life happens. photo therapy.

What better way to put a smile on my face than 1 – spending time with my family and 2 – photography. Life happens. There will be many bumps and holes in the road, but one thing I will always remind myself is to be true to not only myself but also my family and friends. I am completely baffled by how some people live their life day in, day out. Always thinking they are owed or so hard done by, yet do not want to put any effort into working for any of their hopes and dreams. Or living a complete lie, not only themselves but telling of others as well, never owning up to their own mistakes.

 

I am human, I would never admit I am perfect. I can also admit when I am wrong.

I can only control how I live my life and how my husband and I raise our children, to be honest, hard working people full of love for others. The right others of course, but respect for everyone.

Life will never be perfect, everyone will continue to have their own view on how things should or ought to be or their own story as to why their life is so much harder than everyone elses.

There comes a time in life that regardless of who these people are, ties will be cut, but at least I can stand tall knowing that I was the bigger person and regardless of the lies they tell, one day they will regret their choices, they will regret the lies they’ve told and the people they’ve pushed away. Karma is a very powerful thing.

Off to enjoy the rest of this gorgeous day with my beautiful babes and hubby :-)

My kids have made me the mother I am!

One thing I have always known is that I wanted to meet the man of my dreams, someone who fit in our family just like he always belonged and who made me truly happy to raise children with!

It was a long rough road to becoming a mother, to us becoming parents. We have a lot of scars from that journey but those scars remind us that not only I, but we can over come anything we are faced with. That it was worth those scars to get to where we are today with the family we have always dreamed of having.

The other night while eating supper our daughter looked at me and said “mommy I love you, you are the best mommy ever” … my heart instantly melted. She then turned to my husband and both her and our son said at the same time “daddy you are the best daddy in the whole world” . They then both turned to me and said “mommy you are the best mommy and daddy is the best daddy!” . We are lucky – SO very lucky!

Its amazing how those tiny little people, with words we have heard them say many times can make us turn to mush and fill with even more love every single time we hear them say that. 

One day while joking with the kids I told them how awesome mommy was, our daughter responds with “no you’re not” and our son follows that with, “but mommy you are special, you are very special and so is daddy……… but daddy is sooo special because he can make things and omgosh mom he can make cool things” . ;) They don’t yet realize how “cool” mommy is that I grew them in my tummy haha!

Having our children has truly shaped the person, woman and mother I am today. I cannot speak for my husband but he has grown into his role of husband and father amazingly well and would do anything for these two little people.

Last night our son told us he was going to save his money and not waste it so that he could be responsible when he gets bigger like mommy and daddy! On Tuesday this week hubby dropped me off at Vmax after work then went and picked up the kids, then came back and got me. The kids were talking about how daddy had school that day and that when they are done school they are going to work at Granpa’s shop just like mommy and daddy, then Mady add’s in and if I am going to work with mommy I’ll have to go to vmax too ;) I love that they see our work ethic and can understand that the things we have is from hard work.

When our son was born, my passion for photography blossomed, I think everyone knows that with the thousands of photos I take each year (and growing!). Not only does photography give me great enjoyment and pleasure, I am capturing my children’s lives. There is not a week that goes by that our children do not ask me to see photos or for me to capture them doing something – even the small things that to some wouldn’t seem significant. Or them going into my office and pulling out the photo albums off the shelf to look at when they were babies or when mommy and daddy got married. We always want family to be important to our children.

My goals in life relate to my family, focusing on my health and fitness is because I want to enjoy everyday with my children, husband, family having fun. I work hard to show my children that to have the things you want and enjoy in life it comes with hard work, much like their job is to go to school, mommy has a job too, taking care of things around the house is mommy and daddy’s responsibility but our kids share in that as well. I have learned patience, amazing amounts. I have learned to appreciate each and every moment no matter what it is, because whether good or bad, another day will come and life goes on. Ive learned I can function on little amounts of sleep and that when I hear the cry of my child nothing else matters. Ive learned to be fearless – my only true fear is something happening to my child, anything else – well hey Im a red headed mother, I am fearless to anyone/thing! Ive learned true unconditional love, that its ok to show my emotions and cry. We’ve learned that financial planning is a true factor to success and happiness! I love that my hubby loves this trait in me ;) Ive learned that kids like things simple, an unbelievable amount of toys or going on trips all the time is not necessary for them to be happy and have fun. Ive also learned that the road of life will always have bumps, turns and hills to over come, everyday will not be perfect, but those days that are – are amazing. Obstacles are worth over coming and we are all always learning.

All of these points below of 15 Things A Child Can Teach An Adult from the purpose fairy, I have learned each and every one from our children.

Most of all, I love the person I have become as their mother and my husband has become as their father. There is nothing more important to me in my life than my family and spending time with family sharing a mutual love, respect and enjoyment of time together!

