Through The Lens!

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today to talk about Remembering You - how as moms we can keep our identities and take care of ourselves.

Taking care of three kids - ages 6, 3, and 1 - I am busy, busy, busy.  My husband works crazy hours in the entertainment industry.  He might be away working on a movie for months at a time (like he was when Violet was a newborn!) - or he might be pulling hundred hour weeks on Dancing With The Stars.

I made a decision early on to stay home with our kids, and I love it.  But, it can also be a little overwhelming sometimes!  Ha!

One thing I love doing (I guess you could call it a hobby) - that makes me feel like "Me" is taking photos.  I am not a GREAT photographer by any means, but I do love to capture moments with my kids.  People ask me sometimes when I am going to start a photography business (haha) - but the truth is, that I take photos for ME...for my downtime, and because I love to look back on them and laugh.





That's also how I feel about this blog.  I write this blog for ME - (and, well, my Grandma, too!) - and I love more than anything looking back through the years at my posts and reading what we were doing when.  I've been blogging now for OVER seven years (wowza!) - and it's just awesome to see how our family has changed and grown during that time.  I only wish I'd started blogging sooner!

This next picture was taken on Easter Sunday when Paprika was three years old.  Mr. M was working on Dancing With The Stars, and I was home alone with Paprika.  Since my family lives 2000 miles away, it was just us.  I was pregnant with Ginger - and it was the first Easter after Vivian and Annemarie had passed away.  I was feeling a little sorry for myself  - and then this moment happened, and it made me smile so big.  I felt like it was a big gift from God on Easter Sunday to see this mural when I wasn't expecting it at all...

That's a 3 year old Paprika running in the foreground:



Or that time we raised Monarch Butterflies.  This one landed on Paprika's nose and she was laughing so hard.  I won't ever forget that moment - especially since I have this in an 8x10 in my living room.  Hahahaha!



Life is seldom perfect - so I love capturing those moments that are just sweet.  The ones that make me gasp and say:  Oh yes, this is what it's all about.

Like Ginger and Paprika snuggling in bed...when I knew they were best friends and not just sisters:





Or Paprika with her special "Tin Man" - I remember so well her visiting him every time we went to the park and saying to me, "Mama, why is he crying?"  Geez Louise, wasn't this just like yesterday?  It feels that way to me...




Now that I have three little ones (and nobody naps!) - I just don't have that much time anymore to work on (edit) my photos.  And a lot of times now, I'm taking photos on my phone quickly because that's what is closest. 

But even though I can't carve out hours to work on my photos and blog - I I just find moments here and there.  And those moments add up.  And looking back, I am so glad I captured each of these little snapshots of our lives.  They mean as much to me in retrospect as they did at the time...



I never thought I would be so "in" to photography.  I remember back in high school, I wanted to take a photography class - but I didn't think I was "cool" enough to take it, or that I would understand it or even be good at it.

I am glad that as I've gotten older, I've been willing to try new things and not worry about failing - my perfectionism wasn't doing anyone any good - least of all me!




I have three cameras I use - a Canon 7D, a Canon Powershot, and my cellphone camera (an Android thingy).  If I am just going to the park, I'll bring the little point and shoot or just my cellphone.  For me, it's more about capturing the image - so I'm not choosy about the camera I use.

Then when I have a spare second of quiet time, I will pound out a blog post.  Again, it's not about making things seem perfect and it's not about getting readers or casting an image.  It's about reflecting on what is authentic and beautiful in a life that could otherwise seem like Groundhog Day.  ;-)




Anais Nin once wrote:  “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”

That's how I feel about photography, and how I feel about my blog.  I want to remember these days forever - the good, the bad, and the in between.  It's all pretty beautiful, and well...especially so through the lens of a camera.