...11.30.14...

open arms

If you are lucky someday, you’ll stand, surrounded by people you know, or in the dark of night, quietly by yourself (it does not matter where exactly) & Life will fill your whole self &

 it will spill out a little with each breath you take

 after that & you will give your promise to hold the world safe, for as long as it takes

& then, afterwards, you’ll go about your days, wondering what has changed & you won’t see for a long time how it happens in small moments.

When you smile at someone you do not know. When you speak up, though it is easier 

& quicker to just keep moving. 

When you stop & hold the hand of a friend who can no longer go on 

& you speak in a low voice that only she can 

hear & you say these words (or something like them):

I would not want to be in a world without you in it.

& if you are lucky someday, maybe after one of these moments,

 you’ll understand why Life filled your whole self 

& all you could do was open your arms to hold the world close 

& remember how to Love.

~storypeople

last night we had an alumni basketball night.

my husband is the varsity boys basketball coach.

 he had a vision.

and the help of many.

 brought the spirit and life.

 back to the gym.

the way it use to be.

when we alumni walked those floors.

it was an amazing night.

filled with laughter and love.

for the past, present and future.

my photos, today.

are those of november.

from '09, '10, and '11.

we are looking at 2015 approaching quickly.

my how the time has flown.

embrace the moments.

they are the memories that build who you are.

they are the times that carry you through.

enjoy.

welcome to coffee hour.

welcome to this Sunday morning.

just BE.

robin.

...just let the wind carry you...

light + objects =shadows

If you hold on to the handle, she said, it’s easier to maintain the illusion of control. 

But it’s more fun if you just let the wind carry you.

~storypeople

happy twenty-ninth day of november.

happy birthday to my mom.

you should have had a warm month birthday.

that speaks so much more to your soul.

but never the less.

we shall embrace.

what we are given.

and celebrate you on this day.

it may be cold.

but the sun is shining just for you.

happy birthday tricia.

enjoy the moments.

just BE.

robin.

...scraps of magic...

These are little scraps of magic 

& when you paste them together you get a memory of

 something fine & strong, she said.

 Sometimes it takes till you’re 40 to see it though.

~storypeople

i worked yesterday.

missing morning coffee.

tho i did capture my morning cup.

just wanted to take a moment.

to say.

happy thanksgiving.

give thanks.

with a grateful heart.

enjoy the moments.

just BE.

robin.

...what about winter...

I’m only comfortable when it’s hot, she said & I said what about winter? 

& she said I argue a lot so it makes up for it

~storypeople

this week.

has been a week straight of snow.

and temps only in the teens.

today is thirty-two.

and rain.

tomorrow, forty-nine and rain.

what a mess.

if it's going to be winter.

be winter.

let's find some sun.

light + objects = shadows

just BE.

robin.

...11.16.14...

 words that are synonyms for strength.

so proud of these young men.

they may not have the victory but what they possess is pretty amazing.

GREAT JOB BUCKS!! 

• clout
  
  
  
  
• courage
  
  
  
  
 
• durability
  
  
  
  
• energy
  
  
  
  
• firmness
  
  
  
  
• fortitude
  
  
  
  
• health
  
  
  
  
• power
  
  
  
  
• stability
  
  
  
  
• tenacity
  
  
  
  
• toughness
  
  
  
  
• vigor
  
  
  
  

• vitality
  
  
  
  
• backbone
  
  
  
  
• body
  
  
  
  
• brawn
  
  
  
  
• brawniness
  
  
  
  
• force
  
  
  
  
• hardiness
  
  
  
  
• healthiness
  
  
  
  
• lustiness
  
  
  
  
• might
  
  
  
  
• muscle
  
  
  
  
• nerve
  
  
  
  

• physique
  
  
  
  
• pith
  
  
  
  
• potency
  
  
  
  
• pow
  
  
  
  
• powerhouse
  
  
  
  
• robustness
  
  
  
  
• security
  
  
  
  
• sinew
  
  
  
  
• sock
  
  
  
  
• soundness
  
  
  
  
• stableness
  
  
  
  
• stalwartness
  
  
  
  
• 
  

• steadiness
  
  
  
  
• steamroller
  
  
  
  
• stoutness
  
  
  
  
• sturdiness
  
  
  
  
• substance
  
  
  
  
• verdure
  
  
  
  
• vim
  
  
  
  
• zip
  
  
  
  

football photos courtesy of tonya holmes's photography

If I had known everything
I know about who you are
back when I didn’t know
a thing about you
I would’ve pulled you aside
sooner & said Thank You
for being one of the most
incredible people I will
ever know.

~storypeople

what a ride.

memories that will last a lifetime.

enjoy the moments.

welcome to coffee hour.

welcome to this Sunday morning.

just BE.

robin.

...suspiciously like ordinary life...

time stands still best

in moments that look suspiciously 

like ordinary life.

~storypeople

winter.

is now here.

light + objects= shadows

enjoy the moments.

just BE.

robin.

...11.9.14...

Long TD pass in final minute lifts Pine River over Meridian

Pine River improved to 8-3 while claiming its first-ever district championship a week after earning its first-ever playoff victory. The Bucks advance to face fifth-ranked Boyne City (11-0) in next week’s regional final, while Meridian ends at 8-3.

 “We’re starting to get used to this,” Martin said with a big smile. “That’s three weeks in a row of just wild second halves (for us). The kids just never get down. They just stick right in there in these (close) games, and things just happen to keep going our way.”

 Meridian had the ball deep in Pine River territory early in the fourth when the wildest play of the game — and possibly the wildest play of the Mustangs’ season — occurred.

On first down at the Pine River 28, Petre passed to Smith, but the ball went through Smith’s hands and ended up being intercepted by McDonald. McDonald snaked his way downfield for an amazing 58-yard return but ended up getting stripped of the ball by Meridian’s Jack Brady at the Mustangs’ 27.

A personal foul penalty on Pine River after the play gave Meridian the ball back at its own 42, and the Mustangs were in business.

Taking over with 8:30 left in the game, Meridian proceeded to march 58 yards on 15 plays — overcoming penalties for holding, illegal blocking, and a false start — and eventually scored on Petre’s 5-yard TD pass to O’Boyle with 1:22 to go.

O’Boyle attempted to run the ball in for a 2-point conversion on a fake kick but was stopped well short of the goal line, leaving the game tied at 27-27.

On the second play of the ensuing possession, Powell hit a wide-open Park over the middle on a post route, and Park took it the rest of the way for the game-winning 47-yard TD with 50 seconds left.

“My gosh, that (scoring drive by Meridian preceding Park’s TD) seemed like it was 30 plays long. That was outstanding for our kids (on defense) to hang in there at the end and get it done,” Martin said. “ ... It was very fitting for them to be on the field and get that last stop at the end.”

fred kelly -Midland Daily News

football photos courtesy of Tonya Holmes's Photography

"an invisible thread connects those who are destined

to meet regardless of time, place, and circumstance.

the thread may stretch or tangle.

but it will never break"

~ancient chinese proverb

these boys.

first in pine river history.

made the playoffs.

and won.

these boys.

first in pine river history.

to go to districts.

these boys.

are district champs.

these boys.

are forever connected.

our proud community.

is connected to them.

by an invisible thread.

that will never break.

enjoy the moments.

welcome to coffee hour.

welcome to this Sunday morning.

just BE.

robin.