there are actually two sides to every question.
- protagoras
post-op, day 1.
poor steve.
the worst part is turning out to be the swelling. and he can't open his mouth very much. he still has quite a bit of pain; however, the pain is being controlled with the pain meds. the MD told me that day two or three would be the worst as far as swelling goes. we're hoping the swelling doesn't get much worse. so all in all, steve is doing pretty well...plugging right along and hoping tomorrow is a better day.
- protagoras
post-op, day 1.
poor steve.
the worst part is turning out to be the swelling. and he can't open his mouth very much. he still has quite a bit of pain; however, the pain is being controlled with the pain meds. the MD told me that day two or three would be the worst as far as swelling goes. we're hoping the swelling doesn't get much worse. so all in all, steve is doing pretty well...plugging right along and hoping tomorrow is a better day.
over the years, she filled herself with the best the world could offer,
but she still kept a little place open for frozen peas.
- storypeople
over the past few days, we've been putting our frozen peas to good use.
steve's surgery was yesterday, scheduled for 8:45 AM. max's birthday party was yesterday, 10 AM - 1 PM. i had told max's parents that i wasn't going to be able to shoot max's party, due to steve having surgery on the same day. then i read that max wasn't doing well; his neuroblastoma blood indicators continue to go up and they are losing their battle again neuroblastoma. hearing max's parents say this ripped at my heart. they are always so positive and hopeful and while they continue to hold on to hope, reality is also sitting at their table. so i talked to steve about everything and asked him how he felt about me leaving the hospital once he was in surgery and returning when he was in recovery. he said it was okay. even though he said it was okay, i felt bad (i didn't want him to think i didn't care about him) and told him that i would ask a friend if she could shoot max's party. steve said, no...for me to do it b/c what was i going to do but sit there, while he was in surgery.
so, we arrived at the hospital yesterday at 7:30 for the scheduled 8:45 AM surgery. got bummed an hour for a surgery that came through the ER. then got bumped again. i ended up leaving at 11 AM, before steve actually went into surgery. he ended up not getting taken back to the OR until 12:45.
timing actually worked out for the best and i was able to photograph max's main birthday events and get back to steve before he came out of surgery.
everything went well with steve's surgery. they went through his mouth and placed an L-shaped plate and four screws on his zygomatic arch bone (the one that you feel below your eye). all the other fractured bones were not displaced and will heal on their own. steve is currently in a lot of pain (although the pain meds are working pretty well) and very, very swollen. he can't open his mouth very wide and he can only eat really soft foods (lots of jamba juice). he's also using frozen vegetables on his face (an improvised soft ice pack), to help with the swelling. one time he grabbed frozen onions and i told him he can't use onions b/c when they start to thaw, he's going to smell like a big onion head. she's now sticking with frozen peas and corn :-)
so while things are beginning to normalize, i'm now playing catch up with things (voice mails, emails, editing...life).
and very thankful everything worked out...
my mom is doing well, with no residual effects from the stroke.
steve's surgery went well and hopefully after a week of recovery, he will be back to himself. (yes, if all heals like it should, he's going to iraq in 2 weeks.)
i was able to capture max's 7th birthday party after all. happy birthday buddy!
but she still kept a little place open for frozen peas.
- storypeople
over the past few days, we've been putting our frozen peas to good use.
steve's surgery was yesterday, scheduled for 8:45 AM. max's birthday party was yesterday, 10 AM - 1 PM. i had told max's parents that i wasn't going to be able to shoot max's party, due to steve having surgery on the same day. then i read that max wasn't doing well; his neuroblastoma blood indicators continue to go up and they are losing their battle again neuroblastoma. hearing max's parents say this ripped at my heart. they are always so positive and hopeful and while they continue to hold on to hope, reality is also sitting at their table. so i talked to steve about everything and asked him how he felt about me leaving the hospital once he was in surgery and returning when he was in recovery. he said it was okay. even though he said it was okay, i felt bad (i didn't want him to think i didn't care about him) and told him that i would ask a friend if she could shoot max's party. steve said, no...for me to do it b/c what was i going to do but sit there, while he was in surgery.
so, we arrived at the hospital yesterday at 7:30 for the scheduled 8:45 AM surgery. got bummed an hour for a surgery that came through the ER. then got bumped again. i ended up leaving at 11 AM, before steve actually went into surgery. he ended up not getting taken back to the OR until 12:45.
timing actually worked out for the best and i was able to photograph max's main birthday events and get back to steve before he came out of surgery.
