Cynthia was a woman unlike any other I’ve ever met – caring, compassionate, thoughtful, artistic, poetic, giving, nurturing, and a blessing to know.  She gave so much to her family, to her community, and to all who came into contact with her.  We often spoke about photography – she, an artist who saw beauty all around her, would talk to me of the photographs that meant so much to her through the years, and those she still wanted to create.

I wish that I had a beautiful image of Cynthia to share with the world, but as is all too common (we moms are our own worst critics and often the last to be seen in family photographs), I have none – just images I created of her children, which I am glad to know she treasured.

So I leave this in tribute to Cynthia – a woman who knew how to express in words what so many of us fail to see, a woman who felt deeply and connected to those around her, a woman whose legacy will long be remembered.  God Bless You, Cynthia, and your family and friends who will always hold the memory of you close to their hearts.

Starting off with a walk around the neighborhood block with Ashley, Alyssa and Madeline…

Yes, she does love being with us and yes, she IS wearing a harness and yes, she will enjoy walks with us one day!

Madeline won this battle.  She is the most human-like dog I’ve ever known.

To celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary, Gabriel and I slipped away for a romantic getaway to Leavenworth.

Yes, I do bring my camera with me on trips, and couldn’t resist taking a few shots of the wedding that was taking place in the center of town.

We stayed at an incredible inn called “Mountain Springs Lodge“.  I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a romantic getaway, a restful retreat, a place to feel truly pampered.

The Northwest Territory Suite was the best!

Trying to walk in the footsteps of my parents, who both have taken their love for nature photography to a new level.  I usually concentrate on photographs with faces, but this was so beautiful, I couldn’t resist.

Ashley’s goal was to visit her dream store – Powell’s Books, that boasts an inventory of a million books housed in a store that covers one city block.  Yes, that smile on her face is real!

Of course, to insure that she spent as much time as she liked at this new hot spot, Ashley made certain that our hotel was right around the corner.  She did a superb job, as she found the most pet-friendly place I’ve ever visited:  The Mark Spencer Hotel.  Not just pet-friendly, they had entire suites set aside for guests traveling with their four-legged friends.  Madeline was given the special treatment as well, as shown on the visitor board at the front desk. We were welcomed in style and would definitely recommend this hotel to others!

Madeline loved the view from our hotel room.

Thankfully the time we were there was beautiful and dry…

I noticed this pile of bricks on our way back from the field, and wanted to do a few images just for me – something different, just for fun.  I’m glad that Traci liked these as much as I did!

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon at the river with our good friends. While the more adventurous crowd went on ahead to scale rocks, swim across the ice-cold water and zip-line to their hearts content, I was more than happy to hang back with those satisfied to sit at the waters edge, enjoy the sun and serenity, and wait for the eventual return of the adventurers in our group.  Of course, having my camera along and an adorable baby to photograph made my time so much more enjoyable!

So here are Sheri and Annika, photographed at the river’s edge – happy and totally content just to be.  What makes Sheri such an incredible mom is her extreme capacity to love, and her ability to see each of her five daughters as valued individuals – there is no “middle child syndrome” in this family.  What a precious gift to give.

(This is what we do when left to our own devices…play in the backyard with sparklers, candles, and cameras on tripods).  Happy 4th of July!

This dream has haunted me for the past twenty+ years.  The sad thing is, the only time this dream is triggered is when I’ve heard on the news about another airline tragedy.  In the dream I had this morning, I was standing at the dock overlooking an airplane that had been downed in water, yet I’m not deterred – they need me.  The circumstances in my recurring dream often changes – sometimes I’m actually working  flight, other times I’m in the main office asking for back wages for all the flights I’ve worked without pay (!) – but several things remain constant.  I never have the ID badge needed to pass security, and I have lost my in-flight manual that is mandatory to carry.  I think that the training I received to be a flight attendant for Northwest Orient Airlines (yes, it was called that back when I started) was extremely thorough, for it sticks with me to this day! Though I only flew with them for two years, that part of my history will stay with me forever.

And because a post isn’t a post without a picture to back it up, I found an image of my first training flight with Northwest Orient Airlines – a 747 trip from Minneapolis-St. Paul to JFK in New York City.  We were so thrilled! (I’m the one in the white suit…)

Good friends.  A loving family.  A sister home from college that leaves sticky notes throughout the house, leading to birthday gifts. New clothes from Anthropologie.  Weather that makes you want to live in Seattle for the rest of your life.  What else could a young girl want on her 17th birthday?  Hopefully, not much more!  It’s so surreal to see my girls growing into young adults…but I gladly watch them make the transition.

I love the way Ashley celebrates life with sticky notes and drawings.  This was her creative way of wishing Alyssa a happy birthday – a healthy dose of Dr. Seuss on the bathroom mirror and tributes all her own.  Awww, how sweet!

Alyssa, I hope that you felt honored and special on your birthday.  We love you!

They say cats have nine lives…Chester’s working hard to keep up.  The sad thing is, I might have had a little bit to do with that tonight.  Invited over for a Memorial Day picnic with our good friends Ken and Lori, I couldn’t resist giving Chester a few scraps as I was cleaning the dishes.  I mean, who could say “no” to those pleading eyes and pitiful glances?  The problem is, I’m used to really big dogs, and Chester is such a little itty-bitty thing…and the scrap I gave him was just a little more than he could handle.  Uh-oh.  Fortunately, Lori was on hand to swoop in a give Chester a little doggy Heimlich maneuver.  Turns out it wasn’t necessary, and Chester survived the momentary discomfort…soon he was back to his neurotic little self.  (It’s okay if I say that…we all know it about him, and love him just the same).  So glad you’re still here, Chester – we love you little buddy!