Happy First Birthday, Mr. J!

About a week and half ago I had the wonderful opportunity to be able to take some family portraits of the C. family! This most awesome family had asked me to take some pictures of their just turned one year old, Mr. J.  It was so incredibly hard to pick my favorites from the shoot because their son was such an adorable little guy. These are just some of my favorites! We had so much fun that day at the park! His smile and his laugh were totally contagious and my hope was to capture his fantastic little personality that day.  It was a complete joy and honor to photograph this beautiful family and to capture a brief moment of time as this little one grows and changes. Thank you to the C. family for allowing me to help capture some memories for you! 

Happy Birthday Dad

Tomorrow, which is April 28th, is a special day to me.  It was my father's birthday. He would have been 65 years old this year. We had a special relationship and I miss him dearly. I was very close to him when I was a small child. I remember riding around in his yellow Chevy truck listening to "Rhinestone Cowboy" and Blondie. Yes, he had varied taste in music!  I also remember his affinity for Oreos and Squirt ~ well almost anything sweet really. Sometimes these memories seem to be only vague snapshots of my early childhood...almost from another life time. They are memories that I hold on to because when I think of them, I remember how happy I felt.

Unfortunately, my parents divorced when I was 8 years old. I don't know if it was the times, how things were in the early eighties, but it felt like he divorced all of us - my mom, my sister and myself. But the interesting thing is, I always knew that he loved my sister and me even though we rarely saw him. I remember trying to make those visits count, at least in my little kid's mind. I would hang on to the memories of seeing him and try to remember how it felt, how the air smelled, what the weather was like, etc. Seems silly now but it really did help.

My relationship with my Dad did not get strong again until I was an adult. He was present at the "rights of passage" that happened in my life - high school graduation and my wedding. During my young adulthood we would chat every so often on the phone and catch up. But after the birth of my first child, Kaitlyn, I noticed a huge shift in my relationship with him.  He was visiting my grandmother, his mother, and I wanted him to meet Kaitlyn. After he met her we started talking every other week. Over time we started to have long discussions about almost anything and everything. I am so grateful for those talks that we had. I had a lot of questions answered and it gave me a window into his perspective on life, his regrets and his hopes for the future. It made me realize that we are all broken people in some sense. We need to embrace our past, our present and our future. I wouldn't trade this time for anything!

About a week after his 60th birthday he had a sudden and fatal heart attack. Just like that, he was gone. Gone were my hopes and dreams of him being able to watch my children grow up...to see my sister find the man of her dreams and start a family. I like to believe that he is still with us as we carry him in our hearts. I would also like to think that he somehow can see what is happening in our lives and can somehow share in our joys and sorrows. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him...kinda of like when I was a little kid. On days, like his birthday, it may sound crazy but I think I can feel his presence near me.

As an adult, he taught me a lot about life. How to mend relationships, to embrace your brokenness, how to find out who you really are and what you believe in. During the last few years of his life he decided to go back to his roots. He was raised on a ranch and he missed that lifestyle. He bought a horse boarding facility and a few horses. He loved taking care of the horses and the boarders, rescuing abandoned and abused horses and also teaching Western horse back riding lessons to kids and adults alike. My Dad was finally and truly happy. I feel like his life had come full circle. It was after his death that I realized that is never too late to mend broken relationships and to do something that you love with your life no matter how old you are! It is because of him that I dove head first into learning all that I could about photography and to pursue the passion I had for photography.  I hope that he would have been proud of me for that. I keep learning and try not to let my crazy, busy life or my fears get in the way of pursing my hopes and dreams.

Happy Birthday Dad! I hope that you are riding through the most beautiful meadow full of alpine flowers on your trusty horse, with a dog running along beside you. I will be listening for your bell.

The poem below was one of his favorite poems.

Just up the road from my home is a big field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop by to observe, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of the bigger horse will disclose that he is completely blind. His caring owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him in lush pastures. This alone is a miracle...

If you stand nearby and listen, you hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from a smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and the blind horse listens for the bell, then slowly walks to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally, looking back, making sure the blind friend isn't too far behind.

Like the kind owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away because we are not perfect or when we have problems or challenges. He watches over us- even bringing others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the helpless blind horse being guided by the ringing bells of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are like the guide-horse, helping others find the way home. 

Good friends are like that... you may not always see them, but you know they are there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. 



