the most beautiful things in this world must be felt with the heart

Just a quote and one portrait today. The summer is so very busy for photographers especially here in Maine where we have such a small window to be outside enjoying the beautiful backdrop of this state. So I am behind on lots of things. Blogging included. My goal is to try and do smaller posts like this so at least I get something up. 

I love this quote so much. I could talk about why all day. Or I could just put it here with a portrait that moves my heart so much. (and yes, I know it's cheating the quote since it's something to see. but i still felt the quote went with this portrait)  

Go out and feel something beautiful today. 

                                                                                                                In life and love- Jen


The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller

What else is life for except enjoying it? ... A family portrait session in Cape Elizabeth Maine

I read an article about happiness recently. I have spent plenty of time in my life pondering what happiness is for me, what it is for others and how there are some people that just seem to have it and others who just miss it entirely. You know the ones. Those families you meet and you think...how do they do that? They always seem happy. Not perfect, but just happy. Sweet moments are what life is truly all about. We all want them. I think that those moments can happen everyday if we let them or maybe if we actually just see them. Those times when we are asked to blow bubbles for our kids and then we take the time to do it and actually take the time to watch them laugh. Yup, those are the moments. Cause really what else is this life for except enjoying it? Sometimes we forget. Here is a reminder. 

                                                                                                  In life and love - Jen

Perspective

I had the opportunity to take my daughter, who is 6, on a trip to curaçao. For a single mom this was a really exciting gift to say the least. The time there was truly amazing. We both got the chance to snorkel and swim with a family of squid...which was a life changing experience for me. The squid were iridescent with polka dots and they changed color too! They didn't seem to be afraid of me, merely cautious. It was so very wonderful!

I also saw a seahorse!! A moray eel, parrotfish, lion fish, sea slugs, an octopus, puffer fish and much much more. If you have never had the chance to snorkel and it appeals to you i would definitely add it to your bucket list. One of my favorite parts about it is how completely quiet and peaceful it is immediately when you put your head in the water. There is nothing but blue water and a whole different world to explore. (As long as you are brave enough..right Kayce?!)

The really big thing about this trip though was just getting to spend time with friends. To sit and tell stories at the end of the day. We would all meet at night and they would load the video and photos of the day from their dives (I didn't scuba dive) and we would watch the screen together in anticipation of the next sea life that would pop up and wow us. We would swap funny stories about the day or maybe mostly make fun of my equal parts love and fear of the huge ocean and what bungle it lead to that day. (: We would sit outside on the balcony every morning and listen to the exotic birds calling while we sipped coffee and stared at the teal blue sea. We spent time together. You know, that elusive thing called quality time that we all want so desperately. 

When we left this morning Charlie cried. When we all hugged goodbye this afternoon to go our separate ways in Miami we both cried. As I sat on the plane I thought about how much my heart hurts at times that I don't have my mom to call and tell all my stories to and I thought about how I have created a family around me of people whom I love so much that it breaks my heart to leave them. I think that in this life we are given gifts (or we find them for ourselves) and all we have to do is have the perspective to appreciate them. We have the choice to wallow in what we don't have or create a life we love. And yes, the trip was amazing but the reason we cried wasn't for the beautiful squid we were leaving behind it was for our family.