Good-bye...

Remembering someone that has gone with god is a sad occasion for families to gather and meet again.

This past summer my ex father in law passed away, I hadn’t seen this side of the family in about 15 years, sit was a bittersweet reunion.

 

 

I’m really intrigued with the fact that formal funerals have kind of gone to the wayside.  This get together was more like a picnic and a celebration of the life of Dave Nelson.

 

I really watched how my children interacted with their relatives; it was almost like no time had gone by even though most of the family members live miles and miles away.

 

My son, Keith, looks exactly like his dad, who in turn looks just like his father.  This photo with Keith and his grandpa solidified for me the family resemblance.

 

I was asked to take family photos and it was surreal for me, seeing my ex husband with his new family and me with mine there, I have appreciated still being able to get along with Jeff after all these years.  

 

Seeing the photo of Jeff (my ex husband) , Dave (his father) and Jeff’s truck, we had our first date in this truck, brought a flood of memories back to me and made me realize I’ve never really left this family, because I still consider them all family. 

 

 

His wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends will miss Dave Nelson, but his memory and legacy lives on through the lives of his offspring as they go out into the world at start having their own children…his great grandchildren.

Interview with Tom Duncan - Final Project

My final project for PhotoMedia

 

Spokane Crèche

Every year the Mormon Church hosts a function that shows Nativities called Crèche.  This allows members of the church to display nativities they have acquired through their travels around the world.

We are always greeted by missionaries singing carols at the front door.

When you walk into the gymnasium it’s amazing to see all the nativities on display.  You’re greeted by someone at the door then you just start walking through looking at all the displays.

This 5 panel cross stitched nativity took three years to make it was a gift from a granddaughter to her grandmother.

This crèche was purchased at a rummage sale for 25 cents.

  

Families come in and gather around the scenes and observe all the different nativities in their splendor.

So many of these nativities are from all around the globe and are beautiful and unique.

They even have a room dedicated specifically to quirky nativities people have picked up on their travels.

The Church even has a special room devoted to children.  In here they can dress up like Mary, Joseph and the wise men.

 You find small children playing with the nativities that are set up for them, obviously happy to be there.

This year they expected more than 10,000 people in the Spokane Community will visit the Crèche and they all come from different backgrounds. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints holds this event in communities all around the United States to help bring the true meaning of Christmas to the neighborhood.  I have attended for the last 6 years and am still amazed at how beautiful and spiritual this occasion is.   Merry Christmas!!

Family and the Holidays

As the years have gone by it seems like I only see my extended family on Holidays anymore.  We used to play together now we see each other once or twice a year.

This year it happens that Blake’s birthday was the day after Thanksgiving so we celebrated with a cake for him on Thanksgiving.

His little brother Jake loved having his photo taken and eating chocolate cake.

 It’s now a tradition to take a family picture outside every year, My Uncle Gary, Aunt Cindy and their kids always take a photo of themselves for their Christmas cards and they always look great.

We went out in the snow this year and did our family photo, every year it gets bigger and bigger.  My family can be quirky but I do love them and miss the ones that have left us.