Self-Portrait, Project 52-4

Uggggh, I have been dreading this week since I read the scheduled assignment!  I have disliked getting my picture taken since I was like 3.  My parents, especially my dad, loved taking pictures, and now I am so glad that they did.  Those photos are some of my most precious belongings.  Each one has a special memory associated with it, and since both of my parents are gone those memories are priceless.  Now I am the photo lover--I probably drive my grandkids crazy always wanting pictures. But they are growing so fast, and I want them to have lots of wonderful memories to cherish. 

I don't consider myself very photogenic and there are very few photos of myself that I even like.  Like most women, I am very critical of my appearance.  I believe these pictures show a woman who has had a good life, not a perfect life, but a life filled with things that shaped who she is.  Each wrinkle, each imperfection makes up who she really is.  And even though she doesn't always see beauty in that face, she believes that her maker does and in the end that's all that matters.

I Dreamed a Dream - Project 52-3

Growing up as an only child, I dreamed of becoming a wife and a mommy to lots of babies.  Well even though we didn't have LOTS of babies, motherhood was the greatest experience of my life.  I love my two kids more than life itself and when they both graduated from high school, I began to dream of being a grandmother.  I assumed it would be a long time, since they both were going to college and were not in any type of serious relationships.

God knew the desires of my heart and within 5 years, Danita & Gabe both got married and had 2 kids each.  Danita's daughter and son, and Gabe's sons are the light of our lives and just thinking about these 4 precious blessings make me so happy.  My dreams definitely came true!

Made with Love - Project 52, Week 2

It's always fun to experience new things with our grandkids.  I had wanted to take them to see a train display at a nearby museum around Christmas, but it didn't work out.  We found out there was going to be one more weekend to catch the train show, so we took two of the grandkids.  It was amazing and Brie, and Brodie really enjoyed it. 

The train collection belongs to a 78 year old man who received his first train in the 1940's and added to his collection throughout the years.  And even though it takes many weeks of preparation, this gentleman wanted to share his collection with many others especially the children.  Thus this display was made with love.