Ordinary Times

I turn forty in two days.

I've reached that age. I have a childhood memory of my aunt telling my mom about how she surprised their sister (who was an elementary school teacher) one day in the classroom, dressed as an old lady all in black for their sister's 4oth birthday. What an odd memory to hold onto but it places a marker on the timeline of my life. And now, here I am, the age my aunts and mom were, all those years ago. If you would fast forward that memory time to the time I became pregnant with my first child, you'll find another age marker. I remember thinking, (maybe consoling myself, lol), that even though I was one of the first of my friends to become a mother (and a tad lonely because of that), at a young age of not-quite-22, when my baby turns 18 or 20, I'll still be "young" with a lot of life yet to live.

But those young motherhood times seemed to be an eternity. Yes, I loved being a mommy and I loved my little ones with all of my heart, but there were moments that I just wanted to stay locked {{alone}} in the bathroom. There were also moments that I wanted to squeeze out more time. Amazing moments that I didn't realize were quite that amazing until I looked at pictures many years later (like the picture of my baby girl sleeping in the play swing with her arms splayed out, or my son learning to ride his dirt bike while his daddy runs beside him, or my daughter wanting to play a duet with me - she on her violin and I on my guitar (and though it was a horrific sound, it was still the sweetest thing). Thank goodness for pictures and videos. Without them, I would be hard pressed to remember some of these things.

This is why my favorite photography documents the everyday, ordinary "life happens" moments. (Which, by-the-way, is the name of this website - Life Happens). I was fortunate enough to document a few sweet moments in these parent's lives within the past couple of months. Moments of moving into a new home, starting a new chapter, moments during the first week of life, meeting furry four-legged siblings, and moments of enjoying an icecreamless ice-cream cone, running around in the sun and having a blast with mommy and daddy. These aren't the posed portraiture that deck the walls of some studios, but these photos tell stories and share the heart. And they will take you back. They belong on your walls and in photo books (and out of your hard drives and phones). Because when your children turn 18 and you turn 40, you'll be hard-pressed to remember all the little details of the ordinary amazing moments of their (and your) younger life.

Take it from me :)