Friday's...

...Letters

4.21.17

Hello Friday, I've been waiting for you.

Dear Ripsime,

I knew it was going to be hard when you left the school...I just hadn't planned on it being this hard.  Fifteen years, 180 days a year is a long time to all of a sudden not hear your laughter, smell the burnt popcorn, see your smiling face greeting me as I sign in and spend 5 minutes enjoying your perfectly brewed coffee and a quick chat before class. You were the pulse of Castlebay my dear friend. Honestly, as hard as this is, I couldn't be happier and more proud of you moving up and on for yourself. You are such a selfless woman that you deserve this change more than anyone I know. I look forward to the girls nite out...Where ever we go-they're not gonna know what hit 'em! 

Till then my friend...

Dear Artful Blogging,

You are dream maker...Yes you are.

This was the longest 4 months waiting for the summer issue to arrive-but TOTALLY worth the wait!

I've already read it from cover to cover and to see my photos and my words gracing the pages still seems surreal. 

You see, I take full responsibility in my part for not buckling down in school and being an outstanding student. I chose a path that regrettably didn't include college but, and it's a BIG but, have learned so much as an instructional aide for the past 15+ years. I literally have learned basic writing skills that allowed me to compose my article with a certain confidence working side by side with the most creative and hardworking teachers I know. I couldn't be more proud to use what I've learned to accomplish something as big as this. Now my kids understand why I'm tough on them about creative writing. I wrote a note of gratitude to all the teachers yesterday. I thanked them for having their part in my drive to write the best story I could. I know I am not their intended audience, but I reminded them they never know who's listening and learning. 

I'm soaking in all the good fuzzy feelings this experience has brought me...

So thank you for helping a regular gal fulfill a dream. 

Dear Dad,

Remember when Mom was asked to do the advertising for a new banking concept and her photo was plastered in the local paper, on mailings and billboards, and strangers would stop her in random places that recognized her? Well, you told me that everyone in this life gets to enjoy 15 minutes of fame...

 ...I can stop waiting for mine!

Love,

Kelly

Friday's...

...Letters

3.31.17

Hello Friday I've been waiting for you

Dear store that starts with "W",

I have such a love/hate relationship with you~but when all the spring baking recipes call for Meyer Lemons and I can never find them at my regular grocery stores and I just happen to be in your produce aisles and there they are...without even looking for them...well lets just say I walked out not mad for once!

That's a good thing...cause we both know how irritated I can get when you don't have that one item I go in for.

I'll be making a lemon tart later today.

Dear eBlogger,

Why do you think the changes you make will bring happiness into my blogging experience? They irritate the crap outta me. So now my reading list is a bunch of blogs I don't follow and I have no way of knowing if the blogs I DO follow have a recent post unless I click on each individual blog...SO NOT COOL. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Dear March,

You gave me a grand weekend with Jamie and Erik up in Morro Bay. You gathered us in your folds, kept us safe, and gave the three of us priceless, forever memories. 

We can't wait to walk your sandy shores again.

Dear Me,

Not EVERYTHING you create has to picture perfect, internet worthy. You were not born an artist so therefore play, play, play. Please, let go of perfection and just try to have fun at the process. You'll be glad you did...Trust me.

 Love Always,

Kelly

xo

Friday's...

...Letters

3.24.17

Sometimes, I have loads of photos but no clear idea of what to post or talk about.
(quality over quantity for me)
That's when, at exactly 5:45 a.m. this morning, it dawned on me...Friday's Letters.
I did them periodically, years ago. I'm bringing them back~ 

only this time around the letters have more essence and gratitude pouring out of me to soothe my sometimes pitiful laments & to right my heart and soul back on track.
Track=Life~everyday life 

Hello Friday~I've been waiting for you 

Dear Spring, 

You make my heart happy. The world around me is waking up from up it's slumber and it's especially brilliant this year with all the rain we've gotten. I'm seeing flowers and even weeds that I can honestly say I've never seen before. They've just been lying dormant until now waiting for their turn to bloom and it's a beautiful thing.