everything went well with steve's surgery. they went through his mouth and placed an L-shaped plate and four screws on his zygomatic arch bone (the one that you feel below your eye). all the other fractured bones were not displaced and will heal on their own. steve is currently in a lot of pain (although the pain meds are working pretty well) and very, very swollen. he can't open his mouth very wide and he can only eat really soft foods (lots of jamba juice). he's also using frozen vegetables on his face (an improvised soft ice pack), to help with the swelling. one time he grabbed frozen onions and i told him he can't use onions b/c when they start to thaw, he's going to smell like a big onion head. she's now sticking with frozen peas and corn :-)
so while things are beginning to normalize, i'm now playing catch up with things (voice mails, emails, editing...life).
and very thankful everything worked out...
my mom is doing well, with no residual effects from the stroke.
steve's surgery went well and hopefully after a week of recovery, he will be back to himself. (yes, if all heals like it should, he's going to iraq in 2 weeks.)
i was able to capture max's 7th birthday party after all. happy birthday buddy!
love heals all wounds.
- author unknown
and so we're smothering him with love!
hard to believe that steve has multiple broken facial bones in this photo (taken just a few minutes prior to this blog post). didn't go to the ER last night but we did go to an ear, nose and throat MD this afternoon and steve will be having surgery sunday morning for his multiple zygomatic arch fractures (the bone under his eye). he'll be having pins and plates put in to set the zygomatic bone back in place. the other bone fractures will actually just heal on their own.
all in all, steve has fractures of the left anterior and lateral walls of left maxillary sinus, a fracture of the posterolateral wall of left orbit and multiple fractures of zygomatic arch. considering all of that, he's doing really well. he does have some facial swelling, which actually hides the deformities of the zygomatic bone breaks, and he now has a bit of a black eye. he's taking some pain medication, which helps ease the pain.
we're so glad to have steve home and glad it wasn't any worse than it was. we've been having some really great time together and i'm so thankful for that.
of course, as long as the surgery goes well, he's cleared to go to iraq in three weeks (for three weeks) and then deploy to iraq (for 7 months) in october.
and thank you a million times over to those that have been there for my family and i over the past few days. i don't know if i can ever thank you enough!
- author unknown
and so we're smothering him with love!
hard to believe that steve has multiple broken facial bones in this photo (taken just a few minutes prior to this blog post). didn't go to the ER last night but we did go to an ear, nose and throat MD this afternoon and steve will be having surgery sunday morning for his multiple zygomatic arch fractures (the bone under his eye). he'll be having pins and plates put in to set the zygomatic bone back in place. the other bone fractures will actually just heal on their own.
all in all, steve has fractures of the left anterior and lateral walls of left maxillary sinus, a fracture of the posterolateral wall of left orbit and multiple fractures of zygomatic arch. considering all of that, he's doing really well. he does have some facial swelling, which actually hides the deformities of the zygomatic bone breaks, and he now has a bit of a black eye. he's taking some pain medication, which helps ease the pain.
we're so glad to have steve home and glad it wasn't any worse than it was. we've been having some really great time together and i'm so thankful for that.
of course, as long as the surgery goes well, he's cleared to go to iraq in three weeks (for three weeks) and then deploy to iraq (for 7 months) in october.
and thank you a million times over to those that have been there for my family and i over the past few days. i don't know if i can ever thank you enough!
some people walk in the rain...
other just get wet...
- roger miller
well, i'm getting pretty darn wet at the moment. i feel like it's raining and storming at times, right in front of my eyes...BUT i keep walking.
two days ago, my mom, who is 60, had a mini stroke. she's now back at home (in sacramento) and doing well, but it sure was quite a couple of days. then this morning, i got a call from steve. he's in kansas, doing some training with the army unit that he is going to deploy with, in october. well, during one of their breaks, they were playing football and as steve went to tackle the guy with the football, the guy moved and steve's face smashed into the guys head. steve has about five fractures of his left cheek bones and fracture fragments in his maxillary and orbital sinus cavities. he's flying home tonight and will hopefully see the local naval hospital's ear, nose and throat MD, in the morning. i'm not sure what's going to happen (surgery or what) but steve mentioned that he's in severe pain and he feels like his upper left teeth have shifted. he said that he looks fine and you can barely tell (on the outside) that anything is wrong, but he sure can feel it.
i'm worried about him but so thankful that he is okay. i'm hoping and praying that his flight home goes well and he is not in additional pain. they cleared him to fly home (in the pressurized cabin) and one other guy is traveling home with him, to make sure steve gets to san diego safely. through it all, i don't really feel stressed. i keep thinking how things could have been much worse and how lucky we really are. and then...i just am dealing with things as they come.
