LAPC #180 Favorite Images of 2021
The theme for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #180 is Favorite Images of 2021
The year 2021 was a roller coaster. There were many excitements because we could resume doing things after being restricted for a year or longer. Those moments seemed serene yet felt like wanting to shout for joy. Those were my favorite images of 2021.
My younger granddaughter was born on March 22, 2020. California reinforced the restriction on March 14. I canceled my flight at the last minute to be with my daughter for her childbirth. By March 2021, the restriction of traveling eased a little. We wanted to be there for Nora’s first birthday. I booked the flight with premium seats so that we didn’t have to pass by many passengers. We were so thrilled to see Nora for the first time.
We spent Mother’s Day with my daughter every year except the year 2020. In 2021, we were with my daughter for Mother’s Day and had a wonderful time having three generations of girls together.
The summer of 2021 was my first-time raising Monarch butterflies and there were some casualties, but 20 butterflies made it to adulthood.
I booked a trip to Banff, Canada in August for our anniversary, but the border was closed. I canceled the trip, and we went to Santa Barbara instead. It was the first long trip since Covid.
We also wanted to take day trips to the beaches, but many beaches were closed during the pandemic. We eventually made a trip to Laguna Beach in September.
We missed Autumn’s 3rd birthday in 2020 but we were excited to go to Autumn’s 4th birthday party in September last year.
Last but not the least, we had a white Christmas with my daughter’s family and had fun watching the grandkids playing in the snow and making a snowperson in the backyard. Autumn helped to put the pebbles on to make the eyes and buttons and put the carrot on for the nose. Nora gave the snowperson a big hug.
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LAPC #180 Favorite Images of 2021
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the images!
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The Showers of Blessings 
Family pictures always hold a special place in my heart. The image of that monarch is stunning, Miriam.
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Lovely photos, Miriam. I’d say 2021 was a pretty good year for you and your family.
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I remember all of these moments from your blog, Miriam. I hope you have as many special moments in 2022 as you did in 2021.
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A lovely look-back at 2021 and your favorite things, Miriam. The photo of 3 generations is beautiful. I love that one. I hope your 2022 is marvelous and that you get to see all your girls whenever you want to. Hugs.
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I’d have to say that the three generations photo is my favorite as well. Always so heartwarming to see.
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And the smiles all look so natural and happy. It’s awesome, Liz.
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Thank you, my friend! 😍
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Yes, they do. Nothing forced in that family!!
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The three generations photos warm my heart also, Liz. They always remind me of my cancer journey that I didn’t want to die because I wanted to see my daughter getting married and have kids. 💞🙏
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That would embue those photos with additional significance!
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I’m grateful every day when I think of the family!
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I feel the same way about mine!
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It’s the family who give us strength to overcome the impossible!
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Miriam, beautiful post and photos of your family and I especially adore the photo of the three generations of you all on Mother’s Day! 😀 That’s a keeper! Although so many of everyone’s plans were thrown into disarray during 2020 it’s great you had an opportunity to be at your grandaughters’ birthdays etc in 2021. May the new year make travel easier, especially to visit loved ones. Wishing you a great New Year! xx
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I love to create memories for special occasions such as birthdays and Mother’s day, Annika! I take tons of photos when I’m with my daughter’s family and share the albums with her on Google photos. We love to share those moments with the family or someone. I hope 2022 and on will have a better time for all of us! 😍
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Great photos Miriam. Family is always precious!
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Thank you, Dwight. I’m glad we took advantage of the low cases breaks to visit the family.
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Yes. that was a good idea
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It was. 😊
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Some beautiful pictures and memories, Miriam. The pandemic has changed so many of our plans, but we’ve all figured out ways to make things work.
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Yes, last year was better than 2020. The cases were lower. We took advantage of those periods and visited the family and did some short getaways. Thanks, Barbara.
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We did too – nothing too crazy but just to get away for a day or two was great!
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That was what we did but going to see my granddaughters was a 5-day trip! I’ll book the next two trips. Worse come to worse, I’ll cancel them.
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Oh Miriam, I knew you did it “all” – and raising butterflies adds to the list – what a joy to do something like that.
Also, loved seeing the family photos and the CA trip sounds like a nice plan B
🙂
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Yes, Yvette. I still want to go to Banff. But the travel sites and hotels are getting smarter. Last year I could canceled the trip up to the day before the arrival. When I check last night, if I book the trip now, I have until January 22 to cancel on the travel website and it’s nonrefundable if I book it directly from the hotel website. I’ll wait until the last minute to book even if it will be more expensive, or wait for a couple more years to go. Local trips are just as nice. 🙂
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yes – we noticed that the change policies are less friendly – and sounds like you have some patience and flexibility with your adventures and trips
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Yes, our schedule is not restricted.