~Author Unknown

Dakota

Let me introduce you to the newest member of the Kaiser family - a one and half year old Siberian Husky we named Dakota.  We have actually had him for about 4 months now and it is amazing how well he has settled right into our family. In retrospect it was one of those things where everything just fell into place all on its own.   We didn't plan on getting another dog right away after we lost Sierra back in early August. We wanted to take our time and find the "right" dog.  The only thing we knew for sure was that we didn't really want a puppy because we are a very busy family and a puppy needs a lot of training.  I also wanted to make sure that our hearts were open and ready to love another dog.

This "little" man, who thinks he is a lap dog by the way, was a rescue Husky. We were certain that we wanted to give a dog a second chance and a forever home.  I have looked at Husky rescue websites off and on over the years and figured that our next dog would come from an organization like this or the Humane Society.  Dakota was rescued by a wonderful couple who saw him being abused and stepped in to save him.  Sadly, they knew from the beginning that they would not be able to keep him very long. The husband, who is in the military knew that he would be going to Iraq very soon and they already had two dogs of their own. So they set out on a quest to find Dakota a safe and loving home.

From the instant that we met Dakota we loved him. He was warm and friendly and acted like he had always been our dog.  He is funny, goofy and extremely smart! He is very loyal and knows to be gentle around children.  As with most Husky dogs, he talks back and is very vocal - all traits that we love!

We feel so honored that we were chosen to be his forever home.  I would urge you to consider a rescue dog or a Humane Society animal if you are wanting to get a pet.  These animals are truly grateful for a loving home and a family to call their own.  In addition, you are saving a life. The funny thing is, I think Dakota has brought more joy to our lives than we thought possible and I think he has actually rescued us rather than the other way around.

I took these pictures today because I was inspired by a pet photographer who takes pictures of animals at her local animal shelter.  Dakota is proof that these animals can have a chance at a happy life and a forever home. His sweet soul and very presence help to make our house a happy home and while we miss Sierra, Dakota has helped to heal our broken hearts.

Summer Memories

The World is at their feet...

                                                    
                            

This has to be one of my favorite pictures that I have of my children.  I took this one last summer at the beach in Oceanside, California.  We were visiting my sister and we decided to head to beach to let the kids dip their feet in the water, run in the sand and breathe in the ocean air. Visiting the beach in California had been on their top ten list since we had left on our vacation. Even though it was a little bit cloudy that day, they were not disappointed. It was a warm day and the sand and the water were lovely. I love that they were able to take some time to feel the sand between their toes, the foam of the ocean waves as the the water lapped at their feet and ultimately, experience the calming rhythm of the ocean. When I look at the pictures from this day, I am always reminded of the lovely, quiet, non rushed time that I was able to spend with my children. Sometimes these moments feel too few and far between.

I was reminded today by a friend, who has recently become a new mommy, what a struggle it can be sometimes to let your children go out and be in the world. We all have some anxieties as well as big hopes for our kids when they are gaining new experiences and spreading their wings. Personally,  I know that I have shed a few tears when we have dropped our children off for their first day of school or when they turn yet another year older. It seems that children grow and change much too fast. Time marches on quickly when you are a busy parent! It always amazes me how much your heart can break, sing with pride and love your child all at the same time. I just have to remember that Kendall and I here to help them along in their journey to becoming wonderful and caring adults. As hard as it is sometimes, you have to let them spread their wings and learn to fly. It certainly is wonderful though to have some of the quiet moments like these frozen forever in time. I think pictures can help to preserve those moments so you don't forget those special moments. These three "little" people have been the biggest blessing in my life and I will always be eternally grateful that I was lucky enough to be their Mom.

Baby Charlie

Pregnancy is a journey full of hopes and dreams for your unborn child. You are anxious that everything will be okay and that the baby will be healthy. You can hardly wait to see his little face and see what he looks like.  But nothing can prepare you for THAT moment when you first lay eyes on your precious little baby. It is amazing how fully, deeply and unconditionally you love him from the very first second you see him. Everything about him is perfection...his long eye lashes, rose bud lips and soft skin. You honestly didn't know that you could ever love someone so much. You would lay your life down for him in a heart beat.  Finally seeing him makes all those months of morning sickness, worry, lack of sleep, being uncomfortable and the pain of birth all so worth it! Hold on to these early days, they go by so quickly. That strong love that you felt for him from that very first second will never diminish. In some sense, he will always be your baby no matter how old he gets.

On November 3, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. I had the privilege and the honor to be in the presence of my sister, Marni and her husband, Ira as they welcomed their beautiful baby boy into the world! Little Charlie Rigger weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was 20 inches long! He is completely perfect and oh, so handsome! We are so excited to have a little nephew and new cousin!