Because really, nothing else matters. Forget all the negative, all those people who are too wound up with gossip or are always competing with others to see who has this or that. Finally in our life, I can honestly say that I could care less what people would like to believe or how they choose to act. What they think is right or wrong or how they determine their own morals and ethics. My children have taught me what is truly important and should and will always be the main focus in my life.

15 Things A Child Can Teach An Adult

Paulo Coelho said that “A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”but I say that a child can teach an adult many other things and I wanted to share them with you today. After doing a lot of research, and time spent observing the little ones interact, I came  up with a list of 15 things that a child can teach an adult.

1. HOW To Be Fearless

One of the most powerful lessons we can learn from these beautiful little creatures is to be fearless, for you and I know that they fear nothing.  Of course, there needs to be a balance here because they don’t fear putting their hand in mad dog’s mouth or a hot stove, and they don’t fear being themselves and saying whatever it’s on their mind, but that’s why adults are jump in to draw the line. To be more precise, I am talking about the many fears that we humans learn over the course of our lives, fears that are simple illusions like the fear of the unknown, fear of being judged, fear of rejection, fear of what the future might bring, etc.…

2. HOW To See Everybody As Being Special

Have you noticed the admiration they have in their eyes when they look at you and everybody around you? That sparkle… They see everybody through their innocent and beautiful eyes, and they see everybody as being special and unique and that’s exactly what we all are it’s just that our lenses are too dirty and we can no longer see reality as clearly as children do.

3. How To TRUST YOUR INNER KNOWING

If you ask me, we come to this world with all that we need already within us, and you can call this inner knowing, intuition, instincts, it doesn’t really matter, what really matters is for us to learn how to work with it knowing that, “all the learning in the world cannot replace instinct.”Robert Ley

4. How To Be Carefree

The moment we allow ourselves to let go of all our fears, all our doubts and regrets, the moment we allow ourselves to let go of all those things that no longer serve us, we will be able to go back to how we once were, and just like the Enigma goes, and I will paraphrase here, we will be able to return to ourselves, to return to innocence, for that’s exactly where our essence is, that’s exactly who we are and what we are.

5. How TO LIVE LIFE FULLY

Who does not want that? We spend most of our lives chasing happiness, searching for meaning and balance, affirming that we want to live our lives fully, not knowing where exactly to look for and what exactly to do in order to achieve just that. Well, this is your chance to learn how to do just that by simply observing a small and innocent child in action, and eventually helping you master this important lesson.

6. HOW To Always Be Happy

l want to be happy, you want to be happy, she /he wants to be happy… We all want to be happy, there is no doubt about it and deep down inside we both now it can be done. Based on how we were raised and based on our past conditioning, it may take more or less time, energy and work but if you are open and willing to move in that direction, in time you will be able to achieve just that.

7. HOW TO EXPRESS YOURself FREELY – IF YOU FEEL LIKE CRYING, CRY!

In his book, Hostage At The Table, George Kohlrieser actually talks about some research that was done, showing how women actually live longer lives compared to men because women are the ones who express their feeling more freely. Men, well, they are expected to be MEN!

I once heard this guy telling his child that he should stop crying because you see, crying is for girls. Funny. If you need to cry, just cry. Who cares what others might think? If that will help you feel better and if that’s what you feel like doing, just let it out and you will feel so much better afterwards. Don’t suppress your feelings. Remember that: “What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.”Jewish Proverb

8. HOW TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY 

Learn to give without expecting anything in return, for that is what real and unconditional love is all about, and that is what children can teach you. Think of the Sun that shines for us without expecting anything in return. It just offers itself to us, and when it does, we are all so happy. This quote from Hafez reflects this truth so beautifully: “Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, “you owe me.” Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.”

9. HOW To Give From The Heart

You know how children when they are very young they don’t actually identify themselves with what we think they are, and when talking about themselves they usually do so in 3rd person: Dana’s doll, Dana’s dress, etc. They don’t say my dress, my doll until parents teach them to do so. Before that happens, and before they start identifying things as being theirs, they give and they share from the heart, everything with everyone and later on, we teach them to keep “their stuff” for themselves.

This is a lesson we definitely need to learn from them, knowing that when: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. ” Prov. 11:24

10. HOW TO Forgive

“Forgiveness is the answer to the child’s dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again.”Dag Hammarskjold

11. HOW To Always Speak Your Truth

Always speak your truth, say what’s on your mind, say what you feel and what you believe in because: “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr Seuss

12. HOW To Use More of Your Imagination/ Inspiration

The world has plenty of information but not enough inspiration. If you think about it, now with the technological revolution, we get access to so much information. No matter what you do, no matter who you are, no matter where you are, learn to use more of your imagination, because just like the great Albert Einstein said it: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.”

