Next in our circle is Staci Schonbrun with Blue Zebra Photography. You can find her springy post here:
http://bluezebraphotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2013/4/april-spring
Dear Eva,
I often think about you throughout the day. I think about a lot of little things, like the look of completed bliss on your face as we hug or snuggle; the way you sit at the table just happy as a clam as you work on whatever project you have going on; how you are always so thrilled to show me absolutely everything; the way you love surprises and how much you hate a ruined surprise… so much so that you will want everyone to pretend that it’s still a surprise; the sweet little things you say; even how grumpy you are when you wake up in the morning and I laugh because I think it’s so funny, but it just makes you more grumpy; how talented and accomplished you are at so many things; the way you love so well and think the best of absolutely everyone and everything… essentially, I have so much to think on so often, and I do. And it makes my heart happy. Just the thought of you makes me so very happy. It causes me to wish I could keep you forever.
Last week when we were out, you so wanted me to pick you up and hold you. But I couldn’t because I was carrying something and wouldn’t have been able to hold the both of you. Instead, I told you that you are a big, strong, nine-year-old girl and that as much as I would love to hold and carry you, you are just too big at this point. You kept asking me though, completely exasperated that I would refuse something so wonderful… sure that if you asked a few more times, that I would concede and we would both be filled with joy about it. But I didn’t, and quiet tears started to slide down your cheeks. Not in a manipulative way though, because you were actually embarrassed and so sad about it. I asked about the tears and you said, “I dislike getting older. The older I get, the less you are able to do all the things I love most.” Ugh, it pulled on my heart strings because I feel it too. You were mourning the loss of something you loved much, and you said, “I wish I could stay little , so that you could keep me forever.” Me too, darling.
Every stage of your life I have loved the best and wished in my heart that it could be kept frozen in time… just so I could enjoy that exact you as long as I wanted. But magically you become older, bigger, wiser, different and I love you even more. This precise time in your life though, I really think this is my most favorite. You have such solid ideas with such a determined and inquisitive nature, yet you still depend so much on me and you still want my help and attention always. It feels like a delicate balance of growing up, yet still wanting and loving me as much as a young child loves their mama. Dependent, yet capable. Still oblivious to the hurts of the world, tucked sweetly and safely in our little nest. Innocent and untarnished in any way; a big girl, yet a little girl at heart. I try to treasure this every day.
Unfortunately, you cannot stay nine forever and this magical time in your life must change and evolve into another one. Through it, I will continue to find joy in your beautiful smile, your gigantic and generous heart, and your limitless and grand ideas. Every bit of you is my favorite, favorite.
All my love,
Mom
***
Next in this blog circle is the lovely Carey Pace who has such a beautiful heart for her children and equally as beautiful images. Her post can be found here.
[...] next is the talented Marla of Simply Splendid Images…be sure to follow the circle for some heartfelt letters and images from a wonderful group of [...]
Marla,
Every month I can relate to your words, to your love in so many ways. I read your letters and could imagine saying the same things..yet you find words to say them that are just magical and perfect to me. My daughter turns 9 this week and though she is counting down to the party and presents part, she has also shed tears. She tells me she doesn’t want to grow up, she wants to be with us forever..and it breaks my heart. I remember saying these same words and each year seemed to fly by a little faster. Now as a parent, the years fly by much too fast. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. You are such a beautiful, loving and giving person. I am grateful we have connected through this. xo
I love your work and your style. The last portrait of your daughter is such a real portrait. You can tell she is looking at someone she feels so much love for. Her eyes and smile are genuine. No hand up! Ha! great work as always. 
i love this so much, and it is so purely you and eva, i don’t think about anything else in the world when i read your letters. my own life falls away and i just soak up the beauty of you both, in all of it’s quirkiness, life, surprise, hope, and perfection. i know that each word is real and on purpose, and each picture is almost hard won and then that open smile, straight at her mom. it’s only you and her in the world. now that’s a feeling i know. you are both stars in this sometimes too dark world. love you.
love love. so heartfelt and touching. as always.
