Tonya Joy Photography

Today I ran into a friend…

I have not seen in her years…

She looked so different….

I have not seen someone smile so much…

My friend is a mother. She is 29. She has 2 little children. She is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for Breast Cancer.

Her courage…her hope….her happiness inspires me…

…you see, this morning I woke up feeling down about still having too much of the “baby fat”, upset that my anniversary wasn’t all that I thought it should be, impatient with my kiddos temper tantrums…the list could go on. Then in a parking lot, I saw her. I was so humbled and thankful…I needed that smile so much today. She reminded me of how precious life is and how blessed we are. She put it into perspective with how brave she is and how she knows all will be well…whatever it will be.

I aspire to be like her…

“I hear babies cry

and I watch them grow,

They’ll learn much more

Than we’ll know

And I think to myself

Today I was given the gift of time. Looking back on the day, it seems to play in slow motion like those sweet Halmark or Rice Krispy commercials (you have seen them…they make you wanna cry and spend every waking moment just relishing in the little lives of your children.) What fun I had laughing and playing with Ella & Ava. We swang on the swings and jumped on the trampoline until we seemed to collapse. They laid their sweet little heads down on each of my arms and we stared up at the beautful sky. I can still hear the leaves of the trees blowing in the sweet breeze of this perfect afternoon and see the joy in the eyes of these little girls. Today I did what everyone says…”Please enjoy every moment with these little ones…it goes by so fast.” You three little girls are the loves of my life. Thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy!

My almost 2 year old, Ava, has suddenly fallen in love with watching the Movie Peter Pan to an extreme! We spent 10 days at Gmas and I think that movie played non-stop! My poor parents. The cutest thing is when the girls chant…”I do…I do…I do believe in Fairies”! Ava and Ella love to fly around like peter and tinkerbell and you can see the magic in their eyes. So a big thank you to Disney for the creation of this simple character that remind us that we too don’t want to rush our children to grow up (well at least not too fast). I embrace every little smile, laugh, and even the tears and tantrums. I love you Ella, Ava, & Mia…Hanna Manna Ganda…You can fly…you can fly…you can FLY! My little pixies!