Beautiful day today—one of those rare summer afternoons that makes you wish the season would never end. The kind of day that feels slow in the best way, full of sun and light and little things that end up meaning the most.
I spent part of it doing my daughter Em’s hair for an upcoming dance. She loved her new style, and I loved the moment—just the two of us, laughing, adjusting strands, catching up in that way only mothers and daughters do.
With the sun still high and everything glowing, we stepped outside and snapped a few pictures. Nothing fancy, just letting the light do its thing. One of those photos ended up meaning more than I ever expected.
Later, as graduation approached, that single image became the inspiration for an oil portrait I painted as her gift. Something about the light on her face, her beautiful smile, the glow in her eyes, and the story behind it all—I knew it had to live beyond a photo. I wanted to capture it with my hands and heart.
It’s amazing how everyday moments can become lasting ones.
