I am SO happy that I get to pray with people. Dave & Courtney really wanted children. After our first session – she asked me if I would pray for them. I put them on the list!!

I was SO VERY HAPPY when she messaged me saying – GUESS WHAT!?

AND LOOK AT THAT SQUISH!!

She is VERY serious!!

She’s also a very HAPPY girl!

THOSE CHEEKS!!

SO HAPPY!!!

DAVE & COURTNEY!! I have loved getting to know you better over the past few years!

I can’t WAIT to see you and your girl again!!

 

 

I look forward to our sessions every year!!

This year – Jan asked if we could mostly do a lifestyle session at the farm!! YES!!! ALWAYS!!

THAT SWEET LITTLE GUY!!!!

I have a similar photo of his sister in that same crib!! SO SWEET!

Getting ready for farm chores!!

This isn’t a good start for him – sleeping on the job!!

This might be my FAVORITE picture to depict how I want to photograph you and your families!

It wasn’t posed. She was just doing what she does. And like many mommas – doing an AMAZING job multi-tasking ALL the things!

THESE are the moments!!

OH MY GOODNESS!! That sweet little face!

What does a mom do when she needs BOTH hands free on the farm with a newborn!? THIS!!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!

JAN!!! Thank you SO MUCH for asking me to follow you around on the farm!!

This was one of my favorite sessions EVER!!!

 

 

I’ve been taking photos of Myrana and Tyler and her family for several years! Their engagement and wedding and their first pregnancy. I saw them last summer for a creek session AND a silhouette session and LOVED the photos we got!

Myrana had announced that they were pregnant with baby #3 last fall! She had told me that their due date was the end of April – right near Fitzy’s birthday. A little girl. A little girl that she had prayed for.

I was thinking about her in April and decided I should check on her FB page to see if their little one – a girl – had arrived yet.

I was heartbroken when I checked her page to find out that their daughter Prestynn Mae was stillborn.

I once had a momma who delivered her 20 week old baby reach out to me asking how I dealt with the pain of our loss.

We lost our babies at 10 weeks. They were alive. They had a heartbeat and then it stopped. I did not hold their body. I did not see their face.

I don’t know the pain of losing a child after holding them. After seeing their face. After waiting 9 months only to deliver them and hand them back to the doctor.

Staying in the maternity ward to recover but without your child in your arms. I don’t know that pain.

Myrana and Tyler have their hope in only one thing. Jesus. They know that she was welcomed into heaven into His arms knowing ONLY love.

HOWEVER – that doesn’t make the day-to-day surviving any easier.

You want family photos to be happy. Smiles. Joy!

But what do you do when a part of your family is missing – forever?

There is still joy in life and you find it – even if it’s for a moment.

You throw rocks with your little boys. You hug them tightly and kiss their faces.

You find strength in each other’s arms. You lean into each other like never before.

You hug your “little” brother.

You look at that little face and you smile.

You look at the world through their eyes.

You try your best to enjoy the miracle of now with the ones that are in your arms.

You celebrate the people that have made it through so much life together – easy times and hard times.

You make sure to include her in your family photos because a photo without her in it seems too empty.

You say her name. Prestynn Mae. When people ask how many kids you have – you say 3.

You talk to your little ones about their little sister.

You somehow navigate your own grief and help them with theirs.

You don’t pretend to be strong. You are strong but strength also looks like crying when it hits you.

You say that you miss her. You say that it’s a hard day – or week – or month – or year.

You find joy in every place that you can. You tickle your kids.

You give them smooshy kisses.

You hold that little and big brother and tickle him to get a real smile.

Myrana & Tyler – like I said – I don’t know the depths of the pain you are going through.

I admire your strength and your voice. You will never let her memory die.

We will never understand SO MANY things this side of heaven.

Thank you so much for allowing me into the spaces of your life that capture the joys and the hurts.

Amy and Bryan were given a GIFT CERTIFICATE when that sweet squishy baby was born!!

PSA – GIVE GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!! THEY WILL LOVE IT & YOU WILL BE GIVING THEM AN INVALUABLE GIFT!!

OKAY – back to this GORGEOUS family!!

Amy had asked if her sister and niece could join in on their family session for a few photos!

THE SQUISH!!

OH MY HEART!!

Every time – people don’t like the “look at each other” prompt – but it’s ALWAYS my favorite!!

She wasn’t the smiliest of babes for our session – turns out that she had an ear infection when we scheduled this – BUT – I love this shot!!

SO SWEET!!

Dad and his girls!!

THE SQUISH!!!

There’s a HAPPY face!!

Amy & Bryan – I am SO happy we were finally able to schedule a time that worked out for all of us!

Thanks for being flexible and understanding! I hope to photograph you all again soon!

 

 

 

LOOK AT THIS SQUISHY BABY!!

Our friends Bethany and Perry had their sweet baby girl in August!!

Baby rolls are my FAVORITE!!!

Isn’t she just lovely!?

FAVORITE!!!

That little nose – her profile is so gorgeous!!

Bethany & Perry – I am SO happy for you both! Selah has already grown so much since this session!!

Thank you for asking me to photograph your sweet girl!!

Jan was REALLY wanting maternity photos and when she saw the SUNFLOWER sessions – she set one up!

SO BEAUTIFUL!!

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!

OH MY WORD!!

Again – the black & white BEGGED to exist for this one!! She is SO photogenic!!

Jan has since had their baby boy and I’ve been back to photograph them at their farm – I can’t WAIT for you to see ALL those photos!!

I love photographing this family each year – it’s such a joy and honor!!

 

Maternity photos in a SUNFLOWER FIELD!? YES PLEASE!!!

I know Jessica mostly because of IG but I think she was in college as I was graduating!?

Either way – I was SO excited to get her gorgeous family in front of my camera!!

THE SWEETEST!!

I really don’t think you should be black & whiting sunflower photos – but these shots seemed to ask for it!!

I love that one!!

They have since welcomed their baby boy into their family and I can’t WAIT to get them back in front of my camera!!

 

Janet messaged me on facebook asking about SUNFLOWER sessions!! After we talked a little but – she decided that coming to her for a lifestyle session might work out better!

They had just added their sweet baby girl to their family and needed some updated photos with her!

You know this already – but these are my favorite. These are my strength. Giving you the moments of just being.

Who DOESN’T need a fries break in the middle of a photo session!?

He looked up at the PERFECT moment!!

AND who doesn’t need ANOTHER fries break!? We ALL do!!

Janet was hoping for some silhouette shots – and I wasn’t sure if it would work since we were in a pretty deep valley – but I found the sweet spot!

Janet – I LOVED spending an hour in the life with you and yours! I hope to see you again this summer!!!

 

If you haven’t figured it out – she’s got EVERYONE wrapped around that little finger!!

Isn’t she just ADORABLE!?

Stephanie – THANK YOU so much for asking me to join you in celebrating your little girl!!

Stephanie had a vision for her little girl’s FIRST birthday party!!

She wanted blue skies. White clouds. The rafters of their new home. We rescheduled because of rain and the rafters not being done.

But the day we did get was a PERFECT one!!

THAT SWEET FACE!!

I ADORE that shot – everyone clapping and celebrating their favorite little sister!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!

Stay tuned for the rest of her party!