This Is It!

:) 9-21-10 The Vogtritters

Ohhh my...It's here...the last day. As promised the year was full of ups and downs, crazy moments, dull episodes of existing; and amazingly enough, absolutely chock full of blessings unending!!!

Unfiltered, In Focus and with the right Shutter Speed, this year long picture blog has been captured. Thank you for your interest, comments and love. Goodnight friends...

One Simple Wish

1 Paradise Valley, AZ 9-20-10

It's your turn...You are sitting in front of a lit candle and everyone is looking at you, waiting for you to make a wish. Do you take it seriously and actually "make a wish" or do you quickly blow the candle out and get on with the eating of the cake?

It was my turn today (actually, I've blown out three separate candles on three separate days) and honestly, as I look at the people gathered around me with cameras poised for the puckered lipped, air exhaling event, I am blank.

How can I capsulate all the wishes I carry on a daily basis into one single moment with one single crystalized wish? So, here is what I think as I dramatically lean in for the snuffing of birthday lit candle, "Thank you". That's it...One simple wish...

Love you friends and know that I am undeniably grateful for each and everyone of you, for this life, my family and for my faith in Christ. God is good...Goodnight everyone. :)

Last Song

2 Paradise Valley, 9-19-10

Time does not become sacred to us until we have lived it, until it has passed over us and taken with it a part of ourselves. ~John Burroughs

It is the last song my friends...the end is drawing so near, I can feel it now. Sadness at the thought of not sharing my thoughts and pictures anymore...Happiness at the ability for one full year of sharing my thoughts and pictures...

Time has passed quickly and definitely taken a part of me. Goodnight friends.

Say Goodnight

3 Ethan, Scottsdale, AZ 9-18-10

The day started like any other except the looming aspect of having an appointment to get my body dunked under water; measuring my fat vs. muscle ratio. Really!?!

Keep in mind, that July 2008, was record of same measurements and attempts to match great numbers (make that AWESOME numbers) were a point of personal obsessive maneuvers. i.e. no alcohol, sugar and limited carbs. For how long you ask? Three weeks!!!

Finding the water mobile station for the test was an adventure, but both my best buddy and I marched in ready for the hold your breath, claustrophobic experience. What follows next is a verbal visual for you of me throwing myself into an embryo position in the corner of the mobile trailer. The numbers for me were astronomical (as if I had never worked out) and my friend on the other hand, peachy perfect! Waaaaa....I'm depressed. Tail between my legs defeated and frustrated. Time to say goodnight to the past and strangle the future! Focus on healthy and lean NOW...Understanding that today's choices are under appreciated for tomorrow's desired goal. Make it great my friends and choose right :)

What's Up

4 Spencer S., Scottsdale, AZ 9-17-10

Tucson Twinkle

5 Tucson, AZ 9-16-10

She thinks she is soooo grown up. Sliding against the law with drinking, living in a house with 4 other girls and learning the new skills of cooking, cleaning and laundry.

She calls mostly when she needs something and writes almost never claiming her college class work keeps her busy all the time.

I think I'm soooo grown up. Raising two children and married for 26 years. Drinking excessively when I feel like it and avoiding the skills of cooking, cleaning and laundry.

I'll call her mostly when I want to lecture her about being grateful for her life or not calling me often enough. I claim I can't call her when I want to tell her I love her because I'm running too many errands or working out.

This is why when I see her and she sees me; We both fall into each others arms, hugging and kissing and feeling remorseful over our lack of ability to control the inevitable...independence from one another. :) Loving my Tucson twinkle moments now more than ever!

Hot Hot Hot

6 Paradise Valley, AZ 9-15-10

I can't breathe...and it's not because of the weather. Sure, it's unbearably warm at this time of year, but combine that with the continuous peri-menopausal 'hot flashes' and what you have is H-E-Double Toothpicks!!!

Lord have mercy on my soul, but being hormonal is challenging enough let alone the disgusting sweats that will ignite without provoking and continue through all hours of the day and night.

Breathing is optional as I find a weird satisfaction over surviving each and everyone of my "personal summer" hot spells. Here's to you staying cool amidst those that are scorching hot! Goodnight friends...

Not Funny

7 Paradise Valley, AZ 9-14-10

Full Circle

8 Paradise Valley, 9-13-10

Dedication

9 St. Barnabas on the Desert, Paradise Valley, AZ 9-12-10

God Is Alive!

