the answer is...

It was snowing.

As we headed out of town we were all brimming with the over-excitement of weekend Christmas celebration when I realized there was a tiny maintenance light illuminated on my dashboard. I, knowing next to nothing about cars except how to drive them, fumbled for my phone in a panic. 

"The ESC light! It's on! Something is definitely wrong!" I was frantic. I was sure we'd break down in the middle of the snow-covered isolated Ohio country, be late for our Christmas bash, be forced to tow my car to a repair shop where I would have to spend all of my Christmas gift money on mechanic-lingo I couldn't decipher. Panic and confusion dominated and surely Christmas would be ruined too.

"Turn it off, Rache," is what my savior cousin car-guru dictated to me over the phone. "If the ESC light is on, just turn it off." I was dumbfounded. That was the answer to my current state of demise? Pushing a button? Sure enough, my leg had slipped and pushed something called an "ESC button," which consequently turned on the ESC light on the dashboard.

I pushed it. The light went off. Problem solved. Panic disolved. Peace restored.

I often wish something like this existed for real-life struggles. I am slowly learning to believe it does...

p.s. This post's photos were born of one of my incessant topics of thought, which I believe has been summed up by another designer in the phrase "The Lost Art of Hand Lettering". This is the skeletal structure. Final version yet to come...

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The Dream Breed

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Today I went with my coworker to one of my very favorite places to buy clothes to participate in something called a Holiday Display Workshop. (Yes, it is exactly that. A store with a cult following gets their loyal customers to do work for them for free.) But truly, it was a great time, to sit in the middle of a bustling high-ceiling retail store with your sleeves rolled up, hair slipping out of it's tie, and white paint beneath your fingernails decorating snowflakes. All of this with 10 other women chatting away.

Anyhow, the DC (cool Anthro lingo for Display Coordinator) who led the workshop inspired me. She was a person who represented a handful of people I have encountered lately...people who have chosen a passion, worked towards it, and with patience and perseverance have slowly seen their dreams come to fruition. I'll call them the Dream Breed. 

This girl got her Bachelors of Fine Arts while working at the retail store as a Sales Associate, graduated, was promoted, and now, just two years after finishing school, has one of the most unique, exhilarating and fulfilling jobs in her field.

Another person of the Dream Breed: I recently met a girl my age - a true kindred spirit - who works for a national pro-life non-profit and has been campaigning for the past nine months. She graduated two years ago, came across the job through her family and church and dove into it wholeheartedly despite it not being her field of study. Upon talking with her during her visit to Columbus, where she had traveled last minute to promote a tv spot her organization released, she conveyed a pure joy and dedication to what she was doing. She wasn't sarcastic, worn-out or apathetic about her job, despite the nature of it...full of travel and contention. She was grounded in her belief that motivated her. 

These people are in a class all of their own to me. I respect them not because they are successful, but because they are dedicated, passionate, and - most of all - hopeful about the world that surrounds them. So, here's to seizing days and fulfilling dreams. 

These photos are of my sister, Elizabeth, her husband Ross and their family-full-of-goodness. They are some of my favorite people in the entire world. BTW, both Elizabeth and Ross are champions of the Dream Breed.

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We've Got Columbus

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Autumn chill. Hot Cocoa. A troupe of photographers.

Have you any idea how the combination of those three things can really make an October Saturday morning incredible?​ And it all took place in Columbus. Let me tell you: Columbus, Ohio is the heart of the Heart of It All. Seriously. Don't let anybody tell you different[ly]. We've got Jeni's homemade ice cream. We've got the Buckeyes. We've got Jacks (Hanna and Nicklaus).  We've got construction on all of the major highways (who doesn't love traffic, right? Just plan to be fashionably late).

All of this made today's participation in the World Wide Photo Walk completely wonderful. It was a joy to wander around downtown with good (and talented!) company and cameras. Thanks to Shanna for introducing me to what I hope will be a tradition!

p.s. If you have Kenny Rogers in your head after reading the title of this post, we are, unfortunately, kindred spirits.​

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One, Two, Three, Gratitude

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Have you ever felt the feeling of gratitude? I hope so. It's a truly human sentiment. ​It's really an over-generalized term for what I'm about to describe, but it's there nonetheless. 

The family pictured here is the first I ever had the pleasure of photographing. Before I even knew I loved doing it, Kate consistently called me to take photos of her family. She called a first, but then a second and a third time as seasons passed and as the family grew. And with the third time I found myself enjoying the opportunity not only to take pictures, but to tell a story...the story of family.

​So, it's for Kate and her husband Jon that I am grateful today. Thank you for helping me discover the meaning of joy in telling a story with a photo!

p.s.  Did you know gratitude is eucharisteo in Greek? Thus, eucharisteo is a favorite word of mine, but it wasn't until I learned about it in book about how giving thanks can change your life. It's called One Thousand Gifts, by a hero-blogger called Ann Voskamp. Take a minute to peruse her blog. You'll be inspired, without question.

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