Sunday, June 19, 2011

Thank you, Dads.



Happy day, to the important men in my life.



Grandpa.

Every old bike with a basket on the back will be my happy memory of Grandpa, long after he is gone and my hair has turned gray.
Those baskets collected cans for extra pennies, me, on our trips to the duck pond and park, and now they carry well water from miles away (please stop riding your bike 15 miles, you're 88 years old, Grandpa).

From him, I have learned my own love of bicycles. I have learned to find calm in my heart. An avid dumpster diver, he taught me to breathe life into the old and forgotten. And most importatly, Grandpa taught me to be a story teller. To close my eyes and draw my words from the memories in my heart.



Daddy.

Sometimes I worried that I would never find another man to hold such a big piece of my heart. My dad held my hand when we walked until I was a teenager, and still kisses me on top of my head every time he sees me.
From my Dad I learned a love of photography, adventure, and a world of patience. He is the most accepting, open-minded man I know, and always allowed me to spread my wings and fly to my own adventures....as long as I always knew the way to fly home.
Thank you for always holding my hand. In more ways than one.



Doug.

My Father-In-Law, who gave me the best advice I have ever heard about parenting. He told me that the best gift that I could ever give my children would be to love their Dad. Happiness from the heart of the family spread like sunshine to every part of the lives it touches.



Michael.

I couldn't have found a better opposite to ground me and balance out my differences to raise Elodie. I hope that somewhere down the line, she will grow up to realize that because we were the sun and moon, somehow our lives sang a moving tune in perfect harmony. Sometimes she will be me, hot, gold, and burning. And sometimes she will be him, cool, calm, and gray.

The morning that Elodie was born, he stayed by my side the entire 12 hours and pulled me back down to Earth when I thought I had surely left my own body. A constant anchor that never changes, but only sways in the wind. Happy first Father's Day.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

aw, you made me cry. thank you for sharing them with us. happy first lots of things to you both. :)
-noria

C'est Moi said...

Wow! Michael looks like his dad and that pic of your dad laughing and rolling around with you girls is priceless! Lots of love, momma, on this, our baby girls' first Father's Day!

vicious*vintagechic said...

Beautiful post, so glad to be able to spend time with my dad today!!

mama D said...

wet face. . . and my oh my, your e. and your m. even lay down alike :)

happy day to you all!

alexandrajean said...

What a beautiful tribute to the fathers in your life. Happy first father's day to Michael.

Mallory said...

Your blog has quickly become one of my very favorites. Thank you for your dreamy photos and beautiful words!

yours truly, melissa said...

such a sweet, sweet tribute to the men in your life.

Theodora Ofosuhima said...

Michael so much like his dad. What a beautiful memories you great through your words and pictures. And great tribute to the great men in your life. Happy father's day to all your men.

Thanks for sharing them :).

Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga said...

Happy, tender tears stroll down my face.

Beautiful!

So happy there is so much love and light in your life..and in this post :)

Brenna said...

You've always had a way with words, Aura! Loved it!

Ms. S said...

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. :)

Jessica said...

That was so sweet! Can you repost your previous one about finding your style? It won't show up on blogger, and I have tried and tried!
Thanks!

Phoebe said...

Beautiful! Make me a little teary even. Your blog has become my favorite after discovering it a few weeks ago. Thanks for all the truth in your beautiful words.

Anna said...

Beautiful.

siniann said...

I love this post. It makes me miss my family even more.

superhappyjohi said...

so beautiful!

Createliveblog said...

Wow, that is such sweet post! I especially love the words of advice from your father in law. Sounds like you're proving him right :)

Glad to read such happiness!

-Carly
www.createliveblog.com

Di said...

beautiful... :')

LL said...

I read your new post. I cried. I think this is becoming a trend.

Melissa said...

Beautiful! There is nothing more adorable than daddy's and their daughters.

Betsy said...

I would love to hear the story of Elodie's birth, even if it is months until you finally publish it. It took me two months to get Bear's birth story online, but I didn't forget any of the details like I thought I might...

She is so beautiful.

SBarreiros said...

Dear Aura

I love your blog and the way you write.
Thank you so much for sharing these amazing words.
In Portugal, the beautiful country from where I write you, we celebrate Fathers' day on March 19th.
I didn't get to know my grandfather from my dad's side and the other grandpa died when I was 6.
But I was so lucky that I had a borrowed grandparent. We and his wife were my true, amazing, one of the most important people of my life.
He would teach me about how to sow the seeds, about the ocean (he was from Ericeira village) and about life in general. He died last year and a mig part of my childhood memories include him (and his wife). As I said in the funeral, my children will never meet him in persona, but they will definatley know and hear about this amazing person in my life.
Thank you for remembering me about him today.

Please visit Portugal!!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post as always!

stacy said...

Aura! Once again you have me teary eyed at work! Love your father in law's advice...so true and such beautiful words. Hope you all had a wonderful fathers day...xx

Rachel at Eat and Write said...

What a beautiful tribute to the most important men in your life. I've found that I write the best and most important when I really feel something (even if the feeling isn't clear like glass); it's obvious that you love these men very much.

jackie said...

oh goodness. i found your blog tonight through joanna goddard's link to that mom fashion competition and i am just so glad i did. i've spent the last hour pouring through your archives and i just wanted to say that everything about your blog is beautiful. i love the words you write, and the pictures you take, and the love you seem to have for the world. you're inspiring.

Jen said...

I found your blog via a link somewhere a few weeks ago, and you've quickly moved into the "favorites" category. I loved looking back at all of your pregnancy posts and am really enjoying hearing about your life now with Elodie in tow :) And your pictures are BEAUTIFUL. I almost can't look at your blog without running out to finally purchase the DSLR I keep saying I'm going to buy "one of these days"...

Thank you for sharing with all of us :)

Anonymous said...

absolutely adore all the family photos you post! i was curious if you sneak a few every so often from you grandparents or mom? i'd love to organize all my family photos from years and years past but have no clue where to start. thanks!