Birthday Shout Out {part II}

Jamie Nemmers-Petrie this birthday shout out is for YOU. May today bring you simple blessings to let you know the gift you are each and everyday to all those around you and all those who love you. I am grateful to call you, my friend. I am grateful to have such a loyal, trusting, caring and kind friend. In our knittlin' circle of friends you bring your love and friendship to us all, by simply being you - you make us all better. Yea it may be just an average everday day for you today, but know that you are far from average. May you be blessed with many smiles, laughs and above all love today. Have a rockstar day, my friend.

Birthday Shout Out

Heather Hyatt this Birthday Shout Out is for YOU. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people in this world. I hope today you are filled with blessings that make you realize the gift you are to so many. I know my life wouldn't be the same if you were never apart of it. A big space in my life and heart would go empty... How sad it would be if I didn't get to call you my friend. Thankfully its something I will never have to know. Your the gal I want sitting next to me when I am having a cold beer (with a pickle or olives depending on the mood). Your the gal that I love a road trip with because we both like the same music. Your the gal that I like having mad at me or letting me get mad at you - its in the moment and we move on. Your the gal thats all about being up for anything and everything which makes just having fun always easy. Your the gal that always speaks the truth. Your the gal that can be counted on. Your the gal I am grateful to call my friend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIEND

Welcome Nolan Robert Weisbrod

Born March 22, 2011 to the proud parents Shannon and Tim. I am proud to say welcome to the world Nolan Robert Weisbrod!!!! I look forward to meeting the little prince this spring-summer and of course blinding him with my flash. And I can say with 100 percent certainty that he will be raised by two parents that will make his childhood heaps of fun. full of love. filled with happiness. and will provide this little man with support - encouragement - guidence and faith. You are one blessing being to call these two great people Mom and Dad. I count the days til I get meet you, to hold you, cuddle with you, spoil you and love you. Til then keep growing stronger! And I will continue to say prayers for you, so you can go home and be with your family, soon.

Welcome McKenna Ann Essler

I am proud to announce the arrival of McKenna Ann Essler 9lbs 12oz & 23in born 3.10.11 to the proud parents Jared & Kinsey and big brother Carter. I can't wait to meet you little girl and of course blind you with my flash. Til then I know you will be loved and spoiled by not just you parents and brother but by all of the Essler - Coles gang. You are one blessed little baby to have such amazing people in your life to call your family. Look forward to meeting and seeing you soon.

3rd Annual (Girls') Bison Weekend

I am getting a bit excited, the 3rd annual Girls' Bison Weekend today with the arrival of Miss Heather Hyatt and then tomorrow evening Miss Lindsey Graham meets up with us at the Bulldog. We all look forward to this girls' weekend on the slopes of Big Mountain during the days and socializing in the little town below of Whitefish. Its a weekend filled with laughter, smiles, remember whens, and making new memories. We thinking of all the rest of the Knitting Circle who isn't able to attend in hopes one day they will all experience life in Montana - maybe even bringing their husbands and children someday in the future. Til then we continue to gather and take in the beauty of the great outdoors of Montana. More to come... for I have to take off and pick up Hyatt at the airport. First up is lunch at Glacier Grill in the Canyon then the sights of Glacier National Park.

Bridge

Today is my friend Bridget's birthday. I met Bridge my sophmore year at NDSU, and we became fast friends as we spent our years as Bison together as well as taking many of the same classes in the Teaching Education Department. She is a life long member of my Knitting Circle of Friends, she's what I call a journey friend...for I know she will be in my life years and years from now. You know how it is... just some stick around forever.

To help celebrate her day I thought what better gift than to hear just how amazing and special you are on your birthday. It would be easy to say that I know many, and I would prolli have to agree. However, thou I know many I don't speak words as such as these prudenly. Not just everyone has penetrated the walls of my inner soul to become one of my journey friends. I save that title for a select few, Bridge you are surely one.

