As I thought about all of the photos I have taken over the course of this sweet mom’s motherhood, this one stood out the most to me. It was her first Mother’s Day and I was running a mini session for moms and grandmas and their kids and she asked me to take photos of her with her daughter, mother in law, and mother. I have been a mom for almost 19 years and I don’t have a photo like this.

This photo was extra special because these two beautiful grandmothers have been lost these past few years. Most recently Jen lost her mother after a long and valiant battle with cancer. In her eulogy for her mother she joked to her husband “Luke it seems I am turning into my mother.” I think in ways we are all turning into our mothers. And when we lose a mother it is of great comfort that we are carrying them with us by the ways we mother.

Jen, I honor your motherhood this Mother’s Day from behind my lens. I have witnessed your pregnancies, newborn firsts, toddler moments, and now young school parent days. You and Luke are quite the team. You and Luke both carry your mothers in you. Turning into our mothers isn’t so bad when our mothers were so good! Thanks for allowing me the privilege of capturing your motherhood from the very start. Happy Mother’s Day!