It's been a longtime

So, tonight I noticed that I had not blogged in a longtime. 

I kind of felt like, who cares what I am up to.  I have been really immersed in my work and looking forward to another girls weekend trip.  It is all of my girlfriends 40th birthdays and we are going to Chicago.  I love Chicago, and I love my friends. I know it is a win-win.  I am encouraged as I know we are not bound for a high school reunion.  THANK goodness. 
I have decided that I have little to no interest in EVER doing that again.  EVER!

My Thirty-one business:
I am really excited about my thirty-one business.  I have two recruits who are going to do such amazing things.  One has become qualified and the other is on her way.  I get so excited because I know that they LOVE the products.  JUST LIKE ME! 
I am excited in finding a few new clients and so I am going to begin speaking with friends of friends about all of their friends.  I know that there are amazing, talented, beautiful women out there who could stand some encouraging!  I am just the woman for you. 

Family:
My big brother came to visit and so did my nephews from Florida. It was awesome to see them and hang out with them.  I realized that I do miss them more than I realize.  My heart hurt when I had to leave them.  I am excited about the next time I will get to see them:)
I know it won't be long.  I hope I get to go to Marco Island again his year to visit Mom & Dad.

Recently I took my niece M's senior pictures.  I was freaking out.  She has grown up very fast and it seemed to happen while I was not watching.  She is so beautiful.  I am the proudest Aunt ever.  E & M and I went out and we had the most amazing time.  M was changing her clothes and getting her pics taken and it was time that I will never forget.  It feels like yesterday that I was doing E's senior pics and now she is doing well in college.  Life moves fast and if you don't stop and look around sometimes it will pass you by...

My little nephew R had his first day of Kindergarten today.  It was just yesterday that I was rocking him to sleep in his room listening to Blackbird on his lullaby CD.
I can recall holding W when he was little and I didn't want to put him down for fear that the moment would end.  Now, it would be next to impossible to get them to cuddle that way again.  Such precious time...it doesn't get worse-it just gets different. 


My Mom & Dad celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary today.  WOW! 
I know how much of a challenge being my parents is~I am blessed to have them as my Mom & Dad.  I couldn't have picked better parents. 

More to some later...hopefully it won't be another year-I remembered my password to this site.  WILL WONDERS never cease.

WALSH Family Fun weekend!

I am so proud of niece E. 

She is a smart, good hearted, and amazing young woman, and I am blessed to be her Aunt, Godmother and friend.

I met some really amazing people today and have to say that E is lucky to have them in her life as well.  My mom and dad went back to E's dorm to watch OSU play football.  E had to go with them to swipe them in to the building.

First we went to the festival part of the event...we made beaded rosary key chains. 

Of course mine is black and orange.

We stood in line for the balloon animals for like 2 hours. J got a penguin, L a giraffe, A a large sword, E got a monkey on a palm tree (seriously), and I got black stemmed orange and white flowers. 

We made it a total blast, doing it.

We had these little mustaches, and glasses that my mom bought for me to use when I shoot a wedding.  It was hysterical to see the guys and girls use them and get their pictures with...dudes with fake big lips and chicks with mustaches..total hoot!

We did a tremendous amount of walking, but more so just standing all day long. 

We went and saw animals, and we walked to and from the car over and over and over again. 

I got my official WALSH University hoodie and we were on our way again...this time to tailgate.

We get to the Hall of Fame football stadium and have to walk about 1.5 miles to get to the stinking

gate.

Good times!

(I don't eat)-but I as a supportive and good sport stood in line for another hour or so and for hot dogs and burgers. 

I felt terrible that it was so cold, and I felt pretty beat by the end of the day. 

I may have bitten off more than I could chew.

When it came to 10 o'clock worship I was toasted.  I feel bad that I wasn't feeling up to it..

I know E had to be really disappointed by me not going.

E if you are reading this, please know that I am so with you right now...As I lay my head down to sleep.  I have not been in bed at 10 p.m. for a while.

Body is telling me I need the rest.

I love you! 

Life is so good...

I had the opportunity to take photos of a very special family tonight.  I had such a blast that I wanted to share it with everyone.  The A family went out with me a park...where all the leaves were changing, and falling off the trees.  In the midst of this amazing scenery..zzzzooooooommmm went C.  He is so fast that the sport setting on my SLR couldn't even catch him and keep him in focus.  Now, needless to say I have taken photos of many a fast child.  I have never seen anything like C, he is truly a sigh to be seen. 

