live and love...out loud

RIP Mr. Entry Level Nikon {Wordless/Wordful Wednesday}

RIP Mr. Entry Level Nikon October 26, 2007 – December 24, 2011 We’ve been through a lot together, Mr. Entry Level Nikon and me. We were an inseparable pair. We traipsed our way through Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Hawaii and Washington DC. We captured beauty within our world, watched my children grow and [...]

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Rainbow Pancakes: My Favorite Holiday Tradition {And a $200 Target Gift Card Giveaway}

Family traditions are the stuff that childhood memories are made of – family game night, Sunday dinner, evening walks. The list goes on. Holiday traditions are no different. Whether you bake cookies as a family, decorate the Christmas tree together or host a fun dollar store gift exchange like we do, there’s no denying that [...]

For Now, I’m Breathing a Sigh of Relief {My Breast Lump Journey}

fibroadenoma, non-cancerous tumor, my breast lump journey, i found a lump in my breast,

My breast lump ultrasound results are finally in! (Well, they were in last week but my doctor was on vacation and refused to allow her staff to give them to me over the phone. So she waited until she returned to the office today to tell her staff that it was finally okay to call [...]

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Hell, High Water or Frost {Wordless/Wordful Wednesday}

Hell, High Water or Frost {Wordless Wednesday }

The last four days have been a bit of a roller coaster; moments of joy and happiness with feelings of worry and uncertainty thrown into the mix as well. I’ve yet to receive a definitive answer as to whether or not the lump in my breast is cancerous. The results of my recent ultrasound have been [...]

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Blessed Beyond Measure: Merry Christmas

My camera broke on Christmas Eve. My ultrasound results still haven’t come in. I’m worried, upset and stressed out. But I’m blessed beyond measure. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my belly. I also have a husband and four children who are happy, healthy and fill my [...]

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I’ve Grown Weary of Waiting {My Breast Lump Journey}

My breast lump journey continues… I’m anxious. I’m scared. My patience is wearing thin. I’ve grown weary of waiting. 17 days have passed since I discovered the new lump in my breast. 8 days have passed since my diagnostic mammogram. 4 days have passed since I received some disappointing news. 3 days have passed since I [...]

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There’s Just No Place Like Home for the Holidays

A few months ago, I left small town Missouri and popped on over to Hawaii (it’s only 4,013 miles away, you know) to surprise family and friends. The joy of seeing their faces light up when I walked into the room was amazing. I’m smiling through my tears just thinking about it. Oh how I [...]

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The Faces of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer. No two words in the English language spark as much fear in the heart of a woman as the words “breast cancer” do. Breast cancer scares me. It whispers in my ear, keeps me up at night and threatens to steal my joy. I found a lump in my breast. Again. I am sick-to-my-stomach [...]

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Spreading Photography Joy Through The PEN Ready Project

I’m head-over-heels in love with photography. It excites me, challenges me and – this might surprise you – it fills me with joy. Camera in hand, I’m invincible and free; privy to some great big secret hidden from the non-camera-carrying folks moving about our world. My heart quickens with each click of the shutter button. And the [...]

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Spreading Joy and Cheer Through Holiday Decorating

Spreading holiday cheer through decorating

As a busy wife and mother of four children ranging in age from toddler to teens, my holiday decorating style reflects our family’s happy and hectic life. Our home is filled with laughter, love and a whole lot of squealing. We’re the fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants type of folks. You won’t find perfectly matched ornaments, stockings and holiday nick knacks around [...]

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