Today- I'm thankful

Someone I briefly came to know lost her battle with cancer... a young first time mother.....who was diagnosed with cancer when her daughter was a few months old. She leaves behind a precious baby girl who is close in age with my own Addi. It really hit home to me.. and my heart is broken for that family. But- most of all.... my heart is broken for Kathy.... the things she will miss...... her little girls childhood..... the laughs.. the memories.

I turned 28 today..... and today- I'm thankful. I dont care about gifts.... or even a cake. I dont care that there is a sinkful of dishes calling my name... or that my hamper upstairs is flowing over with laundry.. Today- I'm going to celebrate my life- another day with my husband- children and friends. I'm going to celebrate living.... who cares about my weight today... or that being 28 means I'm closer to 30... I'll probably eat more than I should today- but who cares? I'm going to enjoy today- I'm not going to worry about the crumbs on the floor- I'm going to treasure my family..... and thank God for another year... another day... another moment... of life.

Today- I'M THANKFUL!!!!! & I'm going to celebrate life!

.....she was little

I was telling a friend of mine today about the photos my mom brought out while I was at her house last night... and she sent me this clip-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHPNDjWw1m0

I loved it... and it spoke to me. Its true! Pictures speak..... As I looked through that old shoebox stuffed full of old family photos... I could have cried. I saw my family- some have gone on... and some still here. They were young.. they were happy. I saw my great grandma as a young woman, raising a house full of children.... a side of her I had never seen... b/c I only remember her older. I saw pictures of my granny... a blonde haired little girl with a half buttoned up sweater and tattered shoes on. I imagined her as that child.. what was her favorite dolly? Her playing with her siblings... She grew up to be such a wonderful grandma, who nurtured me, loved me, and worried over me. But- she wasnt always my granny.... she was young.... she was happy... she was safe and carefree. A little girl with messy blonde hair- and I loved that little girl.

It just reminded me of how quickly time is passing. One day someone will be looking through an old shoebox of pictures of me and my children... what will they see? What story will I tell? That I was young. I was happy. I was a good mom. I loved my children. I loved pictures.


Pictures speak........... are you listening?

....the story of a little girl...

"If these pictures have anything important to say to future generations, it's this: I was here, I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture."

Thats a quote from a friends facebook. I've loved it from the first time I read it. I find it soo true. While my children get annoyed at their mother always in their face clicking her camera.....I know one day they'll look back on all these images of their childhood and smile. The pictures will bring back to life, those little moments of their childhood. Maybe they will have forgotten that snaggletooth smile...the look on their face on christmas morning.... or how they loved running barefoot in the summer catching lightnin bugs. So... if all these images tell you anything later in life... please know .. mama loved you... and did her best to capture your childhood.... as told by YOU.

Thank you to all my faithful readers who stop by my blog every week.. and are watching my children grow through my lens.

Shoes {52 week challenge: week 8}

Addi LOVES shoes! JUST like me :) I always have a pair by the door.. and one of her favorite things to do is sit down and play with them. I thought this was a perfect capture for my shoes week :)

....I will always.....

"As we grow together, as we continue to change with age, there is one thing that will never change: I will always keep falling in love with you."


I wish you both the best! All the happiness, joy and laughter your hearts can hold. That 20 years from now, you'll be able to say... I dont love you as much as I did the day I married you....

I love you more.