Give Yourself Permission!

To take as many photos as you want. To document the every day. To capture all the sillies, the tantrums, the disappointments, the hugs, the kisses . . . EVERYTHING. Because you never know if that photo is going to be the last.

I have a hard time sometimes doing layouts about Joey because I think "will this be the last time I get to document a memory of him?" So I take it slowly and only scrap him when I feel good about it.

I came across these photos of our last family outing before the cancer made him too sick to do anything but sleep. We almost didn't go. But we laughed and played until Joey was too worn out. And then we had lunch at McDonald's. All seemingly unimportant things--but we had no idea then how soon we would lose our son. That we wouldn't be able to get crazy while playing, squeeze him in a giant hug, run our fingers through his glossy hair. I just had no idea that the cancer would creep so silently and so quickly with such aggression that it would steal our boy away from us in so many unexpected ways even before he passed away. I just didn't know.

Go take a photo. Share a moment. There's no such thing as "too many photos."

(To see all digital supplies, you can check them out at 2Peas here.)

8 comments

  1. Your courage makes me cry! You're awesome and thanks for sharing!

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  2. Thanks so much for your willingness to share your story about Joey. I'm sure it helps so many others in similar situations. You are truly someone to be respected and admired.

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  3. Oh Jen, I always get a lump in my throat when I read posts like this. I feel the tears coming and my heart beats a little louder and faster. I have said it more than once and will say it again, Joey was an awesome boy but everything he learned, he learned at home. You (and Brett) are awesome, Jen.

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  4. My heart breaks for you.
    Xx

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  5. This is absolutely beautiful.

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  6. What a wonderful memory to document, and what a blessing to us that you shared it here!

    I agree with living each day as if it's your last, and documenting every moment because you don't know what the future holds. A friend of mine passed away suddenly a week ago (very suddenly and completely unexpectedly) at age 39. She was the sort of person who lived her life this way, and who appreciated all of her blessings (and even her trials, because she knew God was in charge and everything was working according to his plan). So although she didn't get as much time here on earth as some people, she enjoyed each and every day, and really touched those around her with her honesty, sense of humour, joyfulness, kindness, and faith.

    She (just like your Joey) touched many people's hearts, and she will live on in those people's memories because of the amazing way she lived her life, just as Joey lives on in your stories and memories of him.

    May God richly bless you Jen!

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  7. Jen, your strength and faith amaze me! THis is such a beautiful layout

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