A Snapshot In Time

Photo by Ben Blennerhassett on Unsplash

It was School Picture Day this week at my school which always generates lots of excitement. This year was especially exciting because we haven’t been able to do school pictures for quite some time now due to Covid 19. I teach Grade 2/3 this year and the pictures I have of them in  our home and school communication program are quite outdated for that reason. For fun I pulled each student’s adorable picture up on the big screen that I had of them from a couple of years ago. They have grown up so much! Super sweet! There were lots of giggles and ahhhs as the cuteness overload factor was certainly in full force. 

Pictures capture a moment in time. They can encapsulate our highs, lows, and almost everything in between. It is fun to take a stroll down memory lane from time to time and recall special memories of times gone by. We smile for the camera and try to put our best foot forward.  Some pictures evoke joy and laughter. Others can bring tears and sadness, but all are a piece of the puzzle that we call our lives.

It is often what the camera doesn’t show that is so poignant, however. It doesn’t show the story behind the story, but more often the highlight reel.

Photo by Drew Coffman on Unsplash

Snapshot One: Marriage
​I look at pictures of my wedding back in 1992. It seems so long ago. Here Phil and I are now almost 30 years later still going strong, and building a happy life together as a couple. I was so lonely, back then as I was trying to find a boyfriend. I worried that love would pass me by. I had no job, and no prospects. Phil was literally the boy next store that I never met until I started a summer job as a housekeeper for his mom. I got a job and a husband all in one. God works in strange ways and I am  blessed! 

Photo by Picsea on Unsplash

Snapshot Two: Motherhood
​When I reflect on pictures of me as a new mom, I laugh about how little I knew back then. I remember Phil and I taking Tyler home from the hospital feeling how it this even allowed that we could take him home when we are so new at this? It was surreal as I had envisioned this day for so long. After miscarriages and fertility struggles the baby I had prayed for was finally here. I was a MOM! I feared this day would never come. It wasn’t easy getting to this moment, but Tyler brought us so much joy. Soon after we did it all over again. This time we welcomed a ray of sunshine, a baby girl named Shannon. Sure, raising babies and toddlers is very difficult but in the end, so rewarding. You blink it seems though and those babies turn into kids. Those kids turn into teens. The teens turn into adults, and those now adults grow to become some of your best friends. 


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Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Snapshot 3: Career
Teacher’s college graduation photos bring a variety of memories to mind. I went back to school as a mature student which was way out of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I did it. I have a career now that I truly love and every day, I hopefully get to make a difference and add value to the lives of a bunch of kids I teach. How cool is that? I even got the picture package to commemorate  my grad because who doesn’t want a wallet size grad photo of a 34-year-old??

Snapshot 4: Loss
​Facebook memory reels bring up lots of wonderful and sad memories too always catching my interest. I see special times and last events with my wonderful mother-in-law. So glad we captured her dancing with Phil, our last Christmas together and beautiful photos of her and our family at my nephew’s wedding. 
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​All these photos take me through the various seasons of my life. Through all the ups and downs, the easy and the difficult there is much the camera does not show. This much I know though, I am very blessed, and I have a life that’s genuinely good. Through every snapshot I have grown into the person I am today. Those twists and turns have made me, ME!

​We just celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving this week and as I see myself in these snapshots in time, my heart is truly full. I thank God for a life that is good. Whatever your story is, I hope you can see that too . I hope you recognize that through all the difficulties and high points, life is still good. We can still see the good and have lots to be thankful for.

Photo by dominik hofbauer on Unsplash

Until next time
~ Dana

** Click below for my version of Life That's Good with my daughter Shannon accompanying me on the ukulele. 

Psalms 100:5 ~ For the Lord is good. His loving kindness is everlasting and his faithfulness continues to all generations.

Little Lesson Learned: Looking through old pictures reminds us of all we have experienced. It is easy to forget how very blessed we are when the hard times come. Remember to always look for the good.

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