Flickr: lepiaf.geo
Part of finding beauty in life is savoring the little moments. A lot of life is stressful, busy, hardwork, often forgettable and quite unremarkable. And, many days are downright painful and difficult.
That is what is so sacred about beautiful moments. They come and go so quickly we can miss their significance. We might be looking for something bigger and more dramatic and miss the beauty of what was right in front of us all along.
Ever since my children were first born, I have made a habit out of capturing little photos in my mind of the moments I wanted to treasure.
- Sweet eyelashes fluttering over big blue eyes {remember those eyes so beautiful and innocent}
- Chubby cheeks covered in sweet potatoes {linger on that baby face to remember it always!}.
- Hugs by soft dimpled baby arms {don’t forget this feeling!}.
- Singing soft lullabies to a sleepy boy {remember how precious he is!}
- Two sisters laughing in the backseat of the car {I love their laughter, don’t forget how it sounded!}.
- A little brother running to hug big sisters {my heart is full, remember this moment forever!}
- Kids blowing bubbles on the porch {savor the sweetness, will this be the last time they blow bubbles?}
I had my parents over to our house at Easter. My middle daughter was looking through photos to find ones to put in her senior class slide show. “Remember this mom?,” she’d call over to me. Pretty soon we had all gathered around and savored the memories we had captured in pictures.
We laughed, we cried, we remembered and we shared the little things, the seemingly small moments that could be so easily forgotten if we haven’t captured them in our hearts — and fortunately, in pictures.
Capturing and treasuring those memories is what a joy-filled and beautiful life is about…it isn’t living the perfect life, or having life go exactly like we’d hope all the time, but it is living a life where we recognize what is precious when we see it.
I have a great SURPRISE! giveaway today to help you in your endeavor to capture and share those memories! Kodak is giving away this wonderful prize, one Kodak Easyshare Digital Frame, to a reader of The Inspired Room!
KODAK EASYSHARE W1020 Wireless Digital Frames with Home Decor Kit — $269.95
These wireless frames come with a home decor kit that allows it to easily fit into any home aesthetic! With capabilities that include wireless access to stream photos from kodakgallery and flickr, to getting updates on news, weather and sports, this frame has it all with the ease of the KODAK QuickTouch Border.
The best part is, because of Kodak technology you can automatically send and receive pictures from KODAK Gallery members right on your frame with the Picture Mail feature so that you are constantly connected. To learn more visit Kodak!
Just leave a comment here to be entered. If you share a beautiful life post on today’s Mr. Linky and link back to this post, (you can do this any time over the weekend or before the contest ends), you’ll get a second entry! Put this link on twitter and share the tweet here for another entry! This giveaway is now closed
What special moments did you capture this week?
How did you find or create something beautiful?
Share with us in the comments or via a link on Mr. Linky! Remember, all Mr. Linky links MUST BE TO A SPECIFIC POST RELEVANT TO A BEAUTIFUL LIFE. No home page links or it confuses me and I have to delete!
PS. Emily at Chatting at the Sky is celebrating beautiful ordinary moments on Tuesdays with her “Unwrapped Posts!” I’m linking up!
What an amazing prize! I would love this! Thanks, Melissa!
We are THAT familys inspiring blog post..DIYP#41-Dollar Store Art
Melissa, just posted my 12 homemaking subjects post…. and HOPING that I’ll be lucky enough to feature that little high tech frame in my house! What a great day…. girl, you’re quite the lady of blogland!
Pretty Organizers inspiring blog post..Pretty Organizers for Sale and a Giveaway
My link is of some of my flowers blooming in my yard. The rain was coming and I knew I needed to capture their beauty…
twinkles inspiring blog post..I Dreamed A Dream…
I’d love this for myself, but I think I’d give it to my grandparents so that we could send them surprise pictures of our girls (and the new baby soon to arrive). We live 2,000 miles away and it would be a blessing to keep in touch this way in addition to the usual phone calls and snail mail.
hi melissa
I joined in today, thanks for hosting.
