Nov
29
2012
A dollar store can of shaving cream + three children = 40 minutes of fun + leftover shaving cream for later!
This was fun and easy… although none of us liked how the shaving cream caked up on our hands and I’m pretty sure Sedryn wasn’t too excited about the few little tastes he took 😉 Oh, and my table was gloriously clean afterward.
Nov
28
2012Bronwyn: May I carry baby?
Me: No, he’s too big.
Bronwyn: Oh. When I’m a mama, I can carry my baby.
Me: Bronwyn, you can carry your baby wherever you want .
Bronwyn: Yes, and I’ll buckle him in his carseat in my pink car. With my dog.
Nov
28
2012The gratitude journal, it falls missing one afternoon.
Lost.
Somewhere between the dashboard cubbie at the beach and the switch from the Corolla being my primary car to the Camry being mine.
Lost.
Satan uses my scatterbrainedness to stop the pen he hates so much from scrawling the Eucharisteo of the Lord’s Glory across the page. My heart wanders.
Lost.
Moment pass. The morning (probably the last) where the year old nursling falls asleep early in the morning snuggled right up to my side and we sleep for hours cuddled together. Aeralind’s hand so soft on my cheek asking me, “Please, Mama, can we go see the chickens.” while we’re at the farm. Bronwyn’s crazy “ballet” as Ruthie plays “Bless the Lord (10,000 reasons)” on the violin. Sedryn’s young voice whispering “All done” when the violin stopped and asking daddy for “mor” milk. Girls tucked around Mrs. Margaret lulled by the reading in her soft English accent. A surprise date dancing on a Tuesday night. These moments pass.
Lost.
Unrecorded.
Ingratitude.
No quiet thanks for those beautiful moments. No pen to count the ways He loves.
But redeemed (it’s my identity after all!). These moments here.
Joanna shares this song on Facebook (that place I love for the way God uses, yet hate for the way it allows us to wear masks), this challenge bringing me back full circle. “Don’t you want to thank someone?”
I pause. Turn again. Repent. Won’t you do the same with me? Pause… listen for a few minutes of Rest. (Or just don’t stop listening to it… over and over and over like I am doing to steady my wayward heart.)
Don’t you want to thank someone for this?
I know I want to. Join me?
Nov
21
2012
Meet the Connelly’s! This family is one of the two families that inspired the launch of Quiet Graces photography. They’re pretty dear to my heart for that reason. They scheduled two sessions with me to celebrate the birth of they’re new little girl Ivey. These are the images from the first of the two sessions: a lifestyle family session at their home. I would be in photographer heaven if I had this kind of light in my backyard at sunset every day. So beautiful!
Here’s a little sneak peak of Ivey’s sweet face!
I really adore lifestyle sessions with toddlers around Lydia’s age. I promise you, the only image she sat still for was the family image above. However, I was not stressed about getting her to sit still and pose. I literally ran around chasing and playing with her for a good 20 minutes to get the her images. She played tag with me and showed me her painted toes. We danced. We laughed and had a blast. And I love that I captured Lydia being who she is: an energetic two year old full of joy.
One of my favorite parts of visiting the Connelly’s is seeing Jacob (15) and Lydia (2) interact. I always wanted a big brother so it’s like glimpsing my dream come true. The way Jacob dotes on Lydia is heartwarming. And the way Lydia always invites Jacob into her world is precious.
Lydia has daddy Steve wrapped around her fingers (and I’m sure Ivey will too in her own time!). She adores him and just wanted to be near him. They played on the Ipad for a little while. Those snuggles are so precious.
But my favorite image from this lifestyle family session is of Tamara changing Lydia’s diaper. It’s so raw, so real, and so precisely those first days of motherhood.
Steve and Tamara, I’m so blessed to watch God grow your family! I can’t wait to see you all again next year for another session (and lots of play dates in between!) 🙂
