the end of an era

One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite films,

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music:

When the Lord closes a door,
somewhere He opens a window.

Truth.

How very true. When one door closes,
another one surely opens ... somewhere.

Stay tuned for big changes.

when snow falls

It doesn't happen very often here in the deep South. Hardly ever, in fact. And even when flurries do appear on the horizon ... they usually aren't anything to get too excited about. But every so often - once in a blue moon - it happens. And it's magic.

I love the snow. I always have. And I've often had people laugh at me, wondering if I even know what real snow is. But - just because I live in 'Alabama' does not mean that I've never been out of 'Alabama'. In fact, I've experienced many different kinds of snow in many different places. But - wherever it is, it always makes me happy. I know that many people who aren't from these parts probably laugh riotously at our 'snow days'. No. We don't get foot upon foot of snow. No. We don't get it very often. But you know what? I think that we appreciate it more. We appreciate it because it isn't an everyday thing for us. It's kind of a big deal. Children get out of school. Adults don't go in to work. People get to enjoy the day. Enjoy the snow. Families build snowmen. Families throw snowballs. Families go sled down hills. They spend time together. What's to scoff at there?

So, here we are - with the real stuff. Here on Woodburn Drive with our wee little snowman, Manny. Here we are enjoying our today - when snow falls.

jane | revisited

How could I forget this shot? Don't ask me ... but this one is certainly one of my favorites. Oh ... too sweet for words.

jane | sneak peek

Just a few of my favorites from a recent shoot. My, how I loved photographing this sweet little girl. Enjoy.

why yes … i’m old-fashioned

It’s been a very long time since I’ve shared one of these gems. Here is another one of my favorite bits of classic film: I’m Old-Fashioned from You Were Never Lovelier. A wonderful film with many wonderful moments – like Fred Astaire gracing its scenes.

This thought has been running through my head a lot lately. You see – I’m an old soul. I’ve always know that. And I’ve always liked that. But, I guess I’ve never really realized just how old-fashioned I actually am. Especially compared to others.

Yes – I am old-fashioned. And proud to remain so. Now – to be old-fashioned and look like Rita Hayworth. Now that would make life grand.

Enjoy this little bit of heaven in black and white. Don't forget to pause the tunes at the bottom right of our blog.

'homework'

So --- this is what Brian ends up finding when he gets online to look for journal articles for school. Something to relieve the monotony, at least. Enjoy the funny.

tyring to believe ... in impossible things

"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things."

"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

[ Lewis Carroll ]

hope for our nation | a thought

Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all the other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.

[ Harold B. Lee ]

a new year | 2010

Here’s to wishing the best of new years to everyone that we know and love. We hope that your Christmas was merry and bright. We hope that 2010 is all that you wish it to be ... and more.

With the coming of each new year, it is a tradition of sorts for so many to make new resolutions. Resolutions for their families, for their homes, for their selves. Our family is no different – however we tend to call them ‘New Years Goals’ rather than the more common ‘New Years Resolutions’. Here are ours in no particular order – the goals of the Thomases Three – as they stand here and now:

[Brian] finish Graduate school \ read one non-school-related book for pleasure

[Stacy] learn to use the manual settings on her camera and begin to use it solely when shooting \ exercise more regularly \ drink less Sunkist \ decide what to do with her photography and design skills \ find more joy in her current situation (better organizing her home, making more room, maintaining all of the above) \ read at least six books that she has not read before \ catch up on our family scrapbooks and Ammon's scrapbook

[Ammon] only go to the corner three times a week \ go to Nursery at church and stay there by himself \ ditch the bink

[Family] add family scripture study to our family prayer and Happy Home Feeling (Family Home Evening) routine \ expand our food storage

So far, Ammon has been the most successful. Wednesday, December 30th, we were at Wal-Mart late at night getting some things after we left from visiting family. Ammon left his binky someplace at Wal-Mart. Ammon has slept all night without it ever since. Ammon has not asked for it once. Ammon is bink-less. Almost as if he just made the decision at Wal-Mart that he no longer wanted it – he has been doing wonderfully without his beloved bink.

My goals are broad and distinctive. All will be difficult for me personally to do. Which one do I expect to fail r.o.y.a.l.l.y at? Ditching Sunkist. Yes. Forget all the other more difficult goals to reach. Drinking less orange fizz will be my Achilles’ heel. Without a doubt.

Brian’s goals are the largest, obviously. Finishing school – or this leg of it, at least – will be a very big deal. A very, very big deal for all of us.

These are the things that we plan to work on this year. Who knows if we will be successful at all of them. Who knows if we will be successful at any of them. But – here’s to trying.

Happy New Year, everybody. Here's to a fabulous 2010.