Our Last 20 Lake Michigan Sunrises
On September 15, 2014 (one year ago today), Chad and I were loading our lives into a U-Haul to move across the country. Although we were definitely looking forward to our new chapter in Raleigh, North Carolina, it was so hard to leave so many friends, clients and memories behind in southeastern Wisconsin. Plus, putting that Lake Michigan lakefront in our rearview (especially as a nature-lover and photographer) was one of the hardest things I've ever done.
This post contains images of the last 20 sunrise scenes Chad and I witnessed from our Kenosha apartment.
Reevaluate, Recalibrate, Reinvent
This month we’ve been pretty quiet on our blog and social media. Although the last four months for us have been filled with transition, the last four weeks stand out more than the rest in our minds. We took an intentional break for some R&R—&R, Langhoff style. We desperately needed to Reevaluate, Recalibrate and Reinvent.
Beautiful Bright Side Youth Ranch
Devin and Tia Tharp are great friends of ours. We got to know them when we all lived in Wisconsin and went to church together. Over the last seven years, we have become quite close and have had many parallels in the ways we follow God's adventures for our lives.
One of the most recent reasons we're proud to call them friends is their up & coming non-profit, Bright Side Youth Ranch. Read on for more of this story and to see fall photos of their new property.
Fall in North Carolina
Chad and I are learning all about the differences in timing of seasons here in North Carolina, in comparison to the northern midwest. Three weeks ago (Nov 13), we got up early and spent a weekday morning before work walking around Historic Oak View County Park. What perfect timing! The fall colors were absolutely beautiful and it was about 60°F—perfect for a fall nature walk. We soaked in the sights, took deep breaths, laughed together and didn't think about the challenges of life at all. Our focus was shifted, in the most refreshing way possible.
I hope you enjoy these photo highlights from our walk...
For every thing there is a season
Right now it's fall. Our leaves are beginning to burst here in Raleigh (in late October, which still feels so late to me). It's beautiful!
This visual of the fall season parallels so closely to our life and business right now. Read on for some of my morning reflections and fall images from our backyard...
Reasons I rarely complain about winter
There is beauty in everything if we look for it.
With temperatures and wind chills in the negative digits, the complaints about winter (in person and online) are rampant these days.
The way I see it, when you live in the northern midwest, it's inevitable that it will get cold, there will be snow, and there will be ice. That fact doesn't make it any easier to endure when it happens, BUT, it's all about perspective...
You have to see these images I captured of frost inside today!
Goodbye Winter
Goodbyes can be tough. Sometimes we have a tendency to linger; to drag them out. Winter, I feel like that's where we're at right now. You have demonstrated exceptional resilience this year and I do LOVE a pretty winter.... but don't you think it's time for Spring to have a turn?
At the beginning of March in SE Wisconsin, we received another beautiful, gentle snowfall. It was the kind that covered everything with a soft, white blanket, nice and calmly. It was so peaceful and serene looking—and not all that frigid, either! I figured it'd be the last one like it of the season (not so much, as it turns out, but anyway—) so I went out shooting with my friend Amy. We spent an hour wandering around Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha as well as the Lake Michigan shoreline outside of my apartment.
I thought if I shared a few photo highlights in a reminiscent spirit, maybe the awkward prolonged goodbye to Winter could be wrapped up. Consider this post my lean out the front door and my wave to Winter as it backs down the driveway...
sunshine & rainbows
Let's face it…sometimes we get stressed out. Distracted. Irritated. Tripped up. Sluggish. Yes, I realize our lives are full of peaks and valleys, and that there's nothing wrong with that. Wouldn't it be great if the sunshine & rainbows never left, though? What gives…