At first glance you will be knocked out by her beauty. Some words like Malibu Barbie just may pop in your mind. She is in fact flawless on her looks. It would be easy to call her a Barbie Doll however if you took the time to know her or even just talk to her you would find that her inner beauty is even more beautiful than the blonde bombshell your eye first meets. She can be sassy, hip with fashion and speak her mind. She may tell you that shirt just isn't you or you need a breath mint. These are just a few traits of her... being her. Her strongest traits however is her gentle. kind. giving. loving soul. She is someone who gives of her time. She is someone who will wrap you in her warmth when you are having one of those days. She is someone that loves with every breath of her being. She is someone who will make you laugh til you cry. She is someone that carries that at home feeling with her because she makes everyone so comfortable being around her. She is someone that truly cares for you as a person. as one of her friends. She is someone that loves her little boy as well as the two children she now considers her own. Being a mom to Will, Tommy and Syd comes so natural to her. She loves with both roots and wings. Meaning she allows her children to grow and become with her love. She doesn't ground them with rules or laws. Such moms are rare to find. She is a gal that would rather have a budlight than a fancy drink. She is a gal that would rather have a backyard BBQ than a five star restaurant. She can rock a ball gown on a friday night as much as holey jeans and a paint covered shirt on sunday afternoon. So much a small town girl at heart (even thou she's always been a city girl) that loves the simple things in life. She is a woman that knows what matters. Her children. Her love(Dan the Man). Her family. Her friends. Her faith in life. She may not always agree with what she has been handed but she makes the best of it. She gets knocked down but always gets up and tries again. She is an example. a role model without a clue that she is. I know my life changed when she became apart of it. For in many ways she made me grow. I am grateful for the memories she has shared with me. The laughter. The smiles. The tears.

Happy birthday to my journey friend, Bridge. I hope its a great day. I wish more than anything that today you realize the gift you are to OOOh soo many each and everyday. Oh and by the way thou I have done many weddings... you are still one of my favorite brides as well as favorite weddings I have been honored to capture.

LG

Today I wish you millions of simple moments of happiness. I wish that the glass of life is always half full. I wish you countless smiles and endless laughter. I wish you a life journey that takes you thru the ups and downs - happiness and sorrow - darkness and light so that you find yourself truly living each and every part there is to this life. I wish that you find yourself surrounded by supportive - down to earth people that will show you understanding and compassion during your life trials as well as celebrate along with you in your successes and happiness. I wish you a heart that is filled with love from others and for others. I wish you many more running miles on those stick legs of yours. I wish you life moments that will help you to learn to grow and to become the person that you now are and still will become. I wish that you find the beauty that surrounds you....ALWAYS. That you can see this beauty as much out your back and front door as you would in the places that you travel to see. I wish you a simple life that is filled with moments that you never would even dream of having or living.

Today I hope you trust your journey in this life. I hope you realize that you being just you is and always will be enough. I hope you find reasons everyday to LOVEthisLIFE... not just in moments of sunshine and happiness but in darkness and sorrow as well. I hope one day you will know the greatness that lies in your soul. I hope one day you will know of the difference and meaning you have brought to so many lives. I hope one day you will know just how loved and cared about you are.

Today we celebrate you, Lindsey Graham. Know there truly aren't words to fully speak my thoughts about you my friend. "Thoughts too deep for words." Sums it all up. All I can say is that I am grateful. I am thankful. I am blessed. I am lucky... to call you my friend.

Happy Birthday!

Oh the places he will go...welcome BAYLOR

I am a few days late but in my books its still news worth hearing and celebrating. Oct 27th 2009 brought the arrival of 8lbs 8ozs 21 inches Baylor Thomas Petrie.... Welcome to this life little guy. I hope you have your daddy's smile, Laken's cute chubby cheeks and a gentle soul like your mommy's. You are already such a blessed soul to call such people your family. You are already loved so by not only your mommy, daddy, big sister and grandparents as well as aunts and uncles but friends as well. I look forward to meeting you one day soon. Til then I hope you just relax and enjoy being ooo awwed spoiled loved cuddled kissed and hugged every second of the day. Just be your cute little self for you already have ALL of us wrapped around your little fingers and completly in love with you! I am so happy you have arrived. Know just how special it is to call such people mommy and daddy because I know just how special it is to call them friends. I know much lies ahead of you in this life and with a support system that you have been welcomed into this world with that future is as bright as the sun and filled with much love and happiness... Oh the places you will go Baylor Thomas oh the places you will go...