10 Saint Barnabas on the Desert, Paradise Valley, AZ 9-10-10

Christians are to be good news before they share good news. The music of the gospel must precede the words of the gospel and prepare the context in which there will be a hunger for those words. What is the music of the gospel? It is the beauty of the indwelling Christ in the everyday relationships of life. ~Joe Aldrich

Love Letters

11 Hilary C., Picture taken 2009, M&M Art-E2D Studios, Paradise Valley, AZ 9-10-10

It seems altogether like stealing, but here is my homage to my seriously sweet friend pictured here. She is inspirational, loving and extremely intelligent and her passion for poetry had me following her blog, "This Same Flower". Here is a snippet of one of her days...

I've been rooting around for some time now looking for something to put here, something to justify my claims. So here is one, one that I love.

Morning

by Billy Collins

Why do we bother with the rest of the day,

the swale of the afternoon,

the sudden dip into evening,

then night with his notorious perfumes,

his many-pointed stars?

This is the best-throwing off the light covers,

feet on the cold floor,

and buzzing around the house on espresso-

maybe a splash of water on the face,

a palmful of vitamins-

but mostly buzzing around the house on espresso,

dictionary and atlas open on the rug,

the typewriter waiting for the key of the head,

a cello on the radio,

and, if necessary, the windows-

trees fifty, a hundred years old

out there,

heavy clouds on the way

and the lawn steaming like a horse

in the early morning.

I heart her words which are shear love letters to my soul. Goodnight friends...

Final Healing

12 Paradise Valley, AZ 9-9-10

One reason that sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake. ~Billy Sunday

The Hump

13 Paradise Valley, AZ 9-8-10

Double Up

14 It's 2 "Passions"?, Paradise Valley, AZ 9-7-10

Today was a day of being over exposed. Writing a text message to a friend led to over analyzing my ulterior motive, which in turn, led to me over dramatizing my friendship, which led to an emotional over exposure of my insecurities!!!

Have you been there? Where the tiniest of situations turns into a major crisis? Thank God for another friend who clearly talked me off the ledge and back into the world of reality!

Between hot flashes and hormonal imbalances sans numbing devices like alcohol or serious doctor prescribed drugs, I'm a mess! Seeing double when it comes to anything involving my 5 senses...Xanax anyone? :) Hugs friends

Labor of Love

15 Robert Christian Dior Vogtritter, 8 lbs. 3 oz., 9-6-93, Paradise Valley, AZ 9-6-10

Seriously, laboring on labor day with this giant, precious boy. Gorgeous, inquisitive, cautious, brilliant and loving as a newborn and still carries those qualities now.

Happy birthday to Bo! My baby is truly growing up too fast!

Happy day friends...

Blessings

16 Bo V., Paradise Valley, AZ 9-5-10

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen

God is alive friends...

Childhood Perceptions

17 Tiffany & Breanna, Paradise Valley, AZ 9-4-10

She shared of her memories when she was younger (mostly negative) and I glanced at the little girl she was raising thinking, "What will her daughter's recollections be"?

In life, we are given such a gift of taking our past and morphing it into our presents and sometimes, if we are cognizant of it, we imprint them on our futures. What have you carried with you and passed on?

Tonight, we kind of set the story straight just a bit and saw first hand how when you choose to remember the bad, bad is all you will see. Try to rewind the tapes of all the people involved, show some grace to allow for errors and reglue the pieces of your psyche that were broken by your childhood perceptions. Love you friends.

Temptation Resistation

18 Jeremy & Raquel, Scottsdale, AZ 9-3-10

What makes resisting temptation difficult, for many people, is that they don't want to discourage it completely. ~Franklin P. Jones

Virgin Goals

19 Virgin Olive Oil, Scottsdale, AZ 9-2-10

Yes!!! It's another chance to commit, to make a difference and change ordinary into extra ordinary!!! How? Simply by deciding to fully douse myself on fire with a new goal.

Try it with me! Think of something you've wanted to start but have found a million reasons to not begin...For the next 19 days, commit to starting your new, virgin goal!!!

Yaaaay...You are going to love it! Sharing is caring by the way, so when you begin, go ahead and post it. Write it in the comment box and let's forge ahead together! Geez, it's only for nineteen days. Go for it friends.

20 Days!

20 Paradise Valley, AZ 9-1-10

Here's to 20 more days and a goal completed! Sadly, as happy as I am to be nearing the end, I'm openly admitting that I'm going to miss being connected to an outside world through a photo a day and words.

Bless you my followers for being faithful and caring enough to check in from time to time. Some of you have even spoken to me personally about how some of the blogs have touched you and had eerie similarities to what is happening in your life.

Could this be because when it comes down to it, we all are remarkably alike? With fears, joys, loves and experiences that unite our moments and make us aware of what we have in common instead of what separates us by differences. Goodnight my friends...

Hollah Hooray!

