AE | The Weekend Lens

Your blog has brought me so much inspiration and happiness when I've really needed it. I wish I could do the same for you. Please know that my positive thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you for reminding me to pick up that camera more often!
Take care of yourself and be brave!

I've been doing a "snapshot" a day this year and it is a fun, daily practice to capture some element of our lives each day. Most of the snapshots are technically pretty crappy but I'm going easy on myself and just being happy if it gets done.

Hope things start looking up for you soon. Glad you are still able to find joy and peace in daily life. Take care....

Ali, I feel your sadness and am giving you a big hug...This morning at devotion I added your intentions for peace and joy and love for the family. I forget how healing it is for me to use my camera when I am in a "snarky" day...it is a saving grace to move on with life because one thing we can always be sure of time does not stand still and change is an absolute...So good to see Mom with you at this time blessings and peace

sharon dryjanski

Take care Ali.

Like so many others, my heart is heavy for you too.
I am going through issues with my marriage too and have left my camera at home more times than I can to count. On Saturday I was reminded how precious my family is (husband too!) when they were hit on their way to swimming lessons by a truck running a red light. Thankfully the only thing hurt was our van. It helped remind me what is really important and that even if I'm up half the night with a 2 year that refuses to sleep in her own bed, I need to find the strength and patience deep down to overcome my selfish need for time alone and extra sleep!
I love how your pictures are so intimate. I can feel the love for your kids through them. And the sadness too. I am praying for you and your family. Thank you for all the inspiration you have given to me and to so many others. Hopefully we can support you in this time by coming together in prayer.
Hugs.

Just, very sincerely, thank you.

I am praying for you daily and carrying you in my heart. Wish I could give you a hug, buy you a drink, make you laugh...something. But I'm thinking of you and praying for you because it's the least I can do. I admire you greatly,ali. You mean a lot to a lot of people. Xxo

Ali, I don't comment here very often but I have followed your work since your early days at C.K. Today, your words ring true with me too. Some times taking a minute to focus through that little lens is all I need to be set right again. Silly I know, but true.

I wish you all the best.

Here is my weekend lens http://katiescalamities.blogspot.com/2011/09/caught-weekend-lens.html

I have been there...so been there...I will echo what others have said, be gentle with yourself. Light in your direction.

I would like to ditto Colleen. This is how I feel too. I wish I could do the same for you. Positive thoughts in your direction.

Hi Ali, Good thoughts and prayers and big hugs for you since I read your post last week. I feel for you and what you are going through. You are brave and strong and you will prevail! My best to you always!

and...on a lighter note...took pictures of a 4 girl sleepover and ensuing silliness this weekend. Dad made spaghetti tacos ala iCarly and we are uploading the photo to the Nickolodeon website when the girls get home from school ;) Gonna scrap that story tonite as well!

you're in my prayers + good thoughts, ali. i admire you for being so open.

did you get my message about fall festival this weekend? i'd love it if you came up - i'd love to give you a hug, and buy you a beer. art + warm fall weather + beer + friends? sounds perfect to me! xo

Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. It is wonderful to see you continue taking photos. When I did my 365 project, I had some really icky days, however I still took a photos of something each day Now, when I look at the photos, I caputured the rainbow in the storm.

I so appreciate the honesty you bring to this space. I love that you notice (and then capture!) the little details of wonder in the day-to-day, even when you're not in the best of spirits. These moments of hope help carry me through my days too.

Sending good vibes to you and your family...

Dear Ali,
I couldn't let the day go by without offering you some encouragement from an "older" woman (I'm 64). I've found that scrapbooking hard stuff when it happens is too difficult (I have, however, been successful in pouring out my true feelings in a journal.) It's a bit raw and surprising when read later. Perhaps that would help.

great advice ali. as always, thank you for your honesty. thoughts to you...

It is weird how tied up together the internet can make us. I reflected a lot on your "real" post and hurt for you. Sad again today. We've never met and probably never will, but I've gotten to "know" you through all the stories you tell and want you to know that we care, love and send you our thoughts and prayers in your pain too as much as we love to see the joy. We are there for you, albeit virtually. Thanks for making a community that matters.

Ali, still praying for you. And I can really agree that taking photo's is theraputic. I thank you for inspiring me to start documenting my everyday in the times when my kids were very small and days were so long and demanding. It really provided that daily pause and aprreciation of what otherwise would have been a blur.
I can also tell you that God can take what looks hopeless and broken the one day and turn it into an amazing story the next.

i am praying God soothes your heart. Sending lots of love to you and your family. Thinking and praying for you often. xo

There's a song by Little Big Town called "Lean Into It".Lately I've been listening to this a lot a son in middle school,and our daughter,9, is autistic.