A Glimpse of Heaven (May '07)

Well, I'm back from my R&R... and I'd love to show you what I got to experience. This is Heaven Gabriella Lauren Haraldsen! And she took right to me.... it's almost as if, even though she'd never seen me before, that she knew she was supposed to love me and hug me and accept me for just who I was... Auntie Lori. Because the first time I held her she buried her head in my shoulder and hugged me back! (Ok maybe she was just tired - it WAS close to midnight!)

Oh! I couldn't wait to introduce her to everyone! I wish I could have brought her home and let everyone give her their own hug. Because Heaven loves hugs and kisses! She is such a delight.... such a delight... giggling, laughing, full of wonderment and surprise and love... she is Heaven...

And like counting on the clock to tick - when she's concentrating on something you can count on her little pudgy feet to start "going a mile a minute"... twirling and twirling...

Look at that smile! Can you tell she loves Auntie Lori (photographer extraordinaire)?! A photographer simply can't tell a baby to smile (say "cheese")... babies only smile at those who look funny!

And here is Heaven adorned in a dress and bonnet made by her Great Grandmother Helen Haraldsen!

Daddy - you're so mean...

So may I introduce you to the newest member of the Haraldsen household... this is Heaven and her proud mommy and daddy - Jody and Loren.

Images captured in a quaint old town of McKinney, Texas ...

R & R (May '07)

Well, I'm off for a few days of rest and relaxation.... much needed and well deserved! My emotions have been up and down this past week ... and coupled w/ the normal busy-ness of LIFE I just need to get away. Why the emotional roller coaster? This past week a long-time family friend passed away... we're also celebrating the engagement of some friends ... and absorbing the news of a potential divorce for another couple of friends.... and then of course I'm dealing with guilt from not getting my mother's day gift to her in time.

So what will I do? Where will I go? I plan to 'disconnect and reconnect' so to speak. Disconnect = from my cyber world. Reconnect = with my life. I'm travelling to visit my lil' brother in Dallas... and his new little bundle of joy... Heaven Gabriella.

Auntie Lori has yet to meet little Heaven... and I'm so looking forward to bestowing lots of hugs and kisses and oohs and aahs on her! Fun pics to follow upon my return...

Cheers...

Solemn Gratitude (May '07)

This morning it is with solemn gratitude that I write. This past week a long-time family friend was on a steamboat cruise in Alaska - enjoying the nature that God so artfully planned out for us. And all I can think of is that our friend didn't want to come back to stinky, smoggy, overly-packed Southern California - so when he took his last breath following a heart attack he joined God in an even more beautiful place. Because of his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ he will sit in God's glory - which to our amazement is much more glorious than Glacier Bay. Dave "Joe" Powell - R.I.P.

And this morning on my walk from the parking garage into the office I was once again reminded of the importance of fulling living every day to it's fullest. Our security guard had breathed his last breath in his truck during his night shift. The police officers and paramedics did all they could to revive him... but it was his time. This kind and gentle giant was an jolly ol' fellow who should've been enjoying his retirement - and instead he was spending his nights in his truck patrolling a mostly empty parking garage. Francisco Metts - R.I.P.

One co-worker put it aptly when he said "This is why we work so hard so that we don't have to be working at his age."

Not to be insensitive and crass - but realistic to the point of the cycle of life. It is another reminder that life happens. Enjoy each day ... leave a legacy... be grateful for the lives we lead.

Spring is almost gone... (May '07)

Here it is the beginning of May and it's almost summer time! And I'm not ready to say 'goodbye' to Spring yet. It seems it JUST sprung - and I haven't yet fully enjoyed it. Before I knew it the orange blossom scent evaporated.... and now I'm dealing with weeds in the backyard already.

Just last week it was nice and cool and a brisk 66 degrees outside. Then I woke up on Sunday morning to an 87 degree day - and the not-so-nice weather man says we're in for a few warm days. I'm NOT very happy about this news today.

But I'll do my best to enjoy spring while it's here... there's a month left before the summer solstice. But the planet seems to be misaligned because summer arrived yesterday in Southern California...