Doraly & Emmanuel ~ Engaged!
Posted on June 13, 2013
Doraly and Emmanuel had know each other for several years, but last year when they served on the same organizing committee, it became apparent to both of them that they’d found something special in each other. Now they are counting down the days until they get to promise forever.
Despite having rain the previous day and just hours before, we had a beautiful day to stroll around Harkness Park.
Can’t wait to document their special day next month. How many days, Emmanuel? 
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Michael & Charise ~ Married!
Posted on June 4, 2013
Michael and Charise had a picture-perfect day to profess their forever-love with friends and family in beautiful Portland, Maine. Much love and thought was put into the planning, evident by all the personal details throughout. The weather was divine, exactly what was needed to top off their on-the-water reception at Ocean Gateway.
Charise and Michael have a sweet comfort with each other and a manner that says ‘Home is wherever you are’. It was a complete honor to be a part of your day, you two. I’m so very happy for you both!! May you have a lifetime of love notes.
Michael had a message sewn into his bride’s gown, which she was surprised to find when she put on the dress.
They also exchanged love letters that were read before they met at the altar.
Michael had a special card made that said I have loved you for 1857 days…the number they’ve been together! (Take notes, boys.) :)
Best wedding party ever…they were all so photogenic and every last one of them seemed genuinely happy to be out in the heat getting their picture taken. Amazing! 
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Complete
Posted on March 28, 2013
Someone said to me the other day…I was looking around on your site…
She was being kind but all I could think of was my poor neglected blog! I make no promises, but I hope to put posting here back on my radar. Because really…what fun it a blog that never gets updated??
Happy Thursday (that feels like a Friday, but thankfully its not)!
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Tony & Renee ~ Married!
Posted on February 27, 2013
The long-awaited, much-anticipated day finally arrived for Tony and Renee. In their hearts they’ve known they were meant for each other, and on Saturday they got to declare that before friends, family and God.
It was a lovely winter day, complete with snow, just as they had hoped. Tony and Renee share a love for winter and so they embraced everything about it. Renee did an incredible job making it all come together and there were personal touches at every turn. Much love and time was put into making all the details tell their story.
The only bad news of the day was that one of Renee’s bridesmaids didn’t show up. The good news is she was in the hospital giving birth to a perfect baby boy! :)
Much laughter, some tears and so much love filled the day….what an honor it was to be the one to capture it all.
Congratulations, Tony and Renee! Hope Vegas is treating you well!
They were married at St. Bridget’s in Manchester.
From there, we went to Center Springs Park in Manchester to take advantage of the snow. They possibly get the Most Compliant, Hardiest Wedding Party Award….they trekked to our spot in cold, slippery, wet conditions.
Renee was absolutely stunning…she looked as though she were from a dream world.
From there we went to City Hall in Hartford to stay warm and dry.
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Photo Challenge {Week 6}
Posted on February 16, 2013
I’m a little behind this week…I know you’ve been anxiously waiting! :)
This week’s theme is A Few of My Favorite Things
Earlier, my husband and I had been going through some of my old blog posts. One picture struck me…
I took the picture because my baby was less than a week old and already there were THREE sets of shoes in the middle of the kitchen floor. But looking back, made me wish I could have those shoes back in the middle of the kitchen floor. But time has moved, kids have grown, and those shoes no longer fit. I realized, not for the first time but anew, that there will soon be a day when I can pick up the floors and they’ll stay that way. There will be a day when the house will stay as clean as I desire it to be. And I’ll be sad. :)
So, in light of this most recent reminiscing, I am posting a few of my favorite things that I was able to find in two minutes of wandering around the house….I’m going to miss these days when they’re gone.
Fast food toy on the kitchen floor after being played with for hours. No kids will equal NO fast food. Ever.
Kid-towels tossed carelessly on the bathroom floor just inches from their rightful place on the towel rack.
Backpack, presumably dropped right where the owner was standing in the living room. Without intervention, it would stay there for the long weekend.
Yes…these are a few of my favorite things, left by a few of my favorite people. :)
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Photo Challenge {Week 5}
Posted on February 6, 2013
I loved the theme RED this week. I think red is just an extra special color…most of the holidays use it, our country uses it, its just good. Here’s a very small sampling of the red I saw this week.
My kids were in the car with me when I stopped at the hot dog stand and I think they were truly worried that their mother had finally lost it. No matter what questions they asked, they just couldn’t make sense of it. And THAT, is one of the things I love about photography. People see things differently, and we get to share the beauty we see in otherwise overlooked places.
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Photo Challenge {Week 4}
Posted on January 30, 2013
Week 4: Wildlife
This first one was taken this week (my self-imposed rule) outside my kitchen window.
This was last fall while on a bike ride with my dad in the early morning hours.
And this one’s just for fun….wild + life 
The swan, like the soul of the poet, by the dull world is ill understood.
~Heinrich Heine
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Photo Challenge {Week 3}
Posted on January 23, 2013
Its cold and everything is frozen! I saw these beautiful icicles while walking my girls home from school.
Week 3: Panoramic
Glistening, gleaming sharp and clear
They form on objects overnight
Growing as the day goes by
And sparkling in the light.
