A Testimony: You Never Know What You're Going to Get!

*I share the following testimony with the prayer that God will touch other hearts, no matter what hardship or struggle others may be going through. I love it that the Lord can turn the bad into good, and work the worst out for the best. During any dismal trial, when we truly have the Spirit of God in us, we have the powerful ability to comfort others who are struggling with the comfort with which we have been given by the Spirit. A terrific promise from our Lord.*

Steak is good, but it's even better when you season it.

This may be a poor analogy, but it works as a lead-in... last year at this time, God was in the process of seasoning my Christian walk. Hardships, difficulties, and emotional times often seem horrific in the midst, but when we are willing to learn, God is so willing to teach us.

At the time, my head knowledge was on key... I knew the Truth. Yet my heart was so wrapped up in emotions that were contrary to what was unfolding that I was blind to my own good advice and prayers. And to that of others.

It's interesting to look back now with a clear head and heart. I can see how God worked out a bleary situation for amazing glory and good. He took the one thing that I always wanted and desired, and He allowed me to see it as temporarily available. When a bigger issue came up, it crushed me. What I finally thought could be, and would be... was just as quickly snatched away.

But I would not let go so fast. I held on as long as possible.

Just yesterday, I read a quote that is so fitting to what my situation was:

‎"Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open." -Corrie ten Boom

After working through the worst of it, I slowly but surely started to heal. In one of the biggest surrenders of my life, I handed the broken pieces of my heart back to God so He could mend it back together.

Over the course of a year, He has done just that. When I am weak, then He is strong... a wonderful promise from God, and one I have come to know dearly and personally. What I have today is a heart stronger than it was last year, and more seasoned with the experience of Faith. What I have is an amazing testimony of how God worked in my life... in a very unlikely way... to reveal unto me where I belong. For example: I feel more involved in my church now than ever before, and my desire to be there and connect with the body is so strong. At a time in my life that could be difficult and painful, I am met with contentment and joy by God's good grace.

He has taught me that attitude is everything. When I dwell only on myself and what I want and think I deserve-- even if those things happen to be good or "for His glory" in my mind-- then I become even more unhappy when those things aren't delivered. But if I focus solely on what HE wants for my life, then I have nothing but joy to cling onto as I see Him work and unfold miracles in front of me.

Like the famous line, "Life is like a box of chocolates- you never know what you're going to get," at times, so are God's ways. Despite our best efforts, intuitions, and insight, we can't always predict God. So we're better off letting Him handle the results because the minute we think we deserve a chocolate-covered cherry, He gives us one with caramel instead, and we end up discouraged.

I don't think expectations and desires are always bad. But only looking at the "wants" and "haves and have nots" of life is a recipe for disappointment. Our job is to ask God how we can show Him the most glory and to be open to His guiding. Yet that requires complete surrender... even when He says, "No."

Because it's in the times that He withholds something good from us that He has something even better to reveal.

Love you all. T

The Man I Never Met

Some say he had terrific arm strength. Just today, a man who owns a horse farm looked me in the eye and said, "He was a very nice man. Everyone who knew him, loved him."

Also reported was that he could walk on his hands like nobody else; he could even climb stairs that way.

I never knew him. Never even got to meet him. He died of a sudden heart attack 6 years before I was born.

Sometimes, I wish I could have the chance to talk to him. Or see him. What did he look like? I hear that he liked to tease... but that he could also be quite serious. That he was quiet, but when he did talk, you listened.

I love to hear the story about what happened shortly before he died. He was a farmer, and he was out in the field. And suddenly, his dad, who had been deceased for quite some time, was there with him, sitting beside him.

They talked.

"You've had a good life," his father told him.

He lives on in so many other people, but now it's been so long that I am not sure what part is his legacy. All that I know is that somehow, part of him still lives out in me.

Someday, when I get to Heaven, I'll get to meet my Grandpa.

Love you all-T

Don't Rain on my Parade

My goals were accomplished.

1) Eat an Elephant Ear.

Pictured. It was placed into my hand dripping in grease, so I looked the other direction and pretended not to see it until I had the cinnamon sugar in my hand. Then I shook vigorously... for a very long time. Until the elephant ear was covered, or until I heard Kristi say, "How much cinnamon are you going to put on that?" I don't remember which came first.