Welcome Carter Essler

Early this morning my friends Jared and Kinsey-Coles Essler welcomed their first child into this world weighing 8lbs 6oz and 21 inches long....Carter Michael Essler. I look forwarding to meeting you and holding you and of course blinding you with my flash. Congrats Kins and J-Rod!!! Sending my love and happiness to the three of you from across the miles. Life has taken on a new meaning for you and I know that you will both be amazing parents and Carter will grow up loved and well taken care of!

Momma Keller

Congrats to Erin and Stevie Keller on their newest addition Kyson Patrick to their family...I can't wait to meet the little guy! And of course blind him with my flash...I have seen pictures of the little guy and I am happy to report that he just may be the cutiest newborn baby boy EVER...Well I can say this until Bridget and Dan have their boy coming within the month and then the title must be shared...but for now it belongs to Kyson.

I couldn't help but think of how happy and full of love and life Erin and Stevie are feeling right now...I am so excited for the new journey they are embarking on as a family. Truly great kind and loving people who will love and cherish Kyson with every breath they take...You can already see the look of pride and joy on their faces. I know Erin will be a very hands on mama...She won't be your normal everyday mom, because Erin doesn't have a normal bone in her body...and I think this is great! She is rare and the kind of person you know there is only one of. She is always on the go...whether it be with work, shopping or just talking in general...Sometimes I have to remind her to breath when she is talking to me...but thats Erin...she's a go go getter...and because of that personality she has found much success and happiness...She will push Kyson but will always support encourage and love...THIS I KNOW why because she goes after it and doesn't stop til she reaches it and achieves it. She's the kind of person that some would be jealous of or unsure of because of her strong A personality type but once you get to know her you will be embrace by a true person who loves you and pushes you to work hard and achieve success in your life. She challenges me and pushes me with her questions and friendship and I am so grateful to have friends that see more in me...when I don't live it...who want more for me when I don't dream it. Who belive in me...esp at times when I don't. Erin Klein Keller...You have always been this kind of friend to me...and I am so happy for you and Stevie...and so grateful to call you my friend...my love and best to the three of you.

the BISON HERD

The Bison Herd made their official visit to Whitefish MT and made a lasting imprint as well as memories that will stand the test of time...Here are a few highlights....I do realize that this is an inside blog meaning besides the four of us no one else really understands...but I wanted to make sure these memories were written down somewhere...

**The arrival of the Minnesota Ski Bunnies at the Glacier International Airport (while I was in the Airport I couldn't help but wonder what international flights come in and out of Kalispell Montana? Does one flight from Canada -which by the way is like a hour away full fill the International meaning given to the name of the airport?)...Upon their arrival they were greeted with a wonderful hand-made sign bunny drawing included...um actually pretty much Shannon was b/c she somehow got lost in the toilet and Heather came out of the gates before I could get Lindsey attention while she was looking around the gift shop.

**Hearing Shannon's airplane comments given to Heather about seeing porter potty's only to be told that no Shannon those are Silos.

**Shannon an official SKI BUNNY...all black ski suite with fur trimming.

**GB...GOD BLESS

**A double blue diamond...Shannon's reference to all slopes on the mountain...green, blue or black all were called a double blue diamond.

**Seeing Dumb and Dumber wanna bees both nights out

**Starting to call for a taxi at midnite and having to wait until almost 3 am to get one.

**Tim crying, Tim tryin to get Shannon to fly home early, Tim calling to tell Shannon I love you, I miss you and goodnite around 20 times in a row...AWW he missed her!!

**LG and HH tech-no dancin'

**Shann, LG and HH love of taking photos outside in a snowbank every 10 mins in -5 below weather.

**What is the only word that end with MT? ask HH
M-...um SMELT...
Shann...oh is this one of those trick questions...i know...EMPTY..MT...
HH...Dreamt

**What is Coconut Milk asks Heather...Shannon replies...its Coconuts but Milk.

**Shannon taking out two girls who had no idea what they were doin on a double blue diamond...aka the ANT HILL.

**All I want is Breakfast and Coffee...this isn't the way to breaktfast and coffee...Shannon informing this to HH and I while taking her down a slope first in order to get to the Big Drift.

