What makes up a family photo album exactly? Is it a collection of random formal portraits, school photos and a couple vacations? No, I think it's so much more than that. It's your entire life. What are you leaving behind for your children? Will they see you doing life with them and growing together? Life is more than the chaos of waking up late to an alarm, hurrying to that cup of coffee, burning three pieces of toast and yelling for everyone to get out the door in the morning. Even in the moments we try to forget, there is so much to love. It's proof of life. Coming home to a pile of dirty dishes in a sink that hasn't been clean in days or bread crumbs all over the counter from the before-school production this morning; its all your lives laid out before you. This is the good stuff. It's birthing babies and hard pregnancies, it's the thankless job of putting a meal on the table every single night and sometimes several other times a day. It's sleepless nights and sibling fights, it's the love you feel when watching them sleep. If you look closely, you will see the tiny bits that you never want to slip away. These hard years of babies and kindergarteners and even fourth-graders won't slow down for anyone. These are the years we were graciously given to make count in the lives of our children. Let me ask, what are you doing that is worthwhile?
I believe in our purpose here, being moms and dads. It's worth keeping every second close to our hearts.
This week, I want to encourage you to pick something for your family to do and be present in the moment AND take lots of pictures. You may or may not decide to hire a portrait photographer but do this anyway! It doesn't matter if you bake some cookies, have a car-wash day, take a day trip, go shopping, build a blanket fort and read books or whatever it is that brings your family joy, just do it and just be. These moments will be gone as quick as they came.
Sibling love
Super baby :)
Big man
Thanks to my mother-in law for snapping this one of our sweet family in Surfside Beach, SC