-bbdd-7dd898f28db6/June+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 156/366 6-4-20 I took the kids to the magical woods. You know when you see or do something wonderful and you are so excited to share it with someone special, but then you worry maybe it was only magical to you or that you built it up too much and the magic won't happen at all for them? It started like that. M's tummy felt sick, it was humid hot and sticky and there were too many people around for magic. But we kept walking and we made it to the waterfall and people spread out and the kids started feeling it. They were sketching and taking pictures and talking about it like it felt to me. And then we turned down a path I hadn't seen when I was there and found this awesome swing hanging in the middle of the magic -- and it was an entirely new kind of magic. Like a weight had lifted - a weight of being confined and anxious and sad about the state of things .... they swung and laughed and ran and spun and it was gloriously freeing. I'm so grateful to have this picture. I have no doubt I will return to it when I need this reminder of the magic, of the laughter, of the good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3a6d4f7d-bf7f-4a7a-bf0e-8156778e5f15/June+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 157/366 6-5-20 I've said many times that fear is the opposite of love. I think that was too harsh, too general. For me, fear tends to make me act without considering all sides, but that doesn't mean I've lost the love. In fact, it may be because I love something so much, that I fear losing something or missing something that I love that makes me react in a way that's less than loving. I taught high school journalism for several years. Both the high school student/faculty/parent interactions and the journalism aspects taught me that it Is best to ask more questions, see more sides, find out the whole story before acting. Every one has a story. Every action has a story. Even those people who seem so far from our point of view have a story. It's tempting to brush them off, to give up because they seem so far gone that it isn't worth it. And some people may be; there are evil people in the world, but I refuse to believe that is the majority and I refuse to jump to that conclusion right away. The questions and the stories, having a little more grace when we think people don't understand something and being willing to dialogue and listen - that's the path towards change. Too late? They've had their chance? Reading between the lines and assuming you know someone? That's not the path. Slow down. Look closely. Ask questions. See the layers, peel them away, be open to the story. Set aside the fear long enough to listen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0b1039df-e181-492e-9bce-150d8063adb6/June+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 158/366 6-6-20 The couch arrived. 10 boxes of sectional goodness! We can all stretch out on the couch at once. And that trailer back there? It's all unloaded. This is the week of the never ending move finally coming together as all of these boxes and furniture and decorations find their place. There's more pressure when it's the forever home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1fc8ee21-d53a-4b36-9557-d4f4c2c16283/June7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 159/366 6-7-20 There's a nature preserve just across the street from our neighborhood. On my weekend morning trips, I pass it to drive to lakes and preserves miles away. This weekend, I stopped there. The first day, I had a choice at a fork in the path (tree lined path of prairies and bridges) and took the tree route. As I was almost at the end of the path, 4 different couples stopped me and asked what I was out shooting (no one ever talks to me when I am shooting, so this was odd) and I told them I was looking for birds. EVERY interaction led to them telling me to take the prairie path and there were tons of indigo buntings. It was too late in the morning once I turned around and walked back through the treed path, but I returned the next morning and I see why every person mentioned these prairies. There really were buntings everywhere - in the trees, on the thistle, hanging out on the path. I photographed many and I'm sure I'll be back to photograph many more, but this is one my favorites from the weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d534f7c2-7e88-4648-9b1a-f83b63fffb94/June+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 160/366 6-8-20 And.... scene. M is ready to go home. Oh, this girl with the giant emotions. And, of course, giant emotions spread to the people in her environment. She fills us with great love, huge frustration, tender pauses of gratitude when she wants stillness combined with cuddles and scalp scratches, and then these, my favorite, the moments of silly laughter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c1ca8445-cf6b-4835-8b98-77dd66472047/June+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 161/366 6-9-20 The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5ff4eaa9-ed9a-40e7-83e0-aa3235ff1f0f/June+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 162/366 6-10-20 Everything Is Waiting for You by David Whyte Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone. As if life were a progressive and cunning crime with no witness to the tiny hidden transgressions. To feel abandoned is to deny the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely, even you, at times, have felt the grand array; the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding out your solo voice. You must note the way the soap dish enables you, or the window latch grants you freedom. Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity. The stairs are your mentor of things to come, the doors have always been there to frighten you and invite you, and the tiny speaker in the phone is your dream-ladder to divinity. Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the conversation. The kettle is singing even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots have left their arrogant aloofness and seen the good in you at last. All the birds and creatures of the world are unutterably themselves. Everything is waiting for you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9a9b0298-218d-4553-8097-f2a09fa87716/June+11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 163/366 6-11-20 A neighborhood pool & early riser kids so we can swim for a couple of hours with no crowds.... I foresee a lot of GoPro pictures going in the Gratitude Project this month! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/84add491-549a-4366-8947-7c28a4b0bfdb/June+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 164/366 6-12-20 First day, she wouldn't get out of the shallow end. Second day, she was hesitantly dog paddling around the deeper end. Third day, she was jumping off the diving board. Fourth day, she was diving in from the side, practicing diving off the board, regularly touching the deep end of the pool and playing sharks and minnows type games with the big kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/aa55f819-5754-4654-9e87-d1dc626fee7c/June+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 165/366 6-13-20 It's no secret that I suffer from anxiety. It's the worst in the middle of the night, keeping me up for hours many times a month. I experience it sometimes during the day & evening, but never in the early morning. As much as I am a worrier, my faith makes me an optimist, and my optimism always takes over at the beginning of a new day. I can't watch a sunrise without feeling the promise of grace and resolution, without remembering that the darkest nights end with glorious sunrises. I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the King is alive https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c8a1e1c1-05d7-4db3-b17f-b9057e1ac554/June+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 166/366 6-14-20 Weekend mornings, I usually leave the house super early and drive to a bird place (lakes, sanctuaries, parks, walking paths). Every time I'm out there, I see things and wish my kids could experience them with me, but I'm not real big on waking people up. Sunday morning, I stumbled downstairs around 5:45 to grab some coffee to wake up for my bird walk. I heard a noise and this sweet girl was all dressed and ready to join me. It was awesome sharing the rabbit & bird sightings with her, but it was even cooler how she found new places to show me to explore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8661e649-e57b-495d-9a49-ca5851bb638f/June+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 167/366 6-15-20 She's all deep end all the time now. Look at those graceful hands! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c4d6ee5a-a28f-4223-9897-a97adc3da31c/June+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 168/366 6-16-20 The time M stole the GoPro and challenged me to dive (I didn't think I remembered how to dive). I almost look graceful. It's funny - I rarely see a picture of myself where at least one fist isn't clenched (or if my feet are visible, my toes are curled). Although I'm anxious, I don't feel like I'm that intense, but I wonder if I give off that vibe because of my body language. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ec1b7bed-2429-4796-8719-55c31e6f0dcd/June+17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 169/366 6-17-20 Mom - "Can you kids do something else besides staring at screens?" Also Mom - "Oooooh, look at these giant comfy bean bags we got for the basement." (In our defense, we also got a ping pong table) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0d90e214-c1c7-4921-af0a-df977817a55d/June+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 170/366 6-18-20 M went to a friend's house, so it was just the two of us at the pool. There were no other kids there, so H had only had his mom to play with. Tricks off the board! I even did a dive - OFF THE BOARD (big deal for me). H did lots of running and spinning - I'm not quite brave enough to run on the board yet, but he's encouraging me . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/de165bdb-16d0-4f25-9c78-51a8d915a6e3/June+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 171/366 6-19-20 It's becoming home now. Pictures up, new throw pillows, chilling on screens in the late afternoon and lots of big open windows. It's a good forever home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/15c3e2f6-5f7b-4dfe-84ad-a34299cca9c0/June+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 172/366 6-20-20 I don't usually wake people up (unless it's for school or work, and even then I feel awful stirring someone) but H wanted to go with me on my bird walk this morning so I shook him awake at 6:30. He said he still wanted to go but was very tired, but he quickly woke up and started talking for the entire walk. Bird photography usually requires a less chatty environment, but he just had so much to say. Minecraft, beyblade construction, secret worlds he's created complete with characters and magical settings and novel viruses. As he was chatting behind me as I took this picture, I was thinking maybe nature walks weren't really his thing. Is he even slowing down to notice the colors and textures and growth and miracles? And then he launched into this description about a new virus going around a new land he created - the wing virus. It's not actually dangerous like COVID. It just causes people and animals to sprout wings of different types. As he described the various wings, down to the location on the body to the sounds they make to the evolution depending on the creature, I realized he's more of a noticer than anyone I know. A lot of noticers keep their observations quiet, less talking and more studying. H notices and studies and shares with anyone who will listen. His brain is always going, always creating, always picking out details from his surroundings to add to his imagination to create his worlds of stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9bef71cc-5e22-4291-ac7d-380245bf6129/June+21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 173/366 6-21-20 Yesterday, my hands were entirely too filthy to pick up my camera, so here's a shot from my phone. I woke up before the sun and started digging and finished up just as EJ was pulling dinner off of that grill. I'm grateful we finally have the inside of the house put together so I can start work on the outside. My hands in the dirt almost the entire day . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d7888ea2-e8d0-4c9f-9c9c-9d39e99199db/June+22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 174/366 6-22-20 We debated holding out for a house with our own pool, but we settled on the fun of a neighborhood pool without the maintenance of having our own. Since my kids are early risers, we get there early and are often the ONLY people there, but with just enough other mornings of a kid or two sprinkled in so they don't have to spend time with just their mom all summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cb83ded4-2a2f-4533-8f3f-da60200e9fb7/June+23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 175/366 6-23-20 As she plants, she talks about the lessons in the garden. "We have to pull this dead leaf - the plant will put all of its energy into trying to grow this instead of making flowers, right?" When she looks at a plant, she anticipates it instead of just noticing the obvious blooms. "Look, Mom, do you see all of these buds coming up! We are going to have 8 flowers soon!" She always asks for gloves, but she eventually ends up digging into the dirt bare handed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/002d3fbd-6a32-4344-9f04-99a5ee3095f3/June+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 176/366 6-24-20 I don't plant flowers so I can photograph them, but I can't seem to resist grabbing my camera halfway through morning watering. There is so much peace in the garden, so many lessons and promises and everyday miracles. As with most things that fill me with big feelings, I have that need to document the moment so I can go back and relive it when I need it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cd0e6a8d-3888-4174-a0b8-82dcceb19084/June+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 177/366 6-25-20 M has always been a kind friend. She shares, she encourages, she laughs with friends and makes them laugh back, she's willing to create the fun or join in someone else's idea. There was a time when she also went ALL IN with friends, playing all day, every day with the same friends and building special bonds. But saying goodbye to so many close friends caused her to put up barriers. She would play a bit, but she wouldn't open up and ask for playdates or spend more than a couple days in a row with the same friend. I love this house and community, but the stability it has given M to drop some of those barriers is one of the greatest blessings in this move. And an even greater blessing that it's happening with this sweet family friend (who just happens to be a 5 minute walk away!