**Charmin...toilet paper sparked WW III between HH and Belly....but a peace treated was signed in the end.

**You really hurt my feelings...HH what? how? LG by calling me black and white...HH thinking to herself...I can't even say anything because I can't remember anything dealing with WW III

**LG talking to Mike on the phone at 2am only for him to say hold on I have another call...LG gets a confused look on her face...only to hear across the table me saying...HI MIKE..

**Shannon getting lost in the dark night skiing...almost dying...almost freezing to death...almost fearing for her life...you know the story...turns out she was just fine.

**Hung-over Shannon's skiing skills turn out to be very shakie...in fact she falls over just standing.

**Lindsey is the slowest best skiier ever according to HH

**Shann "You both sux balls HH and MD...well malt balls balls.

**Eating at the Red Cabose and HH not able to say how much she was in love with her meal because she was proving a point...one that she couldn't remember thou

**Getting into our bather aka swim suits to go hot tubing only to walk over to the hot tub and realize we can't sneak in if there are 7 people already in the tub.

**Lindsey head butting my beer while tryin to head bang to music resulting in another knot to make a set of twins on her forehead.

**Shannon getting caught on the chairlift with fitness Graham.."you need to give up coffee and tone and do yoga...Mike and I do yoga and we love it." Shannon "I am not a yoga person."

**I drink coffee and coffee has no calories...what kind of diet are you on??

**What complext world are you living in?? "I don't deserve to be treated like this!!!" Are you listening to ANYTHING that i am saying??

**I want to drink coffee!! NOT put on 50 layers and have a ski workout....all I want is breakfast!!

**HH's yard sale on a diamond slope...sliding down on her butt while I climbed to help her get her skis.

**HH getting mad after getting whitewashed...LG and Shann thinking they were goin to die when they got whitewashed.

**HH's new favorite word to say at all times when when it so so doesn't apply or the convo has nothing to do with her F U...really HH

**I am not hungry...I am upset...turns out over onions and peppers.

**HH passing out on the snowbus goin into town

**Heather telling in words like I should be proud that she is drinking water...I reply back...you are also drinking a bloody mary.

**At the store LG says we don't need beer I already got beer for the weekend..Shann...she has a case of 18 I will drink that alone.

**Shannon saying to me...you can tel who knows how to drink after watching LG and HH dance around like goons while Her and I sat on the couch just chillin.

**Garlic burbs

**Bulldog's x-rated bathroom stalls

**Shannon pace of drinking 4 to HH's 1

**Photo shoot at Glacier

**A sign at the gift shop coffee 1 dollar...Shann "MAMA G will you buy me some coffee."

**Shann informing me all she wants to do is sit and drink coffee and read at the summit...only to get there and have me ask...did you bring something to read? Shann...NO Me asking did you bring money? Shannon...ahh proli should have I wasn't thinking..me shakin my head and sayin thats all you were talking about...oh lou

**Me standing outside and coming back in because one I am cold and two I am hungry

**Shann spending 45mins on my blackberry tryin to get out of facebook

**HH always getting upset with me for stopping and waiting on the slopes...only to go skiing with me which resulted in my losing her because I didn't stop and wait.

**Shann at the Hu Hot I just like alot of sauce...see I move the food around and I like to sit sauce.

**LG isn't this amazing that God made this...GB GB

**Listenin to endless Missy Higgins songs only to hear Shann say play anything but her please

**Constant fighting between LG nd HH over whether to listen to Missy or Keri

**"Well should we talk about it? Talk about what? I don't know...maybe WW III??

**What happens after one too many wines and one too many whiskeys

**HH getting feed flour shells by Shann

**HH and Shan giving timed neck rubs and Shann tryin to always get 5 more mins out of HH

**The best part of this weekend is the BISON HERD coming together...smiling, laughing, making memories and yes even fighting...but loving every minute of being together...These girls are people I know I will have in my life FOREVER...because no matter what we do, how we act, what we say, if you tease-fight or tork each other off we still find them right by our side. true friends that you feel safe to speak your mind-act like a complete moron-say completely stupid things...For you know they are never laughing at you...but always with you and no matter what will always have your back...Friends like these are rare and hard to come by....Thanks girls for a great weekend...love you

She's....

