Stephanie Wiese

                              Thoughtful in Costa Rica, Canon XTi

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I was suppose to be." ~Douglas Adams

Hope. We hope that we are doing things right. We wonder what doing something right means anyway. Anyway you look at it, there is always room for hope.

Lets see, in my life plan that I wrote up when I was a young teen I think I should have already been a supermodel and had 3 kids. Why? Because I wanted to prove that I could do amazing things and have a beautiful family. God didn't take me down that exact path and I'd have to say I am most thankful for that. Who wants to be a supermodel anyways.

But, I am in a more beautiful place than I could have ever dreamed of. I have done some pretty remarkable things in my 29 years. And I do have a beautiful family consisting of my husband and I... our extended, huge, hugging, loving, laughing, insane extended family. And a family of friends.

Hope. Hope that even though plans don't pan out as you might have thought they should, something even more miraculous could be growing under your feet. Just take a moment to notice it (and maybe fill some other people in on it as well!).

You are already blessed more than you could possibly know.

                                                A Backhoe I believe, Canon XTi

Wow. I have neglected this blog for 3 whole weeks. All I can say is my thoughts are under construction. I'm in a bit of a thought processing funk. Not a bad one... just that I've realized a few things, had some ephiphanies or whatever you want to call them. A little change in plans just to shake things up in the Wiese world. But, all is well and I will collect my thoughts again soon.

Maybe the arrival of a new camera lens will bring about some new inspiration. Until then...

... you thrill me.

                                                     Hope: Blooming Beauty, Canon XTi

Hope is a funny thing, really. We discard the notion that we have the ability to make good things  happen to us too often. But the truth is that we can. Oh, I am a Christian and I have tremendous faith in God and believe in prayer. But faith and hope are different. When I have faith, I believe that a higher power, my God, has my life in His hands and He is in complete control of me. And, the beautiful thing about God is that he gives me the power to make choices... so, this is where hope comes in.

I have hope that when something arises in my life I will be able to handle it, accept it, use it, whatever... because my faith was first in Him who has shown me my abilities.

And, man, do I have hope that amazing things are bound to happen in my life. Today, tomorrow, this weekend, this summer, this year, next year...

But, the thing about hope is that it is also a choice. We can choose to be hopeful about what is to come or when can choose a more pessimistic outlook - which do you think would put you in a state of mind where you could even recognize a good thing if it was standing right in front of you?

We have to believe and hope that we are worth amazingly wonderful moments and relationships in our life. If we don't, well, what a sad and lonely existence that could be.

Have hope, it doesn't cost a penny but it is a very rich investment for your soul!

While you're in a hopeful mood now... could you help Shutter Sisters out by voting for their Hope project? Vote here

                                                   Magic Healing Cookies, Canon XTi

Those yummy cookies that your salivating over are my favorite rolled sugar cookie recipe. L-O-V-E it so much I'm making it this weekend for a March Madness get together with friends. I've never been known as a good cook. In fact, I believe my family warned my now husband that I could burn water. That being said, I have come to love cooking - especially when I know its for friends and family.

There is something in doing work with my hands, in taking the time to plan out a recipe or meal and physically preparing it for someone else. Its another extension of love for me. I don't do it nearly enough, and boy have I failed at creating a new recipe each week as I promised myself I would, but when I can do it, it is just the coolest feeling in the world. Who doesn't like to eat well? Come on! So to be able to give that joy and pleasure to my loved ones is amazing.

But, last Sunday at church, I witnessed another expression of love through the use of hands that I never took the time to appreciate. There we were singing a beautiful song when a young woman caught my eye. She, too, was singing the song but through sign language. Her physical expression of the song brought so much joy to my heart and sadness at the same time. If I could not speak and I could not hear how might I physically demonstrate my love for others? How would I show joy, excitement and sheer happiness through hand signs? I could have watched her sign/sing a hundred songs that day.

Here is to focusing more on physically expressing our love for others!

                                                           Girls on Guard, Canon XTi

We deserve our own cheering squad.

We deserve to have women to encourage us because its received in a way that our husbands, bless their souls, can't touch.

We deserve to not feel self conscious when we are successful whether in education, careers, love, parenting, friendships or any other passions we choose to follow.

We deserve a tribe of women that we can sit and sip wine or have a beer with at the end of the day.

We deserve a tribe of women that, after a few of those glasses of wine or beer, find a wireless remote release to a camera on a tripod to be their chance for a model shoot (so much fun!).

We deserve a circle of strength so profound that even when life gets busy and we don't call or see each other for over a month, we know they would be there in a heart beat if needed.

We deserve having our hand held in the building of anticipation of a great event.

We deserve having our hand held when we feel like we don't deserve it.

We deserve to have an outlet to talk about "woman things" that we wouldn't dare tell our mothers.

We deserve women who look out for us, protect us fiercely, guard us with their hearts and love.

Hope your circle is plentiful of all these things. If not, give me a call and I'll take care of it!