Summer Recap: Part 2

Two posts in two days. Maybe my mojo is back. Or maybe I have a pressing need after the man-ssage to lighten it up with flowers. Pretty pretty happy happy flowers.

When it's blooming in Texas, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. For the obvious beauty, yes. But mostly for the fact that I'm able to see it. When we moved here, I was a snob about my surroundings. Having lived only in Hawaii and Northern California, I felt like I'd been dumped into the middle of a wasteland. It was a hard time for me. I was having as difficult a time blooming as the flowers were in my yard. We'd be so excited at the garden store, bring them home like little potted puppies: pet them, water them, tell them bedtime stories. Still they'd die. I'd become bitter when we'd go back to California and there would be a cluster of sunflowers beaming behind a dumpster at a gas station. The kind of beauty in those areas is so abundant, it's almost obscene. Like a table piled with more food than anyone could eat in a lifetime. I felt like I'd been wasteful all those years that I went around taking dumpster sunflowers for granted.

But my grandma used to have a saying, "First you abhor, then you endure, then you embrace." I suppose it could be taken in a number of positive or negative ways. For me, it describes my relationship with Texas. As the years went on, I experienced thunder storms that took my breath away, rain so warm that you could still have your afternoon walk, and days so hot they made for perfect late night visits on the porch with neighbors. My life began to take shape, and suddenly I saw beauty everywhere. I remember saying to Jason once in the car, "Why did I think this was so ugly before?" As it goes, nothing had changed but my perspective. And that's why I love Texas the most. It taught me that beauty is always there, even though it might not always be obvious.

These were taken on a little trip to sweet Gruene.

Nice squinty shot as their professional photographer mom pointed their retinas straight into the sun.

In case you're wondering if you will ever see photos other than my children on this blog again, the answer is yes. I actually have a ton of sessions to post. And if you're wondering if I'm still shooting, the answer is also yes. I just don't have any openings until mid October. Which is perfect timing for Christmas. So if you need to get in, please call me soon. If you wait until the holidays to call, there won't be anything left.

Okay, I'm off to prepare for a shoot in a ghost town in the middle of a desert with some fantasticly talented people. So excited!!

And who knows, maybe I'm back on a roll with this blogging thing so you might see pix soon. :)

Comments

[shona cole]

that is exactly how I feel about living in Texas. beautifully said. & your photos are stunning.

[Kal Barteski]

Oh man your kids are getting so BIG!! They have grown so much. WOW. Chance is looking like a little man. SO cool.

[kat-in-texas]

We love Gruene!!! I'm wondering WHY we live in Dallas (so ugly). So much prettier in the Hill Country and it's closer to the beach!!!

But God has us where He wants us, I have to believe.

Glad you're back blogging!!!

[Grammy]

MY beautiful grandchildren,miss you soooooo much! Sept.can't come soon enough!!!! love to all.

[Crystal]

Thank you for giving me hope! I moved to Boerne, Texas two years ago this month. I've lived most of my life on the East Coast with four glorious seasons each and every year. Four years ago we moved to Alaska (rather remote Alaska) and lived there for two years and though it can be brutal, it is so beautiful. We moved here for a military assignment intending to move along at the next opportunity, but my husband and children love it and so he decided to retire here. Always intending to settle in Virginia, I have spent the better part of these last two years very cranky about having to "endure" this place.It gives me hope to hear that it took someone else a bit of time to warm up to this place (the irony is not lost on me). I've always been a "bloom where you are planted kind of person" so I'm hoping that I will bloom very soon.

[vicki]

Maile, the kids are so grown up and I have never even met Emily. Chance is such a tween. Wow. I so wish our kids could be together. Miss you tons but feel close when I see your posts.
Love ya!
V