i can feel fall

i enjoy taking photographs.

school started again this week. my last semester of school (i hope). i've been slighly stressed out handling graduation requirements and such—but i took the time to escape yesterday afternoon. we went up payson canyon. and repeated "this is soo beautiful" about 43 times. then picked wild flowers.

there is something about visual things that snag me.

i've had the best days ever.

so many times i stopped and tears are brought to my eyes.

i'm so happy and content. i have so much to be grateful for.

God has truly given me soo much. i am undeserving.

sitting in school, i realize how much i absolutely 100% LOVE my field of knowledge (exercise science—kinese). i have so many passions that bring me joy and fulfillment. i am so happy to be where i am at this time.

i was made to do this.

i was made to create and to love. i was made to help people learn about their body's, their health, and how to live a better life.

i was made to bring that camera to my eye.

i was made to fall in love in the mountains and feel light when i dance.

i was made to learn & grow, and to fall down.

i was made to make a small difference.

i can't even begin to describe the kind of passion i feel for my education and knowledge. I love my professors and the way they empower me. I love the body, nutrition, the physiology of it, and applying it to each individual body. i love when you get to answer someone's question about their body, really help them solve a problem, and make their life more enjoyable. that's what it's about—making a difference.

oh. life is so good. we saw a rainbow again yesterday. i kept thinking—God is so in tune with what i need. He loves me so much.

p.s. did you see the new wedding/inspiration links i added to the right?? try not to spend 10 hours there like i do…

love you so much.

Happiest girl

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sunday

We sat across the lake in the dark and read a book on love. the stars sparkled. And i smiled at them. It was in the middle of the mountains. And lightning backlit them perfectly. We watched the storm from our safe distance. At our feet nothing moved. It was peaceful. No one knew it, but there were tears in my eyes. For a short moment it seemed i was out of this world. I felt God. And i felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for where i am. Not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I missed my family in that moment. My heart swelled.

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crinkled water bottles.

my sweet

sometimes

in the middle of the night

i wake up DYING of thirst

like. really.

i think im going to die.

in the middle of a desert feeling.

and i scramble to find the nearest water bottle (i use to find old left over ones in my soccer bag..gross.)

and i chug it wildly.

then i get pissed that its empty and i throw it across the room.

like i get really mad..

now that i'm awake, i find it humorous.

do you know what i'm talking about?

savor

me. doin my thang. image taken by the ever so talented, Ricky Craig

passed a billboard today that read:

enjoy everything.

repeat that to yourself. what does that really mean? to enjoy everything. are you doing that?

enjoy the aches and pains. because you're growing.

enjoy the breeze and the summer afternoon storms.

enjoy the different people. the opportunities. the challenges.

please, do.

please, remind me too.

my body aches from work, and my shoot today, and ending the evening salsa dancing with men that speak poor english.

i enjoyed my day.

Find reasons to smile.

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long hot summer

you see, i have this problem.

i decided it while i was running yesterday.

i love way to much. and not just people but things too. ideas too.

i ran around dusk and i somehow made it up a hill—

i was along the majestic mountains and the sun was setting.

it was a GORGEOUS scene. i hate to stop while i'm running, so i side-stepped and smiled at the valley.

i told God my thank you's.

as i kept running i made a list in my head of all the things i really love.

like the sunset, the way it warms the light on the mountain range here..

like the smell of my baby nephew..

like the people i have the blessing of photographing..

like homemade spaghetti sauce..

like curling up in clean sheets..

there are some people that i love really deeply. and quickly.

this is why i hate to meet boyfriends' families. i always love them too much.

if i could find a job selling any of the things that i am incessantly and naturally passionate about i could make millions. i might be onto something..

brittany&mikey

the greatness in you

"Only the disciplined are truly free. The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites, and passions...Discipline comes from being 'discipled' to a person or a cause." --- covey

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Think big anyway

i was contemplating a decision in my mind the other day, and the following kept coming back to me...

THE PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few under dogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best anyway.

—Kent M. Keith

and the beat goes on..

" being powerful is like being a lady; if you have to tell people you are, you aren't. " --margaret thatcher

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The Lowry Family

they are pretty wonderful. i wish they had more boys to marry.

i'm sitting in the most darling of coffee shops with my shoes off.

i'm swooping on their internet you see.

i ate a cold but delicious cinnamon roll. and i am going to be late for work.

i hear a guy talking about his gpa and it makes me a little sick.

i see a guy's tattoo and i think he should have investigated his artist first.

and i think, life is good. i have a pretty bed.

i will post house pictures as soon as my house becomes tidy.

i apologize that it has been a while. but i am getting lighter.

did I tell you that that is my goal? to be light? well it is.

According to me..

the well seasoned pro..

TOP 11 BEST THINGS TO DO AFTER A BREAK UP..

1. go running why? because it releases positive endorphins. you feel thin, you feel powerful, you're going to look better, you will immediately feel lighter and happier and proactive (do you feel ugly after break ups like i do??)

2. read stephen covey's 7 habits of highly effective people (or the 8th habit, like i am..) why?? because his books will give you guidance, help you improve your life, and find motivation.

3. save money why?? because it will relieve stress..and now you have more time and less eating out right?

4. move (or change your furniture around. change your environment. start over anew) why?? because a new place gives you a new project. it won't have memories tied to it, and you can feel a fresh start

5. pray why?? because there is nothing more comforting than feeling the savior's love enfold you

6. cut your hair (or is this just me? dying it also does wonders..=] ) why?? because you want to feel beautiful

7. start dancing why?? because it's a great social environment, healthy habit, and sooo. much. fun.

8. eat fruit why?? i'm not sure, but it works. it's refreshing and you feel like you're making a good decision!

9. write therapy. get it all out. pretend to write a letter to them if you want. let your feelings go. take the time to be alone with your thoughts. Write out new goals/dreams, and how to achieve them. create a new plan. reinvent yourself. why?? because you will feel in control, relief, and may resolve questions you have on your own

10. bring focus to your passions take time to contemplate what your passions are. then do them. why?? because this will bring you immediate joy. it will bring meaning to your life and bring out the best in you. it may inspire ideas and relax you.

11. serve help someone else. be compassionate. why?? because taking the focus off of you and onto someone t

hat needs your help will bring you joy

wyatt and i, 3 weeks old

tahoe: the family vacation

some of the family

the trip went something like this:

1 wake up early one sunday morning to leave but instead watch dad pack everything and hitch the bikes up for an hour.

2 get to tahoe but can't get into the cabin for 2 hours

3 go for a 4 mi run along the water with my sisters

4 wake up and do some of this..

5 and some of this..and take a nap..

6 the next day we went to donner lake and the boys did this…

on the hike we saw one of these..

7 slept on hard, shakey beds. read my book. had no cell phone service. and did more of this.

8 then i found my new found love for this..

9 we played badminton and the boys played this...

10 followed by the annual family shot on the lake..

11 one day i went with them..

to do this..

[i laid on the beach and turned black..and watched a handsome kayak instructor for an hour]

12 the evening was like this.. and the stars that night were countless and stunning..

13 she entertained the camera on the dock...

14 we ate homemade pancakes, giant chunks of homemade fudge, delicious sausage, and one night i ate 6 brownies

15 it all ended with a little bit of this..

thank you tahoe for another beautiful year. next year wyatt and my sister will get to be there!