courage

            "Have the courage to step out of what feels comfortable into what you know is right."

Carol Ann

Picture curtesy of Lauren Williams (my little sister).  Thanks for taking it Laurs!  I love it!

My sweet Grandma passed away last week.  I had the blessing of spending a few hours with her the night before she passed.  I held her hand and sang her songs.  I cried to her about my parenting woes and how it's really hard and how in the world did she do it with all those little kids running around?  I told her stories of the crazy things my kids have done that drive me a little mad.  Even so close to the end, she was the best listener.

I told her I loved her and I talked her through my favorite memories of her.  She would raise her eyebrows when I said funny things and while she couldn't talk back, there was was love in her eyes.  I love this woman and I'm so grateful that she's been such an important part of my life.  I'm even more grateful to know this isn't the end...it really is the beginning.

I love picturing Grandma running through Heaven with no pain, re-united with Grandpa (I've written about how sweet their love is before and I can't imagine her joy at being with her Bruce), with her sweet mother who she has missed so dearly, with her dad who passed away years and years ago.  And I'm so, so happy for her.  She was faithful and I know I will see her again.  My sweet grandma, who has always been an angel, will be watching over me and my children.  I am sure of that.  Heaven is a better place with her there.

Lovie Lue

This girl, though.   At 9 months she is mostly sleeping through the night, still refuses to drink a bottle, and loves her daddy.  When I rock her to sleep, she lays her little head on my shoulder and she sometimes falls asleep.  This only occurs in her room...anywhere else I need her to get to sleep doesn't ever happen.  She loves her family and has been very clingy to me with a lot of stranger danger.  We sure love our Lovie Lue!

homework

How cute are my parents!?  These two are amazing and I'm so lucky to have them.  Special thanks to them for being willing to volunteer  to help with Nate's homework assignment.  The lighting was perfect, and these two are naturals.  It's not often you have professional models to shoot.  (They were once paid to be on the cover of some medical pamphlet.)

As a daughter, I LOVE the picture of them with Eden and the one of my dad smiling at Jorie.  I will treasure those forever!

wind

faithful hands

My grandparents will have been married for 60 years on the 25th of May.  They have left such a beautiful legacy for us.  During their Anniversary party, we had a program, and I glanced back to see little Meg making her way to Grandma.  I leaned over the chairs and snapped this picture.  Grandpa was holding her little hand in his-supporting her as she moved along.  I love this photo of grandpa's hard worked hands holding his great-grand-baby's, of grandma reaching out for her.    This picture is so symbolic for me and at some point in the future when they are no longer here, I hope that I can remember this picture and know that the hands that have been there to catch me my whole life are still reaching out for me.

I have hit the jack-pot in the family department and I am forever grateful.  My grandpa has slowed down a lot the last couple of years and every chance he gets, he tells us that when it comes down to it, family and the gospel are all that really matter.  "I'm the richest man in the world" he said, tearing up as he looked at his enormous family gathered around.  I'm so grateful that they've both taught me how to become truly rich.

Those four hands have done so much good together; and they show the beauty of a life well-lived.  I've never understood people's obsession with staying wrinkle free and age-less, because when I see someone who has the marks of a life truly lived, my heart swells with the beauty they carry.  Those hands have wiped thousands of tears, pulled countless weeds alongside children and grandchildren, have thrown frisbees, footballs, and baseballs with the cousins, have held many babies and soothed scraped knees.  Those hands have been on mission after mission, they have served and lifted everyone around them.  Those hands have cheered on the side-lines of every sport, dance, and musical performance you can think of.  They have played the piano in the temple and performed many ordinances as they served year after year. The wrinkles in their eyes have come with laughter fits, and crying endless tears; they have earned their beauty and I'm forever grateful to remember them just like this.  Because their hands prove that, as sister Marjorie Peay Hinckley said, "they were truly here and truly lived". And I hope that one day, my hands can be as beautiful as theirs.

golden hour

I love how much different lighting affects the mood of photographs.  Look at that beautiful golden glow-I'm normally a bright light photographer, but I've been wanting to dabble in low-light now that I have a lens that can handle it, and I'm kind of loving it.   This girl doesn't like holding still for pictures, but when I let her stay up for a few more minutes and pose with her stuffed animals, she'll whip out some good stuff for me:)


Also, I nailed the focus:)  Woot Woot!