This post has little to do with photography, but much more to do with life.  There are few things in my life that are as precious to me as my daughters.  Actually, there is nothing in life more precious to me than my daughters.  About a year and a half ago, I gave the hand of my baby girl to a young man and they have been blessed with a wonderful life together and I am filled with such joy over the young couple in love they have become.  I spend as much time with her today as I did before her magnificent wedding and I am struck that my "giving her away" has actually enriched the relationship we share.  Today, she chooses to be with me and share simple walks and talks to discuss everything relevant and many things that are not.  I find her attention to be extraordinarily special to me given so many other things that press for her time and that I still rate high on her list. 

My youngest will exchange vows with a young man this weekend, whom I will offer her hand, and I am captivated by the transformation that will take place in her life and mine.  There will be no more daughters at home at the end of this week and many years awaiting my beautiful wife and I to figure out where our relationship will take us as empty nesters.  As for my daughter, she will enter a new phase in her life that will not necessarily include impromptu runs, hikes and bike rides with her father.  She is a driven young woman and a tremendous source of pride for me who will settle for nothing less than a life full of unique experiences, travels and explorations for which I am certain her soon to be husband will be up to the challenge.  I will miss our quiet discussions together while spending time outdoors, but I am left with the hope and prayer that like with my oldest daughter, in letting go, I will be enriched with even more cherished time together. 

As for the soon to be empty nesters, not to worry, I have a feeling we will certainly figure out how to "manage" the rest of our loving days together as we did before we raised this beautiful family of ours.

God bless our precious girls and the beautiful lives before them...