I deducted how much of this treat would keep me up all night with a stomach ache and then backed it off a few bites. Once I reached that point, I handed the rest off to Noah and Silas, my two nephews of ages 9 and 2. They were thrilled to finish it off for me.

2) Drink a Lemonade Shake-Up.

Confession: This picture was staged. The lemonade shake-up cup in my hand was not actually mine. However, I did drink one... I just failed to photograph it at the time. I will say, though, that it was truly a good experience. Most sips consisted of 80 parts sugar and 10 parts lemon and 10 parts water, making for 100% satisfaction.

3) Eat a Meal in the Food Tent.


This actually happened on the very first night! Who would have thought. Kristi and I finished up at IA around 7:15, then headed to the food tent for dinner. On the menu for me... the usual: a pork chop, nachos & cheese, pumpkin pie, and a pop. All the must-haves. I must comment on the new system put into action this year by the food tent; it is very efficient! Kudos.

4) Ride the Ferris Wheel.

This is how this went down:
5:30pm on Saturday night...
Kristi: Finally, we're done.
Taryn: Yes, believe it or not, I am about PFested out. Wait...
Kristi: What?
Taryn: I didn't go on the Ferris Wheel.
Taryn is about to shrug it off when Kristi says: You have to go!
With her mind made up, we head towards the festival.
Kristi: Who will you go with?
Taryn: Myself.
Kristi: You are going to go on the Ferris Wheel by yourself?
Taryn: Yes. I kind of like going by myself.
Kristi: You are strange.
Taryn purchases a ticket for $2.50 and gets in line.
Taryn boards the Ferris Wheel.
Kristi takes pictures with the little pink camera.


Goal #4: check.

5) Attend the Parade.
On Saturday morning, the usual crowd gathers at my Grandma's house on Jefferson St. She has always had the perfect location for the parade-viewing party. Wonderful food is brought by everyone who comes, including but not limited to hot dogs, cheese dip, donuts, cookies, and sweets.

Rumors of rain was in the air, but those in denial kept shrugging it off.

"It will slip right by us," some said.
"I think we're on the edge of the system," others predicted.
"It won't rain. Last night, there was only a 40% chance!"

However, right before coming to the parade, my dad said, "We should be prepared for rain. The storm is supposed to hit right when the parade starts."

If there's anyone who knows when to expect the first rain drop, it's Fred Kaiser. He watches the radar as if he himself is responsible for predicting what it will do.

So.

It's 15 minutes before the parade is to start. Kids are restless and excited, running around with little Pumpkin-shaped candy-collectors in their hands. Adults are standing in the lawn and along the edge of the street, talking amongst one another while enjoying a hot dog or cookie. My grandma is perched up on her normal spot on the porch, and had already proclaimed, "I'm ready for whatever it is that I'm supposed to be watching."

Yet as I peer down the length of the street, it seems to me as though all of the hundreds of other spectators standing around, anticipating the parade, are in denial of the storm clouds rolling in. Uneasily, I look to my left. Up above, the clouds are getting darker. Leaves have started to fall rapidly from the trees as the wind has picked up, and a bite is now apparent in the air.

I look to the person I am standing by and remark, "This is the point in a movie or book when you sense imminent danger."

"Yes," he agrees, "All that is missing is the eerie music."

The parade does begin. I sit on a lawn chair close to the curb, trying to enjoy my hot dog while gusts of wind blow at my face and it begins to drizzle.

Umbrellas pop up all around me, and I still attempt to eat the food on my plate as my mood grows darker along with the weather. This does not look good.

The first band to march by suddenly takes a sharp right and turns down a side street. That's not on the parade route.

But neither was the gusts of wind and downpour of rain that has now seemed to take over. Thunder sounds in the distance, and no one can mistake the faint flashing of lightning in the sky.

Not 5 minutes later, about 12-15 families are huddled in my Grandma's garage and household, where the food is now.

"The parade has been suspended," comes the announcement.

Suspended, which comes to mean, canceled.

Pumpkin Festival 2010 did not see much of a parade.

