Lizabean

A good start

"Flowers SOOC", Canon Digital Rebel XT, June 2007

If this week is any indication of what the rest of my summer is going to be like I am in for a real treat!  Since school got out we've had the most beautiful weather here in the Chicago land.  It's nearly made up for some of those miserable weeks in May...nearly.  I've enjoyed many a walk in the past few days and have most definetely stopped to smell the flowers...

"Morning squat", Canon Digital Rebel XT, June 2007

I've had some wonderful quality time with Suzanne and Amia.  In fact, we are having so much fun that Brent and I decided to move even closer to them.  Considering we currently live about a half a block away, I have to chuckle that our favorite apartment from a recent housing hunt happens to be directly across the street from them.  We sign the lease tomorrow.

"Sandy toddler feet", Canon Digital Rebel XT, June 2007

I also happened to recieve an exciting phone call today.  My supervisor from work called to let me know that she could honor my request for work next year.  Come this fall I will be working with both preschoolers and elementary school children.  Immediately after talking to her, I sprinted to my bookshelf and took down all my speech/language books and research articles on early childhood to review for the summer.  I'm a little rusty and was thrilled to discover just how excited I am to be making this professional move.  I'm also ecstatic about being a speech language pathologist!  This is a new feeling.  And a very good one, at that.

Life is good.  So good.  I feel very blessed.

A shout out to Anya

Something awaits you.  Something you requested.  Something I hope will make you smile.

A little hint:

See you soon!

I "heart" Ikea

Went with the Allmarts to Ikea this Sunday afternoon.  Mmmm, fun frames for really cheap!  It's given me some home decoration ideas.  In our bathroom:

"Bathroom decor", Canon Digital Rebel XT, March 2007

And to brighten my office and give me cheer:

"Amia Art", Canon Digital Rebel XT, March 2007

"Pic of Brent", Canon Digital Rebel XT, March 2007

Winterizing

"Happy Wall", Canon Digital Rebel XT, November 2006

This weekend was a perfect blend of relaxment and productiveness.  I could have easily spend the past 48 hours worrying about all the parent-teacher conferences coming up this week, but I've done a decent job NOT freaking out.  Yey me!  For now...

I spent a large chunk of my time working on holiday care packages for some friends and doing some photorific projects.  I decided to create a "happy wall" of photos that make me smile, remind me of good times, and give me hope.  I like how it turned out and I'm excited about shuffling new photos in and out as I'm inspired.  Brent wants in as well so that should be fun.  Speaking of the husband.  He has spent nearly his entire weekend winterizing our apartment.  He put plastic up on the majority of the windows, and it is now livable in here!  Here he is, working hard:

"Winterizing", Canon Digital Rebel XT, November 2006

"Winterizing II", Canon Digital Rebel XT, November 2006

Thank you, Brent. 

Flickrring

"Happy results of a long weekend", Canon Digital Rebel XT, October 2006

I have decided to create a flickr account!  I'm not sure what this means for photobean.  Mentally, I reserve that site for what I consider some of my best photographs.  That leaves many that fall short but that I'd still like to share with you all. If anyone else has flickr accounts, let's be flickr friends!

Granting Nathan's request

"Self portrait: the rejects", Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, June 2006

The Joys of Tiahood

Life's been challenging lately.  This one always manages to brighten my day!  Yeah for nieces!!

Hope

"Winter's Hope", Canon Digital Rebel XT, April 2006

I am on spring break- yippee!!  My birthday weekend was cold, cold, cold, yet luckily SUNNY. Today, in a wonderful contrast, was absolutely lovely.  Brent's folks were in town through this afternoon and we had a great time together.

This year I took my birthday wish quite seriously and managed to blow out all of my candles in sheer determination/desperation.  I will not tell you my secret wish for fear that it may not come true.  It is not, perhaps, what you think I might have wished for, but it did have a little something to do with the title of this post.  Mysterious...

Brent and I also had Asian food for lunch today and received the exact same fortune from those yummy treats:

"Good news will come to you soon"

That settles it.  My new quest for this year is to remain optimistic.

Happy spring!

On the subject of gifts

Family, Canon Digital Rebel XT, February 2006

When Katie first arrived back to the States, my family gathered at the Allmarts to see her and hear her many stories.  She had all of our gifts laid out on the table, and this little stone family caught my eye immediately.  My heart hurt some, reflecting on what May might have brought to us had life unfolded a bit differently.  I had assumed it was for Husayn, Suzanne and sweet little Amia but in a very Katie-like and thoughtful manner she handed it to me.

It is the simple gestures that often touch us the most deeply. I treasure this gift not just because of its beauty but of the compassion and sensitivity that my sister displayed when selecting this symbolic little family.

Because I get three weblogs for the price of one...

I have decided to start a photoblog.  It's a way to help me fulfill a little new year's promise to keep up with things that I find creative and relaxing even when life becomes overwhelmingly stressful.  We'll see if I can keep it up.  I'm hoping to post a photo per day.  (Although being in Richmond for the next few days may make that goal a bit impractical, for this first week anyway).  Tricky thing when I cannot afford the really NICE digital camera of my dreams and must rely on the good ol' SLR and the time it takes to get film developed.

Although that sounded like an awfully big complaint, I must also add that there is still something to be said for photography pre- the digital age.  I really like my Pentax and continue to have fun figuring out the kind of shots it can take.

Yey for hobbies!