You know, I really am trying to make the most of thing and making life beautiful with little touches – actually quite easy and so apt for this economic climate that is trickling through to each of us
i need to get my photos out but can’t face the emotions lol!
happy weekend
Sarah
ABeachCottage
Well, we found the perfect home to create a beautiful life (and more memories) in this week! It doesn’t get much better than that. Oh wait, it will be pretty great to unleash my paintbrush in it.
ginas inspiring blog post..we got a house!
http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/beautiful-moments/
I forgot to write anything…these are two the 1st 2 TNG’s in my family.
Love these Inspired ideas…
Thanks for this timely post! I’ve been trying to savor every single moment I have with my sweet granddaughter as she grows older!
Those are the sweetest little toes. Great shot!
Happy Friday!
Marcie
Marcies inspiring blog post..Something Wonderous is Happening…In Shelley Noble’s Halfland
After my little 2 year old and I have an experience (along with her baby brother, of course), we come home and re-create it through art. This week we went to visit an older friend and family. We came home and talked about the fun we had while we made play dough images of the family and then drew them and watercolored them. It’s like a photo but the making of it helps us relive the moment.
I’m giving away a set of Mother’s Day cards that say something meaningful at my blog this weekend, hope you’ll join me: http://www.burningbushes.org
Nicoles inspiring blog post..Did They Really Say ‘Let’s Return to Egypt?’
Hey, would love to have the frame, I love taking pictures of my grandkids. also love outside pictures.
This is the first time on here for me, but have been enjoying reading all about your great stuff.
Thanks , Debbie
Those senior photo/video displays are always so moving. I get teary remembering the song that my niece chose and the pictures she selected. I don’t think that the albums are put back together yet and that was six years ago!
Wonderful list, Melissa…
Vees inspiring blog post..Pencil Caddy
I agree so much with this post. It is an area that I am
improving in … It is never too late, is it?
I would be thrilled to win the Kodak Frame.
So, enter me please…((Smile))
Have a very awesome weekend!
Becky K.s inspiring blog post..Beautiful Spring Flowers and More…
That is quite a picture frame!
Mrs.Rabes inspiring blog post..More Easter Photos
What a thought provoking post… we all have our memories, nothing can take them away.
Lamp Tramps inspiring blog post..CHANDELIER MAKEOVER
Amazing give away!!
this would be so fun!
Wonderful idea for a giveaway on Beautiful Life Friday~
Snapshots in time…
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
Robin Rane’ ~ All Things Heart and Homes inspiring blog post..Texas Caviar 2 ways!
LOVE the blog! Would love to be entered in the contest! Thanks!
Jenn Harrisons inspiring blog post..January 1996
What a great giveaway! I also linked up to my vegetable garden progress.
Jenna @ Newlywedss inspiring blog post..Summer Garden week 5
This would also make a great mothers day present!!!
Melissa,
Your post is “especially” special today. I totally understand the importance of capturing those special moments. This week I have all my children and their children home- this doesn’t happen very often in fact the last time we were all in the same place at the same time was around 5 years ago! So lots of pictures are going to be taken and tons of hugs given out.
Thanks for hosting this series- you are the best.
Have a wonderful day-
Teresa
teresas inspiring blog post..Saved-
What a generous give away! I have linked a post about a beautiful bloggers art.
Pams inspiring blog post..I Am So Hooked On This Banner
I would LOVE win this fabulous digital frame!!!!!!! Happy weekend:)
That frame would look VERY good at my house, flashing pics of my furry guys!
Queen of Fifty Centss inspiring blog post..T-BIRDS AND TEAPOTS AND A TEA TOWEL TOO
OH what a great surprise!! Yes I totally agree about capturing the moments. Sometimes I worry about my child becoming annoyed with his mother constantly with a camera in his face. But later i know I will cherish every smile, wink, giggle or CRY!
Great series!!!
Great post! A great reminder for me.
And what a great giveaway to go along with it!
What an awesome giveaway!! Thanks, Melissa!
Emily@remodelingthislifes inspiring blog post..Link Love: Even Walls Fall Down
Melissa,
Our children grow so quickly in such a short time. As parents we encourage them to spread their wings, and go forward in their lives. Having cherished photos lets us keep a bit of them forever young in our hearts.