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b63131fe-c01f-4eea-a528-1ebe437896c5/June+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 178/366 6-26-20 I'm almost halfway through this project and I just really miss my mom. Getting half way through means we haven't seen her in over 6 months. That's 6 months of missing her birthday, Poppy's birthday, both the kids' birthdays, H growing 6 inches, a new house with a room built for her (don't tell the other guests - the kids want to hang a big G in the room and say it means, GUEST, but it really means, GRAMMY), and planting a new season's flowers. I don't remember a summer where my mom wasn't here to see the new flowers. You know those events that don't seem complete until you share them with a certain person? That's the flowers and Grammy - I Facetime her when I buy new ones. And it makes me happy to be able to share at all, but it also makes me incredibly sad. There is still gratitude, gratitude in the fact that she is the reason I can find light even in the darkest times. Little Susie Sunshine, always finding the bright side, even when I was growling and rolling my eyes that NOT EVERYTHING has a bright side. But, here I am, an almost 50 year old woman filled full of her examples, who can't help but search for the positive, trying to find the lessons, believing that all bad happens for a reason and that flowers can't grow without the spring storms. I'm going to keep planting and watering and listening to the lessons of the garden .... and hoping that we will get to visit to see each others' flowers before fall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4283faa3-a3b3-490f-ae65-7236df0b0460/June+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 179/366 6-27-20 This looks like a bad thing - my kids all up on screens on a nature walk - but it's actually Pokemon Go and it's been an amazing addition to their apps. We haven't walked this much in weeks! And they finally paused long enough for me to capture some birds and insects along the trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fa8c75d0-3680-4b21-8db0-94eeaea1931f/June+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 180/366 6-28-20 I was having a glum evening, just all the everything that's happening right now and then this frog showed up, smiled real big and reminded me how much wonderful is also in the world right now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2e3f6efd-b567-408f-bb71-0c24ad8c02f2/June+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 181/366 6-29-20 The only way I know it's the weekend is seeing EJ on the couch instead of getting ready for work. I'm not complaining - we're nestled right in the middle of birdville, so I get to fill much of my day with my favorite pasttime. Although the Dickcissel is one of the most abundant birds in KS, I never saw them until we moved across the bridge to MO. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1559143a-1c4c-439a-88ad-a3d4775882c7/June+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 2) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 182/366 6-30-20 "Hey, M, put on clothes for a hike. And make sure you wear closed-toe shoes." https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/blog/the-gratitude-project-part-1 monthly 0.5 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a4d1c362-ba02-49cd-a890-eec3ad08757a/the+whole+year.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/345a6295-b6bb-40b2-8f6b-a94cc715f519/Jan+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 1/366 1-1-20 He’s at that age where kids start to put up guards. It becomes less accepted to be amazed, to laugh, to be impressed by things. So far, he’s still my imaginative son, my noticer, my optimistic experimenter open to all the laughter and new ideas. Maybe he’s one who stays here, who is willing to think outside the box even as the voices say to conform. I do hope so ... those are the ones who change the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8d1c2800-f708-4e0a-906b-64bf40633e1d/Jan+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 2/366 1-2-20 Out house hunting, we found ourselves on some winding back roads. This kid from the back, "can you roll down the window, I don't feel so great." 30 seconds later, he's like this, drinking in all the joy an 11-year-old can. I let myself get stressed out with this house hunt, concerned about finding the right location, the right floor plan, the right neighbors -- it's just all so much. This kid doesn't get it. "Calm down, Mom, we've moved so many times and, every time, you love where we live. You will find what to love in the new place." And, you know, he's right. He's the eternal optimist, and my worry-prone self is grateful to have his positive perspective in my life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/09a87b97-552c-4476-a997-2351bb057eab/Jan+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 3/366 1-3-20 This wasn't the picture I had planned. I walked out there with the intention of getting a portait of them through the window. I know better. There's a reason I don't have many pictures of them looking at the camera. But, really, this represents them better anyway. They've both had life experiences that could cause them to love conditionally, tentatively. But they don't do that with one another - they are all in, whole heart, forever. (I'm not saying they don't pick on one another and fight sometimes, but that's all out of love . ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f33a857e-6a66-481c-93d1-5c4b8ecbdb94/Jan+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 4/366 1-4-20 We were playing mini golf as a family, and she was holes ahead of us. I was rushing behind her, camera in hand, half playing golf, but mostly firing off shots for my photo of the day. Definitely not in any moment other than frenzy. Then she slowed down in awe of this glowing bush. Four days into this project, and I realize I'm already heading down a road of losing my purpose. My 365 goal is to notice what brings me gratitude. Here I was rushing and chasing and shooting and then, as often happens, my kids come through with the lesson. SLOW. DOWN. Really notice. Stop and explore what you are noticing. Gratitude requires patience. Gratitude requires reflection and a pause to give thanks. Gratitude takes time. SLOW. DOWN. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b413f0a1-e86e-463d-a289-b3d44122191e/Jan+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 5/366 1-5-20 I joke that she looks at a situation and ponders, "hmm, what is the most dangerous way to accomplish this?" She has that perfectly shaped climbing side but chooses to build a step on the sheer side AND THEN use the climbing step as a launching pad. Being a safety pup mom to a danger kitty child can be trying, but I will say that her risky choices have made me a better person, braver & calmer and more willing to choose the adventurous routes (although there are days when I wish we wore helmets 24/7). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e143cdf6-19ff-4af5-be33-e7156170d311/Jan6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 6/366 1-6-20 It's a blessing that they attend a school that results in these smiles at the end of every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/36b97df2-3395-4914-af5e-372cab160845/Jan+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 7/366 1/7/20 If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. - Eleonora Duse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5190e3be-f855-4bf5-be64-9d9ceaaee861/Jan+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 8/366 1-8-20 I knew I wanted to complete another 365 project, but I also knew it needed a direction. I had kicked around some ideas, more technique and subject based, but none of those felt right. One afternoon in early December, I was waiting in line at a TJ Maxx and this little book caught my eye. I flipped through it as I waited and it was instantly clear the direction the project would head. The introduction alone inspired me to look through more grateful eyes, and then the quotes and reflection activities that followed sealed the deal. Alongside Crash the Chatterbox (which I think everyone should read, especially those in creative fields), this book has set the stage for a year of gratitude through photographs. My images might not look that different to others, but my heart feels the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3231f16c-352f-4557-9c47-8407e9effb5d/Jan+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 9/366 1-9-20 Most bird photographers get excited in the spring. The migration back north and mating season mean a variety of birds and more of them. But I don't photograph birds because I'm a bird photographer. I photograph birds because it brings me closer to God. Sometimes in grief, sometimes in celebration, but always in faith that He will provide what I need even when I don't know what I need. And my season is winter. There aren't as many birds, so the pace is slower and there is a lot of sitting and having faith that the birds WILL show up eventually. And that's what I do, but as I sit and wait, I pray and worship and praise and remember sitting with the birds 6 years ago, the birds that carried me through one of the most difficult times of my life. After Addie's hearing, I was devastatingly sad - for a brief moment, I thought for sure this was breaking me, but EJ assured me as he folded his hands around mine and prayed me through it, that there was a plan. Most days between the time we lost Addie and the day we met Mila, I sat outside and waited for birds. Some days it was bitterly cold, but I still sat and waited and trusted the birds would come. And they did, with all the emotions I needed when I needed them - humor, faith, awe, companionship. I was still very sad, but I didn't doubt. I knew it was a journey I was meant to take, that I needed to push through and trust. Even though the waiting was long and cold and hard, it was never alone. Those birds would land next to me and I swear they were connecting with me, looking right in my eyes and confirming that it would be okay. ....Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders...my soul will rest in Your embrace ... where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, You've never failed and You won't start now... Which brings me to the present. I heard there were some eagles out at Smithville Lake, so I headed out there to see. I don't know anything about the area, so I just located it on a map and drove to a dam. And I sat and waited, just me and one fisherman and no eagles. Then in came all of these glorious gulls, diving and dancing and looking right at me as they turned in the sky. When that eye contact happened before, I remember those overwhelming emotions of faith mixed with sadness and a resolution to endure, but today it was straight gratitude. I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me ... up from the ashes, hope will arise... As I started to leave, the fisherman took off his headphones and pointed at some trees across the lake to tell me there were 3 huge eagles there two days ago. I had forgotten I had come for the eagles. .... and Hallelujah, You have saved me, so much better Your way .... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2d499eca-2ec5-493a-b49d-9779d4caaf7a/Jan+10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 10/366 1-10-20 Give these kids an empty box and you'll find yourself in the middle of an "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" storyline. 1 project turned into 4 .... duct tape, electrical tape, shiny reflective tape, a sharpie, string from the sewing drawer, scrolls from his art collection and 45 minutes later, we have ANOTHER koala and an art storage case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/76cb6672-4b98-4e23-afd4-a165cf9e8271/Jan11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 11/366 1-11-20 One of my favorite things about snow is how it causes all of the birds to flock to our feeders. I'll start washing dishes and then realize, 5 minutes later, the water is still on and I'm caught up watching bird performances through the kitchen window. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/54ad1af9-cb11-4295-a9b7-86137b24fd81/Jan+12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 12/366 1-12-20 Here's the thing - she is stubborn. Like make you grit your teeth and wait stubborn because the only way to get through a tantrum or disagreement or walk up a hill with her is to wait it out and then try to discuss things after the incident (because I promise NOBODY is changing her mind once it's made up). And for this I AM grateful. She has made me more patient, more willing to consider "the other side" before I get frustrated. Maybe the other way is the right way if I reconsider my stance. She's made me look at others through a lens of empathy, trying to understand motivations and experiences and possible trauma before making assumptions. And she's made ME more stubborn, more willing to stand up for what I believe in even if it ruffles some feathers. I know this trait will serve her well in many situations. It's difficult being the mom of a stubborn 7 year old, but it's also a beautiful gift viewed through a lens of gratitude. