Losing pictures happens to everyone at least once.
I have lost pictures four times! My graduation pictures when a teacher loaded camera incorrectly, (Philip Bradley remains blissfully unaware of this) a set of baby pictures of Drew that were exposed during developing, our camera stolen while we were building our house and then recently the “bad chip” from our California trip.
I shed tears over every loss.
Especially our California loss.
I said bad things about the airport security screener.
Six weeks later I was picking up my closet floor and saw a micro chip. How did that get here? What’s on it? It was our California trip pictures. I don’t know the how of it, I’ve long since given up the notion that I can reason through my creative organizational skills.
I was thrilled.
It reminded me of the time my mom found a roll of film in her suitcase pocket from our trip to Germany 3 years earlier!!!! She had looked everywhere for it because it had a special shot of Kevin and I in Rothenburg. She was ecstatic.
Rejoicing for what was lost has been found. It’s such a warm and happy feeling.
I’m sharing with you my favorites from this special gift.
The fantastic Golden Gate Bridge. These were all taken from one visit. The clouds changing the scene dramatically by the minute. 
Our Muir Woods Visit. Gorgeous and holy woods.
My Nikon can catch the sun beams unlike the iPhone.
The 500 steps down to the Lighthouse. 
The buck we watch chasing a doe. He kept sniffing the air and licking his nose. 
She knew he had his sights on her. She kept a safe distance. 
Humboldt National Park. 
Our only picture taken of both of us. A fireman took it. 
And finally our encounter with a mama and her two fawns. 
Heres to lost and found again treasures.
Katey
What a wonderful find!!! I loved looking at the gorgeous pictures you made in California. You really made some gorgeous shots. Really wonderful! reminds me of the widow who searched for the coin and the shepherd who searched for his missing one. thanks so much for the post. loveliness!! love, mom
Thank you. I thought too of the coin.
Katey, what a thrill & blessing to recover what was once lost. Makes a person appreciate these beautiful photo memories even more! Absolutely gorgeous shots! My favorite may be that lighthouse… love the perspective! So glad you didn’t lose them after all!
Lori, thank you. I couldn’t pick out my favorite from these although I tried. That trip down & back up those stairs well I’m just glad the pics weren’t blurry!! Katey
1. why was your teacher loading the film? Sounds like he taught you a very valuable lesson…
2. Sad about baby Drew’s photos :(
3. camera theft awful, but your house a wonderful dream worth the loss of a camera (I would love to theottle that thief!!!).
4. incredible California trip a beautiful gift, and memories are sometimes more powerful than the actual photographs. but these ages are truly lovely…the heart calf reminds me of Ben Hole’s little friend on his farm…
5. trip to Germany? also wonderful!
6. my desktop computer, which held the last photographs I took of my brother before his unexpected death, inexplicably and terminally fried. it took with it countless precious photos. Over that, I wept heavy, grieving tears. Have I learned a lesson to back up everything? sadly, no… xo
Nina, in response to your questions, it was my parents camera & I had never used it so I asked mom to load it & she was talking to the teacher & she said get your dad to load it I sometimes mess it up & the teacher said I can do it and so I gave it to him. :( The baby pictures were actually reversed processed & so what was light was dark & vise versa so it looked like he was black. Many of these cows had hearts & they were so sweet! Love Benjamin’s lamb photo today. We went with my parents & two other couples to Germany back in 2001 or so. Fun trip! Kevin got me a external hard drive to back up my computer every 2 weeks. Normally I would never do this either. I’m sorry about your brothers photos.a sad loss. Katey
Katey, this was the most wonderful story. Thanks so much for sharing it and your most exquisite photography! To think that all this loveliness was hidden away for so long.
Thank you Cynthia. I was quite happy to say the least. Katey