when did one become the most beautiful number?

as i go back to school in what seems like over a year, another trip to saugatuck proved itself a rich tool in the transition to new beginnings. 

to sweet friendship, skinny dipping to the setting of the sun, repeating soundtrack of the waves, poetic stanzas on the move, and hearty laughs. 

i'm pretty blessed. 

the light in our new house

some moments from our trip to the indianapolis zoo a couple weeks back.

this was a young 'rus and boy did he have a personality

some amazingly decorated birds

this is how you end up with a bird on ya head

our first real dolphin experience. it was phenomenal.

drooling over this curly willow

nice reflection shot taken by the real professional- pipu

after a couple weeks away from the computer, i've been thinking about what i want this little part of the internet to become, what purpose i'd like for this blog to serve as the future becomes the present. and i got nothin'. i've already seen its weight and importance change with unreserved frequency since its beginning, which was inevitable. i only wish for it to always be a positive, constructive resource for me, my creations, my musings, my thoughts, my many questions. 

so, perception and presentation have been common themes to my thoughts these days. i spent this past week at a camp for children with arthritis that i've been attending with my family every year since i was seven years old. over the course of 13 years as a camper and volunteer amongst these kids with rheumatic diseases, i was blessed with knowledge about a range of 'illnesses' I would have never known about otherwise, friends that seemed to become closer than any others i was around during the remaining 360 days of the year, and experiences i'm assured my poor memory will retain for a long time. this year was my first year as a counselor, and it changed a lot in my perception of camp, and in general. i had some good talks with really good people about how we perceive things and it forced me to ask myself a pretty hard question. that is whether i consistently reflect what i feel in my heart, whether others feel my good intentions, my love, care and compassion. i'd like to think i do, but i know that i and everyone struggle with it. 

with this past week of learning and loving and smiling, paired with this post about uncertainty, i'd like to conclude with certainty that i am excited and happy about it all. camp was amazing and now to move back to grand rapids!