3/365...Legos Interrupted

Legos Interrupted

2/365...Hair Reminders

It's no secret that the baby Monkey, though full of life and personality and charm, is lacking in the hair department.  

 Sweet little thing was born bald and bald she has remained for the first 2 years of her life.  Over the past 6 months she has been getting a few sprouts here and there.  Even enough to warrant a DIY haircut a while back.  Mullet, anyone?

 We were sitting in the dining room eating lunch the other day and as I was enjoying the midday sun streaming in through the windows and the beautiful play of light, I noticed this one long lock of hair on her forehead.

 And it struck me...though seemingly bald from birth, she has always had this one long, random hair growing right out of the top of her head.  Always.  And there it is.  The same hair.

As much as she has changed and blossomed and grown, that lock of hair was representative of the little baby formed in my womb, born into my arms.  And it got me thinking...what representations do I have of who I was born to be?  Sure, I've changed lots.  But there are pieces that remain, unadulterated by life, the world, influences.  The purest sense of who I am.  An interesting thought.  

We will cut her hair and it will no longer look like the sweet baby of mine that she is today.  But these pictures will remind me that He who began a good work in her, He is completing it.  There will always be pieces of who she is today, regardless of who she will be.

365

I so enjoyed my 30 Day Photo Challenge, I came back for more!  Only this time I'm one-upping myself a bit.  In 2013 I will be attempting a 365 Photo Journey.  Go big or go home, right?

I listened to "Just Showed Up for My Own Life" by Sara Groves this afternoon and felt like it really captures my intent with my photos...and this blog.  An opportunity to "open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed."  Writing it down, capturing it in a picture...it all helps me to remember and to be fully awake, alert to the wonders of God all around me.

There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel

There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life

And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

I'm going to live my life inspired

Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

There are so many ways to hide

There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life

And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

Oh the glory of God is man fully alive

Oh the glory of God is man fully alive

If there is one human being I know that is truly, fully alive, the baby Monkey takes the cake!

In a tutu.  Eating a popsicle.  In the laundry basket.  Just how we roll.

Aye, matey!

 Day 8:  Someone You Love

 When there are so many, how do you choose just one?  You don't.  Not really.  They kind of choose you sometimes.

 Today this buccaneer asked me on a date.

And I said yes, of course.  Because, as has been stated in the past, he chooses Dad 90% of the time.  But today...he chose me.  And he made me feel loved.

So he gets his picture posted.

If you can't tell, we went shopping for his Halloween costume.

Clouds

Day 7:  Clouds

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

Psalm 19:1

Embracing the Camera

No, I have not petered out on my 31 day photo challenge.  I have been very busy shooting pictures.  I had a Mini-session marathon last Saturday and have been busy editing.  Loving it!

I am going to break the rules here a bit.  Technically my next installment should be "clouds".  Instead I am going to REALLY challenge myself.  I read an article recently called "Mom Stays in the Picture" by Allison Tate that challenges moms to get in front of the camera more.  I have been pondering this for awhile.  I have sometimes wondered if part of what drew me to photography is my desire to NOT be in front of the camera.

My husband can tell you that I am by far my worst critic.  I mean I can be just down right MEAN to myself when I want to be.  I have never been comfortable in my own body.  Definitely not comfortable seeing pictures of myself in my own body.  But I have found motherhood to soften some of my self-severity a bit.  Partially because the love of another human being causes you to take your eyes off your self a bit.  (Thank you, Jesus.)  Mostly because I just simply don't have the extra energy to expend in thinking about it.  (Thank you, Jesus!)  So...I just avoid it.  If I don't have to see it, I don't have to think about it.  This has been healing for me.  The next step in not thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less (think about it, you'll get it) is to put myself out there again.  To see the creature that was fearfully and wonderfully made.  A daughter the the King.  And, according to Tate, for my kids sake.  I want them to have record of their Mom WITH them as I record our life.  Hugging them, laughing with them, being with them.  They won't remember what size my jeans were or what color or style (or lack of) my hair was sporting.  They will remember that I was there.  And that I love them.  And that I'm not ashamed.

So here goes..my healing!

 Riv's one request for this shot..."Don't take a bite!"

TBird loves it when we both wear our brown boots.

How do you remember your mother?  

Verde

Day 5/31:  Something Green

It is no secret that I am a HUGE fan of the farmer's market.  It is without a doubt one of my favorite aspects of living in Minnesota.  I love the camaraderie between farmer and consumer, food-laborer and food-eater.  It is a place where they love my screaming kids and my squirmy dog.  I hear stories about their screaming kids and squirmy dogs.  It just feels right to prepare a meal that came directly from the hands of my farmer friends.  

Today I got a lesson in raising chickens.  All the info I need to know, right there on a picnic bench at the farmers market.  And yes, you can be looking for chicken posts sometime in following months.  Woo-hoo!

When I saw that today's theme was "Something Green", without hesitation I grabbed my camera and hauled it to the Richfield Farmers Market.  

It is sad to see the dwindling green of summer nearing the end of its season.  Green represents life, growth, vibrance.  Soon the snow will come and all green will go to sleep.  But the miracle of green will come again in spring.  And my farmers will be there to usher in the green.