I am not even sure how to start writing about what an extraordinary, moving and miraculous experience it was to witness this beautiful little child being born into the world. I barely have the words to describe it honestly. To see the love that his parents have for him and for each other is beautiful and inspiring.  My brother in law is an amazing man and my sister is a strong and beautiful woman. I feel truly honored that they wanted me there to be a co coach.  It will be an experience that I will always hold close to my heart and cherish forever!

I am so proud of Marni and how strong she was throughout her whole pregnancy. She did an spectactular job throughout her labor and was a real trooper during the delivery.  Marni and Ira are awesome parents and they are doing a tremendous job with little Charlie...he is a truly loved and adored baby boy! I look forward to walking with them as they journey through parenthood together.  It will be an amazing journey and I know they are going to do a great job!

Many Moods of Wallowa

Mountain Reflection

I was inspired this morning to post some pictures from one of my favorite places in the ENTIRE world. As a photographer, I have always wanted to capture the world as I see it. My own little take on the world so to speak. My biggest hope is that my images can touch someone's soul, maybe draw them in for just a little while, possibly even let them experience something they have never seen before. For others, maybe my images will spark some wonderful memories of a place or a person. When this happens and I hear about it, wow! It is so wonderful and makes me feel like I have accomplished what I set out to do.

Wallowa Lake is located in northeastern Oregon and it has always been a magical and sacred place for me. When I was child I would spend part of summers with my grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins in the town of Wallowa. We would always visit the lake, we would picnic, take hikes, pick berries and be free to experience the natural beauty that surrounded us. Some of my very best childhood memories come from this place. It is the place that I think of when asked to think of some "place" that is special to you. It is a place that when I go back there now as an adult, it transports me immediately to those special memories of childhood. Right now, if I close my eyes I can smell the aroma of the trees, I can hear the rambling river off in the distance, the crunch of the ground beneath my feet as I wander, in my mind's eye, through the beauty that is Wallowa Lake. The lake itself has so many shades of blue and seems to have a unique beauty that almost seems to instantly calm my soul. I truly hope that everyone has a place like this they can escape to, even if it is only in their mind's eye.

Up Around the Bend

Picnic anyone?

Early Morning Mood

Calm Morning

Reflection Time

Utah Lizard

One thing that I loved about Utah was the astounding beauty of the canyons and mesas that surrounded us. I never knew that many shades of orange existed. The desert truly holds a magical quality that is hard to express without seeing it with your own eyes. I love how this little lizard above, you may have to look closely to find him, blended into his surroundings.

Grafton, UT ~ Ghost Town

I haven't blogged at all about our big vacation that we took this summer. Kaitlyn plays on a club volleyball team that qualified to go to the National Volleyball Festival this past July which was held in Phoenix, AZ. We decided as a family to drive down to Phoenix from the Tri Cities so that we could see a part of the country that none of had ever seen before. Boy, were we in for a treat!

It was a long drive and the kids did a fantastic job of getting along and not whining about when we were going to finally get there. We decided to plan some stops along the way to see some of the sites we had read about. The first stop I wanted to write about is a ghost town called Grafton, which is located in southern Utah just south of the Zion National Park boundary. It was an amazing place to visit. The town itself is nestled in a valley surrounded by the breath taking beauty of the mountains, mesas and canyons of Zion.

As you drive the scenic nine mile drive from the town of Rockville out to the town of Grafton you cross over a single track iron bridge that takes you over the Virgin River. You follow the pavement to a dirt road which winds and climbs its way into the hills. You know that you are getting close to the town when you arrive at Grafton Cemetery. This lonely cemetery has a few dozen graves with burials ranging from the period of 1860-1910. When we walked through the cemetery it made you realize how harsh life could be for these folks. Some inscriptions were for young children all under the age of 9; some from the same family. Others were victims of Indian attacks. This cemetery has been preserved with loving care and respect.

From the cemetery you drive down a dusty road to enter the town. Grafton was established in 1859 along the Virgin River as a settlement to grow cotton. By 1864 there were 28 families that called Grafton home. There were several log houses, a post office, church and a school/community center. While they were successful with growing cotton the nearby river proved to be unpredictable and would severely flood the area. In addition to flooding the residents had problems with attacks from the local Indian tribes which forced the town to be evacuated in 1866 during the Black Hawk War. The residents returned to the area permanently in 1868.