and funny enough, as i was typing this blog post, i hear kiele singing in the background, t's raining...it's pouring. the old man is snoring. i'm like...what? kiele, why are you singing that?. she didn't know i was writing this. well, it turned out that it was raining on her video game. how fitting it all was.
so signing off for now. more updates to come tomorrow, after steve (hopefully) sees ENT and we figure out what's really going on.
and again, thanks for all the wonderful emails. i am trying to email everyone back. if i haven't replied to you...i will soon ;-)
ETA: looks like we're going to the navy base ER tonight, to have steve evaluated here.
other just get wet...
- roger miller
well, i'm getting pretty darn wet at the moment. i feel like it's raining and storming at times, right in front of my eyes...BUT i keep walking.
two days ago, my mom, who is 60, had a mini stroke. she's now back at home (in sacramento) and doing well, but it sure was quite a couple of days. then this morning, i got a call from steve. he's in kansas, doing some training with the army unit that he is going to deploy with, in october. well, during one of their breaks, they were playing football and as steve went to tackle the guy with the football, the guy moved and steve's face smashed into the guys head. steve has about five fractures of his left cheek bones and fracture fragments in his maxillary and orbital sinus cavities. he's flying home tonight and will hopefully see the local naval hospital's ear, nose and throat MD, in the morning. i'm not sure what's going to happen (surgery or what) but steve mentioned that he's in severe pain and he feels like his upper left teeth have shifted. he said that he looks fine and you can barely tell (on the outside) that anything is wrong, but he sure can feel it.
i'm worried about him but so thankful that he is okay. i'm hoping and praying that his flight home goes well and he is not in additional pain. they cleared him to fly home (in the pressurized cabin) and one other guy is traveling home with him, to make sure steve gets to san diego safely. through it all, i don't really feel stressed. i keep thinking how things could have been much worse and how lucky we really are. and then...i just am dealing with things as they come.
and funny enough, as i was typing this blog post, i hear kiele singing in the background, t's raining...it's pouring. the old man is snoring. i'm like...what? kiele, why are you singing that?. she didn't know i was writing this. well, it turned out that it was raining on her video game. how fitting it all was.
so signing off for now. more updates to come tomorrow, after steve (hopefully) sees ENT and we figure out what's really going on.
and again, thanks for all the wonderful emails. i am trying to email everyone back. if i haven't replied to you...i will soon ;-)
ETA: looks like we're going to the navy base ER tonight, to have steve evaluated here.
clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too;
this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves.
- blaise pascal
seeking clarity, that's all.
and clarifying...
i and my photography are not going anywhere.
i had just taken on too much.
easing back on business a little.
i've been so busy.
so lucky...so blessed to be busy.
i'm still going to be shooting and hopefully lots.
for me.
doing what i love.
and getting things in order.
been trying to launch new website and blog for six months.
it's things like this that cloud my thoughts.
it's things like this that i must complete.
so i can have clarity.
so i can breathe.
freely.
so i can think.
freely.
this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves.
- blaise pascal
seeking clarity, that's all.
and clarifying...
i and my photography are not going anywhere.
i had just taken on too much.
easing back on business a little.
i've been so busy.
so lucky...so blessed to be busy.
i'm still going to be shooting and hopefully lots.
for me.
doing what i love.
and getting things in order.
been trying to launch new website and blog for six months.
it's things like this that cloud my thoughts.
it's things like this that i must complete.
so i can have clarity.
so i can breathe.
freely.
so i can think.
freely.
it is a heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.
it is a dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
it is the one who won't be taken who cannot seem to give.
and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.
- bette midler
doing a lot of philosophical pondering lately...
as first said a couple days ago by my amazing friend, steph beaty.
pondering about life.
about business.
there's a number of things that have led up to this, only some of which i'm willing to share right now. but i'm feeling a bit lost lately (and the cruise didn't help). wondering where photography has taken me. wondering where i want to go. don't get me wrong...i absolutely LOVE what i do through and through, but have i allowed photography to consume my life? believe it or not, it's easy to do, especially with my have to be the best, perfectionist, type-A personality. and having a family, a husband who is gone a ton...i can't let photography and a home business consume me. i just can't.
it's been 2 1/2 years now, since first starting photography, and i have yet to find the balance--the correct balance--of mother, wife, photographer and business owner. i'm doing them all well but feel that i'm not doing any of them as great as i'd like. i know others would say that that's b/c of my personality but i have to figure this all out.
i've decided to take somewhat of a break and take less sessions through the summer and see where things take me--as a wife...as a mother...as a photographer...as a business owner. i'm still going to shoot. just less business shooting. i think i owe it to my family. i think i owe it to myself.
i need to sit back and think.
and try...to figure it all out.
in saying all of that, i got the most wonderful email today that i'll share below. i truly believe that everything happens for a reason and well...this email couldn't have come at a better time.