13. HOW To Believe In Yourself

Believe in yourself because if you don’t how can you expect others to do so? It all starts with YOU! The moment you start believing in yourself, everything will start to fall into places. “Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.”Lao Tzu

14. HOW TO DREAM BIG AND Aim For The SKY

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” Mary Kay Ash

15. HOW Not To Worry About Tomorrow

Why worry about tomorrow when tomorrow is not here yet? You are here, now, in this moment. Just open your eyes and really see what happens  to you and all around you. Notice the beauty that you are and notice how far you have come. No matter what your past looks like and no matter how scary the future may seem, if you chose to stop worrying and really focus on what is, you will realize that your worries were in vain. “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” Winston Churchill

Always go with your gut feeling!

You know that feeling deep down that is like the little voice you hear of the angel and the devil when you are trying to make a decision. That uneasy feeling or the butterflies of pure joy. Without a doubt when you have to make a decision go with what you’re feeling, you’ll never be steered wrong.

I recently had to make a decision, major for my kids at their age, and I didn’t want to make the wrong choice and later regret it. Tossing things around for months I finally was able to make the final decision today, the decision that in my gut I always knew was the right one for our family. A decision that will make things jive that much better on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Thinking back on many things that I have had to decide on weighing pros and cons, all positives and negatives, opinions of others while talking on and on ;)  I know what’s right for me and what’s wrong, what is worth it and not. Regardless of my choice I do what I believe is right for them, its tough being a parent sometimes, but at the same time the most rewarding experience ever!

Trust in me, as their mother, their protector and I know that even though I may be presented with small obstacles or challenges if I always have their best interest in my heart and mind, I’m doing the right thing!

You do know that gut feeling, when you think of doing something but get this uneasy feeling or when you finally make your self make a decision and you finally feel at ease. Change is tough on everyone but it can also bring on new exciting beginnings!

Victoria Day Weekend (May 2-4) ~ Family, Sun, Sand & Water! Kick off to the SUMMER!

We spent the Victoria Day (aka May 2-4) weekend with family at the family cottage! What an awesome kick off to the summer! The weather was amazing, hot gorgeous sunshine, cool water and great times with family and friends!

We got our boat in for the first time, I dont know who was more excited Cars or Hubby! In the one pic you can see our lil man’s tiny arms straight up in the air – he was that excited!

First time to the cottage for our puppy! He wasn’t too sure about going in deep in the water lol but loved playing with Hazel and Tara ;) They were 3 tired dogs thats for sure! Only downfall with 3 dogs is they get up early, so I not only got photos of the sunset the one evening, but the next morning I also got the sunrise lol! I have lots of landscape photos including the sunrise and sunset that I will have to do another post on! Some from Southampton going up the river with the fishing boats, Port Elgin Harbour and of course Chantry Island!

HELLO SUMMER!!!

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My awesome hubby! Who doesn’t like to smile in photos but is very obliging when I take his photograph <3
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If you look close at this one you will see our boy sitting in the bow of the boat with his arms up HIGH cheering! This was when they put the boat in Saturday morning. Yes very much like his dad hahaha! ;)
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Beginning & End of a beautiful weekend ~ Sunrise & Sunset

What a gorgeous way to being Summer with the weather we were blessed with this Victoria Day weekend. My family and I were lucky to spend the weekend at my Grama’s cottage in Port Elgin, it is just breathtakingly beautiful there! Not only was I lucky as a child to spend every summer there, but now being able to share this with our children, not only our children but most weekends to have 3 generations under the cottage roof is just awesome and SO much fun!

This weekend we not only had the 3 generations under the cottage roof we also had 3 labs – black, chocolate and yellow! They had a blast together:) Our boy Becker enjoyed his first trip to the beach!

Having the 3 dogs there meant  early mornings, because they could then nap (after getting us up!). So not only did I get some sunset photos but also some sunrise photos the next morning ;)

Posted in random order :) Sunsets to the left of the cottage by the sand point and the sun rises to the right of the cottage looking in the range of the harbour.

 
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Sunset colours
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Early morning sunrise on Lake Huron
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My personal fav! Might need to get this printed on a large canvas!
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The last photo of the sunset, taken from the top steps at the cottage. Gorgeous!
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I want results…

May 16th, 2012

I’ve always been a slightly impatient person, thankfully when I had my kids I did gain more patience, I had to, these little people were are quite demanding :P. I’ve always been strong willed and independent and always stand up for myself and what I believe in. Except when it comes to weight… which since in college has been a constant battle with an unknown reason to why until we tried to have a family. Yes I am enjoying vmax, I can feel that I am much stronger physically, it feels amazing to be able to work out and break a sweat without being in pain…

…and then comes out the impatient Pam. I am slowly toning, which is awesome, even my husband tells me everyday how great I am looking and quickly adds in how beautiful Ive always been lol ;) , but I’m not losing, I know muscle weighs more than fat and I need to continue working harder… and I want to do this the right way, I don’t want to do anything extreme ‘just to lose weight’ … blah!

