Grandmother
January 29, 1932- Sunday, January 8, 2012
My wonderful Grandmother passed away early Sunday morning, Jan. 8th two years after her husband and my Granddad died. There are not enough words to describe the impact she was on my life and the lives of so many others. It was her who taught me just how special family is, and how loving them is such an important part of our journey here on Earth. Ever since I was young I have memories of her welcoming me into her home, with a table full of food, a hug and an ear to listen.
It was Grandmother, along with Granddad who was the core of the Carter family. My cousins became my good friends as we looked forward to time spent each summer at Lake Wawasee and family gatherings. It took till college for me to realize that not all families were like mine. Grandmother and Granddad had helped create this special bond- this tie between each member as we lived in different parts of the country. The Thanksgiving before Granddad passed away, the family was all gathered at the lake around one table. We have a Carter tradition each year where we go around and share what we are thankful for. As we have gotten older, more tears were shed and the conversations became longer. That year, it was Granddad’s last at the head of the table as Grandmother became the fearless head of the family, keeping us all connected together.
My Grandmother and Granddad had always wanted to take the train out to Seattle. I had the privilege of going with my Grandmother almost two years ago after my Granddad passed away. It was the first time I had the chance to be alone with her- just me and her for 47 hours as we shared a car together on the train. She shared so many stories of the beautiful love story her and Granddad lived. She listened to my worries, dreams and desires. We sat together and wrote each day, taking in the vast beauty of the lands we were seeing.
On the plane ride home from our time in Seattle, right as we were touching down in Indianapolis, she looked over at me and grabbed my hand. She said, “Katelin, Bill and I would always hold hands every flight during take off and the landing”. I felt so proud to be holding her hand in that time and so proud to be her Granddaughter.
This Thanksgiving, the entire Carter family was back at Lake Wawasee. New additions were in the family, along with a great-grandchild. We took part again in the Carter tradition of sharing what we were thankful for, sitting in the family room all in a circle. That night, Grandmother was at the head of the circle, sitting in Granddad’s big chair as we all shared. It is during these moments that I wish everyone could have a glimpse into the love of my family- and to see the love Grandmother had for all of us.
On Sunday, Jan. 8th my Grandmother passed away. Two days before I caught a plane home from Seattle just in time to talk to my Grandmother while she was awake. I walked into the hospital room and she looked up, smiled and asked right away how Seattle was and then told me she loved me. On Saturday, the entire family was in the hospital room (including her dog Mozart), surrounding her in the same family circle we have done for so many family times before. It is a moment I will always remember. We celebrated the life she lived and said our final goodbyes before she would be reunited in Heaven with the Lord and Granddad. How wonderful is that promise we have.
Grandmother, I will miss you so incredibly much. It is hard for me to even imagine my life without you, your listening ear and love. But I am so glad to know you are pain free and reunited with the love of you life, Granddad.
Katelin
A New Year :: Back to Seattle
I spent the summer on Bainbridge Island, just a ferry ride from the wonderful city of Seattle. I fell in love with the city, mountains, water and some special people out there. Since my time there my family, friends and roommates have had to hear my numerous Seattle adventure stories–see pictures, images on Google earth, ect.
For Christmas, my parents gave me a trip to Seattle where I got to go spend the week with my boyfriend, John and go back to all of my favorite places. I came just in time for New Years Eve, Seattle style. I got to walk hills, ride the ferry and take in all of the beautiful sights- old and new. My last day there I got to get on the ferry for a quick trip back to my summer office at YES! Magazine. It was such a good moment for me seeing all of the wonderful people I had spent the summer with. It was a short visit but much needed.
Being back in Seattle made me even more ready to head back to the Pacific Northwest once I graduate in May . I don’t have a plan figured out yet, but I hope to return to the mountains and water as soon as possible 
I didn’t have my camera with me a lot of the trip–it became a visit where I was just so excited to be back in the company of such good friends that I forgot I had it stowed away in my bookbag. There will be more photos next visit!
