Reflections in the Window

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

It has been a long time!

It has been such a long time since I posted anything here. Our lives had become so busy I had neglected the things that really bring me joy! All of my photography, blogging, cooking had taken a back burner to life. Life is way too short to spend all of your time trying to make a living you neglect your hobbies. I have been working so much I had forgotten what it was like to just sit down at the computer and post on my blog. So if I have any readers left, please leave me a comment or message letting me know.

I have returned to my love of being in the kitchen. I have put social media on a drastic diet. I was so interested in what others were doing that I was neglecting the people right in front of me. I am trying to return to my love of everything home. Just because I work outside of the home does not mean I cannot continue sharing my home with you.

So much has happened in our family since I last wrote here. My eldest daughter has been going to college not far from here. She is doing a program for those with developmental disabilities. We are so proud of her!! Life has not been easy for her, but when she is knocked down she gets right back up and continues on her way. She has had a photograph published in a campus magazine, and will have a poem published as well!

Our middle daughter will start the same program in August. She is so excited about it! She has already started the countdown and planning what she will wear to school. Haha!

Our son has finished up his schooling for the most part. We are truly never done with our education are we? He has continued with his dream of being a fire fighter. He has decided not to join the military at this time, I can't say I am sad about that. He has started the state training for fire fighting and is doing very well with it!

It feels good to get back to things I enjoy. It seems like when I am happy, the rest of the house is happy as well. We are anxiously awaiting our favorite museum to open up for the season. There is nothing like the smell of a hearth and the meals that await the families that "live" in the homes. I love the sounds of the birds singing away as we stroll through the village.

It is the simple tasks in life I seem to always return to. The ones I spent so much time complaining about doing. We recently said goodbye to my grandmother. She is the one who really gave me the love of everything home. So perhaps it was all of the memories I have that really has brought me back. Life is really too short to put off today what we want to do.

So if you have read this far into my post thank you! I am looking forward to sharing more with you. Might not be very interesting, but I will always share my heart with you.

Friday, January 1, 2016

My poor neglected blog, and 2016 Goals

My poor little blog has been sorely neglected the past few months. I have not forgotten about my blog. Life had just become so busy I did not have a lot of down time. Thank you all for the kind emails I have received checking on me. I really do have wonderful readers. A few of you have asked me what I have been up to. Well I am settling into my job with the ambulance. I have also received a few requests to do a series of posts about the life of a new EMT. So those will be coming soon. I pray everyone had wonderful holidays.

Our Thanksgiving was very nice. We went to my sisters and had a delicious dinner. It seems like the time from Thanksgiving until New Years goes by so fast. It becomes all a blur no matter how much you attempt to slow it down.

Christmas was very nice. We spent most of the day at home just the 5 of us. Had our traditional Overnight Caramel French Toast.

We then had a nice time with my siblings and parents. We have removed all the Christmas decorations and they are once again put away. The house feels so empty.

Now onto the New Year! I do not typically make resolutions. I instead set goals for myself. This year I have 2 major ones.

My first one is to continue my weight loss journey. In 2015 I lost 50 pounds. I do have to admit I have slacked off a great deal since October. But that is all behind me. I am going to be starting up the 21 Day Fix again. I found a nice journal online that I was able to adapt to fit the fix.

This journal I will be able to keep track of everything I eat and drink. There is also a spot for my progress measurements and photographs. I did have to highlight the columns so I could keep track of my containers from the 21 Day Fix.

I am looking forward to getting rid of the junk from my body. I still feel really good but somewhat sluggish when I do not fuel my body properly.

My second major goal of the year is to use my camera more. I have not used it much at all since I started my EMT training. Now that is behind me I can focus on relaxing things. Things that will help me distress. Taking pictures is one of those activities.

It started to snow today so I grabbed my camera and started practicing some macro photography. I have a long way to go. But each shot is one step closer to being comfortable with what I am doing.

Here is one of my first shots.....

The snowflake was not even in focus. So I continued on.

Next shot....

No single snowflake in focus. But I do still like this shot.

Getting better...

My favorite one from today...

This shot was taken in front of a window. Notice the reflection of the snowflake? I find snowflakes absolutely stunning! No two are at all alike.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Ten Years!

This year has been a year of milestones for our family. Our eldest daughter turned 21, our middle daughter turned 18 and our son turned 16. NOW my husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage. It has been quite a journey to this point.

It was a beautiful autumn day. The leaves on the trees were very vibrant. The temperature was around 70 degrees (much like it will be here today!). We were blessed to be able to be married at the Genesee Country Village and Museum. As many of you know we absolutely love it there so becoming husband and wife here was a natural fit.

We have had quite a bumpy road. We have walked together through happy times and difficult times. We experienced death of loved ones and the birth of nieces and nephews.

At times it feels like we have been married a lot longer than 10 years. Other times it feels like we are still newlyweds.

The kids were just little ones on this day 10 years ago. I am amazed everyday at how my husband stepped into the roll of father to these kids. He loves them like they are his own. Never once has he made them feel like they were not.

Not only did we become husband and wife on this day, we also became a family.

We were in financial trouble on the day we were married. Our bank account was empty but our hands were full. Never once have we left each other hanging in times of trials. Matt is my rock. He holds me up even when I do not know I need it. He is always there for me and the kids.

2005 was a very difficult year for my family. My sister was walking through a very serious medical problem that had her fighting for her life at times. We were so happy when she was able to attend our wedding.

In the past 10 years we have lost very dear loved ones. I miss them each and everyday. My grandfather, my great-grandmother, and Matt's brother. I am happy they were able to be a part of our day.

The kids were so excited for our wedding. They were all so happy to be apart of this day. Andrew was worried the whole day that we would be leaving and never coming back. He was attached to us the whole day.

I just love this church. It was a perfect fit for us. Even to this day we go in and sit to reminisce of that day. When we go on the Yuletide tour at the museum it is one of the stops we look forward to . The church is all aglow in candlelight.