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The video of Nora is adorable, Miriam. I left a comment for you on YT. It wasn’t to bad a year and you got to spend time with your family which is the most important thing.
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It was too bad in 2021, Robbie, not as bad as in 2020. The pandemic went up and down in 2021 and we took advantage of it when the restriction was lifted and did some traveling and visited my family. Thank you for leaving a comment on YT.
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Oh, how all the smiling faces cheer me!! I especially love Nora’s birthday–looks like a girl after my own heart, let’s cram some cake!! May you all be abundantly blessed this year ❤
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I love that video, Zelda! I didn’t want to stop so soon, but she was eating too much and I had to stop her!! Thank you for you lovely comment. Have a wonderful and blessed New Year! ❤
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I’m still smiling about all your photos–thanks for sharing them with all of us here ❤
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You’re welcome, Zelda. I love your blog and good to know you read through the Bible every year! 💖😍
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Yes, I truly enjoy it–and I have to, if I want to have any peace and direction. Over the past 10 years I’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is GOOD!💖
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That’s wonderful, Zelda. He is good! All the time! 💖
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Indeed HE IS!!💖
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🙏😍
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Beautifulful images of your happy granddaughters and fmaily. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Amy! I’m so happy that I got to see them several times in 2021. They’re growing so fast. I don’t want to miss too much. 🙂
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Beautiful images . The monarch butterfly is caught my attention. So happy to be with your family.
Anita
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Thank you, Anita! I have great hope for raising more Monarch this year!
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Beautiful photos. I love the children and family shots.
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Then you, John. I’ll visit your post.
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These are priceless pictures Miriam and that video is so memorable. Soooo wonderful and such great memories in 2021💖
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Cindy! The video always makes me laugh. As hard as it was, I had many fun memories in 2021. ❤
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oh it was a pleasure Miriam. It was fun and I thought about all of my kids as well at that age.. fun times! You sure did!💖
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They remind me of my daughter at the ages also, Cindy! I saved a few of Mercy’s dresses for my grandkids. My daughter loves to take photos of them wearing those clothes to put the photos side by side! She had fun doing it. ❤
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These are so awesome to have to look back on. I have a bunch of the same ones of the sweets and I always wonder if I am the one who gave them too many sweets which is why they love sugar. ooops.
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When I was with my daughter’s family when they went on vacation, we stopped by for an ice cream. Everyone got their favorites, even Autumn (4). Little Nora (2) just went around to take a bite from the four of us, then went for the next round and next round!! It was a vacation, from diet also, haha!
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A girl after my own heart! lol.
And no one got sick so there’s that blessing!!! 💖
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We’re thankful, Cindy! The kids are fine so far. One kid in my older grandkid’s class was exposed to Covid so the entire class stayed home for two weeks. The school is very careful checking the kids in. The bigger kids wear masks all day, sometime even outdoor when I looked at their photos. We’re very careful to be in public so that we won’t bring anything to them when we go visit! ❤
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You seem more than fine and thanks goodness you are all ok. It’s a wild ride right now! 💖
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It is, Cindy! I tried to book a vacation in July. Right now I only have until July 22 to cancel. Last year, I had free cancelation until very close to my trip. I guess the hotels and travel websits got burned out!
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I just love these pics, Miriam – your granddaughters are precious!
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Thank you so much, Teri! My daughter posted the video on WhatsApp for the family of the 20 months old Nora playing the harmonica. I laughed out loud because I didn’t expect it. I only saw her a week ago.
These two kids are a blessing in our lives!
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I LOVE your favourite image of 2021. I am imagining your grandchildren looking at that same photo 30 years from now and saying, we have a wonderful family – a family who loved and cherished each other. Happy New Year! Sending hugs!
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Thank you so much, Rebecca. If my grandchildren eventually would say we have a wonderful family. I (we) would have accomplished what any grandparents aspire to do! Hopefully, our intention and desire will help us to get there! Wishing you and your family a Blessed New Year! Hugs to you!! ❤ ❤
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seems like you adapted to the covid restrictions pretty well. I’ve heard Santa Barbara is beautiful…
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It’s very beautiful, Jim. I like the Spanish architecture. The city is not big and the downtown is gear toward the tourists.
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hopefully some day I’ll get to visit the town…
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We visited Solvang which is about 40 minutes drive north of Santa Barbara. It’s a Swedish town. Which state are you in?