She's a little crazy, a little wild, a whole lot of fun, full of smiles and laughter. The life of the party, a friend thru thick and thin....She's the one that keeps us laughing, the one that our memories are built around because she is in so many. She's the one we cry from laughter when we remember when...She's the backbone to our circle of friends...She's the one who keeps us all together...She's the glue to our friendships...She's love, kindess and caring....She's the reason I found this group of girls...She's talent and a shopper for great deals...She's a cold beer and an egg bake whenever her friends are stayin or near....always plenty to go around...She's our singer--even if sometimes she doesn't know the words or sings the wrong ones...Shes' our dancer--sometimes with a wall but she is always out there. She's taco bell at 2 am....She's honest and loyal....She's a sharer...of it all the good bad funny sad and even embrassing....she shares it all...She's lipspucked up for a photo...She's a friend that i am honored to call mine....She's the hostess with the most...She's a big hug wrappin you up in a warm embrace...She's the kind of friend who gives all she got...She's a fighter and never a complainer....She's a positive person who is always in a good mood. She's the silver lining for she always sees it in her life...She's someone I am glad found love...and not just any kind of love....the kind of guy that sees her in the same eyes we do---yet sees her even better...He loves her fully and competely for HER...and doesn't want to change a thing about her...and because of that...he means so much to me...Because she's one in a million...She's rare-She's special-She's truly just simply the best...She's Shannon....And above all she is someone I will always be excited to see, someone I will always look forward to having a cold beer with, someone I love to laugh with, someone who will always be my friend...She in a word ROCKS.

My Knitting Circle

We got our snow...however with the snow came wind and with the wind came the wind chill so after getting 7 inches it actually became 2 feet in some places due to the wind gusts....its -40 right now and its only suppose to get colder...which means...no mountain for any of us die hearts even if we wanted too....

Today is the holiday party my college girlfriends get together and have...They will all be gathered at Shannon's house drinking...okay maybe just Shannon and Heather since they are the only ones not preg-o...and making Christmas Cards...I am a bit bummed out because our get togthers are so much fun....always out of control stories, heaps of laughter and just the being together is what its all about...Erin, Bridget, Kinsey, Jamie, Shannon, Heather and Lindsey...all those girls together means one thing and one thing only...WILD and FUN times.....However I can't be too much of a Debbie since I will seein them all next week with the Aussies...While Shannon takes us to some light parade...Which she is so pumped about....I say why not....as long as I am surround by my mates and friends...life just can't get any better than that...

Here's to Erin, Kinsey, Shannon, Heather, Bridget, Jamie, and Lindsey...tho they aren't all together today most of them will be...may the holiday house be filled with your smiles and laughter!!! May you realize the simple amazing things that lie in our friendship and what that friendship brings into each of our lives...We are more because we know each other...and we are more because we have each other!! Each of us so different and unquie in our own ways but together those differences actually is what strands us all together...its what makes us make complete sense as friends...How I was able to be apart of this Knitting Circle I will never know...I was never a roommate...yet that's just how each and everyone has treated me from day one.

So this Holiday season...I hope you are blessed with simple blessings that fill your life with happiness and love...and above all that you each realize the gift you are in my life...by simply being YOU!! Happy Holidays...have an eggnog for me....um actually cancel that and make it a budlight....Love to you all.

H2

I have known this girl for quite some time...we met in our college days and I always seemed to have found her by my side when I need a drinking partner, partner in crime but most of all when I just need a friend. HH..H2..Hyatt...and most recently Hea...Heather Hyatt is who this blog is about today.

We give each other crap well pretty much 99.99 percent of the time. Most may seem like low blows like how she calls me DDM (developly delayed michelle)...but the truth is I couldn't stay mad at that girl if I tried...and more importantly I know that our friendship is built around the fact that we give each other a hard time...however if I heard anyone talk her down I would prolli find my fist in their mouth....and well I am sure you all know I am not the fighting kind...but I will turn right into that if someone messes with my friends. I know we give each other endless crap but I know with out a doubt that she has my back and she knows the same goes for me.