Dear friends who read & comment here,

I am grateful for your precious time. We only have so much of it in a day and you choose to be here, even for a few minutes. I try to make things short and sweet for you so you'll want to come back. I enjoy your company and your contribution in dialog. I'm sorry I'm not more bloggy suave to know if you know that I answer every single comment in appreciation for your time. It might take a few days, but there's always a reply. 

Dear me,

Don't go chasing waterfalls. You're moving too fast and because of that, you're missing the everyday. Everything in due time. I know there are forces out there that scare the hell out of you and they're causing you to want to hurry life along. Things happen for a reason & that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to happen to you. So in the meantime, repeat after me...

"Slow down, breathe, count your blessings, repeat."

Love always,

Kelly

xo

Friday's...

...letters

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

...

My dearest blogging friends,

I wish you many blessings this holiday season and always. I couldn't let the frenzy of the holiday pass without thanking each of you for being here in this space, with me...even for a moment. I hope 2016 brings you joy in whatever you do.

xo

Dear Mom and Dad,

Not a day goes by without thoughts of you-some good, some not so good. I know I have a bit of forgiving and "letting go" to do before my heart fully opens & I am able to recognize your presence that I eagerly seek.

I'm working on it...really I am.

Dear 2016,

Please be kind. 

The world is in such need of healing. Some days I can barely scan the headlines. 

Peace to us all

Dear Thich Nhat Hanh,

I find such comfort in your words. In your quotes. 

Living with Mindfulness is something I'll be consciously practicing in the coming year. It won't be easy...It most definitely won't be easy. Wouldn't it be something if everyone tried?

Happy (mindful living) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Fridays...

...letters

6-14-13

Dear Summer Vacation,

YOU'RE HERE!
xo

Dear Mother Nature,
Thank you for entrusting me with these critters! I'm sorry you have to put assassin bugs to harm all the others-but I managed to save this one and it has successfully turned into a chrysalis...

...thank you too for painting our world such glorious and delicious colors-

Dear People at Costco,

You drive me nuts. Most of you wander around as if comatose  catatonic. Not all of us want to spend our day waiting for food samples to be laid out-sheesh

Dear Me,

Only you have the power to make the knot in your stomach go away...well actually, Jennifer does...

Dear Jennifer at the Medicaid office in Florida,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE approve my dad for medicaid...
I said please...
It will make the knot in the pit of my stomach go away.

Dear Husband,
I love you...

Happy (summer) snapping!
xo
Kelly

Friday's...

...letters

Dear week,

Wow, you really had me going. Flying the midnight rocket on Monday to Atl, then on to Pittsburgh. Oh and let's not forget the 2 1/2 drive through the country to Dubois (on 3 hour's sleep~that's airplane sleep)

Thursday was a rough, tiring, exhaustive 16 hour travel day. I crawled into bed at 11:30 only to wake up at 5 to get ready for work. But I got up with a smile on my face...so

nanny nanny boo boo on you  

Dear Nana,

I'm so glad I came to see you at rest. I wasn't sure how I was going to get through your funeral. But I did and I'm a better person for it. I feel peace for the first time in a long time. I know you are exactly where you want to be. Oh and the very loud thunder boomer when the Pastor was reading your birth/death date...that was-without a doubt, you trying to take over G-d's job! This we know and had a little chuckle over it. 

Dear friends of Nana's church,

Thank you for embracing me with your warm hugs and stories of  "Alice." You enlightened me & I learned a few new things about this woman you celebrated.  I'm really grateful for the women of the church who pulled together a beautiful lunch and I enjoyed listening to what each of you had to say.

I wasn't sure what to expect coming but I can tell you I came away a better person, I have some much needed closure and I feel peace...something I haven't felt in quite some time.

Dear i-phone, 

Thank you for taking such awesome pics so I didn't have to edit photos from my big girl camera!

Dear Barn,

I have a renewed appreciation for you. You bring back such happy childhood memories. I knew that when my family drove up that hill to Nana & Granddad D's house-there you were & the best childhood memories were just a stone's throw away.  

I'm almost 50 so how old does that make you? 

I have a love affair with barns...I hope some day I can return to PA, under happier circumstance, and shoot barns to my heart's content.

Dear Blog friends...

I've got a

Hee Hee...

Happy (teaser) snapping!

xo

Kelly