every detail accounted for

every detail accounted for

They say that life is in the details and I know this to be true. And love, beauty, truth…all in the details. Although I often plan my life around the bigger picture, I observe it through the details. This is especially true for me in how I look at and experience motherhood; a wisp of hair, a scraped knee, a ruffle of a skirt, well-worn shoes, or no shoes at all. Capturing these elements of my daily life helps me not only better appreciate my life, it helps me to see what is beautiful in the mundane. It tends to bring out the best in things. Click after click I am being mindful and living in the moment of my life right now. Even after all these years, it still never ceases to amaze me how something as seemingly simple as “taking pictures” can be so transformative.

The best part is that through my daily practice of taking in the little things I am telling stories of the bigger things. As my children grow up, they will always be reminded of the details that made up their childhood; the nuances, favorite things, activities, daily comings and goings and nearly every hair on their sweet heads.

In the June issue, I am honored (and giddy) to be the Better Homes and Gardens featured blogger. My oldest daughter read my BHG blurb out loud to me while at the check out counter of the super-market yesterday, “You can better tell the story by capturing both big and little things.”

Indeed.

Taking “too many photos” is something you never regret. Telling your story through each detail of your life is not only satisfying today, it’s a way to leave behind a legacy. I can’t think of anything more worthwhile.

On this Best Shot Monday, share a detail from your life; something you want to savor forever.

24 Comments
  • Amy Jo
    Posted at 17:10h, 17 May Reply

    The moments in between those ‘picture perfect’ shots are the details that I hope to remember.

  • Marcie
    Posted at 19:05h, 17 May Reply

    Congratulations!! How very exciting!!!

  • susiej
    Posted at 19:10h, 17 May Reply

    I am so giddy for you too! And, lovely. This shot is rich and delicate at the same time. Mine, is more elusive… http://www.susiej.com/index.php/through-the-prairi/

  • Lis
    Posted at 20:21h, 17 May Reply

    I love what you wrote here … you express beautifully why i pick up my camera … and you have me pondering the impact of this activity upon my family and especially with my daughter. funny, i too took pictures this weekend of my daughter’s hair – i never want to forget the look of that touseled head.

    here are my best shots from a sun filled (FINALLY) weekend: http://dandelionseedsanddreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/snaphots-of-my-life-and-my-best-shots.html

  • Lis
    Posted at 20:21h, 17 May Reply

    I love what you wrote here … you express beautifully why i pick up my camera … and you have me pondering the impact of this activity upon my family and especially with my daughter. funny, i too took pictures this weekend of my daughter’s hair – i never want to forget the look of that touseled head.

    here are my best shots from a sun filled (FINALLY) weekend: http://dandelionseedsanddreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/snaphots-of-my-life-and-my-best-shots.html

  • Erin
    Posted at 20:36h, 17 May Reply

    Wow! BHG! Congratulations! I have found that taking more photos has made me more mindful of what is around me, although I’m not sure that it has made me more mindful of Me. Will have to think about this more

  • Erin
    Posted at 20:36h, 17 May Reply

    Wow! BHG! Congratulations! I have found that taking more photos has made me more mindful of what is around me, although I’m not sure that it has made me more mindful of Me. Will have to think about this more

  • Alita
    Posted at 01:38h, 18 May Reply

    Better homes and Gardens, oh my! Congratulations. Your work is visual poetry. I went ahead and decided to post my … best shot Monday.
    Thank you for the inspiration.

  • Alita
    Posted at 01:38h, 18 May Reply

    Better homes and Gardens, oh my! Congratulations. Your work is visual poetry. I went ahead and decided to post my … best shot Monday.
    Thank you for the inspiration.

  • Christine
    Posted at 10:19h, 18 May Reply

    You explain perfectly why I am so drawn to trying to capture moments with my camera! Childhood is so fleeting and this helps preserve tiny and wondrous moments forever.

