Candy Land

Wednesday I went on a road trip to meet a new client in Silver Spring, MD. I planned my meeting, got all dolled up and did my thing. I really love what I do. I'm not even going to call it my job because it's really not work, it's like a full time hobby. I am very fortunate to be able to do what I love and still be home with Kandon. I was given a special talent and a mission and I will fulfill it.

My meeting went so well I smiled the whole way to the car and I found out that my favorite place in the whole wide world was just 5 miles away. IKEA. If you've never been to IKEA, I must encourage you experience it just once (it's a Swedish home furnishing store). It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside :) There's an awesome cafe that serves Swedish meatballs, two stories of creative goodness and gadgets galore. I spent 3 hours with myself and Mr. IKEA, getting ideas and replacing some much needed stuff in our house. It was glorious.

So what's the importance of this? It reminded me that I have a goal. One day, sooner than later, we have a goal to buy our own home. We want to fix things, build things, add on, and refurnish. I long for the day that we are handed a set of keys and told "Congratulations on your new home." It gives me chills just thinking about it. We have achieved every other goal we've set. Why stop now?

Guess where my first stop will be? A little place I call Candy Land...

Family Dinner

Sunday's are a very special time for me. About 9 months ago, my adopted parents (Tina and Dave) said "hey, we're making spaghetti Sunday night, you should see if Derek, Rita and Denise want to come!" With a little planning, we were all able to get together for dinner at their house that Sunday night. That night, family dinner was born.

Each Sunday around 5pm, we start pouring into Tina and Dave's house. We bring our spouses, our children and our weekly stories. You can smell the food cooking usually before you even get to the door. The second we walk in, there's an overwhelming sense of peace and happiness. The kind of love my brother, sister and I have always longed for. We laugh, tell jokes, vent, cut coupons, take a walk and we've recently added an evening session of bowling on the Wii. It's hours of happiness.

Every Sunday around 7:30 you can find a trail of us walking downtown. It's a nice way to let some of that food settle in. We always end up at the railroad station where we listen for trains, play on the hill and let our hearts pour out. There's something about that train station that lets you know it's all ok. Maybe it's not the station, maybe it's just the amazing people standing around it.

Family dinner means so much in so many ways. To Tina and Dave it's a way to extend their love and family. They are the most giving people you'll ever meet. To Derek, Rita and Erika it's a place to feel comfortable and loved. To Denise and David, it's a place of acceptance a place to get good ole fashion home cooked meals. To AJ it's togetherness. To Kandon, it's a way to have all of us in the same room at the same time. To me, it's love and appreciation, my definition of family.

To all of us, it's the most important time of the week. A time to celebrate our love and be who we are. I am thankful for my family - my best friends. Thank you all for making Sunday's my most cherished time.

The Posse

You know how some people are brought into your life for a reason? Over the last year or so, two amazing ladies have entered my life. These gals have become what we like to call "The Posse." Here's the kicker, we're all small business owners, so we speak the same language. We've become massage junkies at Tamara's therapeutic office and gym junkies at Corinna's gym. And when they need a super awesome creative project done, they call me ;)

We also share crazy schedules, so for the first time, we all got together outside of the gym and got our nails done. What's better than having tropical scented oil and sea salt slathered all over your legs and laughing at the mixture of Christmas and Valentine decor (it's May) and the 14 faux finishes on the wall? Oh I know, all falling in love with the same color, "Swing Baby!" A lovely metallic browny/silver color.

I am really blessed to have such amazing friends surround me. I know that no matter what is going on, these gals are standing behind me ready to catch a few tears or throw a few punches. I am honored to have them in my life.

Hope

When you meet someone, you never know what road lies ahead for them. A dear friend of mine just went through a life changing experience. One moment you're healthy and going about your daily lives and the next your being told a cancerous tumor was found.

Over the last few weeks she kept us updated on the surgeries, the recovery, the tests and the trials. We watched her undergo a major surgery that has changed her life forever. Yet in the mist of all of this, I've never seen her more optimistic. She's surrounded herself with good people and energy. She's holding her husband by her side, who has just returned from Iraq. She's being strong and optimistic, she has hope.

Monday night we sat around her kitchen table and laughed. I listened to her stories of the hospital, we laughed at the boys playing on the wii, and we enjoyed some homemade cupcakes that lit up her face.

