sometimes ...

... I still wake up and think (in the best possible way): Holy cow, I'm married to him!! and wonder at how it happened.


james, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


... someone turns the camera on me for a change.


kirsten, canon 40d
taken by james


... I snap photos of innocent and unsuspecting strangers.


walk through the park, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


peering over the falls, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


... I find obvious things visually appealing ...


cliffside daisies, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


... as well as some not-so-obvious things.


trash can, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


... my ovaries do somersaults when I see wee little munchkins like these.


baby audrey (5 days old), canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


elinor, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle


big eyes, canon 40d
taken by kirsten.michelle

a poem*

I recently became acquainted with this poem by Mary Oliver. For many reasons that are still unfolding for me, it resonates so very deeply with where I am right now.

Peace be with you.

shaded path
by kirsten.michelle
Canon 40D
14 june 2009

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.


- Mary Oliver

married life*

Probably the most common question I've been asked over the last six weeks is: So ... how is married life?

The question, though simple enough, has a loaded and somewhat complex answer. There are a lot of things I could say about it, most of which are answers you would expect. It's challenging. Sanctifying. Humbling. Revealing of my character, my fears, my doubts, my insecurities. I'm more in love than I was six weeks ago. I've cried a lot. I'm even more certain I married the one person on the planet who is right for me, for whom God made me. Yeah ... it's good. Really, really good.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

There is a lot more I could say -- I could spend some serious time expanding on any one of those thoughts. But for now, I'll leave you with a pic (of course!!) and a quote from one of my favorite authors that just about sums it up perfectly:

I love you -- I am at rest with you -- I have come home.

Dorothy Sayers

Busman's Honeymoon

kirsten & james
taken by kaari

june 26, 2009
Canon 40D

I love my James.