When I woke up this morning the news feed on my ipad was updating about a fire in a Kensington every few minutes. It was 5 alarms. The buildings's wall caved. Firefighters injured. Firefighters perished. There were no names given at first. All I could think is someone, somewhere is getting a horrible phone call.  Then I started to worry about families I know. Especially my own. My cousin is a fireman in the neighborhood of the fire. I started to pray and worry about his wife, children, mother, father, and sister. Then I prayed some more. 

I jumped on facebook and was looking for information.  Then I remembered my son's best friend...his dad is a firefighter and so is his teacher's brother. In the same station...in the same station where the fire fighters who died came from...still no news. 

I prayed some more. 

Then I thought about a few more families I photograph...the dads are firefighters in the some of the same stations who answered that alarm this morning. 

When I finally saw my cousin posted that her brother was safe...I prayed some more.  I heard that every fire fighter I knew was safe through out the day today.  Still I have this tense feeling in my body.  I just feel sad.  I know what happened doesn't directly affect me.  But I am thankful for those people who make it their business to protect our lives even if it means laying theirs on the line,  no questions asked. 

Before I fall asleep tonight I will say some more prayers for the families of the injured and lost. I will pray for the firefighters who grieve for their brothers, I will pray for the souls who went to heaven today and I will pray that more people do what they want today, because there are only so many tomorrows. 

1.Missing somebody? ......Call. 

2. Wanna meet up?...Invite.

3. Wanna be understood?...Explain yourself. 

4. Have a question? ...Ask.

5. Don't like something? ...Say it!

6 Like something?...State it.

7. Want something?... ask for it.

8. Love something?....tell it. 

Keeping it simple tonight. Hopefully I can follow these...they seem easy enough, but when I read these I thought about that episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica are together and everyone knows but Ross but Monica and Chandler only think Joey knows...and then whole misunderstanding occurs and Pheobe tries to seduce Chandler but he can't kiss her because he loves Monica. oh and Monica and Chandler knows they know, but doesn't want them to know they know. Funny as hell. But in real life this would be insane and probably not as funny.  

I am going to try to make a conscience effort to follow these pieces of advice I found today. And if you want to try out # 4  give me a shout out! 

I hope every one had a nice Easter...Love to you all! (#8...yeah baby!!)

I was watching the movie, The Blind Side I like the part where the father in the movie compares both his wife and his adopted son to an onion.  He says “HE/She is like an onion…you have to peel them back one layer at a time.”  So it gets me thinking, we all have these layers...including myself.  And since this blog is about me, I was thinking about how many layers it takes to get to the heart of me. 

So I am sharing my layers…kind of a getting to know me through a root vegetable.

I am somebody’s child…although my parents have passed they are the very first people who made me who I am today. I think I get my creativity from my mother and I keep to myself…my father was like that. \Not in an anti-social kind of way but more in an afraid to be exposed kind of way...hence this blog.  Facebook status's aside...I go deeper than hating darts, my friends. 

I am Big Jim's  wife.  It’s one of my favorite layers of all.  We have been together for a long time…more than half our lives.   I still get gitty when he is about to come home. I nag him likes it’s my job and I love him like there is no tomorrow.  Some days are not easy and we have seen some sad times. But at the end of the day if I am creeping over to his side of the bed and asking if he “missed me today” and he answers “ I miss you every day”  then nothing else matters. 

I am a mom.  It's hard work. Expensive. It is the most rewarding thing I have had to date.  Each one of my brilliant and beautiful children are different.  I sometimes get overwhelmed being a parent.(God's honest truth!)  I guess it's normal to feel that way.(what is normal anyway?)  Things my kids do amaze me, gross me out and make me laugh!  And it just so happens,  I actually have that kid my mother warned me about. This layer is a little haggard and sleep deprived. 

I am an artist...it's really the most difficult layer which I can identify.  Why? When I think of artist I think of famous people, especially photographers.  I am no Annie Liebowitz or Anne Geddes or Anita Gooden  I am Kellyanne Adams.  I admire these people. I dream of someone looking at my photos and saying..."oh that is a Kellyanne Adams...I love her work." These women are passionate...dedicated...famous for crying out loud. 

I am a believer...I believe my parents would be proud of what I become. I believe I can look into my husband's eyes and know he thinks I can do anything and he is there to push me when it gets too hard.  I do believe my kids think that iI have a cool job and as long as there is dinner on the table it's all good.  And I may never become a household name all over the world, but I do believe that this artist's work has been seen in more places than I will ever know...THANKS FACEBOOK! Ha!  

and by the way...every time I think about comparing something to an onion I immediately think of a blooming onion from the outback steakhouse, because they are yummy and warm and creative...oh and breaded and deep fried.  The other onions are just smelly and make you cry.