pictures of people looking at pictures.

 

      Art brings people together. Hipsters, old couples, young families, art experts; all of them were congregated in the echoing halls of Nelson-Atkins Art Museum yesterday.
We were there because it was Dad's birthday and the art museum was his present. While my family meandered through the galleries, I was busy with an impromptu photography project: taking pictures of people appreciating art -- (without them knowing it.) The way my project started was an accident really:) There was this cute couple walking around hand in hand, so I quickly snapped their picture and turned around as casually as possible. They didn't even notice me. *Insert chuckle and congratulatory pat on the back*. Maybe it was the fun of being sneaky, or maybe it was all the adorable couples walking around, but my collection of people grew.
      For 5 hours we wandered about the art museum. Names like Monet, Remington, Van Gogh, and Caravaggio jumped out at me from placards, and the paintings blended together in a pleasing palette of colors. Feelings such as peace, amazement, and inspiration overwhelmed me -- I love art museums! Put me in a place like that and I'll be happy for a looong time.

the hipster life.

  

 

     This girl.
Is pretty fantastic. She is always cheerful and full of laughter -- a light to brighten your day.
When she asked me to take some of her senior photos, I was ecstatic! Not only is Catherine GORGEOUS! but we have such larks together. Like planning trips to England, or traipsing about downtown like a pair of hipsters :)
Our afternoon consisted of exploring sketchy alleyways, stopping by Lakota Coffee (their coffee is drool-worthy), and exploring muddy pathways.
It was fun dahling. Let's do it again shall we?

adventuring

People often say that Life never slows down, or that Life is an adventure.
What is adventure?
Being where you have never been before.
Finding excitement in familiar places.
Seizing opportunities.
Relishing each of Life's moments (even if not every moment is exciting or pleasant.)

Take last night for example:
After a cozy evening with some lovely people (playing games / making jewelry / watching Great Expectations), an unforeseen mishap took place.
--Laurel drove into a field and spun out in the mud. Her little silver car just couldn't handle it.
In my defense, it was dark out, I was tired, and my brain wasn't fully functioning. Somehow I was able to pull a 180°, only to end up 30 feet farther out and backed up against a shed.
Thank goodness for friends! M-- left her warm living room to help me. We. Tried. Literally. Everything. Cat litter, boards, pushing and shoving, rocking the car -- we even tried strapping boards to the tire with rope like we had seen in a video.
Together I'm sure we made an amusing sight: two 18 year old girls using an assortment of knives, rope, and flashlights, standing ankle deep in muddy ground. But we were laughing! We laughed and we admired the starry sky! It was an adventure instead of a crises. Even when I started stressing out, M-- reminded me that everything would work out fine.
Eventually Mom came to save us; I got home safely and M-- made herself some tea. Whew.

You'd think that I have learned to embrace the unexpected with calmness and optimism by now. I guess not. This morning the water heater broke. STRESS OUT. I was forced to wash my hair in the sink and boil water to wash dishes.
Life is an adventure -- but only if you choose it to be. It is always helpful to remember the verse in Romans: God works all things together for good. It is ALSO helpful to have carpet squares, a patient mother and good friends.
Thanks M-- :) I owe you chocolate.