Keeping Christmas in my Heart(Sunday Snapshot)

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

 

  ~ Charles Dickens

 

As much as I enjoy seeing the Christmas decorations and giving gifts to people I love.

  It is easy to feel a lot of pressure to get the decorating & shopping done, the cards sent, the presents wrapped and all of the other activities going on this time of year. 

 Unfortunately, it is way too easy to forget about the reason for the season. 

Getting out into the quiet of the snow with Grace was a great way to get back to what is really important: love, family, simple beauty and God. 

 The blessings of the season are with us everyday. 

 We should try to enjoy them as much as we can. 
Time passes so quickly and these days will be fond memories before we know it. 

A Christmas Carol

The shepards had an angel,
The wise men had a star;
But what have I, a little child,
To guide me home from far,
Where glad stars sing together,
And singing angels are?

~ Christina Rossetti
written in 1856



 

 

Little Boys and Football

 

A Mom's Observations About Flag Football

 

(Now Will is the first of my 3 children to try flag football,

so it's new too me. These are some things I noticed)

 

~ There's quite a bit of energy out on that field of little boys

and it's not necessarily going in the right direction

 

~ Pulling a flag seems to be harder than tackling

 

~ There is some little boy that cries on every play(after all they're only 7)

 

~ The favorite play is "RUN!"

 

 

 

Will might be small but he's quite fast.

And it's really been a joy to watch him play.

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)

Birthday Girl (Sunday Snapshot)

{Grace and friends celebrating her 10th} 

I've been a mom for a very long time and I always try to make each of my children's birthday celebrations special. They have input about what they'd like to have for a party.
Some years the parties are family ones, some years they celebrate with friends.

Most of the time if the request is reasonable we can find a way to do it.

Grace (my little artist) loves to draw, paint and create. 

When she mentioned she'd like to have a party where she and her friends could get together and make something, I had the perfect place in mind... 

Located in Middleton, WI....Confectionique is a French inspired vintage craft market that sells the most beautiful things. One of the owners, Jessica(in the photos) teaches all kinds of classes.
May I add that Jessica is as sweet as a person can possibly be. 

The girls made little pink and white cakes out of Sculpey clay that they cut and rolled out that eventually were decorated and baked.

And of course they had to celebrate with cupcakes all around!

 

This was a treat for me because I thoroughly enjoyed myself just watching the girls interact, create and help my daughter celebrate her special day. I loved capturing Grace and her friends and some of the details of this adorable shop. 

The first image was taken with my Nikon d700.

35mm 1.4 lens

f/2

ISO 800

1/160 sec.

All were quickly edited in Photoshop with Florabella's

Classic Workflow actions. I used Classic Color,

with Ivory Boost and 1968.

She is 10 (Sunday Snapshot)

Dear Grace,

 Happy Birthday! Today you turn 10 years old...wow... We can't help but think back to the little baby we brought home nearly 9 years ago. So sweet and innocent...not much has changed in that department. You have grown so much - physically, mentally and emotionally. Though you are still a girl, we can see the beginnings of the young woman you will become. 

When you have children of your own one day (through biology or adoption), you'll find that you never know what you're going to get. Everyone is different and all have their strengths and weaknesses. We've been blessed to have you - which is where we got your name in the first place...By the Grace of God. your name couldn't be more appropriate. You're full of grace, carry yourself with grace...and we delight in being a part of your life because you brighten ours so much. 

There are so many things that you'll learn over the next 10 years that we can't begin to tell you everything. Instead, we'll give you some advice gathered through our own life experiences.

 1) Be happy. This is easily said but requires work every day. Every day of life is full of good and bad things; winning, losing, happiness, sadness, hard work, pain, good luck, bad luck, accomplishments and failures. It's all there and we all control how we respond to it. Focus on the good, fun and enjoyable things in life. There are so many. Get through the hard times...."Hit, lift and drive," as Grandpa likes to say. Bad times will happen but once they're in the past, they don't seem that bad. 

2) Let your light shine. You've always been a happy, joyful person who loves to laugh and smile. You can brighten a gloomy night and bring a smile to sad faces. Share your joy and love of life. Don't be afraid to take risks or be yourself. There will be mean unhappy people in the world who will be jealous of your happiness. Ignore them and don't let them steal your smile or joy. 

3) Challenge yourself. Set your own goals and don't take the easy road. We grow by stretching ourselves out of our comfort zone; by trying and learning new things. Self confidence comes from achieving what we set out to do. If we let others set goals for us, we'll always be trying to live up to someone else's standard. Set your own course and enjoy the ride.

4) Lastly, be strong. You don't need to be told this but it's good to remind yourself from time to time. Whether you realize it or not, you have overcome tremendous obstacles and challenges in your short life. There will be more but you have a strong spirit and your inner strength will carry you the rest of your life.

 It is a gift from God.

 Never let it go.

