Since the time I had just one child toddling about, my grandmother encouraged a habit. Each year, when the azaleas are in full bloom in front of her house, I get a phone call. “It’s time to get out the quilt!” she says. Because of her prompting, I have photos of myself with my children – almost every year – at the same time. All of us in front of her enormous and gorgeously southern pink azaleas. This photo was taken last Friday…
So, when Phyllis posted about a precious habit – the habit of taking a photo of you with your children – over on All Things Beautiful, it touched me so. Yes, since I love to take photos myself, I often shy away from being included in the picture. But now, I’ll make more of an effort. More than just once a year. Thank you, Mama Ann, for teaching me a blessed habit.
Aleida’s Challenge: Leaving Proof“Have you ever seen a photograph of your own mother and thought to yourself how fat she looked? Or how she wasn’t wearing make-up? Or wasn’t dressed in a glamorous outfit?” Of course my answer was no. She (Aleida) then responded with saying that she made it a goal to take a picture of herself with her children at least once every month. And that to use excuses about how we look, as women, is ridiculous, since our children will never care what we looked like, but only that we had physical evidence of the bond between mother and child. Aleida tragically and unexpectedly passed away in an auto accident in September of 2008, leaving 2 small children and a grieving husband. After she passed I thought of how those children must feel to have those precious photographs. I have made it my personal goal to follow her wise suggestion and I try to take photos of myself with my children….double chins, make-up free, bed-head and all. -written by Emilie Ahren about a conversation with Aleida FranklinI invite Mothers everywhere to take Aleida’s Challenge. To photograph yourself with your children each and every month. And to post them here so that we can see Aleida’s legacy unfolding. -from the Flicker Group, Aleida’s Challenge
Counting the blessings of motherhood plus all these…
2352. Spring cleaning and the freeing feeling of clutter cleared!
2353. my children’s friends
2354. a late-night Facebook discussion on homeschooling. Three high school friends in three different states – putting our heads together and helping each other.
2355. a weekly Home Blessing Hour
2356. longer evenings, walks with the family
2357. a Saturday night of dessert and coffee with fellow homeschool moms. This lovely cheesecake Kendra made.
2358. a great morning at church!
2359. the extra effort I’m noticing – polite manners!
2360. a Spring Break
2361. a rough plan for the rest of the schoool year.
2362. the excitement of these two weeks before Easter. Reading Amon’s Adventure and enjoying other Easter favorites.
2363. sitting in church this morning, hearing about the pool of Bethesda, and picturing it, in detail, because of Amon’s story!
2364. rain forecast to wash away yellow pine pollen.
2365. date night at the Apple store. Full replacement of damaged equipment. Whew!2366. watching Secretariat with the whole family.
Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise! (and all the words of the song we sang in church yesterday)
Precious picture and memories!
Forever,
Nana
So beautiful! The azalias here are in the “christmas tree light” stage. So beautiful.
Oh, I love this tradition. I wish I had thought of it when my grown-up children were babies. I think I shall start a tradition like this one now. Better late than never, right? You are so fortunate to have such strong and lovely family bonds. Now, to pick a place for an annual spring photo…