So hard to grow up sometimes…love these images and your letter is perfect and heartfelt. Xo
A complete hodge-podge of pictures this month, but this is what home looks like through film and digital in many various and completely random ways.
Next is Christina Benge with Christina Benge Photography. You can find her post here:
http://2013photoproject.blogspot.com/2013/03/home.html
so many different shades of b&w, textures and compositions. Picture of coffee mug and boots are some of my favorites. Very simple but so honest and real. And the last image just made my day.
These are stunning pictures, art pieces!
each one stands alone. the textures and compositions are soothing and lovely, and i love the quiet moments with your sweet daughter. what a perfect end, that last image. i would like that in a frame as an always reminder of all the color and hope that sometimes feel so far away…xo
Beautiful! Love the first flower photos with the few yellow flowers. Needs to be on canvas! 
I missed seeing your work! I love your daughter hugging the cat and how the cat has obviously got his/her eye on something out the window! And those gorgeous yellow flowers! So happy to see some glimpses of your life again Marla!
You have such a gift and always offer so much variety of perspectives, compositions in your images that is so eye catching. Oh how i long for your creative eye! Beautiful work marla!
Such beautiful glimpses into home as it exists for you. Love the use of flowers in your foregrounds.
I love how you captured your city, surroundings and home. Voodoo Doughnut sounds amazing to me – assuming they are serving doughtnuts! Your home seems to peaceful and calm to me the way you capture it so beautifully. I also love the pop of color with the flowers.
what a beautiful post, I adore all the images and the variety of subjects you captured. very well done.
Dear Sweet Eva,
This month is your birthday month. In fact, we just celebrated your birthday last Friday and now you are 9 years old. How are you growing up so quickly? This is the very last year of single digits and I’m kind of beside myself about it all. On one hand, I’m grateful that you are exactly you and growing into a lovely young lady who has such a strength of character and is growing into exactly who she should be; but on the other, I’m clamoring inside about the fact that before I know it, you’re going to be big and grown up. In this month’s letter, I thought it would be a great opportunity to set what I’ve been sharing with you aside and tell you all about you at this stage in your life. I want you to know that I see you and notice all these wonderful things about you continually, because I think one of the strong heart desires of a female is to feel known. And you my dear, are likely the person I know best.
Here you are, on your birthday, in the morning before school:
About You
- In listing some of your character attributes, you are: kind, friendly, encouraging, curious, smart, free-spirited, and shy yet outgoing.
- Your favorite colors change constantly, yet you always say both blue and red because those are favorites of your dad’s (blue) and mine (red). After you say blue and red, you start listing off your other favorites and by the time you’ve finished, you’ve usually described a whole rainbow.
- You become intensely focused on whatever you’re interested in or doing. This depth of focus has helped you learn amazing things about the world already–for instance, hundreds of bird species by sight and sound. A while back, you were able to identify almost every bird in a very large North American bird book, though you are quite knowledgeable about parrots also because they are your favorite. While we were in Hawaii, you paid money to hold your dream bird and have your picture taken. It was a dream you had in your heart for two years and though I wasn’t very supportive of you spending your money that way beforehand, it was quite magical to see and feel the happiness you experienced from it all.
- You are constantly writing plays with the intention of creating an actual performance. This includes making props and costumes, choosing background music, selecting a cast, and trying to figure out how to get it on Broadway. Though not quite Broadway, your teacher Miss Miller is letting your class perform one of your plays next Friday. You’ve estimated it’s length at about 40 minutes.
- You crazy love animals. Most of your interests have always surrounded animals, you have a habit of collecting them (live ones), and all of your toys are animals. You haven’t ever really gravitated toward or played with anything else. You still play with your animal figurines and plushies and you recently created an entire zoo in our family room. One of your sections was labeled, “Animals People Keep As Pets, But Can’t Be Trained.”
- You are friends with everyone, but your best friends are Julia and Hannah. They are both very sweet girls, like you.
- You are a helper. You are ready to help or assist in a moment’s notice and are often asking if you can. I’m trying to be better about letting you help me any time you offer. Your face lights up every time I tell you what a great helper you are.