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5a2df6fe-c9fa-4538-91ff-ae3c32d23f77/Jan+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 13/366 1-13-20 I started down this road determined to get a ton of pictures of birds and trees and that peaceful hushed feeling that snow brings. But then I parked on the side of the road and watched and listened to the birds, louder and more visible because of the snow, and I forgot to take the pictures. I took it all in, though. It was not a lost trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5169db27-4b7f-4e90-a7e7-0f2afb1c77fd/Jan14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 14/366 1-14-20 I finally took a substitute job. I completed the paperwork well before Thanksgiving, but I just kept putting it off. There was always "something to do," and, if I'm being honest, I worried how a high school teacher would handle an elementary classroom. So I finally made myself click ACCEPT and headed in. This was the view out of the classroom window when I got there ... the calm before the storm, I thought. But then there was no storm. Because these were sweet 2nd graders (who still love substitutes) with a fantastic teacher (who also clearly loves substitutes based on the way she prepped her rooms and kids for me) at a wonderful school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5e9bb3bb-3846-4408-a084-c42dab3ce58e/Jan+15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 15/366 1-15-20 A little Bob Ross before the bus comes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/db0bd235-84b1-4167-a0fc-d6196723caf7/Jan+16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude project 16/366 1-16-20 I got yelled at while taking pictures around Smithville Lake. As I started to walk away from my car, a man yelled over, "you can't walk over there or they [the eagles] will fly away." I told him I just wanted to walk and enjoy the water's edge and it was okay. "Oh, so I guess it just doesn't matter if anyone else gets pictures of the eagles then?!?" and an eye roll as he lifts a camera into view. I didn't even know the guy was taking pictures. He had been inside his truck for over a half hour while I was on the other side of the dam taking pictures on the trail. I got back in my car and drove to another park (we were clearly on completely different missions) and saw these beautiful floating ice sculptures all along the water's edge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fd761237-aabb-4c65-938d-4d0a70405e39/Jan12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 17/366 1-17-20 H has been on a flat lay kick lately. He loves finding pictures from above and editing them on his phone. Frozen Blue Jay treats - flat lay shot inspired by H. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b77cd69e-19cf-4528-9aec-223253142cf5/Jan+18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 18/366 1-18-20 Ugh, this house hunting thing is hard, especially when you are quite happy where you already are and you aren't 100% sure which area is the right one for your family. I know we will know when we know, and I also know this is the very best thing for our family in the long run. I need to work on my patience and focus on what a blessing it is to have an awesome Realtor and a flexible timeline. We would appreciate prayers for the right house and for us knowing it's the right house when we see it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/00c5fe69-551e-435f-8ff3-4ff7fbc7e4f3/Jan+19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 19/366 1-19-20 This was our afternoon. These kids saw us glued to our screen and took full advantage of our lazy parenting. GO CHIEFS!!!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a88ee4fb-534f-48d5-8eec-77d6bfdfddd9/Jan+20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 20/366 1-20-20 Yesterday felt frantic - surprise snow storm when we had driving appointments all morning, looking at houses again, an afternoon of video games and laser tag at Main Event. When we got home, I was watching for birds out the back door at sunset and there was this cool texture and colors on the back door and the gratitude centered me, reminded me that our emotions follow what we focus upon. There is plenty of stress and worry and fretting, but there is also reflection and daily miracles and blessings. I'm thinking gratitude might be the best therapy for anxiety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ec3c5c24-948a-43bb-aeee-8d36b72b81e3/Jan21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 21/366 1-21-20 There are grander, flashier birds, but the tufted titmouse is probably my favorite. Look at that fun crest and the secret flash of orange under his wing. And they have the sweetest little song. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6f8031c2-fffd-4195-9c4e-a740f6e48bac/Jan22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 22/366 1-22-20 H's class is doing a Titanic unit. At the beginning of the unit, they drew a character, complete with class, occupation and name. Today, they had a surprise tea party where parents brought fancy foods (and not fancy for 3rd class -- think pickles and cheese balls) and served them. Students were encouraged to dress their part, and almost every one of them did. 6th grade is still elementary here, and I've struggled wondering if that will hurt H as he transitions to a middle school next year. Watching this event, him still being allowed to be a kid with a classroom of other students still open to imagination and letting guards down, made me see it very clearly. He will adjust, transition, grow up (so fast) but this one more year to be allowed to be an elementary kid - this is a blessing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ac477dbd-935b-4709-b37d-0d3ae3cbc7d5/Jan23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 23/366 1-23-20 M didn't come in from the bus, so I walked out to see what was keeping her and found this. One little pile of snow was left on the driveway and she spent 20 minutes lovingly building this sweet mini snowman. (Lucky for her, it snowed overnight and there's no school today!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/17d7677f-fd83-4a4d-9595-c4648c4bd6fa/Jan+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 24/366 1-24-20 Oh, that glorious age where chores still seem like play! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/74c76988-8a7f-4929-ba58-79f7794ef4f9/Jan+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 25/366 1-25-20 Today I focus my gratitude on the power of the military community. It is THE thing I will miss when we move off post, not just for big events like this but for the meal trains, fire pits, car pools, cups of coffee walked down the street at 6am on moving day and every other time hands reached out to help, hug, heal and hold even before the need was voiced. Every year, the Fort Leavenworth community comes together to participate in the National Wreaths Across America Day and every year we've been here, we've had a conflict on the morning of the wreath laying. This year, we were able to participate in the wreath retirement event. When you drive up and see the hundreds of wreaths, you think, "wow, what an overwhelming task." And it really is - it's a task that could take hours. But not on Fort Leavenworth. This community came together to complete the task in just under an hour - swarms of wreath carriers, truck drivers, transporters and organizers from 4-80 worked together to retire the wreaths. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/11b131b2-825d-49da-aa6d-bac5c354363c/Jan+26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 26/366 1-26-20 M woke up early and it was just the two of us for about an hour. A red bellied woodpecker landed on the deck, but we were in the middle of an intense game of Mastermind, so I didn't get a picture. She wanted to make sure the others got to see the bird too, so she made her own picture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f2328b26-7fd1-4603-a1d6-e935bf0832ca/Jan+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 27/366 1-27-20 We had an old family friend over for dinner last night and talk circled around to how awesome EJ is. He's used to it - the topic isn't a rare one for those who are lucky enough to get to know him. Here is a visual Illustration of one of the many reasons we love EJ. While shoveling the drive, he took the time to gently lift and transport M's baby snowman over by the big snowman so none of the plows or additional weather would disturb it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a1b91e8d-fc15-48e3-ab3a-201e65957b3e/Jan+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 28/366 1-28-20 I brought the camera to Taekwondo. I thought today's picture would be of one of my kids kicking, punching or breaking a board, but when I looked through the roll, H in the left corner caught my eye and brought me to tears. I have never been around someone who is so unapologetically and genuinely happy for other people's successes. I'm not saying he's not competitive (get him in the gaga ball pit or around a game of Sorry and some different emotions bubble up), but he isn't afraid to enthusiastically celebrate others. And it certainly helps that this school is led by people who are just as enthusiastic with their celebrations! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b7307b80-1459-4598-b96c-bfc98c89fdfa/Jan+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 29/366 1-29-20 I probably spend too much time staring out my back window, but this is what greeted me out there yesterday. The greatest gratitude is that I wasn't below him when he decided to poop - have you ever seen a hawk poop? It was one of the more disguting things I've ever witnessed (and you can be grateful I'm not sharing any of those pictures here) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9104a21c-f64e-4e33-bb0c-cb92b602531c/Jan+30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 30/366 1-30-20 We have this running joke in our house where we sing, "You're Gonna Miss This" when the kids or parents do one of those annoying kid or parent things. When I kiss H in front of his friends at the bus stop, when one of them calls me back for the 4th time to tell me ANOTHER story before bed, when they ask 10 minutes before bedtime if this can be a “Family Game Night,” when they are cackle laughing at one another instead of putting up the dishwasher .... those moments that make us roll our eyes in frustration, but in the same moment, we know we are going to miss. Like this moment. As I walked in to turn out his lights, I tripped over a shoe blocking the threshold into this scene. UGH - pick up your stuff!!! But then I pictured him sliding his dad's childhood comics out of the sleeves, lining them up, comparing the stories, creating his own stories built off of those stories, knowing I will hear many of them the following morning. His crazy imagination, his love of nostalgia, his unapologetic belief that good wins over evil - I don't know if (and when) that somewhat naively optimistic soul will be tarnished by age. How many more nights and mornings do I have with him still wanting to call me back in for a story or hunting me down to recall his dreams or tell me about a new invention / storyline / project he thought about overnight? Talk about the real UGH! "You're gonna miss this... you're gonna want this back .... you're gonna wish these days ... hadn't gone by so fast .... these are some good times .... so take a good look around .... you might not know it now, but you're gonna miss this...." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/951d9e68-4725-4c9d-bd26-fa14f54cc652/Jan+31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 31/366 1-31-20 It's been dreary, like zero sun appearances, for several days and this gorgeous sky was the perfect closure for month one of the gratitude project. For past 365 projects, my overall goal was to improve my work and that kind of sucked the joy right out of the project. The 2020 double meaning is not lost on me here - this is a new way of seeing and looking at things. This new direction of focusing on noticing and documenting the daily miracles, making pictures while this internal dialogue of gratitude plays in my head, has infused all the joy right back in. I may not be making *better* pictures, but the moments are having a much greater impact. