Project52: Details

Sometimes it's the littlest details that make my heart sing.

Stop by The Terpblog to see what little details make her heart sing.

Project52: Moody

They say the apple don't fall far from the tree....

While the boys inherited my brown eyes, witty sense of humor, and small stature, they also inherited my moodiness.

When thinking of a picture that properly captured Moody, these pictures would not escape my thoughts.

So, now almost four years later, we bring to you Moody.... recreated........

Beyond thankful for these crazy boys, Moody and all!

Looking for more Moody that is cuter than can be?

Head to the Terpblog....

Project52: Love

Love is a map of Korea, stitched by hand.

Head to the Terphouse to see a beautiful take on love.

project52: Shoes

It was the Christmas of two thousand and seven.

I hadn't had a full night of sleep in seven months, and all I wanted for Christmas was a baby that slept four hours straight and a pair of jeans that actually fit me.

When the time came for this tired Mama to open her brand new pair of jeans, two sizes bigger than she had ever worn before, Steve instead walked to the curtains, pulling them back to reveal.....

A snowboard.

A brand spanking new snowboard.

I wanted to cry.

I had snowboarded once before. Once.

I secretly did not like it at all, but did it because Steve loved it.

And now, much to my chagrin, I was the proud owner of a K2 women's white snowboard with a splash of lavender.

Steve could see through my fake excitement and told me he bought it because he knew that one day  we could take our boys snowboarding, and now I could join in the fun.

.....

Yesterday, one day  finally arrived, as we took our boys on their first inaugural snowboarding trip.

With the sun shining, each of our boys took to the slopes.

As Gibson and I were riding up the chair lift, he looked up at me and said, Mom, this is the best day of my life.

With that, my heart melted, and for the first time I was thankful for what stood behind the curtains on that Christmas day six years before.

They were Shoes I never had any desire to fill, but sometimes you just have to lace them up, face your fears and try something new because one day  you may love it.

Now, lace up your shoes and head to Katie's beautiful post to see the many places her shoes have taken her.

Project52: Opposites

It is fair to say that my Mom-of-the-Year nomination will be revoked with the coming confession....

...

I have had no desire to immerse myself in all things Korean.  

...

We have made Bee-Bim-Bop and sampled kimche at Seoul Garden, but beyond that, it has entirely overwhelmed me to think about Korea and it's culture and history.

It is all I can manage to get up every morning and carry on with my day knowing that Finley is continuing to grow up without us, halfway around the world.

...Until recently.

As the boys and I were moseying around the local library, the boys came bounding out of the non-fiction section proclaiming that they found Korea books.

Their excitement was contagious and their curiosity, inspiring.

The first thing we read about was the Korean flag.

"What does the South Korean flag mean?  The blue and red circle in the middle is called taegeuk, {yin and yang}. It means that everything has an Opposite -like day and night, male and female, north and south- and it stands for the balance in life.  The black symbols near each corner stand for the things that make up our universe: heaven, earth, water and fire."

~Ann Martin Bowler

As we continue to learn more about Korea and our world seems so out of balance, we will remember that everything has an opposite.

For every tear, there will be indescribable joy.

For every fear, there will be Love.

Check out The Terpblog to discover Opposite through Katie's lens.

Project52: Frame It.

"For many, the beginning of the New Year signals a sense of transformation – a time to evaluate life in its current state and set goals for manifesting change. The butterfly symbolizes transformation and joy. Its dance reflects the need for movement from where we are to our next phase of being." ~Trish Phillips

Almost two years ago,  I walked away from the life I had always known.  

I shed my label, relinquished my roles and was left with Theresa in the raw.  There was nothing to hide behind, no work to bury myself in, and nowhere to run.

It was just me.

A me I did not recognize.

A me I did not know.

A me that was in desperate need for movement from where I was to my next phase of being.

Although God is still transforming me, asking me to be still and wait, I have seen glimpses of the great joy that comes from allowing yourself to be transformed.  

I have learned that transformation cannot be placed into a nice neat box.  

There are no rules, no ten step program.

You cannot place it in a perfect frame, but you can view it through the lens of grace, inviting further transformation and even greater joy. 

  

Looking for more?  Please head over to Katie's blog for a glimpse of  why a picture worth framing is always more than a picture.

Project52: Round

round

 [round] adjective~

• full, complete, or entire

Last night, we gathered with several members of our Home Team to celebrate the blessing of a baby girl.

As we sat around the table, we enjoyed amazing food, constant conversation, and lots of laughs.  

Living a full life, in complete authenticity. 

Stop by the Terpblog to see what makes her world go ROUND.

Project52: Self-Portrait

My friend Autumn is hosting Project52, a once a week photo challenge for 52 weeks.  One year of pushing the limits behind the lens.

Autumn and I first met at a Yoga retreat and quickly bonded over our strong desire for a glass of wine and a cookie.

Since meeting Autumn I have learned that she has an unmatched creative energy, she roots for the underdog, and she always has her hands in something outside the box.

So, when she asked if I wanted to join her for this photo challenge, I had no other choice but to say Yes!

The first assignment, however, almost made me run for the door...

A self-portrait?

Oh dear.

That's when I knew this project was exactly what I needed.

To be a bit uncomfortable.

To be a lot vulnerable {insert little known fact that I took a camera class once and left more confused than ever}. 

To take a chance.

To push my thinking.

After a brief self pep talk, I started to ponder how exactly it was that I wanted to take my self portrait.

What part of me tells a story?  My crow's feet? My gray hair? My usual uniform of yoga pants and a comfy t? What story do I  want to tell?

And that is when I knew that I had to somehow get this shot...

... a shot of my forty-one month pregnant self.

 Although I do not have the belly to prove it, my arms have longed to hold my baby girl since God placed her on my heart four years ago.

I did not feel her first kick.

I have not heard her heartbeat.

Yet still I have carried her and have always known she was mine.


Thirsty for more? Head on over to The Terpblog to see Katie's self-portrait, I promise you'll be inspired.