If I could live my life over, I would absolutely live my life out loud as a beautiful free spirit – just as Miss Meg does. this girl has it going on.
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Our P26 challenge for post was to create an album cover or to represent a theme song photographically.
My original thought was to do a self portrait to accompany the song “Fat Bottom Girls” by Queen… but as the week went on a song chorus played over and over in my head as I was struggling with my 6 year old boy….last night we were outside in the backyard, I had just lectured him yet again about keeping his hands to himself at school (number 4 detention for hitting) I was frustrated and more than a little angry…and to be honest, I wanted to give him a little taste of his own medicine….but as I was walking back inside totally deflated and detached from him I looked up to see this rose in my garden… it was swaying freely in the wind just being the beautiful rose that it was born to be.
This song came flooding into my mind again and it soothed my soul as I thought about my young boy, sometimes he feels like a thorn, sometimes a blooming beautiful rose… and perhaps that is true of all of us, we all have our thorns.
Please check out my friend the amazing Hope Toliver | Tulsa Senior and Family Natural Light Photographer
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Love it Gail. Brings me back many years!! We have this same theme this week 
Well Gail Fat bottom girls make the rocking world go round! That happens to be one of my all time favorite rock songs… has been ever since I was little! Love how you had a change of events and it took a turn, hope things get under control sometimes its hard being a boy! {I’m guessing}
aww!! love your take. i love how your creative mind works. hope he gets it together…i know he will…gail is his mama
Gail, you make my photography world go round! What a lovely sentiment about your son. I think we all have both petals and thorns. He is such a sweet kid and he has a wonderful mama. I don’t think you have to worry about him too much. 
I have known Kathryn for 30 years, I meet her family when I was a teenager and can even remember her and Kenneth dating. He had a turbo car way back then, and I remember going out with them once and freaking out when we got out of his car and we all walked away while the car was still running. If you know me at all you will know that I am a rule keeper…. I never break rules – so how could you possibly walk away from a car with the engine was still going? lol . Kenneth explained it all to me and then I was all good. Funny the things you remember.
I also remember their first home, I helped hang gibboard/ dry wall with Kenneth. - Wow, how time flies.
I was so thankful to be able to photograph their family when I was back in New Zealand at one of my favourite camping spots/river swimming spots when I was a kid. Check out these gorgeous people in absolutely stunning light.
-you guys were fun! see you next time xoxo
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What a great lot of photos … they are all so photogenic … I love the light and the black and white ones … they look like such a neat, happy family! I love the one at the end with their feet up … I hope they get that one in a hard copy. What a wonderful gift to give to your friends Gail … to share your time and talents with them and leave them with a beautiful memory … I feel really moved by the love you share for those around you. You are awesome Gail!!
Thinking about me and mine doesn’t just lead me to think of my boys because :
before I was their mother
I was their daughter
before I was their aunt,
I was their sister.
before I was his girl
I used to hang out with these peeps
and being back in my homeland for 3 weeks, meant I could again!.
These are some of the people that could also be called “me and mine”, people of significance throughout different periods of my life…. and I loved being able to photograph them when I was home. It’s not a complete list of significant others…. only of those within shooting distance for me
Please carry on around the circle to see what the rest of our group have for their “me and mine” images this month start here with my good friend Krista Keller | Danville Ca child and family photographer (who also celebrated a birthday this week.. happy birthday old chook.
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Absolutely splendid, Gail. I love looking back at all your connections like this. You have such a wonderful family and wonderful me and mine.
Wow. This is a beautiful testament to your love for your family and friends and shows how your relationships with them have shaped the woman you are. I really love this, Gail. xoxo
how perfect gail. love the journey through your life and life connections.
I love this Gail. love, love, love.
These are wonderful Gail. I adore that you captured those that are part of your life and have shaped who you are as a mom, a sister, a friend, a daughter, an aunt. you are such an amazing woman, and each of those people are blessed because you are in their lives!
This is beautiful Gail. Such a special way to honor the loved ones in your life. You are a special woman. I know we don’ t “know” each other but I feel lucky to have my life come in contact with yours in this small way.
Gail – I love the whole concept here! It’s brilliant! I love that you showed us the connections to your past and your future. I have looked at this, re read this, look again, compared pictures back and forth. Totally engaged and interested in all of your images. I really feel like we got a glimpse of you – the real you – the people who helped make you – you. How very cool is that? Thank you for sharing all of this! Loved every bit of it!
