This is What Honoring My Brother Looks Like

When it came time to post for this month it did not take me long to know what I should post about. Though it has been a busy month and many, many, many things have taken place which I could post about, one stood out as the most important to share.

On January 7th, 2008 I lost my only biological sibling--my older brother Chad-- to suicide. This is something that I hope no one every has to experience. The days and years since that very day have been filled with many emotions from anger and bitterness to feeling sorry for myself to hating the world to wanting to know why to sadness and grief. It has only been recently that I have been able to shift some of those emotions to joy and happiness as I can recall memories of my brothers life and I can remember the happy times. The happy moments are finally starting to outweigh the sad, though the sad moments still surface time to time as I miss my brother daily. The hurt never goes away, it only gets less. Time helps to ease the pain but another thing which has helped to make it through these moments is the support I have found from an amazing foundation The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or the AFSP.

Last year I participated in the walk for the first time in honor of my brother. That year through donations from family and friends I was able to donate $1,100 in honor of my brother. Following that year I was asked to help chair the walk for 2012 in Springfield. Reluctantly I agreed to do so, as this would be something totally out of my comfort zone. So to fast forward to October of 2012--it had been a whirlwind adventure for me!!!

The AFSP hired a wonderful girl by the name of Katherine to help with the walk in Springfield. Therefore she and I teamed up to pull off what turned out to be a totally amazing walk (if I may say so myself) on October 14th, 2012 at Washington Park. The whole adventure from the planning phases to the publicity for the walk to the actual walk, have really made me reach outside myself and step outside of my box in order to make this happen. I was on News Channel 20, Katherine and I were on the radio, and I spoke at the walk. Had I not had the support and encouragement from my family and friends I would not have been able to reach out to others who may be experiencing some of the same things that I have been over the years. There IS strength in numbers, as I definitely learned here with the walk. I know for a fact that I did make a difference and I will continue to be involved with this walk and the AFSP as long as I am able.

The pictures here may not exactly be all of my family as this project was intended to be for, but ON this day ALL these people were my family. We all had a common ground. We all had emotion. We all had tears. BUT we all gained STRENGTH for that moment, on that day. SO that said, my photographic skills were definitely not at the forefront of my mind and my emotions simply took the pics. And you will see as well that I am in a good deal of the pics snapped by my husband....

Thank you to all my friends and my family who donated to this years walk. As a result I was able to turn in over $1,500 to the AFSP in my brother's name. I cannot thank you enough.

To all those of you reading this please do one thing for me. Call a family member. Hug someone. Tell someone you love them. Lend a hand to someone in need. Make amends. TODAY. Why? Because tomorrow may be too late..........

My friend Melissa and Kim (bright blue shirts) coming out to show their support.
Love these gals!!

Me:)  Speaking to the crowd about why I walk.

The walkers.......

My daughter (in blue) and her friend walking in support

My amazing co-chair and I 

The radio station support....VERY VERY SUPPORTIVE!! 

MY AMAZING HUSBAND DAVE!! I could not make it without him

The Memorial Wall

To my brother

TO MY BROTHER: I love you and I miss you
(note the writings from Alyssa and Addison)

                             Please check out the following link for another blog:

http://courtneywestlakeblog.com/2012/11/02/what-our-own-fall-portraits-look-like/

"This is a Rainy Labor Day Weekend with Your Family and Friends Looks Like!"

Labor Day Weekend! Finally, a much needed and very much anticipated weekend away with my husband and 2 daughters and my college "family." AND of course........IT RAINS!!!!! However, I ought not complain as the rain was much needed, but to go all summer with next to none and NOW, it decides to rain......

However, a little bit of rain, OK, A LOT OF RAIN, did not spoil our weekend getaway. What do you do with three cabins, 1 camper, 10 college friends (2 of which were unexpected visitors but always welcome), 10 kids (plus 3 more with the 2 unexpected college friends--so 13), 1 dog, one set of college friends parents,  and A LOT OF RAIN!!!!!???? Well sit back, relax, take a look and enjoy! This blog may not be big on words, but it is big on memories for me and my family.

The girls on the way to Cannon Dam....

Notice the legs in the sweatshirt...this always makes me smile!

CANNON DAM......and RAIN!!!!!!!!!!

A few lights can always brighten up a room

RAINY DAY LAUGHTER amongst the two oldest girls:)

A CABIN

The old, unstable, kind of frightening, yet still standing playground!

Addison and Madeline making funny faces during a break in the rain!

Not exactly a fish, but hey, nice work anyway!

Fishing instruction in the rain

Playing fetch with the dog during a break from rain as well.....

PLAY BALL.....

More rainy day fun with the little kids

The bigger kids deep into Pictionary

MUDDY SHOES

....AND there we are posing for the camera and tripod! All kids present except the smallest was taking a nap.
That is one good looking crew if I may say so! AND no the girl is the gray shirt in the middle is NOT one of the kids! 

I can still see you but nice try.....

When it rains, why not go to the Visitor Center?

Skirt from the dress up clothes at visitor center

What? Are those kids actually squinting due to the sun coming out?? OF COURSE, go to the Visitor Center and the rain STOPS and SUN COMES OUT!!!

My love.....

My youngest sneaking in some bunny ears:)

Beautiful day after all......

Mother Nature is amazing.....

Good way to wind down a day....

Tired kids after swimming....

Excitement


As you end reading this entry please remember this:

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

Now please check out another amazing blog by my fellow photographer friend Tara!

http://www.taralongphotography.com/blog/2012/9/what-a-color-run-looks-like

This is what Sisters look like.....

