love and giving

Several christmases ago, my daughter learned to give. I caught her one day, wrapping tiny found objects to give to all her school friends. Any little thing that caught her eye was snatched up and lovingly wrapped with scraps of tissue paper and dirty bits of scotch tape. This included the cracked half of a pink plastic bead she found on the floor at the thrift store, the arm of a barbie, half of a pencil eraser. I didn't have the heart to tell her that her classmates might not see the beauty in these things. And while I was thrilled to see her focus on giving, I was crazy nervous about the kind of reactions her school friends might have. What if they laughed? What if they totally rejected her gifts? I could not stand the thought.

I remember the morning she took them to school. How she stood in the doorway, little red packages cupped in her hands. She held them as if they were jewels, her eyes shone with pride. She couldn't wait to get to school and give them out. I looked at the mess of packages just then, each one clumsily taped together and my heart broke a little. I prayed that her friends would somehow see the love behind each gift. I prayed really really hard.

On the way home from school that day, she told me she had given out all her presents. Then she looked out the window and said nothing else. Of course, this worried me but I did not pry. A few days later, we had lunch with her at school to celebrate the grand opening of the new cafeteria. As we sat eating macaroni and cheese and fruit cocktail, a little boy eyed me from across the table. He was working up the courage to say something, I could feel it. And then finally: "Ava gave ME a present." The happy came pouring out of him then and he smiled. Ava smiled too-- a smile as wide and as open as the whole of the sun.

Image and words by Andrea Jenkins or as she's lovingly known in many circles, Hula.

We are thrilled that she is helping celebrate Giveaway May by giving one lucky reader a copy of her poloroid print Love Always Wins. Swoon. Just leave a comment here between now and Monday at midnight.

Congrats to Jen at Cabin Fever for winning the print. YAY!

We Are Together

There's nothing to say after a moment like this.   Only that to be together is everything.  I know now that much is true. 

It's not too late to be a part of this miracle.  For more of this story, go here.

Photo by Stephanie Roberts

Déjà Vu

My daughter is now just over 5 1/2, which is about how old I was as my family was preparing to move from Seoul, Korea to Chicago, and I have vivid memories of this age.  Lately, I often find myself trying to recall who I was in those days, to remember what I thought about, what I liked to do, how I saw the world through my five-and-a-half year old eyes.  In doing so, I hope to better understand and empathise with my often feisty and saucy girl.

These days, when I sometimes look through my photos of her, I'll suddenly see myself thirty-something years ago.  I remember how much I liked to walk on balance-beam lines, or to swing way up high, or to make funny faces at the camera, or to wear dresses that twirl.  It has been a gift to me, transporting myself back to the happy moments of my own childhood.  And it has reminded me how quickly childhood passes, which motivates me to be a tad more patient of a mother.

Please share with us today those images that harken back to your own childhood, and if you have actual photos of yourself as a child to share as well, even better. I could look through vintage photos all day!

One subject, many viewpoints

The Shutter Sisters Flickr Pool is overflowing with amazing photographs and talented artists. In fact, there are so many that I almost missed some gorgeous photos of one of my favorite things...Easter eggs. Coloring eggs is a tradition I clearly remember as a child, and something I still do to signal the start of spring and my excitement for the season. As I looked through the pool at some beautiful egg photos I am reminded that one subject matter can be photographed a thousand different ways. I love seeing how other artists view the world around them.

I want to share some of my favorite egg photos from the Shutter Sisters pool, before the moment passes us by:

All in a row, backlit by the sun

Muted pastels, shot from above

Marbelized in a bright yellow bowl

In a basket, already found

Graffiti eggs, lined up

Natural in the grass

Painted by little hands

Rainbow colors, back in the carton

On display

Drying off

Diptych fun

Simply white

If you have any egg photos to share with us, leave them in the comments and the Shutter Sisters Flickr Pool!

Family Traditions

If there's one family tradition that has not changed since my daughter was born, it's Easter dinner with my in-laws.  My daughter has been asking every day for the past month when it will be Easter, and I can't tell you how relieved I am finally to be able to tell her, "TODAY!"

Documenting family traditions as they happen every year is a great way to take stock of our lives' journeys--how far we've come, where we are now, how much the kids have changed and grown, how much WE'VE changed and grown.  No matter what traditions you may incorporate into your lives, there is something sacred and meaningful about them, and as photographers, it is a gift to our loved ones and to ourselves to capture these images year after year.

Please share with us today glimpses into your own family or personal traditions, whether it's something as simple as cooking together, unique to your culture or a lovely childhood memory.