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Celebrating the coming of Spring with one of my amazing brides Shannon in one of the most beautiful settings I can think of! Cherry blossoms and spring, sigh. xoxo
One of my favourite zen quotes.
"Sitting quietly, doing nothing, the spring comes and the grass grows by itself.”
Dear Maisie,
On Saturday you turn four.
Sometimes I wonder how I am, as a parent. If I'm good. If I'm teaching you enough, sharing enough, loving enough. And then, as though on cue you'll say "this is the best day ever mom". or "I love my family" or "I have a lot of love for Avery" (your bff) and my soul feels full. You see, I hope that the most beautiful gift we will ever be able to give you is a good attitude. A positive outlook. The ability to choose to see beauty when all signs may point to yucky. When I see you dance around in the sunlight, run around in scooby doo boy "panties" and gumboots, hug your dad unprompted and say "you are the best dad ever", or kiss your baby brother on the head... it makes me smile. You are wild, free, loving and kind. You have your moments. The meltdowns. We have our moments, our power struggles. But, I can see you shine. I can see that you know that every day really is the best day ever or at least could be. I see that, and know that your life will be filled with love and adventure. Four years in this life Maisie. Four lucky, fabulous years. What a marvel you are. You are joy. You are miraculous, miles from ordinary. I hope you always are able to see the potential for the best day, in every day. I love you sweet girl,
Happy fourth birthday,
xoox Love mom.
I was born and raised in Campbell River, eventually I left for about 6 years working on cruise ships as a photographer. When I would tell people all over the world that I was from Vancouver Island, they would sigh. They would say things like "oh man, it's so beautiful there", "you're so lucky" "paradise". I suppose at the time I was young, and wanted nothing more than to escape where I was from. I was gypsying around taking in all of the amazing scenery from all over the world. Fantastic landscapes in Ireland, white washed buildings in Greece, romantic canals in Venice, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, or the exotic bustling markets of Marrakech. When I would come home from a contract at sea, I wound up slowly realizing how beautiful this island really was. I was able to see it through the eyes of a tourist in a way.
The amazing ocean views, the coastal living, the rocky shorelines, wild tides, the other islands in view from ours, the mountains in the distance, the lush deep dark mysterious woods. I fell in love with home. It gets under your skin, this place. Forms impressions on your soul. It's rough, rugged, majestic, dark, mysterious and full of beauty.
I love that these beautiful friends will put up with me while I rock up to their session in the pouring rain with an umbrella taped to my head. Am I joking? Nope. I'm not. I duck taped an umbrella to my head? Yes I did. I'm ridiculous and they love me anyways. The moments shared with this family are etched into my soul like the coastal shorelines I grew up on. These are my people. These beings stayed a constant for me while gypsying around the globe. I always felt the most grounded when I would return home and set up camp with them. My beautiful friends. Love this family. Love this island. Love! this life.
Gorgeous, sweet, sincere and kind people getting married in a castle in Victoria, BC. Yes. Please. Bresee has a thoughtful ease about her, and Nick so charming and sweet. Their families and friends fun, funny and fabulous. What's not to love? Oh and Bresee's daughter??? Certainly no shortage of personality and entertainment either and I obviously fell under her spell as well. Intense gratitude to you all. May your lives always be full of the same effortless beauty that surrounded you on your wedding day. oxxo
Dear Maisie,
You asked to watch the "real ballet Swan Lake" on the snowiest day of the year on Vancouver Island. "I am the one with the crown mom, I'm the one on my tippy toes. Come one dad, dance with me." Your jammies were quickly exchanged for your ballet clothes. Watching you dance around the living room, periodically kissing baby Elliots head and instructing your dad how to be "more beautiful" and more like a "real ballerina". Your dad tried to ask you something about the performance and you whispered "shhhhh, ballerinas never talk on stage dad". I kept watching you and noticing the snow falling gently outside. Before I knew it, I had carried you and my camera outside and popped you on your new "stage" outside in the snow of our front yard. You laughed, danced and within about 2 minutes were done and ready for your promised 'dora snacks'. I posted one photo on my Facebook page and it got a whole lot of attention. I guess people think my little ballerina in the snow is pretty cute. I know I sure do.
Maisie, I hope you will always take time to be spontaneous, be wild, do something different, be yourself and follow your heart. Dance in the snow, live passionately and creatively. You are a masterpiece. I love you sweet girl. xoxo