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9e61936b-42f0-4016-bd42-0fc561e47844/Feb+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 32/366 2-1-20 sunrise/sunset The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. - Psalms 19:1-6 NIV https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e5fc9af8-d324-414b-a07a-86463cb047a3/Feb+2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 33/366 2-2-20 His goals in life are to become a genetic scientist, to cure Alzheimer's and to discover the missing link that makes time travel possible. With his imagination, I think he's well on his way to conquering these things that seem impossible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/61679fe7-221e-4b57-9f5b-5f410483d95f/Feb+3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 34/366 2-3-20 Found Kookoo in the window where M placed her to watch the birds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4a49c08d-1869-44a6-85b7-80991605f435/Feb+4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 35/366 2-4-20 It does feel a little rude how these kids are always ignoring me, but I let it slide when there's a book involved. I’m grateful that, in between the screen time requests, they also love reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/94c7bb82-e294-4530-ac60-f0b3d678eb71/Feb+5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 36/366 2-5-20 I took a bunch of pictures of cool, new birds, and I almost shared one of those, but then I remembered that the point of the project isn't pretty pictures but finding gratitude in new or unexpected places. So here is the family watching the Chief's parade, M on my lap, H cuddling with Chief on the couch. We spent the day watching a team falling over itself to shift attention off individual accomplishments to give one another (and their fans and their coach) credit for this successful season. What a blessing to live in this town at this time so my kids get to be immersed in this celebration wrapped up in unity, pride, humility and grace. It's not really about the football .... to anyone around here, at least (although the football is good - mind blowing, “how’d he do that?!?” good). We've all fallen in love with the spirit of this team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8b76469d-98f5-4bac-85db-b13f5f66749d/Feb+6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 37/366 2-6-20 Substituting at the kids' school always makes me fall in love with it even more. They've somehow figured out what all the other schools we've been in couldn't seem to - they truly nurture the WHOLE kid. They have programs that build self-confidence through discovering individual gifts while also stressing the importance of community and leaning on/building up others. They've got academics covered with innovative lessons encompassing multiple learning styles and abilities - walk the school and you see kids scattered through rooms and halls, at tables and on the floor, working with volunteers and special education teachers and other students to find that spark to light the fire that ignites the passion for learning in these important early years. And the Specials - this is what made me yearn to be back here after we left 5 years ago. Science labs with real world hands-on connections, music classes with innovative lessons that push the limits, crazy cool physical education games and my favorite (and what I missed the very most) ART CLASS! This is not your run-of-the-mill elementary art class - I could tell that just from the pieces the kids brought home in their backpacks. But this year, the art teacher put out a call for volunteers and I jumped on it. It's one of my favorite parts of the week - watching the teacher deliver those lessons covering history, celebrating the artist, providing the technique and then encouraging the students as they create their "masterpiece" creations makes my heart sing for what she is building in them. I love being alone in the halls with a stack full of an assignment and getting to see each kids' interpretation as I hang them one by one. In my head, I'm silently cheering for their individual voices, for them being encouraged to take an idea and make it their own. And I am inspired to do that for myself. "Be like a child, Mel," I think every Monday as I view these little artists' creations. "Don't let the other voices change yours." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9d155322-c453-4ed6-9e46-3c30c1b464a5/Feb+7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 38/366 2-7-20 I snapped this right before they left for school because it made me smile - this is so M. I didn't intend for it to be today's photo, but then the day got away from me and I didn't take pictures, which ended up being a blessing as I got to sit with this one and reflect on her ways. I'll admit, this putting everything in order can get frustrating, especially when it's not the order I want or when it's a box full of bandaids on her legs. Oh, and don't even THINK about giving her one of those yellow bowls, or any yellow items - she will flat out refuse all things yellow ... and be fairly angry at you for the gall. But let me tell you who you want around if you've lost your keys (which I'm prone to do, regularly). This girl knows exactly where she last saw those! And puzzles? This is the one you want helping with puzzles. Board games? NOT the opponent you want, especially if you don't like losing Ticket to Ride, dominoes, or Master Mind. Her fashion is on point because she's able to see pattern and color combinations that no one else can until she's put it all together. And her sweet memory about things I had forgotten I told her - "Mom, you just did like Great Grandma putting that jelly spoon in the peanut butter." Thank goodness she'll never have to rely on me for math homework - she memorized her multiplication tables in kindergarten. And there's just something refreshing about someone who knows exactly what they want and isn't afraid to demand it. My goal here is to guide her through the challenging incidents without breaking her spirit, to try and focus on the inspiration of her ways rather than the frustrations and to remind myself that I need to focus on the immediate joy of any organization project I accomplish around the house because she's likely to come right behind me and reorganize it her way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c56e2ee0-77e7-42b8-b4a8-c372a51281b5/Feb+8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 39/366 2-8-20 Even with 28° weather and it being an early 9:30 on a Saturday morning, we had over 20 kids out playing Club Gaga Ball. What a blessing for my kiddo (and me) to be able to enjoy this kind of fellowship with an amazing group of kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a39ae16c-5d4d-4332-b39c-99e4734cceae/Feb+9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 40/366 2-9-20 So, I'm all cuddled up in the warm bed falling asleep watching the end of the Academy Awards. EJ - "The moon is really cool out there right now." Mel - "I'm not getting out of bed to take a picture of the moon." EJ - "Okay, but it is REALLY cool." Mel - "Ugh. Okay, I'm coming." Mel - "WOOOOOOOW!" I love how he gently encourages me to do the things that make me slightly uncomfortable if he knows I will benefit from them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/bb921373-b93e-4b58-a1c8-3eaf6d5b085d/Feb10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 41/366 2-10-20 This ridiculous dog. It's kind of a miracle I love her as much as I do considering her puppyhood. She ate every plant, expensive fashion accessory and morsel of food she could manage to reach. We had to create a restraint system when people entered the house because she was a jumper. I remember when she was all drugged up from being spayed and I was so thankful for a quiet afternoon. She still jumps on all the furniture (to include tables), but she sits like a human and cracks us up, so she gets away with it. She thinks she's still puppy size, curling up in the smallest spaces possible, to include right in our laps or under our arms as we sleep (yes, she's allowed in the bed). We're home alone most days and we just do our own thing, me computering or cleaning while she sleeps or asks to go in and out the door over and over, but if I EVER need a cuddle, she is right there ready. And she always finds the best light! She's grown out of most of the annoying puppy traits, but she still eats anything she can reach. I know, one day, I will miss even that. This Chief, she's a good dog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8cf93b5a-a162-4fed-8f94-2b61c3d4dcd8/Feb11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 42/366 2-11-20 The first slide in my Making It Click workshop says, "take more pictures." You want to get better at photography, you shoot more. In my one-on-one mentoring, we focus on not only shooting more but shooting what you love. If you don't really have a passion for flowers (or weddings or babies or animals or whatever) that will come through in the images. That passion, that love for the thing you are photographing, is the little extra that can push the images from good to special. And so it seems it is with gratitude. Want to feel more gratitude? Be more grateful. And then that gratitude starts coming through you, making all the days go from good to something special. So how does that connect to this picture? M doesn't pose for the camera. I've given up even trying because it usually ends in glares and growls. But since this project has kicked off, I've noticed a shift in her attitude towards the camera. I've been to enough therapy to know that this has something to do with my attitude behind the camera. I'm not asking her to look at the camera more - I'm just shooting how I normally do, but thinking about the things that make me grateful while I shoot. I'm guessing that makes my photography more pleasant to be around. I'm guessing that makes me more pleasant to be around - a grateful person is more pleasant than an ungrateful one. In any event, I love this sweet smile on this happy girl. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/62de2919-477a-4a8c-9df9-d03c40dd2895/Feb12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 43/366 2-12-20 One of the requirements for our forever home is a window over the kitchen sink so I can watch the birds. And if you're curious, also on my list (we all have a list, but these are my hopes) - lots of bathrooms (preferably not near the kitchen and all of the toilets in separate rooms & no carpet LOL), a flat yard, sunrise or sunset view, some type of enclosed office space where I can plaster the walls with inspiration and edit without being in the middle of the living area ... and bright with good light. Hopefully we also end up with a covered porch, cul-de-sac, great neighbors with kids the same age as ours and a backyard pool. But the birds and bathrooms are non-negotiable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/749e36de-b012-481e-aaf7-e1da5da47c2f/Feb+13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 44/366 2-13-20 The gratitude project isn't about showing how I see everything as positive and find gratitude in everything around me - it's a project to *encourage* me to see the positive side of situations and to find gratitude wherever I can. If I was naturally doing this, I probably wouldn't be doing a year long project focused on gratitude. Even though I am generally a glass half-full kind of person, my brain is prone to wander to the what-ifs and shoulda-dones if I don't keep it focused on something else. There is daily (and nightly) anxiety - sometimes I can pinpoint a reason but, many times, it just holds a place in my gut with no explanation. Editing these pictures in the morning (or during middle of the night insomnia sessions), focusing on the thankfulness, helps unwind my stomach and my brain. Writing about the gratefulness centers me at least for the next few hours, occupies my mind with the positive and the good. I need this so much and then I share it so it sticks - for myself, but if anyone else takes a bit of it and improves his/her own day, fantastic! But I'm not here creating a project that highlights a perfect world or a person who has it all figured out. Kind of the opposite, really. I'm forcing myself to notice the good light, to find the beauty in the ordinary & temporary, to appreciate this life and talent with which I have been blessed and, eventually, I hope it takes over as habit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/42181e8f-3f7b-4b52-ac0f-43d040083af5/Feb+14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 45/366 2-14-20 I spent much of the day waiting for the late FedEx guy to deliver my 100-400 lens to evaluate. When I finally had it in my hands in the late afternoon, I drove all around post looking for birds who wanted portraits taken. Nothing. Too cold or late or something. So I came back home and found my sweet Baby Blue (yes, we name them) working so hard to get a peanut out of the peanut ring - and captured his success just before he flew away! I'm off to the lake early Saturday morning, hoping to get the most out of this lens - wish me luck! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b0b2ea6a-30a0-478f-abc2-993eca073801/Feb15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 46/366 2-15-20 Just some gratitude ramblings So, I got the new bird lens. And I saw 3 birds I've never seen before - a Northern Flicker, a Red-headed Woodpecker and an Eastern Meadowlark (also some Bald Eagles, several Red-bellied Woodpeckers and a cool crane)! I didn't get any pictures I'm super excited about, but it was a very rewarding bird sighting day. This lens is a real disappointment - slow to focus and maybe even an overall focusing issue with noisy, soft images even at high shutter speeds (although user error has not been ruled out). I found myself swapping out and using my trusty 70-200 most of the day. New equipment is overrated - sometimes we need to just appreciate what we already have ... rock what we got. I visited two birding hubs and H joined me to the second one. I'm not sure he really wanted to go, but I think he knew I would love having him there (with tweens, that empathy companionship is something to be celebrated). Bird photography is a bit like golf - you have to be quiet during the most exciting parts and *almost* getting the shot is not good enough. And the thing is, this guy still really wants to talk with me. So we walked this trail and talked about Minecraft and favorite foods and gasped way too loudly at birds and we laughed a lot. At one point, he walked ahead and said he would give me some quiet so I could capture the birds. I walked around for a few minutes then came around the corner and saw him sitting here on this bench and my heart just ached with gratitude. I really don't like Minecraft (at all), but all I wanted in that moment was to hear his voice talking about anything. He'll be 11 for 3 more weeks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fe6a6f91-e8f5-4193-8be5-af0de6735cb7/Feb16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 47/366 2-16-20 This one is hard to explain without going through a lot of explanation from the past six years. And it's not all my story to tell. But I know I need this picture in my gratitude book. That look. I don't take that look for granted. That breaking through all the distractions and sorting through the chaos and confusion, locking onto one another, confident In this mutual connection that encompasses support and trust and understanding and so much love. