After taking pics of Ellie, Payton, Shiloh and then the three of them together, we needed to eat, play and sleep.  We had smiled enough.  So the next morning, as we watched the beautiful sunrise over the hill we got ready for some more pictures in the morning sun.  Sunday morning brought more sun, less clouds and some pretty cold temperatures.  But it was a beautiful day.  A clear and crisp northwest autumn morning.

Now, most people get others to take pictures of their family.  I am too frugal for that.  So I set up the tripod, set up my family and set the timer.  Then I run into the shot, try to position myself to look normal and have good hair and catch my breath – all in ten seconds.  What makes it difficult is that most of the time my hair is wild from running, I’m sweating in the sun and I am in a weird or awkward position (which I don’t know at the time because I don’t see myself in the viewfinder when I position everyone else).  I think I frustrate myself more than anyone else does when we take family pictures.  I just want to scream at myself, “Take a good picture!!!!”  But I try to have patience, do retakes quickly and fix things with Photoshop.  It’s also hard to get everyone looking at the camera when I’m running towards them, giving them last minute directions and when there is no one at the camera calling for their attention.  So, these would probably be better if taken by someone else, but it’s what I can afford.

This weekend was fun, crazy, restful, and wonderful.  We had meltdowns.  We had frustrating moments.  But we were together.  And we are always our best when we are together.  I feel rejuvenated when we go away together, just the five of us.  It’s as if we are a team and we seem to have more grace, more patience and more understanding when we are experiencing life that way.  These faces, these hands and feet and messy heads of hair, they are my greatest blessings.  My reasons to be thankful.  My grace received.  My eucharisteo.