Wow
I absolutely loved your work!
Your use of available light is beautiful,
There's something so peaceful in your images, that going through them was like some sort of... walking in the field experience...
:)
thanks L for taking the time to send this to me. it meant more than you know.
and thanks steph for being the most amazing and beautiful friend...for always being there for me and keeping me grounded. i appreciate your friendship more than you'll ever know. love ya pal.
ETA: again...i absolutely love photography and feel that it's what i was meant to do in life. sometimes i think i love photography too much ;) i just have to find the balance. and do a little soul searching. thanks for all the emails of support.
it is a dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
it is the one who won't be taken who cannot seem to give.
and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.
- bette midler
doing a lot of philosophical pondering lately...
as first said a couple days ago by my amazing friend, steph beaty.
pondering about life.
about business.
there's a number of things that have led up to this, only some of which i'm willing to share right now. but i'm feeling a bit lost lately (and the cruise didn't help). wondering where photography has taken me. wondering where i want to go. don't get me wrong...i absolutely LOVE what i do through and through, but have i allowed photography to consume my life? believe it or not, it's easy to do, especially with my have to be the best, perfectionist, type-A personality. and having a family, a husband who is gone a ton...i can't let photography and a home business consume me. i just can't.
it's been 2 1/2 years now, since first starting photography, and i have yet to find the balance--the correct balance--of mother, wife, photographer and business owner. i'm doing them all well but feel that i'm not doing any of them as great as i'd like. i know others would say that that's b/c of my personality but i have to figure this all out.
i've decided to take somewhat of a break and take less sessions through the summer and see where things take me--as a wife...as a mother...as a photographer...as a business owner. i'm still going to shoot. just less business shooting. i think i owe it to my family. i think i owe it to myself.
i need to sit back and think.
and try...to figure it all out.
in saying all of that, i got the most wonderful email today that i'll share below. i truly believe that everything happens for a reason and well...this email couldn't have come at a better time.
Wow
I absolutely loved your work!
Your use of available light is beautiful,
There's something so peaceful in your images, that going through them was like some sort of... walking in the field experience...
:)
thanks L for taking the time to send this to me. it meant more than you know.
and thanks steph for being the most amazing and beautiful friend...for always being there for me and keeping me grounded. i appreciate your friendship more than you'll ever know. love ya pal.
ETA: again...i absolutely love photography and feel that it's what i was meant to do in life. sometimes i think i love photography too much ;) i just have to find the balance. and do a little soul searching. thanks for all the emails of support.
once she told me she was an ocean person and when she combed her fingers through the seaweed she heard the songs of the mermaids and it was easy to believe all the old stories.
- storypeople
today, we become ocean people, for the next five days...
we're off on a cruise, 30 of us, in celebration of steve's parents' 25th anniversary and steve's dad's retirement from the airlines.
we're excited for this time together.
lots of fun in the sun.
time doing nothing.
lots of relaxing.
and hopefully even some songs of the mermaids.
back on thursday ;-)
- storypeople
today, we become ocean people, for the next five days...
we're off on a cruise, 30 of us, in celebration of steve's parents' 25th anniversary and steve's dad's retirement from the airlines.
we're excited for this time together.
lots of fun in the sun.
time doing nothing.
lots of relaxing.
and hopefully even some songs of the mermaids.
back on thursday ;-)
each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. and what do we teach our children?we teach them that two and two makes four, and that paris is the capital of france. when will we also teach them what they are? we should say to each of them: do you know what you are? you are a marvel. you are unique. in all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. you may become shakespeare, a michelangelo, a beethoven. you have the capacity for anything. yes, you are a marvel.
- pablo picasso
skyler and ryder's friend, miss m. i adore her. she is unique. she is her own girl, doing her own thing in this world...already. and today, at the end of the year preschool picnic, this is how miss m walked around. and you know what...i love that her mom lets her!