As the sad truth dawned on most of us, I noticed a small child that was crying, clutching his little empty candy bag.

Call me crazy, but at 24 years old, I wanted to do the same thing. I was mildly heartbroken.

All your life, you hear phrases like, "Starving kids in Africa" and "Don't Rain on my Parade." Until you can experience them personally, they are just a grouping of words to be tossed out when the situation seems to fit.

However, as a lot of you know, I traveled to Africa this past year and saw, firsthand, what starving kids in Africa looked like. And to me, that's not just a phrase anymore. It's real.

Much less serious but still just as true, sometimes, rain DOES occur during a parade. And at that point, it ruins it. So when someone says, "Don't rain on my parade," what it really means is, "Don't ruin this planned event that happens to be special to me."

I can't control hunger, the weather, or create world peace, but this I know: I don't like it when it rains on my parade.


6) Run the 2-mile Fun Run/Walk.

This was an added goal. It was something I was tossing around and decided to do, so since it was accomplished I will add it. My dad, brother-in-law, and 8-year-old nephew, Domniq, signed up to run the 2-mile fun run. About 2 days into the Pumpkin Festival, I decided to take my chances and do it, too. Why not?

My brother-in-law happens to be a very gifted and faster runner. His son, Domniq, seems to have inherited his skill. My dad has been running religiously over the past few months.

Me? I hadn't ran a mile since... May?

So my goal was to run the whole thing without walking.

As we arrived on early Saturday morning, I stood by after registration and waited for the big event.

"We're going to run this thing in 18 minutes," Brad proclaimed, looking down at his GPS-powered stopwatch device.

I calculated that this meant 9-minute miles. Doable... I think.

Those ambitious enough to run the 10K were situated in a huge group at the front line. The rest of us had our own line behind them. At take-off, we all moved as a giant mass down First St. By the first turn, we spread out a bit more. I kept up with Brad and Dom's clip pretty easily; my dad faded out into the background after awhile.

The first mile was mostly a breeze, much to my surprise. Every 1/4 mile of the way, Brad gave us updates.

"More than halfway done," he would say, or ,"80% completed," or "We're running at a 9-mile-minute pace right now."

We would pass by older couples who had shuffled out to the curb with their morning coffee, wanting to observe those jogging by. Towards the end, several people were lined up on the sidelines, cheering us on and waving.

By the mid to last part of the second mile, I was starting to get pretty tired. First of all, I threw this whole idea onto my body without much warning. Very little stretching, no training, and not to mention, it was earlier in the morning than I am used to seeing. However, I did push through, all without walking. Brad and Dom finished at about 16:55, and I rolled in a few seconds later. My dad was a little while after that.

Today, needless to say, I feel a bit rattled. Actually, my body feels like that of someone in her 80s whenever I try to stand up after sitting for long periods of time. I brought it on myself, though, and it does inspire me to continue to stay fit so races like this are possible. Although, before beginning, when someone heard that I had not trained, he said, "Well, she has youth on her side."

And I'm afraid that fact, more than anything else, contribute mostly to why I was able to finish without walking or keeling over and dying.

I won't always be 24, though, so next time I would be better suited if I was physically prepared.

---

Love you all! I'll be back soon with more thoughts.

T

Review

Wearing a mustard yellow dress and a camera strapped around my neck, this weekend I was both wedding photographer and brides maid. I pulled it off because I have a business partner who is a great wedding photographer, with or without me. The moments with me were a welcome break to her, but the moments without still turned out nicely.

It was a lovely wedding and a wonderful day. And I'm not just saying that because my good friend got married and it's my duty. It is all true-- my friend was a beautiful bride, inside and out. The style and details of the wedding was so "her," and everything ran smoothly. I was honored to be a part of this special day on Saturday.

Below are a couple pictures I snagged from our IA Facebook page to share with you... check our IA blog or website for more (tomorrow):




On Sunday morning, I attended an adult Sunday School class. It is something new that our church is offering. I am signed up to be in this class for the next 4 weeks with around 20 other individuals, and our teacher is a man in our church who recently lost his wife to lung cancer. His topic is Heaven.

