sorta like santa

I've been thinking of Christmas,
as I look around the living room,

Alice + Olivia Fall 2012 RTW

at all the decorations, people throughout my life,
have given me, and what each one means.

Left: Alexis Mabille Fall 2012 RTW
Right: Victoria Beckham Fall 2012 RTW

Those gifts from people I used to work with, 

Cacharel Fall 2012 RTW

gifts from parents whose children I once took care of,
 

me and my husband in front of our old house
December 2006

gifts from my friends,
 that they bought or made for me.

My nephew, Speed Racer eating ice.
It's one of his favorite things.
Notice his Stormtrooper cup, and his favorite yellow helicopter,
that his daddy gave him.

We used the tripod and self timer.

I look at the Christmas ornament from my dad,
 the year of the accident.
Gifts from him are few, and far between.

My nephew Baby JJ,
 and my twin nieces Lil Bug, and EJ

My husband hamming it up. ;)

My art journal page

My guy painted our front window.
He also made the green heart shutters and window boxes.
In front of our old house
December 2006

I look at  the wooden bear ornaments, my mom painted. I remember when my guy hung them from our lace curtains, in our bedroom, when I was sick in bed.

That's my idea of romance.
He knows how to cheer me up.
He still surprises me.
He still makes me smile.

of birds and baby blue

..."You have to see this close your eyes!"...

...I do and there is so much beauty framed within... that I gasp...(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Cacharel Fall 2012 RTW

The giant red arrow, lighted now and blinking, shoots through the a sky that vibrates with colors shimmering and bouncing like aurora borealis...
(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Photos taken by my guy in September 2012

Compared to this every other sunset I've ever seen seems painted on. These colors-swimming pool aqua, pomegranate ruby, neon green- go all the way through like stained glass...
(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Left: Victoria Beckham Fall 2012 RTW
Right: Vionnet Fall 2012 RTW

..."Do you like the sunset I ordered for you?"...

...We watch the colors fade to deep shadowy tones...
(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Sky photo taken by my guy in September 2012

...Like we are alone together in a submarine on the bottom of the ocean with a view of a world that has been hidden from me until this moment...
(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Me in Autumn 2006 

...Soon the bright plumes becomes an indistinct fuzz, like the down of all baby baby birds...
(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Sky photo taken by my guy in September 2012

... I walked into the great room and wondered why I had stopped allowing myself to appreciate the glorious light streaming in...
(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird)

Me at the park in 2006

...watched a milky way of dust motes that float through the  radiance. Each particle was so precious and perfect...

(words from The Gap Year by Sarah Bird )

The Gap Year by Sarah Bird

..."You'll be the best mother you know how to be.
 Just like your mother was the best mother she knew how to be and wasn't always.
 Just like you won't always be. So forgive her...

Forgive your mother, forgive everyone, but most of all, forgive yourself. Okay sweetie?"...

My art journal page written in October 2012

It rained all weekend, but started getting sunny yesterday, all sun, all today. I saw a large bird flying through the sky, with a large wingspan.

 I asked J, "What kind of bird is that?"
But he didn't see it.

He: "It might be a vulture."
Me: "You're joking."

He: "They have vultures at my work."

Me: "Eww. Really? You don't hear that in Utah.
 Look there's a vulture."

Instead it's,
 Look there's a seagull, 
or a blue jay, or a robin redbreast.