a very special mother's day

I would like to wish all of you sweet MOM's out there a very special Mother’s Day! I have so much awe, respect and appreciation for all of those that are raising children. Whether you are expecting, or you’re a new mother, or you have been a mother for years, you are all amazing and I hope the day brings you all the happiness you deserve!

And I would like to wish a very special Mother’s Day to my own beautiful mother, pictured below.  I love this woman so much!  She is amazing.  I don’t have all the words to describe how amazing she is…

This Mother’s Day weekend, my Mom and I celebrated a small, but big victory… my mom changed the lawn mower belt by herself… Let me explain…

My mom was married to her soul-mate (my Dad) for 32 wonderful years. Her life changed forever when Dad lost his battle with cancer and she was forced to go on in life without him by her side. I will never forget the most difficult and challenging role she took on when Dad became sick. She never (never) left his side and not only was she his full-time caretaker, but his cheerleader, celebrating each and every little victory and good news that would come our way with Dad‘s health and treatment. And even through the frustrations, disappointments, anger, confusion, Mom kept going forward, and always stayed strong… for Dad, and for us 3 daughters, and for her grandchildren… It has been 5 years since my Dad’s passing, and each day since my Mom has continued to inspire me… with her strength, her courage, her determination… Taking over the farm was not easy, but she did it… She has learned how to do the things that Dad used to do… from hauling hay with a tractor, to changing the lawn mower belt… All things that were done for her before, she now has had to learn through her own determination… And every time she learns something new, I see her heart happy with her victory… And this makes my heart happy, because it’s these victories that make Mom feel closer to Dad…

I am just so, so proud of my Mom, that there are just no words to describe how amazing she is…

Mom, your willingness, dedication, and compassion is admirable beyond words… Your courage in the face of adversity, and your inner strength has been a true blessing to me and to our entire family. I appreciate you more than words can say and you are the most beautiful and hardworking woman I will ever know…

A quote that really stuck with me was when another photographer (Michele Anderson) said “…we have no guarantees in life, but at least we can have the photos to prove that we were here, we were together, and we were happy.”  And this is why I love photography... capturing life not only as I see it, but as I feel it, as I never want to forget how beautiful it really is...  

Mom, I love you and your beautiful soul with all of my heart...

♥ Rachel