Second Chances

Just yesterday, I started to think about a post

I had written awhile back.

I'm not sure why, but it just seemed as though

it was speaking to me at this particular

stage of my journey.

I went and looked it up on my blog list this morning,

and I had originally posted it

EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY.

Whoa.

Sharing it again today, as maybe

it will speak to you, too.

Happy Sunday.

Remember when you were a kid,

and you'd either be playing a game, or just doing

some random thing, and you'd call a "do-over"?

And just like that, you would begin again.

Oblivious and impervious to what had happened before,

a giant cosmic eraser would swoop down

and wipe the slate clean.

Ahhh, that life were only that simple.

In antiquing circles, there is a healthy market

for do-overs.

We routinely recycle, re-use, repurpose...

it is our mantra, our avocation.

But as it applies to life. Real life?

Not that simple.

Which got me thinking,

is there any place or time in my life

where I'd like to call a "do-over"?

How about you?

Would you have married later?

Or perhaps not at all?

Would you have majored in business

rather than education?

 Or would you have swerved left

instead of right on a particular patch of road?

So many questions,

so many choices.

The easy answer is of course, with all the mistakes I have made,

a do-over would be a no-brainer.

A chance to re-write the past and save myself a whole lot

of grief and heartache.

But the truth is that no, I wouldn't choose the easy out, the do-over.

And you know why?

He Is Risen.

Yes He is.

This photo, as well as every other photo in this post

was taken at my friend Carol's shop,

Carol Hicks Bolton Antiquties, Laboratoire de Design.

The Bolton's live out the gospel of Christ in their lives

every single day, and clinging to that hope...the positive belief

that He is indeed risen, compels one to also believe

that nothing happens by accident.

That every so-called misdeed and misstep is all part

of His plan, and is somehow, someway, 

all part of the bigger picture.

As wretched, fallible humans, we will muck it all up undoubtedly,

but Someone else has our back, thank goodness.

He will deal with us.

He will teach us.

He will correct us.

A do-over?

No thanks, I'll take a pass.

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Anne Lorys Photography

A Love Story

If we are really, truly lucky,

we are blessed with one, perhaps two

great loves in our lifetime.

But love takes many forms, 

and it doesn't always arrive 

in the idealized form of

hearts and flowers, Harlequin-style love.

No, sometimes, in His infinite wisdom,

God sends us the unconditional love of

kindred spirits.

The love of girlfriends, best friends,

a love which wraps you up tightly in acceptance

and warms you with the knowing that

you are understood, valued and that you

have been gifted sisters for life.

I found this sort of love last Summer,

but the roots of it stretch back to 2009.

When I started my blog that year,

I discovered a woman who spoke to my heart

with her grace, her talent 

and her spirited outlook on life.

Her name was Elizabeth Maxson,

she lived in St. Louis, Missouri,

and she was everything I never dared dream

that I could be....an accomplished and gifted

writer, photographer and stylist. 

A beautiful, engaging sprite of a woman

who inspired me, through her work and her words 

to be the best ME I could possibly be.

 { Elizabeth in her home }

Around the same time, as I was just getting

my little blog off the ground, 

I discovered and instantly felt a connection

with a tiny little dynamo of a blogger named

Debra Oliver, who lived in Springfield, Missouri.

Debra and I became instant besties, burning up

the phone lines several times a week.

Although Debra lives in the Midwest,

she has a heart as big as Texas,

and I can't imagine my life without her in it.

{ Debra, left and Jan of Leola's, a great shop! }

We plotted and planned, Debra and I,

how we would eventually meet.

We couldn't conceive of NOT meeting.

And somewhere along the way,

in the midst of all this planning,

something amazing happened....my idol,

my girl crush and my muse,

THE Elizabeth Maxson and I became

good friends via e-mails and phone calls.

And so it was settled.

In the Summer of 2012,

I would, with the Mister in tow,

make the trek up to Missouri to meet

and love on and thoroughly enjoy the company

of these two precious souls....

these sisters chosen for me, 

hand picked by God.

{ Elizabeth, Deb and Me. photo courtesy Elizabeth Maxson }

It was a beautiful trip.

We spent part of the time in Springfield,

part of the time in St. Louis,

and ALL of the time surrounded by these

two dear women that I truly love.

We made the trip up to St. Louis

to meet Elizabeth on her own turf.

Ever the gracious hostess, we found THIS

greeting us in Elizabeth's famous office.

I loved it!