May 18th, 2012

After a very relaxing long weekend and allergies totally taking me down on Friday that I wasn’t able to go to VMAX that day – I spent my lunch sleeping I felt awful! I was very happy to get back at it today… first on the agenda since May 20th was my 1 month mark was to get my measurements taken to compare… I was nervous but I thought if anything even if Ive lost inches or even half an inch somewhere I would be very happy for all my hard work – most days I come out of there dripping in sweat!

I was SO happy when Tasha told me I had lost 3.75 inches!!! Ah yeah Im SO happy with that!!! Especially when its from the places I wanted to ;) Not only does hearing that make me feel that much better, its given me something to actually see that I am doing good.

The best part though… I do not get pain when I exercise! Sure I do still get pain from the endometriosis but not like before my hysterectomy. By joining VMAX I was able to help build up my core strength… painless!

I am now a strong believer, VMAX does work – BUT … YOU have to work as well. The core and strength training exercises to do on the machine – works sooo great! Some people may think its too good to be true, but for someone like me who does have “invisible illnesses” its been a god send!

A special celebration and treasured memories

We had a FABULOUS time this past weekend! First celebrating a very special lady’s birthday, my mom!!!

We had a great time with family and close friends… grama even made her famous “money birthday cake” lol it was awesome!

Here’s to many more wonderful years … and more importantly to all the amazing memories we made this evening. A friend of ours messaged us this weekend to let us know that not only did her family suffer the loss of her grandfather, suddenly her father passed away very soon after.

Our hearts go out to them as their pain would just feel like torture right now. A true reminder of how special memories, even the simplest memory that at the time may not seem like it is “that much” one day will mean so much more. Never take any day for granted, spend your time with people who not only you love and respect, but those who love and respect you back. Enjoy life to its fullest, work hard, reach for your goals and dreams!

A very important reminder for the photographer in me… please take photos! Whether it is with your phone, your point and shoot or a DSLR… I remember each time we have lost a loved one, it has been a very harsh reminder to capture more memories. We may no longer have our loved ones, however those memories within a photo will live on forever with many more stories and generations to be told!

Thinking of N, G and mr T tonight… hugs to all of you!

 

Our Family Dogs… Black, Chocolate & Yellow Labs

Growing up both my hubby and I had lab’s as our family pets. Since Hazel joined the family last spring we knew our next pup would be coming from the same place where mom and dad got not just Hazel but also Tara 8 years ago!

Its so fun watching these pups grow up! Our lil man Becker and Hazel are 6mths apart exactly, they are best friends and tire each other our perfectly! Our pups came from Cooperslane Kennel just outside of Arthur.

Tara is the black lab, Hazel is the chocolate lab and Becker is our boy he is the yellow lab! :)

These dogs have such an amazing personality – each of them so different and yet they all get along so well! Our boy is now the same height and size as Tara, miss Hazel has height over the both of them. But that has never stopped Beck, even when he was a baby, from tackling her!

And here is our boy…

My life in photos… what a story they will tell!

Any event or fun thing we do in our family, I have some kind of photographic memory. My life truly is in photos, not only my life but our life – my own little family of 4 and any extended family get together.

Sunday morning while prepping a Mother’s Day blog post, I went back through the photos from exactly a year ago on Mother’s Day. How much our kids have changed! How much I cherish these memories! As happy a day Mother’s Day is for me as a mother myself and to spend it with my own mom, its also a sad memory for us for my husband’s mother who lost her battle with cancer in 2004. If anything, missing her as much as we do it has also been a constant reminder for me to capture all of these memories for not only me, but for my children and one day their children. We spent the evening doing exactly what I love doing, spending time with our extended family! Adding another chapter to my story, each of our story’s… called Our Life!

LOL Uncle Justin is VERY tired from practicing the day before :) But loves to get pics with his neice and nephew!

Our beautiful babies!

Me and my gorgeous sister!

Uncle Justin and Cars

BBQ’in boys!

Yum! Cedar Planked Salmon and Steak for a perfect Mothers Day Dinner :)

Daddy and his lil girl

Her baby blues…

Mama and her babies…

Love these kids!

“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service & character. -W Ward”

Our wee miss wanted to capture a picture of mommy & daddy!

“If you look at what you do not have in life; you don’t have anything. If you look at what you have in life; you have everything.” Unknown

Live ~ Laugh ~ Love

Always reach for the sky towards your goals and dreams, but never forget what truly matters in life… Family!

Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

Artist & Intuitive | Pamela Zmija

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