Cee Lee -- Beyond the Lens

Life is hard. And crazy. Sometimes not pretty. But always beautiful. Capture it.

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Grandma, “I do you, too.”

We said goodbye to my 94-year-old grandma, Jeanette Couch, today in a beautiful celebration of life in her home church in southern Indiana. These are the words I shared. Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”  This was the first of many Bible verses my grandma taught me through the years. During … [Read more...]

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Plot twist!

In this crazy year we’re experiencing, absolutely nothing is a surprise.  A global pandemic cancelling absolutely everything under the sun for months, with cancellations continuing daily? Of course. School being moved to our kitchen table overnight? Alrighty. Murder hornets? Sounds about right.  So it seems like the perfect year for … [Read more...]

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To our teenager

Fifteen years.  Fifteen years ago, a precious little blond-haired, green-eyed bundle of joy was placed into my arms. I was no longer only a career woman, married to a great guy.  I also gained the title of “mom.” And from that moment, my life was never the same. A whole new world. Good gracious. What in the world was I doing? This … [Read more...]

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You were a good one, Pistol

Our 11-year-old son, Nolan, has always held his Papaw Couch and his Uncle Willy as heroes.  They’re “real cowboys,” and truly, there aren’t nearly as many of them around these days. Yep. His heroes have truly always been cowboys. The perfect first horse. Part of being a real cowboy is having a horse – a horse who can work cattle and help … [Read more...]

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Thanks, volunteers

I would never cut it as the First Lady of the United States. How do I know this? Being a local school board member’s wife is sometimes more than I can handle.  My husband, Craig, is wrapping up his second year of his first four-year term on the local school board. His intentions were noble when he ran for election. His grandpa had served. … [Read more...]

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Five things I’ve learned in the first year without my dad

We were arranged in dad’s nursing home room – my brother and sister-in-law, dad’s dearest friend, and me. The nursing home staff had gathered enough recliners for us all to stay by dad’s side during what we expected to be his final hours.  The night-shift nurse came to dad every 30 minutes like clockwork, ensuring he experienced no … [Read more...]

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The empty halter

Oh, you never forget that moment.  That moment your first steer is loaded onto the semi, and you’re handed that empty halter. That dreaded, empty halter.  Maybe he was a sweetheart. Maybe he was a knot head. But as you carry that empty halter back to your stalls – now missing that animal once part of your barn for months – things … [Read more...]

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Entering the tough season of loss

I've been told the "firsts" after a loss are the toughest. The first holidays. The first birthdays. The first milestones. Each are reminders that our loved ones will no longer experience these memories with us.  We've made it through the first Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter. And truly, they weren't as bad as I expected. Holidays … [Read more...]

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The miscarriage that wasn’t

That Friday before Mother's Day was one of the darkest of my life. And it will forever be filled with thankfulness and awe.  You see, eight years ago on this day, I began experiencing all of the signs of miscarriage during the pregnancy that caught Craig and I by surprise.  It was still early -- so early, we hadn't told many family … [Read more...]