Running into the wind, the sun setting on my back
tears blurring the winding trail beneath my feet
hoping I can run hard enough this time
to escape from what, I do not know
My pulse pounding in my ears
drowning out every thought
but not the emptiness
Wondering how far I have to run
before it all begins to subside
afraid it is …

Sometimes I see the world in black and white, with huge looming challenges blocking my view of the world.

Soon though, I see the guardrail keeping me safe, keeping me from wandering too close to the edge.

Then the storms begin to clear . . .

And once again, I can see the beauty all around me.

Huh Haley? What do you mean you aint in the mood to have your picture taken today? What am I gonna take a picture of in the middle of Batesville, Mississippi for heaven sake? A dang water water spigot?
Awwww… C’mon! Just one picture?

Nope, forget it Mom. It aint a picture taking kind of day.

Okay fine. …

If ya keep looking back, you are gonna run into something in front of ya. Be aware of what is behind ya, but keep your focus forward.
It’s true. The very best things in life, really are free.
If you try to explain to the officer that the light was NOT red, it was just a little …

Young love . . .
 
It’s so sweet and innocent. Just seeing them sneak peeks at each other brings back memories of Junior High School.
Do you remember your fist kiss?
 
The problem is, that as I am taking the pictures, my brain panics.
WAIT!
This is my little girl, my baby!

Then the scene in front of me changes to …

 
C’mere . . .
Escape from the world with me for a little while
Just for the moment, shut everything out
Rest your weary eyes
Find that place in the very middle of the field
In your heart
That is where you will find me
I have been there all along, right beside you
Let me be your safe haven in the storm
C’mere …

When Southern women get cold, they tend to get a bit grumpy, and they hide in the biggest warmest hoodie they can find.

When I was born, my father told his friends I was the ugliest baby he had ever seen, and that I sounded just like a cricket. I think that must have been the moment that I became my Daddy’s little princess.
As a little girl, I remember seeing my daddy sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking …

Why are we so afraid to admit to our kids that life aint no fairytale? Yes, I know how to speak proper English, but ya know what?
I aint in a proper English kind of mood tonight, you know?
 
I am serious here though. 
 
How many little girls still grow up thinking that their knight in shining armor …

 
It has been a year of extremes. Looking back never makes a lot of sense to me because there isn’t much we can do about the past beyond hopefully learning from our mistakes.
I’m looking forward to a new year, to a new beginning.
At some point before the new school year begins, after we have had …

Unless you don’t mind pictures of her back, trying to get pictures of Haley during the holidays requires a lot of patience.

There are simply far too many things to do that are much more important, like opening presents and eating chocolate.

If ya zoom in real close and call her name to try to surprise her, …

I have been tagged by Michael Kane. (Thanks Mikey!)
How is it that I always get suckered into these games? I think it is that fear that I will be the one person to break the chain and something horrible will happen to me, like bad luck for seven years or sumfin.
Okay, here are …

You wake up thinking about him, and wonder if he does the same. Does he feel the magic too? Is it possible? Can the heavens have decided that it is time to fix the horrible wrongs and mend the broken lives? Does it scare him as much as it scares you? In that moment, you …

“You can pour your soul out singin’ a song you believe in, that tomorrow they’ll forget you ever sang. Sing it anyway, yeah sing it anyway.”
(Martina McBride – Anyway)
You know I tried so hard to harden my heart, to protect myself from the world, from ever hurting again. This last week or so though, I …

 
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“I ain’t settling for just getting by. I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life. Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high. Just enough ain’t enough this time. I ain’t settling for anything less than everything.” Settlin’ Sugarland
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If there ever is a next time, I want romance…
Nope, I don’t …

I decided to force myself to take the camera out and take some pictures. The results were absolutely disastrous.
A few months ago, I could only see beauty around me. It did not matter what the scene was, I could find the beauty in it.
Today, was exactly the opposite.
I went to the park because it has …

You wake up thinking it is going to be a beautiful day because the roses that have been trying to die for months, finally decided to bloom.
You look up and notice a dark cloud looming in the horizon.
You know in your heart that a storm is beginning to brew, a storm that your family will …

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat as needed to sustain life. Most of the time, this one will take care of itself.
If it is absolutely necessary to go somewhere, put your left foot in front of your right foot, then your right foot in front of your left.
Repeat as often as necessary, or until someone …

Wanna have some fun?
Spend four days throwing out a handful of peanuts for the squirrels every morning. On the fifth day, don’t throw any peanuts out right away. Pull up a chair, sit back and watch the show while learning about the power of the peanut.

I wonder if that camera lady left us some peanuts …

I want to spend more of my time writing . . .
I am finding that the best way to learn to write better is by spending more time writing. I think it may help me to come up with a list of topics that I find interesting, and just start writing. Involving all of …