A Season

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less
traveled by, And that has made all the difference in the world."

~ Robert Frost

The Robert Frost quote is one of my favorites and could be called my life quote.

To me it speaks of my life and how adoption changed it profoundly
in so many wonderful ways.

{The good stick that broke.}

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a mom.

I'm the oldest of 4 (all quite close in age) and used to play teacher or mommy to my younger siblings.

My mentor is one of the best...my own mother, Barbara.

I have an incredible mom.

From her I learned patience, not to sweat the small stuff, 

give my children choices,

and be a good listener...our children have so much to teach us.

Both of my parents gave me the gift of compassion and it means very much

that my children have that gift too.

This time with our children is short and truly in a blink of an eye they've graduated

from High School and gone to college or are working full time in a job.

I know that first hand because I've raised one son who's now in his 20's

and it seems like yesterday that I first held him.

5 years ago in August of 2007, I started this blog. It was just after Grace's 5th birthday.

My husband Dan thought of the name, 'Aging with Grace,' it

was a little comment on our age (at the time in our 40's) and life with our little girl.

She was such a little peanut then.

The blog was a way to journal our wait for our second adoption.

Blogging has changed greatly in 5 years...

I used to blog nearly every day

and many of us participated in cute little memes, contests and giveaways.

It definitely was a sweet and supportive time in my life.

I can whole heartedly say that through blogging I've met

some amazingly supportive and kind people.

Good people.

Unless you've adopted and gone through the long, arduous, soul searching process,

not many folks understand the experience and

the emotional investment and deep love we have for our children.

We truly are a special little group.

4 years ago we made the trip with Grace to Fujian Province, China to adopt our William.

I wrote every single day about our time there, it was such an emotional time. 

Both of those trips to the birthplace of my children were profound experiences 

for both Dan and myself. 

It's not possible to travel to China and not be changed on some level.

Over time the blog became more of a photography one.

I was given a DSLR camera by my husband 4 years ago.

The goal of me wanting to learn to use that first camera well and take better photos, soon

 changed to me wanting to learn all that I could about photography.

I took photos 'from the heart.'

That part was easy for me, I'm a heart person.

A sensitive soul, I feel deeply and love the same way.

Shooting from the heart means shoot with a passion,

and don't get consumed with all the technical stuff at first.

That will come.

Maybe shooting from the heart as it relates to photography 

is a great analogy for how we all should live our lives,

passionately, deeply, and always in the moment.

I have an incredible life, a beautiful life some would say, I suppose.

I'm blessed in ways too numerous to count, but the the most important being with good health,

 people that love me unconditionally and a loving Father

in Heaven that cares about me.

I've learned that photography is a journey, just like life.

I will always be a photographer... whether as a professional or hobbyist.

It's a lifelong love and passion,

and it's really through photography that I've found myself.

The Gail that has always been there...the nurse/ mom/ artist/ caring / altruistic person.

I'm at a very good place in my life.

I have learned that one of my greatest joys is photographing my children
 and second to that is giving back with my gift.

Who would have thought that I can use this gift to give back to newly adoptive families

 through Red Thread Sessions and to volunteer with An Orphan's Wish,

an organization that serves 'the least of these,' orphaned special needs children in China.

I feel called to help these children and bring attention especially to the older ones who wait for their 

forever families.

So as life is a journey, I'm going to be enjoying it to the fullest.

We only have one time on this Earth.

Thank you for the last 5 years...the friends that I've met through my little blog
will always be a part of my heart.

 I've loved every single moment of this 'season' of our lives.

A little snapshot in time.

xo

As this is my last blog post (the 777th!) I can now

 be found at my new blog, A Mother's Art Photography.

I'll post favorites from client sessions and there

will still be some posts featuring my two littlest loves.
Follow along if you like.

(My heart)