THE STRENGTH OF FAMILY

We all have a family-love it or loath it! There can be conflict. There can be love. In times of adversity, family know our history and love us anyway. The death of a family member leaves a hole. Depending on the relationship, things are never really the same again. Memories of the good times and the bad times come flooding back into our consciousness. There can be a real disbelief the person is no longer with us. Coming together to honour the person, gives us all some comfort. Looking at our pictures! Telling stories! Family keeps the memory alive. Keeps the person with us! Family can include friends that are more like family than family! Are you glad you have your family to comfort you? Even when far away, there is the safety knowing there are others who care!

BLOGGING IS A WAY OF LIFE NOW!

So Post # 600 comes with some reflection. A daily challenge has become a routine, a motivator to write. Blogging brings a need to create. When I take pictures, I see the potential to use them in my posts- as a symbol, as a theme. I may look for a picture to use in one or a picture gives me an idea! I love it when someone I know comments that they read my blog. To those in Germany and Russia who read me regularly-thanks for visiting. To Roy, Edna and friends here in Canada and United States, I am glad you visit as often as you do! Not every post is great or profound- that's okay- to keep going, writing, digging and thinking of ideas. Like life- just to get up and put one foot forward everyday. Keep going! Keep writing! Keep blogging!

PHOTOS CAPTURE MOMENTS

One January project is the organization of the family photographs from the last few months. Finished scrapbooking Christmas 2010 and finding photos for the new frames received as gifts. Since digital technology helped reduce the cost of enlargements, I make many of my photos into those larger sizes. It becomes a dilemma - do I frame them and put them on the wall or a surface? or do I simply put them in an album for larger prints? I take many pictures because I love to capture the memories of the events in my life. My travel albums, for example, were scrapbooked long before the concept became trendy. I revisit them occasionally as I like to reread the little vignettes I wrote in them. Some of those earlier stories have been used in my blog along with the travel photos. Many people now just leave their photos in computer files, on their phone or on Facebook for the world to see. For me, the majority of pictures are out in full view in my home but kept private. There are some cute ones of the grandchildren- for some reason it is easy to take moments that are so endearing! What are your favourite photos? Is your home inundated with pictures or are they tucked away?