Needless to say, the first session was a tearjerker. His interest in the topic paired with his passion for Christ and his ability to teach is going to make this class fantastic. I can't wait to see what God continue to teach us all about Heaven. He made a good point to us all: when we plan a week-long vacation, we usually do research. We're going to a new place, and we want to know all about it before we go. Fair enough. But. Are we researching with the same vigor regarding our eternal destination? A vacation lasts a week, but your final retreat after death is a forever place. Are we interested in the details, or do we just take for granted what we think we know about it? I am anxious to learn more!

Pumpkin Festival starts in about 48 hours. IA is finally coming along. Today we made great progress. I have spent about 14 out of 16 of my waking hours today at the office, but it's all been worth it. I can't wait to have our doors open to the P Fest crowd. My to-do list for the festival is as follows, despite the fact I'll be in this office for most of it:
1) Eat an elephant ear.
2) Drink a lemonade shake-up.
3) Eat a meal in the food tent.
4) Ride the Ferris Wheel.
5) Attend the parade.

If I get all that done, I'll be happy.

Tonight, during about an hour and a half of the time I wasn't at the office, I attended my small group bible study. We're studying Philippians. I really love my group. I am by far the youngest. There are 4 other couples and then another single older lady, and then me :) But I love it. I feel like I have so much to learn from the older and wiser, and the more I can surround myself with those type of people, the better.

Upon arrival tonight, the leader of the group looked at me and said, "Taryn, do you realize you are the most important person here?"

Speaking with sarcasm, I answered, "Of course. But does everyone else realize it?"

He laughed. "Really, though," he said, "You're the youngest one here. We have a lot to learn from you."

Someone else nodded.

"I think it's the other way around," I told him.

Well, kids. I better sign off. I need to get home, eat a bowl of cereal, and get some sleep before starting another busy day. Love you all. I'll end with a picture of the San Fransisco skyline I took while in CA this August. A bit random, but just got done editing the rest of my CA trip pictures tonight, and I liked this one.



T

Pumpkin

I purchased a bag of candy corn pumpkins and emptied it into a bowl. I put the bowl on my desk at work. I knew I would be safe with Kristi; she has expressed more than once her disgust of candy corn, and pumpkins in general.

Yet I find it interesting how every time she walks by my desk, she pops one into her mouth. As does several other office visitors. I am glad that they do. It takes the temptation of overdosing on a high-sugar, worthless sets of calories type candy, away from me.

It's that time of year again. The time of year that brings about intermittent periods of crisp, cool air and deep blue-sky days. The time of year that Morton adopts the smell of rotting pumpkins in the air. The time of year that Dairy Queen announces on its sign "Pumpkin Pie Blizzards are back!" and half of Morton can be found searching under picnic tables and benches for the hidden pumpkin pin.

I have already logged about 3 hours looking for that pin. I've had my fair share of pumpkin candy corn, and upon seeing the DQ sign yesterday, I dreamt about ordering a blizzard but have yet to do it.

Apart from thinking "pumpkin," I have been filling my time with wedding photography, sprucing up the new office space, and trying to get through whatever else is on my plate. It seems like even in my down time, I still have so much to do. I liken this to how I often view eating, if you may humor me with my analogy here. My eyes often tend to be bigger than my stomach. I would like "one of everything," and usually in no small portion. This looks interesting, that looks great, and for that I should have room to spare. Yet after I sit down, take a few bites, and survey what I have before me, I find I'm "full" a lot sooner than anticipated. Before I know it, I have a plate full of food I can't finish.

And so runs my life. I say "yes," to this, "yes" to that, and "absolutely" to everything else, because, well, it all looks interesting. It all seems feasible. And why should I turn it down?

Nonetheless, I am learning the power of saying "no," and the power of relaxing with a book in hand, going to bed early, or just taking an hour to pamper myself amidst chaos.

Anyway. It's Labor Day tomorrow, which means a day off. This is very exciting.

We shot a wedding this weekend, on Saturday. It was truly gorgeous weather. The bride and groom were also beautiful people inside and out, both of them vivacious, full of life, laughter, and love. There was never a dull moment the entire day. The highlight of my day was as follows:

Kristi and I were walking out of the church with the bride and groom trailing behind, both of us with our hands full of camera equipment. My eyes were fixed on a small piece of cardboard that one of the groom's men was eating out of... he saw me staring so I asked, "What's in there?"

