Photos by Who?

, originally uploaded by benzismama.

I have not forgotten about this blog. Or my camera. My poor camera. It must think I've abandoned it for good. I haven't picked up my Rebel in weeks. Or has it been months already?
I'm busy. Much busier than I like to be, in fact. It's a good busy, though. New job. New routine...or lack thereof. Some things have been pushed to the back burner. Things I love and things I don't love...like housekeeping and cooking, for instance...I am well aware of the areas I have been neglecting and can honestly, whole-heartedly say I am trying. I am doing the best I can. I can't do it all. I can't make everybody happy or even attempt to. I just don't have time right now. So, to my sweet little Rebel, and the other areas of my life that are being neglected, bear with me. I have not forgotten you and greatly appreciate your patience and understanding.

Dorsey Trapp

, originally uploaded by benzismama.

Grampy is gone to the other side now. He passed last night. I don't have words, yet.

float

, originally uploaded by benzismama.

A dream come true...

, originally uploaded by benzismama.

I wasn't born with sisters. I'm not sure I would have appreciated them so much if I had been. My brother, Brad, brought Jennifer into my life when I was 12 years old. Vanessa is the wife of my husband's brother, Jeff, and lives in New Jersey. They are my sisters now.
They had never met until this weekend. They started cooking up this plan for my 30th birthday weeks ago. Thirty is big to each of us. Jenn jumped out of an airplane. Vanessa had a party in NYC complete with a tiara. All I wanted was to go to the symphony. (and a tattoo!)
Long story short, I knew I was going to the symphony in Dallas with Jenn because Vanessa gave me tickets for my birthday. What I didn't know, was that she also purchased a ticket for herself. She was waiting for us in the lobby of Hotel ZaZa reading Breaking Dawn. The rest is history.
I took lots of pictures with my Rebel and they are all on my Flickr site. Vanessa has the majority of the pictures on her camera. (ELPHs are easier to lug around) I can't wait to see them.
How I will ever repay these two girls, I will never know. I am still kind of absorbing the enormity of their combined generosity. It is overwhelming.

grateful

grateful, originally uploaded by benzismama.

for the love I've been given. for being forgiven. for always having food to eat and a place to lay my head. for every single little gift.

I read this somewhere today:

“When you look closely people are so strange & so complicated that they're actually beautiful.”

I like it. I haven't met too many people who aren't beautiful in their own way. And who isn't strange & complicated?

my sister

, originally uploaded by benzismama.

Better days ahead.....