4 Sisters and their Mum....

I am finally finding a chance to blog the second photo shoot from my Spirit of Giving christmas giveaway.  If you remember, the delightful little Reef was my first gift...you can view his post here:

Well I think the best way to start this post is by sharing part of the email that was sent to me by of of these wonderful lady's daughters :-)

I am nominating my Mum to have photos taken with her three sisters and her mum.  Over the last two years her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have the breast removed.  Then 12 months later, cancerous cells started to appear again. Fortunately they were able to remove the cells but unsure when they are going to appear again.

Also, their mother is about to turn 86 next Thursday and over the last several months she has started to deteriorate.  There would be nothing better than the five of them getting together and having the time of their life creating special memories.  
 
This email moved me...what an incredibly deserving family.  Apparently, when these 4 beautiful sisters were told they had won a photo shoot, they got a bit vocal as they don't like getting their photo taken...then they dissolved into tears of appreciation.  


All nervous with of the thought of a camera in their face, they soon started to relax, chat and share stories.  Wonderful, beautiful stories of such a close-knit loving family.  And not just the immediate family - I'm talking that every Sunday the sisters, their husbands, children & grandchildren nearly all make the effort to drive to Grandma's family home at Grasstree Beach.  
There are around 45 of them!!! 
FOURTY-FIVE.  
It truly surprised in the nicest possible way.  
What a special, loving family.
It is very rare that there is just the five of them so I think they truly enjoyed their time together.


When I asked them if they knew what was said in their nomination, they all said 'no'...but were curious to know.  When I shared with them there were more tears (yes, I'll admit it, even in my eyes) of love, gratitude and tenderness.


I could have stayed listening to their stories for hours.  
Perhaps I did.
I could have stayed even longer then!


Since doing this shoot, I have heard the incredibly sad news that the Aunty who had the breast cancer has more cancers appearing again in three areas of her body.
This makes me even more grateful that I was able to create these memories for them.


Thoughts and prayers are with this incredible family.