Sweet potatoes, as per my usual, I am sharing my 10 favorite photos of 2019, the final 10 on the 10th post for the year, on the 12th!! Why can’t it be 10 on the 12th or 13th or 14th? When given a deadline like 10 on the 10th, I can rarely rise to the occasion! But for 2020, I am going to get my act together, once and for all. And going to organize my blog game so that my 10 0n the 10th posts are just that, and my thankful Thursdays don’t post on Friday. Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it, too.
10 Favorite Photos for 2019
Here are 10 of my favorite photos for 2019. There are lots of others I love equally well, but each of these had a little extra meaning for me.
- Seems like I took this photo a lifetime ago. Of another lifetime, if that makes sense. This was snapped in January when I was moving my mom from her 2 bedroom apartment to a studio in the same complex. She was in the psychiatric hospital after expressing suicidal ideations, then in the hospital for stomach issues, back to the hospital with pneumonia and finally into rehab to regain her strength. It was a very difficult time. The wedding picture in the foreground was a poster my brother had made for my parents’ 60th anniversary. The furniture were pieces of their lives that we could no longer fit in mom’s new apartment
- For Valentine’s Day or his birthday later that month, I surprised PC with what I hoped would be a romantic overnight getaway. This photo was taken of our room at Hotel Indigo in downtown El Paso. Not sure what happened that the evening got off on the wrong foot but it wound up okay. I think I just have these high hopes of dazzling my Prince and he can be kind of hard to woo.
- Moving day in June. At my prompting, Lucia climbed onto her brand new bedroom window seat to watch her daddy pull into the driveway with the U-haul full of their lives’ belongings.
- Cady and Lucia tried out all the ‘smells’ at Victoria Secret while I held a place in line as Brennyn shopped for new lingerie. These girls really smelled ‘loud’ by the time we left the store. All my girls were together for birthdays in July.
- July 28th birthday girl. Caught Brennyn giving Cady a birthday hug and had to snap a pic. My beautiful babies.
- Selfie at the Silos in July. Not a particularly great photo but I liked the reflection in the truck’s side view mirror.
- Until our session with the medium – read about that here – I always associated butterflies with my father who died in 2012. Psychic Kim O’Neill explained a visiting butterfly is more likely my maternal grandmother. Hmmm. Pretty sure this beauty was my dad.
- A few years ago, my word of the year was JOY. At the time, I had the wrong perspective about finding/keeping joy in my heart and life. Now days, I realize that there will be joy (and this year’s word PEACE) in moments of each day but maybe not all day every day. Lucia is joy personified. And she sprinkles joy everywhere she goes.
- This photo was taken from the kids’ spacious backyard at their house in Albuquerque. It was breath-taking no matter the season. But so thankful they have moved home. My other beautiful babies.
- As I said to begin, these are only a sampling of my favorite photos of 2019. So many memories caught with my camera, it is impossible to really pick only 10 favorite photos for 2019. The photo below is a bonus, #11. It is probably my favorite picture of my PC and me together for the year. I have shared it several times before, but in case you missed it…
Your Turn
What would your 10 favorite photos of 2019 feature? Lots of family, like mine? Or shots of special places and things? I am linking up with Whitney one last time for this post. Hope you will run by to check out her 20 favorite photos of 2019 by clicking here.
How are your holiday preparations coming? I have a lot of my shopping done. But there’s PC…the most difficult person to buy for in the world. What are y’all giving your significant others? All suggestions welcome.
Thank you for running by today. Have a few more posts in the works for the coming days. Hope to see you again soon. Enjoy your weekend.
Hugs and kisses,
Nancy
Lovely to see all these photos! I take way to little photos! They are such good memories! Have a great weekend dear Leslie!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Nancy. I take too many photos but at least we no longer have to develop the film. I can easily toss them in the phone’s trash can and take some more.
Valerie Price
I love every picture. The one of mom and dad was especially touching.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. Those were dark, difficult days, weren’t they. But love got us through.
Kellyann Rohr
I just love seeing the photos of your precious girls! Isn’t it funny how things that happened mere months ago feel like a lifetime ago? I feel that way about my dad”s passing. Some days it feels like yesterday and other days it feels like it’s been ages. I am ready to move on from 2019 and looking forward to 2020 and hopefully a better year for my family.
Have a wonderful weekend, I’ll bet a special little someone is getting very excited for Christmas!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yes, let’s set 2019 out with the trash and move forward. My father died in 2012 and I didn’t get there in time to really say goodbye. They were keeping him alive but he didn’t know I was there. Broke my heart. It seems like forever since I last saw him, hugged him and talked writing and books with him. As sad as that it, I guess it is a sign that I am grieving less. But certainly not missing him less.
