Melissa Rae Photography - Blog

The end of 2020.....The beginning of 2021

1/2/2021

Where are we headed? What a year its been.....What if 2021 is just like 2020? What if we never go back to normal?

All valid questions yet no answers.

2020 was a year alright, and I have been trying to reflect for some time now. The hard part I have is so many people saying we never want to relive last year, never want another year like 2020. Now I agree to a point. I have a hard time saying it was such a horrible year when it brought me time with my children at home, exploring new things, learning how to cook more, becoming a plant mom, and spending time with the people I love.

Now everything wasn't sunshine and roses, there were days when. I was scared, parenting was a complete struggle, my marriage wasn't perfect, and work-life balance was difficult. But do I think I reached the end of 2020 stronger, by far yes. My marriage is stronger than it has been, I mean there are days when seriously we just need a date night!

Looking back on 2020 is there anything I would have changed? No I don't think I would have. The health of my family has been good, I do miss my friends and extended family. Visiting my nephews is something I wish I could do more often.

So all in all 2020 was not easy but it was a little rewarding in a unique way.

I finished yet another 365 challenge. It was not a year with a ton of growth in my mind, but it was a year of some fun documenting our life. I have so many favorites from this year, and the farm grew by so many feet this year. From turkeys, to goats, ducks, chickens, and well the newest house cat I would say 2020 was just what our family needed.

Can we just get back to school

8/2/2020

Can we just get back to school....it's really never been a question until this year. We are on day 106 of Covid 19. The first day schools got let out.

The day that pretty much created hassles, fear, and lots of uneasy thoughts.

I wasn't sure if I should work really hard at going through the boys clothes and plan for going back to school.

I knew the little needed a new backpack.

The backpack arrived in the mail, and the first thing he said was "Does this mean we are going back to school". Oh buddy I hope and pray you get to go back. I know you need it, we need it, and well the teachers miss you.

It had to be the week the governor was also going to make the call. Its like hoping for the snowday call the night before a big storm.

We have been doing our part trying to make sure we can help stop the spread. But please can we get back to school. Even if we need to wear a mask its better than not seeing our friends.

We miss our friends, we miss hockey, we miss our school, we want to be together again.

Now I feel like the governor has done a good job with the job he was handed. It wasn't easy, and I feel like the guidance he has given on going back to school is great. So now if our county can just stop going out and spreading that would be awesome!

We are tired and we need a break from each other haha.

Be the light

6/21/2020

Everything getting canceled made us feel like what is the point in summer. Where in reality this is just what we needed.

We need to see what we have already.

Its giving us the ability to do things as a family, to do things at home, to just enjoy each and everyday.

This summer has been different one, but that doesn't mean we aren't going to make the best of it. We are doing everything we can to enjoy the simple things.

Today I found a new song, and man is it a powerful one.

"Be the Light" - By Thomas Rhett with Reba, Keith Urban, Hillary Scott, and Chris Tomlin.

It's exactly what I am trying to show my boys. It's a difficult time, and the best thing we can do is "Be the light".

In a time full of war, be peace
In a time full of doubt, just believe
Yeah, there ain't that much difference between you and me
In a time full of war, be peace
In a world full of hate, be a light
When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light.

Now I know there are days where we are at the end of our rope, but there are days where we can enjoy so much.

Just remember be the light!

Tomorrow marks day 40

4/25/2020

A lot can happen in 40 days I mean Noah took animals two by two into the Ark for 40 days and 40 nights. We have officially had children at home doing distance learning for 40 days tomorrow.

There are so many things we are thankful for, there are so many lessons we have learned, there are many days that are hard, and there are many rewards in all of this.

We are both so fortunate to still have our jobs who are both extremely essential and so supportive.

No we are not all on the same struggle bus, some days are good, some days are not so good. Some days we say screw the homework we are going outside and forgetting everything.

But I try everyday to remember the good in all of this. We are making so many memories as a family. We are learning to cook, clean, and play lots of games. We are getting outdoors, taking family walks at lunch, and being together.

