I don't shoot a lot of newborn shoots anymore and sometimes I miss them. This precious little one help fill my cup back to full. There's something about holding a newborn that slows your heart rate and makes everything more peaceful. I love her name. Reese means enthusiasm! Can't wait to see who she becomes!
Sleep well tonight.
At the end of the Fall Mini Session Day I did a family portrait session...it was cold and wet and yet, we persevered! I'm glad we did.
It wasn't that long ago I wrote a post about my friends Dave and Vicki who were on a quest to adopt from the Congo. I wanted to help raise money for them to adopt from Africa but I'm happy to report that they have raised ALL the money needed to adopt! Tomorrow their "YES!" becomes very real...they are boarding the plane to the Congo and bringing home not one, but two children! Words cannot describe how proud I am to be friends with this family.
They are normal in every way, I took this portion from their adoption blog:
Who: Dave and Vicki, Mom and Dad to 5 kids (three with us and two in the Congo (DRC) What: He: Administrative (catch-all) Pastor She: Registered Nurse When: married since 1998 Where: Minnesota Why: All for Jesus
We’re a family who are simply following the Lord. It’s been a crazy few years of letting go of our desires and embracing His. We wouldn’t have it any other way. We have three kids. Delaney is our 9 year old and our firstborn. She is all about having a good time. Jude is 7 and is a cool guy. Eliza is our baby at 4 years old. She is the eyes and ears of our home. She keeps us all in line.
Here's a video of them telling their story! Yeah, I know, cutest family ever right?
Their courage to say yes...it sets them apart and makes the extraordinary.
While they are gone...I'll be praying. When they come home...I'll be praying. When these kids grow up...I'll be praying.
I love adoption.
Families are so brave when it comes to pushing through the elements for the perfect family photo! I'm so thankful for every person who came out to Minnesota Harvest to capture these beautiful moments!
More to come from our fall Mini Sessions!
...I know where my help comes from. I find myself praying this prayer a lot lately. I'm blessed with work and living the dream. I have my own business and I'm home with my kids. Is it happily ever after? Yes, but it's mixed with blood, sweat, and tears. I'm willing to work hard for something I love and something I know is what I'm called to do. Lately, I've been inspired to look around me at a couple of friends of mine who are living their dream too. Not that living you're dream is easy...but, when it's right and it gives incredible joy. Ready to be inspired? Get out the tissues. Meet my friend Jen. She has an incredible story and this year she decided to share it with the world. In her own words,
"This year I am taking the plunge and training to run the Twin Cities Marathon on October 7th. I've decided that if I am going to pour myself into hours and hours of training, I wanted it to count for something more than a check mark off my bucket list! So I have decided to run to benefit New Life Family Services, a non-profit organization who compassionately opens their doors and hearts to women and men who believe abortion is the "only" solution to an unplanned pregnancy.
I know all too well the confusion and emotions of an unplanned pregnancy.
Like many can likely relate, my life was rocky growing up. As my teenage
years set in I started down the wrong path and, at 15 years old, I found
myself pregnant. I felt scared, alone, hopeless and like a failure. What
was my mom going to say? What would my friends think? What in the world was
I going to do? I didn't want to have an abortion, but I couldn't possibly
take care of a baby either, I was a wreck. Thankfully within a few weeks, I
walked through the doors of New Life Family Services. They were amazing. I
began meeting with a counselor there regularly. Without judgment, Michelle
listened to me, loved on me and supported me, and it didn't cost me a dime.
She talked to me about all my choices and without pressuring me in any
direction, waited patiently for months for me to make the decision I felt
was best. As I learned more about the possibility of adoption, I felt like
it was the most loving decision I could make, but I didn't know if I could
do it. I was falling in love with this little baby growing inside me, could
I really just let her go? At the very least, I knew this baby deserved
life. I began looking through profiles of prospective parents. I looked
into the eyes of couples who, unlike me, were ready and longing to have a
child they could not conceive. My heart was changing and I knew the most
selfless, loving thing I could do for this baby was not only to give her
life, but to give her the life she deserved. I met and ended up picking the
most amazing family to adopt my daughter. They were kind, loving, and had
an adorable 4 year old boy just waiting for a sibling. We agreed to what was
a fairly new concept at the time; an open adoption. We would send pictures
and letters back and forth once a year. On March 2nd, 1995 Sarah Ann was
born. She was the most beautiful baby you have ever seen. Big blue eyes, a
head full of dark hair... I still remember her fresh baby scent. I am not
going to lie to you... placing her in her adoptive parents arms was one of
the hardest, most painful things I have ever done. But I knew it was right,
I was giving her life.
