The Road Not Taken

This post is a bit close to home. My home. My old home where I spent half my childhood.
We spent 6 years living in a little country town many years ago. It was only 6 years, but they left a deep and lasting legacy.  It was where we meet the beautiful C family and that alone is such a wonderful reason to give thanks to God....

When you drive out west you see a fair bit of this...

before you finally see this.

As a child this road and these buildings seemed so big and vast. They don't seem quiet so big but they certainly make my heart smile.

This path is where I first started to practice riding my red bike without the training wheels, where i walked to the dentist and where I walked home from the swimming pool....

This was our home and our shop - where we played, cried, didn't eat my dinners and used the old valiant roof as a trampoline!!!

This was also our home. Our other home. Our dear friends home. Where we also played, cried, didn't eat my dinners and where we held many amazing concert nights...

It was only a quick visit. To honour a strong, faithful woman of God who has passed on & now is resting in Heaven with our Almighty Saviour.  We went back also to honour her daughter - our dear friend and to acknowledge the wonderful, strong, caring, giving woman that she is.

With heart's filled with love and souls filled with warmth as only dear friends can fill you, we said our farewell, so very grateful to God for the Friendship that He bestowed upon us those many years ago when the baker's family and the Farmer/CRT shop owner family lived opposite each other.

      

On the way home we were treated to this glorious sunset to end the day....

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

...Robert Frost

Be {a traveller}

Mothers Day

With Mothers day fast approaching I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to offer a photo package designed for that special person in our lifes. MUM. 
Call to book a fun, relaxed family portrait sitting that includes prints and give mum a present that she will cherish forever....

Be {a good son/daughter}

Makin' memories for mum...

I'm really trying my best to catch up but darn it, life just keeps happen'n  :)

So anyhow here is a super sweet family I worked with last year.  The sisters had a special birthday present for their mum planned and it involved watermelon, aqua, white, a retirement village and a little bit of sneakiness!!!  Sounds like a crazy gift right???  Well in actual fact it was a Fantastic gift.

Photos of their families to give to mum/nanna. A moment in their life. Who they are, where they are at. The women they have become. Something tangible and real. Memories that will last a life time. Moments that will bring back memories in years to come.

Memories of 2 sisters holding an empty photo frame cause the crazy photographer lady asked them too... and well, they are just too polite to say no!

Memories of silly giggle's over nothing...

of kickin back with the man you love...

There is also the little things to remember. The way little miss C holds her hands together in laughter...

or maybe the way master C could stick his tongue out through the gap in his teeth (very cool)...

It is always nice to remember what it feels like to be held by your soul mate...

 and the way it makes you feel when you are all together...

When you look back at that moment together, hopefully it will make you smile...

and then there is the memories of cousins and all the crazy antics they get up to together....

not forgetting the silly things siblings can do...especially Miss A and Master T !!!

Just being together for a hour or two can create the most joyful, lasting memories and bring a special gift to someone that we love.  Time together is so precious and so  important. Without it we can not build those memories...

 so go and make a memory today. whether it's playing Uno after dinner, letting the kids have a super large bowl of ice cream or maybe just kissing on the lips in front of the kids, a camera and some senior citizens at the local retirement village...

"Think left and think right and think low and think high.

 Oh, the things you can think up if only you try! "  

  Dr. Seuss

Be {a memory maker}

Puppy dog tails....

well after the title of the last post - this seemed appropriate.
Little Luke came into the world earlier then expected hence his nick name. The first boy can be an adjustment in family life - especially so when there are 4 sisters before you. No hand me down clothes, different rules for nappy time. The one constant though is LOVE.  Regardless of the colour of the jumpsuit the love is just as strong, as deep and as pure.....

There is a lot to see when you are baby number 5 and it can be exhausting work...

  Sometimes you just need to kick back and relax...

However when you are in the company of your 4 big sisters, there is not much time for sleep...

But there is always time for a kiss...

Remember the chair???   I think Luke is a perfect fit.

Speaking of perfect fit - I also think Luke is a perfect fit right here...

and right here...

Little Luke is so very blessed to be a part of this family. He will grow up knowing that he is precious, that he is special and that he belongs. He will also grow up surrounded by love. I think that is a perfect fit....

Be {a perfect fit}

Sugar and Spice...

Little Miss H came into the world just after Christmas and what a beautiful gift she is to her family.

The family welcomed her into the home with open arms...

and wrapped her up in their love...

Miss H sleeps peacefully in her room, knowing that her big brothers will always procect her...

and she looks out to world knowing that her mum and dad will love her, hug her and delight in her. Always.

Miss H you are one very beautiful princess. From the top of your head to the tip of your toes. 

Thanks to Miss H and her beautiful, patient, mum for allowing me to capture this moment in her life. You are wrapped up in a home filled with love, laughter and big brothers.    May you always sleep in peace...

Be {wrapped in love}



The Chair

I'd been on the lookout for awhile. Not sure what it was that I wanted but was confident I would know it when I saw it. So naturally when I was 15mins into a 2 hour road trip with the 3 kids and my big sister and all our luggage in the car, I saw it!!!
It was sitting on the side of the road amongst a large pile of other items no longer loved or needed, ready for
the council pick up. What was I to do?  Would it fit in the car? only one way to find out.....
A quick u-turn and pulling into the driveway I could see the family sitting out the front of the house. Big breath, here go's..
"Hi I'm Tracy and I saw the chair on the curb there.  Would it be okay if I could have it?"
Well not only did they say "Yes" but then they insisted that I not take the one on the curb as it was a bit broke. "The one in the house is much better, you can have that instead"  So off he go's inside and brings out this.....

After much "oh no that's too good" & some"are you sure?" followed by a large amount of "thank you soooo very much"  we packed the chair into the car (yes I made it fit) and continued our drive north.
This is what I had being looking for. I am so glad that I turned around and went back. I am so glad the previous owners no longer wanted it. I am so glad I am so easily pleased! :)

Dressed up in Urban rock or dressed down in vintage chick, this chair retains it's regal like beauty.

May we all find what it is we are looking for in the everyday moments of our live's.

Be {on the lookout}

Black and White (and red too)

Life can throw some serious curve balls, and it's not always black and white. The world is full of grey. Luckily the world is full of red too. Bright, bold, beautiful red. Red the colour of love, strength and confidence.  So it was quite appropriate that the D family chose to wear black, white and red to their session.  This is a family who are dealing with a big curve ball right now and they are using all the elements of the colour red to handle it....

LOVE:
that which binds us together

    and keeps us full of happiness and joy...

STRENGHT:

the ability to rise above the circumstances and shine

and CONFIDENCE:

having full trust in each other, knowing that together you will be able to overcome anything,

knowing that there will always be someone to turn too, someone to swap clothes with, someone to fix your hair and someone to give you a hug when you most need one,

 

yep RED can sure help carry you through when life is full of black, white and grey and I think 2 of the best thing to help you through this journey we call life, is family and love.

The D family are a beautiful family who shine with love, along with laughter, joy, strenght and confidence.

It was an honour to spend time with them and I thank you for allowing me to share in your familes love....

Be

{confident}