The farm is expanding, the closets are getting orgainized, the groceries have increased, but so has the love for each other.

I encourage everyone to find the good, the joy, and make sure you are talking with your loved ones. They miss you like you miss them.

Covid19 here we go

3/14/2020

It's crazy to think about where we are right now. I mean how did things change so quickly, yet move from one country to another?

One minute we as a family are running non stop, to a full stop in just a week. Covid 19 has created mass panic, media totaling the numbers infected, number of those who have died, and the worst part is the unknown.

My husband keeps asking me but don't you remember the previous illness that hit the media. I honestly don't.

I know social media is to blame and yet I love having the up to date information at my finger tips. What I don't like is explaining to my children the media has created a sense of panic in many.

I can explain to my children the need for washing your hands. They understand germs, they understand not spreading germs. What they dont understand is why people are panicking. They don't understand why now one parent is at home working from home while the other parent is still going to work. They dont understand why kids at school are upset and scared.

They do know we will get through this, and in the end it might be just what we needed as a family.

A letter to my goalie...

3/5/2020

Every year we get to a place where we are over running hockey players, over waiting at the rink, over eating out, and over the long weekends.

Don't get me wrong our hockey family is great, I think we just get to a point when we need a weekend at home to get things done, and hey there are a lot of other activities that we look forward to when hockey is over. I know you don't understand how we can look forward to anything other than hockey.

The last day of the hockey season is bittersweet, and I will miss it in a week. A great season is behind us and man do I love watching you tend the net. The emotions are endless, the smiles are great, and those tears you fight back are hard to watch.

Sometimes you need to be put in check with your emotions, with your words, and sometimes with your actions. I mean your first penalty was a shocker and yet it made me so proud. Not all parents would agree but you put your teammates higher than others. You protect them, you defend them, and its just the repayment you give them for defending and protecting you. Next penalty lets aim a little lower ;)

When you come off the ice and chat about what went well or where you could have done better I know you are looking forward to the next game or opportunity. You love being able to celebrate a win, but you enjoy being able to celebrate your team even without a win. As a goalie you are in it to win it and sometimes that means a competition with yourself and no one else.

What makes my momma heart smile more than anything else is the fact that when the goalies cross the center ice you make sure you are there to give the other goalie props for a good period.

Your mental game shows how strong you really are, and sometimes it has me on edge. I don't get what you go through, I don't understand the mental complexity, but I do know you have grown so much this year. Your mental game is spot on! Smashing the stick is the next challenge we face while I know you need to let it out, the stick isn't to blame. I know when you are on the ice you blame yourself, but you are on a team and 5 guys let that little puck down to your end.

This year the other team needed a goalie...you stepped up. You knew full well going into the game you were going to be seeing a lot of shots, a lot of pucks in the net, yet you did your best. You talk about that game a lot and the lessons you learned. One day I hope you can be a coach and let others experience your great attitude.

Coming off the ice you make sure you have been able to reflect and after reflection comes the question "hey mom did you get a good shot of me today". Sometimes it's not about a win, it's about the memory, the lesson, and the experience.

This year the challenge we faced was dividing and conquering between you and your brother. He is growing, learning, and following in your footsteps. I know missing either event wasn't easy but it was a sacrifice we made because we have two hockey players.

One things for sure, I am proud to be your goalie momma and will always be your biggest fan! I hope one day you will look back and be so proud of how far you have come. Remember to hold your head high, encourage your team, and never look at the losses but look at the opportunities, and never forget those teammates who helped you get to where you are today.

18 days in....

1/19/2020

A blizzard...."Can we go somewhere", "we seriously have to stay home all day", "I am bored", "what are we going to do all day"

I have become old....I didn't have any of these questions but a to-do list a mile long of things that have taken the back burner. These are all very random things like order a new dishwasher, edit some random photos, order my 2019-365 book, and hey just enjoy my coffee while checking things off the list. Crazy right?!?!?!

