Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Monday 22 September 2014

Welcoming new beginnings



It has been an emotional six weeks. A time of great change with the passing of my darling father. I never imagined that this is where we would be when we went off travelling and exploring through the Pilbara in early July.  I keep going back over the last few weeks and trying to fathom how we got from there to here. I have felt that someone else has been in control of my life...it certainly wasn't me.  As John Lennon wisely said....."life is what happens while you are making other plans".

During this time my camera has been my solace and I have kept up my 365 Project as I work my way through what life has thrown my way.  Amazingly those wintery images are around the time of my Dad's passing.

Please click on "read more" to keeping reading and seeing more!




Over the last week I have read two posts by fellow bloggers about change - Jo Castro on Lifestyle Fifty talked about relocating home - you can read her post here - 11 Reasons to Embrace Change and across the other side of the world Gayle at Behind the Garden Gate talked about her own new beginnings - you can read her post here - New beginnings at Behind the Garden Gate

I am not good at change or taking leaps of faith towards new beginnings but I do believe that things happen when they do for a reason and if they are meant to happen they will happen when they are meant to. 

And so I sat by my father's bedside, and held his hand, and kissed his forehead, and told him I loved him and that it was ok for him to go to be with Mum. I continued to talk to him even after he could no longer respond and didn't even open his eyes when I spoke. I believe he still knew I was there.
I now I have said goodbye to my darling Dad and in the process I have cried bucket loads.

I have just read this beautiful post by my blogging friend Rae - it really captures what it was like those last days of my Dad's life - Those waiting to die



But I know Dad is where he wanted to be, reunited with the love of his life, his wife, my Mum, who left us just over two years ago. 



In the process of packing up Mum and Dad's life I have found treasures like this recipe book in the bottom of my Mum's recipe book drawer. I made it in Kindergarten, years and years ago.  All the mothers supplied recipes, and each child made the cover for their own recipe book to give to their mother for Christmas. I didn't know my Mum had kept it all those years. This recipe for Perth Sponge is one of the ones she submitted. I will have to make it.



And an old wooden jigsaw which was given to my Dad at Christmas 1937 when he was eight years old. It is a picture of the ship the Queen Mary in Trafalgar Square. This first jigsaw puzzle was the beginning of a life long passion for my Dad.  So I sat down and made the puzzle the other day. There is one piece missing. A metaphor for life perhaps as one dear friend said to me. I still have the first jigsaw puzzle my Dad gave me, and remember clearly climbing up onto his bed at my grandmother's house on Christmas morning to make it. I was probably about five at the time.



As I sift through the fragments of their lives and hold again rediscovered treasures and find special places in my own home for these memories, the raindrops fall, but now they have a silvery sparkle. 



And little by little I am starting to bring the sunshine back in.



I know they say you shouldn't go back over the past, but in doing so over these last few weeks I have found peace and a way forward. And I am tentatively saying "hello to new beginnings" as I move towards my future.



 Do you adapt to change? Do you have mechanisms to cope with it or do you embrace it full on?
Have you recently lost a loved one? -  my heart goes out to you if you have. I never realized what an impact loosing my Dad would have on me.

Thank you dear readers for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week. 

I hope to be back very soon with the continuation of our Pilbara trip, as promised. 


I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around the World, and What's It Wednesday.  Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Our World Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
What's It Wednesday

You might also like - 
Weekends of art and dance 
Autumn days of May 

33 comments:

  1. Hello Jill
    Keeping busy helps with the grief but thinking back to fond memories keeps wonderful visions of your loved one alive in your heart. My dad has been gone 5 years now but I still talk to him silently because I know he would have enjoyed some of the new experiences I'm having today and they would have been shared with him.
    Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday, change is not easy but becomes easier with time.

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  2. Jill I lost my precious Mom almost a year and a half ago. I still miss and think about her everyday. At first I found writing her letters helpful, and now (like Judith) I talk to her silently (like a prayer). Hold your Dad's memories in your heart, and he will be in there.

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  3. Dear Jill, thank you for sharing this very moving post. I'm so sorry about the passing of your dear Father. I know it's very difficult, but I hope you find comfort in knowing that he is in a better place. I've lost my father years ago. And all I can say is that it is so true that time heals.
    The recipe book and the jigsaw puzzle are beautiful treasures indeed. What beautiful memories that go with them. Thanks for sharing them with us as well as the amazing photos that you have captured in your time of grief. They're truly special.

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    1. thank you Marisol. Yes we have found some wonderful precious treasures in the process of packing up my Mum and Dad's lives.

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  4. Oh my, Jill well done you for letting the sunshine back in when you would be forgiven for looking for a big hole to hide in. Through your post and wonderful photos (your Dad's jigsaw with one piece missing is so poignant) we share in your pain. Yet despite coming to terms with your grief we can also sense your optimism for the road ahead.
    I wish I was nearer as I would be saying 'you put the kettle on, I'm coming round with a Perth sponge'!
    Hugs to you I look forward to seeing your sunshine in future weeks.

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  5. Jill, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father..It is difficult to lose our loved one..I am sure you have wonderful happy memories to help you with your grief.. It does become easier with time.. Sending my thought and prayers for you and your family..And HUGS too!!

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  6. thank you dear wonderful friends across the oceans for your beautiful messages of love and support. I truly appreciate each and everyone of them. My simple words of thanks do not go far enough in expressing my gratitude.