Snoqualmie Falls Park
John and I headed to the waterfall for the day to go on a hike. Instead, the Seattle rain decided to continue to pour on us the entire time we were there. There was a beautiful lodge right beside the waterfall. We opted for a lunch there, where our table overlooked the falls. It was cozy with a fireplace and the food was delicious!
alanna
What a beautiful girl!! Alanna is a senior at Carmel High School and the younger sister of one of my good friends I graduated with. Alanna is an incredible soccer player and the day before our shoot, the Carmel High School girl’s soccer team WON STATE! So proud of her and all of her hard work!
good things in October, one day at a time.
Two months down for the semester– I can hardly believe how fast the school year is moving along. I had the opportunity to head out to New York State for a weekend of dance photography this past weekend. My good friend, Cristina was also heading out there for dance so I got to begin a new journey with her as we road tripped from where we met three years ago– Muncie, Indiana. It was a special weekend, seeing where her new chapter of life is headed and knowing all that we can do- we are so young and have so much opportunity! I’m glad I got to experience a move with her. Cristina, I will miss you dearly. Literally
Lake Erie
amos + crystal family
What a dear family to me– this was my third year of photographing this family! Our first shoot was back in 2009! I was entering my sophomore year of college and now I’m back for my last two semesters- time really does fly! Our lives have shaped and grown since I was a little seventh grader in Crystal’s small group and its been a fun journey sharing life together!
Their family have grown and now they have four wonderful boys full of lots of energy! We had a beautiful fall day to capture some moments between them. As one from a family of four girls it is so fun to see four boy brothers. Thank you again, Amos and Crystal for letting me capture your beautiful family!!!
farewell, mountains, rain & island living.
I’m sitting in my apartment back in Muncie, Indiana rereading letters from the people I came to love during my summer in Seattle. Its a strange feeling for me right now, being back in the room where a little over three months ago I was feeling a similar feeling of sadness after saying goodbyes to my dear friends who had just graduated here. Its a constant cycle of people coming and going, some staying. This summer led to a life far greater than I had ever dreamed of. I had four wonderful roommates who became dear friends as we battled raccoons in the intern house, learned how to conquer Seattle by foot and learned just how freezing the Puget Sound water is. We lived life together as we entered a new adventure. The YES! office became my Seattle family. I was greeted by so many cheerful faces and worked under such wonderful people. I traded being a quadruplet for the summer, for three Bainbridge-Seattle boys who would help me fall in love with the city they lived in. I felt so alive and so comfortable, learning more about myself and the world each day out there.
It didn’t hit me that I was leaving a place that felt so much like home till I was on my red-eye flight. I was squished into the back of the plane in the one seat that didn’t incline. I normally am a pro at sleeping anywhere…friends would even say I fall asleep in mid-conversation. On that flight, as we were taking off I wanted to push the person in front of me out of their seat to gaze out the window one more time at the city I loved. I couldn’t, and tried to find comfort in my seat as the tears started to flow. I tried to silence my cries as the people around me appeared to be sleeping so peacefully. The flight attendant heard me, walked over, saying “dear, are you ok…would you like more pretzels”. I now find humor in this, thinking of how a pretzel could help cure my heartache.
My heart is happy at the memories I have and the relationships I have formed while I was out there. I smile now, knowing all that I learned and experienced from my time out there. Seattle, you were so dear to me and I miss you most moments of my day–I will be back soon!
P.S- if anyone would like to donate frequent flier miles to the send-katelin-back-to-seattle-i-was-an-unpaid- intern-so-i-have-no-money-fund, you are more than welcome.
sisters, reunited at the airport
mountains, rain and island living: a trip to Oregon
mountains, rain and island living: day 90
An evening kayaking adventure at Audrey’s cabin. Lily and I made new friends with a jellyfish!
mountains, rain and island living: day 87
These were the last days of house sitting on Green Lake with my two friends, Cookie (cat) and Dex (dog). We had a dreary Seattle morning that led to a morning of quiet time and writing letters to the people I love. Cookie also took advantage of this day and proved nap time was good for cats as well.
mountains, rain and island living: day 86
stoop sits
mountains, rain and island living: day 85
I’m was house sitting in the Green Lake area of Seattle this past weekend. I was walking home from the bus stop on Friday and came across this amazing treehouse. How cool would it be to grow up with that?! Even now I’d love to have one to sit, read, write and design in..
mountains, rain and island living: day 80-83 :: Family in the PNW
My parents came to visit the Pacific Northwest! We ate our way through Seattle, visited Pikes Place, the Ballard Famers Market, Capitol Hill, Gas Works, Bainbridge Island, the Olympic Mountains, Green Lake and much more all in four days! Here’s some photos from my first family vacations as an only child (my sisters were back home in Indiana holding down the house)..