Fast forward 17 years to 2012. In June I had the opportunity to reunite with Sarah and her family... a day I will treasure into eternity.
I think back to those early weeks of that unplanned pregnancy and I am beyond
grateful that New Life was there when I needed them. I want to give back by
raising $50 for each of the 26 miles I am running. No matter where you
stand on the subject, I believe it is the heart of humanity to value the
sanctity of life. NLFS makes life possible in the face of utter
hopelessness. Thanks for joining me."
Jen's friends and family ending up raising over double what Jen set out to do! Incredible. On top of that she finished the 26.2 mile marathon! Did I mention she did it in just over 4 hours? YUP. She ran her race and she ran it well. I am so proud of my friend. Here a few pictures from the race. I was so happy to be there to capture it!
Be inspired. What are you called to do? What's the race you are running? Dare to dream and dream big...because incredible dreams do come true. Ask Jen!
I'm going to share another inspiring story soon...keep the tissues out!
I've been working on these pictures all week and I can't wait to release them to the parents who are so eagerly waiting! (PS. They will be uploaded to PICTAGE tonight!) But, before I release let me share some of my sweets moments.
This Labor Day weekend was crazy busy for me...I shot back to back weddings Saturday and Sunday and both were 12 hour days. Matt (my husband) decided he'd take the kids to Thunder Bay, Ontario to visit his brother's family! It's a 6 hour drive and yes, my husband is amazing. I wanted to show the picture I woke up to this morning...aren't they the cutest kids ever!
I love my job and I love shooting weddings, but today I'm thankful to NOT be working. Happy Labor Day!
I love capturing boys. I know I've got 10 seconds to pose and shoot before they start bumping and the bumping turns into wrestling and the wrestling turns into clothes getting dirty! I love it! This family makes me smile.
Yes...I have captured this family before AND I will capture them again. They are very close to my heart...and they photograph well!
Today I have worn so many hats. I started thinking about it and thought I'd share. - Got up with the kids and wore my mommy hat. - Made breakfast and wore my service hat. - After coffee, I read and worked on my Beth Moore study of James and wore my student hat. - Then the tidying/cleaning began and I wore my cleaner hat. (can you believe I sorted through our winter hats a gloves? Crazy girl.) - I got the kids set up with coloring and crafts and I wore my teacher hat. - I dusted, vacuumed, did laundry and I wore my "need-to-workout-but-this-will-have-to-do-for-today" hat. - I responded to email and order some prints and wore my business woman hat. - Now I'm blogging and delighting my crazy life...
You have to be a little crazy to do 3 kids, maintain a house, be married, and excel at business ALL AT THE SAME TIME! but, I do it every day. Of course I struggle and I almost always wish I could it better, but it works and I'm so thankful. Ohhh, one more thing, I get tired and want to quit like everyone but, I don't quit...because I believe I'm doing what I should be doing. AND there's something important to learned in everything I face EVERY DAY. So I keep climbing and ask the Lord help me to enjoy the climb as much as the success of reaching the summit.
There is so much more to me. I wear the hats of daughter, sister, friend and mentor. Today I'm taking a step back and taking in the beauty of my hat collection. I'm privileged. and thankful. (Not shopping for more hats at the moment!)
For those of you who read this blog and don't know me personally...be encouraged. We're in this together. Embrace the crazy and enjoy the process of growth! If I knew you better I'd say changing hats is fun and why not laugh today. Here's my "walking through a field laughing shot" by my friend Shelley Paulson (incredible photographer!) Hope it makes you smile!
I'm proud to call the little town of Prior Lake my home AND I take every opportunity I can to shoot my photography here! It's beautiful. Just so happens Sam lives in the area and was happy to do her Senior portraits close to home! We had tons of fun (and outfits!) for this shoot...have I mentioned how much I love what I do!? Well, I love being a photographer...just for the record.
For my sweet sister Elizabeth. Thank you for flying over the Atlantic to spend time with my family...it means the world to me!
I can't wait to meet your new addition!
LOVE YOU!
Speak soon!
It was such an incredible day for weather...80 degrees with the sun moving in and out of the clouds! Can't ask for anything better then that. I'm so honored to captured these amazing families!
This section of Mini Sessions is going to be a combo or two families. I had a brother and sister book sessions back to back and did some over lapping between the sessions...We had so much fun!
I had such a hard time narrowing down the images from the Mini Sessions to post. I can't wait to share the rest with the families! ENJOY your sneak peak!!
This family...is so close to my heart. These pictures are my thank you for letting my crazy family crash at your pad for 2 weeks! WOW! If I didn't say it enough "thank you!"
You are loved.
