In remembrance...

My grandma passed away peacefully Sunday night. I am so thankful for the memories, the things I learned, and the time I had with her in my life. I'm thankful that she was part of Brenna's life. It's funny how Brenna was always so calm with Grandma, even when she was so little, she would just sit quietly with her for long periods of time. I'm thankful that she was part of the world and that she touched so many lives.I am thankful that she is at peace. She will be greatly missed...

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Commencement

I'm sitting on the front step of my grandparents house. It's the eve of my 34th birthday and I am saddened. Saddened because I'm not sure if this is the last time I will spend with my grandma. It's been coming for a while but that doesn't ease the wealth of emotion I am experiencing at this moment. What I am greatful for is the love that is being shared with her as friends come to wish her well as she moves on to the next chapter in her life. That we are bonding together and holding tight to the knowledge that she will be free from pain and confusion, that she will be shining her ever bright light onto us as we move about the earth. She has always been a most amazing woman and I am so fortunate to have had her for so long. Fortunate that our daughter has experienced all the love that great-grandmas give. Fortunate that I received so much love and knowledge and care and fun. Fortunate too that my little Brenna is sick, not that I ever want her to be sick but more that I can spend the time with her and with grandma, time that I otherwise may not have with either of them.The memories are many and fill my heart with joy. So today I am sad, but I will rejoice when she lets go because she will be in a better place, no longer tired, no longer in pain, but free.

Week 8 - I cheated...

Journaling: I am cheating...I did not take one single picture this week. I find it funny that I went through a picture drought last year at this time too. Must be that the winter blahs get to me at the same time each year. I am hopeful that I will be successful with the rest of the year. I think it is ok that I skipped a week, at least I still have this...a photo from this week last year. Brenna’s first homemade pizza. She had such fun pushing out the dough and adding all of the ingredients. I love that it was Brenna-size! She sure loves to cook.

I am saving for this!

I love taking photos and have taking almost 8,000 in the two years and two months that we have had our current point and shoot. I really want to be able to take better photos of our lives! It goes along with my word of the year CAPTURE...because it is so important to me that I capture the events of our lives, the smallest to the biggest and most important. I know, I know, a better camera doesn't necessarily mean better photos, but I think it will really make a difference for me. I picked this one because it is a good beginner DSLR, I can use my dad's lenses from his Minolta Maxxum - can't go wrong with that one, and it is a very affordable option as far as a DSLR goes...so I am starting to save. A little here, a little there, until I can save up enough. I have a birthday coming soon, and not that I need anything for my birthday, but if my dear family wants to contribute to my saving instead of buying me anything else, I'm ok with that! :) Have a happy day everyone!

Week 7

Journaling: I didn’t take many pictures this week. I think I may still be traumatized by the camera almost being broken. I am very proud to share that Brenna can draw a dinosaur. It is a pink dinosaur, of course! Because “pink and purple is my favorite colors, Mommy.” We celebrated Valentine’s Day with heart-shaped pizzas from Papa John’s when Sean got home from being gone for four days. Another long trip but we all made it through. Thankfully the snow let up enough for him to get there and back safely. We have been innundated with snow...and I am sure there is more to come. I’m so wishing for spring.

Week 6

Journaling: What to say about these photos...Brenna’s point of view while mommy takes a shower. The mother of them all though is the pure white photo that took as she dropped the camera right on the lens. Yikes, I thought for sure it was broken and I was really mad at myself for leaving the camera where she could get it. The camera, which had captured 7858 of our memories, that I tend to have as an extension of my arms, that my brother gave us as a gift two Christmases ago, that I cannot do without because something might happen and I want to get every single shot, the camera that makes me care about photography again, the camera that inspires to me to get the perfect shot, that camera had a very crooked lens. Said camera would not turn on, the lens wouldn’t retract, it was broken. I was crushed...thank goodness for Sean. I was afraid to push the lens back in, “Why? When it is already broken,” you may ask, “I really don’t know.” But my awesome husband just pushed on it...and it closed, and it turned on, and it took pictures and it IS NOT BROKEN! While I haven’t determined whether the quality has been compromised, I can still get the shots, and keep the memories attached to those shots. Lesson learned: keep the camera away from the small child that lives in our house!

Needless to say, it is apparently very important to a 3 year old to take pictures of whatever she may be watching on tv, and the dogs back end, and her chair, and the hall/kitchen floor on the way to show mommy that she has the camera, just before the deadly (or not-so-deadly)drop. She took 14 pictures in 4 minutes.

Here is that famous "oh my gosh, it's broken" photo...it makes my heart drop just thinking about it! Doesn't look like much does it?