Dear friends, starting our business is taking a lot of my energy and time. I woke up this morning at 3:30 a.m. with a million things running through my mind. I figured I'd get out of bed and write them down. 

Then I thought of you, my photos and my blog. I'm trying to hang in there with Picture the Holidays. Somehow I've gone from prompt number six to twelve. I also participate in 52 Photos Project and lately I haven't been able to keep up with that either. Arg! 

These next few weeks are going to be a whirlwind but I won't desert this space. I wouldn't do that to you or myself. :)  I will have my camera handy, as I always do, and I'll be snapping photos. I'm still here, although I may not be here as often for the time being. 

I do plan on sharing with you more details about our business as we progress. We're very excited! We're smiling big! Huge! Like this cute snowman on our front yard. 

There is a whole lot of happy going on! 

♥, Sylvia

This little thing, is our fur baby Kirby. He doesn't leave our side. He's our little shadow 24/7.

I took this photo recently when we were putting up our outdoor Christmas lights (hence, his itty-bitty sweatshirt).  He makes us laugh. All the time. He knows our body language, our routine, everything. He gives us so much love without ever saying a word. He sits on our lap and melts our troubles away. 

This I know for sure, it's going to be a very sad day whenever we have to say goodbye to him. I get a knot in my throat just thinking about it. 

If you're a pet owner I'm sure you can relate. I'm sure you feel yours is a member of the family as well. The endless love and devotion a pet provides is beyond special. 

~Day 6 of Picture the Holidays~

♥, Sylvia

This is the view from our deck; I was excited just to see this frost on our red oak tree. 

I want to see the big, fat, fluffy snowflakes falling as if they were in slow motion. To walk on it and hear the crunching sound of it under my feet. To drive around the "must see" homes decorated in Christmas lights. The lights look prettier when everything is covered in a blanket of snow.  

Is this former Texan wishing for snow? Yep, it sounds crazy but I guess I am! Come on old man winter, I'm ready to have snow much fun!

Okay, I'm done with the pity-party.

The end. 

~Day 5 of Picture the Holidays~

♥, Sylvia

Sunday morning we got out of bed while it was still dark. 

We started our weekend ritual of sitting in the living room, enjyoing a cup of coffee and talking. This ritual is the key, the magic remedy for us. 

Our conversation turned to our goals for next year.  We're in the planning stages of opening a new business. An indoor sports training facility for baseball and softball athletes. 

This business venture is going to be awesome! We met a wonderful soul who is going to be a big part of the company. My husband played professional baseball in the minors and our friend played in the major leagues; they speak the same language. I'm convinced, meeting him was no coincidence. 

Our heads are spinning! We have so much work to do. Starting a business from scratch is an enormous endeavour but we've decided we're going to do whatever it takes to make it happen. I recently told a friend, the stars are aligning, the dots are connecting and it's going to be so much fun!

I know we may be stretched at times and will need to return to our center. I will remind myself of this when we need to slow down: to stop, pour ourselves a cup of coffee, sit in our living room (even if it's not a weekend morning) and talk.

It's key!

~Day 4 of Picture the Holidays~

♥, Sylvia

"For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.

For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.

For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it."

Ivan Panin

~Day 3 of Picture the Holidays~

♥, Sylvia

We all gathered. Apple cider was served, gingerbread men cookies were decorated, our CEO wore a Santa suit and patients joined in. One of our patients flipped the switch to light the tree and we all clapped. I took several photos of coworkers and proceeded to snap a few photos of the ornaments on the beautiful tree.

As I looked through the photos this morning, I couldn't help but be drawn to this one. I saw the snowflake and then noticed my reflection on the red ornament.  There I was, framing and reframing the photo.

Reframing a tiny detail of our experience and this wonderful holiday season. 

~Day 2 of Picture the Holidays~

♥, Sylvia

My husband and family, above everything else, is what I'm most grateful for in my life. No question about it. But when I ask myself what has enabled me to be grateful, to find the beauty in the ordinary, and truly appreciate life... it's photography. 

It puts me in a place of gratitude. 

It is my silent companion that helps me see. It helps me to live consciously. To be aware. To appreciate. It helps me enjoy the life I'm living. 

Sometimes, it even teaches me to see the miracles I stumble upon every day.

Speaking of miracles, I'm thinking of a beautiful new life that came into this world yesterday. My youngest sister gave birth to her first child, daughter Kayla. We live thousands of miles away. I'm not kidding you, in my mind, I'm thinking of photographs I would take if I was there with her today. 

Photography, puts me in a place of gratitude, even if I have to imagine it in my mind until I'm there in flesh and blood. 

~sharing this photo prompt at Picture the Holidays~

♥, Sylvia

Have you signed up for Picture the Holidays yet? 

If you're looking for something to help you stay focused, mindful, grounded and centered this holiday season, then this is for you. 

I'm delighted Tracey Clark and Paper Coterie have partnered up for this project. It hasn't even started and I have already enjoyed connecting with like-minded women  via our private Facebook group.  So much fun!

Picture the Holidays is about capturing your holiday moments; whether it's with your DSLR, point and shoot, or camera phone. You don't even have to have a blog to participate. Everyone is welcome. 

This is our creed:

Register here to join us!  Registration closes November 30 and the fun starts December 1.

♥, Sylvia