I totally forgot to tell you something cool that happened yesterday! I had a senior shoot at 9 am at a creek, I left there at 11, went and ran some errands, and around 11:45, this butterfly made it’s presence known by hopping on my steering wheel! This lovely is called a Tawny Emperor, and I realized that the only way this got in my car was while I had the back open loading up gear at the creek.

I felt bad for taking this little guy so far from his home. I had more errands to run, and I wasn’t going back near the creek anytime soon, so I decided to take this cutie somewhere close by.

So I decided to drive down Bridge Street, from Shawnee Lanes to Triple Crown, with the Tawny Emperor on my finger. We had a good vibe flowing, me telling it that I would get it back to a more normal habitat near trees and water, it staying and listening, trusting what I had to say. So, me, Bill and the Emperor went on down the road.

I had to have Bill put the car in park for me, and release my seatbelt, as my right hand was occupied with the butterfly. We got our of the car, and I went to put my new friend on a lovely tree. At first, it was hesitant and didn’t want to go, but once it did, I started to walk away and then the butterfly flew crazy around my head for a a few seconds before flying away.

Ironically, almost 5 years ago today I had a Monarch butterfly stay on my hand for several minutes too. I rescued it from the cat, and while it wasn’t injured, it seemed content to stay on my hand while I shared a vibe with it too. So what’s the point of this post? Find the spark of life in everything, and the sparks will find you.

Listen y’all, I am wrapped up in photos and editing. Nothing to see or read here today, but this is another snippet of where I was today…

Maybe tomorrow I will have more to say, but I find it doubtful. Oh well!

Almost missed today’s post! Oof!

I have been working quite a bit lately, have another Senior Shoot in the morning. I am really excited as I am going somewhere new, doing a few new things, and yet, with someone I have know a long time! I am excited every time I have a shoot, and this one holds some new, promising possibilities!

This may play a prominent role in my shoot tomorrow. I am so freaking excited! Those colors may play a big part too! Stay tuned to see what’s involved!

Just going to leave these here…as I am waiting for Fall. Sigh.

I got a back to class picture from Avery today! In no time, she will be done with college, but until then, we’ll enjoy the random outfit of the day photos, outfit for special occasions photos and just living life outfit photos! It is so hard to believe that she is a junior in college!

I read a great plan in one of my Bible plans today, it perfectly sums up what I believe and what I have tried to pass along to my family and friends. I am not very good at conveying this thought some days, so I thought I share it here, with you. Freedom is the cause of obedience, obedience is the desired trait for us to be good stewards, and to be good stewards, we must realize the value of choice and consequence, and their direct correlations. If we are free to choose, we must take the responsibility greatly, but not to the point of giving our freedom away…it ceases being choice then.

Today’s choices produce tomorrow’s results. And when we are free to choose, we find ourselves more disciplined, more obedient and full of love for others. Are you free, or are you obedient hoping to be free? Drop me a line, I would happily talk to you about this!

We took a walk, down by a creek today, it was overcast, hazy, and humid. The creek bed was oh so dry though, even with a good rain last night. Sure the picture below shows you a fairly full creek, but that is not the entire picture, as is often the case in life.

We see something so lush and brimming with life, and assume that is the whole picture. What lies underneath, what lies behind? Is this the low point, or the high point we are seeing, and is that based on the water or the creek bed bottom?

How about the roots, do these signify life, or death? How are these roots nourished, or Arlene they even getting anything? How is that tree standing without anything right under it? This walk in the creek bed was seriously fascinating, and thought provoking.

We came across an animal’s remains. What was it? How long had it been here? Did it wash up here when the creek was full, or did it die here when the creek was dry? I really don’t know, but odds are it was a raccoon or possum, then again, I can’t rightly say. I said a little prayer for it regardless.

What do we know about what we see? What determinations do we make with the information given? What opinions do we hold, or form due to the surface? Such a reflective sort of day. What are you reflecting on today, drop me a line, I would love to know.

So, I have vertigo. I kept waiting for it to go away completely as it had gotten better, but it became a little more persistent this week as I went back to yoga. Luckily Bill’s doctor had a cancellation on Friday at 8am, I am so thankful for that! He was proficient, efficient, and hopefully it goes away for good! If you see me staggering about, not hearing you and digging at my ear, don’t mind me, it’s just vertigo.

Ironically, the person that answered the doctor’s line when I called for an appointment, is a friend. We usually have a minor chat exchanging niceties, and because I can’t hear, I had it on speaker, so Bill heard her say her son was looking for a job. He has known her son for a long time, knows that he is a hard worker and had me tell her to have her son send his resume to Bill. Will this result in a job? I don’t know, maybe? More importantly, if it doesn’t, it will at least give him the opportunity to interview with a great company, learn from his experience and bolster him in his job search. I will keep you posted, so there you go!

I have seen so many people posting about their kids going back to school, and taking them back to college. A friend mentioned something important in her post today, we have to let them go to fly, I do agree. Last year, Avery did a cross country trip from California back to Oxford, not requiring us to take her back or set her up, even though we did go drop some items off and to hug her after her trip. This year, she went back by herself, again, and sent us pics of her room set up. Avery is a Resident Advisor(RA) again this year, we are very proud of the independence she displays and possesses, and we know that will serve her extremely well in life. Adding to what my friend said, we have to trust that we did a good job, we have to let our kids find their own ways, and we have to watch them fly off, away from the nest. It is hard, but we have to let go.

Lots of messages with GO here lately on my blog…and no it isn’t coincidence. It is time for not just myself to hit the gas pedal, but many others too. Are you in go mode, or do you have some clearing, resting, or thinking to do? Drop me a line, I would love to know!

Nothing says back to school better than Football Friday Nights! The Chillicothe Cavaliers kick off their 2022 season with an away game, being hosted by the Teays Valley Vikings. The joy of weather change is witnessed with Friday night games, it starts off hot, gets cooler through the nights, and over the course of the season, it gets even chillier and chillier. YEAH BOY, speaking my language!!!

Good luck to both teams tonight, and to all of the athletes, coaches and staff, respectively, that have games tonight. GO CAVS!!!💙💙💙

Ooooohhhhweeee!!! Last first day of school for Brooke today!! The journey has gone super fast, there have been so many amazing educators along the way, lots of friends made, lots of memories had. You have come a long way Brooke, this chapter almost done, but so much journeying still to be had!

Brooke, we love you very much, we are so super proud of you, and we hope you have an amazing senior year of high school! Wishing a great year to students, teachers, administrators, faculty, and all guardians/parents!