Completely At Peace... If Only For Just A Few Minutes

Lately things have been so hectic, I feel like I'm a chicken running around with my head cut off. I love it, really. That feeling of adrenaline (will I get everything done I need to do today)? Usually, the answer is no. Today is no different. There always seems to be a reason why something hasn't gotten done. Today it was, "I can't get my Session Guide emailed to my clients for this weekend, and the ones next week because my computer is in the shop, and I can't remember what I wrote in the first one. But I did look for apartments, check emails, write my client, go to the doctor (boo), and have dinner with my husband, my brother and mom. I have my priorities straight. Is the kitchen clean? No, is the living room picked up? Sort of. The paper the cat tore up all over has been vacuumed, but the vacuum is still sitting against the wall where I'm sure it will take up residence for a few days. I'm not strong enough to lift if out of the living room, and up into the hall. No, Josh won't do it either... So there it will sit. :)

Yesterday was the busiest day I've had so far this week. I flew to Boise at 8:45 A.M. finished cleaning the apartment, and was back on a plane flying home at 8:00 P.M. I flew at the two best times to fly. My flight home was probably the best flight I've been on. I was exhausted, my feet were killing me, and I was irritated at the three guys who had been sitting behind me at the gate because they had been talking about the opinion of their vote in the upcoming election. There must have been 20 of us hovered around the t.v. at the gate watching the Presidential Debate. I cared what Obama and McCain had to say, not Joe blow behind me. I just wanted to get my flight over, and get home to see my husband. I am so tired of flying that I would walk to Boise if it didn't take me a decade. Needless to say, I was in an alright mood, but that could have changed at the drop of a hat. My head was frantic figuring out what had to come next, when I could get to sleep, and what had to happen tomorrow.

We took off from the tarmac, my favorite part of the flight, and I peered out the window at the sky. I love looking down at the houses, all the lights. Everything seems so small. It give you a sense of greatness. What we do is important, but at the same time our lives in this immediate space is so small. And when I saw the sky, my breath was taken away. I have seen my fair share of gorgeous sunsets, but this one had to be the top. I've seen it in Monet's "Dusk" painting, but have never experienced it myself. It's a sight that is impossible to tear yourself away from. It's my favorite Monet painting! Something about the reds and blues and the peacefulness of it all calmed me and spoke peace into my heart. All of the worries I had went away and the only thing I heard were the sweet words of John Hiatt coming from my ipod. I was completely enveloped. I could live those few moments forever.

I had this odd sense that no matter what I get done and don't, or what happens during the day God will make sure everything is just as it should be. I felt like this sunset was a secret for me, something only I saw, anyone else could see it, if only they had peeked out their windows to see. It was a reminder of saying to me, "Look at what I have created, and look at what I have given to you... All of this is for you." It's for all of us really. What an amazing gift.Sometimes I find it hard to stop and look around with so many worries, and so many tasks to do. I'm glad I took the time to look.

Have a blessed night. Remember to take a few minutes to enjoy what God gave us!

Alyssa

Just Because

4 things I did today
1. Went to the doctor to have my ears cleaned out:(
2. Went to Olympia with my mom: got new pants and a purse.
3. Finally made the apple pie I've been putting off making
4. Had dinner with Josh's parents.

4 things on my to do list
1. Take two flights tomorrow one to boise to close on our apartment, and one home after everything is done.
2. Figure out how to get through tomorrow's schedule.
3. Plan for this weekend's session.
4. Look for a new apartment.

4 of my guiltiest pleasures
1. Stalking blogs that I love while I should be doing other things.
2. Watching Reba and Golden Girls.
3. Cuddling our kitty Cairo even when she tries to run away.
4. Obsessively planning for sessions.

4 random facts about me
1. I love everything about magazines. The way they feel, smell, everything.
2. I love going for drives
3. I think about things to write about before I blog.
4. I love Vanilla Chai Teas from All Wrapped Up!

I love my husband!

Last Saturday I had the privilege of photographing Megan and Scott, like I said in the previous post. I had told Josh a couple days earlier that I wanted to do something more romantic together. With all our moving around and such, and the lack of funds we really try to stick around home and find things to do, like rent a movie instead of going to the theater. I came home from Megan and Scott's session to find Josh making dinner. I knew this was going to happen, but didn't know that he had a surprise waiting for me. My darling husband had set up a candle light dinner outside on the picnic table. The food was wonderful, the company was wonderful. This is one reason why I love him. It was freezing outside, but so worth it. Here is his beautiful dinner and a picture of his wonderful set up!

Cinnamon Pancetta Carbonara

Josh's set up!

This carbonara was sooo good! Tonight I made Sweet Potato Ravioli with Lemon Sage Butter. No pictures tonight. The ravioli wasn't as pretty as in the magazine. I just hate that! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Alyssa and Josh too!

Hello Everyone!

Megan and Scott have made their debut on my photography blog, and I just wanted those of you who check this and not my other one to be able to take a look! alyssalillegard.blogspot.com head on over!



I hope all of you in the little town of Montesano are enjoying this beautiful weather we are having. Isn't it glorious? I will blog soon... I hope. I'm trying to figure out something cool to talk about!



Have a beautiful rest of the day. God Bless!



Alyssa

Please Pray

I know this is a little late to be posting this, but just a quick note! Josh has an interview today with Cowlitz County PUD. He's a little nervous. I am too! If you could please say a little prayer that he does well that would be wonderful. He is already surrounded by so many wonderful people praying for him, but a few more prayers couldn't hurt. I will post more later! Thank you so much. Have a blessed Monday!