In 1886, the residents built a school house/church. This was also used as a community center and it still stands today. It has been wonderfully preserved for future generations to see. The last class was taught here during the 1918-19 school year.

Another wonderfully preserved building that stands near the school house is the Alonzo Russell home. It was built in 1861. Members of the Russell family continued to live in the home until 1944. They were the last residents to pick up stakes and leave the town of Grafton.

It was amazing to walk back in time and visit this town and imagine what it must have been like for these pioneers to live here. There are a couple more houses that are still standing along with a barn and granary that are surrounded by a split rail fence. I think it was great for our family to visit this ghost town. It put into perspective for us how hard those who have come before us worked to build the West and make a life for themselves and their families.

Sweet babe

This is Amber and she is such a sweet little filly. She was with our 4H group at the fair this year. This is how we all felt by the end of the week. We were all completely tuckered out!

We all had such a great time at the Benton Franklin County Fair! My kids learned so much and gained so much more confidence in their riding abilities. I have to give it to them. They were up at the crack of dawn every day for a week and we practically lived at the fair grounds. We stayed up late and knew that the alarm clock was going to be ringing very early the next morning. There was very little complaining and they were always willing to give a helping hand no matter how tired they were. Their efforts paid off and our 4H club got first place in Herdsmanship out of all the small clubs.

I thought I would share a few of my favorites shots from the week.

Thomas and Tipper bonded quite a bit in the weeks leading up the fair. By the end of the fair they were stuck at the hip! So fun to watch! Maggie was a great helper and she worked her tail off even though she wasn't able to show our horse yet. Kaitlyn was willing to work with the younger two and teach them what she knew. I love my kids!

Waiting....

I have been at a loss for words since the sudden passing of our sweet little husky, Sierra. My heart still aches when I think of her, which is a daily. I miss her sweet little face and how she adored our children. Her beautiful spirit was always so happy and eager to please her "people". My children keep telling me how unfair it was to lose her so soon. She was only 5 years old and I have to agree - it was totally unfair. We lost her to salmon poisoning which apparently is a very rare event. It only seems to happen in the Pacific Northwest. Dogs can get this from ingesting any part of a wild fish that is infected with a parasite called Nanophyetus Salmoncola. Usually this parasite itself is harmless but the danger occurs when the parasite itself is infected with a rickettsail organism called Neorickettsia helintheocalt. This microorganism is what causes the salmon poisoning. Dogs appear to be the only species that is susceptible to getting the salmon poisoning (i.e. cats, raccoons and bears don't get it even though they eat raw fish). Often times the treatment of administering an antibiotic and a de wormer can save a dog's life but sadly in our case it wasn't enough. We tried everything possible to save her. We lost her within a week of taking her to a lake in northern Idaho.

Our family has had a really hard time dealing with the loss of such a wonderful dog. But I do know that we will always carry her in our hearts. She blessed our lives with so much affection and the joy of her spirit. I find myself listening for her. Our house seems so quiet and empty with out her.

A fascinating thing has been happening in the days since we lost her. We have seen a multitude of dragonflies where ever we go. They will come and fly up to our windows and hover there. They jet around the back yard while we sit out on the deck. The other day my son told me that one was following me as we walked outside. I have been doing some research on dragonflies and what some cultures think they symbolize. In essence they represent the brevity of life and how we must live life to the fullest - making each moment special. The dragonfly lives a very short life but it knows how to life life to the fullest with the time it has been given. I believe that our little Sierra lived her short life to the fullest!

The picture above is one that I took of Sierra a few years ago. It is a familiar scene at our house. She ALWAYS waited for the kids to get off the bus every afternoon. Like clockwork she would go over to the window and sit and wait. She knew that her "kids" were going to be home soon. Sierra would greet them with so much love as they walked through the door. I had titled this image "Waiting..." It has always been one of my favorite photos in my collection It truly represents her essence. I will cherish it always. I know in my heart that Sierra is waiting for us until we see her again. We love and miss you little girl ... until we see you again someday.

Precious Moments

I usually don't have pictures of myself here on my blog but my husband was kind enough to take a picture of our daughter with me after we had spent an afternoon picking out flowers at the local gardening store. The above picture was the was result that had been inspired by a friend and coworker of mine who had given me this awesome wrought iron planter. Maggie was so excited and she had a bunch of ideas about what kind of flowers she wanted to plant. She had spent an afternoon looking through a gardening book that we had sitting in our bookshelf gathering dust, literally. It was so fun to watch her meander through the aisles at the store and decide what she thought would "go together". She was seriously inspired by what she had seen in the gardening book. So cute!

