On to March.

My month with Katie is over, and I'm looking forward to the next visit! Johnny loved Genny and vice versa, as we had hoped! It went too fast but we had a ton of fun in places like France, the Netherlands and good ol' Germany. 

(Bottom photo by Jessica Ceason)

Dang, I'm lucky to have such amazing friends (who also qualify as family, for sure!!). 

Now, back to the grind. But now it will be a more light-hearted, inspired grind. ;D

Birthday love.

I am missing a photo of the amazing scarf Katie made for me, but here are two lovelies for you to gaze upon....

Hedgie pin cushion made by Rebekah:

Brenda's amazing pistachio rose water cupcake interpreted by Jessica:

Sigh.... ;}

For myself I bought a new camera lens and have been playing with it. It's fun and I like how I can take photos at night without a flash. Not perfect, but different.

happiness.

I love my friends. I love my friends for being here when they can, and thinking of me all the time (as I do them!) and for being immensely talented and sharing that talent with me, and you. 

So happy Katie is here, and so happy Jessica took the time to visit us and document it! 

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I feel very proud of my creative friends. Any time someone leaves their comfort zone to put their heart out into the world through art or creation it is a very hard process. It's hard on the mind and spirit as you are potentially bearing all to a sometimes (and also usually) unappreciative and critical audience. Criticism shouldn't deter anyone from a dream, but the path to being comfortable with your own art is a long and winding one that many, many artists struggle with. Not to mention that artists' worst critics are themselves and self-doubt can crush a dream quicker than any other outside influence.

So every time I see a friend of mine taking a step towards creativity, further out of the 'safe' comfort zone of what they are accustomed to,  my heart really swells for them. I want them all to be happy and to succeed and I truly believe they all can and will. Nothing makes me happier than to see someone I love discovering and using talents that many people never even bother to look for. It's in all of us, and we all could make the world a better place if we just discovered it and shared it! 

Together!

Katie said to me, as we were strapping the kids into the car, "Remember when you're young and you always make plans with your best friend to raise your kids together? Well, we're doing it now!"

I want it forever.