So we were gearing up for a big snow storm to hit the Atlanta area. The offfice closed early, I picked up Luger from camp and before I got home it started to rain. It stayed rain up until the temps went below freezing. When Luger and I got up this morning, I was half expecting inches of snow but there wasn't any just a layer of ice.
photo credit: lauradake
photo credit: lauradake
photo credit: lauradake
So far so good. I have kept this up for 6 days!
Last night we met our friends Jeff and Sheena and their son, Caed for dinner. They were on their way home to Florida after Christmas vacation. Since they were going to be in Atlanta it would've been a shame if we couldn't see each other. We met in Atlantic Station at Rosa Mexicano. They do a great guacamole table side.
It was so good to be with them and have a meal, to be able to catch up since our vacation to New York City in September. Caed has grown so much since then. He is so interactive! So fun! Love hIm!
We are all busy with our families, work, schedules and sometimes are just tired, but it's important to make time for those people who mean so much.
Grateful for special friends!
Christmas Eve, I was in Atlanta doing a little project. It was a beautiful warm day in December. Unusual. But so lovely! As I was heading back to my car, I turned around and took a photo of Skyview Atlanta. Because it was so warm and it was Christmas Eve, families were taking the opportunity to be together, outside and enjoy the sights Atlanta has to offer.
I remember the year Doug died, my sister, Melissa came to visit us and we went on Skyview Atlanta. At times we were a little freaked out but then we started laughing asking, "What would Doug do?" He would have had that car swinging back and forth. He would be laughing with that infectious laugh of his and I would've been yelling at him to stop.
Good times. Special memories. Never forgotten. Always loved.
photo credit: lauradake
Finally!! Last car payment! After this month we will own both of our cars! It's such a good feeling. Now to use that money to pay down other debt. Here's to working on financial freedom.
It has been dark and rainy in Atlanta for days. It is dreary and depressing. I need sunshine to function. It stormed last night and trying to get your dog to outside and do it's business is nearly impossible.
This morning the rain subsided and on my way to work it was so good to see blue sky peeking through the clouds, if even for a moment. It is still pretty cloudy but it is so refreshing when the suns pokes through and lightens up my office on my first day back from vacation.
photo credit: lauradake
I love photography and I'm snapping all the time but forget to post in this space of mine. I'm going to take on this challenge of taking a photo a day. Let's see how this goes.
Today is our last day of vacation and I'm enjoying this moment where Luger is chill and relaxed! He has been a crazy wound up mess over this holiday so I'm grateful for this peaceful moment.
photo credit: lauradake
Last night my mom and I went to Dancing With The Stars Live Tour. It was awesome as always. This year it was at The Fox Theatre. In past years it was at a different venue. My mother had never been to the Fox so I was excited for her to see it. The building has so much character. When you are in the theatre it looks like you are outside under the stars and sky in Moracco.
The company, the venue and the show was a great way to spend the last day of 2016.
Here's to 2017!
photo credit: lauradake
photo credit: lauradake
I can't believe another year has flown by. This year we were able to take a couple of trips and see friends. We planned a trip to New York with friends and we saw Hamilton...on broadway. The boys also bought us tickets to see Waitress The Musical. We also had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii. God was very generous with beauty when he created the islands. We have been very fortunate.
Here are my top nine photos from instagram.
There are plenty of things I want to do or change and I will definitely be working on those areas of my life. I read someone's blog that I follow and she wrote this quote from Oprah Winfrey, "We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” I don't like change but I recognize that if we don't make some changes we only stay the same.
So here's to 2017!
A week and a half ago I was taken to the ER by ambulance. I was prescribed what I thought to be a normal antibiotic but my body was not having it. It started to reject it and put me into anaphylactic shock.
At the hospital the doctors couldn't believe that a simple antibiotic would do this to my body. My white blood count was four times the normal number. Fluids were being pumped into my body by an IV along with Benadryl, nausea medicine etc. A chest X-ray and CAT Scan were also ordered. The ER nurse administered an EPI pen, into my arm and not my leg, and the result was less than favorable. The needle hit the bone and bent. A numbing agent was shot into my arm so they could get the needle out without me screaming my head off.
