Wednesday, August 27, 2008

WFMW: Photo Reminder

When my mother died 7 years ago I realized that I had very few "good" photos of her. Most of my pictures that included my mom were action shots (her looking at the baby or opening a present) or group photos. I then decided that I was going to take lots of pictures of my dad just being my dad and my kids' grandpa. And thankfully, I have lots. :)

Well, with my brother's untimely passing I realize that I should take more "good" photos of ALL the important people in my life. Since Jim was an active dad (and uncle) many of the pictures of him are of his back or side... holding someone, fixing a racetrack, or helping one of the kids to bowl a strike. I also wish I had more pictures of him "just because."
Here is the last photo taken of my brother (and some of my cute family). We'd stopped at my favorite restaurant close to my brother's house and I took this photo "just because".
So, what I hope will work for you this Wednesday is to take lots of pictures of ALL your loved ones, including yourself!

Leave a comment and then head over to Shannon's blog, Rocks in My Dryer, to see more Works for Me Wednesday tips!

17 comments:

Jan Ross said...

That is SO TRUE. My dad passed away a couple of years ago and I will always treasure the many memories of our family trips to the beach - and the many pictures!

Anonymous said...

What a good reminder!! Thank you.

I'm so sorry to read about your brother.

-Lori

Leslie said...

The other day I was looking at pictures of Will from when he was very little. These were some pictures that I remember thinking at the time "oh these aren't very good, should I even keep them?" Silly me. We should also try to put backups of these photos at another location, since it is so easy to do nowdays.

Audra Krell said...

You've had a lot on your plate lately, the move and now your precious brother. I'm so sorry for all that you are going through. I love your suggestion to take pictures just because, you are so right. And your boys are being prayed for too, looks like they lost a great uncle.

$5 Dinner Mom said...

Thanks for the great reminder! We will be with family this weekend! I hope you give the calendar a try...it has saved many a "what's for dinner" moments (read frustrations!). A dear friend of mine is Leah, scrapper, K teacher, and went to college in SC (she lives in KS!). I couldn't help but notice the similarities!
Happy Wednesday!

Wani said...

What a great reminder! I take pix of my kids alot but not always the other special people in our lives. Thanks!

jen aka mommay said...

What a very good tip. I always wish I had taken some of my family when they are over 'just because'.

Sorry to hear about your brother.

Tiffers said...

You have NO idea how this hit home. I lost my niece 2 years ago June, it was a month before she turned 3, in a car accident. Her mommy (and I) both have TONS and TONS of pictures. My nieces uncle was able to make a 20 minute montage, set to music, DVD to play at her service. AMAZING. My dad joked and said that between her mommy and I we could put books together of every day of our child's life. It's a BIT of a stretch, but my camera is an extension of my right hand. A side note, that same uncle who did the montage, he was murdered in January. There weren't enough pictures of him as far as I was concerned. God bless!

Kara said...

Thanks for reminding me of this!! Pictures are worth a thousand words aren't they?!!

the ginhouse said...

Hi sweets! I snapped (the camera, not me) just Mon b/c of seeing your boys first day pictures. That's something I usually forget to do. I've already snapped (& printed! yea me!) all of my new students. You know I'm really thinking ahead to that end of the year book. Remember those?
I really miss you guys & wish I had more pictures of the fun we had! We'll have to take some when we meet up again. Love you guys!

Karin @ 6ByHisDesign said...

Your photo descriptions are real-life just because photos. In the middle of life, doing what they did best. What a blessing to have photos of The One Who Fixed Our Tracks...and The One Who Held Me as a Baby. Those are precious, too. In the midst of life, living life.

I have such poor memory skills that I snap photos constantly just so I CAN remember these days - I filled an entire photo album just from our photos from June! (Granted, it was a VERY busy month, but still LOTS of photos!!!)

Anyway, I came calling to say thanks for the visit in Missouri via BAThW the other day!

penguinsandladybugs said...

AMEN!!! I just plain need to take more photos....you can NEVER have too many, right?

MaryLu said...

Nice Reminder!!
I totally forget to get ME in the photos all the time. I'm the one holding the camera, I wa there, right? Not to mention the fact that I believe I can't be that fat, am I?
I hate that!
I need to carry my tripod and use the timer setting more often.
About our clothepin chore chart, right now I kind of sort the chores into younger chores, (4 and 5 yr old) and older chores, (9 and 10 yr old) But I had thought of redoing them with color coating, so that each child has their own set of colored chores. I just haven't had time to impliment my upgraded ideas.

Michelle @ Sew-Krafty said...

Great reminder!!
Do I have to include ME? UGH!

Ter said...

I know this is true... I only have a few photos of my daughter, and most of them are blurry. :(

The other thing that is important is to make a record of WHO people are. Just because YOU know who they are doesn't mean your children's grandchildren's children will when they look back at what will be "old" photos then!

Kim Thomas said...

I have very few pics of my grandmother and it irritates me. I am out in force with my camera and now call myself "the historian"

Emma's Mommy said...

This is a GREAT reminder. I am good about taking pictures of the kids in the family, but I tend to not take pictures of the grandparents and the siblings.

I am sorry that you lost your brother. But what a blessing that his organs were able to be used to help others. I will keep your family in my prayers.

BTW - thanks for the compliment on my new do! I'm glad you found me and I look forward to getting to know you.