The last WP Photo Challenge of the year, led by editor Ben Huberman, inspires us to celebrate the end of the year sharing the most meaningful photo we’ve taken in 2017.
My featured photo is my absolute favourite and it means a lot in many ways. It is the first time I post it.
These two beauties are cousins and my nephew and niece. At a very young age, both lost their fathers and yet they showed so much resilience and strength to overcome such a painful loss, that made us adults ponder on our meaningless little complains of life.
In the next photo is the mother of the boy, also my niece, holding her younger son. She stood tall to life adversities, opened a new path where others would have given up and carried on, accepting the ephemeral nature of life.
They all keep smiling, growing, and teaching us many lessons. I love them to bits and I am proud of them.
The last photo is my reader’s choice, as the most viewed photo and post of the year: Day Seven: Seven Photos in Black & White . I love the photo too.
Heartfelt thanks for the ongoing appreciation and support to my ramblings and photos. I know that you are a blogger and know what it takes to post, visit other blogs, leave a comment and reply to the ones you get. You took time to come here whenever possible, engaged, chatted or ‘liked’ a post to show that you are still around. All counts, means a lot and I’m grateful to you.
I wish for us to keep strengthening our community of bloggers by supporting each other and sharing our creativity.
You all are the best reason to keep blogging. So let’s blog on and care for one another
Wishing you all a happy holiday season and a peaceful New Year.
Sights & Insights 
Totally agree, Lucile!
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👍😀
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Same to you!
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😀
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Beautiful photos, Lucile! I’ve been a bit absent pf late but send you the very best wishes for the rest of this year and next!
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Hello, dearest Lexie. Thank you!
It’s always good to connect with you, whenever that happens.
My very best wishes for a new year filled with happiness, health, joy, love and many trips!
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I love these photos. 😀 Happy Holidays!
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Thank you so much, Cee. Happy holidays!!
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These are such wonderful photos Lucile, and the first two particularly are heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I am so glad to be a part of this blogging community, and to have met you. I’ve probably said it in another comment, but I’d like to repeat — Merry Christmas to you and your whanau, and best wishes for a happy and fulfilling year ahead. 🙂
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Heartfelt thanks, Su. It’s my pleasure to have met you. It’s never enough to spread love and best wishes, so here back at you my very best wishes to you and your loved ones.
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Always love what you post. Thanks so much for the effort I know it takes.
By the way, can you tell me (a newer blogger) how do I find out what my own most viewed picture is??
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So very kind of you! Thank you.
Sorry for the late reply. You can find your most viewed pics/posts on the stats page. Let me know if you can’t and I will send more detailed info.
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Nicely said and beautiful photos.
Happy Holidays to you as well and wishing for a — if not perfect — at least a decent 2018.
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Thank you so much, Emilio.
Likewise, for a good year, one we can be in peace and healthy as well.
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Special shares, Lucile 🙂 🙂 Your warmth and affection are always appreciated. From the heart, always. Wishing you and your family much joy in this festive season, and health and happiness throughout 2018.
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Heartfelt thanks, Jo. Your words mean a lot and are deeply appreciated.
Likewise, your ‘presence’ on blogville makes us all happy for your vibrant, generous and warm personality. Thanks for being there and giving us your best.
Cheers to happy holidays and a fabulous 2018!
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Thanks, darlin! Got your flight yet? Happy New Year 🙂 🙂
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Jo, I got the flight 24 hrs later and I’m still traveling…more cancelled flights and I’ll be flying during the passage of the year.
That sounds like a new blog post!
Wish us luck!
Happy New Year!
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What a disaster Lucile. What a way to spend New Year. Hope you’re home safe xx
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It’s been a while since I came back here, Jo. Fortunately, I ‘saw’ you on Instagram. I’ve been absent from blogging. Tennis elbow. Just slowly returning to normal.
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Painful! Hope it’s better soon, Lucile 🙂 🙂
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Lucile!
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Thank you, dear Lois. Happy holidays and a fabulous 2018!
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All three photos show your love for human beings, young and old. I especially loved the photo of your niece with her younger son—such a beautiful picture, and your explanation adds a layer of meaning. I hope that you and your family enjoy the holidays!!
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Heartfelt thanks, Sandi. We are having a good holidays time, and I saw on IG that you’re having a splashing time with your adorable family.
Happy New Year!
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Yes, we still have all five kids home: that has been such a treat! Happy New Year!
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I’m very late to reply. Hope you had a wonderful time with your family.
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These inspiring and life-affirming portraits truly show why these are your favorites. No one I know captures portraits quite like you, Lucile. Im glad you came back to us with your blog this year, and I look forward to more wonderful images of 2018 from you. Merry Christmas from us here in California!
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Terri, heartfelt thanks for the ongoing support and love to my work. It means so much and I’m deeply grateful.
People like you are the reason to come back to blogging.
