Productivity (sort of)

I am off work today. So far, I have woken up (always a good start), had a cup of coffee, witnessed a beautiful sunrise (see left), checked in with my "computer friends" (blogs that I read--people I have never really met, but since I spend five days a week reading about their lives, I feel I have some sort of friendship with them, even if it is one way),  ran 2.3 miles on the treadmill, showered, had another cup of coffee, surfed the internet, ate cereal and had another cup of coffee (hey, it's sort of a holiday), put away the Christmas tree (yeah, I know the date--it's artifical. I could leave it up til June if I wanted), and prepped Super-Veggie Beef Stew in the Crockpot for dinner. Holy cow! I can't believe how productive I have been today! With that said, I am off to take a little nap. Maybe when I wake up I'll have another cup of coffee (mmmm.....coffee).

 Four cups today...too much?

Happy New Year!

Here's to a happy and healthy 2012! 

One of my favorite quotes and wise words for the beginning of a New Year:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
― Mark Twain

Happy Holidays

Whatever you may celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends. May there be delicious food to enjoy, and lively conversation that brings lots of laughter (with my parents and brother joining us for Christmas, that is a guarantee).  Love, encourage and inspire each other.
Happy Holidays to all!  And to all a good night.

It began with a photograph

It was the fall of my sophomore year at Texas A&M.  He was a junior in the band of the Corps of Cadets (full-time ROTC student). He had dated my roomate, but they had since broken up (the boy she was dating eventually became her husband!). I asked him if I could take his picture in uniform for a photojournalism class I was taking. One of my best friends talked me into taking the class with her. Don't judge...that's part of the fun of college.  Plus, I loved photography. Looks like that worked out well, didn't it? Anyway, he said yes, and twhen I invited him to my dorm room to see the finished product (created the old-fashioned way...by developing the film and printing the photo in the darkroom), he kissed me. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today marks the anniversary of our marriage twenty-two years ago. It was the coldest day in Dallas history for December 23rd. FOUR DEGREES. And that, my friends, is cold anywhere but is especially cold when it never gets anywhere near that temperature. A freak storm had hit much of Texas. One of my bridesmaids was almost iced-in in Houston. If I remember correctly, I think she even missed the rehearsal, but her flight came in soon after so she made it for the wedding. When we left, everyone threw rice at us from INSIDE the church because it was simply too cold to wish us congratulations outside!

Twenty-two years. A marriage that has spanned seven moves in four states, withstood seven years in the military, experienced several job changes, encountered many ups and downs, and produced two amazing, beautiful children.

My life has truly been blessed, and I couldn't have asked for anything more!

Yesterday...

Yesterday my firstborn turned 18.  Yep, you read that right...18.  What a milestone birthday.  I can hardly believe how fast those years have gone by. I have to say, I wasn't really sad about it.  This is an exciting time for David--a new chapter in his life is about to begin.

Of course, I thought about things over the years that I wished I had done differently (Warning: conditions are favorable for some Mommy Guilt here). I had started a journal when he was little...didn't keep that up. I started to make a list of funny things he said...didn't keep that up (plus there were really too many to list), never put notes in his lunchbox (okay, maybe once or twice), got store-bought cakes for the last few birthdays (gasp!).  Oh, I could go on and on.

But I did sit down yesterday and write a heartfelt letter to him.  Things I certainly could have said to him face to face, but I liked the idea of a letter more.  I am just so proud of the person he has become. 

Now  I wish that I had written him a letter every year!  Mommy Guilt never goes away... 

On this day...

On this day thirteen years ago, my daughter, Katie, was born.  I remember looking out of my hopsital room window that morning holding her in my arms and seeing the red, orange and yellow leaves of the fall, and knowing that the temperature was crisp and cool (this was Kentucky in October...it was probably 60 degrees!).  I remember thinking that this beautiful new little person wrapped snuggly in a blanket could not have been born on a more perfect day.  I love that both of my kids were born in the fall (my birthday is in the spring, and when it is (finally) spring, I always think that it is also the perfect time to have been born--this is just how conveniently my mind works for me).

I can't believe how quickly these wonderful thirteen years has flown by (and I sure don't feel old enough to have TWO teenages).

photographs to be posted later.

'Tis the season...

Yep, it's my favorite time of the year again!!!  Football season!

I love emailing my friends on Friday mornings (Happy Game Day!), the way the day cannot go fast enough for me, making sure my camera battery is charged, my memory card  cleared (always have a backup), the restless anticipation, and then (FINALLY) heading to the game, hearing the drum line warming up while I'm still in the parking lot, and smelling hotdogs on the grill.  THEN comes the warm up,  getting chills when The Star-Spangled Banner plays, making sure my camera settings are right, flipping of the coin, shaking hands, and the whistle on the kick-off.  Whew!  Then the game goes by in a flash!  Halftime--change camera settings.  Second half goes faster than the first.  Win!  Go home happy, but wishing it had not gone by so fast, and not wanting the day to end.