21 The (Tuesday Night) Village, Paradise Valley, AZ 8-30-10

Sweet Day

22 Pool Colors, Paradise Valley, AZ 8-29-10

Bonding

23 Scottsdale, AZ 8-29-10

Have you attended a High School reunion lately? It seems as if every other person I am connected with is experiencing a class reunion and sharing the moments of past school friend drama or post reunion events which showcased friend/drama trauma.

Cracks me up, that even as we age, we cling to our past reputations and identities as if the hands of time never existed. What ever your labels were...Jock, Greaser, Geek, Misfit, Popular, Churchy, Brainiac, Druggy, you sincerely will walk back to this group you haven't seen for years and immediately drip into the character cast that was bestowed upon you by choice or victimized with. :)

Despite the silliness of stepping back in time and falling into the social circles of yesterday, there is a security and comfort to those who had your back. Your friends who carried you through the dramas and traumas and who magically refuse to see you as all grown up. Being an adult is sooo overrated...Hee hee. Being a kid again, hilariously funny! Re-bonding with your buddies, regardless of label...beautiful. :)

Birthday's Galore!

24 Party Bow, Scottsdale, AZ 8-28-10

Grow along with me!

The best is yet to be.

The last of life, for which the first was made.

~Robert Browning

Happy birthday Tomes Twins and Bridgett!!!

Before You Bloom

25 Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-27-10

She gathers with a group of women every month or so to celebrate birthdays and catch up on each other's lives. Theirs is a friendship that started in elementary school and has endured years of shared moments. But no matter how long they've known each other, they cannot get beyond the surface communication and non commitment to take their relationships into connected friendships. The soft laughter over lunch and "how is the weather" discussions allows the four of them to pretend that life is okay for an hour or so...

Don't we all have circles like this? Surface emulsified for a reason. Because when we plant ourselves with the few we really trust and care for, what's left is only enough energy to be tethered in monthly gatherings. :) Sounds harsh, but the reality is, it's what completes us. How could we possibly be full time friends to every person we know whether its from childhood or not. We connect ourselves emotionally, spiritually and physically to those we know who will be there for ALL the successes and ALL the losses. It's in our DNA and part of the survival of the species!

Gathering for bi-monthly lunches and talking about what ever isn't REALLY important with circles from past and present create our opportunities of discernment and tracks our wisdom gleaned. Learning to understand the necessity of needing everyone on our path for a reason. :) It's all about learning, earning and returning...before you bloom, know the garden you are planting yourself in. :) God made you good!

Mindful

26 Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-26-10

When you wake up, what is the first thing you think of? My list is endless...People, appointments, chores, deadlines, etc...

But, today I was reminded by my very favorite, faithful follower of Christ, Dayami that the real secret is to cover yourself with God's blessings. That you repel the words and voices that creep into your brain that are the doings of Satan. That no matter what you think or do, you make it about God.

My list is still on going, but now my thoughts are centered and refocused on my footsteps being God filled. God IS alive in each and everyone of us. Being mindful creates a boundary that makes evil difficult to sneak in. :) You are all in my prayers...

Reconnect

27 Margie H., (Taken '09), Tucson, AZ 8-25-10

It was on the drive to visit Alexa in Tucson that a text message came detailing a friend of a friend's loss at the death of her daughter, (very close to the age of our daughter). The text was written matter of factly, but with distinct sadness...

"Murphy committed suicide last night by jumping out of the moving car her Mom was driving on the freeway".

Can you even fathom being the mother and unable to stop your child from jumping? Or for that matter, can you imagine being the daughter with a mind poisoned of despair so much, she would choose to jump? Of all the blessings this life has to offer, please stop at this moment and reflect on your Mothers and Daughters relationships...Reach out, call or write, but tell them how much they are loved!!!

I love you Mommy (pictured here) and my baby girl, LexiLoo. You both are my everything. Rest in peace Murphy...

Crash & Burn

28 Tub toys, Phoenix, AZ 8-24-10

Marriages, relationships and friendships all have a thing or two in common; Relatable differences. It's the bonding of understanding and commitment to cooperate that keeps all of the above flourishing.

That is unless, of course, one or both parties in said partnerships decides that it's no longer an option to be connected and harmonious anymore. Then, for lack of a better way of saying it, "All hell breaks loose".

To all of you on the verge of should I stay or should I go...Gather yourself up, put your emotional toys in a row and hyper focus on what's right. When you shift your gaze off of what doesn't work and onto what does, you'll truly see what's meant to be.

Circle of Love

29 Denise H., Scottsdale, AZ 8-23-10

Love is the key.

