A couple of summers ago, my kids and I spent a day together just being tourists in and around our new “hometown.” We had the best day ever visiting a wildlife preserve, enjoying the beauty of Hood Canal and ending the day in Port Townsend (Washington).
On the way back to the car at the end of the day, my three kids walked hand in hand down the side walk in front of me. Well, my girls walked. My son tends to hop or leap in the air. It was a rather ordinary sort of moment, but I have to tell you — I got completely choked up seeing them all together like that.
Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed my camera and snapped this photo. My girls are grown (one is married and has already graduated from college and the other is already half way through with her interior design major in college) and my son is still in grade school. These moments with all three kids just walking along, hand in hand, having fun together are becoming more and more rare. Now I’m getting all teary again {reaches for tissue}.
It was a beautiful day, made even more special by this one moment. One moment, frozen in time — through both the image from my camera and the tender place in my heart where I have hidden the memory of this day. I have so many of those snapshot moments in my memory, I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I let them sink in deep and replay them often.
I’m grateful for those little moments to be so aware of the blessings I have right in front of me!
What are your most treasured snapshot memories in life? Don’t forget- you can share them with the #incourage Instagram pool!
Melissa, The Inspired Room
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Brittnie says
I have two photos in my guest room. Both photos are of my mother and I when I was a baby/toddler. These photos are so precious to me b/c she died of Lupus when I was 7 yrs old. It is wonderful to look at these photos. While I don’t necessarily remember those days all that well I love that they capture the love we shared years ago. Love these snapshot memories!
Lisa H says
Its so hard to pick one or two when I take a bazillion pictures! It seems each day there is something new to remember and when I scroll through all the photos on my computer and in photo albums and a huge container of old photos that I have I love remembering the time, place and event that took place.
Beck Gambill says
I even got a little choked up over that sweet picture! I couldn’t help but think about my own brother and sister, grown and far away now. I also immediately flashed back to a few days ago, snapping a picture of my young son and daughter holding hands at the zoo. Thanks for the reminder to take it all in!
tamara says
I love this post – it gave me a challenge and prayer to have my eyes wide open to more of these moments. The pic of your kids holding hands and having enjoyed a day together… beautiful.
Tiffany Nevil says
We lived in Tacoma for 4 years and just recently moved back to St. Louis, MO. There is something so magical about Port Townsend, WA…I miss living close to the ocean and all the sights and smells that were so accessible to us. I have many memories of my own little ones in that very same town. It’s funny how we “treasure in our hearts” those special moments. It’s like time stops and we just hold that image. Love it!
Vicki says
That’s what it’s all about.
Cheryl says
My favorite memory of a snapshot was actually first just seeing it through the eyepiece (the old 35 mm’s remember those?) of the camera. Taken 8 years ago at Harpers Ferry, WV on a family outing. I had my 4 kids like up to get a picture, my 3 girls ages 22, 20 and 16 and my son 13. For the first time I noticed my youngest was taller than his sisters! I will never forget that moment, frozen in time in my memory and in the picture.
Elizabeth says
beautiful photos. This is very inspiring. Truly, God is everywhere, trying to remind us of his presence.
eileen says
Love these moments too. And love when God reminds us just how precious every detail of this life is. We get distracted by things that really shouldn’t be so important.
Holley Gerth says
When we were dating he once wrote in an email,'”memories are photographs taken with the heart.” Loved his words then and your lovely words now!
Kristen Strong says
Isn’t it wonderful how some of our most treasured moments are the most ordinary ones?
We went hiking today and I took a pic of my girly holding her Daddy’s hand. There will come a day when she won’t want to do that, so I’m enjoying it while I can!
Happy summer, Melissa!
Heather Gemmen Wilson says
I love this post too. Those moments are precious indeed.
Don’t Miss It. says
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Andi says
I love this photo…most of mine are like that. I have 4 girls at the top and 2 boys at the bottom and more often than not it’s my girls acting up as well! One particular photo I love is of my kids all dog piling on top of me. Already with my oldest in college I miss those moments and attempt to hang on to the wild ones I have left! 🙂
melissa @ the inspired room says
I’m with you there, Andi!!! Hanging on for dear life!!!
Denise says
We’ve had a lot of “hometown vacations” this year, and I’ve been loving every moment. My young’uns are still little young’uns and at least once everyday I have one of those cheesy Lifetime movie moments where I imagine my life in 20 years, and suddenly watching my girls jump around looks like a memory instead of today’s reality.
melissa @ the inspired room says
Oh I love those Lifetime movie moments!!!!
Michele says
My hubby gives me grief sometimes about always looking like a tourist (I don’t go anywhere without my camera) but we have a photo taken a few years ago while we were visiting Grandfather Mountain. I didn’t notice it at the time, but in this photo my youngest is pulling on my ear – a light tug is more like it. He has been playing with my ears since he was old enough to reach for me. And in nearly 7 years this is the only photo that captures an everyday (ordinary) moment that means so much to both of us. It sits beside my bed now.
xoxo michele
Tracey says
While visiting my family back in Indianapolis last spring I caught a picture of my littles having a grand pillow fight with my brother. It was their first and it was on a hotel bed piled high with feather pillows and the looks on ALL their faces is etched in my mind.
Mya says
This made me all teary too. I have three boys, 5,3 and 5months. Before my first was born, everyone said ‘it goes by so fast’, but I wasnt prepared for how fast it flies by! *snap* like that 5 years are gone! I’m trying to treasure each moment as much as possible even through the frustrating times (potty-training ick!). My favorite pics are the ones of my boys wrestling with my hubby, and sitting with me reading a book 🙂 little things that happen all the time, but are so special to me. the moments I will hold in my heart always.
courtney says
We are gathering up so many snapshots this summer. Where we have always been up for little adventures, this summer has been blessed with so many opportunities to make memories that will last forever and I am just trying to capture them on film, but definitely have captured them in my heart!