Quiet time...

I think my life is in a "quiet time" right now. Which, surprisingly, I'm totally okay with. I mean, I stay pretty busy, I don't have any time to spend being bored, but things are somehow just... quiet. Despite the ridiculously crazy weekend I had a while back, everything feels almost peaceful.
You know that feeling you get while sitting on an old wooden dock looking out over a wide open lake? And everything is still - with the occasional ripple from the slightly ebbing tide hitting the dock beams. That's what I feel. But I'm so far from anything that slightly resembles wide open space. Somehow it's still peaceful.
And I'm not in a rush for that to change. Yes, I still desperately want to get my own place, and unpack all my own things, and have my own little dog in my own little house again. But I have a feeling that things will be okay if I don't rush.
I'm working, learning more about photography, enjoying the spring warmth and greenery, and not making any plans of my own. It's quiet. And for now, I'm ok with quiet.
I turn 24 in 3 days. I thought for sure things would be totally different by now. But, I still have goals, and I know what I want out of life. And I know where I want to be. It's just quiet until I figure out how to get there.

I really wanted to be on the beach for my birthday.
Maybe I'll get to go before April is over.

Maybe I'll just stay still and enjoy the quiet. It can't stay quiet forever.

I'm a fairy godmother!

I couldn't be happier for my person - my best friend and her wonderful husband, the Lawlers! They welcomed their precious baby girl, Kennedy Lynn into the world four days ago! 

She is going to be the luckiest little girl in the world. Not only are her parents so full of love and generosity, but her grandparents are going to spoil her sweet. And of course, she has an aunt/godmother Rae who is going to love her unconditionally, take way too many pictures of her (when I get the chance), and make sure her life is filled with happiness and girly musicals at every single birthday. I can't express how happy I am to know the Lawler family, and how blessed I feel to be forever tied to them through this precious angel. 

I have such love for you, sweet baby Lawler. And I can't wait to see you grow up into the beautiful princess you are. 

Dear Baby Lawler

Congratulations, my dear Lawler family. All my love, 

Rae. <3

Dreaming

I really want to be miles away from this little office. 
Don't get me wrong, I love my job, and my little office, and I'm really very happy here. 


But every cell in my body would rather be hundreds of miles away behind a lens, clicking away and capturing life. I want to take pictures that move people. Pictures that stir up dreams in others, pictures that generate a desire for action. Not just happy pictures, or sad pictures. Just... life. I want to capture life. Untamed, unorganized life.


I want to be here:

and here:

or even here!

I'm happy in my little office. But I'm needing a strong dose of real life, outside these four walls.


For now, I'm thankful to be learning, studying, and getting better with my little camera.

Ukulele!

My new favorite toy arrived yesterday!! So I did what I feel most confident in - I wrote a song. I know the quality sucks. And I know my playing sucks, too. But in my defense, I've been playing ukulele for a total of 24 hours and considering that this instrument is NOTHING like a guitar, I think my 24 hours isn't a bad start. 

I am happy. Really. :)

5 simple steps to happiness...

1. Click the link below.
2. Pick out your favorite Scentsy warmer & smell'ums.
3. Purchase said warmer and smell'ums.
4. Wait for UPS man to deliver your happy goodness.
5. Bask in the glory of a delicious smelling home or office.

:)
THIS link right here -----> https://raekaiser.scentsy.com/Buy

Call me irresponsible...

But my Frank Sinatra station on Pandora is seriously the best ever.

passion

creeps in once again...

This time in the form of a Nikon D5100. I'm an absolute amateur - but I love it. Everything about photography is exciting me right now. And I'm running out of friends to model.

But I do have beautiful friends, so it's a good place to start. After all, "never despise the day of small beginnings." :)

This is Mallory, my little brother's delightful girlfriend.

Below is Jillian, my lifelong friend. She is such a happy part of my life.


These are pictures of my soon-to-be-goddaughter! I spent New Years with my best friend, Mrs. Tristan Lawler and her lovely husband. San Antonio is beautiful! And so is she!


I can't wait to meet her!


I've been taking pictures of absolutely everything around me. These are a few I liked. :)

That's it for now. I can't wait to see what this year holds - and I can't wait to capture it all.

Also, I'm going to learn to play the ukulele.

Tonight, I'm thankful for friends, music, and passion that gives way to hope.