Joy is love, singing; Peace is love, resting; Long-suffering is love, enduring; Kindness is loves' touch; Goodness is love's character; Faithfulness is love's habit; Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness; Self-control is love, holding the reins.

~Donald Grey Barnhouse

Make It Happen

30 Art Statue @Roaring Fork, Paradise Valley, AZ 8-22-10

With the economy the way it is and with people finding a voice in disillusionment, it's unbearably difficult to find the light through all the dark.

Therein lies the rub...Are we really supposed to find the glorious white while disregarding the black? Isn't it time we all find comfort in the fact that we are given both for a reason.

If it were never hard, I would never understand easy. Embrace your contrasting colors and enjoy the merge. Absorbing the light moments during the dark times. Make it happen. :) Hugs friends...

New Patterns

31 Paradise Valley, AZ 8-21-10

Here's to you seeing the color and movement in the patterns you've created of your life. Practice patience, give openly and be genuinely grateful for all you have. :) God bless you friends...

Courtyard Sculpt

32 Paradise Valley, AZ 8-20-10

Chemo Party

33 Scottsdale, AZ, 8-19-10

Get Real

34 Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-18-10

"V" for Village

35 Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-17-10

I remember being so poor when I was younger that a local church brought over a grocery paper bag full of clothes and dropped them off on our door step. We thought it was the best gift ever because we needed so much. My Mom was single, raising 4 children, working two jobs and going to school. This meant every dollar she earned was practically spent before she could deposit the checks.

Isn't it funny how in life you are given opportunities to give back? How many times do you acknowledge the ways you can make a difference in someone else's life? Tonight, we shared a need for a friend who like my Mother many years ago has fallen on hard times.

Just the mention of this struggling Mom with two young boys, and the hands reached in purses and money was handed over. Will it be enough for an extended period of time...probably not? Will it be enough for her to know that she is loved and supported by her Tuesday Night Village...:) We are in a time where it is important to understand the concept of being connected to others and giving way to the mercies of kindness. Thanks be to God...Goodnight friends.

Solo System

36 Paradise Valley, AZ 8-16-10

The most valuable of all educations is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it has to be done, whether you like it or not. ~Aldons Huxley

He Meets You

37 St. B's Courtyard Art, Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-15-10

There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion Him about me. ~J.I. Packer

The sermon by Phil Carlson today was about He meets you. No matter where you are in your life...At a high or at a low, The Lord finds you at whatever level to welcome you home. Reach out and be at peace...He meets you. Goodnight friends...

Teacher in Everyone

38 Bishop Thorton, St. B's, Paradise Valley, AZ 8-14-10

Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. ~John Wayne

Enjoy this day from beginning to end. Starting your morning fresh and anew. God bless you. :)

Many Memories

39 Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-13-10

Ours was a friendship that was based on need. A need to be in each others lives to learn, earn and give to one one another. Now that they have been removed because of circumstances and distance...I miss them!

Even though, the lesson would say: Time heals all and you will survive. The reality is: I miss them! :)

Good friends and people who oddly (no paper evidence) seem to have a molecule of DNA similarities to yours makes memories of 'good times' impossible to forget. I miss them!

Goodnight my buddies of today and friends of yesterday. Big hugs to you all!

Focusing On Love

40 Pastor Fred Doidge, Scottsdale, AZ 8-12-10

It's crazy how easy it is to get complacent on getting through your day, doing all the things we humans do. Human-doing instead of human beings...(I read that somewhere)? But, all of us have opportunities in our every day walks to enjoy more of what we love most if we find focus on what it is WE LOVE.

For some of you, this might mean, loving the people around you, your spiritual journey or the jobs you are blessed to have. I, personally, have spent years trying to hone in on what it is exactly I want to be when I grow up. Strangely, dappling in too many areas of interest and zeroing in on none, UNTIL now. :) Yes, as perplexing as it sounds, I finally feel like I get it!

Taking pictures today of this model to the right, Pastor Fred, I had the best time! Outside, with no lighting issues and free to capture the twinkle in the eye and giggle in the cheeks. It was f-u-n! I'm totally a headshot photographer! One on one and open to exposing positive energy in two peoples lives. It was the ultimate validation to finding my niche'. I hope you all find focus on what you love and get to grow up being the human you desire! Love and hugs friends!

Bottoms Up!

41 Brilliant Baby Products-Fuzzi Bunz Diapers, Paradise Valley, AZ 8-11-10

Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts. ~Coleman Cox

Lesson of the day: Do your best always. If it is more they seek...Let them look. :)

Blessings friends!

