So we will call this my return to blogging. I am hoping now that I am done with school and getting into the swing of things I will have more time for writing and sharing this little journey I`m on...I have been a bit busy since my last edition, I graduated with my masters (Art Therapist Natalie will be sufficient) moved back home on an 18 hour straight car ride with the mister (18 hours of playing hang man and reading aloud) got a job as an art therapist (learning that this 9-5 thing takes some getting used to) , playing wedding photographer for my cousin's wedding and adjusting to life. So here is the newest edition, enjoy and until the next...much love.

the happy couple...

what would I be without shoe pictures :)


shoes again

the sisters

beautiful wedding site ey?!



me and the madre before I was hooded at graduation

Obviously before the 18 hour car drive...look at those smiles.

And so the spring quarter begins...

This week marked the last first week of school ever for me, and let me tell you, the count down to graduation has begun. I missed the first day of school which is unheard of in my over achieving ways, and so it feels like this quarter got off to a strange start, nonetheless, I am ready to get back to work. So it has been a few months and in reflection, I have yet to introduce the mister to my blog, the world, and the three people that actually read this, so here's a snapshot of my spring break and Jason....More photos of my last quarter and such to come, until then...much love.

So I have been procrastinating on a lot of things as of late...writing assessments, finishing papers, and creating some sort of form of a creative interpretation for a family genogram which is what I have spent the bulk of my weekend working on and thus thought I would make my return to to blogging world to share some photos of it. I have recently just registered for my last quarter of grad school, and can hear the call of spring break in about 12 days. As I created my family genogram the words of Sara Groves circled in my head, partly because I had her songs on repeat this weekend, but also because of a particular song. In the song "This House", she reflects on the memories of her childhood and how she has returned to the house where she grew up and what she has learned since the carefree days of her childhood. This is what I have essentially been doing this weekend as I have been reflecting back on the ways in which my family has influenced and shaped who I have become. So enjoy the lyrics and the pictures as they sum up my thoughts as of late. Until next time, much love.

"This House"
It took my by surprise
This old house and these old feelings
Walked round and looked inside
Familiar walls and halls and ceilings

Where I'd dream and plan every moment of sunshine
This was my whole world, it was all I knew
Like the hull of a seed, this old house cracked wide open as I grew

Hadn't given it much thought
Hadn't been back here for a while
Everything looks so small,
Seen it through the memories of a child

Who would dream and started from that second story window
That was my whole world, it was all I knew
Like the hull of a seed this old house cracked wide open and I flew

Sad, fruitful , broken, true
Sad, fruitful, broken, true

Memories for miles and miles,
Summers falls, winters, and springs,
Ruby you take it in, see he's witheld no good.

So my friend Jen and I realized tonight that she has known me since I was 19.... a little teenager who was missing home and figuring out life in Seattle. Fast forward to now...I am almost 24 still missing home and figuring out life, only this time in Portland, with Jen still by my side. We went to a new coffee shop to celebrate her birthday and begin planning our Seattle adventure in December to celebrate appropriately both our birthdays in the city we know and love so much. Planning our trip was one of the good reminders for me to continue on through this fall quarter of school. With 3 papers left to write, 3 assessments and a test it can easily feel overwhelming...so I will end this little update with a few quotes that have been circling around in my thoughts for a bit...until the next edition, much love.

"Grace arrived, like tiny stitches in torn fabric" -Anne Lamont

"Hope begins in the dark. The stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up." -Anne Lamont

"But Jeremiah reminded me that the pain that comes from one's identity, that grows out of response to a call can't be escaped or pushed aside. It must be gone through. He led me into the heart of pain, forcing me to recognize that to answer a call as a prophet, or a poet for that matter, is to reject the authority of credentials, of human valuation of any kind, accepting only the authority of the call itself" -Kathleen Norris

yes, I am still alive.

Question: How do you fit all of the information in these books onto 12 pages?
Answer: To be determined.
I am writing the literature review section of my soon to be determined manuscript also known as the art therapy form of a thesis, this weekend partly because I have to and partly because it helps me figure out how to be a better art therapist....ok, mainly just because the literature review is due on Monday but I tried right. I spent the day, the entire day, weeding through these little ones attempting to find golden nuggets of information to put in my paper. The paper is due Monday and at the moment I feel like it can be easily accomplished. The hard part is over,now comes the fleshing out of thoughts and ideas along with my sources. So yep, that is my life these last few days, and I am hoping that some day soon I will be back to lugging my camera around and processing through pictures what life has looked like for me these last couple of weeks. Much love.

lacking..

so while this picture may easily be 2 years old and my niece looks about 15 years old these days, I am loving it at the moment. I have temporarily lost my camera and have been skimming through some old photos and think that for the next few photo editions I will go back into the Natalie archives and bring to light many a photos that have yet to see the blog, and pretty much the rest of the world. Thus far in life I have been busy. As I sit here I can hardly believe that it is the fourth week of school...the fourth week, which means only six more to go, which also means that I have some work to do if December is ever going to come around. Right now June seems like a far off date, and I have no clue where I will be which is a terrifying thought. When asked if I have any thoughts or plans about it I say that I haven't gotten that far in my life, which is true. I am trying to take this year step by step, allowing God to guide each step of the way. Tomorrow is family dinner and I am looking forward to the weekend...I have a date with paper writing and art therapy books, fantastic. I promise, the photos and thoughts are coming soon...

...puppies!

This is a montage of puppies. Mal took all of these pictures and in no way can I take credit for them, other than I add my presence. For the last few fridays we have gone to play with the puppies that Jason's dog Madison had a few weeks ago. I have come to the conclusion that his family must think that I a. don't bother getting ready in the morning and b. really must love SPU because every time I go I am rocking an SPU sweatshirt and have literally gotten up five minutes prior to leaving the house. Oh the things I do to get to play with the little pups. It is a form of self-care in some way after a long week in school and practicum to see the little ones and how Madison dotes on them, keeping an eye and making sure her babies are alright. Every time I go I try to convince Mal to let me keep one...she has yet to say yes. So yeah that is a little light photo edition for the day. I had a night class today and am in class all day tomorrow to learn about art therapy and addictions, pretty rad ey? Until the next edition, much love.

taken today...they are getting so big!

when we first met....it was love.