"It's a cinnamon roll. Do you want the last bite?" he asked.

I did, but replied, "No, I'm not going to finish your cinnamon roll for you. I would hate to take your last bite."

"No, no," he said, moving towards me, "I can't finish it. Here," he offered, holding the fork out to me with a huge piece of cinnamon roll that was dripping with frosting.

I smiled big, and with no hands to help me, I leaned in and enjoyed the bite of warm cinnamon and sugar.

"That is amazing," I told him.

"It's the best bite, too," he agreed, "because it was right at the bottom so it was soaked in all the frosting."

YUM.

Let me make it clear that this groom's man was older and married. No sparks flew, and rightfully so. But I will say, feeding me delicious food may just be a quick way to my heart...

That night, I went out to dinner with my parents and a family friend couple of ours. We ate at a wonderful pizza place, then we came back to our house and played cards. I was introduced to buck Euchre. I have never played this version before, and my beginner's luck was nowhere to be found. I ended the first round with a score of -16. For those of you who have never played, this isn't like golf where a negative score is good.

As soon as our fifth player arrived, we played 5-way Euchre, always a favorite.

Today was excellent. I am off to a campfire shortly, so must wrap things up. Otherwise I'd probably just keep writing. I'll be back soon... love you all.

T

The Giving Stone

"If everything looks good to you, I'll just have you sign this," I told my client, consulting a stack of papers on my desk. But the paper wasn't where I thought it was.

A mom of one of our brides had come in for a morning session to order her photo book. We were just wrapping things up.

"I have something for you," she told me. I was still searching the stack of papers.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes. I might cry," she confessed.

At this, I stopped my search and looked up. Seeing the emotion on her face, I turned toward her. This was no time for searching for a design contract.

"When my father died a few years ago," she began, but then her voice broke. She covered her mouth and let the tears come.

I allowed a few seconds of silence, and gave her a sympathetic look.

"See," she shook her head, "I told you I would cry. I'm still emotional about it sometimes."

"That's alright," I said, still unaware of what she would be getting at.

"Anyway, when my dad passed away, my mom gave me this stone," she continued, handing me a small black bag. I opened it up and out slipped a shiny silver stone with the word "Imagine" carved into it.

"Every time I became sad or had a hard time, I looked at this stone that sat on the table in my house, and it brought me comfort," she said. "Knowing that this was a special gift given to me in a difficult time really helped me to get through it."

She smiled.

"But just today, I saw it again before I came here. And I thought... it's time. It's time to pass it on. So I brought it here to give to you and Kristi. Whenever you have difficult times or struggles in your business, let this stone be a reminder of hope and joy."

I studied the stone, and then looked up in wonder.

"Thank you so much," I said, but even as the words came out they seemed too trite for the generosity of this gift.

"And I think it's so appropriate that it says 'Imagine' on it," she said.

"Absolutely. When we renamed our business, we chose the word 'Imagine' because of all the possibilities that the word holds," I told her.

And the possibilities ARE endless. The sky is the limit with creativity... and with generosity, kindness, and joy.

That simple but thoughtful gift of giving on in remembrance of what or who was leaves me feeling warm inside. The concept of paying it forward and touching others through a simple object is magnificent. I am honored to be on the receiving end!

Love you all!

T

August Rush

I have been wanting to write. I had to wait until I had time, and the time is now.

It has been incredibly busy. So busy, in fact, that even when I am supposed to be relaxing (i.e. resting, listening, watching, or sleeping), my mind is still on overdrive. It's like every part of me is still and relaxed except my brain. It is like there is some part of my subconsciousness that is still making to-do lists and solving yesterday's problem and creating tomorrow's plan. Oh, well.

I would like to say that everything will settle down in September. But it won't. We have 3 weddings and the only weekend we don't have a wedding is the Pumpkin Festival, so Kristi and I will be in our studio during a great portion of this event. Don't get me wrong; I'm still going to go to the food tent, ride the Ferris Wheel, and eat an elephant ear. But most of the time, I'll be found behind Imagine Artists' new door, conveniently located right in the heart of the P Fest!