- You LOVE to snuggle and hug, and you LOVE, LOVE sleeping in my bed. My friends with little boys are always telling me that the best part of having boys is how sweet and affectionate they are; but you are so lovie, I can’t imagine it ever being any greater.
- When I give you a bunch of smoochy kisses all over your face, you ask me if there are hearts all over. I always tell you yes.
- You are very talented at drawing, significantly more so than I was at your age. Your teacher says that you could likely have a career in art if you wanted. At this point, you’d really like to be a zookeeper, which to me is so much better than when you wanted to be a taxidermist. Art would be great too. =) Not that long ago, you said you’d like to be a great photographer just like me… it about melted my heart. You can work with me anytime, Love.
- You’re very funny and lighthearted, but at the same time your feelings get hurt very easily. You don’t always show it, especially if you’re out of the house, but I can always tell. You have a very sensitive heart and I find it so endearing.
- You STRUGGLE with change of any kind. This might be common of your age, but it’s definitely something I notice. You just really like things as they are, you tell me.
- Your favorite foods are spaghetti and meatballs; sushi; blueberries; and french bread. You could eat any of these things every single day and be perfectly happy.
- You take piano lessons and gymnastics and you really enjoy both. You are able to play Fur Elise and Ode to Joy quite well, as they are your favorites currently. In gymnastics, you are starting to get the hang of cartwheels.
- You love to play still and I adore this about you. You really could care less about popular culture or what your peers are into, you just love to play and that makes my heart happy.
- You still call me Mama and oh how I love hearing it! I think I love it so much because it reminds me of the “little” that is still within you. Sometime in the not-so-distant-future, I expect that you won’t do this anymore so I’m relishing all the times you still do.
Nine years ago, you changed my life in the most amazing and abundant of ways. Ways I couldn’t have expected and only dreamed of. And since then I’ve had such an honor to cherish and love you, but I also have had the responsibility to help grow and shape you into the woman God designed you to be. I started out a novice and have been trying to go off clues and intuition as to how to do it all. Sometimes I feel as if love just envelopes us and we live in the most delightful dream, and then sometimes I feel as if I’m failing you and that I could and should be doing so much better. Then I try to remind myself that this is the condition of being a good parent, and I truly believe I am one of those to you. When it all comes down to it, I only want the very best for you always and I love you with every fiber of my being. I am so grateful and honored to be your mother; you are the absolute best.
All my love,
Mom
***
Please be sure to continue with the Letters to Our Children posts, starting with Rachel May Clark. I promise there will be beautifully inspiring images and touching words throughout. Rachel’s post can be found here.
[...] sure to go visit Marla Cyree of Simply Splendid Images has to say in her letter this month! Be sure to follow the whole circle for some serious [...]
Loved this Marla… I look forward to coming to your blog each month and reading what you’ve wrote. Being a part of this group is so very inspiring and helps me to be a better mom. Thank you for sharing your heart. <3
What an amazing daughter you have! And what an amazing mommy you are!! I loved reading every single word. And your images are simply beautiful. XO
In love with that braid shot.
So beautiful and thoughtful. What a wonderful mama you are to take this opportunity to list so many incredible things about your sweet girl.
Such a wonderful description of a blossoming young lady. She is beautiful and so fortunate to have you guiding her through life.
touching and heartfelt and pure love. you know her so well…your boundless love for her shines through these images and your words. beautiful post, marla!
Beautiful images and I loved reading about her. Xo
She is beautiful, and so lucky to have a mother who sees her and takes the time to truly know her.
Marla,
Tears, so many tears. I sit here reading this thinking of my Ellie who turns 9 in a few weeks. Knowing that we have to let go but feeling how hard it is. Our girls share many commonalities. I know one day I will miss the many plays she directs with her brother and sister and cousins. I will miss her in our bed every single night. I am grateful she has no idea about pop culture or atleast she doesn’t let on to it….so many things I can relate to. Your daughter is beautiful and you are such a gracious and loving mama…she is blessed!! xo
Last year I completed a 52 week photo project where I created a set of images fitting within a theme and met some really awesome people along the way. The saddest part about ending our project was the idea of not connecting with these amazing women week after week. So we decided to keep it going into a new project this year called “What _______ Looks Like.” In this project we post once per month and adhere to broad-based themes. Through this project, I plan to shoot things differently than I normally would, and also potentially edit them differently too. This is my wild card.
