. . .And I was just taking pictures of the picnic. . .

I have always, as long as I can remember, loved to take pictures. My first camera was a hand-me-down Polaroid Instant Camera, the kind you used to have to buy the film and the flashbulb-bars for (it was the early 80's--probably purchase in the late 70's). I wore the thing out, until it didn't work anymore.

I progressed from there, using little 110 cameras, then 35mm cameras. Thing about all these is, you never knew if the picture would turn out blurry, or if you cut somebody's head off, or what. And you only had so many pictures you could take--12, 24, 36, blah blah blah.

I received my first digital camera for Christmas in 2005, a little Kodak EasyShare. I loved that thing. I loved being able to take pictures, erase them, having more space on the disk. . .I loved it. Then last July, I got a FujiFilm camera for my birthday. It's an awesome camera, if you're a "professional amateur" photographer. I have gotten some fabulous shots with it, including pictures of Tom Jones when my sister and I went to see him this past March. I've taken really nice pictures of my nieces, places in downtown Charleston, when I went to Orlando in May. . .it's has been an indisposable piece of equipment.

I took pictures of the picnic my church had today. Shortly after I arrived with my mom (a while before many of the others arrived), I took out my camera and my tripod, wanting to get some good photographs of the fun we were going to have. Pastor sees this and comes over to where I was. "How would you like to be the church's official photographer?. . ." He goes into how I can do all of the camerawork for the special events and services we have at the church, and they'll take care of the cost of developing the pictures and they'll get me an extra XD card and all. I'm standing there going (in my head) Wow, I get to do something officially for my church! I got all excited and everything because it's an awesome responsibility to have.

All I was doing is taking some pictures. . . :)

I'm turning 27 on Friday

It's 6:01 PM on June 30. I have someplace to be tomorrow. My birthday is Friday, Independence Day, July 4. I have many things going through my head. I miss Haylee and Sheila. I need to create. I have to go put gas in my car. And if I sit and think long enough, I think to myself, I need to make my life more interesting.

How does one make her life more interesting?

I could keep up with my blog, for one thing :)

I could keep up with my artwork. I did two paintings last week. Paintings, not oil pastel drawings. I haven't painted in the longest time. Not since before Molly passed away.

I got a haircut. I like it. It makes me feel different. Apparently it gave me a boost of confidence, as well. Because other people noticed too. Male people. :-D. And when I say it made me feel different, I mean. . .different like. . .a new person. A different personality. I don't know.

Much has happened over the last year. I wish I could forget but I can't. People have passed. People have left, beyond the control of myself or them. If I could, I'd bring them back. But I can't. More people are leaving me.

Oh Lord. I didn't intend for this to sound melancholy, really I didn't. It was supposed to be somewhat reflective and introverted.

And I still haven't many ideas as how to make my life more interesting.

*Ha. Try to become a vegetarian. . . it'd never happen. . .*

*But I could try to eat healthier.*

Great. Now I have to go to Wal-Mart. For the third time today.

You're a WINNER!!

Thank you, Dot!

It's hard to describe my friendship with Dot. We are different but have things in common.

There is an age difference, but neither one of us recognize it (I think). She is married with 4 children (she has got THE smartest, most well behaved children I've ever met!) while I am single and, therefore, childless (in due time, Lord, I know; it's all good, no doubt). We're both Christian women, and can talk to each other about pretty much anything.

I believe that things happen for a reason and, while I'm not the most super of Mary Kay beauty consultants, God put me there to meet the people I know now, especially Dot. She has a dynamic personality, a kind caring spirit, a great sense of humor. . .I could go on and on. For the past (almost) 2 years I have been blessed enough to have her as one of my very best friends. When I watch baby Mia for her (and even sometimes Mo, Ry, and Dani too) she always tells me how much she appreciates me.

I'm not sure she knows how much I appreciate her. . . because she's always there to listen when I'm having a hard time of things. . .like when I had to let my Molly-dog go. . .or like today, when I was having *yet another* migraine headache. Momma Dot indeed. . .she made me eat. I needed protein, she said. Yummy turkey chili, a salad, bread, and grapes. She doesn't know what simply being around her means to me. I hope someday that I can be as good a mom, a wife, and as kind of a person as Dot is. Because if I can affect one person like Dot has affected me, it would all be worth it.

Because before I met Dot, her husband Dale, and their kids, I didn't know that people this kind existed. I knew kindness, but not on that level. I really appreciate you guys. . .you don't know how much I'm going to miss you when you leave for Guam! Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives. . .being there when Mia was born. . .witnessing the crazy, fun, day to day life of your family. I am blessed to have been a part of it.

Illustration Friday: "Plain"

Illustration Friday: "Stitch"

Headaches

So. I got a major migraine on Friday morning. I managed to make it to the gym, and execute my workout. It didn't get really bad until Friday night, and it stuck around until last night. It really makes me mad because I wanted to do all this painting and I was in too much pain. I've suffered from migraines since I was about 8 years old. It hurt really bad, last night, but it still wasn't the worst one I had. And let me tell you. I really believe in the power of prayer. Because last night, when the headache was at its worst, I was sitting up crying, rocking back and forth, all I could say was "Jesus, please!" And after a couple of minutes, the pain went away, and I got really sleepy. Now I know there are skeptics out there (seriously I had not taken any medication since about, oh, four yesterday afternoon; this was one in the morning) and I never try to shove God (Jesus, religion, whatever you want to call it) down anyone's throat. But this is what happened. Make of it what you will.