While we were at the store she encouraged me to buy a lavender plant of my very own. Whenever I see a lavender plant I always have to stop and smell it, touch the leaves and go on and on about how good it smells especially when it is in full bloom. So I think she thought I should have my very own lavender plant goodness right here at home! I followed her advice and we now have a lavender plant! Honestly, I hope I don't kill it (she would be so disappointed).

She could barely contain her excitement as we drove home. Maggie was chattering on and on about how she thought the flowers would look when we were done planting them. This day will be added to memory bank of precious times spent with my children. I highly recommend spending some quality one on one time with your kids doing something that brings them such joy and satisfaction. Their joy can be contagious!

Maggie dutifully waters the plants every day and I have taught her about "deadheading" and for those of you who don't know what that is, no, it has nothing to do with the Grateful Dead! She gave me the strangest look when I told her what we were going to do. I taught her how to identify the blooms that needed to picked off in order to help the plant convert more of its energy in to growing new blooms. She looks forward to "deadheading" now!

We had a fantastic afternoon spent together gardening. I hope it is something that we can continue to do together; that is until she is a teenager and thinks of something better to do. Ha! I will enjoy these precious moments together while I can!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

Inspiration is an amazing thing. For a few months now I haven't been very inspired to take any pictures. As I have mentioned before I have been in a bit of a rut artistically. I have tried to be patient with myself and just wait for the motivation and the inspiration to occur. Earlier this week I decided to just grab my camera and go outside in the yard and take a look around. To my surprise my backyard is in full bloom! There are tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and there are even little tiny buds on my rose bushes. Isn't spring an amazing time? I am hoping if I just keep pushing myself to make the time to take a walk with my camera I will get my groove back. I am getting tired of waiting to have it happen spontaneously. Maybe that in and of itself is the answer. It is not waiting on the sidelines hoping something will happen but seizing the opportunities as they happen and even going out there and making the opportunities happen! The image above is a tulip that was happily growing by my front door. How many times had I walked right on by this?

One Friendship At A Time...

This blog post is going to be a bit different this time around. I am posting a link to a video that my husband Kendall made for COJ of some footage that he captured while on a mission trip to Honduras a few weeks ago. Those who are close to me know that I was lamenting that my husband was gone to Honduras for 10 days leaving me home to hold down the fort and tend to the kids...ALONE. I kept a running count down on facebook of how many days until he came home to us. Well, after viewing the raw footage that he captured while he was there I realized that it was well worth my being on my own for a few days.

Before he left I knew about the bare bones of this trip. I knew that he was going on this mission trip for work and that he was supposed to be capturing footage of the house they were building in La Masica and that they were going to be visiting a nursing home. Beyond that I wasn't exactly sure what he was going to be doing. I had heard several times at church about previous work that had been done during mission trips that our church has gone on. Deep down I could sense that this was going to be life changing experience for him. Little did I know how much it would end up touching me personally.

When he got home he had to log all of the footage that he captured. There were several times when I was watching the raw footage that I caught myself tearing up. I was deeply touched by the people and the faces that I was seeing. I wanted to know about them and who they were. I was captivated by the beautiful children and I was touched by the look of thanks in the eyes of the adults. Even now, even though I wasn't the one who went on the trip I find myself thinking of them on a daily basis.

When I watch the video it brings tears to my eyes and makes me want to be a better person. I want to look for ways that I can help others. It also makes me think about why I went into Anthropology in college. I finally decided on Anthropology because I found myself drawn to those types of classes. I loved learning about other cultures, their traditions and belief systems. Another interesting tidbit is that photography was something that was encouraged as a minor for Anthropology!

I want to thank my husband for sharing his experience with me. It has opened my eyes, my heart and my mind. I find myself thinking about how and where I can make difference whether it is in helping those people in Honduras or those here in our own community. My hope is that it will give you pause to stop and think about how fortunate we are to live where we do. How fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads, clean drinking water and an over abundance of food on a daily basis. Treating others with kindness can go a long way. I think we can help others...one friendship at a time!

Artistic Slump...

I am sure that every artist goes through times when they suffer from artistic melancholy. I would have to admit, that has been the case for me for past several months. For me personally, photography started out as way to express myself during a dark time in my life. I was dealing with the deaths of several of my close family members, my mother's diagnosis of cancer and all of the feelings of helplessness and sorrow that accompany times such as these. Photography became my outlet; a way to see the goodness and beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. It became something that consumed my thoughts, in a good way. Looking back now, maybe it was an escape of sorts.

