The JOURNAL

Ahh the perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning. The sound of beans being measured and the water heating to a boil, the smell of the coffee’s first bloom, and the steam rising as the cup is being poured. Heaven. On. Earth. It’s the perfect start to my day. When I’m traveling, it’s […]

30 took a while to digest. It got caught in my throat on the way down and I tasted it every time I hit a bump in the road. And even though it took a while to settle, it feels good to recognize where I’ve been and who I’ve become along the journey. Yes, “the […]

There’s something wonderfully intoxicating about getting engaged in the winter. The world looks different covered in snow. Earlier sunsets each day offer a sense of urgency, and every plan must be carefully thought out due to the cold. It’s as if the world conspires in winter to bring people together. The cuddles and huddles, the coats and sweaters, the […]

It finally happened. He got down on one knee and asked me the question I had been waiting my  whole life to hear–“Will you marry me?” As silent fist-pumping crowds of angels cheered and invisible confetti fell from the heavens, I said “yes!” Finally, it was my turn! After the celebrations had come and gone, and the shock […]

Some friends and I were having a conversation recently about light and dark. There are so many levels and applications we could mention and you’re probably naming five to yourself as you read this, but in this particular conversation we correlated just two. In photography, there must be both dark elements and light elements. A photo […]

Six or seven years ago (it’s all a blur), I remember talking about dream jobs with Jeff and Jamie and some other friends over lunch. It was a time in all of our lives when our aspirations and career dreams were just starting to formulate. We dreamed together about what it would be like to do […]

Every once in a while, I get to make myself go and take some time to create space in my ever-running entrepreneurial head. While it’s hard to step away from the miles-long to-do list that’s always playing in the back of my head, I have to. I have to stop. I have to create space. I […]

It was as ordinary a day as any. Joel’s morning commute to work was early and monotonous, there were meetings and deadlines to deal with, and he had the happy job of picking up everyone’s coffee orders as usual. He stood in line at Starbucks and quickly checked his work email on his phone. “Sigh… today’s gonna […]

Stay away camp in the mountains always holds a sense of anticipation and mystery. The first time we leave home and take our first steps off the bus onto the dusty camp parking lot, it’s a milestone that somehow leaves us feeling like our lives will never be the same again. The smell of pine trees […]

Today’s the day! It’s been such a long time coming and I have so many thoughts and feelings that they seem to have rendered me wordless at the moment. It’s all I can do to just sit here at my keyboard savoring this place in my story with nostalgia and immense gratitude. I think back to who I was […]