Posts Tagged: Christmas
Picture the Holidays – Days Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One
Warm Glow
Recharge & Make a List (and, check it twice)
Wrapp(ing) with Love
Attitude Adjustment
“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given–when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.” —Joan Winmill Brown
Picture the Holidays – Day Thirteen
Simply Divine
[The following was written exactly four years ago. I think it’s appropriate to repost it today. I get chills every time I read it. I hope you do to. Merry Christmas.]
It’s easy to cry at this time of year. Easy to cry from happiness, from sadness, with an aching heart, out of loneliness; it’s so easy to be engulfed by varying emotions. It happens to me every year. Even more, now that I have my heart, in four pieces, walking around outside of my body.
Last year was very surreal, being pregnant and trying to make the magic happen for the bigger kids. I was worried about going into labor on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. I had talks with them about what would happen if “Dude” were to come on the special day. They all voiced that it would be a great present to the family if he did come and that we’d just have Christmas in my hospital room.
Sometimes I forget about the wonder that is being a mother. I forget sometimes because I have to manage the household, give lessons, cook, and just do all the mom things I have to do –most of the time, lately, on my own. So, I forget, it escapes me that motherhood was given to me. A precious gift and one that is sacred and most treasured.
The kids have been buzzing about how it’s feeling like Christmas to them. I, on-the-other-hand, haven’t been feeling it. Until this evening when the only light in the living room was the light of the tree and mantle. I felt it. Christmas songs were playing on my laptop and we were singing together. I looked around at these little pieces of my heart. These little entities that I care for, day in and day out. These little beings whom I love with all my heart and whom I give my heart to on a daily basis. I hope they remember these little moments. I hope I do, too.
Just as I felt this feelings, I realized that I was smiling. I was feeling Christmas. I was feeling the love that Mary must have felt as she gazed upon her chosen Son.
And, then, this song came on…
“All soul searchers. Searching for love, love, love. Love, love, love. Love love is all around” —Christmas Song, Dave Matthews
Picture It Outside Of The Box {Week 7}
The eyes definitely have it! I loved all the entries, and here are some of my favorites from the week:
by Mike
by Bridget
by Tara
Thank you to everyone who participated!!
Remember: I have created the {Picture It Outside of the Box} Flickr group. You don’t have to add your image to the group, but it does create an easy hub for the community that I hope to see grow through these weekly challenges.
The challenge for {Week 7} of “Picture It Outside of the Box” is:
{The Holidaze}
It can be a challenge to shoot during the holidays, from year-to-year, and make it different. So, you have to start thinking outside of the box. Like, what can you do to add a new level to your pictures at this special time of year? Is it a different angle? A different process in post? Focusing on something you might not have focused on in the past? Show us what you do during the spectacular holidays!
The Challenge: How It Works
- Each week, on Friday, I announce the “Picture It Outside of the Box” photo challenge theme.
- You can submit a photo for the theme by the following THURSDAY. Enter your direct link (to your blog post with the photo in it or your photo on Flickr) in the thumbnail McLinky Tool at the bottom of the post. Keep in mind the linky-loo will close down on Thursday at 11:59 PM EST.
- FIVE submissions from my readers will be showcased on Friday, and the new theme will then be revealed.
- Basically: you play along, you have fun, we show each other our awesome photos, we share inspiration….it’s a win-win situation!
- Visiting fellow photo challenge players is highly encouraged!
Ready. Set. Shoot.
Christmas is Packed Up {but it’s not over}
Last night I packed up the Christmas tree.
I thought about leaving the mantel decorated, but I packed that up too.
I thought I’d regret it, but I didn’t.
Last night I packed up Christmas; I put everything neatly away in bins and boxes.
I thought it would look empty in here, but it doesn’t.
I thought I’d feel sad about it, but I wasn’t.
Because Christmas isn’t in the decorations, or the lights, or the gifts–
If Christmas is in your heart, you will have it any time you wish.
May the spirit of the season shine within you always, equally in June as in December.
Weekly Winners {The Merry Christmas Edition}
On Christmas Eve Eve I took some fun shots of the two big boys, Mikey and Benny, in front of our tree:
I even got a traditional selfy pee in a Christmas ornament:
And a traditional bokeh‘ffected shot of the tree, too:
Then on Christmas Eve, Nicky came to us. The same Nicky who is estimated to be 7 months old. The same amount of months that have passed since our Sadie girl left us. If you believe in reincarnation you might be inclined to believe that Nicky is—indeed—Sadie.
Christmas Eve was as blurry as the above photograph. But, it was good blurry as the above photograph. No, great effin’ blurry!
Michael and I got all the stuff done that needed to be done. He put out the Christmas presents. I added the bows and filled the stockings. He brought in Livey’s bike and I made sure to put out the Santa cookies next to the note that Olivia wrote. The note that wished him well, expressed her love, and thanked him–in advance–for whatever presents he chose to leave for them. Michael told me he still needed to wrap my present and sent me up to bed with the new, sweet puppy. We tried to put him in the bathroom, but he cried and whined. Needless-to-say he slept in our bed with us like all our puppies have done. It’s all about tradition!
Nicky woke up at 3:00am.
David woke up at 3:00am.
Benny woke up at 3:00am.
What fun!
Finally, everyone was back asleep. A few hours later I was awoken by Michael, as I slept in Davey’s bed.
“Mishelle, the kids are all up and I’m taking Nicky out,” he said.
Slowly, I got out of bed, washed up, put on my nice pajamas. Shortly thereafter David woke up. I was changing his diaper when Michael came up with Nicky. Then Nicky pooped. Then we cleaned it up. Then I almost vomited. After we got it cleaned up I went downstairs to wash my hands and pull my camera out of the closet. I grabbed my bag and set in on the table before returning upstairs to rescue Nicky from our bathroom to take him out one more time before the festivities began.
I went out with Nicky while Michael came downstairs with the kids.
Once I came in I took off Nicky’s leash, took off my boots, slipped on my slippers and proceeded to the kitchen to get my camera. I’d already missed some of the initial reactions, but I told myself it was o.k. I grabbed my bag, opened it, and instantly saw my present.
Oh, I thought, he DID get me that battery grip.
Oh, I thought, wait! that doesn’t look like my camera, as I picked it up out of the bag.
I slowly turned it around and saw:
5D Mark II
OH MY GOD!!
I turned around to the video camera in my face with Michael and the kids waiting for my reaction.
OH MY GOD!!
And I burst into tears. It wouldn’t be spring time before I got my professional grade camera. The time was now. Michael got me, and he got me good. He even had it all charged up, ready to go.
I’m still in some form of shock, I think.
{The Whole Christmas Set on Flickr}
Finally, I’d like to profess my undying love for my trusty Canon Rebel XTi. That camera’s been an amazing tool in helping me perfect my craft. I’ve loved learning more about photography with her. For now she’s put away, but she won’t ever be gone or too far from reach.