Juhli
Thank you for sharing these lovely and loving photos.
Gale
You did a super job picking some great photos! It would definitely be hard to narrow a whole year’s worth down to just 10. Mine would most likely be of family, too. Haven’t bought anything for Big Eagle yet either. Was hoping to get some ideas from your comments after I saw your question. Here’s wishing us both luck with that!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, I hope by now, 12.23, you were able to come up with something fun and clever for Big Eagle. I am thinking of getting PC a MasterClass Online for writing. https://www.masterclass.com/# He is a gifted writer and needs to develop a hobby other than computer gaming!!
Terri Webster Schrandt
I love that mirror infinity shot, Leslie, and of course your wonderful favorites demonstrate your love and passion for life.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Terri!! What sweet words.
Dara
Very meaningful pictures. The one of Brennyn and Cady is super gorgeous!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much, Dara. My sweet Brennyn and Cady are pretty special to me.
Rebecc
I absolutely love the double mirror one – how unique!!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. I was just fooling around but it turned out pretty well.
Deb
All 10 pictures involve your family so no wonder they are your favourites! What a great selection you have chosen – I have a feeling that the new arrival in January will be in pride of place for your 2020 selection!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
LOL, thank you, Deb. I think Miss Cami will be the subject of many photos in the coming new year.
Joanne
Lovely photos! Mine all included my family too. I really lucked out this year that my husband got an extra large birthday gift that also counted as his Christmas gift because he is so hard to buy for.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
One year, I treated my husband to the week long Cincinnati Reds’ fantasy baseball camp. He played baseball for almost a week, coached by former Reds, and had a blast. That was a grand enough gift that I got significant mileage on it for several occasions to follow. Would like to send him again some day.
Thank you for the comments about the photos. Family make the best subjects!!
Amy Johnson
Such beautiful photos and precious memories.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!!
Patricia Doyle
Not just the pictures, but the meaning behind them… simply wonderful.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Sweet friend, thank you so much for that thoughtful comment.
Laurie
Thank you for sharing your 2019 photos with us! I enjoyed living your year vicariously and reading your thoughts about joy. My word for 2019 was “balance”, but I think maybe I picked the wrong word for me. I just finished a post about it! 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am thinking my word of the year for 2020, and maybe the whole darn decade, will be BELIEVE. I always enjoy reading what everyone picks for their word and why.
Shugunna Alexander
Making moments and beautiful memories, love it Leslie!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Shugunna. Great combination, huh?
Anne/The Cajun Couple blog
Beautiful pictures, Leslie! Hope y’all are doing better.
Anne
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. Things on the job front are brighter. Now to keep my mom happy over the holidays. Loved your recipes. Going to be trying them!!
Bri
I love these pictures and the memories that go with them. You have a beautiful family, Leslie.
Christie Hawkes
Thank you so much for sharing these snapshots of your past year. So many good times with family. And, of course, right now I can really relate to the downsizing of a parent’s living space. You asked about gifts for our significant others. This year, Larry and I are going to Mazatlan right after Christmas, so that is our primary gift to each other. I also bought him a tool he wanted for his new wood shop. He bought me a new pair of running shoes. I know because I sent him the link! Sending warm wishes to you and your family for a peaceful, joyful Christmas season.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
LOL atta girl to send the link to Larry for the running shoes. That way you get the exact ones!! Hope you are able to relax a little in Mazatlan. I know this is a difficult time for you and your family. Maybe stepping away from the work to be done will give you a clear direction on moving forward and sorting through things when you return. Enjoy that sun and surf. Merry Christmas, sweet friend.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Bri. I am blessed.
Jill
It’s so fun to hear about your memories associated with each photo! Your girls and granddaughters are precious! Love the last shot of you and PC! My husband is impossible to buy for plus his birthday is 12/23 so I have to come up with double! This year he is getting a Salute to Service Chicago Bears sweatshirt and some expensive thermometer thingie for his smoker. I still need to pick out one more gift and I’m stumped!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
PC’s birthday is in February so I feel your pain. I just get Christmas semi-figured out and then here comes his birthday. But by February 28, the weather is warming and I can usually do something baseball related that will make him at least smile. Speaking of athletic wear, the Reds have new jersies. Maybe I could get PC a Cincinnati Reds jersey. Going to look at them now. Thank you for the kind words about my granddaughters. I am just in love with them.
Laura Bambrick
You have such a beautiful family Leslie! Your photos are so much fun to see!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Laura. I think you and I both have some pretty special gals!!
Liz Klebba
It’s been a whirlwind of a year for you and yours, hasn’t it? (Life always looks like a whirlwind when we look back too see all that has happened in 365 days!) Wishing you and yours a 2020 filled with peace… XOXO