Why is her office famous, you ask?

She's sort of a big whoop, ya know.

This creative space of hers was featured

as the cover story of Where Women Create.

And now I was standing right here,

in this very room!

She gave us a wonderful tour

of all of her creative nooks and crannies.

An extra special glimpse into that

inimitable, Elizabeth House style.

And we got to see her divine wedding ensemble,

proudly worn to her wedding 

to her charming Barber Husband.

Classic Elizabeth...her oil can collection.

The ethereal mixed media piece above?

Elizabeth brought it with her to Texas 4 months later,

and gifted me with it when she made the drive

all the way down here to surprise me

for my birthday!

And speaking of E's Barber Husband...

he gave my husband a complimentary buzz!

The two fellas developed a little bromance of their own.

I. Love. These. Two. Women. So. Much.

Elizabeth snapping me.

{ photo courtesy Elizabeth Maxson }

And me snapping Elizabeth!

After a few days in St. Louis,

we returned back to our home base

in Springfield, and I roamed around

Debra's completely inspiring home

and snapped a few of her trademark vignettes...

For some reason or the other,

I've been sitting on these photos for almost a year.

I had always intended to edit these and blog about this memorable,

life-changing trip, but busy-ness or self-absorption

always got in the way.

But in light of the events of recent weeks....

all the horrible weather which has bedeviled my two

beautiful friends in their neck of the woods,

I realized just how much these gals mean to me,

how much I love them, and how shattered I would be

if anything were to happen to my girls....my sisters.

{ photo courtesy Debra Oliver }

Debra Oliver, Elizabeth Maxson...

I love y'all.

You inspire me to not only be a better artist,

but a better person and a better Christian.

And another day could not pass by 

without letting both of you and 

everyone else know just that.

XO

Visit Elizabeth here...

The Adventures of Elizabeth

And visit Debra here...

Common Ground

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Anne Lorys Photography

Around The Farmhouse

Just sitting here, editing some photos

for the new Facebook

Anne Lorys Photography Business Page,

and I thought I'd make the short

hop, skip and a jump over to the blog to share.

These are from the Facebook album,

Around The Farmhouse,

which would, in fact,

be our farmhouse.

It's only a handful, but there's

lots more to share in the days ahead.

Welcome to our home!

I love enamelware.

Like, I really love it

a whole, whole lot.

One of my girls,

all blinged out.

Did I happen to mention

that I'm fond of enamelware?

Just checking.

She wanted it.

And if she's really patient
and saves her pennies,

and/or throws a fit, she usually gets it.

The hallway, pretty much room-size

and filled with some of my fondest finds.

'Tis all for now.

Sharing not only my photography

but our home is a privilege for me,

so thank you!

I'd be thrilled if you'd head on over

to Facebook and give my new

business page a "like" and a "share".

Anne Lorys Photography on Facebook

I appreciate it!

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jennifer rizzo

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Anne Lorys Photography

Anne Lorys Photography on Facebook!

It's here!

FINALLY, after being nagged, hounded,

encouraged and shamed.....

My business page on Facebook

is up and running...

Anne Lorys Photography

Please head on over and

give me a "like"!

Send your friends and neighbors.

Approach strangers with caution.  ;-)

Have a wonderful week!

This is a comment-free blog

but please come visit me here...

Anne Lorys Photography

Wish

How does the old classic

Disney song go?

"a dream is a wish 

     your heart makes....."

When dreams inch their way ever closer,

to the point where they are 

just within your grasp,

how do you respond?

Do you embrace them, or run away?

I've found myself wrestling with this

very question in recent months.

Dreams coming true,

wishes fulfilled.

Every ounce of me wants to encourage

and embrace them with a hearty welcome.

But that inner nemesis,

the Greek chorus which resides within

and tells me that I am not good enough,

not smart enough, not savvy enough,

not.....enough....persists.

And I run. I hide. I quit. 

Yes, sometimes that voice wins.

I find myself stopping,

literally halting in my tracks,

and questioning all that I know

to be true about me.

That I am enough.

So much more than enough.

Not only am I equal to the challenges,

but I am capable of so much more

than I ever imagined.

I then realize that I have 

the power to silence those voices,

and ever so tentatively,

I move forward.

Baby steps at first,

more confident strides later on.

Dreams are coming true.

Wishes are becoming reality.

And God is in control.

ps....

please follow me on

INSTAGRAM!

New pics added almost daily.

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but please come visit me here...

Anne Lorys Photography

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