Tell Me a Story- September

Anyone who has followed my photography journey for awhile will know that September means the sunflower field in my town is in bloom. This sunflower field was planted by a family in remembrance of their daughter who died of cancer. They share this beautiful field with our community in efforts to raise money and awareness for this awful disease. The field is so beautiful and truly brings joy and happiness to everyone who visits but also serves as a reminder that not all beautiful things last and we need to enjoy every moment of them because one day, they will be gone. I think it is such a powerful message and it really reaches out to so many people.

Enjoy the field through my photos this month:

Please keep our circle going by visiting:  Sharleen Stuart Photography / South Florida Photographer

A Letter To The Dog I Failed- One Year Later

Carli,

I've said it for some time now, but I can't believe that it has been a year already. 52 week, 365 days, 525,600 minutes of a new life, new experiences, and so much love.

We are so lucky Carli, you and me, so lucky. We stumbled upon your new home when I was starting to lose hope. I started fearing that you'd never get what you needed and I'd be left to watch you never reach your full potential. But then, a single 'shot in the dark' message to an old teacher changed our lives forever.

I'm sure there are some people out there who are rolling their eyes at me, saying "move on, its a dog", but Stink, you've never been "just a dog" to me. I've never loved anything the way I have loved you, my sweet girl. From the moment I met you Carli, you made a spot in my heart. It'll never get old to me when you perk up and get uncontrollably excited when you see me. I'm sure it annoys your new parents and goes against the things you have learned, but I love when you just can't control how happy you are to see me. Theres nothing else on this planet that makes me feel that sense of happiness. Even after a year, that feeling will never get old. Reminds me you haven't forgotten how much you mean to me.

There have been so many milestones that have been reached this year while you have been in your new home. Your new family has dedicated hours and hours to you and your training. They understand your needs and fulfill them beyond my wildest dreams. You run 5k's, when you aren't protesting to enjoy your lazy Sunday, you take the ferry to Put-In-Bay, you chase your cat brothers and beg them to be your friends, and you've loved so openly this last year. Never stop loving my sweet girl, anyone who gets to have a little Carli in their life is considered lucky in my eyes.

You've blossomed this last year and have grown more than I could have ever imagined. You used to be the dog that could never be left alone and you were glued to the hip of the closest human you could find. Now, you've become so comfortable in your new life, you lay in the front yard alone, you put yourself to bed upstairs when mom and dad aren't ready to call it a night. Even with all this growth, you are still the best snuggler I have ever known. You're still the quirky, stuffed animal loving, big booty diva that you've always been. Your mom and I say often how we hope you never lose any of those things, they make you so unique and special.

In the last year Carli, I've never accepted failing more than I have now. I failed you and needed to find a solution to my failures. Your new family has made me feel like anything but a failure, they have included me in all of your adventures and have become more than just your new family, they have become my family too. I will be forever grateful for the time, the love, the patience, and did I mention love, that they have given you. I really believed that no one else would ever love you the way I have Stink, but boy was I wrong, I've met my match, they love you so unbelievably much. They want and provide nothing but the best for you, you are their little girl and that is all I could ever ask of them.

I love you Carli. I really do. I love that you still get to have sleepovers at "BFF Bed and Breakfast," I love when I see your mom’s name pop up on my phone; that always means I get to hear about what you’ve done that day, the good and the bad! I love that I get to come and watch you play in your river and romp around like the happiest dog in the world. I love that I have gotten to be apart of your training classes and watch you show off just how smart you are. I love when I get to spend an evening with you at home and when we walk in to the house, you race around trying to find your parents, like they are hiding somewhere. You always slump back down the stairs after your search has ended, like a little kid who has accepted that the babysitter will have to do for now since mom and dad aren’t home. I love how much you love them. I've loved everything about this last year Carli. I look forward to many more years of all of these things and being apart of them all.

Happy one year Carli girl. This has been the best year of you life. Keep being you, quirky, happy, and endlessly loving. It's hard for me to imagine life getting any better than it has been for you this last year, but if there is anything I have learned this year, it's that your parents are going to try their hardest to top it.

Love you so much Stink,

BFF