So many of my memories involve her sitting right next to me at a bar drinking endless glasses of budlight with either a pickle or green olives...heck most of my memories with her can't even be recalled but I know they happened because of the photos we have. I know I can't recall all those memories...but I remember what counts....the smiles, the laughter, the hugs and most of all the friendship...and really thats all one needs to have!

But know this about this girl I call me friend, she is the kind of girl that once you get to know you know you will have her friendship for life. She has the purest heart that she loves with every inch of it...She doesn't judge--she listens...fully listens..She is the type of friend that will get mad at someone when she knows that you just can't. The type of friend that will stand you up when you yourself don't feel like you can do it. The kind of friend that always sparks a smile and laugh no matter what is goin on good or bad. She the type of friend who is always up for spending quality time together (ok yes most of our times do involve budlight).

Like life after college goes you find yourself apart from the friends you spend all your time with. Things change...and thou for awhile we grew apart...we never grew out of our friendship. The greatest gift I got this year from Santa came early this year when Heather and I found our friendship again thru the miles. And like it always is between us...nothing ever changed. I will be seein her in just a weeks time and I like I always get when I know I get to see my budlight girl...I am excited. because there's nothing...and I mean nothing like sitting at a bar and having a cold one with this girl...for that time is filled with the best talks, and of course the best below the belt comments that we say to each other--and laugh.

I know I am lucky to call Heather Hyatt a true friend...and more than that a journey friend...for I know that our friendship will last the rest of my life...She will be one of those special few friends that you take with you on this journey we call life...thru the sunshine and the rain I know she will always be right there and those are the hard friends to find....but once you do find them...they are lasting til the end.

she is making a difference!

Have you ever just had a friend that has left you in just amazement? Just how giving they are? And you find yourself just feeling complete blessed because they are in your life!! You feel more as a person and being because of them and what they bring into your life! You find yourself changed all for the better!

My friend Lindsey has been nothing but just that and WAY MORE! I haved waited for her and the friendship I have with her...welll basicailly all my life. And I find myself just being so honored to call her my friend.

She has no idea how great she is and even more so the greatness that lies within her being. She is making a difference...a HUGE differenece in so so many lives! More than she will ever know! I wish she saw it all...I wish she could see what her giving caring and taking the time does to the lives she touches!

The change and difference she has brought into my life is well seen everywhere because I am more in so many ways because she takes the time to show me that I matter. Thank you friend...I am one lucky girl to call you one of my best friends!! And thank you for stirring me up and changing me all for the better! And the best part...well I just think you are just getting started! The change and difference you make is just warming up and gettin ready to take off...can't wait to see it all unfold. I am honor to be with you on this journey!