- pablo picasso
skyler and ryder's friend, miss m. i adore her. she is unique. she is her own girl, doing her own thing in this world...already. and today, at the end of the year preschool picnic, this is how miss m walked around. and you know what...i love that her mom lets her!
truly great friends are hard to find,
difficult to leave,
and impossible to forget.
- author unknown
being a military family, it's often it's hard to make local friends, especially friends that are non military...b/c they know we're most likely going to leave. and a truly great friend...yep, that's really hard to find--especially locally.
but, my dear friend leah...i actually think we may have been separated at birth. we don't look alike. but we sure think alike.
leah and i met on a photo sharing site b/c i saw a photo she posted of her house. i recognized it as an eichler and steve and i dream to one day live in an eichler home. shoot, we'd settle on an eichler wanna-be (modern) home. anyways, i emailed leah about her house and we chatted back and forth a bit. then we saw one another at a photography mixer a few weeks later but she had the twins, who were pretty young at the time, and we didn't get to talk much at all.
then...something brought us together, for dinner at her house. i can't remember what the specific occasion was (although i probably should) but we immediately bonded that day. and our relationship, our friendship, has just continued to grow. she gets me. and i get her. we live about 1 1/2 hours away so i don't get to see her as much as i'd like to but...i cherish every opportunity we do get to spend with one another.
last week, our families got together at leah's (i got to see peta too ;-). we hung out. ate. drank. shot. and laughed. a super fun night spent with family and friends.
thanks leah. for your friendship. for your support. for your trust. for your inspiration.
you are a friend that i will never, ever forget.
love ya pal!
here's some shots from our evening at leah's (her backyard is currently under a huge renovation but the kids didn't mind :-)
and this shot. a shot that i struggled with editing. why? b/c i look at it and it's not a perfect shot (in my eyes). and i'm a perfectionist. so then my mind battles itself and one side says to the other side, but look at the moment. remember how fun it was to see ben jump on the wall with that net on his face, as a mask...and all the little ones watching and giggling. remember? just edit the damn thing and screw your perfectionism for a moment. and so...the non-perfectionist side won. and i will always remember. and i will always love the shot...the moment...the memory.
difficult to leave,
and impossible to forget.
- author unknown
being a military family, it's often it's hard to make local friends, especially friends that are non military...b/c they know we're most likely going to leave. and a truly great friend...yep, that's really hard to find--especially locally.
but, my dear friend leah...i actually think we may have been separated at birth. we don't look alike. but we sure think alike.
leah and i met on a photo sharing site b/c i saw a photo she posted of her house. i recognized it as an eichler and steve and i dream to one day live in an eichler home. shoot, we'd settle on an eichler wanna-be (modern) home. anyways, i emailed leah about her house and we chatted back and forth a bit. then we saw one another at a photography mixer a few weeks later but she had the twins, who were pretty young at the time, and we didn't get to talk much at all.
then...something brought us together, for dinner at her house. i can't remember what the specific occasion was (although i probably should) but we immediately bonded that day. and our relationship, our friendship, has just continued to grow. she gets me. and i get her. we live about 1 1/2 hours away so i don't get to see her as much as i'd like to but...i cherish every opportunity we do get to spend with one another.
last week, our families got together at leah's (i got to see peta too ;-). we hung out. ate. drank. shot. and laughed. a super fun night spent with family and friends.
thanks leah. for your friendship. for your support. for your trust. for your inspiration.
you are a friend that i will never, ever forget.
love ya pal!
here's some shots from our evening at leah's (her backyard is currently under a huge renovation but the kids didn't mind :-)
and this shot. a shot that i struggled with editing. why? b/c i look at it and it's not a perfect shot (in my eyes). and i'm a perfectionist. so then my mind battles itself and one side says to the other side, but look at the moment. remember how fun it was to see ben jump on the wall with that net on his face, as a mask...and all the little ones watching and giggling. remember? just edit the damn thing and screw your perfectionism for a moment. and so...the non-perfectionist side won. and i will always remember. and i will always love the shot...the moment...the memory.
life, love and laughter - what priceless gifts to give our children.
- phylis campbell dryden
yesterday, i had the wonderful opportunity to photograph a family with nine children, all between the ages of 2 and 18, for military spouse magazine. and they were all super fun and well behaved. it's obvious that this family is so full of life, love and laughter. and the amazing thing is...mom is doing this while dad is deployed for 7 months or so. mom not only is doing this; she also blogs regular and does weekly podcasts on her mommy of many website. when i got home, steve said, makes three not seem so bad, huh?
the art director requested that the family photo be done in front of their house so i thought that we'd just load everyone in and around dad's truck. the other thing is that the photo had to be vertical. a family of 10 is tough to begin with...getting the shot vertical is that much more challenging.
needless to say, i'm not nearly done with their session but here's a couple others i love...
and an out take that makes me smile (the little one was sneaking up in the back of the truck, while i was photographing the older teens)...
