Team-Up Thursday

Week 18 Theme – Out of Focus

Just not feeling it this week for some reason.  And figured I’d rather not force it.  That would just take all the fun out of it.

Team-Up Thursday

Week 17 Theme – Hot & Cold

Mine on the left; Gini’s on the right.

I must admit I kinda mailed this one in this week.  The days got away from me, despite finding out about the theme very early on.  The kiddos have been sick, and I couldn’t seem to get past the most obvious interpretation, as evidenced by my faucet picture.  Funny thing is – I was working through some other ideas that would have ended up being pretty similar to Gini’s, which I love, by the way.  Aren’t the flames on a gas stove just the most beautiful color?  Kinda match nicely with the purple in my bathroom…

Looking forward to hopefully being a bit more creative next week.

Team-Up Thursday

Week 16 Theme - MOM

Ummm, yeah…Gini's on top, mine on the bottom.  So, great minds think alike, right?

I must admit, though, this isn’t where my mind went initially.  When I first saw the theme for this week, my initial thought for the subject of my photo was myself.  My second thought was of my Mom.  And when that thought came to me, I instantly felt guilty for having had the first.  I thought that I must be awfully self-centered that my mind didn’t immediately go to my own mother when I saw the word Mom.  I wondered if after 23 years of not seeing her face or hearing her voice, she was starting to lose that place in the forefront of my mind.  But after giving it some thought, I realized that wasn’t it at all.  And, I found that the real reason was something to be happy, not guilty, about.

I realized that, for me, Mom has become my identity.  It’s more than my title; it’s who I am.  It’s how I think of myself, and not just in terms of my babies, but also with my husband.  I’m not only his wife, but the Mom to his children.  And it’s a role I cherish.  So, I guess it’s only natural that this is where my mind would go when I see the word Mom.  It’s because on that day when I first became one, I came to realize the depth of the love that comes with that title.  I came to understand how my own Mother must have felt for us three, and in that understanding, I felt even closer to her.

Anyway, back to the diptych.  I love that we both had the same thought, and love that both shots have flowers – life to offset the death.  Gini obviously thought to bring some with her, unlike me.  =)

What it means to me….

M aking the most of every single moment.  Having lost my mother at 17, I don’t want to waste a single second with my children.

O ffering a hug or a kiss or a song (even though I can’t carry a tune) to comfort my kids when they are sad or sick or scared.

T eaching my kids to be loving, compassionate and kind.  It’s my job, and definitely a work in progress.

H onoring the traditions and values I was raised with, and sharing them with the next generation.

E arning the love they give so unconditionally.  It’s important for me to live up to their expectations.

R elishing every laugh, every smile, every milestone, and burning them into my brain because the time passes all too quickly.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!

I wish you all a day of feeling appreciated and loved!

Team-Up Thursday

Week 15 Theme - Friends

My photo on the left; my sister's on the right.

This one started out easy, then became tough, then became so easy again.  When I first read the theme for this week, I was excited.  I immediately thought I’d use a photo of Matthew loving on Gabby.  I take lots of these, although I must say, they never quite come out the way I think they will.  Someone’s always moving, or blinking, or squinting, or something.  And when you’re using a little point and shoot camera like I am, that translates to often times missing the shot.  Because of this, I decided to rethink my shot.  And then, the week got away from me.  Not sure where it went or what I was doing, but yesterday afternoon I realized I hadn’t taken my photo yet.  Time to resort to one I already had.  I knew immediately what to pick.

I absolutely LOVE the photo I used.  I took it on Saturday at Scarborough Beach in Narrangansett, Rhode Island.  We had taken a ride to Point Judith for lunch at Aunt Carrie's – the most fabulous crab cakes you’ll ever have.  Seriously.  After lunch, we decided to make a stop at the beach, and let me say I was thrilled at how much Matthew loved it.  He’s been to beaches the past two summers, but this year he really gets it.  He loved walking barefoot in the sand, and didn’t mind sticking his piggers in the fa-reezing cold water.  This bodes well for future beach trips, methinks.  Anyhow…I digress.  I fell in love with this picture the minute I took it, and couldn’t wait to see it full size.  I think it captures the most basic of friendships – that between a boy and his Daddy.  I just melt when I look at the way they’re looking at each other.  <3

As for Gini’s picture, a similar thought had occurred to me at one point during the week, but not in nearly the same dramatic fashion.  WOW.  I just love seeing Hannah’s dark profile juxtaposed (Ha!  There’s a $5 word for you!) against the white of the screen.  Just gorgeous.  And look at those fabulous lashes!  To use old Facebook lingo, I’m a fan of this photo.