Precious Over Perfect

Thank you for the kind words about yesterday's post. I appreciate those of you experiencing a hard year receiving those words in love and hearing my heart! I just sat here and cried over your comments and emails, because I know this hard-year-thing is really hard for some of you.

And that has inspired me to add one more reminder for you.

As you know (if you've been here for any length of time) I'm the crazy picture lady. I take pictures of everything. All the time. I don't apologize for it, and I don't care if anyone finds it to be going overboard. The bottom line is that life can change so fast, and I don't want a single regret. If someone I love isn't sitting around the table with me next Christmas, I want to know I captured every memory I could...while I could.

And while I love a good official photo shoot as much as the next person, the pictures I love the most are the little moments I capture, even if they aren't perfect. They're still precious. 

Yesterday morning, Ryan went to the hospital early to spend some time with his mom before his work day began. (He does that every day.) He does devotions with her and prays with her. While he prayed, he snapped a quick candid picture. She had bedhead and no makeup, was still in her nightgown, and had her head bowed in prayer. Was it the best picture ever taken of her? Absolutely not. But at the bottom of the frame, she was clinging to his hand in a way that showed how her heart clung to his words as he prayed. 

I've taken many such pictures in this journey with her. In the time she lived at our house, in the time she's been in the hospital...I've quietly captured moments from the sidelines. I show her most of them (because she's a crazy picture lady too and finds the same joy in them that I do) but now and then I forget to show her one. I don't take all of them for the purposes of posting the on the blog or social media. (And if they're unflattering, I do my best NOT to do that to her.) But I want them for us. 

Because sometimes life is unflattering. Sometimes you aren't the weight you want to be. Sometimes your hair color is a mistake. Sometimes the outfit looked better on the model than a real person. Sometimes the food is a presentation flop. (Hello, waffles from last week.) Sometimes the floor is covered with toys...there's a place for everything and not one single thing is IN its place. Sometimes your nose wasn't made for profile shots. 

It happens.

But don't let those things keep you from capturing a precious moment. Imperfect though it may be, if you feel compelled to grab it, do it. Because you never know when you may not have another chance for that photo. 

Life isn't perfect. Why in the world do we think our pictures of it have to be?

As you get together for your Christmas gatherings, don't be afraid of the imperfect. Find the precious moments and capture them.

Don't delete the picture just because your niece thought it would be the funniest thing in the entire world to add bunny ears. Keep it because she knows her uncle loves good fun and won't be mad that she did it.

Take pictures of your mom practicing hospitality at a party, because that is the core of what she loves to do the most, and few people pause to capture hospitality in action. 

Sneak in a photo of a grandson excited to share his new present with his grandpa. 

Did the wife get worn out from all the celebrating and cash in on a happy nappy? Better capture that too!!

And always, always, always, take pictures of the people you love. This was Ryan with his mom one year ago tomorrow - on her birthday. We had no idea that in one year, she'd be spending her next birthday in the hospital. So yes, take pictures, even in the side room of Bob Evans with the back of people's heads in the background. 

Put aside your inhibitions. Don't be afraid to make and capture memories.