happy birthday america

southern kentucky snow

This year we had a white Christmas.  Waking up to snow at the house you grew up in, somehow, will always be more special then waking up to snow anywhere else.

 

so this is the new year

My feelings about New Year's Eve have always been conflicted.  I tend to have moments of joy-that I am spending time with good friends- but I also find myself getting sad - that another year has passed and that I am just as confused about my life as ever. I have never started my year thinking that I finally have what I want...my life is going the way that I want it.  It always feels like I am missing something - direction, stability, love (mostly love). But this is all silliness.  I really do have so much (one thing being the biggest love of all).  I need to just stop worrying, stop wishing for more, stop forgetting what I have.   We all are so blessed in so many ways, we just forget sometimes.  So Happy New Year.  I hope that you find joy this year.

family at the holidays

My life has been void of a large family for many years now.  Most family gatherings only involve my parents, my two brothers, a sister-in-law, and a niece (9) and nephew (11).  The holidays just tend to be really quiet in the Miller household.  I miss the hustle and bustle of the Christmas of my youth, when there were grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, gingerbread houses, card games, and holiday dancing.

But at the Kinnaird house... 

One of my best friends, Bet, and her family have been so gracious to invite me to family get-togethers and treat me like one of their own.  I love spending time with all of them because 1. there are so many of them 2. there are a bunch of little kids 3. there is so much noise and action going on and 4. everyone is full of joy and love.

portraits: week 13

Santa Baby...
Its Christmas time, which means its also time for Christmas card photo-ops.  Jordan and AJ asked me to come take some photos of their family Christmas-style.  My favorite ones were of their little baby Jesse with his santa hat on.  He didn't cry or fuss or go to sleep while I was taking his picture...he was a perfect baby model (now, later when we were trying to take family photos, this was not the case).