These are a few pictures I got to take of some good friends of mine that are expecting in July!  It was a lot of fun.  They are great and I wish them the best!

Cute Pregnant Girl!

Beautiful Dawn.

The Mama and Papa to be!

I love the colors in this one :)

One of my favorite places I’ve visited - Check out the Market Place!

One of the main entrances - It was so fun.

Farmers Market

Fruits and Veggies

All the colors were beautiful

We totally wanted to buy these but didn’t think they’d let us carry it on the plane home… especially since they always confiscate my water when I go through security :)

My favorite. Boquets of tulips!

This is my niece Teaghan Kyrie aka “Tiki”.  She is one joyous chunk of joy!

Looking off our deck in Ephraim, WI.  The frozen, snow covered waves.

My footprints from exploring the frozen waves.

The tree David and I cut down from the forrest.  It was so beautiful and cozy.

My handsome husband with our cute little niece.

My husband and I often have conversations about wanting to start working out on a more regular basis.  We get all inspired and we get all pumped up.  It happens for maybe a week and then we tinker off to about once a month, if that… I know.  Sad.  We laugh at ourselves.

I thought I’d let you in on our newest, inspired and pumped up idea!  Haha.  I was saying that I’d like to go workout at the gym at least 3 times a week.  Somehow the conversation turned hard core (not too surprising when you are married to David) and it was, “let’s go everyday for 30 days!”  So - this is our new goal.  We just finished day 3 today.  I’m sore but it’s awesome :)

Here’s the calender I made for us that we have hanging on our frig.  I’ll keep you guys updated! hehe.

My husband David took this picture when we were up in Wisconsin.  I love it.  I feel like it has a haunting beauty to it.

The other day I started a casual conversation with a girl from work and it lead into talking about kids, pregnancy and c-sections.  She briefly mentioned she had her first c-section because of an emergency and lost the baby.  I could tell she was trying to keep the casual conversation tone, but even as she glanced down I could see the pain in her face and the slight tear in her eye.  The moment didn’t last long, she was able to shake it off but I saw it.  I saw her pain.

That moment really affected me.  It reminded me that so many people walk around with pain and tears inside.  And everyone deals with there pain differently.  Being quiet, angry, loud, crazy, shut down…

The next time someone treats me rudely or wrong, blows up at me, acts insecure, is very quiet - I hope I remember to give them grace, I hope I don’t judge too quickly, and I hope I don’t take it personally. Remembering that each person has walked their own journey, has probably experienced great pain or will, and has their own set of insecurities and fears.

There is something VERY wrong with this story: 
Wal-Mart Worker Dies When Shoppers Break Down Doors

Now, I’m not all anti-shopping the day after thanksgiving… I’ve gone a few times.  Yet, the more I think about it, it does seem sad that the day after thanksgiving, the day we are to be thankful, remembering all that we are blessed with - we have black friday.  A day of get, get, get and want, want, want.  Seems a bit ironic doesn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong cause I love to shop but I am rethinking this whole black friday shopping day.  I’m certianly not judging you if you do go.  And I can’t say I’ll never go again, but when I think about it in my heart of hearts, I can’t help but feel that I may not be going in the future.  I had such a fun day with the family, playing games and hanging out at home - who knows, maybe this will become my family’s tradition.

What are your thoughts and feelings about black friday?

If I were’nt allergic I think we’d probalby have a dog.  But… since we can’t, we decided on a whim to go pick up our first pet as a married couple.  Haha.  And here he is!  Bubbly!!  It was between him and a bright yellow one. He won cause he made us laugh with his humongo eyes.  I like this picture cause it’s totally him with his big round eyes, and it looks like he is frowning.  I dont’ think he liked the plastic bag… or us.  But hopefully the bag :)

I saw these mailboxes the other day and really liked them so David and I went back today to snap a picture.

Long wheat looking things that were at the rock gargen.

This tree is at harmon park.  It’s beautiful.  They planted it in honor of my Dad.

The ground at harmon park.