Take the Picture

We all know I'm the girl who always has her camera ready for a picture.

I've got my phone, Canon, and Polaroid on standby to capture the little things in life.

I take pictures of my date nights, my dog when she's doing absolutely nothing, and my Jeep from every angle.

And my family knows now that every event we have together, we are taking a family picture.

You might be asking why? Why so many pictures?

Well, because one day that will be all we have left.

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One of my favorite things to do with my Grandma was look at her old photo albums. She had a lifetime of memories in hundreds of pictures. Through the albums, I met family members who had passed before my time. I saw everyone's baby pictures, including my own. I relived styles, cars, and vacations. As we flipped through the pages, we traveled down memory lane. A place I wanted to go and sometimes wanted to stay, because these pictures captured the happiest moments in life.

My Grandma had a love for photography, whether she knew it or not. She always had camera in her hand at family vacations, car shows, and our backyard adventures. She wanted to remember and share special moments in her life. It didn't matter where, what, or who she took the picture. Her love for capturing memories was passed on to me.

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I love documenting my life for big moments and especially the small ones.

Looking at a photograph takes me back to the moment it was taken. I remember the reason behind my big smile, the way the sun felt on my skin, and the way his hair smelled as he pushed his cheek against mine.

A memory I want to always keep close to my heart.

Let me take your picture too, because I want to cherish your memory. I want to remember how excited my brother looked on his graduation day as he walked across that stage. I want to remember the love my Papa and Grandma shared walking hand in hand at the flea market on a sunny afternoon. And I want to remember the beautiful smile of someone I love... because someday, I may only see it in my dreams.

I know years from now my pictures will be in the hands of someone else. I hope they will look at my life and appreciate the memories they're holding. A lifetime full of adventure, love, and laughter.

In the end, the pictures and the memories are all we have left.

So, take the picture with your Grandparents.

Take the picture even if your hair is a mess.

Take the picture of your dog running through an open field.

Take the picture when you don't feel photogenic.

Take the picture of your own smile to remind yourself years from now, you were simply happy.

Trust me, you'll be happy you did. The only pictures you'll ever regret are the ones you didn't take.

And I am so glad I took all of mine.