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  7. My deepest sympathies to you Jill. I just wept as I read your extremely moving post. Thank you for reminding me how precious both my mum and dad are to me, as they are both still living. I think some people cope very well with change but others take a while to get used to the idea. The grieving process is a very personal journey and I think you should take as long as you need to get over such a traumatic phase in your life. All the best xx

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    1. thank you Kathy. Sometimes I am ok, and then I am in tears again. It has been a very difficult and sad month or so. But I have wonderful support around me, and the joys of grandchildren.

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  8. Hi Jill ~ this a very beautiful word and photo tribute to your Dad and Mom and your grieving process ~

    'No one gets out of here alive.' ~ The one constant we have is change ~ It has taken a awhile but I have learned that life is beautiful even the 'not so good part' ~ so I hold on to the memories and live each day with love in my heart and am grateful for it all. Hope this helps somewhat ~ Am sending you lots of healing hugs as you continue on your journey.xoxoxo

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  9. My deepest sympathy. I know what a time you've had recently but you still manage to keep bringing us the most amazing photos and inspiring thoughts and messages. Thank You. This is such a reflective, thoughtful post that really connects with what's real in life and what matters. Thank you for bringing me back into focus this morning, albeit with tears in my eyes.

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    1. And a big thank you for linking to my blog post on "Change". I really appreciate that x

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  10. Sorrow takes its time - and must be allowed to do so. Lovely lovely shots - such a beautiful tribute to your father. Hugs again for his loss.

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  11. So sorry for your loss!
    Yet your pics are exemplary. Let photography continue to give you strength to move on in life!

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  12. Dear Jill, Sending a hug your way and a great deal of understanding. It doesn't matter their age, because when a girl loses her dad, a part of her heart goes along with him. Those fond memories of him and your life together will only grow over time. You are correct, he is with his life's love and I bet they've already rekindled the relationship and are dancing in the clouds. Your post was a beautiful tribute to him. Take care. Jackie

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    1. thank you Jackie. It's actually been tougher than I thought it would be.

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  13. Oh Jill I am sorry for your loss, I have watched two families grieve this week. I dread when it is my turn, a beautiful post, thank you xxx

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    1. Rae I have just read your beautiful post about dying which you posted on your blog on 15 Sept only a couple of days after my darling Dad died. You have captured those last days so perfectly. Thank you for putting them into words.

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  14. So sorry for your loss, I hope you find comfort in your memories. Visiting from Communal Global :)

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  15. Oh Jill! I am so sorry for your loss. Your post made me cry and made me want to go hug my mom and dad and just enjoy them. I also was relieved when I read you were by his side when he was in the process of dying.... I was lucky be at my grandfather´s side when he died and it made it all easier at the time.
    Hope you can find comfort in remembering them, and the strength to carry on!

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    1. Thanks Carolina, I think we all need a reminder sometimes about who is really the most important people in our lives, and take time to truly appreciate them. Go hug your Mum and Dad!

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  16. Dear Jill, I am so sorry to read this. I have been thinking about you and your dad this last week, wondering how he was and also how you were doing. It's been a few decades since I said goodbye to my dear sister, and I still remember how hard the waiting at the end was -- saying "goodbye" each time I walked out the door and not knowing if it was going to be the final time. Thank you for sharing Rae's post. It means a lot to me.

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    1. Thank you Michele. I am glad you found something special in Rae's post. It really is hard isn't it walking out the door and leaving them there in their hospital bed not knowing if this was the final goodbye or when the end will come. I guess it comes to all of us in the end, and we have to say goodbye to those we love. Thanks Michele.

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  17. Dear Jill, I'm reading this only now... So so sorry for your loss...

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  18. I'm sure the memories of the fragments you found will be a comfort and give you a smile eventually. Condolences.

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  19. I'm so sorry to hear about your father's passing Jill... my deepest condolences and wishes for peace during this difficult time,... and the great solace of family, friends and our beautiful natural world.

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  20. Taking those beautiful memories and purging them with new days ahead and new beginnings, they shall always be a huge part of who we are and to whom we are becoming. Letting go those people whom we have loved, who have spent so much time loving us and we loving them and then with what seems like a blink of an eye they are no longer. So very difficult and yet every day that passes it does seem to get easier, just do not feel to rush the process. Hugs to you, ah and by the way it was lovely that you continued to talk with your dad for the hearing is one of the last things to leave~

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  21. Oh my Jill, my heartfelt sympathy to you. Thank you mentioning me and linking up. How we are circling parallel paths in some ways. You will stop to stop by and read what happened to me this week. Looking back, and looking forward. Letting go so you can embrace the new. Love and hugs to you...

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  22. I can't seem to type clear- I said "you will have to stop by"

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  23. I, too, stayed by my father in his last hours and tearfully gave him my blessing as he died. It's now 4 years later, and I continue to miss him, but I am so glad I was able to love him as he left this world.
    I am sorry for your loss, but I feel sure that you will find comfort in knowing that you were with him through those painful last hours.
    God bless you,
    Sue

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  24. thank you all dear dear readers and friends.

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  25. Thank you for sharing. You have a way
    of making a stranger feel like a friend. I really enjoy reading your pages
    and looking at your pictures etc... The recipe book and puzzle - so glad you
    came across them both. They are really special. Brought a tear to my eye to
    read about the recipe book. Your mother obviously treasured it very much. xx

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