Gogh'ing The Distance...

This post is for my dearest Susie.  Susie the Great.  Susie the Inspiring.  Susie the Talented.  Susie...

Susie is married to Ross.  Ross is one of my father-in-laws (people, please don't make me go into all the details... just take it for what it is - fabulous).  Anyhow... amongst other things, Susie is an artist.  I haven't seen Suz since Christmas time and had heard through the family grapevine that she was on some mission to paint her heart out and beat some record set by Van Gogh.  How fun is that!?!  I had no clue what was really happening, or how serious it was, or what she'd be painting... but I thought it sounded like a ton of fun for miss Susie and if she's happy, then I'm stoked.

Last night, Josh came home and said "Hey, some chick gave me her digits".  HA HA I laughed (and my belly laughed along with me).  Anyhow, he had seen Susie and she gave him the website to follow her project "Gogh'ing The Distance".  So, Josh and I ate dinner and then whipped out my laptop to see the whole thing and get a little more involved.

GASP..... the first painting took me to a place I never wanted to leave... Oh, I loved it... the orchids are beautiful.  Then the next, and the next.... each painting was just as wonderful as the previous, each with their own story and charm.  As we kept browsing, we came upon a little video of Suz on the site and it's her painting and expressing how much she loves it.  I cried.  Yep, tears were coming out of my eyes.  I guess you may need to know Susie in order to appreciate it, but I really don't think so.  She's so gentle, wonderful and insightful... she's a gem and I'll always have a HUGE spot in my heart for her. 

The thing is... we live in such a world of "right now" and "how much can I squeeze into one day".  We've all forgotten how it is to love and be passionate about one thing.  How to let ourselves become completely smothered with joy and delight over one thing... one thing we love, cherish and find complete joy in doing.  We've forgotten how to honor our talents, embrace them and let them flow free.  We've forgotten how to let one thing exhaust us with delight and over-stimulation.  We've simply forgotten how to LIVE.

Please please.. I encourage you to go to her website and see her work.  You can even go see her!  Heck, if you've got little children people, it'd be a WONDERFUL field trip and Susie would love it (she's just up in Truckee)  http://www.vangoghingthedistance.com

I know there's at least one thing on there that will make you say "ahhh" or maybe "awww".  I've stared at the site over and over again today just marveling in the fantasticness (it's my own word) of Susie, her love for her talent and her passion for stepping outside of this chaotic world and taking the time to do what she loves so emphatically. 

Susie.. WE LOVE YOU.  GOGH Get 'em!

24 weeks

Lenee, Kelley, Carissa... this is an update just for you.  If you look a few posts back, there's a post from 21 weeks as well.

Here is the pic of my belly at 24 weeks.  He's wiggling, kicking, and somersaulting all over the place!

One Year

Happy Anniversary my love!  OK, really it was February 15, but my computer wouldn't cooperate and I've been really tired, so I'm posting late.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of our marriage - fabulous!  I love you more today than I did that day, or any day in between.  We had an amazing wedding.  We have amazing family and friends.  We have memories that will last us a lifetime.  Gosh, sitting on the couch thinking about where we were one year ago was fabulous.... we were in Puerto Vallarta in a fabulous resort, soaking up the sun and loving every moment laughing with our family & friends.

For *all of you who would like to relive the memories we were reminiscing about... here you go!  (*OK, so there's only like 2 of you who read this, but I like to pretend). 

WARNING: LOTS OF PHOTOS AHEAD. 

Here we are, bags packed and ready to go!  Kimmy took this picture of us in front of the house at 4am!  And yes, the specks of white are snowflakes!  Mexico here we come!

Our PHENOMENAL friends/photographers (we're lucky) who we actually ran into at LAX on the way!

 

The peacocks & iguanas

 

The glorious "everything": sun, relaxation, pool bar, beach volleyball, poker, etc 

(I think everyone, young and young at heart, was having LOTS of FUN).

 

Zip lining!!  WAHOOOOOOooooo!!!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Getting the gift bags ready!

  

Getting to see EVERYONE!  

It didn't matter if we were at the pool, or at dinner, 

we always had the blessing of being surrounded by our loved ones.  

  

  

THE REHEARSAL DINNER!!

 

I love it when people are waiting to greet you with margaritas!

  

  

  

  

 

Let the martini bar & fire dancing begin!

  

  

  

(Yes, EVERYONE enjoyed the martini bar)

Drum roll.... THE BIG DAY!

 

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

THE END!  And they've lived happily ever after....