love photos and a love story

A few nights ago, I discovered the "PhotoBooth" application and the webcam on my relatively new MacBook. While I was playing with it, various members of my family wandered over to see what I was doing:

Sadly, the last shots are two of about five total shots we have of the three of us as as family. I suspect we'll therefore be using this PhotoBooth application with inappropriate frequency in the future.

And now, a love story:

Last night, since Marcus was out of town, I let Alex spend the night in my bed. I put her to bed at her normal bedtime, and I continued working on my desk in the far corner of my room, by the dim light of my desk lamp. After about half an hour, Alex was quiet, so I got up to check to see if she was sleeping.

She wasn't. Instead, she was lying there, crying quiet tears.

"Alex," I said, alarmed, "what's the matter? Why are you crying?"

Her face crumpled. "I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"I'm scared of the dinosaurs."

I have no idea what she was talking about, but I crawled into bed with her. "Oh, Alex, there's no need to be afraid of the dinosaurs. They're not here. And I wouldn't let them hurt you if they were."

I snuggled her up next to me. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head.

"Do you want to sing?"

She nodded.

"Okay, umm ... well ... do you want to sing Bob Marley?"

She nodded again, and snuggled closer.

So I began to sing Three Little Birds. Don't worry about a thing, I sang softly, and eventually I felt her relax in my arms. As I sat there in the soft lamplight singing her favourite song, I remembered how my own mom used to hold me when I was sick, in soft lamplight, singing -- and wondered how strange it must be for her to think that her little girl is now doing the same for her granddaughter. And then I thought about how one day, a day that seems far away but really isn't, Alex may hold her daughter in soft lamplight, and sing and comfort her in much the same way.

And then Alex fell asleep. And everything just felt right.

* * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone. As always, please share your links of love in the comments below, and your images on the Love Thursday Flickr page. Also, don't forget to check out the Love Is All Around site for more beautiful images, as well.

May your day be full of love, and end with soft lamplight.

__________

Comments

[Thida]

My daughter loves me to sing that song also. But my Love Thursday this week is about a little boy hugging my son at a wedding.

http://waterowl.blogspot.com/2006/10/weddings-are-for-hugging.html

[Kay]

I actually panicked upon reading that Alex was crying. She's lucky you were there to hold her in your arms and not mock her ...

Happy Love Thursday.

http://everydaykay.blogspot.com/2006/10/love-thursday-6.html

Mine is about a baby who only discovered chocolates now.

[Wetnoses]

Happy Love Thursday! I LOVE the story. Mine for this week is about being thankful for what you have.
http://wetnoses.blogspot.com/2006/10/love-thursday_25.html

[shaz]

awww, poor kid.

my 2 yr old sometimes hangs out in the corridor after we put him to bed, just waiting for me to notice him and invite him into my bed!

here's mine http://adventures-in-motherhood.com/article/back-to-work-mom

[jen]

I love your photos, as always. I'm the photographer in our family, too, so there are only a few pictures of all of us too. My husband and I eloped, and there were no pictures of the two of us together until we had been married for three years. Sad, very sad.

But the kids are well represented, including this week--a boy and his best friend. Happy Love Thursday!
http://thecraftyh.blogspot.com/

[The Wooden Porch]

That is really sweet, Karen. I think about that when I hold my little girl sometimes too. Only I don't remember my mom being all snuggly with me.

Mine should be up soon. Blogger pending, of course. :-)

http://thewoodenporch.blogspot.com/

[Daddy Forever]

Love those PhotoBooth pictures. We have the same problem - there's very few pictures with all of us in the photo. Here's my first Thursday Love:

Sometimes Love Needs Recharging
http://daddyforever.com/2006/10/25/love-thursday/

[owlhaven]

I'll be posting mine first thing in the morning. (I just posted something else I'd like to leave on top, for a few hours anyway!)
Mary, mom to many

[rachel]

What a wonderful story. I love snuggling in bed together time, too.

Mine is about the love of books
http://www.kjsl.com/~imacmom/agog/?p=2397

[maryrwise]

What a sweet story!

Mine's up. It
s very different from last week, to be sure.

http://bozoette.typepad.com/red_nose/2006/10/love_is_delicio.html

[Much More Than A Mom]

What a cool feature - I want a Mac!

Mine's up at:
http://www.muchmorethanamom.com/?p=370

and also
http://www.muchmorethanamom.com/?p=371

because it was time for a letter, but I really felt the need to share the video with anyone who hadn't seen it.

Oh well - never too much love, right?

[Plain Jane Mom]

Wow, you are a seriously great looking family! And now I have that fantastic song running through my head ;)

[Natalee]

What a great story.

Mine today is about learning to love yourself:

http://justgottahangon.blogspot.com/2006/10/learning-to-love-yourself.html

Happy Love Thursday! (And Birthday to me!!)

[Schmoopy]

Oh, that sweet, sweet story left me feeling all warm and yummy. Thank you so much for sharing it. And of course your photos are always magical.

Here is mine this week, a bit of a different kind of love story...

http://stacied.typepad.com/schmoopy/2006/10/focus.html

Cheers!

[Schatzi]

The Love For Something New!

Cute photos!! Love the story!

[Schatzi]

Forgot to add the link..

http://simplyschatzi.com/2006/10/25/the-love-for-something-new/

[Tina]

Awwwww, that is just so sweet!!!

You're such a good mommy!

Here's mine this week.

http://thoughtsmostlysahm.blogspot.com/

Tina

[julie]

I remember getting worked into a bother as a kid about things like that. Poor Alex. Glad she had you to reassure her.

Ours is up. We've been off and on with weaning, and this week I'm reveling in the love of nursing, for as long as it lasts.

http://robandjulie.blogspot.com/2006/10/love-thursday-savoring-last-few-times.html

[Briana]

http://dillyweed.blogspot.com/2006/10/what-do-you-say-to-face-like-that.html

[sweetisu]

A very sweet love story indeed. Makes me want to sneak into the kids' rooms to kiss them and hug them. Almost. (I don't want to wake them up!)

[MamaSutra]

I'm delurking...the sweetness of the photos and your story inspired me to finally write my own Love Thursday, though it's taking all my courage to post my link here as I'm a little intimidated by all the wonderful posts I've read tonight.
http://mamasutra.typepad.com/mama_sutra/2006/10/love_thursday.html

[Pastormac's Ann]

Your pictures are great!

Loved your sweet sweet story. Pure sweetness! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Here's my silly Love Thursday post for the week

http://itsalwaysaproduction.blogspot.com/2006/10/love-thursday-8.html

[karen t]

Awww that was so lovely Karen!

[Karen]

What a wonderful story, i love picturing you and Alex together this way.

My love thursday post is about spending time together as a family. This time, we went to the farmer's market to get our Halloween pumpkins.

http://o-scientist.blogspot.com/2006/10/family-love.html

Happy Love Thursday!

Karen

[Mary Jo]

Love Thursday. So sweet.

Happy Love Thursday Everyone!!

http://www.mylifetransformed.net/?p=445