* Day out: Zwolle *

Yesterday I went to Zwolle. I had never been there and wanted to go to do some shopping and sightseeing. At first I saw only the market and though, is this it? Then I go home right away. But I did some strolling around and saw some nice shops, great old buildings, the remains of the city wall,  the Gaper, the church, ships and water. It was a lovely day.

Below a small impression of the almost 200 (!) photo's I took that day. Because I had to travel a long time by train, I didn't bring my Nikon, but only my point and shoot. I am quite pleased with how the photo's turned out. Even in the church with no flash, the results are quite acceptable.

* project life week 30 *

High time for a layout of project life again! i used Traci Reeds kit SPF 45, a template from Yin which I modified, some stick it alpha's from Dary Baldwin, modified to fit the date & Misty Cato Journaling spots. I love the outcome. The papers are cheerful and bright even though there is not much sunshine around these days.

I kept the journaling to myself, since some of it is rather personal.

* 5 min friday *

I am very late with my 5 min friday, it's almost friday again. But I had doubts about posting this story, but decided to post anyway because is very important in my life right now and I want to be able to read it back.

Recently I have been thinking about loss quite a bit, I might want to say I over think it, its in my mind on a daily basis. And there is a reason for that. In my direct surroundings I have been facing death more often than I have ever been used too. When I was about 13 years old my grandad died and that was terrible. I was heartbroken and cried a lot. But after that, I haven't been faced with dead again until now, almost 20 years later. That fact makes me happy because losing someone is terrible & devasting & hard to describe or put in words, so not facing this again is a true blessing.
But it also makes me worry now because my mom is becoming older and even though I want it, she will not live for ever. I will be without close relatives when she is gone. No one to visit, to go over and chat and discuss problems with. It makes me wonder if I made the right choices in my life.
The funny thing is that just they other day, someone told me; never to question or doubt your decisions. If they are not the right ones, just make a new deciscion. It is very true... But sometimes it's hard to let go of the old...

* 5 min friday: grateful *

Grateful... I think there is a lot I should be grateful for but in the midst of life, choas, stress, work, daily business and my surroundings you easily forget. I easily forget that I have a lot in my life to be grateful for. Even the simplest basics like a home, food, clothing, a shelter, a mom; it is not natural to everyone but I have it and for that I am grateful.
I have a job, I don't always like it. I can be hectic and stressful and so on, but I do have a steady job and in the world of today that is not something natural, and for that I am grateful.

My heavy headaches and migraines are not so often as in the past, and for that am really grateful. Only when I have a headache/migraine attach I know what it's like that so many days I am feeling good and don't appreciate it enough.
There are many things in life which I wish I could do, but I can't do. But I really should learn to see things differently, there also so many things I can do which are naturally to me and I take them all for granted, but really it is something to be grateful for. Taking walks, riding my bike, go shopping IRL or online, enjoying music, singing, acting silly, photography, photoshopping, blogging. When you look around you and see, really see, there is really so much in my life which I am grateful for.