Seven swans a-swimming,


and seven out of eight Glazebrook grandchildren
Gabe wasn't born yet.
I notice as I go through my old photos, I didn't take near as many pictures of people this year as I usually do. I do find people in general, especially family, entertaining.
I think there are several factors. When everyone is together, especially on the Stowers side, chaos reigns. Sometimes the thought of taking a picture never crosses anyone's mind until we are all packing it up to go home. (As you can tell from the photo above, the Glazebrooks are an orderly group of people.)
But as we grow older and our children are spreading out, it is harder and harder to get these group photos. Between living distances, school and work schedules, and even illness; life runs at a pretty good clip these days and in all directions. I can honestly say not feeling well this year had a lot to do with my lack of photos. Traveling very far was not my friend this year.
I think the moral of this story for me is quit waiting for the shot and take what I got. Take the picture of who I have in front of me, while I have them - don't wait. We don't have forever here on earth. I know all of us can look back - and there is someone you wish you had a better photo of - right now. And now is too late.
And most of us hate to have photos taken of ourselves. (major exceptions being Sandra and Kara of course!) But we need to learn to celebrate who we are in the moment, not who or where we wish we were. I've come to accept that I'm not going to be the world's next great supermodel. (*my brothers are giggling*) Now, I could get real surprised and the world could do a 180 on supermodel standards. (*Don just laughed himself off the couch*) But I'm done trying to please the world and anyone who has ever met me knows "conform" isn't a behavior I'm comfortable with.
I want to live and enjoy right now, right here, with the ones I love. And I am willing to bet I make an awesome Grandma. It never worried me when I was a kid how appropriate my Grandmothers looked - or didn't - in their roles. When I was with them, all that mattered was I had my Grandma's attention. Nothing existed outside that circle of love.
Now, a mom - can be a serious source of embarrassment. And she knows it and will use it. You you will claim to not know her in public. There can be an episode you and your friends discuss for years, "Remember when your Mom...". That level of embarrassment is only sent down to legend status - the first time you purposely become a public embarrassment to your children.

All is calm....
A few of my favorite shots of people from this past year are the "unawares" - not in the moment of the crowd. Catching people being themselves within themselves. Those quiet moments where the sun is streaming in just right.
I enjoy my land, water, and sky shots. With the additional amount of camping we did this year, I got some amazing wildlife photos, like the mother duck nesting in the brush.
I'm amazed I ever get any wildlife shots. Whenever I was out on a trail, I always have two dogs on leashes, a walking stick, my camera, and usually, a cup of coffee. I hear tell some photographers take accessories like lenses, filters, and stuff. I rather enjoy my dogs company. And since their cataracts are starting to hinder their sight and their noses aren't what they used to be, they are usually clueless to what I have spotted.
I have a feeling my photography will hit a renewed pace this year. We will soon have BooBoo. And babies change fast and the whole world is new to them. Sky, grass, dirt, all new amazing science lessons to be explored. And she won't be afraid to smile for the camera and she won't even have teeth to show. So people when you see our cameras in hand, play your role in preserving history and flaunt 'em if you got 'em!

Glory shown all around
For anyone who missed it yesterday be sure to check out my comments. God noticed I plugged His blog here and said thanks. I'm thinking that this is some special blog to get a visitor like God here and commenting.