Trick or Treat!

My little TinkerBell at the carousel today

Schaeffer looking especially 'TinkerBell-esk'

Schaeffer, modeling her costume for the first time

before her school party on Thursday

Griffin & SJ

Cinderella (Ellee) & Tink (Schaeffer Jo)

What a great day we had as a family! We played together around home--then rested before our big adventure. We (along with the rest of Saint Joe) headed down to the carousel and kid's museum for the free (!) rides and trick-or-treating. Although it was mobbed, Schaeffer--and the kids we were with--still had a great time.

In addition to the fun activities of the day, it was great to be together with friends (and their kids). I feel tremendously blessed to see the beginnings of a true community of friends--both for myself and Griffin, and for Schaeffer. It is my heart's desire for me and my daughter to have a safe place to call home with other believers.

Enjoy the sweet pictures of Schaeffer Jo--we're trick-or-treating & going to a local church for a harvest party tomorrow evening, so I'm sure there'll be more to come.

Happy Autumn!

gratitude is an attitude

The troops came down from Grand Rapids today to celebrate my birthday. We had planned to go to the ZooBoo!, but had to cancel from the forecasted rain.

We've got a lot going on in the family right now--my mom is scheduled for her third knee surgery (in as many years) on November 17th, for which we're hopeful will be less invasive than the last two.

Nikki & Josh (my sister & brother-in-law) are scheduled for a C-section to deliver their second baby on December 14th. They're expecting a girl, my second niece! It's exciting to watch our family grow--and to enjoy the privileges of being an Auntie.

With that said, it is wonderful to be together--but there is an ever-present under current of anxiety. I'm anxious for my mom's surgery day--for the outcome--and for the constant question of 'will this time work?'. I'm anxious for my sister, for the birth, the baby, and their transition into a family of four.

So many sweet moments can be so overshadowed by worry--and I don't want to let anxiety be the lord of my life. I want to choose to rely on the Sovereign One, the faithful God who in control of the future.

"If God hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, "I'm slipping, I'm falling" your love, God, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up." Psalm 94:18MSG

We've been busy making memories!

Schaeffer Jo helping 'rake' leaves

how much weight can our wheelbarrow hold?

Griffin & his big-girl helper

Schaeffer building up her muscles to go

'skeeting' this winter

Great Grandma Pat & Schaeffer Jo loading up the

freshly picked apples

Three of us apple-pickin' girls

The Ott women with Aunt Pam @ Stacy & Adam's wedding

Our days have been jam-packed with fun! Grandma Pat (Debbie's mother) is in town from California. We've been spending lots of time together and have been making the most of autumn.

The pictures above don't do justice to the fun experience we had on Wednesday--we went out to the Sinner fruit farm in Glendora, picked apples & made fresh cider. It was wonderful to be together, and a great way to celebrate Creation with such a unique experience.

Enjoy the pictures, we'll keep making memories & sharing our love with you.

5526 Lacosta Lane

5526 Lacosta Lane

(Ok--it's the Noblesville Courthouse)

I've got this image in my mind of our first home. I can see the mudroom off the garage, feel the motion to turn on the light. I know what the hallway to the kitchen smells like, and that the door to the little bathroom will be slightly ajar. The kitchen is immaculate (we are still a family of two, remember?) and looks like it hasn't been used in weeks--which it hasn't. The dining room, which is just off the kitchen is warm and inviting-upholstered chairs and a beautiful pottery barn chandelier which has been decorated with a swag. The curtains in the dining room are open, so we can have our coffee at the table and watch our new puppy, Ruthie, play in the yard. Our mantle is covered in pictures & our family room is decorated with high-end coffee table conversation starters. Ten steps would take you from the couch to wide harlequin-laid tile leading to the open staircase to the second floor.

I could go on--but I'm guessing that you don't care how my memory serves me in regard to our previous home.

This home, 5526 Lacosta Lane, is the first place Griffin & I lived. It is the place we put down roots-made friends & started our life together. We faced home ownership for the first time here-experience pipes freeze & burst, even major cabinet repair (see comment regarding Ruthie).

This weekend Griffin & I went to Indy to have some time away-and see some of our dearest friends. While we were there, of course we drove by our old home. It is the first time, after 5 years, that I can say my heart has moved on. While I can still remember EVERYTHING about it--I don't desire to have it again. A true milestone. I'll continue to daydream about a time when life was so much easier-and remember all my sweet details, but I've been set free from the bondage of the 'what if'.

Goodbye 5526 Lacosta Lane.

Integrity. What is that, again?

Integrity defined: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.

We live in a world of lacking integrity, don't we? Where everything is a shade of grey--where 'nothing is really black or white'.

