Rachael Houser Photography Blog

I’ve learned. . . that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I’ve learned. . . that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned. . . that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned. . . that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned. . . that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned. . . that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned. . . that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I’ve learned. . . that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned. . . that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned. . . that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I’ve learned. . . that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned. . . that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned. . . that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned. . . that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned. . . that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned. . . that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned. . . that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned. . . that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned. . . that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned. . . that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned. . . that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned. . . that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I’ve learned. . . that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned. . . that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I’ve learned. . . that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned. . . that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned. . . that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon

- Author Unknown

Staying in a condo while on a vacation sounds great doesn’t it? Sure beats staying in a hotel room. I’ll post pictures as soon as we get back home, internet connecting is too slow for uploading pictures, but in the mean time I can still talk about it. The condo, that is.

About 6 years ago my dad and two of his business partners/friends went in together and bought a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom condo in a condominium complex called Sterling Shores right on the beach in Destin, Florida. Since the condos in the complex are for rent and sale those that are owned can also be rented out. My dad and the two others pay a monthly mortgage and monthly HOA fees just like you would any other condo or home that your own. The only difference is that Sterling Shores can rent our condo out to people, just like they would rent out hotel rooms, for close to $3,000/week and the complex gets a small share while my dad and the others get money to help pay for the mortgage. I think they just recently paid off the mortgage but HOA fees alone are $600/month. Someone’s gotta pay for that.

That’s were the renters come in. People rent out the condo for a week or so at a time and pay that $2,800 something. The owners can stay for free as long as they want, Sterling Shores doesn’t care as long as the condo’s mortgage is paid. But because the HOA fees still have to be paid we only come and stay for one week a year, as do the other owners. Every once in a blue moon, though, our condo won’t br rented out for the upcoming week and we’ll have the chance to come and stay for free. Two summers ago my little brother John and his friends found out on a Thursday night that the condo was free for the next week and left two days later for a full week. I think he brought along 7 friends; that’s 8 boys to 1 king bed, 1 queen bed, 1 full bed and a pull out couch; 8 boys to two bathrooms and two bathroom vanities ! I guess boys don’t care too much about that sort of thing, though.

My dad gave Neil and I the option to come down a stay if the condo wasn’t rented some week this summer. We’ve already made a list of people we’re planning on asking if the opportunity arises and we’re able to go. Of course it would be nice for just the two of us to come down alone. Like a second honeymoon!

Pictures of the condo to come!

{photo by me; photo of my brother John; photo taken Saturday, 5/15/2010 in Destin, Florida}

Spring is here!

Today we experienced the most spring day ever. Allow me to elaborate.

It was cloudy this morning afternoon when I woke up. It wasn’t hot but definitely warm outside and VERY humid. As the day grew on it slowly turned a little chilly out but the sun started to shine through the clouds and all of the sudden it was 6PM and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Now, a few clouds have moved back in but it’s still the same temperature as before.

That was in Eddyville.

In Murray (an hour south) it was sunny in the morning and rained and hailed in the afternoon.

In Paducah (35 minutes west) it was cloudy all day long. I think it threatened to rain but never did.

In Greenville (an hour east) it was hailing and tornado(ing) all the live long day. I was told, anyway, by Megan who’s spending some time there with Bryan’s family.

It’s just like Kentucky to have 7 different levels of spring in one day within a 60 miles radius.

It’s just another reason why I love Kentucky.

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I’m sure most of you are aware of the flooding that happened in middle Tennessee. I haven’t seen it personally but I’ve talked to a few who have and I’ve seen plenty of pictures.

It’s devastating.

There is no other word to describe the damage.

While we didn’t get it anything as bad as middle Tennessee we did have our share of flooding here in the lakes area.

The yard to the right of ours.

They can’t get to their docks.

You can see our dock on the left side of the picture. It has a white roof.

The bench at the edge of our yard.

We can’t get to our dock unless we take the paddle boat, which my momma did frequently.

My dad had to rig his hunting/fishing boat up the dock and the dock ramp to prevent it from breaking away from the shore in case the water level got any higher. It did rise higher in later days but thankfully not enough to damage anything.

Our neighbor’s yard and dock.

Their neighbor’s yard and dock.

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I may or may not be blogging for the next week while I’m on the family vacation. You can bet that I will be taking way too many pictures of the beach and much more. Look for them soon!