I have some wonderful women in my life and WARNING I’m about to tell you about some of them and I may ugly cry.  Feel free to skip down to the images.  You won’t hurt my feelings.

It’s about to get all mushy up in here.

But I’m going to risk the eye rolls and get on with it.

These women need to know that I LOVE them.

For example,

I have an amazing mother that sacrificed being near her own mother to move to a new country and create a new and wonderful life for her children.  I can’t image what life would be like if she hadn’t.  Her life hasn’t been a cake walk and I know that her trials have made her so strong and oh so wise.  I am grateful that she lives nearby and is able to share that wisdom with me.   She is strong and creative, smart and beautiful.  She’s an angel.

I have a one of a kind mother in law.   In movies it seems that girls always have mean mother in law’s that are critical and over protective of their sons.  My mother in law has always been the opposite.  I lucked out in a major way.  She does so much, like the time she took my colicky newborn for the night so I could rest, and the multiple times that she has taken both of my daughters for the night (or 8 nights) when I have had to go out of town.  She is wonderful.  She’s sweet, nurturing, compassionate and selfless.  She’s beautiful and everyone that knows her falls in love with her.

I have an amazing and gorgeous older sister that is raising three daughters of her own and doing a pretty incredible job.  I’ve looked up to her as long as I can remember.  We probably have more inside jokes that anyone else.  She is the only one that completely understands what my childhood was like.  She lives 5 minutes from me so I am able to see her and my three insanely cute and funny nieces often.  I could eat them up.  I love them so much.

I have a sister in law that just might be the world’s best wife to my dear brother (who hopefully is not feeling left out today cuz he’s pretty awesome too).  Although they are moving away in a few short months, I know that we will always be close.  She somehow gets the strange humor in my family and seems to actually like it.  I could not love her more. She’s one of my best friends.  She’s beautiful, kind, helpful, patient, a top notch mommy and a great listener.  She’s such a big part of my life and I’m so grateful.

Just a few cities away I have 3 more sister in laws that I adore, amazing aunts, cousins, friends, and lately I’ve made some really deep connections with women that I have mentored.  They have really enriched my life.   I have close girlfriends that live an hour away, close girlfriends that live just around the corner, close girlfriends in Argentina.  I have an aunt and grandmother in Argentina that, although they recently passed, they spent two decades putting forth a great effort to keep in touch with me and make me feel loved.

But wait, there’s more.  Two more women teeny tiny women that consume my thoughts every second of every day.  I have been blessed with two daugthers.  Two spunky, loud, kind, funny, beautiful daughters.  Just one word or one look from them can bring me to tears.  Happy tears.  They are pure joy.   On this mother’s day I am grateful to them for choosing me to be their mother.

I am now ugly crying.

Composing myself………..

Done.

I went out recently and shot a fellow photographer, and now great new friend, Karen.  She is a mother to four, count them F O U R beautiful daughers.  Holy cow.

Happy Mother’s day Karen.  You are an amazing women and oh so beautiful.

I love your smile.

Like fire that light.  And her hair!  This is probably my favorite.

Thanks Courtney and Levi.  I can’t wait for your big day!

Jasen and Lorna, I had an amazing time with you.  You are genuinely good, kind, beautiful people and I’m so glad that I can say that I know you.

Congrats you two.  I had a blast with you!

Much love,

Camilla

Strength and beauty.  Gosh I love her.

Bambi and Larry are both in the military, bomb squad actually.  They are brave, strong, funny, kind and gracious people.  I admire them both.

Congratulations you two.  Spending the day with you was amazing.  I’ll always remember it!