The 5 Photo Beauty Challenge in a Selfie World

Yesterday I was sent a "5 photo beauty" challenge from a FB friend.  Now let me start out by saying that I do not think there is anything wrong with this challenge.  It is all in harmless fun but it sure did get me to thinking about what I consider beautiful.

At first I brushed it off , as I am sure most women will do, because I usually hate most pictures of myself.  I recently read a blog by someone that reminded that regardless of what you think of yourself your family will want pictures of you when you are gone someday so I have become more open to being "in the picture" and not always "taking the picture".  Well, last night while I was lying in bed I remembered this blogger and I decided to go ahead and do the challenge. 

After looking through many, many pictures I have come to this conclusion that the way I look is NOT BEAUTIFUL AT ALL!  Now don't freak out on me and think I am suicidal and my self esteem and self confidence has taken a nose dive off a cliff.  Believe me.........I LOVE MYSELF but it is not because of the way I look.  I would like to share a few of those reasons with you:


"What are you doing?"  Selfie

Tommy and me are the worst selfie takers ever!!!!  I have this idea in my head that if I lift my chin high enough in a picture the double chin will disappear......not happening!  My arms are never long enough.  I can always find 5 things I do not like about my picture.  But, anytime I am beside this handsome guy he makes me feel as beautiful as a princess.  I know that he loves me for who I am inside and out and I know that he will forever.  When I see us together I see HAPPY!  What is more beautiful than that?

Mama stop crying! selfie

This fine looking fellow keeps me in check.  He actually would not smile in this picture because I was crying?!?   He has grown into such a mature and responsible young man.  When did that happen??  How did that happen??  I am pretty sure that about his 9-10th  grade year in high school I had decided that would NEVER happen.  Patience has never really been a strong virtue for me but I can see now that he really was listening to us when we talked with him and tried to guide him.   He was the first little bird to leave out nest and it almost killed me but he makes me so proud.   I am so happy to be his Mama and I know that he loves me very much.  Now what could be more beautiful than that?

Going to Get Married Selfie

This beautiful lady, my mini me, has done got hitched!  The second little birdy to leave our nest and yes.......it killed me as well.  But you know what?  It was very hard for her to leave the nest.  Yes, she was sad and as wierd as that seems.......I think that is a beautiful, happy compliment to her Daddy and me.  She actually said to us with tears in her eyes,  "Why do ya'll have to be so awesome?"  I know that we have taught her the life skills to make it on her own (except cooking maybe but she married a chef so she will not starve).  I am so happy for her and I am so proud and happy to be her Mama.   You know everyone tells her she is just like me and she says, "I am OK with that!"......What could be more beautiful than that?

Baby Girl Selfie
 

Natalie, my shy, quiet, sweet spirited baby girl.  Always putting others ahead of herself.  I am really gonna smother her with attention since she is the lone bird left in the nest.   Last night she and I got out of bed at 5 minutes after midnight, got dressed and went and had breakfast at Waffle House!!   I can always count on her to make me laugh and be totally honest with me!   I  love her to the moon and back a million times and she makes me so proud.  I am happy that she calls me Mama.   When she was born she was the cherry on top of the Sundae.  She made our family perfect.   What can be more beautiful than that?

My Daddy...first man I ever loved
My Mama....my first ever BFF
Kayla..........my extra daughter
Brandi.........my partner in crime
Lisa.............the sister I never had
Christina.....my long lost twin
the list could go on forever....................

You see the more I thought about beauty it really had nothing to do with me.  It had to do with the people in my life who make me who I am.   I love myself very much.  I am very happy with myself and my life.  I want my family and friends to look back at my pictures one day and see a happy person who lived life to the fullest and made the people around her feel awesome.  So the next time you decide to take a selfie or are asked to be in a picture, JUST DO IT!  Just be YOU!!  Don't worry about the double chin or the flappy arms or the large nostrils (these are my demons).  We are all GOD's creations and he does not make junk.  I look back now on picture of my Granny and I look like her....double chin, flappy arms and all.  I treasure those pictures.  She was beautiful and I AM TOO!!