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9336441a-ff60-4014-ad38-250d3e36c880/Feb17dip.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 48/366 2-17-20 We took part in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Hansen asked why we would travel to a lake when we have so many birds in our own backyard, but he still came along. He downloaded the Merlin app on his phone, so he had all the pictures and calls to help identify the birds. We probably saw 40 red-headed woodpeckers, which was super exciting, but I was on the hunt for a pileated and a downy woodpecker. At this path, H started walking pretty far ahead of me and thought he was getting bored, but when I heard the loud call of a pileated woodpecker, I realized he had moved ahead so he could hide and play the call from his phone. What I wish I had a picture of is the look on his face when I saw him crouched behind a tree playing the sounds, waiting to see my face when I realized it was him. This kid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f15e13bc-d776-4823-a431-bd99740dddb3/Feb18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 49/366 2-18-20 People have claimed I'm not a morning person. It's not that. I love mornings, even 5am (or sometimes 2am) early mornings, but I love them alone. It's my reflection time, my time in my own head: reflecting, editing, praying, writing, centering myself for the day. If I encounter someone during this time, I may seem like I'm not a morning person, but it's just that I know if I don't get through that process, I will be unprepared for the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/70518f4b-855f-4aa7-a9e4-6f5e424f552a/Feb19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 50/366 2-19-20 It was one of those rushed days, activities overlapping, a lot of hurry up and wait between drop offs and pick ups. Our final stop was passing time while watching H's sword class. As we waited, we cuddled and laughed and played the drawing game (using our fingers to draw pictures on each other and guessing the pictures). We usually do it on backs, but being in public, we stuck to cheeks. Me - (draws two curves facing each other to make a heart) M - HEART! Me - (draws intersecting triangles to create a star ) M - STAR! Me - (draws a circle) M - CIRCLE! Me - (draws circle with lines around it to create a happy face ) M - SURPRISED CIRCLE! I mean, this life. This is such a blessed life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/db389c70-8592-4aea-97bb-c0f03051ae74/Feb20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 51/366 2-20-20 So that bum bird lens I got is on its way back to Canon and they sent me a new one. I got it around 11 and then immediately had to report for a PM substitute job. As soon as I got home, I couldn't wait to see if this one worked, so I stalked the deck birds. They were pretty thin because the combination of it being really cold this week and EJ being out of town led to the bird feeders getting a little low. I was able to capture this proud cardinal If this is the focus I get through a double pane window, I can't wait to get this lens out in nature. Prepare for ALL THE BIRD PICTURES!!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ec338256-92a7-45ea-9719-4c20aab7cbab/Feb21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 52/366 2-21-20 When H started reading chapter books, I thought he might enjoy Harry Potter, but the size of the books were intimidating. I told him I would read some to him and then he could read the rest. I read the first page, ending with "The Dursleys had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it. " "Then what happens?!" he asked. I handed him the book and there began his first of at least 20 Harry Potter series readings. The curiosity is too much for him. He Is constantly trying to discover new information and new ways to do things, so he reads, talks and creates his way through that. He's going to change the world with that curiosity, and I can't wait to see how. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/11be877e-1344-43fb-a489-a41a2a914a34/Feb22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 53/366 2-22-20 Saturday mornings I love how they can always make each other laugh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b537ffc8-f074-47e1-a812-c36ec01599ce/Feb23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 54/366 2-23-20 Yes, it's another bird story. And it's kind of a long one because it's a big lesson. February 2014 was the most difficult month of my life. I never gave up faith that God had a plan for us, but I had a hard time with waiting and not being able to do anything to hurry along this journey. To calm my nerves, I went to the birds. I would nestle inside thickets and brush by the river and just wait. It was where I could practice that trait of patience, never knowing what was coming or when. It was during a particularly trying day that I saw my first cedar waxwing. I had been waiting for the usual - cardinals, blue jays, robins and bluebirds, when this bird I had never seen before landed right in front of me. He turned to me with that little super hero face, bold but graceful, and just stayed and stared for some time. That moment gave me so much peace and gratitude; it gave me that extra bit of faith that I needed at that time. And I never saw another cedar waxwing after that. Fast forward to February 2020. I woke up and searched the Realtor and Zillow websites, like I do every morning, and was frustrated to see that there were no new listings. I had some emails from my Realtor (and good friend, Audra ) about some possibilities on the horizon and then she sent me a text message that said, "Hang in there. I believe God has His path for you and is not giving you options because the best is yet to come." Okay, message received. I know this lesson. I've learned this before. I needed the reminder. We head off to church. The entire worship service was centered around this lesson. Faith in the journey, trusting God to take charge of the map. "Waymaker Miracle Worker Promise Keeper Light in the darkness My God That is who You are." And if it wasn't sinking in just yet, we ended with singing over and over, "Even when I can't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working." Message received. Again. I suppose it's true that I need repetition to overcome my control-fueled anxiety. The sermon also focused on the trust, the God's got this, stop freaking out message! Ending with Pastor Randy sweetly singing the chorus of one of his favorite songs, "I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a Child of God." Message received. Again. When I came home, I was pulled to photograph some birds. I headed to a place I haven't been back to since we returned here, the brush down by the river. I found my way to the same place where I had seen the waxwing years earlier and I waited. It was coming, I was sure of it. Faithful and waiting. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it, a flutter of color. I turned my lens towards the movement, focused in and ... ROBIN! A common robin that I see every day. Beautiful bird, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't the unique waxwing I was expecting. It occurred to me that I was completely missing the point of the entire day full of the same lesson. I can't control this journey. I can't force a waxwing sighting any more than I can hurry along an adoption or create the perfect home listing. I decided to head to my new place on post, an open path I discovered this week, not trapped inside old sad memories in these bushes but a wide open space surrounded by air and red-headed woodpeckers. I hopped in my car, headed to my new destination, and came around a curve to a flurry of yellow. I did a u-turn and pulled into a parking lot to find a tree filled to the brim with cedar waxwings. For some time, I didn't even lift my camera, overcome by the site and the lesson again. In the most unexpected place, at the most unexpected time, while I was in between two points on a map I created, this bright yellow detour yelled the lesson yet one more time for me, "Get out of God's way. You don't have the map. You are not in control of the journey or the timing. Have faith, keep your eyes open, do not fear." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/664f7220-392a-45c7-85eb-9b7d9f34dfe6/Feb+24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 55/366 2-24-20 While I was out shooting cedar waxwings, EJ saw a new bird at the feeder. I had the bird book in my car from the lake trips with the kids, so he couldn't identify it. We've been on the watch all day and it hasn't returned, but I love that the entire family is in on my bird obsession. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d181f94e-2d8e-4f71-84a4-01e3f406b3ba/Feb+25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 56/366 2-25-20 Like many conversations with Hansen, I'm not sure how we arrived at the topic, but he started laughing about the phrase, "Jesus, take the wheel," and how if people ask and it doesn't happen, are there just car wrecks everywhere. And I will tell you, that is at the center of my biggest life struggles. When is it time to just completely surrender and when is it time to put in some of the work? I don't think God intends for us to sit on the couch, eat bonbons and pray to win the lottery - even if the rest of our life centers around loving people and being kind, that isn't enough. At some point, I have to act, to put in some of the work and make decisions based on what I believe is influenced by Him. But when and where and how do I know? It's not always so easy to decipher. I went bird hunting yesterday. I drove to my bird goldmine lake hoping to capture the long-legged wading bird I saw last week when I had the bum lens. Or even just any new bird. Or any old bird if I could capture it in a new way. I kept looking up, darting my eyes around for a glimpse of moving color, when finally I decided I should rethink this and look down. Maybe there was something beautiful I was missing by looking up all day. I mean, I guess the goal is to just do our best, looking up to Heaven for guidance, looking down in prayer and surrender and studies, being completely open to the answer when it arrives. But knowing when it arrives, that isn't always so clear. (This is a picture of trees reflected in a puddle. The leaves had fallen into the puddle in a way that made them look like they were attached to the tops of the trees.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2bbf9e42-3ce2-42dd-b604-693a47d79e48/Feb26+copy.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 57/366 2-26-20 Me at 5pm - "Ugh, I haven't taken any pictures for my gratitude project today." H - "Um, hello, we're right here! Aren't we the things you are MOST grateful for?" Me - "Oh, let's do one of those half of each of your face pictures." "Ok - that was good, but open your eyes a bit more. Oh, wow, okay, not that much. No, really squish your cheeks together. Not that much. Okay, switch sides. Ermergosh - just put your faces together. So close -- just put them a little closer together ... oh, okay, don't lean. Oh, never mind. I think I have what I need here." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/140d3559-e3db-4b01-aed1-8897614b36a1/Feb+27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 58/366 2-27-20 It was past bedtime, but I heard talking coming from M's room. I poked my head in, "what's all the talking about?" "I'm reading a book to Koo." And she let me take some pictures of it. Double gratitude for 1) a sweet stuffed animal momma and 2) her being more open to letting me photograph these moments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/41864bff-ab5e-4104-b3f3-108ab7d2aa02/Feb+28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 59/366 2-28-20 I was reading an article on The Neuroscience of Gratitude and how it affects anxiety. I've always believed gratitude is the best way to overcome anxiety, but even on Day 59 of this project, I still have plenty of anxiety. The article mentioned four categories of gratitude - Thanking others, ourselves, Mother Nature, and the Almighty. It occurred to me that I have no problem finding gratitude in 3 of those categories, but I have issues with one - myself. It's not that I don't like myself, but I really struggle with beating myself up for making the wrong choice or decision, which leads to me being annoyingly indecisive, whether it's what sandwich to order or what car to buy. And then I will question the decision regardless. Sometimes for months. And we make decisions EVERY DAY, so that's a big part of life. I realize we all have positive and negative traits, but this is the trait I struggle with most. And it's the thing I focus on most. Others, God, nature - I have been focusing on the positive things, but myself, I'm stil focusing on this flaw, obsessing on the negative. It's kind of a big deal that I have chosen 59 pictures with more ease than usual (and it has a lot to do with making sure I wrote out a detailed, judegment free set of guidelines for this project). The new month will bring a side project outlined in this article https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/. This project won't change and I won't share the side project, but I figured I would share the article in case it gave anyone else some a-ha moments like it did me. And this picture isn't from yesterday. For the first time, I'm sharing a picture that wasn't actually taken on the tagged day. And it's fine. I'm giving myself grace that I couldn't focus on the project yesterday. And I also want this picture in my final project book because it brings me peace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/eb5c1ccb-50bf-418c-a86c-253f07345bca/Feb+29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 60/366 2-29-20 Building on yesterday's article about trying to find the gratitude in myself, I did something I never do - I got in the picture. Usually when I try this, I just see the exhausted almost 50-year-old who can't control her brain enough to get a decent night's sleep or put together outfits beyond t-shirts & assorted hoodies. But in this shot, I see more than that. I see a mom who doesn't always succeed but is always trying to do the best for her kids. I see a wife who lets her husband know how much he is loved and respected and needed. I see a Christian woman trying everyday to listen to His lessons to lead her life choices. I see a person on a path of gratitude, a positive direction led by the best new year's resolution ever. And I see a math-challenged individual who busts her buns to run a tight budget ship which helped her family get to a place to BUY THIS NEW HOUSE!!!!!! Yes, we finally bought a house!!!! More information to come, but we'll let all the ink dry and contracts finalize before sharing all the details. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5498c327-da11-469a-8258-0e9a9ac40fbd/march+1.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 61/366 3-1-20 I sometimes get frustrated by the robins when I'm looking for new birds. There are just so many of them and they trick my eyes because their coloring looks like other exciting birds. But the first robin I see of the season is always exciting - it's the first sign that spring is coming, a symbol of renewal and new beginnings! So the robin in part of the gratitude project today as we embark on our own new journey with this new home and new community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e9b11041-47bb-4971-bcf0-11098c9ae05b/march2.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 62/366 3-2-20 At least they use the 4000 toys they own? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e0d3ef0e-6402-459a-92b0-f76bbf57d823/march3.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 63/366 3-3-20 In a recent episode of my favorite show, This is Us, Rebecca was telling the story behind the song, "Our House." It was based on a simple evening in Graham Nash & Joni Mitchell's home, little details that mattered to them combined into this nostalgic song. And then she said, "An otherwise simple moment might have been forgotten if not for that song." Yesterday was a rough day for M. Even though she's excited about the new house, she doesn't really deal well with any big changes. Couple that with me changing out all of her toddler hangers with adult ones without asking her first and the morning just kind of spiraled. She rebounded and had a great day at school, but the afternoon was still touch and go as she dealt with big feelings. I had to drag her inside from playing with friends to get dressed for Taekwondo and that walk upstairs wasn't happy ... until she reached the top and this gorgeous light was streaming in from the guest room into the hall (and highlighting my lack of housekeeping skills) and it was just the magic she needed to brighten her mood. She walked over to this ridiculously dusty desk and just started swiffering it with her hands to make more magic. And then I went a little crazy and added a lot more magic in Photoshop because this is how it felt. A simple, single moment in time of watching her filled with joy and abandon surrounded by this everyday magic. I don't want to forget this. I don't want to forget any of these moments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/114dc044-f5f1-489e-a0b0-f5c3d05f7675/march4.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 64/366 3-4-20 Last night before bed, he said, "I think I rushed through my day too fast because I couldn't wait to be 12, but I wasn't thinking about how I only get to be 11 once. I should have focused more on enjoying that." The kid has my passion for nostalgia, for sure. But I don't think he missed anything this year of being 11. He went all in, like he always does, and I hope 12 brings as much joy, love of life and curiosity as 11. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/37e6cccc-0722-4429-890b-b6992f028489/march5.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 65/366 3-5-20 They told him to stand inside the pit and they were going to sing a traditional Japanese birthday song & that all he had to do was dance along. He gave them the side eye like, "Dude, I'm 12, I don't dance in hibachi restaurants any more." "But,” they said, “we are doing something so difficult - we are singing for you in a foreign language. All you have to do is dance." "Mom - take my jacket!" When we got home, I told him 12 will likely attempt to take away that carefree spirit, that 12 whispers in your ear that you are "too old and too mature" to have that kind of fun anymore, that 12 has a lot of pressure to simmer down and fit in. But I also told him later that it's not a requirement to listen to that voice, that the most loved 12 years olds are those who are comfortable in their own skin and who celebrate others' comfort in *their* own skin, that mature and fun aren't mutually exclusive, that 12 doesn't have to steal your joy. Keep being you, H! It brings joy to you and so many others! (You can see my phone on the left there because I couldn't decide if I wanted to record or photograph, so I attempted to do both , shooting with one in each hand but watching him to take it all in.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0a287267-1e46-40a9-b0a8-bda47491ec5c/march6.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 66/366 3-6-20 Shirt on backwards, rainbows everywhere, shiny sequin & velvet sweatpants, koala-hanging on the punching bag. This is M at 7. And, as she always starts reminding me right after H's birthday, she's less than a month away from being another year older. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ddfbd5a2-c299-4049-8a7b-85f955ae47c5/march7.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 67/366 3-7-20 I used to wonder how much age difference would affect this sibling relationship. Would 4 years be too great a gap for them to form a friendship, the distance too far for them to enjoy playing together? I had absolutely nothing to worry about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/768f6a65-1bac-4364-9333-90e8e08aab46/march8.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 68/366 3-8-20 And so it begins .... This will be the first of many furniture store trips for the new house. During this trip, we only bought lunch and two jars of lingonberry jam, which is a bit of a miracle considering past IKEA trips. We are more in purge mode right now, but we will need a few odds and ends once we get in the new place. We are headed there today with notebooks and measuring tapes and way too many ideas. Hoping to get it all sorted out and on paper today so we can start really planning - I love this part of moving! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/9a47b575-da0a-4a57-a09c-f580d9097db5/march9.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 69/366 3-9-20 Yesterday was so busy, but in a great way! We had our home inspection (still a few issues there, but things are looking good) and met with the contractors about finishing the basement. Then it was grocery shopping and off to school for one of my favorite things - art volunteer day! When I was signing in, I noticed a bunch of parent visitors from M's class were at the book fair, so I headed to the library and found them there (I had missed the book fair notification email because of the busy day). It was so fun to surprise her and I had my camera in my purse from the home visit, so I shot this one from my hip waiting in line. She is reading another copy of the book I was standing in line to purchase. I think she's read it three more times already. We have more books than any family could ever need, but I can't resist buying at least one book fair book every time -- the book fair is a favorite memory from elementary school, and I want them to have those fun memories too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6860184d-8d30-401b-8366-86ecb441c473/march10.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 70/366 3-10-20 I didn't really have time to drive across the city to visit the arboretum, but I felt like it was the self care I needed to get through the rest of the week with grace and patience. Connecting with nature and feeling God's presence there centers me in a way that only recognizing one's insignificance in the grand scheme of things can. With the new house to do lists, this crazy Corona virus on repeat on every station, and with the bird lens heading back to Canon, I had to take advantage of the morning to just walk and look and forget all the other stuff for a couple of hours. I found so many beautiful things, and it's only going to get better in the spring and summer! The simple beauty and color palette of this sweet junco was just the calm I needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/a86855e3-fddf-40be-8b63-4136633de166/march11.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 71/366 3-11-20 When people ask, "what's your favorite season?" I'm always a little conflicted. I love them all for different reasons - there's something to celebrate in all of them. My favorite time of the year is actually that shift from season to season, winter to spring probably being at the top of the list. When the iris leaves start poking through crumbling dirt, the birds start chirping and flirting every morning even before the sun breaks, when the bikes come off the garage hooks permanently and everyone has had just about enough of all that snow and this gorgeous weather pulls the neighborhood out to play Mother May I. I think we have one more week of colder weather and then it's full on afternoons sitting on driveways or in the back field watching the kids play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cc6c5193-0d56-45dc-a7a7-3635da736705/march12.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 72/366 3-12-20 You know, it's getting a little heavy. We all have our own drama and deadlines and stressors and then we add on this Corona virus/supply hoarding/politicizing/economic plunge desperation and it's hard to find the positive. And if you do manage to find the humor or gratitude in the moment, there's a chatter of privilege or being inappropriate or ignoring the problem. The thing is, there is always suffering and sadness and people & things falling apart all around us, but it's not as apparent because it's not on every news station and around every water cooler. I have always believed that the only way to survive this life that's full of good & evil, happy & sad, celebration & mourning is finding some balance. Recognizing the suffering, extending grace and assistance whenever you can, and being aware of the negative. But we cannot let that overtake the whole or we crumble into hopelessness and negativity. Some days, like these days, it takes way more work to find the positive, to focus on the gratitude, but it's that balance that will keep us sane. It's in these times that it's most important to pause and take a break from the obvious negative to search for the not so obvious positive. We can't ignore the problems - they need attention, but so do the good things. I'm not sure this stream of consciousness even makes sense, but it just feels like we are all under a weight of gloom and then I see these two last night reminding me of the importance of balance. This is H testing for his green belt. It's a serious test that requires focus and concentration, but they found time to laugh and take a break and joke a bit ... and then they got right back to the testing. This wasn't a one time thing - these two share this trait of focusing on the positive, finding the humor even in the heavy times, and understanding the importance of balance. He didn't get his belt last night. He earned it, but they ran out of time so he will get it next week. And he was totally okay with that because he realizes it doesn't all have to happen right now, that pausing for the laughter is more important for him than staying serious all the time and being overwhelmed with anxiety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/2accb80b-c46a-4944-8994-acb1c797b585/march13.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 73/366 3-13-20 I noticed M's bike down by the creek, so I headed down to investigate. I was on the phone with Grammy who said, "I don't know that it's safe for kids to play by the creek alone!" (Safety Pup gene located ) I relayed this sage advice to M, which just made her want to explore more. "MOM!!! LOOK!!! The Adventures of Danger Kitty! HEE HEE HEE!!!" There's that balance again. Every Safety Pup needs a Danger Kitty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/359a7984-9c01-47a1-949c-a0a7c4d16f1e/march14.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 74/366 3-14-20 Yesterday, we drove to tiny Rocheport to buy a Craigslist loft bed for H - he's always wanted one but this is the first house where we will have tall enough ceilings. I told our server how, over 25 years ago, EJ & I made several trips to Rocheport from Fulton when the local winery opened its doors. "You don't look a day over 33," she said. Eye roll from M, "They are both in their 40s." Thanks, kid. I wanted to document our quick lunch, so I asked them to look through the big plate glass windows while I photographed from outside. The shadows weren't right and they were squirelly, so I gestured them back to the table and decided I would just take a picture of the entrance. It's a cool little place, and the entrance would be perfect for this day in the Gratitude Project book. I was snapping away when I saw them in the door. These two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/90e1abc8-fea7-44cc-aed8-a16b344dc0be/march15.