my life in pictures

Took these sweet girls, Iris and Madeline, to the Portland Art Museum and loved it. They really liked the collection of Native American art. The tiny, glass beadwork on clothes, moccasins, belts, dresses, baby carriers was phenomenal.


Speaking of art, my favorite painting of all time is Van Gogh's Branches of an Almond Tree in Bloom. It cozily lives in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and I've had the very privilege of standing in front of this masterpiece basking in its glory! This photo was taken in Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain and has been edited in homage to the brother of Theo.


I'm glad I married a reader. Currently, I'm reading Toni Morrison's Sula and may not finish it by January 31st but that's why I give myself grace so I won't give up. Steve's reading one of my all time favorite books, East of Eden by John Stienbeck.


And, this little guy, Harley, just kills me. The older he gets, the cuter he becomes. Steve and I are currently trying to teach him how to high-five. Not sure if we tackled it yet!


Jewelry making is my hobby / part-time, really, part-time job. ;)

Thanks for indulging me and reading this post. I would love to hear from you!

aven, my friend's sweet baby girl

I gave this sweet baby girl a haircut before she rested her new do on my shoulder. The day before I cut Harley's hair, and I have to say it was easier cutting the baby's locks. Harley, our three pound Yorkshire Terrier, just squirms and jerks way too much. It's a miracle I have not poked out his eyes yet.

dreams do come true

even in the cold days of winter, nature shines with beauty and the promise of new life.



paris is for lovers. what an iconic city that i miss!


waiting for the right one is totally worth it.

2010 Reading List Complete

Last year, my new year's resolution was to read a book a month, and I did it by giving myself a little bit of grace here and there. For example, I was able to finish two books in one month if I had a crazy month before. Basically, I read 12 books for the 12 months in a year, and it feels so good to accomplish something that adds richness to my life and my imagination.

Here's what I read:

January - "A Cry for Mercy" by Henri Nouwen
February - "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
March - "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
April - "The Only Thing Necessary: Prayer" by Henri Nouwen
May - "Fearless" by Max Lucado
June - "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" by David Sedaris
July - "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
August - "A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway
September - "Jane Eyre" by Charolette Bronte
October - "Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love" by St. Augustine
November - "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
December - "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis

The worst book for me, personally, was St. Augustine's Handbook - the moral logic bored me at best. The irony of this is that surely a "Christian" would have "disliked" David Sedaris over Augustine, but I didn't. David Sedaris is, at least, honest and funny.

My favorite read was either The Old Man and the Sea, Jane Eyre or A Cry for Mercy. It's a toss up, really. I loved The Old Man and the Sea because of the protagonist's patience, perseverance and heart larger than that of his catch. I loved Jane Eyre for her plainness, resilience and loyalty to God and others even those who wounded her. I loved A Cry for Mercy because Henri's prayers became mine. It was if his words were my words, his thoughts, my thoughts. Henri gets our faith in all its mystery and simplicity, and I love his work, always will.