Thea is one of my very first blog sisters from years ago. We walked side by side on our fertility journeys, as well as our creative ones and it fills my heart to bursting that her dreams are coming to fruition. Bigger and juicier than imagined. She's a rock star. One of the things I've always admired about her is her attention to detail, especially with her camera and how it works. She is the Camera-Wiz I have always gone to when it comes to the techie bits of my Canon and finally, she's teaching a course. A very un-intimidating, free, warm and inspiring online photography workshop!
And you can see here in this video why I love her so. How the first time I met her in person at the Seattle airport after a year of emails and phone calls, this beautiful blond with two pony tails running towards me for a big hug. I was a goner. Hers forever. We are each others biggest fans.
So many of us (including me) can get intimidated by our BC's (big cameras) but Thea has a way of explaining and helping to guide in a way that it will encourage your own intuitive lens.
Intuitive Lens by Thea Coughlin
{my sister is in town for a few weeks, so while she's here i'll by having a few giveaways, so i can be present with what is in front of me during her stay. so look for some fun here in the next few days!}
Congrats to Cristen...winner of 
{on the ferry to victoria. he got his blue moon wish for a ferry boat ride! here he was chatting with passersby, whether they wanted him to or not! he told many imaginary stories, which is how he communicates with people. one patient grandma stood and listened to him for 10 minutes.}
{seeking an adventure. ended up going on a ferry taxi tour. that is the Empress Hotel in the background. breathtaking.}
{that bus in the background was our tour bus! i've always wanted to do the afternoon tea at the Empress. someday...}
{coolest public toilet ever. good thing no one was in there while cedar was saying "helloooooo?"}
{on the bus, we had the whole downstairs to ourselves because cedar didn't want to be on the top. he felt safer down below. i learned so much about the history of the city on this tour!}
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{a park at beacon hill. here cedar had a bit of a break through playing with others with the help of a boy with a kindred spirit. at first he said "there are too many kids here!" but then this sweet quirky little boy that didn't want to talk to cedar just sat or stood near him. and he let cedar chatter on and he listened and somehow, that gave cedar courage to feel safer in this environment.}
{listening intently to the captain on the ferry taxi tour. we saw the most adorable house boats! we are tempted to retire on a house boat someday.}
{fan tan alley. one of my favorite places to browse. so teeny tiny and full of hippy earthy shops.}
{cedar picked this fan out in china town over a toy.}
{my boys outside the museum, pretending to be totem poles}
{at an exhibit at the 
{us on the double decker bus tour}
{resting on daddy after a long day of adventures}
{my boys in tickle love}
This evening we painted mason jars blue in honor of tonight's full Blue Moon. We placed special found or gifted rocks, stones and a piece of 
Cedar discovered his grandpa's old Kodak camera. He is beginning to carry it around now and then to document our lives. Here he wanted to photograph his lovely neighbor pal. She was totally willing. And he was SO into it. 
Sometimes I look across the room and get a glimpse of what may come in the future and I linger and watch this other worldly space he allows himself to surrender to. He doesn't know I am witnessing or that would bring him to the present. 
It was on the couch that I shared about the history of the house. Soon after, Katie offered for them to come back the next morning and do a beautiful Buddhist chant and ceremony to help release this spirit where it needs to be. It is an ancient ceremony that they had both learned in India - Lisa, when she lived in the Himalayas for many years, and Katie, who went to India with the purpose of learning this ceremony.
I felt really deeply that the ceremony needed to take place in our upstairs bedroom. I had incense burning for them and I gave them some quiet time to set up. They told us that we could be there in the room and hold the space with them or we could not, it was up to how we felt. Of course we shared we wanted to witness and I had a feeling Cedar needed to witness it too. So my boys and I laid on the bed as they began the long beautiful chant.
Immediately, a peace washed over me and both my husband and I closed our eyes. I could feel the vibrations in my chest. Cedar moved around here and there to grab toys and bring them on the bed. In moments he stared in awe and other moments, he rolled his car or helicopter over our bodies to the sounds of Katie and Lisa's vibrations. At times he giggled at the sounds coming from their mouths. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my entire life. I felt such a trust and surrender and a hope for us but even more so for this spirit.
Then there was this moment at the end of the chant where along with a particular quick yelp sound, I saw a white light before my eyes completely vanish and a heaviness from my body lifted. In that moment, I felt an energy leave and the lingering feeling was freedom, happiness, joy, release. When the ceremony was finished, we sat and talked a bit about what we all experienced. Lisa and Katie shared with us how our home is now protected and that good energy will come in and that the home is very happy about Cedar being here. That Cedar's laughter is healing. But truly, I felt this already even before they shared this with me. We all did. There was just a collective knowing. Instantly, the house felt like it took a deep breath and my chills vanished and I felt a deep solace and peace between all of these walls.
{last two images taken May, 2011}
To this...{taken a few minutes ago}
Yesterday, I had my hair chopped. 
{us, polaroid by 
{a slice of heaven, taken last week}
Words are not finding me this week. I am just feeling so present in my world. Perhaps these images express the gratefulness my heart is beating to.
Winner is 
{texture shop downtown bellingham, taken today}
{teresa in her yummy shop downtown bellingham}
{teresa & me today}
{Comfy Mini :: Gathered Skirt. See other colors available 
Many of you have been reaching out asking if I could share more images of our home. Here are some of our living room, kitchen and master bedroom. I still need to fill my walls with photos of family and friends, pieces of art and drape fabric from the ceiling of our bedroom with twinkle lights. When my sister was here, we gathered much of what you see from local antique stores and some items we painted and distressed ourselves outside on the grass over a big piece of canvas. It reminded me of when I was single living in Dallas, TX in my mid twenties and she flew out to visit and helped me design the sweetest little apartment that all my neighbors would ask to come into just to breathe deep. Her and I together created the essence of a beach cottage in the middle of a city. This time around it's eclectic and rooted, soulful and rich and playful.
{our wild and magical back yard}