Noodle Blur

42 Paradise Valley, AZ 8-10-10

24 Brown Eggs

5 Cups Flour + (2) 1/2 Cups of Flour

Combine ingredients until you form one ball. Break it off into four parts and then roll out each section to a very thin and flat circle. Cut strips and lay out on white table cloth for hours to dry out. Add to broth or bag into quart size ziplock bags for freezer storage and later use.

~Noodle recipe from Brenda Stephan's Mommy

OMG...What was I thinking? HOURS later, still in jammies, flour all over me, my face, the floor and anything in the kitchen within arms reach of rolling the noodles. Made hundreds of noodles like I was running a soup kitchen. Sooo, speaking of soup...On the stove top, I started a full chicken to boil and thought for the amount of noodles, I needed another pot of broth. One more time friends...OMG!!!

Skip forward and take note, I have chicken soup for an army. I'm exhausted and have filled my freezer with gallons of chicken noodle soup. When you visit next...remember, chicken soup is good for the soul!!! Hahahahahaha....Laughing myself to sleep. Goodnight friends.

Water'marc' Yourself

43 Ryan N., Phoenix, AZ, 8-9-10

Just learned a valuable lesson which was way overdue in business. Listen up, and never be duped today with the high technology of tomorrow...ALWAYS WATERMARK YOUR WORK OR VALUE YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY IT AS YOURS.

I never knew that people could take your pictures or words of writing from facebook and totally make them their own? Why is this disconcerting? Well, when I've worked 1/2 hour to an hour on a single picture and proudly post it to facebook to then have it downloaded to my friends computer and then uploaded to his facebook and titled, "My Pictures"...It's crazy. "His Picture Album" are all MY PICTURES!!! What is really weird is that there is no loyalty and credibility required? :( Don't worry, it's only a lesson, not a setback. A compliment of sorts that he wants to use my pic's as his is cute, really. So, thank you Marc...from this day forward...Facebook will have silly pictures unmarked as candids...Anything of sincere personal property and possible future sales, will have watermarks all over the face and front. I do love learning...sincerely. Especially, by those I love and who are in my circle of best buddies. :) Goodnight friends...

Lake Lovin'

44 Bartlett Lake, AZ, 8-8-10

Sometimes... The moments are really just about being there and being aware. Awesome!

Rivers of Wet

45 Stained Glass, Prescott, AZ 6-7-10

Most people are searching for happiness. They're looking for it. They're trying to find it in someone or something outside of themselves. That's a fundamental mistake. Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way you think.

~Wayne Dyer

Seriously Painful

46 Wind Chime, Prescott, AZ, 8-6-10

If I had to choose between pain and nothing, I would choose pain. ~William Faulkner

No, this quote is way off...I would not choose pain, I would choose pain killers!!! i.e. Vicadin...Seriously, friends, pain in the rotator cuff that needed medication to sedate a 3,000 pound horse. OMG... I was dying.

Thank you 4 shots of tequila, 1 vicadin and the love of rest from my honey. I am dying!!! Must get to doctor tomorrow!

Baby Big Girl

47 Tucson, AZ, 8-5-10

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ~Albert Einstein

It was 28 days after a surgery to remove endometriosis and a doctors grim prognosis on the likelihood that I could conceive...Just 28 days to understand the hope of a miracle. 9 months later, the gift of experiencing a miracle as she entered the world 7-18-91.

19 years later, I'm setting that miracle up for her 2nd year of college. And although some of you might read into the notion that the ultimate miracle is that she graduates from school...hee hee, no, my friends, of all the miracles regarding this angel, the one I'd like to make note of today is mine. As I look over her new room, her new surroundings, her new life, I finally understand the beautiful miracle for me is that my baby big girl is all grown up!

Here's to you seeing all the miracles in your life and hoping for more! Blessings friends.

Bring It In

48 Paradise Valley, AZ, 8-4-10

Whatever you can do, or dream you can -- begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. ~Goethe

Honey Anniversary

49 Paradise Valley, AZ 8-3-10

Honestly, doesn't this ring look like a tiara? It's ironic because when Scott asked me to marry him, I was involved in a pageant and told him the crown of being his wife would have to be after a reign of being Miss Hawaii. Wishful and positively thinking perhaps, because when the title of 3rd Runner-up was bestowed upon me, I looked out at the audience and found my unofficial fiance grinning from ear to ear.

I raised my 'un-ringed' finger in the air and mouthed the words, "I do". The picture of my ring is my crown that I've carried for 26 years today. And even though our discussion over our, "It's tradition" dinner at The Chart House was a little rocky because of our aging understanding and financial issues are confusing, I wouldn't change a thing. He is my rock. (No pun intended) :)

I love my husband and what we have accomplished together. He is honestly, my better half! Goodnight and God bless you friends!