Every day is loaded with opportunity. You know the saying — Life is what you make of it. Yeah, I completely agree with that. Completely. And you know that I whole-heartedly believe that when we document bits and pieces of our life, we are more aware of how richly blessed we really are. Today I’m sharing few recent opportunities I’ve had in the past few days — documented with pictures + words.

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{ Opportunity: Scout Camp }

On Friday I spent the day with a bunch of 8- and 9-year-old boys at Cub Scout Camp. I had a million other things to do. It was hot. And boys are loud. But I love my son. And I value opportunities to be with him. And one day he won’t care so much to have his uncool mom around. So I’m soaking it in while I can.

Photo taken with my iPhone 4 and edited with the Camera+ app. This camp site was at the base of a desert mountain and just beautiful.

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{ Opportunity: Finding Inspiration }

One of the { POTD Ideas } I shared on facebook & twitter last week was THIS from Rebecca Cooper’s blog. I love taking pictures at ground level but I can’t remember the last time I set the camera down, put it on timer, and put myself in the shot. Rebecca inspired me to capture something that is very everyday in my life: Doing my work in the kitchen and Crew close-by, doing his “work”. I passed the inspiration on to my facebook & twitter readers. And I took the opportunity to actually act on an inspiring idea. And now I’m so happy I have this picture.

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{ Opportunity: Memory Lane }

David and I had the (very spontaneous) opportunity to stop by and see our first two little apartments (one block apart from each other) when we were newlyweds 15 years ago. A flood of memories rushed through our minds all at once and it was so much fun, super quick, and totally worth it.

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{ Opportunity: Family Bonding }

We created an opportunity to visit with some family this weekend that we don’t get to see very often. During church one of our nephews passed us these notes. Pick me up out of a puddle on the floor. Because honestly? I can’t imagine a sweeter compliment than to be called nice.

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{ Opportunity: Reconnecting with my Childhood BFF }

I’m holding back from writing and writing and writing all I want to share about Lydia. I could write a book about our adventures together and what I admire about her and how she has been — and still is — a great strength to me. But this is what I will say: The friends we choose? We can’t take that lightly for ourselves or for our children. If my children have only one close friend in their childhood, it will be enough if that friend is what Lydia was to me. Really.

I had several friends growing up that were dear to me and many fond memories with those friends. Lydia was/is everything a best friend should be — completely trustworthy, uplifting, honest, encouraging, and a good example. She was always a sister to me. We’ve remained dear friends all these years and can go a couple years without much more than a couple emails and easily pick up right where we left off.

I said I would hold back, didn’t I?

On Sunday night, Lydia and her husband and darling family were passing through town and so we had the very pleasant surprise of having them here with us for not even 33 hours. I stopped everything I had going on. Rearranged plans. Blew off my work. The 4 of us went to bed at 4:00 am the past two nights — stayed up talking and talking and talking. The opportunity was golden and treasured and refreshing and we are better for that time spent reconnecting with dear friends.