.is Christmas really over?

"Do you ever wait for the longest day of the year and then miss it? 

I always wait for the longest day of the year and then miss it!" -The Great Gatsby

Sometimes I feel the same way about Christmas. I spend months in preparation- decking the halls, buying gifts, wrapping gifts, baking cookies, decorating cookies. All for Christmas morning to come and go almost as quick as the flash of a tiny twinkle light.

Today is New Years Eve. Tomorrow will be the first day of 2013. Yet I am still enchanted by Christmas.

So today, my friends, I am giving you one last chance to marvel at the the beauty of multi-colored lights strung around a giant evergreen. And to savor the joy of this wondrous season for a few more moments until it is lost in a sea of fireworks and resolutions.

Here's what I saw one rainy evening in downtown Portland, Oregon:

I hope y'all have a sparkling New Years Eve filled with good friends, good conversation, and lots of bubbly.

Carolyn

Photo of me credit: Emily www.plantbywater.blogspot.com

.merry christmas

"Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and his gospel is peace

Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother

And in his name all oppression shall cease"

Merry Christmas to all of my lovely blog readers. 

Carolyn

PS I took this photo in Portland, and it's one of my favorites ever. I didn't even edit one thing on the entire image. Pure beauty. :)

.cortese. family session

Last weekend Ashley, of Smitten Design, asked if I could snap a few family photos for their Christmas card. They're so photogenic that it only took about 30 minutes to get more than enough images for a Christmas card! 

Here's what I saw last weekend on an overcast afternoon:

Tony and Ashley, thanks for letting me be a part of sharing your lives with others!

Have a great day y'all. I'm headed to Portland!

Carolyn