Dazzling diamonds on the eaves
Pointing toward the snowy ground
Sharp and cold, they linger on
Where icy winds abound
Water drips from icy spikes
Threatening, nature’s spear
And silently they melt away
And finally disappear
~Leena Gonya
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The Magic Secret
Posted on January 22, 2013
With my half marathon training in progress and my sights set on a full marathon this year, I have become obsessed increased my reading on the subject. There are countless stories of tough people doing hard work.
This one’s a bit lengthy, but incredibly inspiring, and can apply to so many areas of life, not just running. It also includes some great quotes, so…bonus! One thing the writer doesn’t mention here that I think adds to the story is that she has 12 children at home. Yes, twelve!
This time of year everyone is writing posts on reviewing their past year, setting goals for the new year, and how to make and keep resolutions. I am not quite ready to review 2012 since it isn’t over yet and time goes by way too fast as it is, but that post will be coming soon.
For now I do have some very real advice for people who want to make changes in 2013 to their life style, who want to lose weight, who want to get faster at running, who are setting a big goal, who want to chase after a dream, or who want to make any big, positive change in their life.
I am not going to make bullet points or give you “ten simple ways” to stick to your goal or resolution.
I am going to be honest with you and give it to you straight.
The only way to make a change that lasts… the only way to lose weight… the only way to get faster… the only way to achieve anything big…is to work hard. Anyone promising anything else is selling something, or missing the point.
We live in a society where hard work is often looked at as something bad and something to be avoided at all costs. People decide they want something, then realize it will take a whole lot of work to get it, and then decide they don’t really want it that bad. People decide they are going to lose weight or start running or whatever, and work at it for a few days or a few weeks and then realize that it is HARD and that progress is slow, and they give up.
There is no easy way. There is no magic pill, magic shake, magic cleanse, magic diet, magic training plan, or magic anything else. The magic is the hard work, dedication and heart you are willing to put in, day in and day out. The magic is the time, not just a few days or a few weeks, but extended periods of time, you are willing to stay committed. The magic is what you are willing to invest in yourself, and how bad you want what you say you want. The magic is hard work.
Four years ago today, I changed my life. Literally.
Four years ago today, a Wii Fit told me I was obese. Four years ago today, I decided I was DONE being obese. I was done feeling sorry for myself. I was done feeling sad and insecure. I was done feeling fat and out of shape and unattractive. I was done feeling weak both mentally and physically. I was done being less than I could and should be. I was done putting myself at the bottom of my own priority list. I was done taking care of everyone but myself. I was done wasting the talents and dreams that my Heavenly Father gave me.
Four years ago today, I was 80lbs heavier and I had never run a mile. I had no idea how much weight I would lose or that I was going to become a runner, never mind a marathoner. All I knew is that I was ready for a change, and ready to put in the work.
Every day I had to work hard to make good eating choices. Every day I had to work hard to build new habits to replace years of old (bad) ones. Every day I had to force myself out of bed early. Every day I pushed myself through exercises that made me feel fat, out of shape, and very un-athletic.
Progress was SLOW. I averaged six pounds of weight loss a month. But I did not get discouraged. I did not give up. I found that it felt good to work hard, and even the slow progress fueled my drive.
As the pounds came off and new habits formed, I found that along with the new habits I had new confidence, new strength, new outlooks, renewed happiness, renewed patience, and new dreams.
Now that I have dreamed the dream and set the goal to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials, I remind myself often that the “magic” is daily hard work. It is the 22 milers on the treadmill when the roads are covered in ice, it is the 10x800m repeats alone on a track in the dark before sunrise, it is getting out of bed every morning while the rest of the house sleeps, it is getting all my runs in – no excuses, it is not slacking on my core and strength work, it is not letting negative/hurtful people or setbacks get me down, it is consistent hard work, every single day.
Four years ago I truly could not run even a single mile at any pace. Now a sub-3 hour marathon in 2013 is the (very realistic) plan, and a stepping stone to a bigger goal and dream. I recently had to buy myself new jeans because none of mine fit. My new jeans are a size 0. Seriously. I keep looking at the tags in disbelief. Four years ago today, I wore a size 20. I don’t say this to brag in any way, but to show that hard work and commitment are worth it if you really want something.
Whatever your resolution, goal, dream, or plan is for 2013, do yourself a favor and find the magic to make it happen inside of yourself. Embrace the hard work. Believe in yourself and care about yourself enough to put in the hard work. Remember, it is supposed to be hard. Be willing to put in the work to go after your dreams and to make your reality what you want it to be. That is the secret. That is the magic.
“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Colin Powell
“The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.” – Thomas A. Edison
“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” – Gail Devers
“Once you have commitment, you need the discipline and hard work to get you there.” – Haile Gebreselassie
“Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.” – Helena Rubinstein
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth
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Photo Challenge {Week 2}
Posted on January 17, 2013
Not so much now in the dead of winter, but in milder weather, I love to sit on my rocking porch bench. Its a good reading spot and is big enough to fit a couple people.
Week 2: Leading lines
Draw a line. Write a line. There.
Stay in line, hold the line, a glance
between the lines is fine but don’t
turn corners, cross, cut in, go over
or out, between two points of no
return’s a line of flight, between
two points of view’s a line of vision.
But a line of thought is rarely
straight, an open line’s no party
line, however fine your point.
A line of fire communicates, but drop
your weapons and drop your line,
consider the shortest distance from x
to y, let x be me, let y be you.
~Martha Collins
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