a match made in cyberspace

i never imagined myself being part of a match made by an online marriage service, but this post goes to show that anything can happen, and frequently does, out there in cyberspace. and this is thanks to my friend from our days in the tokyo 3rd ward, jeni. she married my blog to a blog of another friend, on her post, "blog marriages". fun idea! i'm excited to read the new blog she hooked me up with.

and now, an ode to photography. i treated myself to some virtual reality scrapbooking (digital scrapbooking online, which now that i have five kids, is the only realistic way that i can find time to scrapbook AND keep up with it - and so this is another "cyberspace match" for me - the concept of online scrapbooking). and i am always amazed when i scrapbook after taking some time off from it, how therapeutic it is. i'm so enthralled with the power of a photo...how it can bring back the most subtle and warm memories that would have been forgotten without it. things that weren't even an integral part of the photo, like the delicate & intricate snowflakes that my girls cut out and stuck on the window. it reminds me that my life is even happier and more blessed than i generally remember that it is. and i am grateful for that. it brings me joy...... here is a photo (one of many) that warmed my heart from this latest scrapbooking session.....

noah (2) & mia (5) at kasai rinkai koen, on our christmas card photo shoot, december 2006....among other things, this photo reminds me that although i was terribly sick with my pregnancy, and it took great effort to walk around the park and take the photos (which is what i tend to remember most about that time - in fact i distinctly remember wondering if i would make it back to the car, or just have to lay down on the grass and spend the night in the park), life was still wonderful and beautifully blessed -  these precious kids, the ocean so close to our home, the warm sunlight, etc.

and a random question to throw out there into cyberspace....is it possible for me to do pilates without getting upper back and neck tension? i've been working towards this goal for 5 or 6 years now, and sometimes i do better than others. sometimes i think i've got it figured out, and i even put my main focus on relaxing my back and shoulders while i do the workout. but i still have problems.

i have some fun projects going that i want to share, but although my camera has been returned from repairs, my lens hasn't....still eagerly waiting.