jcrew goodness

(imges via jcrew)

Have you received the latest J.Crew and Crew Cuts catalogs?

if not, you're in for a real treat.
gorgeous

exquisite images

filled with ballerinas from the Mariinsky Ballet School

in Russia

and other lovely images from Saint Petersburg.

Crew Cuts features fantastic images of

The Winter Palace &

St. Basil's Cathedral.

Dan lived in Moscow for a while,

years ago,

working with Campus Crusade.

His daily walk took him right through Red Square,

walking right past St. Basil's Cathedral.

The day these catalogs came i was blown away by how stunningly

beautiful the buildings were and how clear and bright the sky appeared.

Whenever i think of Russia

i think of a dark, cold place.

while it is dark and cold during their long winters,

there are obviously many gorgeous gorgeous places there.

i think my favorite shot is of the little girl with all the matryoshka dolls.

dan brought back many sets of these little maiden dolls.

when we first married, the girls would spend much time

playing with these precious dolls.

i believe there are few things

more beautiful than watching 

a graceful ballerina.

madison danced for years.

i miss those days watching her on stage.

these wonderful catalogs inspired me to dive back in the archives

& pull out a few of my favorites.

sweet memories.