Time it was
And what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence
A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be
I have a photograph…
– Simon and Gafunkel

Wednesday morning, searching for some vacation images to go with yesterday’s memoir post focusing on the scenic beauty of Scotland, I ran into several family photographs that grabbed me and would not let go.

It didn’t take me long to realize the potential pitfalls of getting into a major search just before we get ready to move everything again. So I quickly closed the box of photo albums and got back to work!

But not before setting aside the following three gems. I will share them in order.

From the archives:

FIRST (above) one of those classic “Who is this young guy?” moments! When we started raising our family in the beautiful community of Pensacola – having the beaches right there and so accessible – was beyond idyllic. I’m guessing this picture is late 1983 so that makes me somewhere in the neighborhood of 27.

Our family would often go for a walk on the beach at the end of the day, enjoying the cooler temperatures. I was attending the University of West Florida, adding exceptional education to my Stetson psych degree, and Rebekah is already creating a positive stir with her work at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

In this photograph I can see the simple joy of new family and of taking this journey together, with all of our passion, our belief, our commitment and our enthusiasm! Over forty years later our approach remains essentially the same.

NUMBER TWO comes with a story. Rebekah and I were tired of poorly executed family portraits so we decided to set up a professional shoot with a real photographer. I gave everyone the guidelines: The session was to be casual, no coats or ties, muted pastel colors, relaxed.

This, however, is not exactly my parents’ style, so they arrive dressed for church – and dad always had control because he always paid. “By the way,” I said quietly, “I already settled the bill when we checked in; this photo shoot is our treat.”

So guess who lost the coat and the tie? This turned out to be a huge lesson learned in our young lives. And also a family portrait session we could feel good about.

All the best evidence suggests this is Thanksgiving of 1991. Rebekah and I are both 35 years old. Andrew and Naomi are nine and seven respectively. My mum is 60. Dad is 63. My brother Geoff is 37 and my niece, Hannah, 13. Good grief!

FINALLY, this classic black and white from 2003 in Brandon, Florida. I am now 47, Rebekah is 46 and our children are turning 21 and 19.

Talk about a time of transition! My writing career is still very new; the First Presbyterian Church of Brandon is teeming with life and growing in every way; Rebekah is traveling all over the United States as a speaker and teacher; Andrew is taking hospitality management classes at the University of Central Florida; Naomi is getting ready for what’s next after high school.

So we freeze-frame this moment in time, just to take pause. And I am so glad that we do.

I wonder if any one of us has even an inkling of the vaguest idea of what adventures will be ours going forward, and where our paths will lead us over the next 22 years?

“There is a fragrance in the air, a certain passage of a song, an old photograph falling out from the pages of a book, the sound of somebody’s voice in the hall that makes your heart leap and fills your eyes with tears. Who can say when or how it will be that something easters up out of the dimness to remind us of a time…?” ~ Frederick Buechner

Peace and blessings – DEREK