Christian Photographers Community

Meagan is on her way to St. Louis, to Maryville U.  We took a few last shots.

Lovely family.  Now the empty nest.   

Empty nest can be difficult....but stay busy and enjoy the time to spread your wings? 

Great pictures!

We are planning some weekend trips now.   

I never planned to be parenting so late in life.  Meagan came around late.    When she was little, she was scared of a lot of things, and so I started telling her bedtime stories about a brave little girl and how she rescued a dragon.    She liked it so much, that she asked for more stories, and eventually, there were dozens of them, and as I told them, she made changes herself.

When she wrote her college essay, she chose "the fictional character that meant most to me", and wrote about the Brave Little Girl.    And when she graduated, I handed her the last dragon story.  It was hard for me to write, but it was time.    I hope she'll tell stories for her children.

Ohhh Barbarian that is so touching! 

You have me in tears here!

They didn't talk at all on the way back.    And when they got to the mountain, she suddenly hugged the dragon with all her might, and he gently held her close to him. 

"You're leaving, aren't you?    That's why I came here today, wasn't it?   How can you leave us again?   What will happen when you're gone?"

"You will do fine.   People do best when they...."

"...solve their own problems."  She finished for him, rolling her eyes.   You can't leave.   I love you."  She started crying and clung to him.

"I must leave.   It's time for you to grow, and I can't be part of that.    I love you too, brave girl, and I will never forget you.   But I must go."

"What will I do?"

"You will grow up, and have a family of your own, and when you have a child, there will be a dragon on the Yellow Mountain for him.   Teach him about dragons, so he will learn."

"But it won't be you!"

"No, it won't be me.   I was for you only.   But there will be one for your child.   Prepare him.  Tell him the story of the Dragon of the Yellow Mountain."

"Come here." the dragon said, and he gently hugged the brave little girl one last time.   "Remember, when I am gone, there will always be a part of me inside you, and when you are afraid, I will be there for you and you will know what to do.   Remember this."

The Brave Little Girl looked down, and then she raised her gaze to him.   "I know," she sniffled."I'll remember."

"I must go now." he said, and crouched to leap into the sky.

"Wait!" she cried.   "I have to know."  Tears had started to run down her face again.   "I don't even know your name.   I never asked you your name."

He stopped and looked back at her.   And he smiled as a tear dropped from his muzzle and burned a mark in the stone.  "Courage." he said.  "My name is Courage."   And in a rush, he was into the air, and winging far away to the west where the dragons are.

That's wonderful!  Something to save for your grandchildren, for sure.  Thanks for sharing it with us. 

WOW, WOW