As most of you know, I'm a professional photographer. Every year, I just LOVE taking our kids Christmas photos. This year was different though. I really dreaded doing it without Ayden. I shared my heart on my sleeve all about it here on my photography blogsite. And I want to share it here too.
*********
I just took my kids Christmas photos today. Yes, I said Christmas.
I know what youre thinking... "You're a photographer, how did you not have time to take photos of your own kids before Christmas?" Well, the truth is ugly.
I wanted to skip Christmas. You see, if you're a new follower, you may just see these two beautiful faces on my page often and think, she has two beautiful kids! But I have THREE beautiful kids. Three.
This past summer, only 8 short weeks after having our daughter, our 3.75 year old little boy went to Heaven. And so I didn't feel like doing Christmas. I didn't want to. Not without our Ay-man. But we did for these two. And I'm glad we did.
They are worth living for. They are worth documenting.
Aren't they beautiful?
We will always find a way to include our little man in our kids photo sessions each year, because it is important they never forget their brother. Now my 6 year old will never forget, I know. His brother was his best friend, he mentions him every day. He loves him. But she was so little when it all happened, she'll never get to personally know her brother. But we will make sure through our photos, our documented memories that we already have, that she will know him.
She wants to know him. I can see it.
You know what else I never want them to forget? That most importantly, we ALWAYS have hope. Hope that we'll see Ayden again because of what Jesus did on the cross.
"That being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the HOPE of eternal life. Titus 3:7
So while we are waiting, hoping and trusting.. we will make these memories with the kids we have here, while missing the one in Heaven.
Because how her hair goes crazy in the back is something I won't ever want to forget.
Or the fact that my little 6 year old understands things about Heaven and says things that just wow me as a mom.
He is compassionate, courageous, and SUPER silly.
And these two, man do they love each other. She just lights up when she sees him. And he LOVES to make her laugh.
We aren't guaranteed tomorrow, but we have today. To capture memories, to love our kiddos, to tell them about the hope we have! We have today. I'm grateful for today.
Make those memories, get those photos taken..
Your family, your kids, YOU are worth documenting too. Don't wait for the weight to come off, or until your hair is the length you want it to be. Because life isn't perfect, but it's beautiful.
Taking Christmas photos of my three kids. Check.
1 comments:
Erin, I want to tell you that I admire you. I don't know you or Ayden, but I've shed many a tear over your loss. You have a way of communicating your pain that makes it just so real. I see you now being able to go on, to make memories of all 3 of your children, to never forget. I'm sure I'm not as strong a woman as you.
Your photography is amazing! I just adore the pictures with Ayden in the frame. What a precious way to document how important he will always be to your family. Hugs!
Post a Comment