The challenge over at my favourite photo blog this week is
Let’s celebrate families this week!
It doesn’t matter to us at all if your photo represents a “traditional” family or a “non-traditional” family. We are looking for photos that show off a cool way to capture a family together…be fun, creative, unique and enter the most awesome photo you can! We would also like each photo entry to have at least one (1) adult in it and even possibly a wide variety of ages represented.
Well, I looked through my photos but really wanted something that captured a special person in our children’s lives. Her name is Joycey. She is not ‘blood’ family but really she is our family. She lives two houses away from us and she has known our children all of their lives. Let me take you back….
We first met Joyce when we moved into our house in 1989. She has been there for us in the good times and the bad times. She has known our 3 kids since birth and looked after them on many occasions. She is the first person I call when there is a crisis. From when I was having a miscarriage to when my father died unexpectedly. She helps when she can and we help her. Her husband died before we met her and so when she needs a dead possum removed or something fixed, she calls on us. We see her just about every day. She has five adult children of her own who have their own children. Even some of her grandchildren have children which makes her not only a great Grandmother but a Great Grandmother.
Joyce turns EIGHTY years old on the 27th of February.
One of the many amazing things about Joyce is that she is so active. She is a gifted musician although she can’t read a note. She plays by ear and all you have to do is start humming a song and she can pick it up. She plays the Piano Accordian (squeezebox), she plays the piano, she plays the mouth organ. Her latest laugh is that now she plays So What? by P!NK on the piano.
She has been taken by each of our children to school on many occasions as ‘show and tell’. She volunteers at nursing homes and plays the piano and/or piano accordian for all of the ‘old’ people – many of whom are younger than her. She is fun and thinks she is hip.
When she goes on an outing lets say on a boat – she will dress in a nautical theme. If she goes on a train trip she dresses in a train theme. (note: this CAN be embarrassing!)
On St. Patricks Day, she comes to our house dressed in a red wig, a green top hat and shamrock shaped sunglasses. Every birthday we have, she phones us at 7am in the morning with the ‘birthday’ song. We have to listen. She makes us wear the ‘birthday hat’ which is a hat that is shaped like a birthday cake with candles on it. She has a large collection of outrageous wigs. She laughs a lot. She makes us laugh.
She often takes our kids, now aged 15, 14 and 11 out. Every school holidays she takes them for what she calls ‘muckin’ rubbish day’. This means that she takes them to a kids movie (her excuse to see something cute and fun – today it was the Fabulous Mr Fox), she buys them junk food. Choc-top icecreams, popcorn – whatever they want. They see the movie and then go to Intencity where she plays the Pinball Machines. Then they go for more ice cream at the ice cream parlour…
She has been around our family for EVER. She is our family and here is a photo I took of her today with our three kids. I don’t know who is more of a kid though. She does not stop laughing. I made her lie on the ground and she thought that was just silly but she did it anyway.
Because. She. Loves Us.
Joycey and the kids
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28 comments ↓
Oh, Kate, this is just beautiful. How lucky you are to have such a fabulous person in your life. Joyce sounds like a real character ?
I love your photo!
That is an awesome shot.. I love the story behind it. Youa re blessed as a writer and photographer… Thanks for sharing
What a great story and shot! Love it!
Kate, I love this photo! I love this story. And, although I haven’t met her, I love this person!! Excellent entry!!
What a wonderful photo and wonderful story – Joycey sounds utterly priceless – can we borrow her?
Brilliant shot – fantastic story – great lady!!
Love the happy squinty eyes…
I agree–brilliant shot! I love the energy in this photo!
beautiful! love all the smiles!
What a bunch of lovely faces
Wonderful picture!
absolutely touching shot. I really appreciate the backstory too. We should all be so lucky to have a Joycey in our lives.
That’s precious. What a special person to have in your family. Thanks for sharing it with us!
great photo!
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Such a great story and photo.
this is a beautiful photo and a beautiful story. and you’re right, family isn’t just about blood, it’s about the people in our lives, the ones we count on and the ones we love. thanks for sharing!
That just warmed my heart. How blessed you are to have her and she to have you all in your lives. The photo says it all. Love it!
Sweet story, beautiful photo!
This is just such a great shot. Love the colours and the lighting as well as the expressions of them. Very lovely captured.
Kate – what a fabulous photo of your family. I love the genuine happiness that you see on everyone’s faces. Your photography is amazing and I’m so glad you commented so that I could find your blog. Joycey sounds like a wonderful gift in your lives.
what a happy place!
Love it.
love this! what a great picture
What a beautiful story and picture! How wonderful to have someone like that around!
Thanks for the comment! I’m enjoying looking at all of your photos! You’re awesome!
Oh those kind of “family” are they best!!!! Your kids are blessed to have her and they will cherish that shot for a long time!
What a great story to go with a beautiful picture!
I love it!
precious photo!
She really is a gift to all her family and that really does include the Mularcyzk Family. Hippy JOYcey Sounds like a rapper. And you Rock Kate
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