Julie Williams Photography~The Blog

What am I thankful for?

I’m thankful for an alarm clock….because that means I have a reason to get up in the morning.

I’m thankful for a child that cries if I leave the house without a hug…because that means I’m loved.

I’m thankful for a power bill…because that means I have heat and lights in my home.

I’m thankful when I forget my sunglasses and the sun is in my eyes….because that means I can see.

I’m thankful for God for touching those eyes…..so I can see people and situations as He sees them.

I’m thankful for my hospitals that call in the middle of the night….because that means I have a talent to share with families that have lost their precious child.

I’m thankful for a house payment….because that means I have a place to tuck my children in bed & keep my family safe.

I’m thankful for medical bills….because that means I have 5 beautiful children that are healthy.

I’m thankful for Playdough….because even though the smell brings back HORRID memories of cancer playrooms, my kids adore it and it makes them happy. (After years of being banned)

I’m thankful for that hound dog like nose….because it means I can smell the beauties of the earth too.

I’m thankful for whining, yes I said whining….because it means I can hear. Whining requires payback and that is “I love you mom!”

I’m thankful for my crooked back…because it still supports me and allows me to do what I love to do despite the pain.

I’m thankful for many more things….of which I won’t bore you. Please take a moment to think of those things you are truly thankful for. It’s the little things in life that make us who we are. Embrace them.

There are times in my life when I’m reminded what life is all about.  I had a past client call me for a family portrait.  Nothing really out of the ordinary but she asked to get in as soon as possible.  The urgency in her voice let me know I needed to arrange my schedule to get them in.  I told her I had an opening that next day (Saturday) that I could sneak them in.  What I heard next took me right back to March of this past year.  The dr’s had found a mass in MY body that needed to be removed.  I didn’t know what that mass was, but having battled cancer twice before, upon searching my friend ‘google’ I realized that most masses in this area, if found to be cancerous, were the same type I already had.  The urgency I heard in this mothers voice was the urgency I found in my own voice, when I realized I didn’t have an updated family portrait.  I immediately called a wonderful photographer in the valley and scheduled my own family session before my surgery.  Forward to this week, with tear filled eyes, I scheduled this family’s session the next Saturday and were able to have a great time in the studio.  What a beautiful family.  Things look very good for this mom and family and my heart could not be any more thrilled for them.  It was an honor and privilege to photograph them and I just pray that when they look at these images, as I do my family portraits, they will remember how precious and fragile life truly is.

I would like to share a couple images from their family portrait…..