I've learned a lot from this dear friend over the last few weeks: Never take life for granted. Be hopeful when the times seem their worst. Laugh at danger because with the right spirit, we can overcome anything.

Eight

In 10th grade, Eleven and a half years ago to be exact, I was sitting in Geometry class minding my own business. For some reason, the cute guy two seats ahead of me thought it was entertaining to throw tiny paper balls at me. All I knew was he was the hot guy that drove a pumpkin orange lowrider truck that didn't pay attention in class. He was too focussed on the cute girl two seats behind him.

I remember those days like they were yesterday. The trips in the lowrider, the huge JNCO jeans, bleaching our hair (I'm surprised we're not bald.) We didn't realize it at the time, but we were building a foundation for the rest of our lives.

Today, we celebrate 8 years of marriage. We celebrate the long nights in college, the obstacles and the growths, the new jobs and the layoffs and the beautiful child we created. We celebrate the good and the bad because everything we've experienced has made us the people we are today. The most rewarding thing when I leave this earth will be looking back and seeing that my life was spent with him.

I love you AJ Wallace.

Morgan

Over the last 9 months, I've watched my best friend create the most beautiful little gift. Little miss Morgan is due to come anytime between now and Father's Day and I must say, I can hardly wait to meet her. I remember the day Amber told me like it was yesterday... we were in the studio and before she could even let the words escape her mouth, her eyes told me.

Saturday I had the privilege to take some amazing photos of Amber's beautiful pregnancy. We planned on taking them outside, but the rain forced us to stay indoors and we ended up in what is soon to be Morgan's room.

As I waited for Amber to change into her next outfit, I sat on the floor and thought about the joy that was about to enter this room. The new life that was about to be born. The unexplainable love.

I can't wait to see your tiny face.

Skippin Stones

One of our favorite places to go is Renfrew Park in Waynesboro, PA. It's where we got married, it's where we have picnics, it's where a father teaches his son how to skip stones. I love to watch Kandon and AJ together. When they're together it's like the rest of the world stops. I sat on the log next to the flowing water and just watched the two of them. AJ shows him which stones are best for skipping, how to hold his hand to throw them, and watches the light in Kandon's eye when the stones jumps, two, three, four times down the river.

The love they have is priceless, and I have the honor to watch it.

Mommy's Day

3 1/2 years ago I was given the greatest gift of all: a 6lb 9oz - 19 1/2" long baby boy. I remember the day like it was yesterday, the smell of the air, the colors on the trees, the way he looked... a day I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Each Mother's day Kandon and I do a very special painting together. We have a 12" square canvas that starts off white and ends up a masterpiece of abstract colors. Our first Mother's day he was 6 months old, so I covered his hands and feet in paint and pressed them on the canvas...this year was our 4th painting. The weather was beautiful, so we pitched a blanket, sat outside, and for 30 min, all that mattered in the world was Kandon and our paint palette.

Each year our paintings evolve from tiny toe prints to abstract works of art. I can't help but wonder what they will look like when he's school age, teen and adult. Creating paintings with him every mommy's day for the rest of my life is something I hold near and dear to my heart.

5th Grade

One day you're waiting at the school bus stop, pointing at the new girl and wondering if she'll be your friend. The next thing you know it's 16 years later and you're taking your kids to the park. Saturday I got to visit my best friend, the one I've had since 5th grade. How do I know she's a best friend? We've gone through elementary and middle school together, separated at high school, moved to different towns, started our adult lives with relationships and both had children. And yet through all of that, I know that I can pick up the phone and call Rachel, spend the day with her and her adorable daughter and reminisce on where we've been and what's changed.

We grabbed some happy meals and headed to the park Saturday, and while the kids played perfectly for almost 3 hours, I got to sit with my long time best friend, laughing about the past and gazing into the future. What's the best part about all of this? We get to do it again over the next 16, 26, 46 years. Love you Rach.

Locked out

It was a lovely day to walk to my studio office downtown Hagerstown. As I rounded the corner, I realized that my keys would benefit me more had I not left them on my kitchen counter. So, as I awaited my very pregnant Amber to come, I sat on the brick steps outside my office. I took a moment to appreciate the fine architecture of downtown Hagerstown, watched the busy business folk walk by and thought about what I wanted to accomplish over the next few hours. The sun was shining a comfortable 65 degrees and the air had just enough energy behind it to blow my hair. So, leaving my keys in a not so convenient place did me some good. I stopped for about 10 minutes today to do, well, nothing.