A Whirlwind. Literally..

A windstorm hit our family's lakehouse this past week. And before any Oh no!s, let me clarify that the house is fine, and no one was hurt. Thankfully. However, the dock is another story. Kind of. For all we know, the dock might be happy as ever, resting at the bottom of Burt Lake. Or it might have been chucked all the way to Mullet Lake and feeling sad to have left our shore. Either way, it's gone. As in, gone gone. Our neighbor sent a photo to my dad of our rather forlorn looking boat sitting on a hoist, waist-deep in the water. One jet ski appeared proud, almost laughing at its counterpart, who was, sadly, tossed up on the bank while it's hoist was flipped over upside down in the water. What a mess! We heard the whole lake lay littered with bits and pieces of dock and remnants of a battle only the wind won. My parents' reaction? Laughter. My dad saw the photo and laughed. It wasn't the reaction one might expect. Except if you know my glass-half-full parents. They don't sweat the small stuff. I wished I could see the lake in person. A complete mess of beauty that's been shaken and left tired, ready to be rebuilt.

Rebuilt. Newness. Function. Beauty. All in a place that so many hold so close to heart. It left me thankful for the days that leave me in tears, overwhelmed and worn out. Because it's worth it. A journey isn't a journey unless it's tough. I need to capture life. It's what I was born to do. I feel it in my soul. And I owe it to my family to give it one hell of a shot. So I may not know all I want to know. I may stumble. I may spend too many late nights editing. Laundry may be piled in the hall, and my poor husband might be forced to fend for himself for occaaaaasional dinners. My to-do list may be longer than I'd like to admit, and my computer might be as tired as I am. But. It's the most beautiful mess I've ever seen. Just like the calm, clear waters torn up by ferocious wind, underneath my mess lies new life, the life I never knew I wanted so badly, and can no longer live without. We're building it. Rebuilding ourselves as we build our business. It's going to be strong. It's going to be good. It's going to be beautiful.

This was taken via blackberry..

Lifestyle: Russ & Kate

Happiness is contagious. A happy home is beautiful. And two souls made for its counterpart? The most human, and heavenly thing we can ever experience. Russ and Kate are two such souls, and we are beyond blessed to have them as such dear friends, in our corner for life. We decided to capture their moments at home, with the other member of their sweet family- Haley the pooch! A year and a half as hubby and wife, aaaand as homeowners, these two have so much to be thankful for. And anyone who knows them knows, they are two of the most genuine, kind hearted, beautiful people on this earth. We laughed, and braved the mid-summer Ohio heatwave to snap some photos. It was the perfect setting- the place that makes them happiest, their own peaceful sancuary from the outside world. Always quick to laugh, and offer friendship and hugs, I can only imagine the bubble of bliss these two reside in, as the rest of the world melts away at the door.

Kate and Russ, we love you two to death. Thank you both for always being a constant stream of happiness and faith in all of your friends' lives!

Josh & Casey: Married!

Emotion is the single element setting apart a wedding day from all others. A surreal blend of fantasy and reality. Of true bliss and happiness. Seeing every soul held close to your heart in one room, at the same moment, mingling about, with you and your beloved. This day only happens once, and is over in a blink of an eye. Yet the day's reel is front and center of your mind's theater, playing happily alongside real life.

Josh and Casey's wedding day was filled with emotion. From the moment the bride's brother and father stepped in to see their radiant sister / daughter in her wedding gown, to the side-splitting roast the groom's brothers gave as a toast to the new couple. Tight hugs and loving glances. Casey told me weeks before the big day that she had only one photo request. Josh's face as she walked down the aisle. Done. I thought to myself. I'm usually the one turning the opposite direction as the bride enters anyway. There's something so beautiful splashed across a groom's face as he sees his future wife for the first time. Whether it's tears, laughter, a gigantic grin, or simply nerves, it is there. Raw, pure emotion. Casey, I'm not sure if you could see him from where you entered, but before he smiled, before he grinned, before he took your hand, his jaw dropped. It was beautiful, sweet, endearing and real.

Josh and Casey, your day was just as perfect as you- completely happy, and incredibly beautiful. We wish you a lifetime of these days, filled with pure emotion, surrounded by love. May gravity always throw Josh's jaw to the ground when you enter a room, and may you always hold as tightly to one another as you did on your wedding day. Congratulations, with much love, from us to you!

Red Eyed Tree Frog!

We only get one life. Limited hours spent laughing. Only so many tangible moments to spend breathing in all that is good around us. To spend our time truly experiencing our world, we need others. The good others. Those who let us be who we are, say what we feel, and love us anyway. Those who lift us higher. Those who see the world in a magical light. It is these others who make life sweeter, days brighter, and friendship more destined to be. Friendship is connected at our souls. If we're lucky, and I mean really lucky, we meet our soul buddy. Those who cross our path and are instantly connected to our hearts. None of that "sometimes friends" or acquaintance nonsense. Just pure and simple friends. Joined at the heart, right from the start. And when life and people shake you to your core, it's good to have solid friendship resting in your corner, before you even know you need it.

My soul buddy, Dru, is a stunningly beautiful person- inside and out. You know it upon meeting her and her gorgeous family. A happily married mother of two incredible little people, I'm SO thankful to have this girl in my corner. Living in different states, we may not be able to spontaneously make plans in the (happy) muddle of everyday life, but we're still pretty good at planning adventures. And oh, there have been many! I'll take the shenanigans of our younger days to the grave, but the most recent adventure was blog-worthy. To the Toledo Zoo we went! Halfway between my home and hers, it was perfect.

Godkids. These smiles melt my heart.

He could barely contain his excitement.. red eyed tree frog!

His life is complete!

Vivi and a frog.

Love. Times a million trillion.

Oh! Did I forget to mention she's a phenomenal photographer? 'Cuz she is! Check out Dru's work at http://drusillafisher.blogspot.com/ or look up her facebook page- Two Fish Photography!