I was learning how to operate my camera, I was learning about the basic rules of photography, I was learning how to tell a story through an image! I guess it took my mind off of all the hard things I was dealing with in my personal life. It was a great distraction in a lot of ways. I have always tried to be a person that focuses on the positives; photography helped me to do just that. It gave me direction and passion.

Somehow in the past several months it seems that I have lost that passion. I see glimmers of it every now and again. But just as quickly as it came, it seems to fade away. When I put myself out there and shoot something I tend to focus on the flaws of the images I have captured.

I miss that passion that I used to have. I am not quite sure how to get that back. I read somewhere once that when an photographer captures an image he shows a little bit of himself. Well, if I could sum up how I feel right now, I think the image that would represent me is a tree, stark and barren in the winter months. Hopefully, this is just a time of hibernation for me. I am hoping that my Spring will come, my leaves will come back and I will burst forth with new passion and dedication to expressing my little view of the world.

Happy New Year!

Again, it has been far too long since my last post! The holidays were a whirlwind of activity in our household. It was a wonderful season spent with friends and family. One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is getting the holiday cards from those who are near and far. It is such a wonderful time of reconnecting and getting a glimpse into the lives of those we care about. It can make it seem like we don't live so far apart from each other after all. We are blessed to have friends who live all over the country and even have some who live overseas.

Now that the holidays are over and as we start a new year it is hard not to feel a little bit of let down after all of the hubbub of Thanksgiving and Christmas. January can tend to feel like a drab and dreary month after all of the color and festivities of the holidays ~ all the decorations have been put away and the anticipation is over. My understanding is the month of January can typically be a bit dreary and drab here in the Tri Cities weatherwise. As I recall, the month of January last year did fit that description but it was our first year here so I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, so far January is starting out in the typical fashion. I find myself longing for Spring already! I long for the bright lights and color that Spring will bring!

The picture above was taken in Wallowa, Oregon on a beautiful April morning in 2009. When I look at it, I see the promise of Spring. The sun will shine and the grass will be a vibrant green once again. I am already dreaming about the day that the first daffodil will make its appearance in our yard.

Although, if it decided to snow a couple of more times this winter I have some children who would be quite happy with that!

Happy Harvest Time!

October has flown by so fast! The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. I do love this time of year though. I love the crispness in the air and the splendor of autumn colors. It brings about a time of year that has always been close to my heart. I have always loved taking my children to the pumpkin patch every year to pick out their pumpkins. I have some wonderful memories of sipping hot cider, taking hay rides and seeing the pure joy on my children's faces.

As my children get older I am trying to hold onto those memories as we make our yearly visit to the pumpkin patch. Gone are the days when they would go with their preschool teachers, or the kindergarten class and I would get to tag along as a chaperone. This year marked the next season, so to speak, as we ventured out to the pumpkin patch on our own as a family. We have always gone as a family every year anyway but this marked the first time that the kids almost seemed to be getting a little bored with the petting zoo and the hay ride. It almost seemed to be an obligatory part of the pumpkin patch experience. I can't say that I blame them but it does make my heart yearn for the days when their eyes would light up on their small little faces as we took a hay ride and surveyed the land full of shiny, orange pumpkins.

I have to say that I was glad to see that they were still excited to go hunting for the perfect pumpkin out in the patch. They were much more picky this year as they analyzed which ones had the best look and feel for whatever Jack O'Lantern face they had in mind. During past pumpkin patch experiences I always had to remind the kids to be sure that they didn't get a pumpkin that was too big, or too green, too squishy or too whatever. They were so independent picking out their very own pumpkin. I was in store for a special treat this year, low and behold, I didn't have to carry a single one.

I think I will continue our family tradition of visiting the pumpkin patch every Fall. I think we may just have to step it up to the next level and visit the pumpkin launching area and the corn shooter machines. They were also eyeing the haunted house as we left this year. My suspicions that my children are growing up were confirmed when my son wanted his pumpkin to be a barfing pumpkin this year!

Many Glaciers

I had a yearning to see some live shots of Glacier National Park today. I went to the Glacier National Park website and checked out the web cams that have placed throughout the park. (Check it out at http://www.nps.gov/glac/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm) You can click on an active web cam image that updates every 60 seconds. It was fun to go check out all of the web cams and see how the the effects of Autumn are changing the look and feel of GNP. If I am not mistaken there was a trace of snow on some of the mountains! You should go check it out!

