wednesday's whimsy : almost home
it is late,,, and although i am entirely spent, my spirit is like a finger tapping me gently on the shoulder, whispering in my ear where i can hear the echo of a million-and-one thoughts ready to burst at the seams.
or so it feels.
it is 1:03am & i officially sound crazy, or crazier than my 'normal' crazy
!... but i knew i had to blog at least briefly about a recent experience i had volunteering at a shelter called
Almost Home, 'a truly No-Kill Animal Haven & Rescue' in Southfield.
truth be told. i didn't think i could
actually do it. volunteer at an animal shelter, that is. i was quite fearful of
a) the unknown (ha! when aren't we?!), b) my heart snapping in two & wanting to take them all home with me & c) the unknown. again.
more than ever though, and
especially lately, i have learned to trust & follow that good ol' heart of mine. i allowed it to make the choice for me & before i knew it, i was driving passenger in the pouring rain with my best friend
Ang (who is also the ever-so awesome office assistant for .ksp.!) towards what ended up being one of the
MOST humbling & gratifying experiences of . my . life.
i can't really FULLy explain how both Ang & i felt after helping out at
Almost Home. it is something indescribable. truly.
however, i can & want to say this. these words, thoughts & emotions have been heavy on my heart ever-since :
if you haven't already,
i WHOLEheartedly encourage you to volunteer.
somewhere.
anywhere.
today.
tomorrow.
this month.
this year.
just. make. it. happen.
what if i told you that i guaranteed you that absolutely nothing but GOODNESS would come of it??!
because i do. and it will. i promise. 
below are the first two dogs we walked, Sinatra & Chester, captured with my iPhone. are they the cutest or what?!
that day, Ang & i simply walked the dogs one at a time. you would be ah!mazed as to what an incredible difference it makes in their day just to have the mere interaction of a stroll.
even in the pouring rain. i definitely realize that this may not be in everyone's comfort zone. please know that there are still PLENTY of other ways to volunteer & help out. be sure to check out their
website for more info & ways to get involved!
they need help every single day of the week. even just dropping off a bag of food or treats would make the BIGGEST difference! it will feel great just to start .somewhere. &
Almost Home is a wonderFULL place to do so.
as for me,,, i am sure it is of no surprise to you that this isn't the last you will hear about this.
i will be volunteering there as much as possible & am excited to see the bright possibility of all that can happen. one person at a time.
before i sign off for the night, i leave you with this heartFULL quote from their
website :
We find beauty in the most incomprehensible places and the otherwise homely faces.
It’s our gift to see beyond the dirt, terror, sadness and defeat to find the true soul that lies within.
We are animal rescuers.”
~ Author Unknown
wishing you all a very happy, FULL-filling
"wednesday's whimsy" & rest of the week!
with love, heart & gratitude always,
ksen
caitlynn.&.matt
i will never forget the first time i met Caitlynn when she worked at the Ritz Camera in Troy... at least 6 or 7 years ago now. every single time i went in there she was always so energetic, happy & sweet. i LOVED seeing her. i also will never forget when she called me last year & left me a message asking if 'i would remember her, that she was getting married & would like me to document the big day.' i thought to myself,
remember her?! {LOL} how can i not?!!! 
next thing you know we were on the phone talking endlessly, laughing & planning to get together. i absolutely .love. it when life reconnects you in the sweetest of ways. i then met with Caitlynn & her amazing Mother where we all chattered up the room together. words such as
best friend, love of my life, soulmate were said when it came to Matt with the deepest of affection. i couldn't help but permasmile.
..and then, Caitlynn's Mom said,
"you should just see the way he looks at her!" which has been embedded in my heart since. on their wedding day i was honored enough to experience an entire day of it -- it is something truly beautyFULL. Matt & Caitlynn completely balance each other. they are two souls who have intertwined, two best friends who would do anything for each other,,, and simply enough, even after all these years, their entire self lights up when each other's name is mentioned. most people dream of this type of a connection in a lifetime. ...i was lucky enough to live in on the dream for one ah!mazing day.
their wedding & reception took place at the ever-so-lovely
Royal Park Hotel. they were surrounded by all those that love them & by great love, love LOVE. below are some of my top top favorites from the day, however
be sure to check out the slideshow at the end of this post for even more images!!!
Caitlynn & Matt! as i was going through all your imagery, i just kept thinking how blessed i am to know you both & for our reconnection. your love is inspiring & true. i wish you both the greatest adventure that life has to offer you together. knowing you, you are going to make the best of it & i can't wait to hear all about it along the way! i adore you & hope you enjoy the story of your special day through the images below.
with great heart & gratitude, always,
ksen
first up,,, her gorgeous dress & details!
the *bling*
:
Caitlynn's Mom made all the bridesmaid's purses on the right. talk about awesome! :
getting ready time :
surrounded. by. love :
Caitlynn's Maid of Honor & twin sister, the beautiful Erin :
her shoes were the same as the ones from the movie "Ever After" :
*heart* this :
love. every. single. thing. about. this. image. &. moment :
dear Caitlynn,,,
...you are beautyFULL. truly :
and that smile! L O V E :
ready to see her hubby-to-be!
meanwhile, the guys were chillin' :
aaaand Matt was looking incredibly handsome himself!
ready to see his bride :
Caitlynn & Matt had, what i call, a 'first sight', where the bride & groom choose to see each other before the ceremony! i just adore the series below as Caitlynn walks towards Matt... you can just feel the excitement on their faces :
love this series :
together. as .one
they are TOO cute for words. seriously :
there is just something about this image, & the images that followed this moment that make my heart so happy :
it was a cold day,,, yet somehow they were able to make it feel all warm & toasty :
the stunning couple :
Caitlynn with Erin!
the ladies!
on a more serious note,,, the gents
:
and the ladies
:
...and we must not forget about her Men of Honor!!!
can't get enough of this image. win win love love :
a few of the pretty ceremony details :
happiness is :
sealed with a SMOOCH!
getting used to the ring . love it :
Caitlynn surrounded by all her fabulous Color Guard girls!
... a little newlywed time :
a top fave from the day. hands down :
.home.
their cake was created by Great Lakes Cakes. LOVED it :
a few of the fancy reception details!
introducing the new mr. & mrs.!!!
how can you not smile when you are around them?!
talk about an ah!mazing & creative cake topper!
during the toasts... :
their first dance as husband & wife :
father/daughter & mother/son dance :
the celebration continued on into the night!
!!!
...and last, but certainly not least, if you look closely into the floor you will see the reflection of two best friends, now husband & wife, looking forward into their future which is oh, sooooo SO bright!
***CLICK HERE!!!*** to view the slideshow & see more photographs from their wedding day.
fuel for the soul
lately i feel i have been surrounded by
so much fuel for my soul.
it comes in many different forms,,, be it my loved ones, music, great conversations, my clients, books, art, the sunshine, the rain, ...even food!
i feel more alive than ever (i didn't think that was possible, but it is! ha!
) & more in tune with this beautyFULL world we live in... all for which i am endlessly grateful for. as well as fully aware that such an alignment takes constant work, time, patience & perseverance.
completely worth it.
being the quote lover that i am, i recently came across this gem:
...the tragedy in life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.
It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.
It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture.
It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.
~ Benjamin E. Mays
i read it twice, let out a big "hmmmm" in my mind as a smile snuck a curl upon my face. of course, i
had to share & ask:
what is fueling your soul right now?
speaking of fuel,,, i recently received
Fifth Way's CD in the mail (to see their promo shoot,
click here!).
i absolutely
LOVE the finished product & have been jamming out to their killer tunes. you must check them out!
