Celebrating Life

The last three weeks have been both difficult and healing. Many who loose a loved one feel overwhelmed with grief especially when looking at photographs of their loved one during happier times. Yet, the process of going through those old photographs and remembering all the wonderful times shared is healing.
During the first week after my husbands passing my daughters and I looked through all our old photographs choosing those that we wanted to share in his eulogy video. While it was hard and we cried quite a bit I do think it helped us to remember many of the happier times. At first when I thought back to that first week it was the grief that overshadowed my memories and then I took a look at the photographs which were taken around our home during that first week. These photos remind me that even when faced with great sorrow we should and can celebrate life.

The family's newest addition Born 2/14/12

playing with great uncle

chilling with uncle

four generations

My mother with my boys

Son-in-law teaching my grand kids to fix walls

Family Resemblance

Have you ever looked at a photo and thought "wow I can't believe how much they look like so-n-so"? Family resemblance can be strong or subtle or even fleeting. With my daughter her resemblance to me was strongest at age three and from one angle, the same is true with her daughter.  This collage shows one photo of me, two of my daughter and one of my granddaughter all taken at age three.

While I was going through the photos I took while visiting my niece in DC as soon as I saw this photo it was as if I was looking at a photo of her mother. I have often commented on how much she looks like her mother and yet never felt the resemblance was so strong until I saw this profile photo.

My Sister-in-law passed away ten years ago and yet when I saw this photo all I could see was my niece's mother. I wish I had a profile photo of her mother but these will have to do for now.

Top left and bottom right are my niece, the other two are her mother. The top right photo of my Sister-in-law was taken right about the same age as my niece is now. In the bottom one she is a few years older.