  • Christine
    Posted at 10:19h, 18 May Reply

    You explain perfectly why I am so drawn to trying to capture moments with my camera! Childhood is so fleeting and this helps preserve tiny and wondrous moments forever.

  • Meg
    Posted at 11:54h, 18 May Reply

    Mmm yes, I can understand that. Today, cream cheese smeared face, a track suit, and princess shoes. If I dont caputre it now, how will I remember it in 20 years, much less a week?

    And congrats, Tracey! A huge and wonderful accomplishment 🙂 I’m so happy for you!

  • Meg
    Posted at 11:54h, 18 May Reply

    Mmm yes, I can understand that. Today, cream cheese smeared face, a track suit, and princess shoes. If I dont caputre it now, how will I remember it in 20 years, much less a week?

    And congrats, Tracey! A huge and wonderful accomplishment 🙂 I’m so happy for you!

  • Michel
    Posted at 13:26h, 18 May Reply

    Congrats on the BHG article! thats awesome! the small details are my favorite.

    patience bumble bee

  • Michel
    Posted at 13:26h, 18 May Reply

    Congrats on the BHG article! thats awesome! the small details are my favorite.

    patience bumble bee

  • Blue Moon Mama
    Posted at 19:11h, 18 May Reply

    I agree that you can never take too many photos! I must take at least 10 a day just of my daughter. I want to capture every moment I can with her which is why my Details post is all about her. You can find it here:

    http://bluemoonmama.com/2010/05/18/cherishing-the-details/

    BTW, some people here are able to post their link very neatly inserted into the words of their comment instead of posting the html as I do. How can I do that?

  • Blue Moon Mama
    Posted at 19:11h, 18 May Reply

    I agree that you can never take too many photos! I must take at least 10 a day just of my daughter. I want to capture every moment I can with her which is why my Details post is all about her. You can find it here:

    http://bluemoonmama.com/2010/05/18/cherishing-the-details/

    BTW, some people here are able to post their link very neatly inserted into the words of their comment instead of posting the html as I do. How can I do that?

  • cindi
    Posted at 15:33h, 19 May Reply

    How very exciting for you Tracey! Congrats on the article! I love the small (and large) details of life… And couldn’t agree more about capturing as much as possible in images! I recently went back home to visit my girls and grandchildren and captured as much of them as I could. I call it a "gram fix"! LOL

  • cindi
    Posted at 15:33h, 19 May Reply

    How very exciting for you Tracey! Congrats on the article! I love the small (and large) details of life… And couldn’t agree more about capturing as much as possible in images! I recently went back home to visit my girls and grandchildren and captured as much of them as I could. I call it a "gram fix"! LOL

  • kim klassen
    Posted at 05:12h, 20 May Reply

    oh my gosh, i love love.. LOVE everything about this tracey! sooo happy for you too… love the supermarket moment…. wow!!!!

    xxo, kim

  • kim klassen
    Posted at 05:12h, 20 May Reply

    oh my gosh, i love love.. LOVE everything about this tracey! sooo happy for you too… love the supermarket moment…. wow!!!!

    xxo, kim

  • Sandy
    Posted at 04:16h, 24 May Reply

    I sat down this afternoon to go through the new Better Homes and Garden and when I got to the page and was reading I thought "wow that lady looks familar and I said to myself I recognize her and then it hit me who you were!! Congratulations!

  • Sandy
    Posted at 04:16h, 24 May Reply

    I sat down this afternoon to go through the new Better Homes and Garden and when I got to the page and was reading I thought "wow that lady looks familar and I said to myself I recognize her and then it hit me who you were!! Congratulations!

  • Leisa Hammettl
    Posted at 17:06h, 30 May Reply

    Beautiful! If I can manage it back (amid a move!), i hope to share a couple of my Nashville’s tragic 1,000-year flood photos–that we feel has been largely ignored by the national media. I came back here yesterday and was so inspired by the punch of oomphh! that seems to have infused your recent posts–while always good.

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