Chicago at Christmastime

Wilmington, NC

"nothing's sweeter than summertime..."

she grew up on the side of the road
where the church bells ring
and strong love grows
she grew up good, she grew up slow
like American honey

steady as a preacher, free as a weed
couldn't wait to get going
but wasn't quite ready to leave
so innocent, pure and sweet
American honey

there's a wild, wild whisper blowing in the wind
calling out my name like a long lost friend
oh, I miss those days as the years go by
oh, nothing's sweeter than summertime
and American honey

get caught in the race of this crazy life
trying to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time
to American honey

there's a wild, wild whisper blowing in the wind
calling out my name like a long lost friend
oh, I miss those days as the years go by
oh, nothing's sweeter than summertime
and American honey

gone for so long now
I gotta get back to her somehow
to American honey

there's a wild, wild whisper blowing in the wind
calling out my name like a long lost friend
oh, I miss those days as the years go by
oh, nothing's sweeter than summertime
and American honey
and American honey

-Lady Antebellum "American Honey"

"The world is your playground"

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." -Saint Augustine

I was the one who would always jump in first
Didn't think twice to look behind
Got such a good feeling just from playing in the dirt
Once when I was little

We could build a rocket, fly to the moon
Leave Tuesday morning, and be back 'for noon
There wasn't nothing, nothing that we couldn't do
Once when I was little
Once when I was little

Yeah, I could dream more then
I could believe more then
That the world could only get better
I could be free more then
I could pretend more then
That this life could only show me good times
Once when I was little

There was a time when I trusted everyone
There was no place that I wouldn't go
Spend a day on the hillside next to the barley mow
Oh, once when I was little Yeah, once when I was little

Yeah, I could dream more then
And I believed more then
That the world would only get better
I could be free more then
And I could pretend more then
That this life could only show me good times
Once when I was little

I used to feel so strong
Even when they'd tell me, tell me I was wrong
That I can't live in a magic world
Cause it's time for me grow up
And I've got to be like the rest of them
When I know things aren't enough

Oh, I could pretend more then
And I could believe more then
That the world, it would only, get better
I could believe more then, yes I could
And I could pretend more then
That this life, it could only show me good times
Once when I was little

So here comes the next one, next in line
Stay as young as you can for the longest time
Cause those days flew by
Like a breeze just passing through
Once when I was little

-James Morrison "Once When I Was Little"

"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time" -Andre Gide

Charleston, South Carolina

"You were good at making me feel so small..."
-Josh Kelley

"Picture perfect memories, scattered all around the floor..."
-Lady Antebellum


self portraits

"tis the season to be jolly"

For all the lies I've tasted just looking for the truth
for all the dreams I'm chasing, what am I to do
when everything's against me
the answers are all wrong
I'm hoping that I'll find out it was worth it all along

-The Calling "Things Will Go My Way"

the first snow

family portrait

Good day sunlight
I'd like to say how truly bright you are
You don't know me, but I know you
see you're my favorite star

Jason Mraz "Who Needs Shelter"

These days I'm fading in
I'm coming into light
Making myself known and knowing it's alright
And it's a welcome change
I'm fading in at last
Cause these days I'm fading in and it's a blast

-Stephen Kellogg "Fading In"

southern live oak trees w/ spanish moss
Savannah, GA

"And all at once the crowd began to sing..."

Josh Kelley, the Fillmore- Detroit

James Morrison, the Bling Pig- Ann Arbor

Rooftops

I get lost in the beauty
of everything I see
The world ain't half as bad
as they paint it to be

-OneRepublic "Come Home"

Chicago in the summer.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.

-Lee Ann Womak "I Hope You Dance"

The problem with the sunshine is you can see in between the lines.
Life doesn't always look the way you hope.

-Josh Kelley "Justice"

Chicago Tunnel