What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. – Helen Keller

I’ve had the pictures in this post here ready to be published for almost two months now, but have never been able to find the right words to say… I still can’t.  The mother of a dear friend of ours passed away on March 10th after a battle with cancer.  The same day my neighbor lost her mother to cancer, we found out another friend lost their little girl in a tragic accident, and my husband’s grandmother fell and broke several bones.  I was reminded, like a slap in the face, about how precious life is.  How we must treasure every moment we have with our loved ones, because one day we will have those memories to remember, and keep us going.

I feel so lucky to have been able to capture these moments of their family together back in the fall of 2010, before Jan was diagnosed with cancer.  Her smile and love for her family during this one little moment in time will never be forgotten.  I have challenged myself, and challenge you to get out and take pictures of your loved ones.  But even more take photos of yourself.  Not for you, but for them.  Even if you think you’re having a bad hair day, have ten pounds to lose, or like me, you’re still in your pajamas at noon.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve set up a family photo session or your just taking photos with your phone and posting them to instagram, embrace the camera.  My friend Holly (Jan’s daughter-in-law) has started doing this on her personal blog, and it’s something I’ve consciously been doing myself, for my own kids, so someday when I am gone they will have those happy memories to look back on.