Christmas Aftermath

Well, in the aftermath of Christmas, you know what that is, right? The packing to go home, the forgetting things, the travel, the sleep, and finally all of the laundry and clean up once you get home. Anyway, as I was saying in the aftermath, I have realized that I did not post at all before Christmas, and did not wish you, what few of you that stop by, a Merry CHRISTmas. Yes, I know that Christ is in caps, as I know the true meaning of Christmas.

I have some disappointment, I forgot to attend Midnight Mass. Now, I am not Catholic, nor do I have issue with them, or find them "beneath" me. I simply understand why that they attend. It is just something I just want to attend.

So here we are gearing up for a new year. Wow, this year has been a whirlwind. mostly frustrating and full of change. But like the weather, we all go through seasons of change, and that the times when we are having our "limbs" lopped off are especially difficult, we know - and often forget - that once spring comes we will blossom.

I am finding that even though this has been an extremely emotional and difficult year, I am still alive, and I have made it through. The Metamorphosis has been difficult, but I see the changes for the better, they were not easy, and I often feel lazy and want to return to my old ways, I cannot.

I have found more love, and more strength than I knew I had. And although some things are and can be reminders of the pain, I CHOOSE to move forward. I CHOOSE to pray about things that I cannot control or rid myself of. I CHOOSE to show more love. I CHOOSE to make things more magical.

So what did you get for Christmas? I got a Polaroid 300, some jewelry, perfume, and from myself a new book. I would like to have a classic Polaroid, like an SX-70, but being that this was a more simple Christmas, I got things I needed {socks, underwear, etc}. Plus the film cost for the SX-70 played an important roll. Oops, role, LOL.

We got 4-5 inches of snow in NC, their first white Christmas since the 1940s (but we weren't here for that) and we got about 6-8 inches of snow in WV over the Christmas weekend. So travelling home yesterday was fun. And not in the jovial sense.

Well it is off to eat and clean, hope you had a Wonderful Christmas and there will be at least one more post before New Years - I promise! And before I go, here is a "Polaroid" of my real Polaroids and my christmas socks from my good friend Crystal!

A Weekend Wrap up

Wow, it feels like forever since I have been on here, well I know it has. I just journal so much that I just never seem to find the time to do this anymore, and really I should, but I never manage to.

So, last weekend saw me doing some portraiture (I can't believe he is almost 31! He looks like he's 18-20) and getting to see a coal powered steam engine! 

I have also been working on the reverb10 prompts. BUT since it is the 19th of December I don't think I will be posting my responses on here.


Another big thing this month is we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary in the early part of the month.
 We had a private vow renewal as well - it was only the two of us. I believe that small things like that mean far more than they would if you did them in front of a large crowd of people. However, the plus side to having friends and family present is that they can remind you of how you should be nicer, more forgiving, etc to your spouse.

 We have been working overtime. He has been working a couple of months now so that is a MAJOR prayer answered.

I have also been working towards deciding my Word For The Year. I had two for 2010 - Metamorphosis and Fearless. I truly believe they both have had their bouts with me. From very badly paying unemployment and another job loss to trying to push my photography forward to major changes in my life - it has been a year. I will be so glad to begin a new year with a new word that hopefully will be a great year.

I won't reveal my 2011 word just yet. I will wait until after Christmas. But I went through days and weeks of decisions and worrying whether I was being selfish with the word I finally chose. I even talked to a close friend, okay emailed - but it COUNTS - to make sure I was looking at the correct side of the word. I know worry is useless, but show me someone that NEVER worries, I want some serious lessons and their phone number so I can call them and try to make it through it. I know, I know, PRAY. I get so caught up that I often don't even think about that.

I had like 30 words on my list and finally the word hit me. I was really thinking of a different word, contentment, but it was like something hit me. {The same thing happened last year with Metamorphosis - Which has truly been more of my word for this year than fearless.} and I knew to use it, but I still questioned my motives. And sadly my word wasn't on my list! ha ha take that list!!

I am currently working on a surprise present for a friend, so I have to go. If I don't update on Wednesday, please remember that it is not the price of the gift or the amount of gifts that you give or receive, it is about the fact that you are ABLE to give something - if it is only a hug, or an hour of your time, that truly matters. We often forget that giving is the more important gift.

Merry Christmas - and remember, you were already given the GREATEST gift of all over 2,000 years ago in a dirty old stable. - Angie

Weekly Wrap Up

So here begins another wrap up. These are some of the few photographs I was able to take before I lost the contact lens. Well, today I got my replacements! Yay, I can see! ha ha It is such a world of difference to be able to read (and edit)with both eyes. I can hardly believe that during the holiday last week I hardly took any photos - crazy right?! Well I plan to make up for it in the coming weeks. So how is your holiday shopping going? Mine is non-existent at the moment. Hopefully that will change soon. I am currently disliking how blogger has changed the feature that let you write next to the photos. Maybe I just haven't checked into it better to see how to do this and have separate paragraphs without messing up the photo's alignment. Oh and I finally, well, my good friend, as been getting my photos uploaded to Etsy for sale. You can click on the link to the right to go there. Have a great week!