- phylis campbell dryden
yesterday, i had the wonderful opportunity to photograph a family with nine children, all between the ages of 2 and 18, for military spouse magazine. and they were all super fun and well behaved. it's obvious that this family is so full of life, love and laughter. and the amazing thing is...mom is doing this while dad is deployed for 7 months or so. mom not only is doing this; she also blogs regular and does weekly podcasts on her mommy of many website. when i got home, steve said, makes three not seem so bad, huh?
the art director requested that the family photo be done in front of their house so i thought that we'd just load everyone in and around dad's truck. the other thing is that the photo had to be vertical. a family of 10 is tough to begin with...getting the shot vertical is that much more challenging.
needless to say, i'm not nearly done with their session but here's a couple others i love...
and an out take that makes me smile (the little one was sneaking up in the back of the truck, while i was photographing the older teens)...
wipe those tears away and be happy with today.
live life to the Max.
there is little time for tears when there is so much to be thankful about.
- melissa mikulak
i decided to post this on my regular blog b/c i feel that melissa's words are so powerful and inspiring and frankly, photographing max is so much of my life right now. actually, i feel that the mikulak family is beyond inspiring...words cannot express how amazing they are!
most of you probably know that i photograph, max, a 6 year old boy battling relapsed neuroblastoma, weekly. well yesterday was really tough for me and i still get teary thinking about it. max was in a wheelchair and having lots of pain. melissa shared with me that they believe the pain is due to a chemo medication (and not the disease) but it was so hard seeing max in so much pain, barely able to move his leg from one spot to another without the assistance of his hands.
when you think you're having a bad day, going through a bad time, whatever...
think about melissa's words and be happy with today!
i know i will.
please keep the mikulak family in your thoughts and prayers. this week is a big week for them as max is having a lot of tests and scans done. max's parents will keep us updated via max's regular blog.
you can see more weekly photos of max on our mashed potatoes for breakfast blog.
live life to the Max.
there is little time for tears when there is so much to be thankful about.
- melissa mikulak
i decided to post this on my regular blog b/c i feel that melissa's words are so powerful and inspiring and frankly, photographing max is so much of my life right now. actually, i feel that the mikulak family is beyond inspiring...words cannot express how amazing they are!
most of you probably know that i photograph, max, a 6 year old boy battling relapsed neuroblastoma, weekly. well yesterday was really tough for me and i still get teary thinking about it. max was in a wheelchair and having lots of pain. melissa shared with me that they believe the pain is due to a chemo medication (and not the disease) but it was so hard seeing max in so much pain, barely able to move his leg from one spot to another without the assistance of his hands.
when you think you're having a bad day, going through a bad time, whatever...
think about melissa's words and be happy with today!
i know i will.
please keep the mikulak family in your thoughts and prayers. this week is a big week for them as max is having a lot of tests and scans done. max's parents will keep us updated via max's regular blog.
you can see more weekly photos of max on our mashed potatoes for breakfast blog.
to the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world.
- brandi snyder
i received an email from a dear friend today...an email that i read on my iphone. i'm not one to read bulk forwarded emails. frankly, i just don't have the time for most of them and many times i delete the email before ever opening. well, today was different.
without a second thought, i opened the email and began to read. i thought it was interesting, but noticed it was rather long. i contemplated not finishing but the story kept me in and i continued. (and remember, on the iphone, the whole reading process takes a bit longer, at least it seems that way to me). by the end of the story, i had a lump in my throat. the email message is a powerful one. then i noticed that at the end of the story was a note...to me, from my friend laurie. i was surprised and continued reading. now, the lump was bigger and i was crying. i just couldn't believe the kind words that laurie wrote...and i'm just so dang appreciative that she took the time to send me that note.
before i share the emailed story and my friend's note, here's a little background on who this friend is...
laurie...my dear friend, who i met while an active duty nurse, stationed at eglin air force base. i was newly divorced and a single mother. it was the first time i was on my own since college and my welcome at eglin's hospital was not a warm one. laurie and her family lived across the street. i didn't really get to know laurie until she and i became office mates. i was a health care integrator and they were expanding my position from one to three (although the entire time i was there, it was just laurie and i). it was laurie and i against the hospital...or so it often seemed. laurie and i worked together for a year or so, until i got out of the air force in 2003. she's now kicking ass at an air force base in CO. i miss her so and hope to see her again some day.
here's the story, followed by laurie's wonderful note.