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we are in Pennsylvania…
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There are many places to visit on the west coast.
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looking forward to when we can get out there; we’ve got some friends and relatives we can visit as well when we get out there…
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We tried to visit relatives during our travel also.
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tough time to do so…
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I love the photos, Miriam! Babies are so cute with their first birthday cake 🙂
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Isn’t it true, Jacquie? We spoiled their appetites when introducing sweets to them though, even pasta. The girls stopped liking veggies and prefer pasta. 😄
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Lol, they learn so fast 🙂
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They do. I love to see when they’ve learned new things. 😍
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Beautiful shots and memories, Miriam! Xo
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They made me smile when I looked back, Denise. Thank you. 💖
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Those are so lovely. Your daughter looks just like you. What a lovely family.
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Yes, my daughter has some facial features resemble mine. We noticed that when she was little. I was surprised she didn’t get my dark hair, but her German dad had certain strong gens.
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These are all great images, Miriam. I remember seeing them throughout the year in your posts. What a wonderful look back at the year!
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Then you for cheering me on throughout the year, Mae! I’m blessed to be in this supporting community. It’s wonderful to remember those thankful moments!
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A fabulous collection of photos from 2021! Great memories. xo
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Than you, Darlene. I like doing recaps every year to review where I’ve been.
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The cake video is a classic.
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It is, VJ. I can watch it again and again and just laugh.
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I agree. It needs to be shown at her wedding someday.
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Exactly what I was thinking.
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My daughter will have fun putting the video together for Nora’s wedding!! 😂
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Haha… I can visualize the audience already. I’ll tell my daughter to keep it a secret!!
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Miriam, I’m so happy you were able to see so much of your growing family this past year! It sounds like you truly made the most of a difficult situation and were able to pivot to a new plan when others didn’t work out. Good for you!! Loved your monarchs, what a terrific success rate and your granddaughters are adorable! Happy New Year to all of you.
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It was wonderful, Tina. Back in March, the plane was almost empty. By December, the flights were fully booked and expensive as more people flew. I’ll try to book the fights early this year since I know I want to visit them every six weeks. The monarch experience was exciting. I’ll start planning for this year in March. I have to buy milkweed since I don’t have enough yet even though I planted some.
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Sorry about so many changed/cancelled plans, but you still got some family time, and that’s wonderful. The photos capture your joy.
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So beautiful video. So little eat cake. Beautiful collection memories share for three generations ladies. Good post.,🙏
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Thank you so much, Rajkkhoja! The memories keep my smiling. I’m glad you liked the video. 🙏
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Yes, I agree with so sweet smile! Iam so glad .
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That’s wonderful, Rajkkhoja.
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They you, Staci! It looks like we have to be flexible again this year. I hope you can travel when your daughter is due.
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i love your choices, and the family ones are so wonderful, i agree with norah –
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Thank you so much, Beth. Happy New Year and best wishes to you. 💖
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Some gorgeous images, Miriam, especially those with family. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year to you and your family, Nora. It’s it warm your way?
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It is warm and wet, Miriam. It’s summer. 😊
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I should live in Australia half of a year and in the US half of a year wherever is warm, Norah. 😄
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I know of people who do that, Miriam. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the ability to choose.
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I know of two bloggers from Canada going south in the winter.
We’re fortunate not to have 40F before zero. I don’t think your winter is too cold, right, Norah?
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We have very mild winters here in Brisbane, Miriam. Very pleasant. I love our autumn to spring months – not so keen on summer.
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How hot do you get in summer, Norah? We have high temperature for about two weeks of 104F.
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We will have many weeks over 90F, Miriam. We don’t have many days over 104F, or even quite that high, but it’s the humidity that’s the killer. 104 for two weeks would not be fun.
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We have low humidity in California so the high temperature is not so bad. 90F is not so bad, Norah.
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It is when the humidity is similar, Miriam. 🙂
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Hey Norah, we need to remind them that the way to spell Norah is with an “h” at the end –
just kidding – but so cute that the grandbaby has your name
🙂
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I almost got mixed up in the beginning, to spell Norah as Nora, and Nora as Norah! Haha. 🙂
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hahahah –
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😂😁
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kind of like Sara and Sarah
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Exactly. 😍🤓
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I think so too, Yvette. 🙂
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😊
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😊
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Flexibility is the word these days. Glad you got to spend the holidays with your family. I like the three-generations photo.
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Yes, the mask mandates in CA extends to February. As far as traveling, it’s not up to us these days. I like three generations photos as often as I could.
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