Finally around 1am, I was taken to a room so the nurses and doctors could watch over me. They continued to take my vitals and give me fluids. I stayed all day the next day. They wanted me to eat three meals. They wanted to make sure my system was getting back to normal. I was exhausted for the next week. This ordeal zapped the life out of me!
The other part of this story is my husband was out of town in North Carolina and my parents were on vacation in Florida. Luger was home by himself all day long. I was leaving work early because I didn't feel well so my boss thought I was already home. I texted Mrs. Mockabee to tell her what was happening and her secretary, Ruth was still there so she came to my rescue. The Mockabee's turned right around and came back to the office.
So many people helped us and I can't begin to thank them for being selfless (and I hope I don't leave anyone out. I was out of if for a while.) The Mockabee's who stayed with me until Bernie arrived and saw me at my worst. I owe them a lot! The Westmoreland's for giving Bernie their car so he could drive from NC. Brad and Emma who helped with Luger. Chris and Meagan who came to my house to sit for hours so that Luger wasn't alone. Sunshine who was at the ready, waiting to see where she was needed. Melody Rowland for coming by the hospital to pray with us. The Argot's who provided food for us to eat when we got out of the hospital. There are so many more that I'm sure I don't even know about but especially for the texts, calls and for the prayers. Wow! I am blessed and felt the love.
On Thursday morning while the nurse was taking out one of the IV's I had in my arm she saw my hope tattoo and said, "that's a nice reminder." I was able to share my testimony and tell her about my brother. I was able to share our story about hope. Even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted for Doug, God's plan is greater. Our hope is in Jesus and Doug now lives in heaven! Praise the Lord! I shared with her the bible reference that Bernie and my father have on their arm...Jeremiah 29:11
Later that morning my nurse Rita, came back to my room with Mara, my day nurse. She asked me what that reference was and she opened the bible app and read it out loud. When she finished she looked up and said, "that is cool."
This experience was awful and I hope I never experience it again but I am so grateful for the people in my life who love me and for the opportunity to share my story of hope.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah29:11 [NLT]
I'e been wanting to share a moment I had this weekend. I'm finally able to jot down my thoughts.
On Saturday morning I was the photographer for the Territorial Men's Conference for the Salvation Army Southern Territory. It is strange being at a conference when you are one of three women but I had a job to do.
The speaker for the conference was Jonathan Evans. He was a college football player and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He is the chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys, co-chaplain with his father Tony Evans of the Dallas Mavericks and a Christian author, speaker and pastor. You may be familiar with his sister Priscilla Shirer.
Sometimes when you are behind the camera, you are concentrating on capturing the moment and you aren't paying attention to what the speaker is actually talking about. I was sitting on the front row in the chapel. I know he was speaking about Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. He was talking about being thirsty. You know, when you are so thirsty that a coke or any other kind of drink won't quench your thirst. Water is the only drink that can satisfy that thirst.
As I sat on the FRONT row, in that moment I thought of my brother. As he was dying, he would often tell us how thirsty he was. He had cancer that was taking over his body and shutting it down. He couldn't swallow very well. He was SO thirsty! He would suck on little sponge lollipops but even then the little bit of water that came off that sponge, couldn't get it past his throat. He would say, "I want my thirst quenched." It is very difficult to watch someone you love so much, in so much need and something as simple as a drink of water you couldn't provide.
I was fighting back tears but I couldn't make them stop. Being the photographer you are always on the move, so I gathered up my cameras and made my way to the balcony where my husband was and so I could let the tears flow freely.
Later that weekend I talked to my good friend Judy who understands the cancer journey. She said that Doug's thirst has been quench by The Living Water himself. Jesus took care of his thirst for eternity.
I am grateful that God gave me the best brother I could have ever imagined. I don't understand why He wanted Doug more in heaven than I wanted him on earth but I know that Doug lives with Jesus in heaven today and for eternity. That is the greatest gift.
“Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst-not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” ”