Mom's Night - Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

"If you work all day and you never get paid, You're a MOM"

My daughter's awesome preschool put together a Mommy child date night. It was a very special night. We had an amazing time together. At the end they sang this really cool song by Go Fish called "The Mom Song". I don't get a lot of one-on-one time with R (my middle child) so this night will be in my heart forever.

Live life, go ahead and slide -Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

We all know people who shy away from the camera and say "NO, don't take my picture." They say I look too... this or that... I don't look perfect. Sometimes I feel like that too.

My family went sledding this weekend with my hubby's aunt who came in from FL. She said she hadn't seen snow in more than 20... or was it 30 years.
I had prepared images of my family sledding for this blog but instead decided to highlight someone who would rather stand in the background. Her love of God, family, and life is apparent to whoever she encounters. Just look at her face as she slides down the hill, pure JOY. While I made stupid excuses for not sledding down the hill, she jumped right at the chance.

AME, you light up our lives with laughter and love. Next time I will put down the camera and slide down the hill. Thank you for showing me through example what it is to live life.

Winter Will Pass - Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

It's been a rough 48 hrs. Not my best mommy moment. Actually I would put it in the column, one of my biggest failure moments. It's only 16 days into 2012 and I am already having a BIG or as J says "Huge, Huge" failure?!... Deep sigh... YES... I am sad and very angry at myself.

How did I let this happen? What didn't I do? What could I have done? Why didn't I know?

How did I let this happen?

My hubby tells me, "I know what your thinking, your a bad mother. That's not the case, this is not your fault."

That's exactly how I feel. I have failed my family. It's a humbling feeling. It reminds me that I am not a perfect mom. It reminds me that I am a person of faith.

Yes I failed. I did, even if my wonderfully supportive hubby doesn't think so (or admit it).

I failed.

Just like the winter will pass...

This too shall pass.

There I Am - Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

On this beautiful afternoon, I took several shots of the sunset. I'd like to say that I was just sitting there watching the sun go down, taking the awe-inspiring view in, but this was not the case. I was actually running after my little ones who were on their bikes. I would stop every now and then, compose the shot, click and then run, in between screaming:

"STOP at the corner."

I didn't know if I had captured anything at all. A sunset, is a sunset, is a sunset as I thumbed through all of the images. Then I saw myself.... my profile... ME! I am looking left towards the little bit of light in the corner. There I am.

I am finding myself again. No longer lost in the mountain of laundry, nor behind the fog of baby powder. Not drowning in a sea of bottles, nor blown away in a tornado of moving, yet again. Sure, I have no doubt that I will have to put my mug on a milk carton every now and again. But slowly I see me emerging. Every day more and more I am coming to realize that I don't have to live my life just for my children and husband.

It's okay to live my life for me, at least sometimes.

"I'm going to take one more picture then we can cross the street together."

Keeping It Simple - Chicago Area Family Photojournalist

The story of the Poinsettia began in the 16th Century. The legend tells of a young girl in Mexico who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale states that an angel appeared to the young girl, told her to gather weeds from the side of the road and place them in front of the church alter. From the weeds sprouted beautiful Poinsettias.

I've been thinking about my MANY New Years resolutions the past few days. My dear friend reminded me "keep it simple". Just as the young girl in the story believed and "kept it simple" so must I.

My New Years resolution: "Keep It Simple" and have faith in that.