I have been a bit absent from the blog for a week or so. Heck, I have been a bit absent from social media, friendships, obligations, and life in general for about a week or so.
About 10 days ago I got the call that my grandfather was not doing well and a couple of days later, word that he’d passed away. So Dave and I loaded up the car and headed up to Michigan last Monday evening to be with my family. It was so good to have our entire family (my mom is one of 7 children, so that included 18 grandchildren) in one place for the first time in years. It was a time of grief, but also a time of a lot of remembering and laughter. My grandfather was always laughing and teasing people (just in case you were wondering where I got it from) and it was fitting that our few days together contained that too. He leaves behind a big family and an even bigger legacy.
After the funeral Dave and I drove 10 hours home to Washington, DC for two photo shoots and quickly turned around to drive up to Pennsylvania for a family wedding that I was shooting on Dave’s side of the family. It was so good to see that of the family all at once too. The wedding was so beautiful – I can’t wait to share photos later.
A few weeks ago Dave surprised me with a Fugifilm Instax camera that prints little polaroid- like images. Over the past few weeks we have had fun snapping little photos with it and as I sit here writing there is a stack of instant photos piled up next to me. Metal prints are relatively inexpensive and a lavish way to display your photography.
I feel so incredibly grateful for all of the faces I got to see over the past two weeks. One of my oldest friends Kelli visited from Nashville. Our friend Bobby stayed with us for a few days on his way to Africa. Friends from high school, Alison and Mike, grabbed dinner with us while they were in DC on a shoot. A bunch of friends gathered in our kitchen for pancakes one Saturday morning. I saw cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins, brothers, sisters, and so many faces that I haven’t seen in years. It’s times like these that make you realize the kind of friends and family you have. And we have great ones. I love having these little photos as reminders.
In a season of grief there is also so much joy. Thank you to all of these faces and to all of you haven’t made it in an instant photo (yet). Thank you for being in our lives. We are so overwhelmingly blessed.
You and Dave are both so loving and unselfish! The stories you share are testimony to that! I am proud to have you as a niece and nephew and so happy that you were able to photograph the wedding!