I had the priveledge of gathering my portfolio samples this week--something that hinges totally on personal integrity. As I browsed the samples of photographic work that has been done, there were many great images that I am not responsible for. I so easily could have downloaded them, and called them my own. No one would have known, right?

Hard to do the right thing. Hard to make SURE that the only work you represent is your own. But so worthwhile. I don't want to stand for anything but truth and the gifts that I've been given. I want to stand before my potential employer--as well as God--and say 'Yes! I worked HARD for this, and it's mine!"

Afterall, my mom taught me from a young age, truth is the BEST policy. And, more than pleasing my mom, it's what's right in God's eyes.

"May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you."

Psalm 25:21

Life is a highway...

"Life's like a road that you traveled on--where there's one day you're here & the next day gone

Sometimes you bend--sometimes you stand--sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened door--where blues won't haunt you anymore

Where the brave are free--and the lovers soar

Come ride with me to a distant shore

Life is a highway--I want to ride it all night long

If you're going my way--I want to drive it all night long"

Have you ever heard this song? It brings back great memories from early high school--carefree days filled with hot summer days & cool fun-filled nights.

As I've gotten older, and I catch a bit or piece of this song on the radio, I realize how accurate the words of this song are--life does seem to zoom by--each day faster than the last--zipping by like cars on the highway of life.

Gratefully, every once in awhile, there are events or decisions that bring you to an intersection and exiting the fast pace of life momentarily.

I love being a SAHM. I love the sweet moments that are exclusive for Schaeffer Jo and me--the mements just after her nap when she just wants to snuggle. The times in the afternoon when while still sleepy, she wants to snuggle under 1000 blankets and read books. The picnics we make and eat lunch on the floor while watching Max & Ruby. All good, sweet things that I've stored away in the bank of my memory.

But, all the while, there is this nagging sensation that I'm missing something. That the entire professional world has gone on without me--and I'll forever be trying to catch back up. Which, of course, brings us back to the aforementioned crossroads.

Should I work? Shouldn't I work? Should I stay home? How long? Will I ever find a comprable job to the one I once held? Am I doing enough to maintain my professional contacts? All of these questions leave me bewildered and scratching my head.

So, back onto the highway I go--screaming down the road, with a smile on my face & Schaeffer Jo as my number one passenger (for now).

Art Prize 2010

Strike a pose, Tobi!

I'm not sure who the glasses look better on, him-or me?

Aunts & Uncles beware! Leave you son with me...

Wouldn't you LOVE to have this bouquet delivered to your office?

Very cool art-deco version of the hands of God

the 10 fingers representing 10 commandments

GIANT penny, made of ALL pennies

Beautiful & packed with inspiration

The "G-Nome Project" LOVE the play on words

One big bird's home...

A bathroom floor to DIE for

Amazing reflection outside of GRAM

Last weekend, we were in GR to celebrate my sister Nikki's birthday. One of her birthday wishes was to get downtown for ArtPrize--which was suffering.

Amazing. For this girl, who thinks in all things creative & beautiful, it was my playground. I couldn't get enough of it all. The people, the art, the atmosphere--all perfection.

The only thing that was missing was my honey & my gal--who went home early to rest up for our busy week. I'm already planning for next year--they MUST wander the streets with me.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Daddy's biggest helper!

Happy family

Sweet niece, Jane Louise

SJ & her best buddy, Eli

Proud of her pumpkins!

Like Papa, like SJ

Peek!

'favorite' pumpkin

The family was in town this weekend to celebrate Debbie's birthday. We made our first--and sure to become requisite--trip to the Ego's pumpkin patch. We had a great time. It didn't matter how many pumpkins were picked, how many gourds were snapped up--we could take as many or few as we wanted.

Schaeffer & Eli were torn between picking and running, a dry corn field became a great place for a quick game of hide-and-seek.

As if our very own pumpkin patch wasn't enough--we also had a bonfire complete with smores and star gazing. What a night for our kids--what a magical place to call home.

School Picture Day!

Snazzy outift!

On the steps of 'school'

"Cheese!"

School picture day! Schaeffer and I spent an afternoon selecting the perfect outfit, hair accessory & shoes--sometimes it is almost comical how much she is like her mother.

We curled the ends of her hair, used pomade to smooth the fly-aways, and made sure her face was extra clean & lotioned.

It was so much fun--fun to get ready, and more fun to see her anticipation as we arrived at school. I'm sure getting ready for her first date--and the prom will be be quite an adventure.

But, I can't wait to see the photos--Schaef told me they should come home in her backpack tomorrow (Tuesday). I'll keep you posted.