Here's to the Moms

Here's to the moms.

The ones helping their kids fly high, 

who don't seem to mind when they fade

into the background.

Here's to the moms whose lives have been turned upside down,

but they wouldn't have it any other way.

Here's to the moms who never stop teaching,

and the ones who don't take it for granted that they have their hands full.

Here's to the moms who let dads be dads,

whose kids' excitement is equalled only by their own.

Here's to the moms who have their priorities straight,

whose clutter will wait while they share a game

or a story.

Here's to the moms who indulge their kids' hair-brained ideas,

against their own better judgement,

because sometimes they turn out pretty awesome. 

Here's to the moms whose babies are furry,

and who are furry themselves.

Here's to the moms who help each other stay sane and realistic,

who do what it takes to keep their own attitudes in check.

Here's to the moms who are learning to put their kids in the driver's seat,

who are passing on the baton of faith,

and who are beginning to see their own mom when they look in the mirror.

Here's to the moms who are taking the time to honor family traditions

by handing them down to future generations.

These are the moms who need to be in the pictures.

As Mother's Day approaches, do yourself a favor. 

Take the camera out of their hands for a little while,

and turn it in their direction.

It Was Time

I got the sweetest message not long ago.

These dog lovers wanted me to come and do a family session.

There was no putting it off.

There would soon be a move for their family.

Their oldest pup, Buddy, would not be subjected to the transition.

They needed to capture this chapter while they could.

Family photos were definitely in order.

They wanted a portrait, 

but they also wanted to simply remember how sweet life was with him.

So I showed up and took it all in.

Of course I asked them to tell me their story.

It turns out that Buddy came along before Joe did.

He was a stray, and she rescued him.

As is so often the case, Buddy rescued her too, 

her faithful companion through some really rough times.

After a move for Sue and Buddy, Joe noticed the girl next door.

I mean, she would have been hard to miss.

It really couldn't be more obvious that he's been smitten ever since.

Or that it's mutual.

There's a new dog in the house.

They adopted Killer about a year ago, and full of energy,

even while Buddy's was waning.

I got a text just two days later that Buddy passed away...

peacefully, asleep next to his mom.

He spared her the agony of the appointment with the vet.

I think their love will carry them through the loss.

Rest in peace, Buddy.

You were beautiful until the end.

You'll be loved forever.

A moment to breathe

We live in an area rich with green space.
So much so that I practically have to pinch myself sometimes
because it's Right. Here. at my suburban doorstep.

I frequently take advantage of all the serenity on my morning walks with a friend,
but it's a little less often I get my family out there with me.

So it was my Mother's Day request.  They were excited.

We hiked.  For like a whole mile.

There was a little competition for who would get to the little shelter first.  Ahem.

In the end, one got to the shelter first.  One got to the lake first.
One smelled the flowers.  (And took pictures of them.)
And one (God bless him!) ran interference.

We even discovered a geocache we weren't looking for.

And I got my favorite Mother's Day gift.