{ new beginning } 1 / 52 weeks

© Paint the Moon Photography 2011
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Processed with Paint the Moon actions and texture. :)

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My original idea for my first 52 week project photo was my little girl running through a golden field, holding a bouquet of balloons, sunlight washing over her and filling the frame with pure joy.

Well, we live in Oregon ... which means dark, rainy winters and not a plethora of golden fields to be had this time of year. We arrived home with our bouquet of balloons and the first thing that happened is the rain started to pour. Not yet daunted by this change in weather, I proceeded to try and get baby nursed, changed and ready to go and then turned my attention to my older daughter. Her mood had gone south like the weather had ... I was met by Miss Crabby Pants who wanted nothing to do with photos. Not only that, but my baby girl was in her own set of Crabby Pants and sorely needing a nap. My big plans for taking photos outside for the first time in two months were fading. Three days later, the balloons were dead on the floor of our entry, looking all sad and reminding me of the lack of photos I've taken the past year, how my life is woefully short on time to do everything and making me feel in general like a big, fat failure.

I looked down at Miss E in my arms ... she gave me her beaming, light up the eyes smile and I quickly remembered that everything that mattered in my life was blessed and GOOD. I decided to stop beating myself up and make the best of those dead balloons. Miss A is not as sad as she looks here ... she was just helping play the part since we had been singing, "It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To." :)

So, this is my new beginning ... I make new beginnings all the time. One of the wonderful things about life is that we don't have to wait for a special holiday to make changes or a certain day to appreciate the blessings we have. That mommy guilt and just generally "not enough" feeling I have so often can be washed away by these two little angel's snuggles and a new beginning is made all over again and again. As they say, happiness is not a destination, it's a journey. <3 And this mommy is on one very happy journey.

Over sharpening courtesy of Flickr. :/