My mom had a milestone birthday this year, and the way she wanted to celebrate was with a family trip. My mom, sister, and grandma came to visit in September, and we savored our time together.

The thing about having family spread all over, and not living near one another, is that the time together feels so precious. Over the years, the gratitude I have felt for spending time with family has deepened. I am so grateful for that time we got in September.

On the last night of their visit, we sat around the fire at the rental my mom had booked. The moon was shining bright that night, and I decided to grab my camera and take a few pictures. I didn’t expect any to turn out clear, I just wanted to capture a memory of that night. It was a nice surprise when some of the pictures actually turned out really neat.

The days were full and we did a lot while they were here, yet it felt like it ended too quickly. I could have sat and listened to my grandma’s stories forever, I didn’t want that time to end. I am so grateful for every moment we had together.

All the people we hold dear… family and friends… what a gift our time together is.