I ran after him all night long with Mommy and Daddy saying "C" I am gonna get you..to try to make  him smile.  I shot 558 pics and a little less than half turned out.

What a blessing to have such amazing people in

my life.

C

Fatherly love at it's best.

"What are you up to these days?"

Have you ever built something up in your mind that you can not ever achieve it?

I was so psyched about the time I would get to spend with my friends, and I suppose I imagined it would go differently.

(mind you much was unavoidable, that is not what I am talking about)

I had a complete blast on the first day spending time with V & A's kids and evening with many of our fellow 1991 Grads! 

It was so effortless, genuine and I am thankful for that time.

 

I am so happy I was able to see (and spend time with) A, V, J, K, & P.  I really enjoy all of thier company!

I feel like I have such a different life than many of my friends. 

I feel it is hard for me to relate, engage & contribute sometimes.

For example: 

I do not have kids

I consider myself very successful (I am alive, and I have dedicated my life to helping others).

I dance

I paint

I create

  I really don't care what other people think 

I am not a fake person

I live my life as an adventure.

I try new things

I take pictures

(not for me but for those that come after I am gone)

I know myself, and I don't participate in faking it for pomp and circumstance sake.

I am honest

I am REAL and I live in the NOW.

I feel like this is what many people want to say and don't.

I also have had to deal with a few very large things that many others haven't.

For example:

30 +surgeries, 9 majors, a multiple other procedures

(and everything that entails)

A disease that NO ONE can fix

(and everything that entails)

No children-I can not have them.

(hardest thing ever)

Imminent death if I didn't have a lifesaving surgery.

I have to work, to have insurance, to pay for the drugs, to stay alive.

I suppose I have a much different point of view.

My struggle is with trying to survive, literally.

I could have spent 45 minutes at the reunion, left and enjoyed my evening. 

I felt super guilty that my friend wasn't able to attend, and I couldn't get it out of my mind.

I kind of felt like...what do I say, really?

My truth, is not a glamorous one but I am blessed to still be here. 

The eye of the beholder!

Sunflower field in Yellow Springs, OH

I found this sign on my drive home from my reunion.
Sparrow is my nickname, it was a grace that my detour
was the correct choice for me that day.

I feel like there is so much beauty in the world...it is so taken for granted. 

I have identifed what a few things are that make me truely happy. 

Excited dosen't even begin to cover it!!!

Anna, Vicki, Susan & Jennie

I am off this weekend to celebrate (our) my 20th High School Class Reunion at Archbishop Alter High School. 

It is so exciting to know that my best friends from high school are going to meet me in Dayton to attend this exciting event.

(I am slightly skeptical-but open minded). 

We have been through so many things in our 25+ year friendship. 

I have found that the connection between the four of us varies (as we all have families), but we cherish the time that we get to share with one another.

I am honored that my friends send me photos of their children so that I may share  watching them grow.  I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would not be able to be a mom, but my dearest friends/family really include me in the exciting times.

I swear I have at least 2 pictures of each of these children on my cell phone at any one time

(unless my hubby downloads my iPhone).

I am so blessed that all of us made a commitment to stay connected.  It is a bond that will never be broken.

Thank you for being real friends. 

Your unconditional love and support is a true gift!

129 days, 11 hours, 35 minutes

...away from turning 40 years old!!!!

Wohoo-Yeah me!

I don't think I could be any happier.  I am fine with knwoing that my body can not do what it used to do, I am okay with seeing all of my neices, nephews grow up.  It is hard to watch but I can do it with pride.

I have beaten the odds and come out the victor.

I feel blessed to still be walking, talking, hiking and dancing. 

I find that most people get all depressed by their age, I on the other hand rejoice in it. 

I was given another opportunity to be alive. 

I know from the deepest parts of my heart that I have been living OUT LOUD for the past 7 years.

If you know me well already this comes as no surprise. 

However, if you have just met me you can not know my struggles by how I carry myself.

My goal is to "act" like I am healthy and just fine. 

I find it makes no sense to focus only on the negative and so I will find a way to

spin something positive.

It is kind of funny, actually.

I had a friend of mine recently say to me

"it is cool that you can focus on all of the positive things that happened".

I let go of the bad and can only recall the good. 

It must be all the anaesthesia over all these years!