So enough on how busy my life is. I am glad to have the time to sit down and write at this moment. I truly do love to write.

One thing God has been teaching me over the past several weeks is how sufficient His grace truly is. That Truth has rung a new melody in my ears. It is interesting how God uses certain situations in your life to teach you different lessons or reveal certain truths. I love it. We cannot possibly understand why God does what He does, even the good things. Sometimes, we are blessed far beyond measure, and other times, we are left standing in the middle of an open field, empty-handed, deserted, and lonely. Either way, we still have Christ.

I just read a quote the other day that I loved. Confession: It came from one of my Droid apps. But hear me out, it's this Daily Bible app that gives you a Bible verse every day, and among other features it has a "Daily Quote" that I always read. Here it was:

‎"Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment." - Jeremiah Burroughs

That really is the truth of the matter.

I'd love to stay and chat, but on the agenda for tonight is a bubble bath while reading my book, and possibly a bowl of Lucky Charms before I call it a night. Yes, I even schedule my nights of relaxation. It's funny, because I'm not really the "planning, regimented" type. At all. But somehow, making a mental to-do of all the fun things I have planned for myself helps me to enjoy it even more. Go figure. So... I'll be back soon. But first, a few pictures I took tonight. Here are 3 of my favorite things:

{1} Candy Corn. Every Fall, when I see the bags of candy corn lining the store shelves, I smile really big and buy a bag. Even better than candy corn? Candy corn pumpkins!

{2} Piano. I love to sight-read, although I'm far from perfect. My personal favorite is to tap out classical pieces, like the sonatinas and inventions. Improvisation comes in at a close second. Nonetheless, playing helps me to wind down after a busy day.

{3) Fall Weather. Exit, hot humidity. Enter, crisp, cool mornings & evenings with blue, sunshine-filled days. The sunsets are pretty, too.

Love you all! T

California Excerpts

*Note: Pictures at end of post, in case you don't want to try to make it through the 5-page read!*

In an effort to give you a consolidated yet entertaining synopsis of my time spent in California, I will provide a few excerpts for you to read. Unfortunately, these aren’t true excerpts, because there is no “larger piece” that I’m drawing from… in hindsight, I wish that I had recorded in a journal during this trip. Yet I didn’t, so what you have in store is a read that mimics what 5 excerpts might look like had I actually written a complete story about this getaway.

Excerpt 1 | The Journey

“This flight is running an hour late, and everything is backed up right now in Chicago,” the flight attendant told me, handing me my boarding pass, “So I have provided a back-up pass for you, just in case you miss your connecting flight.”

I thank the lady, gather my boarding pass, and stroll away from the counter. Memories of my nightmare traveling experience that I had several years ago came flooding into my mind… no cell phone… stranded in Chicago airport… had to catch a bus home… arrived so late that the airport was closed… had to find a pay phone and call my brother, but it was so cold outside that my fingers shook and I misdialed three times…didn’t arrive home until 1am, and had to be at a science lab in 4 more hours…

I quickly pushed the memory out of my mind and found a seat right outside the security area. Peoria Airport is currently being remodeled, so everything is in disarray, with big fans blowing in several different directions and signs pointing you to where you need to go.

After waiting the extra hour, I boarded my flight and made it to Chicago, and had absolutely no problem making my connecting flight. I even had time to grab lunch and a Starbucks.

However, traveling woes would still creep their way into my experience. As I boarded the plane and took my seat, already ready to be in San Diego, I noticed that I was quite warm. In my past traveling experiences, I have found that planes are either VERY cold or way too warm. Usually it’s the former, so I made sure to dress in heavy clothes. Wrong choice, this time.

“Good afternoon,” the pilot’s voice came over the loudspeaker, “We are quite aware that the heat is on, and we’re working on resolving the problem as soon as possible.”

That explains it.

A few minutes later, “There is a maintenance issue we are working on,” he told us, “And we hope to have it taken care of in 20 minutes.”

