Years ago, when I had  a purple  bedroom with posters on the wall, I had a poster with this quote: “God gave us memories so we could have roses in December.”

I’d like to add a second thought to that:  God gave us pictures so we could remember the memories. 

I don’t have many memories from my early childhood, but the ones I do have I retain because they are tied into photographs.  The first house my mom and dad lived in; the one where my sister and I were little–I only remember that house because Mom pulled out the camera and took pictures of the day my sister came home from the hospital. I remember Christmas at that house because she took pictures of me with my Casper doll by the christmas tree.

I have a few nebulous memories of the bedrooms and playing with a tiny car on the rug next to the front door (pretending the patterns on the rug were streets for my car), but I don’t think I would have those memories if the setting hadn’t been firmly established by those old photographs.

The older I get, the more memories get squashed into this brain of mine. And most of them get filed away, and those files get tucked into dusty corners, never to be retrieved again unless desperately needed.  But you know what can bring those memories up in a flash?  You guessed it–photos.

Even before I decided to go into photography as a second career, I’ve always loved taking pictures. Not only for the artistry and creativity involved, but because they freeze time and create a solid, tangible memory for us to cling to.

This year at our open house, I tried to remember what I served at last year’s open house. I should have taken a picture!  🙂  For someone who can’t remember whether or not she took her vitamin this morning, photos are proving to be a lifesaver.

So no matter where you live, bring out your camera or camera phone and snap some photos of your loved ones today. Your granddaughter will be grown before you know it.  You will blink and your son will grow a foot taller.  And I truly believe my new puppy is growing right before my eyes.

So take some pictures or have some taken . . . so you can have those rosy memories in your December. 🙂

Happy New Year!

Angie

http://www.angelahuntphotography.com