For February, the theme is shadow. Working on images this month caused me to realize that I often shoot to avoid any kind of harsh shadowing. They are interesting, but anything more than a soft shadow to create shape definition is generally undesirable in my portrait work. I wish I had had more opportunities to explore this quite a bit further, because the more I think about it, the more I wish I had practiced and taken advantage of the days where we were blessed with any kind of strong light.
I am excited to see what the rest of my group has come up with. Two women in particular are phenomenal with using strong shadows to their advantage and I’m very looking forward to their posts too. But to start it off will be Ms. Christina Benge from Indiana. You can find her post on shadows here.
Those are great Marla. First image is so strong and I love how you captured her in small pocket of light. Love tree branches and last one id one of my favorites.
I love how you “see” shadows and I love your processing.
Love the patterns of shadow in your images! This theme really made me realize how much I avoid shadows,I hope to work on this more.
well, as i went in a completely different direction with this, you’ve made me realize that there is a whole other side of this i didn’t even consider. and i admire that you intentionally worked with tricky elements yet pulled it off with grace.
Ohhh You found some awesome shadows!!! Love every one of them!!
these are great. i love the little pockets of light you’ve found and how you’ve used them.
These are great, Marla. The last 2 are my favorites, where the shadows are forming patterns on her face. Especially like the mood in the second to last!
Wonderful shadow images, Marla! I especially love the last two! Love her expression in the last one!
oh Marla, these are so fluid and emotional. I love that second image somehow- really magical. Your post work is delicious, like eye candy.
Oh love them. Especially one and 2. One because its just such an everyday memory that is forever caught beautifully and 2 because of the amazing amount of shadows within the pic.
I adore how we see two perspectives of the same scene in the first two images. And that last image grabs me – the strong light in her hair but soft shadow of her face. And her look. Beautiful!
Love the shadows and focus of the last photo. And the expression!
I love when everyday moments are captured beautifully, and you did just that with your first 2 images. The light and composition are simply divine!
Oh how I have missed seeing your images Marla. You have this gift of being able to take photos with such understated elegance. And of course you have remained true in these images as well. I love that first image. There is much beauty in the softness of the shadow. And that last image is my favorite. The dappled light combined with the grain and that expression just make it so mesmerizing.
Love your shadows! I agree completely with avoiding shadows completely, so this was a fun month! I love your daughter’s expression in the last image.
Dear Sweet Eva,
This month my letter might not be everything that I want it to be because I’ve been so sick, but I will try my best and hopefully compensate for any lacking at a future time. Thank you for all the ways you have taken care of me recently. It has warmed my heart immensely to have you constantly wanting to do little things to help make me more comfortable. You have the biggest heart and I just adore that one one of your love languages is doing helpful things for others.
Recently we were able to take a very special trip away together and I’m so very grateful to have had that time with you. The time leading up to our getaway was stressful and busy and it was so wonderful to relax and enjoy our days together without agenda. I have always loved watching the way you experience the world. You exude joy in all of your daily activities, whether it’s catching lizards in Hawaii or searching for buried treasure to even just the simplest times at home. I realized just recently that in any time you are doing something by yourself you are always whistling a sweet little tune. I can’t whistle myself as you know, but your whistling always seems to have such content and happiness behind it, and it gives me joy just having you around whistling your tunes all the time. I hope you will keep hold of that joy that is within you and treasure it always. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in what isn’t going right or what isn’t great, but choosing joy instead will make your life better in every possible way. It won’t keep you from hardship, but it will positively effect everything about you and all of your experiences.
