the new love in my life

It's true. I have another love in my life besides Cony and Gracie and I haven't been this excited about anything in a really long time. Remember back about 50 posts that I wanted to go film and divorce the digital? Well after much deliberation, TIME and research, I finally ordered a new camera. I ran to Walgreen's on Saturday to get them developed and for it being the first time behind a SLR camera, I'm pleased with the results. Clearly, I still have lots to learn but I'm thrilled that the love for photography is running through my veins again. 


(sorry in advance for the long post, trying to figure out a better way to publish photos) 

 

All shot on my new Nikon F100, (Kodak Porta 400, 85 mm, f 2.8). The pretty lady is my photog friend here in CT and our husbands are also in the same department. It's a sweet deal. 

If you are interested in branching out into film, I highly recommend the Film is Not Dead Guidbook. Also, I really appreciate and love when other photographers are opened and willing to share their knowledge without any hesitations. Sharon was that person for me recently and is pretty amazing! 

Disturbia

The other day while working out I was listening to Rihanna's song "Disturbia" and I experienced a surreal moment. The thought crossed my mind that I would have celebrated my 11th anniversary with my ex-husband just a few weeks ago and how very different my life has turned out. That marriage was not pleasant and although I've blocked most of it out of my memory, I never forget how lucky I am that I was able to get out of that hell. Although I'm a different person now and because of that challenge/trial, I am able to appreciate Cony so much more for the man that he is and the man that he's trying to be. Is it always easy and blissful? I wish!


Last night we were both reflecting back on the 9/11 attacks and hearing stories of the few firemen & civilians that survived in the tower, helped us remember that there is a plan for everyone. Part of me would love to know about every single perspective of those who died that day and the people that were in NYC and D.C.. Maybe that's disturbing but I can't help myself. I had a dream a few years ago and it's really the only dream I've ever remembered fully. I'll spare you every detail, but in the dream I was on one of the planes that crashed into the towers. It was vivid, real and detailed. I woke up in tears and a puddle of sweat. To this day, I'm not sure why I had such a dream (and why I'm sharing it).  


So although I never imagined myself living in Connecticut, married to the man of my dreams, being 30 years old with no human babies... I am living my dream I didn't know I had and I couldn't be more grateful I get that chance in life. 

photo by Clairissa Cooper 

I mean, how could I not love these two?? A dog who loves to be held like a child and my husband who likes to hold her like a child. 

Feels like Home to me

The weekend was a whirlwind of events, yet again. The most important that I want to document is my experience on Sunday. It was a very powerful, uplifting day and I would hate not to write down my thoughts to reflect back on them later. Young Women's (girls 12-18) was packed and we were missing half of our "regular" girls. We had new girls, first time visitors, girls who are coming back and my cup filled was overflowing. I knew in that instant that Heavenly Father was answering my prayers and fasts. In a way I never could have seen coming. This is why I have a deep testimony of fasting because my prayers are answering almost immediately and have been answered immediately in the past. Bam, just like that!  I can't imagine growing up in these days with all the distractions of the world and then to have the strength to get in a car with a complete stranger, to attend a church where you know no one, takes more strength than I have in me. I admire these girls.


The weekend started off with a YW Slumber Party. We decorated cupcakes to look like a green apples and some made silhouettes for their room to pass off Personal Progress! There was also lots of eating, talking and Rapunzel. One can never really tell if the girls are having a good time but if anything- the leaders love getting together. 

Fortunately and unfortunately some things got cancelled over the weekend but we still managed to host a Labor Day Bash for Cony's department. I have no idea how to entertain a bunch of Ph.D. students except by feeding them, so that's what we did. Ate. 

I recently found this photo that was taken on our honeymoon in Charleston, SC and just looking at this photo- it brings back all those feelings of our first few days of husband and wife. I don't know why I never loved it (or noticed it really) in the past, but I adore it now. I adore my man. Even if I sometimes think it would be more fun to spend my money anyway I wanted to. 

A Hurricane of Events

This weekend was nothing short of eventful. This is how it went.... 


*I went to Cape Cod for Youth Conference. It got shortened because of the storm but beautiful! 
*Hurricane Irene (more like tropical storm) came and left us with no power for 48 hours. I am not complaining because a lot of our friends are still out of power and will be for another 2-3 days. 

*We rented 4 movies on Saturday night thinking we wouldn't loose power until late Sunday. Only had a chance to watch one. 
*Church was cancelled. So I didn't have to teach.

*Had about 12 people shower at our place. Great (and only) reason to be on city water. We never lost it. 
*We bought a grill and stewed over it's $17 price tag. But it turned out to be the best $17 we've spent in a while because I've never cooked so good. 
*Loved hosting friends for lunch/dinner and playing a little Rummikub! 
*We had some serious cabin fever and were at each other's throats for most of one day. 
*Our house almost burned to the ground once the power came back on. A burner (that we NEVER use) was turned on where my Le Crueset pot sits and turned red hot and the green beans I set out started to cook. Thankfully the paper towels that were hanging just above the burner and the paper plates that were ON the next burner didn't catch on fire. 
*Gracie had lots of little kids around to love. 
*First day of school was postponed a day because of power outages. 


We feel super blessed our house didn't flood, a tree didn't fall on our house and we have great friends to enjoy the storm of the century with...

Got to spend my 24 hours adventure in Cape Cod with this adorable couple. 

Wedding!

I'm tickled I was asked to help with this wedding. The couple was amazing to work with and I learned so much from this project. 

Surprisingly we were able to get everything done for super cheap. If we didn't have it, we asked around to see who did. Thankfully we know some people who are willing to help with no complaints.  

Our 5 hour Maine vacation

I honestly can't believe it's the end of August and for the last three days it's straight up felt like Fall. This past weekend we went on a mini vacation to Maine. It was supposed to be for a few days but ended up being only five hours long and more like a "staycation".  


Highlights and/or Lowlights of "Staycation 2011":


*Maine is beautiful! 
*Orchard Beach is an actual beach, with nice (not rocky) sand! 
*Ocean water was freezing and it took us 15 minutes to finally take the dive. Apparently the water was "like a bath" warm to the natives. It hadn't been that warm in years.
*Had an awesome lobster dinner at the Lobster Shack with blueberry and whoopie pies included. The atmosphere was topnotch. 
*Cony got camera happy and took some really cool photos! 
*Spent an hour in Walgreen's parking lot trying to find a hotel.
*Finally booked a room.
*Got to hotel, only to find out they booked for Sunday night instead. 
*Hotel did not have any rooms on Saturday. 
*We drove home in the middle of the night. 
*Hotel is still fighting us on giving our money back. Will never book with choicehotels.com again. 
*Went to the Connecticut coast the next day and had a picnic with Gracie.
*We ate lots of great food. You know, the stuff you allow yourself to eat while on vacation. 
*Went running a few times. 
*Watched a few movies: Conspirator (GREAT movie!), Soul Surfer and Limitless (which should have been rated R).  
*Ran into friends at the Dairy Bar. 
*Gracie got sick. (and is NOT fun to clean up after)
*We determined Gracie is a cow. She eats grass and sticks. 
*Got to check some things off our "to-do" list.
*We got to sleep in every morning. 
*Decided I don't want to go back to work. But here I sit. 
*All in all, we had an awesome "just us" weekend.