One hour later, we were finally leaving the runway. The flights is almost 4 hours long as it is, but free music, movies, and a book kept my mind from becoming too bored.

Arrival into San Diego was wonderful. The airport was surprisingly small. I wondered outside after gathering my orange suitcase and waited for my uncle and cousin to pick me up. It was about a fifteen minute wait, but one I was willing to make with high spirits, considering the beautiful weather.

A deep blue sky stretched above me, and the air had a cool breeze to it. Within the first five minutes of standing outside, I almost forgot what Illinois humidity felt like.

My uncle and cousin drove up soon after in a convertible with the top down…

I smiled.

This is going to be a great 5 days.

Excerpt 2 | The Scene

I stayed at Hotel Del Coronado with my cousins and their families in Coronado.

It’s a historical place, with a navy seal base nearby. Planes and helicopters fly overhead multiple times a day, very closely. While standing on the beach, you almost feel like you can reach out and grab them from the sky.

The beautiful building has its original parts nicely preserved and newer places added on. Our rooms were a stone’s throw away from Babcock and Story, the Sun Deck, the beach, and Moo Time.

The food was all excellent; among one of my favorites was breakfast time. Selections include but are not limited to fresh fruit, yogurt, whipped cream, oatmeal, raisins, chocolate chips, coconut, eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes, omelets, flatbread, croissants, pastries, and more. I would usually follow up breakfast with a “Kate Morgan Mocha.”

Kate Morgan has a story. Evidently, she stayed at the Del many decades ago. She was waiting for her husband-to-be to come, and in the process found out he was seeing another woman. She became depressed and ill at this news, and shot herself on the steps, taking her own life at the Del. Some say they still see her ghost today…

Anyway, despite the dark story, the coffee is real good.

The beach has a plethora of seaweed washed up from the ocean, as well as swarms of flies. Despite those discrepancies, it is also quite charming with its sparkly golden glitter. It essentially looks like someone dumped a giant tub of glitter on the beach and mixed it in with the sand.

Little shops are peppered inside of the social part of the Del, and the main lobby is in its historically fit fashion, with a hugely tall ceiling, original woodwork, and a massive chandelier.

Excerpt 3 | The Company

“How old are you?” Josiah asked me, his eyes big with curiosity.

“I’m 24,” I answered.

“Are you married?” he asked.

“No,” I smile, “I’m not.”

“Well, my mom was married when she was 19.”

Two nights later, I was seated next to a man about 20 years my senior at dinner. He is a cousin to my family, but on the other side, so I am not related.

Josiah came up to me and tapped my arm. I looked at him, and he pointed to the man, and whispered into my ear, “Is that your boyfriend?”

“So,” my uncle said, taking a sip of his morning coffee, “Are you nervous for tonight?” he asked me. “Since you’re taking our big family picture, do you feel pressure at all?”

He was smiling.

“Not really,” I answered, “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Well you know,” he told me, “photographers may think they feel pressure, but we, the photographed,” he continued, pointing toward himself, “have our own set of problems. We have to make sure we are looking our best for the photo.”

“Taryn,” Todd said, catching the baseball that was headed his direction, “I know it may be difficult, but try to refrain from all the pictures you want to take of me,” he instructed.

“I don’t know, Todd,” I told him, holding my camera up and taking a shot of him with his blue shades on, “This might just be what they put on the cover of the book.”

“Adelayde, didn’t you have a tornado when you were little?” asked Amelia in her high-pitched little voice.

“Have a tornado?” I repeated.

“Yes, Adelayde, that’s what you told me,” Amelia affirmed.

“Oh yes,” Adelayde remembered, “Once, when I was 4 or maybe 6, I was spending the night at Ava’s house in Illinois, and Ava woke me up at midnight and told me there was a tornado outside and to come look. So I did, and all the trees were blowing and the leaves were everywhere,” she told us.

“What are you up to?” Shannon asked.

“I’m a photographer, and I have a photography and design business in Morton,” I told him.

“That’s great,” he told me.

“Yes, I really love it.”

He walked up to me and gave me a hug, and looked me in the eyes.

“Keep it up,” he instructed. “Seriously.”