So that leads me into what I want to talk about with you this month and that is your attitude and how it will shape every aspect of your life. I think attitude starts with our thoughts, which then effects our feelings and from our feelings comes our words and our experiences and actions. Then it is those things that can constantly reshape our thoughts, so you see it is a circle of sorts, or certainly can be. I know in times when you’ve had a bad attitude about something and I told you to choose a different one, you thought it was the craziest thing that someone could actually choose it. It does take much practice to recognize that it is a choice and it takes even more practice to learn to adjust it if needed. Having a good attitude is dependent upon how we think about things.
God says this about it:
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. -Proverbs 4:23
This verse above implies that it takes work to do it and that it is a choice we make, but if we can make that choice, goodness will come of it.
He also says this about our thoughts:
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -Phillipians 4:8
I don’t want to give you a long, complex explanation of why this works because currently it might be a bit over your head, but I do want to ask you to try it out. I promise that if you can shift your perspective, it will instantly make your heart feel lighter and better and even if that is the only benefit, at least you will still have your joy.
I love you dearly, my darling girl.
All my love,
Mom
***
Next in this lovely circle is Rebecca Chalmers. You can find her letter here.
What amazing wisdom you have shared here, Marla! I am so awed. Sometimes everything I feel we need to teacher our children can overwhelm me… but here you are. Taking it one step at a time. Here’s an issue. Let’s think about it. And now let’s take action. The images are so beautiful, but it is your kind parenting encouragement that I adore.
Such a special girl to look after and care for you! I think our children teach us just as much as we teach them.
Marla, this was such a lovely lovely letter. You are such wise woman and Eva is blessed beyond measure to have you for a mom. You’re giving her such a solid foundation to build on. It always warms my heart to see others teach their children about God… Thank you for your inspirations. I’m blessed just to read this!
SUCH awesome words of wisdom you have shared here…love. And the images are just perfect…love the last one!
These images are absolutely stunning! What an amazing letter, carefully shaping this wonderfully gorgeous young lady!
wow. amazing work….so lovely.
i see that you two have a true “love language”. just like her mama, there is so much beauty beneath the surface, so much brewing, so much good finding it’s way to the light. your wisdom feels so peaceful, marla. and yet i know that it comes from a full life and lessons you took from everything. but the peace, the truth, it is so strong and shining. it is all about those little shifts of will and heart. you explain it so beautifully. always gentle, always with care, always with the deeply rooted elegance in your soul. your love is something to behold.
marla, you are a beautiful soul. i love your wise words, they are certainly a precious gift for her that she will have forever. lovely images as always — that first one feels so genuine, it’s amazing!
i am sitting here trying to find the words to tell you how much i love the words you chose for your daughter this month. the verses you are teaching her and the truths about our attitudes. your pictures are beautiful, elegant, and graceful. I love them each.
beautiful words of wisdom and amazing images. love the red.
That is some very good advice. God gives the best guidelines for our lives, doesn’t he? I hope she takes all of this to heart.
So happy that you are getting to experience that fabulous weather. It is cold and dreary here : ).
I can’t tell you how much I love the work you did with film in Hawaii. The one of your daughter needs to be framed huge. It will be included in her wedding slideshow one day. You are always growing always inspiring me.
Preface
Towards the end of 2012 I was extended an invitation to join a group of photographers in a year long project in which we would write letters to our children on a monthly basis. Initially, I felt really honored by the individual who asked, but once I saw the list of other truly talented and accomplished women who would also be included, I might have blushed and felt super humbled, and extremely grateful. Many of them have no idea who I am, but I know of them and have been following their work for some time. So there’s that, for which I am really very excited. Additionally, this project comes at a really poignant time in my life where writing to my daughter Eva on a monthly basis and purposefully telling her how loved and cherished she is, comes with perfect timing. Even though I do anticipate these to be very personal in nature (featuring controversial topics like faith), I feel it’s a wonderful opportunity to put comfort aside and speak from my heart to my daughter’s and sharing that with the world along the way.
So here it is: one of twelve.