The post I am linking to you today is about a beautiful place that always fills me with inspiration. Have a wonderful weekend…..~Cathy~
Cathy @ The Stylish Houses inspiring blog post..Amsterdam Blue
Hi Melissa,
I haven’t linked this week as I fear my posts are a bit random for the series. In amongst all that randomness, lots of special moments that captured a moment in time that while not so special to others, are priceless to me.
Thanks for sharing your personal experiences – it must be wonderful to have grown up kids and share those precious memories together!
Meredith.
Merediths inspiring blog post..Road Trip!
Wow, you put that so perfectly into words! I love decorating…I love all things regarding design. I am a real estate agents/stager who gave up her job and is now home with little ones again. I started blogging and my whole blog has turned into finding the ‘joy at home.’ Some days are down right dreary but even the dull days are filled with little glimpses of sunshine when you stop and soak up the subtle sweet moments of childhood! Thanks for todays post, enjoy your weekend!
Joy Cronauer…Joy at Homes inspiring blog post..
oooo I would puffy heart love one of these! Thanks Melissa!!
Amanda-The Eck Lifes inspiring blog post..The Big Reveal!
I captured some precious moments with my sister and her youngest child this past weekend. My niece is 5 years old and is already turning into a young girl. I love spending time with both of my nieces (they absolutely love holding a private modeling session for me and the camera)!
This is a fantastic giveaway…it would be wonderful to win and fill with “Beautiful Life” pictures!! I am also working on a graduation slide-show. (The final one of three, which makes it a bit more bittersweet than the first two. Looking through our pictures has been great fun.)
I’m hoping to get a post up and link with your Mr. Linky.
Cathys inspiring blog post..A Woman Inspired Online Conference
What a great giveaway! I just got a new camera.
Finally bought a digital camera and I’ve been having a blast! I would love to win this prize. Love your blog.
I wrote a post yesterday about the beauty of my dirty little two year old boy. I, unfortunately, did not have a camera on hand; so, hopefully I did a good job describing him.
Love your blog!!! I too would enjoy the Kodak digital picture frame. We purchased one to give as a Christmas gift for my husband’s mom. It was so much fun to upload the pictures, but in the end it was HARD to give it away. I really wanted to put it in my OWN living room!!
grace and peace,
julie
These Kodak digital frames really are great. We gave one to my grandmother for her birthday and she LOVES it. She invites people into her room at the retirement home to watch the little slideshows on them of her family.
Thanks for hosting this fun party. Have a wonderful weekend!!
Julia @ Hooked on Housess inspiring blog post..Hooked on Fridays: Beach Cottage Love
I agree whole heartily with you..every since my son was born I have made sure to stop and take in every little moment. Taking pictures of all the little things. I’m sure some people wouldn’t understand the pictures or think they were good but all of these pictures will remind me one day of the precious little baby I was blessed with
I would love a digital frame so that the thousands of pictures could be viewed everyday!
That is such a nice digital pic frame!! I’d love to take my son out (5) and take pics with him for the frame.
Candaces inspiring blog post..Child of the 80’s
What an awesome frame. The technology these days just blows my mind. I enjoy your blog and visit it often. It has great inspiration not only for the home but for the heart as well. I appreciate you opening yourself up to the world.
Cherri Engles inspiring blog post..‘After’ photos of the Furniture re-do
That is a wonderful giveaway! As the wife of a photographer and a would-be photographer myself, I am so grateful for the beautiful photos we have of our children. They capture those moments in time that I never want to forget.
Wendys inspiring blog post..Frugal Friday~
What a fabulous giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win! Have a great weekend!
Merediths inspiring blog post..{Hoppy Easter}
Great giveaway! Thanks!
Great giveaway! I got a digital camera just a few weeks ago, so this would be wonderful to win and be able to display my photos. I’m new to your website and I’m really enjoying it. Thank you for inspiring us!
wow, that IS an awesome giveaway!
These digital frames are great…we’ve purchased them for both sets of grandparents but not for our own home. Would be great for all the pictures of our three little girls!
I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks and am always inspired!
What an awesome giveaway! I’ve been wanting one of those digital frames F.OR.E.V.E.R.!!!