One and a half weeks ago, I received a heart-breaking call from my dearest friends Chi and Mitch on Kangaroo Island… They shared the news that Mitch’s mother, Karen, had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Many of you know that I lost my own mother to renal cancer 9 years ago, so this news hit so very close to home on a personal level … Unfortunately I know all too well the whirlwind of emotions that comes with this kind of news…
They asked if I could come over and do an extended family photo session for them as soon as I could… And although May was already looking pretty busy for me on a business and personal level, I would have moved mountains to make this session happen… Losing my mother to cancer has been a huge influence on how I see the world and a driving motivation in how my photography journey came to be… I truly felt like photographing this session was part of a higher calling and one of those “meant-to-be” moments in life… and I knew just how much these photos would mean to them…
So on Saturday morning I flew into Kangaroo Island for a whirlwind 24 hour stay… With the timing of the trip occurring just the day before Mother’s Day, it gave another touch of poignancy to the whole day…
I’ve always felt that it’s one of life’s ironies that it takes the most trying of circumstances to make you appreciate what’s truly important … At the end of the day it’s really about the people who surround you and support you… your relationships with them and the memories you share with them… I was blessed with the opportunity to share a few hours with a family that showed and expressed their love for each other with every look and every gesture … We shared cups of tea and coffee in their home… relaxed and shared a meal on the deck… played ball and ran races like lunatics in the backyard… sat and played board games with the children… We talked and we just enjoyed being…
It’s been an incredible weekend of mixed emotions these last 48 hours… A combination of sadness and helplessness intertwined with a heart of gratefulness and thankfulness for the blessings of the present moment. I really felt like I was given an opportunity to really pause and reassess what’s important… I felt the meaning of life… I felt the true meaning of love… I breathed and I gave thanks for all things…
Thank you to all the Mitchells for welcoming me into their home this weekend… Thank you for allowing me to share in a day in your lives and to capture some beautiful memories for you… As important as these photographs are to you, I don’t think you realize just how touching and important this experience has been to me and for that I give you my heartfelt gratitude…
My love and prayers are with you Karen and the whole family, today and everyday… xoxo
… Does anyone out there see the resemblance? And all of you out there, you can start calling me Marion…
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