***
My dear Eva,
Often we say dear when starting a letter, but in this instance I mean my dear Eva. There is no other way I can imagine saying it and you must know from the depths of my heart, how very dear you are to me. I am fairly certain that I have carried you with me my entire life because in the exact moment I met you for the very first time, it felt as if you had always been with me and I could no longer remember a time in my life when I didn’t love you. A while back you asked if I had always wanted a daughter, to which I quickly and assuredly replied yes and you smiled very sweetly. Yes, for as long as I can remember I always wanted a daughter. But more specifically, I always wanted you. I dreamed of you, wished for you, and prayed for you years before you were even born.
As you continually get older before my very eyes, it becomes more and more apparent how little time I have with you. This is why I want to write these letters to you. In part so that as time goes on we can both look back and read these to remember all the little things that are easy to forget and just pass us by. It’s easy to remember the big things, but it is the littlest things in life that make it magical. I think this about love as well. It is easy to remember the big feelings of love because it encompasses us daily and therefore I could never forget how much I love you, but I want to remember how how my heart swells when your little hand fits into mine and how you still want to hold it it as you are soon turning nine years old; or how you still love to be held so tight all the time and always want to sleep in my bed; and how you run home excited to see me each and every day. These are things that maybe you will forget when you become more and more independent and want less to do with your mom than your new and exciting adventures that lay ahead of you. Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to leave you little pearls that you will carry with you always. Really, I want to write you a book but I’ll just try to think of a few at a time.
Pearl 1: You are incredibly special. I know all parents think their children are incredibly special and really the best thing that has ever graced the earth, but you dear are so very special that it is a challenge to put into words. But people and often strangers recognize it and tell you frequently how special you are; how smart or intelligent you are; how well spoken you are; and how talented you are. You have been hearing these compliments for years from everyone around you. Subsequently I don’t believe you will struggle with self-esteem which is great, but at the same time I hope you will not place your sense of worth in what other people think of you, which is a danger in relying on others for your strength of self. It is so important to learn to love yourself and feel confident in yourself even if you come across others who might not understand you. Self-worth is best found through intimacy with God. He is your biggest fan and if you let Him, He will be your most loyal friend and confidant, your wisest counselor, and your greatest advocate . In times where you may feel angst, internal frustration, or misunderstood, God will always have gentle, comforting, and loving words that speak directly to your heart and soul. I hope you will look to Him first because it will save you much heartache later by trying to let the world fill those lacking places. God made you the very special lady you are and will become and He did so with a very specific purpose. Every talent you possess was intended to aid you in this and someday all of it will come together in a most beautiful orchestration. I feel supremely blessed to witness and nurture your uniqueness every single day.
Pearl 2: You are one of the most focused young people I have ever met. You have an amazing ability to remain committed and steadfast to your ideas inspite of any potential challenges or obstacles and regardless of what people say or think. You will come up with at least 5 solutions to each and every obstacle and still have a ton of joy and ambition left in your heart. I think this is an amazing virtue to possess, as people in the world today often give up much too easily on their ideas and dreams, but also their commitments. I have no doubt that you will accomplish the great things deep in your heart because of your tenacity. I want to warn you however, that sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to. In fact, sometimes it goes so opposite of what we want that our hearts become completely wrecked with grief. Right now this is an idea that is really challenging for you, which is okay. I hope in time you learn flexibility, which is an amazing pairing to your level of focus and commitment. Hold tight to your dreams, but know that sometimes the path changes to get there. There have been times in my life where something I so desperately wanted didn’t come to pass, or I failed so horribly at something and thought I could never recover. In the moment, it feels like nothing could make it better. But I can look back on every single serious disappointment in my life and see that something much, much greater was waiting for me ahead. I am so excited to see you reach your greatness.
My darling girl, much of what I now understand of life and love comes from being your mama. Thank you for being such a kind-hearted and loving teacher. I always tell you, but you are the best! xoxo
Love to you always,
Mom
Next in this list of amazingly wonderful photographers is Ms. Tabitha Patrick. You can find her post here.
This is so beautiful. Your daughter sounds like an amazing girl and your closeness is so sweet. Brought tears to my eyes. Just lovely.
Your letter seriously brought tears to my eyes. I definitely can related. <3
so so beautiful.