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognitin would have on a Community. She gave each student three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgement ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week. One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to go out, find some one to honor, and give them a blue ribbon. Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had a reputation of being kind of a grouchy fellow. He told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and give him permission to put it on him. HIs boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took one of the blue ribbons and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart. And then he asked, offering him the last ribbon, "Would you take this extra ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The teenager who gave me these is doing a school project, and we want to keep this ribbon ceremony going and see how it affects people." That night, the boss came home and sat down with his 14-year-old son. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and on of my employees came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon on me that says, "Who I am Makes a Difference." He gave me an extra ribbon an asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about who I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I don't pay a lot of attention to you. I yell at you for not getting good enough grades and for your messy bedroom. Somehow, tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!" The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonght I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I'll need it after all." His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain. The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The juniore executive helped many other young people with career planning, one being the boss' son, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life. The students in the class learned a valuable lesson. Who You Are does Make a Difference.
Deb, your role model as an HCI, Air Force Officer, Nurse and single mom have made a huge impact on me and in my life. You taught me to take the bull by the horns and inspired me to be more independent. Your dedication to your daughter and career demonstrated to me that you can be a success at both if you put your mind to it and have balance. Thanks for being a part of my life.
Laurie
from the bottom of my heart, thank you laurie! love ya and miss ya pal.
because i can't write a post without a photo...
i tried so hard to find a photo of me, dressed in my air force uniform, but i couldn't find one. this was the best i could do...at steve's EOD graduation, during my active duty days (in 2002).
but to one person you may be the world.
- brandi snyder
i received an email from a dear friend today...an email that i read on my iphone. i'm not one to read bulk forwarded emails. frankly, i just don't have the time for most of them and many times i delete the email before ever opening. well, today was different.
without a second thought, i opened the email and began to read. i thought it was interesting, but noticed it was rather long. i contemplated not finishing but the story kept me in and i continued. (and remember, on the iphone, the whole reading process takes a bit longer, at least it seems that way to me). by the end of the story, i had a lump in my throat. the email message is a powerful one. then i noticed that at the end of the story was a note...to me, from my friend laurie. i was surprised and continued reading. now, the lump was bigger and i was crying. i just couldn't believe the kind words that laurie wrote...and i'm just so dang appreciative that she took the time to send me that note.
before i share the emailed story and my friend's note, here's a little background on who this friend is...
laurie...my dear friend, who i met while an active duty nurse, stationed at eglin air force base. i was newly divorced and a single mother. it was the first time i was on my own since college and my welcome at eglin's hospital was not a warm one. laurie and her family lived across the street. i didn't really get to know laurie until she and i became office mates. i was a health care integrator and they were expanding my position from one to three (although the entire time i was there, it was just laurie and i). it was laurie and i against the hospital...or so it often seemed. laurie and i worked together for a year or so, until i got out of the air force in 2003. she's now kicking ass at an air force base in CO. i miss her so and hope to see her again some day.
here's the story, followed by laurie's wonderful note.
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognitin would have on a Community. She gave each student three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgement ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week. One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to go out, find some one to honor, and give them a blue ribbon. Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had a reputation of being kind of a grouchy fellow. He told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and give him permission to put it on him. HIs boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took one of the blue ribbons and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart. And then he asked, offering him the last ribbon, "Would you take this extra ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The teenager who gave me these is doing a school project, and we want to keep this ribbon ceremony going and see how it affects people." That night, the boss came home and sat down with his 14-year-old son. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and on of my employees came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon on me that says, "Who I am Makes a Difference." He gave me an extra ribbon an asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about who I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I don't pay a lot of attention to you. I yell at you for not getting good enough grades and for your messy bedroom. Somehow, tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!" The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonght I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I'll need it after all." His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain. The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The juniore executive helped many other young people with career planning, one being the boss' son, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life. The students in the class learned a valuable lesson. Who You Are does Make a Difference.
Deb, your role model as an HCI, Air Force Officer, Nurse and single mom have made a huge impact on me and in my life. You taught me to take the bull by the horns and inspired me to be more independent. Your dedication to your daughter and career demonstrated to me that you can be a success at both if you put your mind to it and have balance. Thanks for being a part of my life.