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 75/366 3-15-20 I've slept through the night for 5 nights in a row. This is not normal for me. I honestly can't remember ever having a streak like this. Considering everything going on the world and in our family right now, my expectation would be that I would be up at least a couple of hours in the middle of every night, drinking Sleepy Tea and editing pictures to help calm down my anxious brain. Maybe it's just overload and my anxiety has blown up and given in, but I suspect it's more likely a side effect of this gratitude project. Spending every day looking for the positive and every morning finding the words to help me focus on that positive has to have an impact on my mindset. Thankfully, the kids aren't experiencing too much out of the norm just yet. We are on Spring Break and it's raining, so staying inside and not going to school seems like a normal day. I've brought up all the activities from the basement, hoping to occupy their brains with something other than screens and Corona thoughts. As social distancing starts taking more of a toll on them, I hope that we can all work together to focus on our connection here, to find the positive as a family, to take advantage of this down time togetherness in this usually fast paced world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/511c26cd-7db6-4098-8258-343bfffe17d5/march16.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 76/366 3-16-20 Right before bed, I almost let it overtake me. I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and some posts got me anxious. I felt that little tinge of panic arise in me - I mean, what if it ALL just falls apart? It's easy to go there when you read about fights in the toilet paper aisle, see people wishing the virus on those with differing political affiliations, and consider the possible length of this epidemic. But then I prayed, recentered, and remembered the rest of the day and how I was overwhelmed with the way people are reaching out with positivity through all of this. Neighborhood posts about sharing supplies, educational companies offering their schooling for free, movie studios releasing current theatre movies to cable, exercise companies streaming workouts for free, and museum & zoos offering virtual tours and online lessons for this new normal of a 100% homeschooling nation. There were posts reminding us that we are all in this together - teacher friends offering to help with homework, funny posts about passing the time (the sock eating cars through the window being my favorite), new gratitude projects popping up, and Chris Martin from Coldplay live streaming him singing alone in his home and commenting how we are all alone in our homes .... we are all in this together. I also saw a post with a mariachi band performing, Titantic style, at the HEB registers, which I'm not sure is supposed to make me grateful or anxious, but with this project as my guide, I'll go grateful. This virus is here and will be here for some time. We have at least 2 months, likely much longer, to choose how to respond. We cannot ignore or grateful away the deaths or lost jobs or real suffering here, but where we DO have the choice, focusing on the positive will help keep us sane. We can focus on the few who hoard, panic about the worst case scenarios and search for ways to judge those around us. Or we can focus on the beautiful humanity emerging here as people come together to help, as we start gaining some perspective about what's really important in life. And hopefully we come out on the other side with a more gentle and content generation who reminisce about the good people like Mo Willems who took time from his day for daily lunchtime doodling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f1ce18fc-315e-488c-b6b2-7866cd36e32b/march17.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 77/366 3-17-20 This is going to be all over the place. Yesterday was the hardest news so far and my sleeping through the night streak ended. While we were house hunting, the kids' biggest concern was getting to finish out the school year in their current district. Last night, we had to break the news that school was canceled for the rest of the year. We didn't go into more detail, but we also know that this social isolation will make moving much harder as they are limited from play dates and easing into a new neighborhood, outside meeting friends. I held off telling them the news until EJ got home because I thought it would crush them. As always, they took it better than I expected. These kids are resilient. As I was about to fall asleep, H walked into my room to show me a chart he had made, LIST OF ACTIVITIES. "There's actually a lot of things I've wanted to do together, but we don't have this much time usually." The list includes everything from trail walking to making slide shows encompassing all of his science theories to Minecraft Super-builds. He also listed Lego contests, watching all the Marvel movies and getting me to read his favorite book series. I was worried he would go to bed sad about the coming weeks and he turned it around into something positive. These kids are resilient. But these kids will be challenged like never before. All of that anxiety and confusion we feel as adults is multiplied as their developing minds try to understand and process this uncharted scary territory. They see our fear and they will probably cover up their own to protect us. The actual virus isn't affecting kids as drastically but the changes will have the most drastic effect on them. As they navigate this new normal, I know there will likely be shorter tempers and big feelings for all of us. More than ever, these kids need grace and understanding and attention and respect. They are sacrificing more than any other age group for the benefit of those other age groups. I am confident the pandemic will shape this generation in a positive way as they watch people selflessly helping one another and as they see the benefits of sacrificing individual pleasures for the betterment of the whole. This too shall pass and so much about who we are after it depends on where we focus our attention and deeds. I never could have predicted how much I would need this gratitude project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/8be9f704-f744-42d4-ab76-2d22185ba3e0/march18.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 78/366 3-18-20 M spent quite a bit of time listing out her school schedule so I would know how to run "class" over these next couple of months. Everything from reviewing the weather (spoiler alert - rainy and cold for the next week) to choosing a lunch (I'm impressed with myself if I get a veggie side prepped for the mac & cheese - choices?!?) to the order of events. After lunch, they both asked if they could have recess. "It's Spring Break - there is no school schedule yet - just go outside." "We want INSIDE recess!" Oh, I see where this is going. These two plotted an extra screen time scheme using inside recess as a cover. I can see that I will have to be on my toes as we venture into virtual school ... but at least they are working together . I gave in to 20 minutes of inside recess if they did 20 minutes outside first. (By 4 pm, they didn't need any schemes - I offered up the idea of Frozen 2 for Mila and Minecraft Super Build for H while I chilled out alone in my room. ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/95201462-3642-424d-868f-10dcd2da8722/march19.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 79/366 3-19-20 We had a post on our neighborhood page about chalking all the driveways with upbeat and fun messages. Rain is in the forecast so all the messages will likely be gone soon, but no one cared. Maybe the messages weren't for everyone else anyway. Maybe they were for the creators. Or maybe we are all so in this together that all of that you/me stuff is starting to fade away a bit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/400b053b-2b3d-4369-8ae3-d41ba4e68c18/march20.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 80/366 3-20-20 It seems like the arts have taken over while we are all in isolation. The Illustrators are sharing You Tube tutorials and the chefs are creating cooking lessons and the musicians are putting out daily free concerts and the actors are reading stories to kids on their pages. Art has always gotten us through the hardest times. It's not just the escape, whether into a happier time before COVID-19 or into a world only in our imagination. (And that escape is so important, but there's more.) We might not be able to express the emotions we feel right now, but there's a note on a guitar or a color we can mix or a taste we can create that does it for us. And that is such a comfort, to be able to locate an outlet for an emotion. And art connects us, shows us that people in the past and people now have similar stories. We can read about good triumphing over evil and have hope. We can view art highlighting tragic historical struggles and see that the world moved on and learn the lessons from that history. We can hear a song and know that we have a connection to at least one other person out there because THAT tune, THOSE words stirred our soul just like the person who just played them. But there's even more than being able to express our feelings and escape and connection. Art gives us a new way to see things. Art calls us to use new methods, begs for out of the box ways to solve problems and calms our soul enough in the process to forget the chatterboxes in the background. We will get through this. But there will be another this in the future. It's these little couped-up kids who will be called on then to solve the next this. They will need the core subjects for the base of knowledge, but they need it with a side of art. They need it with a side of "let's try to look at this a different way - there's more than one answer." They need it with a side of "why don't we calm our minds with an escape, not force it, and then come back later with a fresh perspective." They need it with a side of, "I know it's always been done this way, but I read this story one time where ..... and maybe that just might work!" They need it with a side of "I once took a box and turned it into a house with just markers and poster board and that confidence is fueling my ability to cure this disease." The arts have taken over and it's a very good thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/eb4a182e-22c5-42cf-a777-ed91ff5ac098/march21.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 81/366 3-21-20 I went on a short hike yesterday morning. It was freezing when I first got there, but there were so many bird calls ringing through the woods. It felt like winter but it sounded like spring. The longer I was there, the sun started rising, warming up my path and pushing light behind the plants and I realized how much green was already in these woods. Spring is coming, no matter how long this winter is trying to hang on, spring will eventually break through. There are lessons in the plants if we stop long enough to listen. Spring is coming and all of nature is preparing and faithful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/27d59b64-1da1-402b-ba0e-46bc21a5a661/march22.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 82/366 3-22-20 We've added music into the daily schedule. They can practice anywhere and play whatever they want, but they just have to play. Although he hasn't mentioned seeing friends or other people in the past couple of days, it's obvious how much he is missing socialization. He just loves being around others. His music choice is sitting in front of this window, looking over the neighborhood, singing Three Little Birds over and over. "Don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f5d2635d-5b19-43b3-bf76-07a53c6436b0/march23.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 83/366 3-23-20 M's amazing teacher was missing her class so much that she sent out a last minute Zoom invitation. These sweet kids, full of energy and love and hilarious stories. It was bittersweet watching their community interact in this new way when all they want to do is run and play and tag and hug. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7a692101-9b58-468b-8c4b-ddb1959d788c/march24.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 84/366 3-24-20 Hansen came downstairs before breakfast in a dressy shirt and suit coat. "You're looking fancy - why are you all dressed up?" "Don't you remember? Mo said we should dress up for doodling today?" I had not remembered, but I did then. Before he signed off the day before, Mo said that he was dressing up in something fancy and that everyone else could too. Never mind that it's LUNCHTIME doodles with Mo, H was prepared at 7am. (Note the furniture is all cleared - our Taekwondo studio is offering their classes online so he did his practice all dressed up too.) Hearing his explanation for dressing up threw my emotions all over the place, which has been pretty typical during this pandemic. I felt this surge of admiration for an almost teen who understands how important it is to drop his guard and have fun. I also felt a tinge of sadness for the way this world has completely changed our world and routine and expectations. But then I remembered the gratitude. And I felt thankful that this author understands children enough to know they need something like this to anticipate in these times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4bc97304-3651-4bc0-8e09-9d15805fb758/march25.