Gorgeous and so heartfelt. I have a lump in my throat. Beautiful.
marla, you came into my life like a gift. i read this and savor every single word, and read some lines again. i know you and that this is completely sincere and directly from your heart, and just the very tip of the iceberg. there is a whole world beneath the surface that blows me away. i want to meet eva. i want d to meet her. two gifted, passionate, special souls, who already have had more enough big things in their lives. but who will surely brave anything that comes. love to you. you are amazing. the two of you have a perfect love.
love the “pearl” concept….such wise words you have offered her…she sound like an amazing girl and I can feel your love for her…
beautifully written, and directly from your heart. I know that your daughter will cherish these words.
I am in awe right now. You have no idea how much your words have touched my heart. Eva is such a lucky lucky little girl to have such an amazing mother, and I say that not even knowing you! I wish my mother had said these things to me… especially Pearl 1. Incredible words… Monumental. Love every single one.
happy tears streaming down my face…i have no words…in complete awe.
I am so glad this project has brought a new friendship into my life. I am in awe of your words so wonderfully spoken to your daughter. She’s blessed on so many levels to have you as a friend and leader in her life. I look forward to reading more through the year.
Sweet Marla, love the look of your blog! You made me get a little emotional tonight and I have been hard as steel lately! I love, love, love this…
“I am fairly certain that I have carried you with me my entire life because in the exact moment I met you for the very first time, it felt as if you had always been with me”
That is pretty powerful and exactly the same way I feel about my children. Your work always means so much to me and seeing it paired with Eva, it makes me really want to meet her, and have you fly to Chicago and meet the boy with the wings.
looking forward to are projects together.
OK…I decided to read one more letter before I go to bed…and this is so amazingly beautiful and heartfelt. “I always wanted you”…that makes my eyes watery. I really am in awe. So happy we could meet through this project. XO
I love your images and your letter. You used this to tell her things about herself at this moment in time, and also encourage and instruct her as a good momma does. Beautiful beautiful!
and I’m super glad you are sharing about your faith in all of this, too.
I sense it too… your words are so meaningful and heartfelt. Wonderful letter!
It is so obvious through your words that you are an amazing mother, and that Eva is a very special girl. The wisdom you shared here resonated so deeply with me- I think I really needed to read some of it. I’m so happy that you’re part of this project, too.
[...] to one of my kiddos. Three kids, twelve months; each one will get 4 letters from mom. (Thanks to Marla for the inspiration! Your whole circle is [...]
what spring looks like » Jennifer Morrow Photography - [...] see more of ‘what spring looks like’……head on over to Marla’s page: http://temp.foliowebsites.co/~simplysp/blog/?p=627 Posted in [...]
Monika Eisenbart - wow I can feel the spring looking at your beautiful photos Marla. Warm, soft, elegant!!!! ANd the last image with beautiful light and your doughtier is my favorite.
Jennifer Morrow - Marla – these are so stunning! I love the way you see and capture the world around you! Such light and warmth! I always look forward to seeing you images!
Happy Spring!
staci - So beautiful Marla- I love all of them. The last image of your daughter is stunning! Love the dainty airy feel of all the spring images1
pamela joye - i always admire the care you take with your pictures…i linger with them for that’s how i feel you see them. i feel you lingering with them and being very selective in how you frame them. each one belonging with the whole. i love the soft light and the dreamy quality of them… romantic with restraint. subtle yet clear.
Karen Porter - The flowers are amazingly beautiful and the details you capture always draw me in. I love the stems of the yellow flowers and your macro work is always lovely.
Suzanne O'Brien - Simply lovely. I admire your consistent style – so inviting and soothing at the same time.
Toni Burks - Marla, your light and colors are perfection! Beautiful images and wonderful depiction of spring, and your little girl is a beauty!
Christina - These are so elegant and beautiful! Love them all!!
Carrie - Such pretty spring images! That first shot has such amazing lines and details. Happy spring to you!
Elaine melko - Love the way these look together and that flower detail is amazing. You are so talented, love your style and work.
Emily - Love these spring photos- could feel the warmth of the sun through the screen!