We are a group of photographers who met through The Family Historian workshop. It is our goal to create a family legacy to leave behind for our children. We are doing this by telling stories with our cameras. But our cameras can only capture so much. And that is why we write. The narratives that we attach to our photographs connect the dots to reveal “The Big Picture”.
“Cousins” by Rachel Wheeler
We’ve spent a lot of time at Auntie’s house on the lake. Your grown up cousins, Adam and Ben, take you fishing, skipping stones or swimming. They also love to kayak and have offered many times to take you out with them. You say something like, “No thanks, I’m not feeling very ‘kayaky’ right now.” To my mama ears that whispers, “I’ve never been in a kayak before and that lake is awfully big and the water is really deep and what if I tip over and I don’t like swimming in the deep end very much and that life jacket might not fit very well and and and and and…”
And then there was time at Auntie’s house on the lake when cousin Max was there too. Your bosom buddy. Your same age as you but lives a long way away cousin. And when asked if he’d like to try the kayaks, he hopped right in.
“Come on! I’ve never been in one of these! It looks fun! Do you know how to do this?”
“No…I’ve never gone out in the kayaks.”
“But I thought you’ve been here lots of times!?”
And you came to me and whispered.
“Mama, I want to go out in the kayaks with Max.”
“Would you like me or your big cousin, Ben, to take you?”
“I need to think.”
[pause]
“Ben.”
And when you returned you casually wondered why you waited so long to try it! I thank heaven for cousins.
“Ninth Winter” by Kendra Knaggs
I see you clearly, at nine months old, every time I look at your beautiful face. A wonderous overlap of time. The past becoming the future in front of my eyes.
Untitled by Nadia Stone
This is commitment and passion. With the big swell that has came the last couple of days he has surfed around 6 h per day.
I love watching you so dedicate for this sport. You starts surfing where you were 3… and always love watching the ocean and always ready for an adventure!
“Arrested” by Debbie Deonier
The toy handcuffs have been a hit. I thought you guys would use them on each other but it turns out it’s more fun to put them Maisy. She’s so patient and puts up with your shenanigans with little resistance.
“Snacks” by April Dautlich
Honestly, if I never hear the word “snack” again it will be too soon. We’ve somehow shifted in to a life where the two of you only want to eat snacks.
Forget any nourishing meal that I spend an hour (sometimes longer) cooking. That food gets titled DISGUSTING by your big sister.
I’m not sure if this is just life with kids. Or if this is an adaptation from the pandemic.
I do know when we get the weekly shopping it’s a happy day because your snack basket gets replenished.
“mind blown” by Heather Robinson
although it might seem like it from time to time, the truth is i never wish for you to actually slow down or to speed up your growth. i understand that you are progressing through your childhood at the rate that feels right for you. however, there are certain legs of the journey that i enjoy so much i wish i could pause time to savor the moments just a bit longer. your brain at age 5 is riveting. the intricacies that you offer so nonchalantly leave me speechless. one of my recent favorite nuggets of yours was,
“Do you know why my pinkies are so weak? Because they are broken in half and taped together by my skin.”
mind blown.
“Spinning” by Tanae Sorenson
My office. The one place Mom asks you not to play and the one place I’m guaranteed to find the two of you. There’s just something so special about using mom’s notebooks, or coloring with mom’s pens, especially while spinning in Mom’s chair.
When big sis first went to school, the two of you felt a little lost without her. Who would lead you? How would you know what to play? It took some time to get the creative wheels spinning but together, you’ve found your way.
“We Failed” by Amy Mehlos
We were doing so well. We did everything we were meant to do and nothing we weren’t. It snuck up on us out of nowhere, and just like that, all the sacrifices we made the last two years and everything we worked towards, felt like it was all for nothing. It was mild thankfully, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional toll it would take on me. Guilt, shame, sadness, resentment, even a sense of relief. I hope one day there is a lesson to learn from this but for now, it just feels so overwhelming.