{patience}

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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
{Ralph Waldo Emerson}

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{courage and growth}

There are big {huge!} changes happening in my life right now...I won't share all the details but I am putting my word for the year {listen} into practice...I am listening to myself for once instead of everyone else. I have taken the courageous {although, I'm still scared!} leap to grow up and become who I really am. I am moving towards the expectations and goals that *I* have for myself instead of the expectations of others that I have felt that I had to live up to and create my life around. 

All of this change has been stressful, sometimes hearbreaking, confusing, liberating, and cleasing all at once...basically I'm living a day-by-day and minute-by-minute existence right now. This has allowed me to live "in the moment" for once and actually be present in my own life. Big things are happening and I'm believing and trusting that it's all for the good! 

{reverie}

Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.

{Henry Wadsworth Longfellow}

{double birthdays}

Two of our kiddos have their birthdays a week apart...they were big birthdays this year as well!

Hailey turned 5, or "a whole hand" as we say around here:)

Jake turned 10, or "double digits" and is now officially a "big kid".

My, how they grow up so quickly!

{new art in the works}

I have started a new piece of art. It is a gift for a friend and it is very different from what I normally do. 

Assuming I am successful, this little guy will be a crested crane, the national bird of the Republic of Uganda.

I am excited to start filling in the details and watch this guy come to life....

{snapshots of spring}

Spring is my favorite time of the year! I have tried to slow down enough to notice all of the changes happening and to take in their beauty.

These are the rain-kissed blossoms on my blueberry bushes.

The beautiful display gardens at Roozengaarde tulip farm.

My lilac bushes...

and my sun-shiney daffodils...

beautiful snowy white blossoms at our local Mc Donald's...

and more tulips everywhere I turn!

I hope you are taking the time to slow down and enjoy Spring!

{Photoshoots in the tulips}

April was a super busy month for me and May is proving to be as well!

I did manage to do 2 family photo shoots at Roozengaarde tulip display gardens. All of these photos are courtesy of them.

Here are some of the highlights from The D. Family...this whole family is so photogenic and little Miss R. was in such a good mood that this shoot was a breeze:)

And here are some highlights from The R. Family...Little Man here is 3 mos. old and he's such a cutie pie! He cooperated very well and Mom and Dad were very sweet. I'm so happy with how these turned out!

I just *love* the tulip festival here in Skagit County. I am already looking forward to next year!