Captured: When A Photo Gets It Right...

As one of Mama Kat's writing prompts this week, she asked us to share a photo of ourselves that we think really captures who we are. I thought long and hard about it and went back and forth between the other prompts, flipped through my photos from the last few years, went back to the other prompts again and finally decided on this photo taken by my good friend Michele on my and Charlie's wedding day in 2008...

I had already changed out of my wedding dress and we were getting ready to leave the church for our honeymoon and would be gone for eight nights.  


Dracen was four, almost five, at the time and while I can't remember exactly what we were talking about here, I'm sure it had to do with how long I'd be gone, what day I'd be back and what I was going to bring him upon my return.  


I'm pretty sure I did not know this photo was being taken and I suppose this is the reason I believe it captures my soul so well.  Aside from the fancy jewelry and the curls and birdseed in my hair, this look on my face and subtle concern in my eyes as I reassure my child is, well...it's me.  In a nutshell.

I know I was excited...about finally getting the chance to relax with my new husband in the tropics for a full week, about this new beginning...this second leap of faith and reopening of my mended heart that had been shattered by grief less than five years earlier...


But I was also a little concerned and worried (as always)about leaving my babies behind for over a week although I knew they'd be in the excellent care and hands of grandparents who loved them fiercely.  


I can see clearly on my face (that probably appears calm and collected to most) that my thinking wheels inside my head were spinning out of control with thoughts and concerns that most likely never made it to my lips, much less past them. 


But I also know that my heart was smiling, happy, grateful and filled with love and anticipation for the beautiful, yet to be lived life that lay ahead... 


And unlike my first time as a bride, I now possessed the insight and wisdom to know that while life will not always be easy and that the road will get bumpy, and sometimes even downright treacherous at times, that it must always go on and be cherished as the imperfectly beautiful gift that it is...