seeing the everyday

[september 2006]

I'm sharing this photo with you today because it was this moment I started seeing life from behind my lens. We were walking to the car after an afternoon of fun at the school carnival and I urged my girls to sit on the hillside so I could take their picture. My objective was to get a lovely picture of the three of them, together, smiling, and what I got was this -- Bella sitting austere, seemingly unaware of the other two who were busy freaking out about a fly (Tess is attempting to swat at it, not trying to hit Megan).

After going through my contact sheet of the photographs I took that afternoon the photo above is what stood out to me. It depicted so perfectly the story of what our life was like on a regular basis. It was REAL and I loved it. It was then I realized I want to capture life as it's happening. I want the good and the ugly. I want the crazy hair and the mismatched clothes. I want the family games, evening with friends, and the unbridled laughter. I want the snuggles and the quiet moments. I want the morning light streaming in from my window and our faces first thing in the morning. I want the messy house and what it's like inside our car on the way to get ice-cream. I wanted to capture us.

And it was all of that, that lead me here.

Next year, 2012, I'm going to be teaching a photography class at Squam Art Workshops.

pause :: do a little dance

It's called Seeing the Everyday. I'll be teaching in New Hampshire in June and September, and in Outer Banks North Carolina in October.

I don't even have the words to try and explain what this means to me. I've wanted this. I've been working toward this, to be able to share with you my passion for really seeing life, and to finally have it within reach, I am speechless.

All I have in my heart this morning is gratitude. Gratitude for those who got me and saw my vision. Gratitude for those who helped me get to where I am today. Gratitude for God's hand in my life. Gratitude for my family for inspiring me. Gratitude to be given the opportunity to share something important to me. Gratitude for my three girls (Hannah, Jenica, and Amy) who got my ball rolling. Gratitude for those who saw in me what I could not see in myself. Gratitude for the support and encouragement from people like you.

Thank you.

I would love more than anything to see you there. Come. Let's play with our cameras together. Squam is a life changing experience you will take with you for the rest of your life. I know. It has changed mine forever.

xoxo
amy gretchen

the difference four years make

[1 June 2006]

I remember this day like it was yesterday. It was June 1st, the last day of Kindergarten for Bella. She was 6 years old and excited for the summer to begin, though sad to be leaving her teacher behind. Tess had been 4 years old for only 4 days and Megan was a couple months shy of 2.

Life was really intense then. Always a kid under foot, always someone who needed me. I remember being exhausted and tired (it's amazing what you can get done when your tired). I remember the times when I cried and I thought I wouldn't be able to do it another day. I remember wondering if I would ever feel whole again, but at the end of the day I loved it because I loved them and I would do anything.



Today, four years later, I feel like not much has changed and yet everything has. Megan is ending her kindergarten year getting ready to be like her sisters and go to school all day. Tess is only a few hours away from turning 8 and getting baptized. Bella is 10 years old and saying goodbye to her 4th grade year.

It's crazy to see the time fly, to look at these two pictures and compare where we were and where we are. Though life definitely isn't as intense as it once was, it's still just as busy with school projects, volunteer work, and after school activities. I don't have someone pulling at my pants or climbing up on my lap, but I am just as needed. There are days that I miss when they were younger and all home, days that I mourn the passing of time, but I know there is nothing more I can do about those days so I remind myself to be here in the now. Soak up and love where we are so I can appreciate it once it's gone. And I am...loving where we are.

My girls are independent, yet they still need Adam and I. They listen to us, yet they have there own strong opinions. They like time with friends, but not more than time with family. They still have an early bed time and wake up at the crack of dawn. They can easily put themselves to bed, yet they still love and want me to come see them before they drift off to sleep.

I love to see them become more of their own person, but I love that they still need Adam and I. I'm hoping even when they get older, when other things become more important that they will still need us in one way or the other because I know one thing for sure...I will still need them.