 Well, here it is the last day that I have to get this post published. Needless to say I have been a bit behind on doing so. I should be filling this blog with all the pics of all the events which have taken place to explain why I am so behind. BUT I am not any more busy than the next person, so I will spare you the details. SO, this month I will keep this simple because that is what time allows for. I decided to simply make this a quick blog post about my two daughters: The smallest loves of my life. The oldest is in 7th grade and the youngest is in 2nd grade. They are off to a good start at school and seem to be loving it! What I love about that is that they have each other there. They may not see each other often, but none the less they have each other. And let me tell you I know that little one sure looks up to her big sister. It amazes me how different, yet how similar, they are really are. I am glad that they have each other to share this life with. The girls are 5 years apart in age, but all things considered, that age difference works well for them. They laugh, they fight, the share, they play, they joke, they yell...they do what siblings do. And under it all, they really do LIKE each other (I think). The days that they are at each other and have had enough are the days I remind them that they ought to be thankful they have each other. I remind them of when my grandma told me the story about she and her sister. My grandma was the oldest and her sister was substantially younger. My grandma Dorothy was not the most fond of her little sister Mary Lou growing up, but as adults they were best friends. I remind them of this. Often.....

SISTERS HANGING OUT TOGETHER

SOMEONE JUST MAY LIKE HER BIG SISTER:)

ALL SMILES

MY BEAUTIFUL LADIES

THE BIG SISTER: 7th GRADE  THE LITTLE SISTER: 2nd GRADE





So for those of you out there who have a sibling or who are a sibling to someone--
If you have not done so lately, use the small phrase "I love you."
If you have argued with your sibling, say "I am sorry."
If you have not spoken with your sibling in quite some time, stop reading this and go make a call.
If you have lost a sibling (such as I have), I am thinking of you as it is a hard loss to endure.
If you have kids who love each other one minute and fight like cats and dogs the next--embrace both aspects of that as that is how siblings (most) work.
In other words, when all is said and done, do not take your sibling for granted as you never know when it may be the last time you see your sibling.

                                

    Now please go check out another blog entry (and a very nice one if I may say so) by fellow photographer Angie Jackson. Nice work Angie!                                    

    http://www.angiejacksonphotography.com/2012/08/what-looks-like.html

This is What Letting Your Seven Year Old Choose Her "Vacation" Looks Like

ADDISON AND HER CHOSEN VACATION DESTINATION

My husband Dave and I have a seven year old daughter Addison. I have an older daughter Alyssa from my first marriage. This summer Alyssa has gone on two vacations with her dad. Dave and I have yet to have been able to get away with the girls this summer. Recently, Addison pointed out the following: Alyssa has had a vacation, Dave and I have had a vacation (previous blog post) and she has NOT had a vacation yet. So, upon pondering her realization, we came to the conclusion she was exactly right. SO that said, we spoke with the girls and indicated to them that when Alyssa went to her dad's house over one weekend, Dave and I would take a "mini" vacation with Addison. Alyssa being very understanding, and Addison being very excited, the only thing left to decide was WHERE to go. We decided to leave that up to Addison (with us having the final say of course): Tell us your best "mini" vacation ever.  Well, she gave it brief thought and said "Let's go to Aunt Erin and Uncle Billy's house!" That was not exactly the "mini" vacation we had in mind. As much as I would have loved to go see them, they live in FLORIDA (Alyssa might be a tad bit upset if she missed that trip!) So she decided to go with what I refer to as plan B: A zoo and a hotel with a swimming pool. We could put that trip together easy enough for her! DESTINATION: ST. LOUIS                               
                                                                

My smallest love:)

Addison's photo skills

             
The journey began with a trip to the St. Louis Zoo. The day was spent watching a good deal of shows and events that were going on at the zoo. We watched a bird show, the newly created Sea Lion Show, and we touched the Sting Rays and Sharks. All of that mixed in with some random looking at various animals made for a full day at the zoo.

SMILING LIKE THE GOAT:) Ha!

ADDISON LOVED THIS SHOW!

CHECKING OUT THE STINGRAYS WITH DAD 

 The evening was topped off with a dip in the hotel pool. Addison is slowly becoming more comfortable in the water. She was all about having her picture taken to document her newly acquired I-am-getting-more-comfortable-in-the-water-skills:) 

THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ADDISON!!!!!

After a bit of time in the pool, we cleaned up and went out to one of my and Dave's favorite places--Macaroni Grill (which she ultimately loved as a result of getting to color on the paper table cloth).

The second day we let Addison choose what she wanted to do to end the trip. To no surprise she chose a swim in the pool.

MEET "I-AM-GETTING-MORE-COMFORTABLE-
IN-THE-WATER-NOW" ADDISON:)

 This was followed a visit to IHOP for a create a face pancake (her favorite). AND to finish off the "Best Trip Ever" she chose a return visit to the Zoo. She wanted only to get her face painted (had been eyeing it since yesterday) like a Dalmatian (in honor of her beloved Dalmatian Joy, may she rest in peace) and get a look at the Giraffes, and end the day with a trip to view the snakes (I could have skipped that part and been just fine). All in all, I would say it was a successful mini vacation for Adi! How could I forget to mention a trip to the gift shop, in which Adi stated "I need to get something for Alyssa since she is not here." She always and I mean ALWAYS gets something for her sister wherever we go. Such a kind heart......

ADDISON THE DALMATIAN................

SHE WILL NEVER FORGET HER BELOVED
DALMATIAN JOY:)

ADDISON AND DADDY

ADDISON'S FAVORITE

"I am just going to take a rest...."

I don't know about you, but I would say it was a good weekend:) We had a great time, she had a blast, and many wonderful memories were created just a short one and a half hours from home. Remember, it is not about WHERE you go, but rather WHAT you do that counts. May you all be blessed with wonderful memories such as I was on your vacations this summer!

Please click on the following link to enter another local Springfield photographer's blog:

  /http://kindrabostonphotography.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-our-vacation-looks-like.html