Excerpt 4 | Top Moments

{1} Catching up with all my first cousins

{2} Eating macadamia crusted halibut

{3} Taking a large family photo with the San Diego skyline as the backdrop

{4} Seeing for the first time my aunt & uncle’s condo in San Diego, which is situated on the 42^nd floor (of a 43 floor building) and peering over the edge of the balcony at night time, and even catching a glimpse of fireworks from afar

{5} Breathing in the cool California breeze

{6} Having free reign over a candy store and picking out something for free… my choice was a caramel apple coated with chocolate and miniature peanut butter cups

{7} Sitting around a campfire on the beach and making s’mores while singing praise songs

{8} Having some great conversations with my aunt, uncle, and cousins

{9} Drinking 5 Kate Morgan Mochas… 1 a day

{10} Having the independence to enjoy this getaway yet still capture it through images

Excerpt 5 | In Closing

It was a beautiful journey, almost the type of trip that dreams are made of. And it only lasted 5 days. IMHO, this is the perfect amount of time to spend with a large family; not so long that you become bored and restless, but not so short that you feel as if you just arrived.

I was reminded again how very blessed I am to have such an awesome, generous, and loving family.

Love you all!

T

Just a small preview...

Running on the beach

Hannah, Kailey & I

I love palm trees!

Elijah's candy store buy

Fireworks from my aunt & uncle's condo

Alexa in the ocean

Emma's sea shell

Hotel Del Coronado

I love everything about this picture

Supper at the Boat House

Whitney & I outside of the Boat House

Sharing a towel... the CA breeze was chilly!

Baseball on the beach

Sea buds

They all loved the jacuzzi!

Visual Update

I recently had a request to start sharing more pictures on my blog. Tonight seems like a great night to do this, because I'm a little exhausted and words are short (believe it or not). And what can I say, I like to please the crowd.

So in an effort to explain what I've been up to over the past week, here is a recap in photos.

I will be trudging through a busy tomorrow, and then early Wednesday morning I will be flying out of Peoria and headed to California. I am very excited. My aunt called me a couple months ago and asked if I'd be interested in coming out during their family vacation to take family pictures. I agreed.

They have a wonderful place in CA. We will be spending time in Coronado and San Diego. It's been a long time since I've experienced this state, so I am looking forward to the trip. I will be there through the weekend. I'm sure pictures will follow sometime soon.

About that recap. Here it is...

In NO particular order (since blogger uploaded these randomly and I don't currently feel like reorganizing them):

Garden Party at Katie & Arlan's. This was the table I did not sit at.

Blueberry Picking while in Michigan.

Go-Karting at Holly's in MI.

One of the kitties at Plattner's house

Milo, getting so old already!! Aunt Tonya is holding him.

Sunflower field in MI. P.S. There's a HUGE sunflower growing in our Imagine Artists garden!!

Garden Party "scene" at Katie & Arlan's. Hors-d'oeurves and wine.

Amazing summer salad at the garden party.

Back in MI. Some intense 2-on-2 volleyball.

Croquet at the garden party. We played!

Sylvia turns 1. Eating some cake at her birthday party.

Kent, diving for the ball.

Naomi's method of eating raspberries.

The group that went to MI. Here we are with the product of our blueberry picking.

By far the best move of the volleyball game, by none other than former gymnast Holly.

A shot of the pier on Grand Haven Beach.

My table at the garden party. Fantastic company!

Sophie & Tillie on the tire swing.

Tillie Sue

We were piled on the tire swing... it was me, Sophie, Naomi, Tillie, and Beau. And the camera. Spinning really fast!

Food at the garden party. Thanks to Katie & Arlan!

Tire swings = happiness

A little bit of croquet action.

Cheers

Evidently this is the hottest fad among ankle-biters... silly bandz. Hmmm. I mean, I came from the generation of beanie babies and giga pets. To me, I think this phenomenon is a bit of a downgrade...

More fun times on the tire swing.

Little climbers

My dad had another birthday. 63... or something? Oh, but he's young at heart. Silas is always available to help blow out the candle.

Sophie & Naomi

That's a wrap. Late night at the office... and I need to get home and clean, pack, and find my way to bed sometime tonight. Love you all. Be back soon.

T