Grace, you're a wonderful daughter, a great sister and a beautiful person - inside and out.
We thank God every day that you're a part of our lives.
Happy Birthday darling.











I chose the first image as my favorite because of Grace's expression.
The last one makes me cry every time I look at it, I imagine
she looks very much like her birth mother.
A woman who I honor and pray for especially on this day.

Nikon d700
35mm 1.4 lens
f/2.5
ISO 200
1/640 sec.

The location was the Wisconsin Historical Society Building
on the UW Madison campus.
The stone on the steps and walkway were a natural reflector.

I wanted to do something special for her 10 year old portraits
and that's why we chose the silver embellished crown.
It's handmade by Kelly of the Love Crush Bowtique.
You can find her here and here.

25/52 - June 14 - 18th

{A few from the past week and weekend}

It's hard to wrap my brain around the fact that 2012 is almost halfway over. 

It's week 25.
Instagram seems to be my way of taking photos once a day. 

From the top left: 1. Grace and her friend Julia in the Justice store. Grace is now in the Chicago area spending a week with her lifelong friend. 2. Chicago downtown street. I met two lovely ladies there on Friday that I work for/with at An Orphans Wish. 3. Father's Day 2012, spent the afternoon with my parents. My Dad is in is early 80's and is healthy and happy, he's one lucky man. 4. Three nine year old girls playing in a box and being silly!

Our Summer has been awesome so far.

Favorite Photo Friday - first and last day

{School's out!} 

"School's out forever

 School's out for Summer 

School's out with fever 

School's out completely." 

~ Alice Cooper 

(The top image was taken the first day of school and the lower one, this morning.

 They're growing up aren't they?

Miss Grace is growing her bangs out and looks like she's 12 here to me instead of nearly 10).

I can't believe how quickly this school year has flown by.

There have been challenges for our family and we've come through them, things are looking up

and that feels great.

When they arrive home today at 12:10 pm Grace will officially be a 4th grader and mr. Will a First grader.

Bittersweet. 

I couldn't be more proud of these two!

Welcome Summer!

We love Summer! - Sunday Snapshot

{Will with his first snow cone of the season}

It many not be Summer officially on the calendar but it's here where we live.
Our Memorial Day weekend consisted of warm temps, snow cones, playing in the sandbox and backyard and getting together with good friends.

Our school is out for the Summer on Friday and Grace and Will are awfully happy about that.

Grace and her new bike. It's a little big for her and it's taken some time getting used to riding.
She paid for half of it, we matched her on the other half.

Summer in the Midwest is about kids running through the sprinkler.

 Brings back so many memories for me!

My own clean edits (to personal taste) using Curves and Levels in photoshop.

 Settings on the top image of Will:

 Nikon d700 

85mm 1.4 lens 

f/1.6

 1/1250 sec. 

ISO 200

Favorite Photo Friday - time is flying by

(Grace is wearing Sophia Jane Boutique's shabby flower clip

that matches perfectly with the Matilda Jane Serendipity line)

In a little over 2 short months she'll be 10 years old.

Double digits.

My baby girl is growing up so fast.

And at almost 10 we're seeing a few glimpses of 'tween-dom'.
 (My made up word)
With some attitude changes now and then...perhaps it's a bit of those hormones kicking in...

And though I'd love for time to stop for quite a while,
I'm embracing it all.

Sweet Grace...my artistic, compassionate, caring, and kind daughter.
She is a dream come true!

Sunday Snapshot - With Spring's Arrival Comes Changes

It seems that the only constant in life is change.
People come and go. Things come and go.
Neighbors change. Houses change. Kids grow up.

Some of life's changes come with challenges.

We've had our share lately with my husband losing his job recently.
We'll be busy wrestling with some of those challenges, so I may be blogging less.
The biggest challenge is that fear of the unknown and not knowing if we will move or stay.
You have to prepare as best as you can for whatever life may throw at you.

I've thought long and hard about whether to even post this and 

pretend like everything was just fine.

But it isn't.
It really isn't at all.

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

9/52 - Spring clean up

"The great purge and clean up of 2012"

I've been MIA from blogging lately and I hope to explain that a little better

eventually.

We are all healthy thankfully.

With Spring fast approaching I've been taking advantage of 

the time indoors (when it's still cold outside) to take 

inventory of the mess in my basement and house.

We've lived here for 6.5 years and I've never really purged our closets,

cupboards, rooms and the beast of our basement.

I would never show a 'before' pic, it would be way

too embarrassing.

Anyway, the purge and Spring clean up and organization has started 

and I think it's been therapeutic in many ways. 

Time to think, reflect, donate, recycle, throw away junk, and get ready for a ginormous garage sale in May.

We also have listed many things from Dan's late mother's home on Craig's List.

Have I mentioned how much I love Craig's List?

(Antique dollhouse that was my husband's Grandmother's when she was a girl).

52/52 and Wordless Wednesday