Coming Together

I am happy to say that thou we take different paths..for some reason our paths keep coming together...they cross and then go a different way and come back again together. Even if its just for a short time. These girls...well there truly aren't any words that can describe how much they mean to me-how much they bring into my life-how just amazing each and every single one of them is. Kinsey, Shannon, Heather, Lindsey, Jamie, Bridget and Erin. Each so different but together it all makes sense why we are friends. They are simple girls who only need a cooler of budlight..and now some OJ (LG) and each other to have a good time. When I am with them I hear their laughter and see their smiles and for someone who goes goes goes...I relax. I enjoy. I slow down. I tend to record those moments in my mind...I sketch their smiles and keep their laughter echo-ing thru my mind...because once those moments are over...i replay those memories and moments when I am alone and when I need them when they are too far to be near. So thou we are far apart from each other...They are still with me everyday...Last weekend we were brought together to celebrate the wedding of our Bridget to Dan. We drank, we smiled, we laughed, we danced, we made memories to last. It was during that weekend at the wedding dance where I sat up above and watched seven girls each in their own world of happiness out on the dance floor. Kinsey with Jared, Lindsey with Mike, Jamie with Tom, Shannon with Tim, Erin with Stevie, Bridget with Dan and Heather dancing around the floor with one month old Laken. I can't really describe what I truly saw or how that moment was so profound to me. I was watching simple life happiness...the kind of happiness that is so real its impossible to truly capture or even realize that you have it or even dream of having...because its happiness in its rarest form...the kind you might just take for granted from day to day...because its just a simple form of being happy...dancing to some cheesy song with someone you love. I tend to not to be someone who you see crying...no I was not sobbin but tears were formed and one or two might have escaped from the corner of my eye. WHY...because thats just what I have always wanted for each one of them...the simple life happiness...and I realized at that moment they each had just that...and to see that and to see all of them at the same time have that....I was swept away in that moment. Having those seven friends in my life makes it easy for me to be a true friend, makes it easy for me to just be me. For they just take me for who I am and love me for me just being me. They are some of my biggest life fans...they believe in me, have faith in me and inspire me to reach out to life --to want more--to be more--How cool is that...how simple is that? But thats just who they are...Simple real friends...who are so much more than that. As time has gone by I have leaned on them more and more. I have turned to them during times of sorrow and trails and they are the ones I turn to celebrate with-laugh with-smile with. Me being the oldest of the crew I tend to also be the one that makes sure that everyone is taken care of...and I realized that as the years have gone by I have to do less of this...Because each one of them...has grown into a person who is confident, secure, strong, smart and knows just what they are reaching for and just who they need in their life that truly matters. They have found amazing people to share their everyday lives with...the kind of people that I am too blessed to have in my life...I have so much admiration and respect for Tim, Stevie, Dan, Tom, Mike, Jared and Jamie...for they are the ones that are making all the difference in the lives of my journey friends. I am thankful for friends like these seven girls and I am thankful for all our times together...whether we be doing everything or nothing. Just being together brinds so much happiness to me and having them in my life...has made all the difference in my life.

FrIeNdS

Seven girls...each so different-a single strand that encompasses their being but yet all together those strands are completed to form a solid friendship built of strength, love, laughter and so much more. I am not sure how I ever got to be blessed with their friendship-but I do know that I will never let that friendship or one of those girl's escape from my life. Together we laugh til we cry. We create memories that we will never forget. We divide sorrow and double happiness. I have complete trust and faith in each and every single one of those girls. I know I can be my complete true self and they will not judge me or try to change me. They truly are just down to earth girls that just want to have fun. All we need is a case of beer or a bottle...i mean bottles of wine and we are set. The time we spend together is now short and long in between but it doesn't matter...we pick right where we left off and tend to have the best of times together. They are that core group of girls that I know will be in my life for the many many years to come. I have never been truly mad at them...even when they left me in the cities downtown...shit happens. I have never thought anything but the best of each of them...it is what makes us all so different that makes our friendship so strong...There's a bit of each of us in all of us...For i know they were right with me on the beaches in Australia, skiing right by my side on the slopes in the fish...they are everywhere I go...I see their smiles and hear their laughter....even when they are far...they are always right with my in my heart. I am one lucky gal to just happen to fall upon the friendships of a lifetime. A friendship that I am hoping and knowing that I will have a lifetime to come. For I don't see my life without them in it. I can't think of girlfriends without thinking of them. Its these girls that I would call with best news ever or the worse news ever. The ones that I know that will make me laugh and dry my tears...I am blessed beyond words.

Why not Great Falls?

I am a person that tends to fly by the sit of their pants, on thursday nite i found out that my friend Lindsey, was off for spring break for the week. She lives in Great Falls, MT about 3.5 to 4 hours away from Whitefish. So after talking to her i decided to jump in my car and head to her hometown and spend my mid-week weekend with her. Not very often do I hang out with people that don't get annoyed with my endless picture taking and spending countless hours walking and wandering off to take photos as well. I have very few friends that are willing to put up with this behavior and not rush me. And even fewer who are willing to get lost behind the lens with me. Lindsey is one of these friends. She encourages, supports and understands my passion for photography. We were able to find some photographs that really fit her and its means the world to me that someone can be so moved by something I captured. That a picture can be more than just a picture and stand for something more than just something printed on paper. I feel blessed, honored and grateful beyond words that I was given this given for capturing life. For if i know anything is that all I do is capture that moment, It is already created by those who are in it or just a part of it. They are the ones living it, breathing it and feeling it. I am just the person that is able to capture it. If i could spend the rest of my life doing one thing and one thing only it would be that...capturing people's moments, capturing life's moments.