your favorite shot for 2008

This is my favorite photo for 2008. It's not the best shot I've taken this year, yet it embodies all my aspirations and fears, and the valuable lessons I've learned about love, and about myself. Crouching on the beach, sand between my toes. Breathing in and out as slowly as I can to make this moment last. The simple expression of everything that is meaningful in my life.

I spent the last couple of days browsing through my personal photo folders and reflecting on this past year. And I thought it would be great if you could share your favorite photo for 2008 with a short comment about what this past year has brought into your life, as well as your hopes and your dreams for 2009.

 

Today's giveaway is a signed copy of Irene's Blurb book "Polaroid Stories" as well as a special set of 8 Polaroid postcards. Simply leave a comment in the section below to be entered for a chance to win. Good luck!

Photo Love

I left the bookstore with my arms full. I wanted her to ask why I was buying four of the exact same magazine. But she didn't. So I offered up my reasoning because I could no longer keep it to myself. “A photo of mine was published in this magazine." She glanced at me in her ho-hum way of tedium that comes with full time work and the Christmas rush on a Sunday afternoon in December. "That's great." She said and asked me if I wanted a bag.

"No thanks!" Oh boy did I sound chipper! I wanted to hold these pages close to me. I wanted to gather my babies to my breast. I couldn't hide my pleasure. It sprung from my heels as I headed for the door. 

Lighter. I feel lighter.

And somehow more complete.

I am who I am regardless of accessories. But the more I dive into photography, the more I feel whole. More human. More real. It's no longer a camera. It's a second heart, a third eye that I wear on a neck strap. When I go without photography ~ when I’m too tired, too bummed, too self absorbed ~ I realize just how much I need. It's become who I am, no longer just an accessory.

Today I was walking down a sidewalk with both arms full of photo love and the biggest grin spreading across my face. A smile so big I almost didn't recognize the feeling. Those muscles have been hibernating, too scared to come out and see the light of day. Those muscles finally pulled around my mouth and I let myself be happy. I let it out in a big ol' grin cause I'm doing it, whatever it is, I'm doing it right now. And it feels really good. And that is some sort of satisfying that I never expected to feel just by holding a magazine.

If you haven't explored JPG magazine yet, you should do so immediately! Photo challenges and photography themes for each magazine issue keeps the creative juices flowing for me. It's a phenomenal online community of inspirational photographers, and the magazine is made by people just like you!

Words and image courtesy of Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Meredith Winn (aka camerashymomma).

Today the fine folks at JPG magazine are offering a subscription to one of you. Subscriptions like this are the kind of gifts that keep on giving. Love that. All you have to do is share the photo love and comment here today to be in the drawing. Good luck.

Congratulations to Kacey, the winner of the lens rental at Ziplens. Woot!

Pssst!

Pssst! Maybe I was inspired by the game of telephone as a child. The game I could never get right and probably the source of confusion in a message being passed. The person that would never, ever be able to recite what she first heard. I blame it on my ears. I still do. For me, I need to see things in writing. Visible. In front of me. With links and information. Hence why I took to the blogging world so well.

I was first introduced to this world by a friend in November 2006. I thought it was funny...that word, blogging. But little did I know the impact words could make, how many friends I have in this world, now, due to blogging. It’s a pretty powerful thing and backs up the “hand is mightier than the sword” statement effortlessly.

So starting my newest venture, pass it on, was not so hard. I was moved by so many stories on other people’s blogs, especially this one, that I thought maybe it would be easier to put all these things on one screen. Maybe. So I am trying and if you go there and click on one of the many links, you too will feel fortunate, inspired, loved. And maybe moved to donate or contribute, in some special way. After all this is the season of giving. Even though the holidays are nearing to a close, what better way to start the New Year with a vow to help others. To give all year long.

 

So here it is, in two parts. The first is the giveaway here. A sweet gift certificate from the wonderful people at ziplens.com. A $75 gift certificate to be used to rent any little item your heart desires. I first learned about Ziplens through another blog and thought it would be wonderful to pass on the goodness to you along with Janice, the co-owner and “crazy momma.” I can’t say enough about the service and quality of items Ziplens has to offer. Leave your comment here today to be entered in the drawing. And even if you don’t win the big prize, you can still get in on the 15% discount they are offering for the next year to all sisters. Just type in the code: SISTERS and you’re good to go.

The second part is a “pay it forward.” Many of you may of heard of this in the blogging world. Someone sends you a goodie and you have to vow you will do the same for others. So it’s my turn to send out some goodies. But you will need to hike over to pass it on to enter. And you have to “sister promise” you will pass on the love to someone else. Because it’s always better to give than receive.

Words, image and giveaway all courtesy of today's gracious Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Jen Way (aka Bee Bee Mod).

And last but not least, let us celebrate the winners of the past few giveaways-

Christine is the winner of the Click Necklace from Her Southern Charm

Megan is the winner of the $100 Blurb gift certificate

Sheri is the winner of the Blue Poppy Sisterhood necklace

This Bright Winter Morning

The first rays of morning light illuminate their tiny faces as I round the corner of the stairs.

How long have you been holding her like that?  I ask in a scratchy morning voice.

Shhh...she answers.  I think she's having a bad dream.

I remember when my big girl was a baby herself, when I held her for long hours by moonlight, thinking the dark night would never end.  I remember wondering if my own mother held me the same way, if she stayed awake the way I do now hoping the morning will be happy and bright.

She cries sometimes, wishing for a sister, and I feel guilty, knowing I have three and will not offer her even one.  She cries and then one of her favorite littles comes to spend the night, and she's in heaven.  The sisterless know better than anyone how desperately we need each other, how everything changes in the company of another whom we dare to call sister, to call friend.

May you wake, dear shutter sisters, on this bright winter morning, knowing how grateful we are for your company, for your eyes, for your lens, for your unique and beautiful way of seeing each other and this beautiful world.  Merry Christmas.

Leave a comment and win the chance to have one more little surprise to top off your holiday season.  Today's giveaway is the lovely Sisterhood necklace from Blue Poppy Jewelry.

magic

A couple weeks ago, in the spirit of the season, we decided to download the movie Fred Claus. Simple enough. Until the eight year old wheels of logic started turning in my son's head, and the interrogation began. "But how does Santa get in here if we don't have a chimney?" "Does he know the code to the alarm?" "How does he fly through the night when it's daytime on the other side of the world?" (That one made my head hurt). But we dutifully lied through our teeth as the questions got to be more and more detailed. "YES! We mailed him the key to the front door, ALRIGHT?!!"

A few days passed, and I guess it had been eating my husband up. Because the next thing I know, he waltzes into the room to casually announce that he has single-handedly informed our children (the youngest is THREE) that Santa Claus is indeed NOT REAL.

Me: "Are you serious?"

Him: "Yep, I was sick of lying to them."

Me: "Well, why don't you just tell them about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. And while you're at it, tell them how babies are made. For good measure, why don't you just pour them a drink?!"

But the damage had been done. Or so we thought. A few more days passed, when my oldest asks my husband, "If Santa's not real, then who always eats all those cookies after we go to bed?"

My husband could see in his eyes how much he desperately wanted Santa to be real. He said, "You know what...I never thought about that. But you're right...the cookies ARE always gone the next morning. Maybe he really IS real afterall!" All three children tuned in. And by the end of the conversation, Santa was alive and well again. And so was the possibility of magic. It made me realize that sometimes it's not important to have all the answers, because so much joy comes from just having the faith to believe.

What do you believe in this Christmas Eve?

Leave a comment, and one lucky winner will receive $100 to spend at Blurb!