FAMILY SESSION BY BETTY CLICKER

These days, I think my main purpose in life is to whisper little prayers of thanks for all the dozens of small things I encounter in my day.  "Thank you that the girls have clothes to wear throughout the week" I think as I pick up the pile of laundry in the bathroom, "Thank you for a laundry machine" I pray silently. "Thank you that they are healthy" I sigh, as I walk past their bedroom where the girls are fast asleep. "Thank you that we have a home to keep them warm," I think, eyes upward. "Thank you that I have food to pack my kids for lunch", while packing lunchboxes.  I gather feelings like this inside and push it outward, releasing and relaxing. "Thank you for running water", as I wash my face...and on and on.  My day is made up of these little prayers, carrying me from moment to moment, my buoy in the up and down waves of the day.  That's where I find my purpose, to give thanks for these small things that make up my life, and to pay close attention to the way I feel and think in the in-between moments. It's a discipline I've practiced for years, and one that feels more and more natural as years go by.  And over time, I've found that this sort of rhythm of gratitude helps fuel the things I want to get done, and prioritize the things that need to get done. How peculiar, and magical.

The other week, Kate Thompson (of Betty Clicker fame) came over to spend an hour hanging out with us and worked her magic capturing some of these in-between moments of a regular morning at home. Kate is a RVA treasure and has a lovely demeanor and calm energy that made us all relaxed around her. More and more, I treasure moments like these at home, where the pace is slow and we are called to care for the things that are closest to us, to look after the place that we inhabit day after day. 

You can see more of the photos below! (And because she's awesome like that, if you tell her I sent you, you can get a 10% off any family session from her.)

Also, throwback! Kate did these photos for us back when I was pregnant with Logan. I have these printed and framed in our home. Logan loves looking at these pointing out that it is her in my belly in these photos.