Welcome to month two of the series, “Thirty Minutes in the Life”. I hope you enjoy a tiny glimpse into our (somewhat strange) life. When you are done here, I invite you to visit my friend, Allison Wheeler, Oklahoma Lifestyle Photographer and check out 30-minutes in her life.
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I make no excuses.
Being married to me? It’s not easy.
I’m emotional.
Indecisive.
Overly sensitive.
Quick to cry.
Idealistic.
Forgetful.
Absent-minded.
(I could go on.)
Did I mention Idealistic?
What I mean by this is I come up with these ideas that sound so dreamy and beautiful and memory making and say things like, I just know it will be perfect. And then I drag others along with me.
idea to wake the kids up early and drive to the lake so we could watch
the sun rise.
In my minds eye it’s so very perfect. . .
We
drive toward the lake with three happy kids in the backseat. It’s
quiet because it’s 5 a.m. and the kids just stare out the window while
soft music pushes through the car speakers. We stop at a quaint donut
shop to grab breakfast before pulling up to our destination where we lay
a blanket on the damp sand. We sit in the darkness and we wait. It’s
still silent, because the kids are groggy, but soon the pink and the
orange break through the darkness and the ohhs and ahhs begin as three
little ones experience the glorious miracle of the sun rising over the
water.
In my minds eye, it’s perfection.
Sometimes,
my mind’s eye needs glasses. You see, Chad gets up at 4:30 a.m. to go
to work. I’m sure that he would have preferred to sleep past 5 a.m. on
his first day of vacation. Instead he helped to load three kids into
the backseat of the car and listened to the very loud chatter which
included three thousand questions, two hundred suggestions, and 23
squabbles during the 15 minute drive to the lake.
But we made it.
Did I mention that it was about 50 degrees? In August.
It was cold.
(I forgot to pack jackets.)
It’s August. Who needs jackets?
Meadow clung to Chad.
Chanelle remained silent.
They chowed down donuts quickly.
Shivering continued. Complaints were issued.
My idealistic dream began to die. . .
Until. . .
saw what I wanted them to see. Slayed by the beauty, captivated by the
scene, the chatter silenced. . .
They saw. . .
And when the sun finally showed herself in all her glory. . .
. . . it was worth it.
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Thank you so much for stopping by! Don’t forget to head over to check out 30-minutes in the life of Oklahoma Lifestyle Photographer, Allison Wheeler!
Um, GORGEOUS!! You're right–it was so worth it! I love that pic with the ducks on the water and I love how both sleepy and in awe your kids are at the beauty. Well done!
Thank you so much, Kristi! 🙂
What an incredible experience! I love the looks on your children's faces and you captured the awe of a sunrise so stunningly. So good!
Thank you so much, Amanda! It was a beautiful morning.
I LOVE it!! You and I would be great friends. 🙂 Such a great experience and story. Lovely images. 🙂
Thank you, Allison. I have no doubt you are correct. . . we would be great friends. 🙂
Oh my goodness! I absolutely love your story that goes along with these beautiful images. You drew me in and I felt like I was there. Can't deny that I even teared up a bit at the end. Simply beautiful!
Thank you so much, Stacey. Biggest compliment you could have given me.
Such precious memories. I especially love the photo of your husband looking at the still closed donut shop. It tells the viewer just how early it is and how much he loves you. Perfect capture!
Thank you, Juli! Much appreciated.
Oh Summer, you drew me in from the very first picture – wow, wow, wow – I love the lights on the bridge and the water. Sunrises and sunsets are something my husband and I love to take. He does sunrises (because I am sleeping) and I do sunsets. I love to watch the sun go down on the day. I loved all of your pics, and admire you for getting up at that time of the day.
At least you and your husband have the entire day covered, right? 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words.
I just love how you brought all of us along with you on this sunrise journey 🙂 You documented the early morning trip so well!!
Thank you so much, Colleen!
Holy moly, Summer! These are just insane. I love the narrative, and I LOVE that you concluded the way you did. Each image is wonderful, but together, they are amazing!