Day In The Life - January 2013

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I choose one day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

I may be blogging this late in the month, but it was New Year's Day, the first day of the year that I photographed. It was one of those days that did not go as planned, but turned out great. We had planned on visiting the Exploratorium in San Francisco, on the last day before it's big move down to Pier 15. However, many other people had the same idea and the line was ridiculous. Instead we wandered around the Palace of Fine Arts and then over to the beach, a quick lunch, then back over the bridge to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. As we all started to get hungry again we got a welcome call from friends inviting us over for dinner (an offer we rarely refuse, be warned) and it was the perfect way end our wonderful day, complete with an after-dinner-show put on by the lovely children.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 4

The simplicity of childhood. Even in this day and age, full of computers and televisions and electronic toys and games, I love to see a child completely absorbed and in wonder at the magic of a bubble. The concentration and effort, the participation in the creation only add to the mystery. The squeals and laughter as siblings join in, attempting to catch the fragile rainbow, only to have it burst and splash their skin, exploding joy. Does it get any better than this?

If we could all slow down and unplug a little more often, maybe we could recapture the essence of these simple joys, a childhood revisited. To see as they see and feel as they feel again, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? These days with our children are short lived and I, for one, want to be more intentional with my time and how I use it...not miss these precious moments.

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 3

My children have always loved the swings at playgrounds, I spent countless hours pushing them and yet it seemed it was never enough. The exhilaration, the sense of freedom? Maybe they felt like they were flying? At times, I confess, I would get bored and encourage them onto some other piece of apparatus, but they always came back to the swings. Now look at my baby...she can fly on her own and fly she does!

As I look at my life it seems there is rarely time to dream. These years with young children are full of dishes and cooking and laundry and running to and from one place to another. Yet I truly would not have it any other way...I know I will look back at this time as one of the richest of my life.

I entered a giveaway today where the question was "Tell me about a milestone or dream you have achieved or would love to achieve." I took a deep breath to try to think of anything! Surprisingly it came quickly to me and it wasn't about a career or great opportunity but it was my marriage. My parents divorced shortly before I hit my teen years and it was devastating. For many years I doubted that I wanted to ever marry, to risk it all when after five children and a life of ministry it could still all be thrown away? But deep inside I dreamed of a marriage that was strong, that was full of love and laughter and support. My husband also came from a family of divorce and had the same dream...last week we celebrated sixteen years of marriage. We have outlasted both our parents' marriages and are still going strong. I am blessed to have my best friend by my side to share life with!

As a family too we are starting to dream. Not one for resolutions, a few days into the start of the year I decided we would have a family dream list. Some of our dreams are completely realistic and some seem incredibly extravagant and unlikely, but we are writing them down and we will try to make them happen. The children are helping us come up with the ideas and we have 68 so far on our list which is to be 100. A simple one which we achieved this weekend, was to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. I have lived here for 14 years and had never done it, but now we can cross it off the list. I'll be sure to let you know when we get to swim with dolphins or vacation on a houseboat or visit Thailand again and if you know anyone who owns a dog sledding team, let us know :)

Our time frame is before the kids grow up and move out, so we have a while. It was fun coming up with ideas and felt good to write them down and give airy dreams, skin and bones. Speaking it out, writing it down - I highly recommend it!

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 2

Ok - so I may be slightly biased, but I happen to think my son is incredibly handsome and he's a total sweetheart too!

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 1

We are surrounded by beauty. Yet in the busyness of our daily lives, do we really take the time to look for it...every day? There are lunches to be made and dishes to be washed and groceries to be bought and the list goes on. When we open our eyes though, really open them and look, intentionally, we can see and appreciate so much more. When I have my camera I look in a different way, I see things that I might otherwise miss and this wonderful tool has taught me so much.

Today I took my little girl and met a good friend for a hike; we drove out to the Mill Valley waterfall, a place new to me. It was truly beautiful and I would have enjoyed it regardless, but with my camera over my shoulder the light streaming through the trees grabbed me, the water splashing down drew me in, the buds on the branches and the fungi tucked into hollows were treasures, waiting to be discovered. Gifts for me!