It's OK to slow down.

Friday, March 11, was a beautiful day. According to the calendar, Spring had not yet arrived, but you would never have guessed it had you seen the forecast; 61 degrees with clear, sunny skies.

The weather is not the only thing that makes for a beautiful day. Ones' company can accomplish the very same thing, and I spent the day with three of my favorite people in the whole world....

Technically EVERY day is a good day because I am able to spend it with these little cuties...

When our family lived in Pennsylvania, before Richard joined our family, I often dressed my sweet baby girls in coordinating outfits and took them for short walks along the Schuylkill River. Our destination was always the same; our neighbor's house, a beautiful, historic stone mansion with perfectly manicured, majestic gardens. The kind owners gave me permission to take pictures of my little dolls on their property. I would spend hours trying to capture the perfect shot, the perfect pose, the perfect moment, until my babies got tired or hungry. Tired and hungry babies are not the best photo subjects!

I did the same thing, though sadly not as often, when we moved to New Jersey. My little boy became a welcome addition to our family (as well as my photo shoots).

Since college, I've considered photography one of my many passions in life. I've always gotten excited about the chance to take pictures and physically record memories for myself and those I love. In fact, whenever we plan to go anywhere, I find myself dreaming about the great pictures I'll have a chance to take. Sometimes that's just as exciting to me as the trip itself! The only thing that used to hold me back was the cost of film and photo processing.

Now we live in the mid-west and I am surrounded by just as many beautiful, natural, scenic locations for picture taking. The difference is I have a new camera; a digital one. I LOVE it! I took 165 pictures on Friday. Don't worry, I've only posted my favorites. lol

The day began, as you may have guessed, with a photo shoot. Fortunately, I have trained my children from infancy to model for the camera, so they sense my excitement and join in the fun. What joy!

I had Belle peak around an old barn door. Then I asked her to surprise me with a new expression....

So silly!! lol   Then she tried again....

What a NUT! Not quite the look I was going for, dear. ;0)

Everyone says she's just like her Daddy, but these photos are proof that there's a whole lot of her goofy Mama in her as well. LOL! And then there's my other darlings...

Juliette

Richard

Sisters

One of the locations I had chosen for a backdrop had the added bonus of three curious horses...

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch. We drove to a nearby river and had a picnic by the shore....

My latest obsession is Dove Milk Chocolate (all credit goes to my wonderful friend, Regina), so we enjoyed several of these melt-in-your-mouth-morsels-of-goodness for desert.

Dove has printed cute, funny, and inspirational messages on their inside wrappers. I thought this one was very appropriate for our day...

Thanks, Dove. I love you too! (A little too much sometimes)  ;0)

The children ran along the shore, rested on a blanket in the sun, threw rocks in the river, and built sand castles until they tired themselves out...or maybe until they tired me out just by watching them...

We weren't quite ready to go home, so we took a drive along some winding country roads. I took a picture of one of my favorite charming cottages...

I adore this home!

I adore these children!

and I adore my life.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."                                                                       

James 1:17