Stories of the Heart – Week Two – A Look Back

I’m on my second week of Stories of the Heart and this week I am focusing on a look back.  As the famous song goes, ‘Where did you come from, where did you go?’ I’m going to focus on where I’ve been, where I grew up, what was life like and we’ll see where it goes!

Here is my picture for the week.  Its not one that I took and its not even a recent one.  It is a picture of myself and I think I’m over  a year in this picture.  I love this picture because it tells a lot.  I’m wearing my dad’s protective work glasses but they are a bit too big because I need to use my hands to hold them on my face.  It looks like we were in my dad’s workshop probably visiting him or bugging him!

Kristin Baby 001

I grew up in the same house right until I got married at 19.   I never had to share a bedroom as I was the only and oldest girl and I never had to share clothes.  I was born to two parents, four living grandparents and three living great-grandmothers.  And before I even knew it, I was instantly loved and welcomed into a very tight knit loving community.  Now looking back, what an amazing blessing it was to be so surrounded by so many loved ones.  It is rare today to know great-grandparents!  My great-grandmothers were able to watch me grow and I was able to be a part of their lives– hearing their stories and visiting with them.

My parents always provided us with a warm home, plenty of food, clothes and love.  But there were many years where I now know that money was very tight.  I don’t think I really felt this as a child.  We treasured going out to a restaurant as that was a super special treat!  When I got a special birthday present I longed for I didn’t take it for granted.  My favourite present as a child was the beautiful doll house that my dad made me.  I still have it and occasionally my kids will play with it! (my first daughter is not a doll girl she is a bug girl, but here’s to hoping my second daughter will use it!)

I grew up with four brothers, a collie dog, numerous cats along the way and two baby raccoons for a day!  I lived in the country. My dad was and still is a carpenter and my mom chose to bless us by staying home to raise us and take care of other kids.  I always had something to do although I’m sure there were times when I was also bored.  I remember summers being long and hot and we would always go camping.  I know this is where I developed my love of summer time, the beach, the fresh air, the fresh cut hay, long warm nights–  I was always outside!

I grew up in a Christian home, now some would say that I was sheltered and raised in a bubble– that I had a sub-par upbringing.  I guess to a degree I was raised in a bubble, but I was never sheltered from the realness of life.  I knew life was hard, that marriage was work and that life is short.  I knew that humans long for relationships and I knew the importance of being there for others.  I knew that a listening ear is far better than an over told story.  In a way I am thankful for my bubble– through it I learned what it meant to be compassionate, loved and discerning.  It has shaped me to be the person I am today.

This is a very brief capture of where I’ve been and where I came from.  There are a lot more stories of how I came to be where I am now– if you want to know the more details ask me sometime!  Or maybe I’ll blog about them in another post.

 

 

Stories of the Heart – Week Two – A Look Back

I’m on my second week of Stories of the Heart and this week I am focusing on a look back.  As the famous song goes, ‘Where did you come from, where did you go?’ I’m going to focus on where I’ve been, where I grew up, what was life like and we’ll see where it goes!

Here is my picture for the week.  Its not one that I took and its not even a recent one.  It is a picture of myself and I think I’m over  a year in this picture.  I love this picture because it tells a lot.  I’m wearing my dad’s protective work glasses but they are a bit too big because I need to use my hands to hold them on my face.  It looks like we were in my dad’s workshop probably visiting him or bugging him!

Kristin Baby 001

I grew up in the same house right until I got married at 19.   I never had to share a bedroom as I was the only and oldest girl and I never had to share clothes.  I was born to two parents, four living grandparents and three living great-grandmothers.  And before I even knew it, I was instantly loved and welcomed into a very tight knit loving community.  Now looking back, what an amazing blessing it was to be so surrounded by so many loved ones.  It is rare today to know great-grandparents!  My great-grandmothers were able to watch me grow and I was able to be a part of their lives– hearing their stories and visiting with them.

My parents always provided us with a warm home, plenty of food, clothes and love.  But there were many years where I now know that money was very tight.  I don’t think I really felt this as a child.  We treasured going out to a restaurant as that was a super special treat!  When I got a special birthday present I longed for I didn’t take it for granted.  My favourite present as a child was the beautiful doll house that my dad made me.  I still have it and occasionally my kids will play with it! (my first daughter is not a doll girl she is a bug girl, but here’s to hoping my second daughter will use it!)

I grew up with four brothers, a collie dog, numerous cats along the way and two baby raccoons for a day!  I lived in the country. My dad was and still is a carpenter and my mom chose to bless us by staying home to raise us and take care of other kids.  I always had something to do although I’m sure there were times when I was also bored.  I remember summers being long and hot and we would always go camping.  I know this is where I developed my love of summer time, the beach, the fresh air, the fresh cut hay, long warm nights–  I was always outside!

I grew up in a Christian home, now some would say that I was sheltered and raised in a bubble– that I had a sub-par upbringing.  I guess to a degree I was raised in a bubble, but I was never sheltered from the realness of life.  I knew life was hard, that marriage was work and that life is short.  I knew that humans long for relationships and I knew the importance of being there for others.  I knew that a listening ear is far better than an over told story.  In a way I am thankful for my bubble– through it I learned what it meant to be compassionate, loved and discerning.  It has shaped me to be the person I am today.

This is a very brief capture of where I’ve been and where I came from.  There are a lot more stories of how I came to be where I am now– if you want to know the more details ask me sometime!  Or maybe I’ll blog about them in another post.

 

 

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Lethbridge County, Alberta

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Kristin Sarah Photography

Joyful and beautiful lifestyle family photography, wedding and branding photography for the individuals who are passionate about documenting their story.

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✨👀 Watch Me Edit 👀✨

As I was shooting this gorgeous maternity session last fall, a couple of walkers passed us by in the background and yelled, “I hope we don’t photobomb you!” I knew that they would and rather than pausing, I kept on shooting.

@lightroom is simply the bomb and I literally use it for about 99% of my editing. Their AI generative feature is killer! I have used it SO MUCH since it’s been released. It helps me get rid of fly away hairs, mosquito bites, photobombers and so much more. This is one feature I’ve been again and again thankful for!

Here’s a quick fun video of me editing out those nature walkers! It’s just a basic AI fix bit still shows the power of the tool!

#lethbridgephotographer #ailightroom #lightroom #photographytips #albertaphotographer
Crazy to say goodbye to 2024!! 🤯 So many great things happened this year, and I have much to say, but I have too many things to do today- including packing up Christmas! So I’m signing off until new year!! Happy New Year’s everyone!! 🎉🤩🥳

@kristinsarahphotography