Sibling Rivalry.

So Max has had the pleasure of hanging with his little sister Talla lately. And when I say little that is exactly what Talla is a "little" Max. It has been so fun to spend time with these two together. Max loves Talla so much. They run together and skip together and play together and wear each other out, which is a beautiful thing. Here are some cute pics of them from the other day. They are smiling at each other. Awwww. 

Heaven.

I took these from the balcony of the hotel that we were staying at while we were in Hawaii. I love shapes and color, and architecture, and lines. I also like simplicity, which I feel is beautiful. We stayed in a bay called Turtle Bay, next to one of the best snorkeling beaches on the island. They call it Turtle Bay because turtles like this area and they like to come up and sun themselves on the rocks and the beach. We saw a few from our balcony. They are amazing creatures, so big and slow, almost from another time. I did not take any pictures of them, I just left them alone, which is what I think everyone should do, but don't get me started about that. more later...

History.

Today I am proud to be an American. I just sat and watched the inauguration and President Barack Obama's speech and I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. Dave and I got up early this morning and grabbed a cup of coffee, than went and watched the inauguration live at the old theatre in our town. I am so glad we did. We got rid of our cable and so to be able to watch this among hundreds of my community was amazing. The energy and the applause and the enthusiasm, I cried. I truly believe that we live in a amazing world and I am so grateful that the people have spoken. I believe in change, and I have hope... a lot of it. Barack Obama, you are my hero and I know you can help make change. 

This will be one of the few posts which I will not be narrating with my photos, I just feel that nothing that I have does this very moment justice. 

Flying.

My favorite thing that I did for my birthday was fly. Well, you can breath a sigh of relief- I didn't actually fly, but I was flown, and I would say this was one of the coolest things I have ever done. We chartered a very very tiny plane to take us on a aerial view of the Big Island, and I will never forget this experience. We flew over the volcano, in all of it's glory, as it roared and spit and fumed, we saw whales breaching, and just felt so small in this great big earth. I was very humbled by this experience, and also very proud that I did not give in to my anxiety as we left the runway or have to bless the barf bag that the pilot showed me before we left. That would have been embarrassing. These photos do small justice to what we saw but I love the feeling of the plane and flying that they do make me feel. Thank you Dave- I loved it.

Love.

I couldn't help it, I think this is so cute. Dave and Max taking a nap earlier today. Max really is a human-I swear, look how he uses a pillow, and he's smiling. I have so much to blog about- Hawaii stuff, and more dog stuff, and on and on. But as I said I could not help but throw this in, even as I ask myself, "Where do I fit in here."

Home.

So next week is a milestone for me. I will have lived on this earth for 30 years. And to celebrate I am going somewhere I once lived. I camped on these islands for 6 months, came back and than went back to live for some time. During this time I was privileged to meet some of the most wonderful people, and have some of the best experiences of my life up to this point. Well, I am venturing back, and experiencing once again. Ten years later -I am beyond excited that I get to take my love back to one of my favorite places. This is already seeming like a miracle- given money, the weather and the holidays. I will blog back when I can, not a minute sooner. Hopefully everyone had a New Year to remember and here we are into this New Year, ALOHA...........

My New Year.

Looking back at this last year- I am so grateful, I had a amazing year.

I traveled to other countries, watched my business grow, adopted Max (now my best friend), took Dave to Mt. Baker and watched him ski for the first time, hit the road and camped all the way down the Oregon Coast, took a photography workshop, traveled and traveled and traveled.

I am so blessed to be able to do the things that I love, and have friends and family who truly support me to be who I am. 

I am realizing that the things that are really important to me are right in front of me- and I think that by reminding myself of that I don't worry as much about what I need to do, instead I enjoy what I am doing in the moment. I want to start enjoying everything with a new found passion- and just being happy with what I have -because.... I have everything I need and I know that. 

This next year is full of possibilities, and I am optimistic of all the good things to come. 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. 

Molee.