Well by 9 am, I was bored too. I mean not like super bored but feeling like my list was getting checked off quickly Ok I wasn't bored I was longing for a Diet Pepsi, plotting how to get to town for just one Diet Pepsi. Now I knew my hubby wasn't going to let me out and he shouldn't but man I was thinking about it. I digress.....

I took a little break from my to-do list and thought why not do an hour by hour project. I was stuck home all day with everyone so they couldn't tell me no or avoid me too much considering they were not about to go into a blizzard.

Only problem the oldest has yet to get his butt out of bed, and hey I am not waking the beast because the minute I do the internet won't be working and we will have another dilemma. Bring on the timer and photos all day long. Mommas heart was bursting at the seams for 1. Coffee 2. A to-do list getting cleaned up quickly 3. an hour by hour photo challenge. How can the day even get better....well it did. 2019 - 365 book has been ordered and the night was finished off with full family photo while we enjoyed another Bulldog team's hockey game on TV.

Sometimes a blizzard is just what is needed. Thank You Mother-nature!

Goodbye 2019...

12/29/2019

Where do I start....I mean what a year!

2019 gave us great snowstorms, awesome hockey fun, life with a high schooler, weekends with friends, a summer vacation up north, trip aka adventure for mom with friends, and so much fun filled family time! This year brought less client work (crazy I know), new job opportunities for both mom and dad, but also more time as a family.

How are we ever going to top a great year?!?

Looking back there are so many adventures we didn't get to, which is great because 2020 is here and we need to fill it up.

One year ago I was not sure I should start my 5th- 365 day photo challenge. The boys are getting older, they avoid the camera when possible, and sometimes my trusty camera gets heavy. The boys not only asked me to continue and start year 5, they both loved being able to reminisce over the last year.

The year may be done, but we are ready as ever to see what 2020 has to offer.

I hope 2020 has just as many cabin weekends with our hockey families, game nights as a family, coffee with my girlfriends, photos of those clients that keep coming back, vacations, bunches of hockey games, and adventures everyday.

Another summer in the books

8/27/2019

Every year I get so upset thinking about the little time we have with our children in the summer. And every year I think about the 18 summers and how are we going to make it the best summer ever.

The school year has truly snuck up on me because we were too busy making memories, and enjoying each and every day. I learned a lot about myself this year, and I am so thankful for all of the memories made.

The one thing I changed this year was cutting back on the weddings and family sessions during the summer. I knew my limits, and I know I won't get these summers back. I am down to 5 summers left with my oldest and that scares me so much. Only 5 family road trips in the summer can happen before he flys the coop..

This year I was not sure I was going to continue doing the 365 project and the boys said "but mom you have to. Its our favorite part of the year when your book arrives". So I knew they knew I needed it, they wanted it, and heck its pretty amazing to look back on one year. One year where so much has happened, so much has changed, and so many memories have been made. I always say "I want to blog more. its a self care thing", yet I never find time to blog.

This summer may have gone fast, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a fun one. We hit almost everything on our bucket list, and the last few items will be hit in September after school starts. We had so much fun with our Hockey families, we enjoyed some fun time up north as a family, we fished, we ate ice cream, we enjoyed Valley Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, we did adventures at home, we watched baseball games, we had hockey camps, we tie dyed, most importantly we made memories that last a lifetime.

Now its on to our favorite season of the year.....Hockey season! The chaos, the running, the cold rinks, the snowstorms during a game, and so many more memories.

2018 -- 365 #4

3/9/2019

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could get through another 365. The year goes so fast, the memories we made were so much fun, and its on to the next 365.

I was going to quit as my boys get older it gets harder to do a photo a day. But then they begged me to do another because they love being able to look back at a year of memories.

Not every day was a fun day, but every day was a memory.

Now that I have finally finished up the collage for 2018, the book for 2018, its time to move to a new year.

And hopefully this blog will get the attention that it needs now that hockey season is over ;)