The image above is one of my favorites from our hike around Swiftcurrent Lake which was taken on our trip to Many Glaciers. Many Glaciers is yet another gem in the crown of Glacier. We saw some gorgeous scenery, as well as a black bear, on our way up to Many Glaciers from Two Medicine. We were not disappointed with this view of Mt. Wilbur that you can see along the trail as you hike around the lake.

Good Medicine

We decided to spend the first half of our summer vacation this year visiting my aunt and uncle in Missoula, Montana (what a great time!) and then head to Glacier National Park for the remainder of the week.  Glacier National Park is a place that Kendall and I have always wanted to take the kids.  Years ago we had gone through part of the park on our way by Amtrak as we headed out to Green Bay, Wisconsin.  If I am not mistaken we had a stop over in East Glacier.  My uncle has been to Glacier many times so we asked him what he thought should be on our agenda for the week. One of his favorites spots is Two Medicine (pictured above) which is located on the East side of the park.  Kendall and I planned out our camping/sight seeing route, bought all of the supplies we thought we might need, and read up on what to do if you encounter a bear (seriously!).  It was a gorgeous drive up there and I was quite impressed with Flathead Lake which we saw along the way.  It reminded me a lot of Lake Coeur D'Alene in Idaho! 

Montana has to be one of the most beautiful states I have ever seen. Some of the scenery is quite breath taking.  Between the winding rivers, stands of ponderosa and lodge pole pines, and the mountains, there is plenty to feast your eyes upon.  The mountains are enormous, standing stately and proud, jutting up magnificently into the sky.  The nickname Big Sky Country is very appropriate for Montana...there would have to be an enormous amount of  sky to contain the Rocky Mountains as they run through the Western part of the state. 

Our visit to Glacier National Park was something that truly touched my soul.  It was an experience that proved to be good medicine for my soul.  I thought it was quite appropriate that we stayed at Two Medicine the first couple nights of our stay in the park.  Right away, Two Medicine seemed to have a calming effect on all of us.  It was a special place where we could get away from our cell phones, the quick and hurried pace of life and (gasp!) even our laptops and email. 

The beauty of our surroundings from the sheer cliffs, sweeping valleys and the soothing turquoise lake should be enough to quiet anyone's soul.  It is great place to visit, whether you're hiking along the shore of the lake with gravel crunching beneath your feet or resting on a rustic bench contemplating the wonder of it all as you breathe in the scent of mountains around you.  The quietness I encountered was astounding.  It made me realize that sometimes we need to seek that stillness, take the time to watch the quiet dance of nature and appreciate the interconnectedness of everything around us.   

It was  wonderful  for us to spend time as a family together, no distractions.  I think we all got a lot out of our time spent together in the woods.  We were able to talk, laugh and hike together.  A great way to make memories that I hope our kids will treasure forever.  It was a time that  we were able to stop the world outside for just a little while and and enjoy our children and each other.  There weren't any schedules that we had to adhere to, no place that we had to be.  I am so grateful for this time that we had to reconnect.  

(A favorite time of mine was to sneak away early in the morning just as the sun was about to rise and walk over to the lake.  The picture above doesn't even begin to capture the beauty of the sun's rays as they started to bathe the mountains with the first light of the day. Truly stunning to see in person I must say!)

I want to thank the Park Ranger, Pat Hagan, who led us on a nature hike at Two Medicine.  He helped me to put into words this wonderful feeling I had, as he talked about what really is "Good Medicine".  As a whole, my experience in Glacier Park brought a calmness and sense of restoration to my inner self.  That's powerful medicine!  I think the following quote sums it all up for me, "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~ John Muir  

(I will probably do a couple of more posts about our adventures in Glacier. It is such a special place that I think it may deserve more than one entry.) 

Multnomah Falls...

On my way over to the coast to take my kids to summer camp a couple of weeks ago,  I decided to stop off at Multnomah Falls.  The Falls has a special place in my heart and I think it has become a special place for our kids as well. (Maybe it is the fabulous ice cream they have at the snack shop at the Lodge that is the real ticket for them!).  We were all so excited to stop and take in the sheer beauty that is Multnomah Falls.  I did notice that we have become accustomed to the drier air over in the Tri Cities though. The first thing we all noticed was how humid the air seemed to be.  On our hike up to the bridge my son, Thomas, declared that the air was "hot and sticky!". 