Saturday morning uploading photos.  Editing and cropping over several cups of coffee (my family knows this is where I will be--no making breakfast on Saturdays in the fall), uploading to the website, listening to College Game Day ("Yeah, we're comin' to your ci-tay"--hey there, Kirk Herbstreit...), searching for music for making video, uploading to facebook,  making sure all are up and running correctly.

Then...spending the rest of the day watching college games (hoping the Aggies are on tv).

That's pretty much my schedule during the fall.  It's the most wonderful time of the year for me.

113

A couple of weeks ago we took a trip to Texas.  While we were in Ft. Worth, our car thermometer read "113 degrees"!!!!  I took a photo to prove it!
Let me just say...it was H.O.T. Hot.
I know, it was probably not really 113, but I am sure it was at least 105 or maybe 110.  Or maybe it was 113.

When you live in a climate like that (even though that was pretty hot for Ft. Worth), you just get used to it.  You go from your air-conditioned house to your air-conditioned car to your air-conditioned work or the air-conditioned store.  You just dress so that whatever you're wearing doesn't show sweat that badly.  And you schedule your summer college classes at 8am so that you are walking across campus in the coolest part of the day.  Ah, the memories...

While we were traveling, I realized how much I do miss living in Texas...I have such wonderful memories from those times....
But I don't miss the heat!

Happy 4th of July!!

I hope everyone has (or has had!) a happy, safe and fun weekend!!

Snow Day

Yesterday morning it was sunny.  And I saw the grass.  It wasn't green...it was sort of a brownish-greenish color. But I saw it. 
The last few days we have enjoyed (dare I say it) almost balmy temperatures.  Last Saturday I rode in my car with the window cracked just enough so I could smell the air. I just knew that spring was on its way! 

Then this:



Another snow day.
Don't get me wrong!  I love a snow day just as much as the next teacher!
But I am over the snow part.

Happy Holidays

We are enjoying a white Christmas this year in Michigan (it doesn't happen every year, surprisingly).  It does make it look a little more "Christmas-y", though. 

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season! 

True Colors

Fall is here!  Today we are experiencing an unusually warm day--the high is supposed to be about 78.  But most days it gets to the high 60's...maybe low 70's.  Perfect weather in my book.

I do love Michigan in the fall.  School has started...football is in full swing (see previous post for those ramblings)...the colors of the leaves are truly amazing...and the temps are getting cooler.  I like the spring (finally some GREEN after all the snow has melted and all we've seen is brown for sooooo long...and spring also means my birthday!), but my favorite season has to be fall.

I am going to a senior photo session today at the Nature Center.  The colors are going to be beautiful!! 

One of my favorite seasons...

Yep, it's that time again...there's a crispness in the air (or mugginess, on some days...this IS Michigan, after all), the smell of freshly-mowed grass (or the plastic-y smell of turf), cleats, pads, jerseys, mouthguards in a pile in the living room, the sounds of ESPN (the default channel on our tv). 

It's football season.

I do love high school and college football.  Pro, not as much.  In high school and college there is such a spontaneity...anything can happen.  The underdog sometimes surprises us.  There is high emotion, and it's so real.  The pulse of the drum line you can feel in your chest.  The smell of grilled hot dogs.  Okay, I think I need to stop.

How many days til Friday?

It's been awhile...

I didn't mean to go a whole year without posting.  Time flies, right?  I never really knew what to write.  It always sounds dumber on the blog than when it was in my head.  I am going to try harder to post more frequently.  Thanks for your patience!

New Photo Gallery!!!!

Check out my new photo gallery at:

www.adamsphoto.zenfolio.com

There you will find more photos I think you will enjoy. Even more will be added soon!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???

Last Thursday kicked off the season for David's high school JV football team (they play TWO games before the first day of school!). Unfortunately, the outcome was not in our team's favor. As we used to say at Texas A&M, we didn't lose, we were just "outscored".
I LOVE watching football (any kind up through college; pro not as much), and I have to say although I am not quite ready for school to start, I am definitely ready for football season!

David is number 88!

"Sneak Peek"

I had a really fun session with Katie, Dan and Nate yesterday! Here are a just a couple...I promise, Katie, there are more to come!!!

I want S'more!

Katie has been begging us to make one of her favorite treats, and since we don't do as much camping as we used to, it's not something I think about making too often. But...we had the ingredients...the grill was still hot...the evening was beautiful...

Okay, I have to admit, that one with the bite out of it is mine!

One happy customer!

i love my coffee

The best way to start the day (okay, for me, the ONLY way to start the day)!

I know the color resembles hot chocolate, but it really is coffee!

Jessi

Here are a couple of photos of Jessi. She has the most beautiful eyes (and I think I even interrupted her once to tell her that)! Sorry--couldn't help it!