Last week I returned from a trip to Hawai'i where I was visiting my very good friends, Danielle & Luke, and their sweet little 8-month old twins... One of whom is my very first godchild!
During the trip we had a day-in-the-life photo session planned, where I photographed everything – documentary style, no posing. We started before the babies even woke up. By 1pm, I was lamenting (from a horizontal position on the floor) “what time is it, 4PM?” ...Family life with twin babies is BUSY.
At some point in the afternoon, Luke noticed a bunch of text messages on his phone, with various exclamations about Hawaii's false missile warning. At this point, the alert had been revoked and the mistake was confirmed. We had been deep in daily life with two babies, and phones were definitely not a priority. We laughed and marvelled briefly at the idea that chaos had been reigning all around, unbeknownst to any of us. (In fact, by that time we were strolling in Lyon Arboretum having an unusually serene afternoon.)
|
|
...Yesterday I stopped and actually pictured what I would have done if I had received the alert. I closed my eyes, and imagined how it would feel to get that text... 38 minutes thinking I'd never see my people again.
I would have done what lots of people did: phoned my parents, my sister, all my loved ones, and said “I love you.”
But what about people I couldn’t get ahold of? And even the people I did get ahold of? Did they understand how much I loved them? Why does it matter? Because, basically, that’s all that matters.
Do you get that? Like, really get it, so it’s a thick feeling in your throat, and your muscles tingle, and your eyes burn? I didn’t get it. I don’t know if we ever truly can, until that moment arrives. But at least I get it now a little more than before.
|
|
Three words in the English language that hold so much power.
Words we long for and are afraid of and crave and dismiss.
Whispered with a pounding heart, or mumbled at the end of a phone call without a care.
Until a day when all other possibilities go away, and the only thing that’s left to do is tell someone
I love you.
|
|
It's the New Year. Engagement Season. Pregnancy-[Announcement] Season. Resolutions. A fresh start.
Say it.
Say it, and if someone is saying it to you, listen. Hear that - receive it - let it in. Feel it. It might terrify you – it might even make you cry. That’s ok. It’s worth it. Say it.
I love you.
|
|
Valentine's Day & Family Day:
Book a photo session to read love letters, and gaze into each other’s eyes.
Create memories you can hold in your hands forever.
Relish in time for nothing else but expressing & receiving love.
That’s all that really matters.
Couples, engagements, and family sessions from $550.
Empire Citizen-exclusive dates available: Feb. 3, 4, 10, 14, 19, 24.
|
|
PS Holy cow am I grateful that the Missile Alert was false! Can I get an AMEN?!
|
|
|
|
|