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 85/366 3-25-20 Yesterday started a little rough. The social distancing and rain and just the isolation of life right now. Morale was down, the COVID19 honeymoon period is over. H's youth group met on Zoom twice, once for a lunch chat and then at their regular fellowship time for the message and small groups. His demeanor was completely changed after interacting with friends and listening to God's word about having patience through these trying times. Hearing his laughter from the back porch filled my heart. Being forced to socially distance has made me realize how much distancing I have been doing on my own recently. I'm generally a people person, but I've been turning down lunch dates and coffee invitations and even just gathering at the bus stop with other moms in the morning. I haven't been doing it purposefully - it's just the pace of life made me want to slow down by turning down any set in stone plans. But it turns out that the slowing down probably didn't need to center around the social interaction but around all the little things taking up my time while I was social distancing. This pandemic is awful, but there are so many lessons here. I just hope I take them in and don't forget them once the world speeds up again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b0319ec3-c270-4039-96e4-d70ab14bf3e7/march26.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 86/366 3-26-20 My FB feed is a combination of 1) a celebration of humanity & finding the beauty in this new simple life and 2) angry frustration with this pandemic crushing people's spirit and people being overwhelmed by it all. And there is lot of comparison happening, statuses like, "how are you doing it? I'm dying over here homeschooling and I see other people thriving." I think the reality is that we are ALL all over the place. I don't know that it's possible to go through something like this without a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. There are ups and downs and laughter and tears (like all days, but amplified by the stress of this time). And I think some people get through it by escaping a bit and focusing on the positive and others need to commiserate about the awfulness of it all and then others need both depending on the hour. I loved this assignment I found online. There was a little packet that talked about bird features and the amazing bird artist, John James Audubon. There were links and discussion questions for several birds that all led to a science/art assignment designing a new bird. Aren't these birds the coolest? One of the kids started the assignment by balling up the worksheets one by one and throwing them on the ground, refusing to start. The other kids immediately went outside to be surrounded by birds to be more into the assignment. After a while, the other kid bought into the assignment and was as into the bird creation (maybe even more so) as the other. These reactions are a result of the feelings caused by this pandemic - one is escaping by ignoring reality and the other is so into the reality that it's impossible to process all of the emotions. Neither reaction is better than the other and neither is likely the healthiest, but we are all doing the best we can with what we have and who we are. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/5f73f588-d1d6-4db5-b19e-1284d1f2426c/march27.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 87/366 3-27-20 This is my favorite time of year, when the seasons change. I love watching nature come to life, the trees starting to bloom, the birds chasing around and April rains bringing out the worms. If we have to have a global pandemic, I think this changing of seasons is the only thing keeping me sane - a reminder that we are still moving forward, that things can change and grow (even if it's so slowly that it's hard to recognize until it's already happened), that we can't have the flowers without the rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0dc6b754-2952-4635-a8be-05d1df8b43b4/march28.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 88/366 3-28-20 I think she's grateful that we are home all day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f5dc4f2d-2383-4124-ba40-734d2b08ecae/march29.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 89/366 3-29-20 Our Sunday ritual is doughnuts on the way to church. Since church is in the living room now, it's Dad's famous pancakes on the back deck before church. It's getting harder and harder to get pictures of M during this stay at home order. She's decided that, if we can't leave the house, there's no reason to put on pants. Which is fine if she's in a robe like this, but she usually isn't. I had to MAKE her put this on because we have neighbors on either side of us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4d45caad-1313-44d4-afcc-c70c21163572/march30.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 90/366 3-30-20 6 years ago today, we met M. We spent the first part of the year faithful that there was a plan, but not being certain what it was. Our life was definitely not going as planned, but it all fell into place and made sense. And we are better because of the struggle, stronger because of the wait, closer to God and more appreciative of one another. The waiting was so hard, but we never lost hope. When I was feeding the birds, one of the little finches didn't move. He let me get right up next to him before flying away. M decided she could get him even closer and she sat like this, bird seed in hand, until her arms just couldn't take it anymore. The birds never came, but it was one of the best parts of her day, full of hope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d6d3f45d-8d25-474b-8299-13515342c309/march31.jpg Personal Projects - The Gratitude Project (part 1) - Make it stand out Gratitude Project 91/366 3-31-20 Bubble weather is back! https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/who-i-am daily 0.75 2026-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/7e093354-5582-4109-a565-e7c4747d4f0a/sharpened2.jpg https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/pagecv daily 0.75 2025-11-15 https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/mel-karlberg daily 1.0 2026-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/3a02c5dc-16bb-4a63-93c7-7efb5eeb979a/Best+Senior+pictures+in+Kansas+City.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography Kansas City high school senior photographer editorial laundry mat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c8b64497-17c1-4118-8638-3399b8c4ef4a/Best+Senior+photographer+in+Kansas+City.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography Kansas City high school senior photographer editorial Union Station theater https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4667af52-c8bd-4da8-8a7d-7bc42439217c/Kansas+City+senior+boy+photography.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0f0d49d4-d42b-444c-a29a-9f972d88506f/4A4A7323-Edit-2-Edit-Evoto-2.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4811721f-1420-4150-9f4f-41d28afae10b/Cole+Archer+gallery-99.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/6e9e923a-90dc-4281-993f-0192cb19ea96/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+Nelson+Atkins.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/e543defd-9e96-4312-a728-5454fe91ef04/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+pictures.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography A high school senior boy with sunglasses and a patterned shirt standing leaning against an orange vintage gas pump in Weston, MO with Route 66 signs, and an orange door and the number 401 on a building behind him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1f52bdca-16ed-4fd8-b186-461097afcb53/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+prom+formal+kauffman.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ec7e7766-5d67-4c4b-a501-fdaf1c1302e1/Kansas+City+senior+boy+car+photography.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography A young high school senior boy wearing sunglasses, a brown leather jacket, a hoodie, gray jeans, and white sneakers sits in the open door of a white convertible car, outdoors with trees and a cloudy sky in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/07b66ad7-d342-403f-91b7-81d96fe83cac/4A4A7735-Edit.jpg Mel Karlberg Photography https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/mentoring daily 0.75 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1686749382171-RCF351BKKQPWIF1OQMQ6/4A4A3491.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ecd82972-42f5-4711-b83c-b52477f771dc/forumheart.jpg https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/on-my-shelves daily 0.75 2025-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/03feb5c0-70c9-4f27-ae9e-afe7f08e2a8a/AdobeStock_365705758.jpeg https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/senior-photos daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/53b70e00-43a6-41cf-a98a-5f46f86da071/Kansas+City+senior+boy+nature+photography.jpg Senior Photo Sessions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/04622213-8074-477e-a7df-6d5bff8aa061/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+pictures.jpg Senior Photo Sessions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/07b66ad7-d342-403f-91b7-81d96fe83cac/4A4A7735-Edit.jpg Senior Photo Sessions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/1f52bdca-16ed-4fd8-b186-461097afcb53/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+prom+formal+kauffman.jpg Senior Photo Sessions A woman in a flowing blue gown dancing outdoors near a modern architectural building with large, curved, metallic, and concrete panels (Kansas City Kauffman Center). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/850e4600-edda-40d1-8c7a-6ca6231d7fbc/Kansas+City+senior+girl+Kauffman+photography.jpg Senior Photo Sessions A high school senior girl, wearing a black and white striped turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, and white boots, sitting cross-legged with Kansas City Kauffman center in background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0f0d49d4-d42b-444c-a29a-9f972d88506f/4A4A7323-Edit-2-Edit-Evoto-2.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Senior boy at Kansas City Union Station in gray suit holding a black hat, standing outdoors in an urban setting, with a dark background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ba8ba41e-b7d0-4608-a4b5-a17bc43f2757/4A4A1888.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Senior photo of a girl wearing a red dress standing barefoot on a wooden dock near autumn trees with orange, yellow, and pink leaves, during sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/990645f8-89b6-42b4-8a9c-0c9c006f2159/4A4A7613-Edit-Edit-Edit.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Senior girl leaning against a downtown Kansas City brick wall on an urban street, wearing glasses, a black leather jacket, a black top, a plaid skirt, black sheer tights, and tall black boots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/51ca8d08-36d6-4d9f-b02d-d0e18086deb5/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+urban.jpg Senior Photo Sessions A young person with curly brown hair sitting on a windowsill outside a brick building in Kansas City West Bottoms, looking away thoughtfully, wearing a black t-shirt, brown shorts, colorful polka dot socks, and checkered sneakers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4811721f-1420-4150-9f4f-41d28afae10b/Cole+Archer+gallery-99.jpg Senior Photo Sessions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/4e4a70f9-db15-456e-8d5b-251899cee88d/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+editorial+record+store.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Editorial senior photo of a girl wearing a sleeveless denim jumpsuit, standing in a Kansas City record store, with dark hair and makeup, posing with her hand on a wooden display table filled with vinyl records. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/123a36d4-6926-4f82-8ed8-a5436af0e8e2/melkarlbergphotography-MirandaRhude-4.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Senior girl leaning against a downtown Kansas City brick wall with long brown hair, glasses, and a bright smile, wearing a pink jacket, jeans, and green sneakers, sitting on the sidewalk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/f62c4299-bfcf-465d-ad95-86e4f991650d/Mel+Karlberg+SSG-3.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Senior boy at Weston Missouri gas station wearing sunglasses, a black varsity jacket with patches, and jeans sitting on the sidewalk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/cb016dc7-d62c-4ec6-a3df-fceaf1059917/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+pictures.jpg Senior Photo Sessions A high school senior boy sitting on outdoor concrete steps, wearing sunglasses, a leather jacket, a hoodie, gray jeans, and white sneakers, with a weathered wooden handrail next to him and a metal building in the background in Weston, MO. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/c06ff323-c411-4e93-bd7a-82e6360534ba/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+boy+urban+headshots.jpg Senior Photo Sessions Editorial senior photo of a boy with curly hair, wearing a black polo shirt, resting his chin on his hand and looking at the camera, in a dimly lit setting outside Kansas City Union Station. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/ec7e7766-5d67-4c4b-a501-fdaf1c1302e1/Kansas+City+senior+boy+car+photography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/510f13db-0c61-4eaf-9c2f-a366d11111af/4A4A7460-Edit-Edit.jpg https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/senior-session daily 0.75 2025-10-24 https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/contact-7 daily 0.75 2025-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/b1b359d7-94ef-4920-9c2a-3c4f554d3eb3/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+urban+model+pose+magazine+urban.jpg https://www.melkarlbergphotography.com/senior-session-details-1 daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/628d19c9-58da-4dc5-96bd-a07cb74d236f/Seim+Headshot+session-46.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/fc937018-bfd1-4af5-af75-0d2015382ee3/4A4A3229-Edit-Edit-2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/d0c0f71e-4f75-4cab-980a-3892cd9afbf7/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+pictures.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/638a34e8afcc8347ad794726/0d383423-d351-4474-87e9-e323d0624eaa/Kansas+City+high+school+senior+photographer+headshots.jpg