Alyssa

Random Thoughts

I don't have anything to blog about really, but I thought I would let you see a few of the thoughts that go on in my head on a day to day basis. I've always been a doodler, my mom is too. I doodle while I talk on the phone, will I watch movies, basically whenever I feel like I'm not busy enough with whatever else I'm doing. I usually have to be doing something with my hands to be content. Josh asks why I can't just sit and watch a movie. I get to antsy. I always need to be doing something else. So, like I said here are some of the thoughts that I had the other day as I was on the phone with the leasing office of our apartment and while I was searching the internet because I was bored.

The new biz cards!

The close up

Hope you have a wonderful, blessed Sunday!

Alyssa

My Bucket List

I think as we grow older and work over comes our lives we tend to forget about the things that we wanted as a child, and even the things we really want as adults. There are always the immediate wants, and even needs that we come upon on a daily basis. For instance we need more laundry detergent, we need more food in the refrigerator, and we always need more money. And while those things are needed we rarely stop and take just a few minutes to think about what we really want in life. Some things we really want are material things, and others are not. I don't see anything wrong with wanting a few material items. I love gadgets of all sorts, and I love lots of different things, but there has to be room for those other things that make us happy as well, and things that we can do to make others happy also. So, with our current state in this seemingly never ending nomadic lifestyle that Josh and I have become so accustomed to, I have had some time to really think about some of the things I want in life. Some are probably unachieveable, and my life will be no less special in the eyes of God and in the eyes of friends because I didn't finish everything on my list, but I'd at least like to check off a couple. At least just to enjoy life a little more and leave with the satisfaction that I did a few things. So here is my bucket list. At least the first 100 things on my bucket list.

These are in no particular order of importance, I just typed what came to me in the moment. I'm sure there will be a hundred more things I want to do tomorrow. You don't have to read through this whole post, because I know it's long, but if you do, I hope some of the things I have written stirs a desire within you to take the time and do the same. Take the time to realize your dreams. They are beautiful.

1. Make a difference in someone else’s life.
2. Spend a whole day lying in a field of grass with not a care in the world.
3. Celebrate a birthday at a wine bar in Italy.
4. Read all the books want to.
5. Own a villa in Provence, France or Tuscany, Italy.
6. Go on a wine tour through either of above countries, or Napa California.
7. Find a niche I can carve out for myself in photography.
8. Find a way to use my profession to give to families that are dealing with Parkinson’s.
9. Be the person God wants me to be.
10. Always do things that would make my dad proud.
11. Write a book.
12. Have children
13. Raise my children to be good and moral human beings.
14. Read my bible more.
15. Learn how to speak French and Italian
16. Laugh more.
17. Love more.
18. Spend an entire evening having conversation with friends and/or family over a delicious meal, and amazing wine.
19. Really take the time to learn yoga.
20. Dig deep and find who I am as a creative person and what I want.
21. Buy that 5D I’ve been drooling over.
22. See Paris again.
23. If I do go back, get up the guts to buy something wonderful to bring back.
24. Find peace within myself.
25. Never stop learning and gaining wisdom.
26. Become a better photographer.
27. Be a person that someone else looks up to.
28. Let my friends and family know how much they have touched my heart.
29. Have wonderful relationships with friends, family, and even my clients.
30. Continue to be me.
31. Continue to improve the person that I am becoming.
32. Go Sailing.
33. Be a good wife.
34. Be a good mother.
35. Go to Washington DC.
36. See a Van Gogh painting in person.
37. Learn to bake better!
38. Dress amazingly.
39. Try Sushi
40. Run barefoot
41. Build our dream home.
42. Take more bubble baths
43. See Michael Buble, Billy Joel, and Tom Petty in Concert.
44. Write more.
45. Visit the museums I’ve always wanted to see.
46. Learn to sing La Vie En Rose in French, not just English.
48. Be a master organizer.
49. Take a 103 day cruise with my husband.
50. Swim with dolphins.
51. Create something.
52. Take photos people fall in love with and can’t get enough of.
53. Donate a lot of money to causes I believe in.
54. Have breakfast in bed.
55. Go to a bed and breakfast and spend the entire day in bed if I want to.
56. Paint more.
57. Feel inspired.
58. Actually do the things at Christmas that I’ve always wanted to do.
59. Have a Great Love.
60. Leave behind words and a life to encourage others and inspire them.
61. Live well
62. Learn to dance.
63. Keep the friendships I have, but build new ones as well.
64. Learn to ski.
65. Spend a Christmas in the mountains with close family.
66. Find the time to scrapbook.
67. Spend the money on the wonderful creative things I see online.
68. Drive Faster.
69. Become a member of the SWAT team. (Childhood aspirations).
70. Help someone in a significant way. Not for me, but for them.
71. Listen to Christmas music with my kids, starting in February.
72. Be young at heart.
73. Keep the dreams I’ve always had, and never let go of them.
74. Achieve some of my childhood dreams just like Randy Pausch would want me to do.
75. Swim in the Mediterranean again. And next time don’t be so scared of running around topless.
76.Make memories.
77. Eat pizza on the sidewalk in the middle of the night in Rome again.
78. Go to Greece.
79. Name my kids weird names that no one else will like because they aren’t as cool as me.
80.Have a rose garden.
90. Spend time on the front porch with my coffee, my husband and my rocking chair.
91. Don’t be afraid to fail, and don’t be afraid to succeed.
92. Always tell my children how wonderful they are, and give them encouragement.
93. Buy the bathtub couch from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and put it in my office.
94. Design children’s clothes that are beautiful and simple.
95. Learn about people. Always listen with an open heart.
96. Always see the wonders that God has created and try not to take it for granted.
97. Be stronger.
98. See the winter and summer Olympics in person.
99. Continue to love the job that I am doing, and continue to be inspired by the people I work with.
100. Have a beautiful and full life.