all the world's her stage

i met her a couple of years ago, her sister was brandon's study partner in law school. i instantly loved her. she's got what you call, charisma. it's one of those things you are born with, it can't be taught. you meet ali and realize she is talented, period. inhibition? what's that?

over the past couple of years she's gotten more and more talented, and more and more blond. that's ali.

she called me frantic that she hadn't taken her pictures and graduation was a week away. after some breathing exercises i did some shifting and met her the next morning. we searched the city for just the right spots and then hung out and ate lunch, it was great.

she has contagious laughter and just a dash of sass. i love this girl.

the forgiving type

he stood her up for the prom. he said he had to work, she said whatever and got another date. in fact she got two dates; one for the prom and one for the dinner. what could have been devastating became no big deal.

they say a solid marriage is based on the ability to forgive, i guess it's true. they celebrate 40 years of marriage this summer.

because she forgave him, and gave him another shot, they built a beautiful life. three children, four grandkids; seven lives that would have never been if he wouldn't have said please forgive me. so maybe that's what it takes. realizing you could be making the biggest mistake of your life and hoping she will forgive you.

husband of the year

this guy is one of the good ones. sure, he might do things that make his wife cringe like the leaving the toilet seat up or saying something embarrassing a bit too loud. but all of the little annoyances have to be over looked when you have a husband that goes WAY out of his way to surprise you on Mother's Day with photos of your boys. how many men think weeks ahead of time, what would my wife love. well this guy does.

generations

what do you think about when you hear the word grandmother?

i think of 3 women; mom dot, momma lee, and nether mommie. i think of summers in kentucky sitting on a glider reading books snuggling. of trips to toys r us, and "who's girl are you?" of hugs, and cards, and cokes. macaroni and cheese and homemade pickles. i wish i could describe, but somehow my memory goes to how each one of them smelled when i nuzzled in.

my grandmothers lived too far to spend just an afternoon and sometimes my heart hurts for the things i missed being away. the memories of my childhood with my grandmothers, and great grandmother are cherished and still today i adore my grandmothers and appreciate them beyond words.

this photo shoot made me wonder what memories carter will carry. will he have inside jokes, favorite knick knacks, certain songs that only his grandmother can sing? watching his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother love on him i couldn't help but get sentimental about how precious those relationships are. at the end of the day i am more blessed by the people that have loved me like they love carter than anything else i could hope for.

goosebumps and giggles

there is nothing worse than a freezing cold day and trying to get a toddler excited about being freezing. thank goodness she has a funny daddy. after my poor attempts at getting the blankie and capturing some smiles, he finished a conference call and came to the rescue making her not only giggle but outright belly laugh. daddys are super heros after all