Gas Works, my favorite place in Seattle
Gas Works at sunset with kites…beautiful.
My Parents!!! In the Olympic Mountains
The Grand Forest, Bainbridge Island
an evening ferry ride back to the island
It was so so wonderful sharing them my favorite places I’ve discovered this summer–Thank you Mom & Dad for a wonderful visit and coming to the land I love!
P.S- Sisters (Abigail, Elizabeth and Katherine) + Turismo. I MISS YOU ALL AND LOVE YOU! I’ll see you soon
mountains, rain and island living: day 79 :: Office Life
Welcome to the YES! Office. Its about time I showed you all where I’ve been working this entire summer. Today was a celebration of Taylor, a fellow intern and now dear friend. These girls have just been so wonderful to spend the summer with as we have explored the island and city together! We’re all heading out in the next couple of weeks and I will miss them all so so dearly!
YES! Library/lunch table
the worm bin
the garden
mountains, rain and island living: day 78 :: The House Guest
The House Guest
by Krista Vogel, fellow intern via My Life In Bainbridge
On Thursday evening, Katelin, Lily and Taylor were in a rush to make the ferry. Katelin and Lily needed to make their hair appointments, and Taylor was packing her suitcases to go home. As we tore her photos off the walls and crammed her suitcases full, Katelin kept her eye on the clock.
And in an instant, they were gone. I had the house to myself, something I’m never too eager for. But Katelin would be back later, so I wasn’t afraid or anything. But as I sat in my room at 11:00 or so, I heard what sounded kind of like footsteps. They weren’t loud enough to be human’s, so when I heard them getting closer, the first thing that popped in my head was that a cat had somehow made it into our house.
Then it peeked its head into my room. This wasn’t a cat; it was a raccoon.
Now, let me take you back to a May evening, when I saw a raccoon right outside our sliding glass door on the porch. At that moment, raccoons became my biggest fear at this house. I get better cellphone reception on the porch, but when it starts to get dark, I deal with my horrible reception inside. I don’t need raccoons anywhere near me. We would joke about leaving the doors open and finding a raccoon inside.
And at this moment, the joke wasn’t funny.
I looked it straight in the eyes, and it turned back where it had come from. I was shaking in disbelief, too afraid to get up but too scared to sit still. A few seconds passed, and I shot up to slam my door shut. I was now safe inside my room with no exit strategy.
I texted Katelin and Lily right away. My exact words were: “Omg omg omg raccoon in the house I am so scared.”
Katelin called her friends and dad for advice. The only worthy bit of information was to call animal control, which she did. Turns out, animal control quits at 8:00 p.m.
So I watched more Arrested Development and waited for Katelin and Laura’s help. I was pretty sure I hadn’t heard the raccoon’s little footsteps down the hallway (it’s a wood floor, so I would have heard it), so I knew it had probably either gone back outside or was lurking in one of the three back rooms.
Katelin and Laura carefully opened the front door and jumped onto the dining room chairs. I stood on my computer chair while I eased open my door to communicate. They ran into the garage to grab our only weapons of defense: a broom, a Swiffer and an umbrella.
They inspected the kitchen, living room, bathroom, hallway and Laura’s room before I joined the search party. We crept into Taylor’s room, and Katelin thought she heard it. We darted into my room and shut the door.
But we knew we couldn’t stay in there forever, so we (well, not really me) sucked it up and kept searching. It wasn’t in Taylor’s room, closet or bathroom. When Katelin determined it wasn’t in her room, she shut the door to Lily’s and called it good. If the raccoon was anywhere inside at this point, it could only be in that room.
I slept surprisingly well that night, considering there could have still been a raccoon in our house. Katelin checked out Lily’s room the next morning and found no raccoon or evidence of one, so the coast was officially clear.
I won’t forget its beady little eyes anytime soon, though.