 We truly had a wonderful time taking in the view of the Falls, eating that delicious ice cream and learning about the local flora (if it has leaves of three, let it be!) and  fauna from the park ranger, even if the place was crawling with tourists.  In the past we have generally stayed away during this time of year due to that very reason. But in a way, it was a delight to hear people's observations of what they saw and felt as some of them were viewing this place for the very first time.  It was also fascinating to learn some of the history of this area as I had never really taken the time to find out about that before. 

Multnomah Falls is definitely a place that is worthy of a visit, even if it is during the height of the tourist season.  It really is an amazing sight to see.  It plummets 620 feet from its origins on Larch mountain,  falling down the face of a basalt rock cliff, to make this the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States.  Underground springs on Larch Mountain feed the falls with highest flow being during the winter and spring.  Almost two million visitors come every year to behold this ancient waterfall.  This makes Multnomah Falls,  Oregon's number one public destination. 

The Benson Bridge and the beautiful Multnomah Falls Lodge architecture only add beauty to the Falls.  The Benson Bridge was built in 1914, by Italian stone masons, to replace an existing log bridge (if you can imagine!).  This allowed visitors to cross the falls between the lower and upper sections of the falls.  The Benson Bridge was named after Simon Benson, the owner of the falls at the time and a prominent businessman.  The 300 acre site was given to the City of Portland by Benson but the final ownership was given to US Forest Service in 1943.  

The Multnomah Falls Lodge was built in 1925 by A.E. Doyle.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Inside the lower level of the Lodge there is a USDA Forest Service Information Center, a gift shop and snack bar.  The ice cream is delicious and there is a wonderful coffee bar located just outside the Lodge. The upper level of the lodge has a restaurant that serves delicious northwest cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner complete with a view of the Falls.   The Lodge does not have overnight accommodations and is only a day lodge. 

The Falls are located about twenty minutes east of Troutdale, OR in the scenic Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area.  There are only two ways to get to the Falls by either using Interstate 84 or the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway.  If you have the time to spare, I would highly recommend taking the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway if you are coming from Portland.  The drive is simply breathtaking in the Fall as you wind your way through the trees in their full autumn glory.  Along the way to the Falls you can stop at the Vista House at Crown Point as well as other viewpoints to take in the majestic views of the Columbia River Gorge. 

A truly beautiful site to witness for yourself!

Finding My Light Again...

Lately I have been trying to focus on the true blessings that I have in my life.  How truly blessed I am to have such a caring and wonderful family and some fantastic friends!  Sometimes, I think it can be all too easy to get caught up in the daily humdrum of life and forget how truly fortunate I am.  

The last year has been quite an adjustment for me to be honest.  I heard recently that it can take up to two years to adjust to a move.  I can see how that can be true.  Trying to figure out where to shop, adjusting to new jobs and just meeting new people can be hard.  You can feel like an outsider for a while.  I have known people that thrive on moving and exploring new places.  In ways, I wish I could be more like them.  I have discovered that I tend to be a creature of habit, whether I like to admit it or not.   

I have focused most of my energy in the last year in selling our old house, buying a new one, getting kids adjusted to new surroundings and to new schools, saying good bye to my old job and learning a new one all while trying to learn the ways of a  new town.  One of the hardest parts of leaving Vancouver was saying goodbye to all of our friends.  (Thank goodness for facebook!). There have definitely been some times along this path that haven't been easy.  So what do I think a year out from making a decision to make a big move? 

Honestly, I can say that I don't regret the decision to move.  Sure, there are lots of things that I miss about Vancouver.  But I think our experiences here have been some wonderful gifts to us.  Kendall and I have learned a lot about ourselves and each other (i.e. how much I MISS Burgerville! ).  We have met some wonderful people here in the Tri Cities who have made us feel very welcome. I think it has helped our kids to grow as well. They have had to adjust to making new friends and going to new schools.  They just finished their first year at their new schools and as hard as it was in the beginning, truly, I have seen many more smiles than tears.  They have come out on the other side excited about going back next year and they seem to feel good about their experience.  

On a personal note, I think that I have had the hardest time adjusting. That was a hard one for me to admit. Photography which has been a huge passion of mine has been set aside more than I would have liked. Sometimes, photography takes energy that I felt I didn't have to give.  My friend nailed it on the head the other day when she told me that I "needed to find my light again". I haven't been out searching for my "light" like I should have been. It is time to find that energy again and not let the excuses get in the way. Photography is a great form of expression for me.  I need to be expressing myself more!