May our connection be even stronger.
Happy holidays and a wonderful 2018 to you and your loved ones.
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I’ve been away from the blog for a few days! Wishing you a marvelous New Year and rest of your holiday, Lucile!
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Thank you dear Terri. I’ll be away from today till mid Jan, and perhaps blog erratically.
Heartfelt thanks and all wishes back at you!
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Life is indeed ephemeral which only makes me want to celebrate it all the more. Your photos are full of life. Thank-you for all your blogging support this year, especially while I was walking the Camino. Your comments and encouragement really helped me to stay focussed and to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Hugs to you and yours.
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Jill, heartfelt thanks for your words. It is heartwarming. I’m the one to thank you for bringing me along with you, virtually to every step of your Camino walk. It was a remarkable experience as I had never heard from anyone before, what’s like to go through the joys and hardship of this undertaking.
I enjoyed every photo, narrative and also the food you introduced to us.
I wish you and your loved ones happy holidays and a New Year filled with joy, love and happiness.
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Beautiful photos Lucile. And lovely words to match. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous 2018. Xx
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Thanks hun! My very best wishes to you and yours. May the New Year be full of adventures, happiness, love, fantastic projects and much health. Love from us!
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I’m sorry I’m so late to come back to you. Thank you for your well wishes. I wish you both the very same. Happy New Year 💕💕
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And here I’m, very late to reply to your late reply. So we’re even! 😂
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God made them beautiful! 😁
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🙏😀
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How lucky am I to know you! Not only do I love your art, I adore your unending warmth. And what a brilliant selection for the challenge. You know I love that last photo and the images of your family are bursting with emotion and beauty. Enjoy your New Years festivities.
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Hi Lisa, as I write, you might be sailing somewhere wonderful.
Apologies for such a late reply. I’m mostly off the internet grid, because I got a tennis elbow.
Thanks for your warm and generous words. You know how to melt my heart.
Hope you’re well, safe and happily cruising this beautiful word.
Hugs 🤗
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Ahoy from Phuket Boat Lagoon. We are delayed in port waiting for a part to be shipped or fabricated. What a way to kick off our Crossing. Better here than mid-Indian I guess. I am so sorry to hear about the tennis elbow. That’s gotta suck. Aren’t you working full-time?!? Sending you healing vibes ✨
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Ahoy from Amsterdam, Lisa. So nice to have news from you, although this delay is not what you expected. But you’re right, better now than mid-Indian!
Hope you’re enjoying your waiting time, doing something adventurous, your way.
Fingers crossed for a fast and safe solution.
This injury really sucks and I’m right handed, what doesn’t help to heal, as I’m not good st using my left one. I often times go 5 steps back.
I’m not working full time, so that’s a blessing.
Thanks for your care and vibes! Sending the best ones your way. 😘
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Hi Lucile, I love your message within this post, our blogging community is amazing for the time and effort everyone gives to reading, commenting and sharing posts. I love these three photos they are just a delight and show your talent at capturing people. All the best for 2018 my friend!
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Hi Debbie, I’m so late replying to you. Totally absent from blogging. I have been unlucky to injure my elbow and I’m still taking ‘online’ rest.
Im happy that this post resonated with you. Thank you! Hope all is well and that you are having a good year.
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Hi Lucile, it’s so nice to hear from you, I’ve missed you from the blogging world. I’ve not had the best start to the year but I do have some great news! We’re coming to Amsterdam for a week long cycle tour in June and I was going to contact you about places to stay and what you’d recommend we do before and after the tour. Hope you can suggest a few things for us. 🙂
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Hi Debbie, only today I’m reading your comment. I’m glad you found me on social media. Sorry about the delay.
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No problems- we’ve made contact that’s the main thing!
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Absolutely, and I cannot wait…
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Wonderful shots, Lucile! Somehow I haven’t got your updatings – and now I just had to go looking for you! Hope everything is OK with you and hope to see you soon here! ♥
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Hi Leya – it’s very sweet of you to go looking for me. Thanks.
You’re not getting updates because I haven’t posted this year yet. I got ‘tennis elbow’, as they call it, although I’m not playing it.
I had to restrict typing to only what is absolutely necessary and with my left hand.
I’ll be back soon.
Hope all is well with you. Cheers!!
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Lucile – I had that too some years ago. I could not do much I had to do in school either. I had to ask the students to carry my books and laptop to the classrooms and I still use the mouse with my left hand. Take care and rest! It took me 6 months to recover some strength there…
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Hi Leya – that’s the annoying thing, it takes time. I’m super diligent with protecting myself and hoping to get better soon. It’s much improved though.
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I am glad! Wishing you some lovely Easter days.
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Sorry for the delay to reply to your kind comment, Leya. I had a peaceful holiday and my sister was in town to visit us, which made the days lovelier. I trust you had good days as well.
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I did. Glad to hear everything is well.
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😃
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