At Home In The Woods
Hey there! How’s it going?
I know it’s been way too long since I’ve shown up in your inbox. Definitely my bad. But if you’ll hang in there, I hope to be visiting more often.
What’s been happening? Well let me give you the briefest summary: We moved in to our DIY home. It took us 2 years, but we managed to build our dream house in the woods. That meant, for two years, the Photographer became the Builder and his Follower became the Tax Preparer. (???) Yep. That’s us. Always evolving and growing.
Now that it feels like we’re settling in, it felt like the right time to write.
We are home.
Our lives have definitely shifted, a different look and flow. But The Photographer is getting back to swimming and discovering; And we’ve been going on short little adventures in the back yard. We’re even planning some Real traveling adventures in the next few months.
So I feel my subject today is Gratitude. I can come up with all the reasons we should be thankful to be where we are in life. But the truth is yesterday was a hard day. Tax season is a real, high stress season. I was overwhelmed yesterday. But gratitude – gratefulness – Thankfulness is a choice. It’s choosing to the find things. Every day, The Photographer and I look out the same windows at the same trees and say, “I just love how the sunlight is hitting the birch tree right now!” Every day. I kid you not. Same tree, same sun, same windows, but every day we make sure to notice, “Wow!”
And that kind of thankful – wow – feeling is connected to another cool thing: Living in awe. It’s actually been proven to be healthy. A quick google search will inform you of all the benefits. We can feel this from even the tiniest, littlest things; like the bark on a birch tree, the way it curls and twists, the flat needles on the Balsam trees coated in frost, the way that pesky little red squirrel likes to pose and tease you while stealing the birdseed. The melody of dripping water from the melting snow on the roof, creating it’s own kind of symphony. If we just put in the smallest amount of effort (literally stopping to smell the roses), we get to experience all of this. We can live in awe and thankfulness.
I’m far from perfect. I admit to having challenging days, like I’m sure everyone has. But I’m learning. There is beauty out there, friends. I hope you choose to enjoy it with us.
“See” you all again soon!
Don’t forget to watch out for the deer. 😉
Kara
Oh yeah.. How’s the Photographer doing you might ask?
Well he’s always looking to keep things lighthearted… so there’s this:
9 Comments
Alan Voorhees
Glad you are back.
Beth
Speaking of gratitude….I’m so very grateful for this post! 😀 It’s a wonderful reminder that in the midst of difficult times there’s always something to be grateful for. ALWAYS! I am blessed daily by the breathtaking beauty of Christian’s photographs posted on Instagram. In a world that has a lot of ugliness, whether attitudes, behaviors or visual, seeing God’s creation in all its fullness reminds me that He is always at work creating beauty for our pleasure. What a gift! And captured so wonderfully by Christian, which is another gift. I am BLESSED! Thank you! <3
Catherine
Lovely share Kara!!! Keep it coming!🥰🙏🏾🤩💞
Mike Carr
I love your photography! Thanks for sharing!!!
Mike Carr
I missed your photography! Glad to have you back!
Michael Dullum
Good to see your guys are still alive and moving forward, enjoying your new home in the woods and taking time to see the little things
Mona Glesne
So glad to see your post. I noticed The Photographer had posted a few more pics of late on FB so I figured things were settling down. Awe, gratitude are a wonderful way to live. Thanks for the reminder. Looking forward to more from both of you.
Rene Bush
So nice to get an update on your new home and your lives. Gratitude is definitely good for the soul and general well-being, especially in trying times.
Glad you are well and planning some new adventures. I am grateful to read your latest blog and look forward to more beautiful
Photography.
Cindy Dullum
So great to see you’re back in the writing mode! Look forward to reading more!
❤️❤️❤️🙌🙌🙌