Last October, I crossed the ocean with my daughter and her family to explore the beautiful landscapes of Wales, UK. Our days were filled with hiking, ocean air, ancient ruins, and the quiet magic that happens when you slow down and simply enjoy being together.

Traveling with my two young grandsons—three years old and sixteen months—alongside my daughter, son-in-law, and even my other daughter, made the trip feel less like a vacation and more like a chapter in the story of our family.

Wales Through a Grandmother’s Lens

Wales slowed me down in the best way.

There were days I never picked up my camera at all. Instead, I soaked in every moment with the children. My youngest grandson took his very first steps on the first day of our vacation—and once he discovered walking, he wanted to walk everywhere. Meyer, on the other hand, was happiest hiking each day, running along the edge of the ocean, clothes soaked on a chilly afternoon, without a single care in the world.

And then there were a day or two when I did what I love most—I brought my camera along on a hike and photographed my grandchildren. I caught a few frames when they weren’t looking. Moments between moments. The kind of pictures that tell a story, that make you pause and picture that moment in time. 

These are some of my favorites because they remind me why I picked up a camera in the first place.

The Digital Images That Almost Disappeared

There’s another part to this story.

These images were digital files. While we were in Wales, I worked from my laptop as I always do on vacation. Then we came home… and just two weeks later, our Magical Santa Sessions swept in with all their wonder, deadlines, and joyful chaos. The vacation digitals were gently set aside, with the thought that I would return to them after Christmas.

It took my daughter asking about them for me to realize something surprising—I hadn’t thought about them once Christmas had passed, and I truly had no idea where they were.

I spent hours searching through folders and hard drives, reminded how easily digital memories can slip away when life gets full.

That’s why I believe in print. And when printing must wait, taking the time to back up your images and keep a copy in a safe place matters just as much—something I didn’t do after vacation.

These images almost disappeared.
This blog is a gentle reminder to protect the memories you never want to lose.

This trip to Wales reminded me how fleeting—and magical—moments can be. I was there when Conrad took his first steps, and when Meyer ran through the ocean waves on a chilly day, laughing without a care. Tiny adventures become treasured memories, and the ones we think we’ll never forget can slip away if we don’t hold onto them.

Preserving children’s stories—full of laughter, wonder, and love—is at the heart of everything I do. Photographs should live beyond screens, becoming heirlooms that tell a family’s story for generations.

If you’d like to see more of my work, explore MY PORTFOLIO, or CONTACT ME about creating timeless artwork for your own family, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Because the moments that matter most deserve to be remembered—beautifully.