Curious – is there a picture of your sister in there somewhere – besides the one of you 4?
yeah, the collage of 6 photos of 2 women.. that is me and my sister being goofy at the beach. Kieran took them so they are badly backlit and OOF lol… but I kind of like them that way.
GAIL! you made me cry! the first one of your boys love! but I would say most of all I love seeing you as a little girl how cute are you. I love that you shared all of these so close to your heart and so special.
I love that you included so many important people in your life Gail! It is such a neat view into the person you are. Thanks for sharing it with us!
what a blessed life you lead … so rich in relationships! beautiful!!
this post is just breathtaking… what a beautiful reminder that we have so much love in our life!!! so many blessings!!! I am thrilled for you that you have/had THREE WEEKS with your peeps.
I LOVE seeing your family photos, Gail! BRAVA! This is “Kathleen” btw–thought I would shorthand my name to “KAT”
thanks!!! Im so glad to have them, I had nothing of my childhood until I went back to NZ. I like the name Kat! I think it suits you. xo
Doctrine and Covenants 112:10
10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.
I’ve been doing a lot of praying lately.
a LOT.
About all kinds of worries and concerns for members of my own family and loved ones of others. It’s a humbling experience to be so desperate and pleading, yet full of faith and gratitude for the chance. I really want God to hear my pleading voice as I know he will/does. And to be honest, I really want him to grant me what I beg for.
The urgency of my supplication highlights to me the great need for prayer in my life, and that having open lines of communication with God, through prayer… is a privilege.
On Sunday I taught a lesson on prayer in our woman’s meeting (called Relief Society) it was based on a talk by J Devn Cornish entitled The Privilege of Prayer. As I prepared for it I read a passage about prayer being a part of putting on the full armour of God and something just didn’t sit right with me about that analogy. Perhaps because I was thinking of it to literally. The static nature of armour played havoc on my comfort levels, armour gives protection, but a suit of armour is built for one. I don’t see prayer like that, not just something for you and you only…and I got to thinking about it. You see to me, prayer is more like a quilt than a suit of armour.
It’s not just decorative but practical too – when applied.
It brings comfort.
You can leave it sitting on the end of your bed, or hide it away in a closet – unused, but it’s true value is bringing it out, wrapping yourself up in it, or snuggling under it keeping cozy and warm. A blanketing type comfort.
You can invite others in under your quilt so they too are covered by it.
You can share it, gift and give it to others. like praying with others and on behalf of others – bringing comfort to many in times of need..
A quilt can be taken with you anywhere just like we can always have a prayer in our hearts, no matter where we are.
There are different kinds of quilts for different needs.
And if you have one of those old heirloom quilts, it reminds you of it’s maker.
As does prayer.
yes to me, prayer is like a quilt.
Our Illuminated Word Project is a monthly challenge with 8 other photographer. We choose a passage of scripture that touches our heart during the month and represent it’s meaning to us photographically. We form a circle, click the link below to continue through the circle of talented photographers, magnificent women and daughters of God.
My friend Sarah is up next, please check out her post HERE
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I adore this project y’all are doing. So touching and real!! Your words just ring to my heart this month!!
Prayer …. an enigma … how to pray … what to pray for … is God a rescuer … how does he answer prayers … is prayer like a shopping list where items are ticked of when purchased or asked for … prayer has changed so much for me over the last year. Is it a quilt … I love the analogy! Alice has taken a well worn comfort blanket with her to Hawaii, one that Marg made, a connection to home, us, her sense of belonging and attachment and most of all security. I guess that is prayer for me … at times it keeps me connected to God, myself and earth. Prayer reminds me of who I am, where I come from and who I belong to, my ancestry! My biggest learning has been that some things I pray for mindlessly don’t happen. I guess I am still learning how to pray … and I am pretty sure that I haven’t got it yet! But maybe that is more about my need to listen.
Gail – this makes me smile!
“A quilt can be taken with you anywhere just like we can always have a prayer in our hearts, no matter where we are.” I LOVE THAT!!! What a amazing take on prayer you have GAIL! INSPIRATIONAL. I have often thought of God’s love like a soft, warm quilt that comforts us completely.
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you know I am often moved by your photography…..
this time it is my little personalities you have captured in your art…..I feel quite emotional
i am forever grateful to you for doing these shots.xxxx
Wow Gail … I love these shots of Meg … you really have captured her vitality and her full on connection with life … she is such an awesome little girl who so alive … I love her! The words of the blessing that Pete gave you when you stayed with us are in my mind … I do not remember them word perfect but he said something about catching the essence of the person or their soul on film and you certainly have done that with Meg and also with Henry’s devious smile … he is devilish that little boy.