Amanda and the Hendersons

Thought I would share a few photos from a few recent sessions.......For those of you not on Facebook... This little gal is a heart melter......the daughter of one of my oldest and dearest friends.  We grew up together and our families have been friends since birth.  I've always had a feeling that she would be the best Mama....I was right........and seriously, How cute is this BABY!?!?! Talk about some love....this is one of my all time favorite fams.....True friends....We have been in love with this family since the word GO.  I was blessed to capture some of their spirit in their photos.  Another Gal Pal......and her Sweety... This was a fun night with these two crazy love birds....Lots of laughs!  I taught this young lady years ago at Cosmetology School.  She is such a wonderful person, one of the best I know.....thrilling to do these photos for her.  I should probably also mention that both of my boys are convinced that she is their girlfriend....I havent ha

Wow, that was quite a break I took from blogging.  I have to be honest....I have been really busy, REALLY.  I have been spending most of my time doing shoots, editing shoots, scheduling shoots and editing shoots.  I am not complaing a bit.  This is like a dream come true for me.  If I have had any extra time, I have tried to fill it with something, all to avoid thinking about the things that I do not want to think about.  After our last Denver trip we stopped for a weekend of camping.  What a wonderful time for our family.  There was toad hunting, frog catching, fishing, running, playing, singing, swimming and fun.  It was what my heart needed right then.  I have spent a couple weeks only talking with Denver twice.  I have spent a couple weeks trying to maintain a sense of calm.  I have been floating on a cloud of avoidance.....trying my hardest to feel "normal."    Tonight, as I sat at my kitchen table....it all unraveled.  A simple email....99 words long.

Almost every day, there is an occurrence of concern with Parklen's cough.  In public, people stare at me as though I am the worst mother for bringing my clearly "sick" child out.....In the hospital, we get moved rooms a lot, because the mothers around us don't want their children catching whatever it is that Parklen has.  I want to scream at the top of my lungs.......I want a t-shirt that says.."My child's cough is NOT contagious...it is caused by his diseased lungs....diseased with something that you CANNOT catch"  and then I would probably add in, "My child is also on high dose steroids, so quit staring as he has an emotional break down." It is such a relief to me that Parklen doesnt notice the stares, or the concern about his cough....He doesnt realize that people dont want to be around him.....he just keeps on going, as if moving rooms again and again.... is such an adventure.  Im not so sure how I will deal with these situations when

This is my sister...... This week, she is my life saver. She is tagging along on this Denver trip.... and by tagging along, I mean playing with, watching over and keeping my Paysen busy. She is rocking my socks..... There is a program at Children's Hospital called "Beads of Courage"  It is a special program for children with cancer or blood disorders.......You receive a bead for each and every thing you have done for your treatment.  A collection of your courage to look at and admire. For whatever reason, Parklen had never received any beads.....I'm thinking because it took so long to get a diagnosis.....and by the time we had that, the beads were just forgotten. Today, they gave Parklen his beads. It took three necklaces to hold the beads, and it took me over an hour to string them.  These are Parklen's beads....... Every single one stands for a procedure or hardship that Parklen has endured over the course of the past 3 and a half year

This is how I found my five year old yesterday......sitting in the yard, in front of a self made fire pit....holding a magnifying glass.....trying to start a FIRE....  Can you say, Trouble??  Trouble for sure....but really, I have to be a little proud of how smart he is....I mean COME ON, he made that pit all by himself.  The last week or so have been super busy.....filled with craziness. I have had a million ups and downs.   Many doors have been opening for me lately....Doors that lead to a personal passion of mine.  After much prayer and encouragement from my family and friends.....I have been taking steps towards pursuing photography.  Starting small....have had a lot of wonderful people volunteer to help me practice.  And, thanks to one of the most amazing women I know, I have already gotten to experience what its like to photograph a wedding.  I have often dreamt of following this path, but over the past few years....I have stuffed any personal dreams down.  Knowing that my