Laurie
from the bottom of my heart, thank you laurie! love ya and miss ya pal.
because i can't write a post without a photo...
i tried so hard to find a photo of me, dressed in my air force uniform, but i couldn't find one. this was the best i could do...at steve's EOD graduation, during my active duty days (in 2002).
i'm looking for 4 military teens (parent must be active duty), ages 12-18, to be photographed and interviewed for military spouse magazine. and...one lucky teen will be on the cover of military spouse magazine. participating teens must be from different families.
if interested, please email me (deb@debsphotographs.com) a little information about your teen and a photo. deadline for submissions is june 8th so please spread the word.
- interview and photos will take place within the next couple weeks
- session will be free of charge
- signing a model release is required
- edited photos will be available for purchase at a discounted rate
if interested, please email me (deb@debsphotographs.com) a little information about your teen and a photo. deadline for submissions is june 8th so please spread the word.
- interview and photos will take place within the next couple weeks
- session will be free of charge
- signing a model release is required
- edited photos will be available for purchase at a discounted rate
if we're growing,
we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.
- john maxwell
over the weekend, i was in venice beach. oh--my--gosh! that is an experience like no other. i became intrigued by this one man, standing proudly with a flag, and a sign at his feet, "food not bombs". he saw me take his picture. young lady, he said. and then he began his spiel. obviously, he was opposed to the war and bush. i immediately told him that we were a military family. he countered with a story about how he was a vietnam vet but got kicked out of the military for fighting. i continued with the fact that my husband takes apart bombs in the military and he said, good. he went on and on--all along, his dentures popping in and out. i couldn't help but giggle for a moment and then i thought...maybe this man is doing what he loves. standing proudly, for what he believes. i don't know. i wanted to believe him. but it was all a bit odd.
i wasn't sure about anything in venice beach, from the guys sitting there with their signs, will work for marijuana and need money for pot, to the hundreds of people selling trinkets. oh and i can't forget about the interesting folks, who were just part of the crowd. oh my! i also thought it was interesting how some of the folks there (including the will work for marijuana guys had no pictures written on their signs).
that was saturday.
today...today was 5th grade photos. usually i do photos of kiele's class for mother's day. not this year. i didn't have enough time to do the preschoolers and kiele's class. so i decided i would do my best to do end of the year photos and give them to the kids as graduation gifts. it's amazing to think that my little kiele is graduating from elementary and going into middle school. sometimes it scares me, how quickly time seems to pass these days. i can only hope that middle school will go as well for kiele, as elementary school did.
here, i told the kids to jump, to celebrate graduating from elementary school and...this is what i got. cracks me up.
it's been a crazy few weeks for me--between being a mom, my regular business work and lots of volunteer work lately--i'm a bit swamped. i'm trying my best to balance it all but some days are tougher than others. some day i'll figure it out. for the moment, i just wish i had more time in the day.
we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.
- john maxwell
over the weekend, i was in venice beach. oh--my--gosh! that is an experience like no other. i became intrigued by this one man, standing proudly with a flag, and a sign at his feet, "food not bombs". he saw me take his picture. young lady, he said. and then he began his spiel. obviously, he was opposed to the war and bush. i immediately told him that we were a military family. he countered with a story about how he was a vietnam vet but got kicked out of the military for fighting. i continued with the fact that my husband takes apart bombs in the military and he said, good. he went on and on--all along, his dentures popping in and out. i couldn't help but giggle for a moment and then i thought...maybe this man is doing what he loves. standing proudly, for what he believes. i don't know. i wanted to believe him. but it was all a bit odd.
i wasn't sure about anything in venice beach, from the guys sitting there with their signs, will work for marijuana and need money for pot, to the hundreds of people selling trinkets. oh and i can't forget about the interesting folks, who were just part of the crowd. oh my! i also thought it was interesting how some of the folks there (including the will work for marijuana guys had no pictures written on their signs).
that was saturday.
today...today was 5th grade photos. usually i do photos of kiele's class for mother's day. not this year. i didn't have enough time to do the preschoolers and kiele's class. so i decided i would do my best to do end of the year photos and give them to the kids as graduation gifts. it's amazing to think that my little kiele is graduating from elementary and going into middle school. sometimes it scares me, how quickly time seems to pass these days. i can only hope that middle school will go as well for kiele, as elementary school did.
here, i told the kids to jump, to celebrate graduating from elementary school and...this is what i got. cracks me up.
it's been a crazy few weeks for me--between being a mom, my regular business work and lots of volunteer work lately--i'm a bit swamped. i'm trying my best to balance it all but some days are tougher than others. some day i'll figure it out. for the moment, i just wish i had more time in the day.