You matter

The cutest, happiest, most delightful family.  I just spoke with another favorite client (friend), Erin, who informed me that sweet Charlotte has just been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia..

On a positive note, we are blessed to live 30 minutes from some of the best hospitals in the world here in Boston.  Charlotte is in Boston now beginning her treatments and will hopefully begin the road to recovery.    For those of you who are the praying type, please keep her and her family in your prayers.  Her sweet spirit, her precious smile, and her adorable heart needs it.

If you’d like to keep up on Charlotte’s progress you can follow here her:

Charlotte’s Caring Bridge Page

Charlotte – I’ll be looking forward to our next tea-party!  Get better love! xxoo

Ted and Constance.  Our love and prayers are with you and your family.  We will be here to lift you up and help you through this difficult time and see you onto the sunshine. Please know we are surrounding you in love and light…  We will be wishing on stars for you…

**And to my photographer friends – THIS is why keeping all your photos from sessions is important.  This session now has an entirely new meaning and I will for sure be going back through the images I didn’t show to see what is there.  Another reminder why I am honored to do what I do and feel blessed to share the gift of memories and moments…

Much Love, Many Prayers and lots of Hugs.

xxoo

Funny thing about all that was I didn’t notice like I usually do – (read::: get stressed out!)  I was wandering down ‘memory lane’ thinking back (too many!) years to our college days.  I was thinking back to the late night dance parties – the countless nights of beer pong – the zorn dining commons where very few items were ’safe’ to eat .. but most of all I was thinking back to one of the sweetest girls I ever met at Keene State College —- Kristen.   We hit it off as soon as we met and when we realized we lived only a half hour apart when we were home from school, our friendship just got stronger over breaks, weekends and holidays.

Between having to park our cars in the lot off campus and walking back together – to sitting on the grass at ‘temptation bushnell’ we were always laughing. dancing. loving. living.  Those are the things that college memories are made of. Those are the times I will never forget. Those are the times I was reliving in my head as I was delayed getting to the ceremony. So all those things that made me 2 mintues late (not bad, eh!?) were okay with me – I was enjoying those memories…

So anyways, I parked the ‘loser crusier’ and raced into the church  – I was just in time to see Kristen step onto the alter to meet her soon-to-be husband Brenden. Whew. Made it. I was so honored to be there.  I snuck in the back row and sat at the end of the pew so I could see their faces.  I was so happy to stand by them as they started their life together with Gods blessing.  To be one of their friends to life them up and say how proud I was to watch them get married. An honor. As I feel it is at every wedding I go to — even as a photographer!

After a beautiful ceremony the Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy were welcomed by all their loved ones!

It was onto the reception and since the only people I knew were the Bride and Groom and three of the bridesmaids – I was hanging out with myself for a few moments.  But one of the bridesmaids – Tiffany – another beautiful friend from college — Her soon to-be- Mother-in-Law started chatting with me during the cocktail hour and graciously took me under her wing with her husband and her daughter Heather.  We chatted about friendship, photography, family, children.  The important things in life.  It struck me as we talked how amazing it is that we are all so very different, yet the things that are important in our heart are always the same.  Love is such a blessing.  Before we knew it the reception was starting — we had a blast!  I would expect nothing less at the wedding of my girl!

It was so fun to enjoy the wedding reception – meet new awesome people – and get to snap some shots for fun!  I think its so fun to capture moments for friends that you know will mean something – especially when they think nobody is watching!  So here were a few from the reception..  (- KMM – more to come later…)

first dance..

CAKE!

that my girl! all married and stuff!!

Tiff and Jeff - (Jeff, your family is awesome!!) Tiff you look amazing!! xoox

My other amazing girl Lex and her soon to be husband too! ooouuuhhh leeexxx - hot!!!! xoxoox

oh my amy girl - we met the 1st day of freshman year - amy lived across the hall from me- from that day on she was my girl! love you am!! xoxo

<3  – Kristen and Brenden –   I am so happy for you.  I know you had some rain on your wedding day but as believed if it rain on your wedding day its supposed to be good luck because a wet knot is harder to untie!  So here is to your blessed marriage.  And here is to our blessed friendship.

P.S.  TABLE 13 – TABLE 13!!!!

Love you both!! xooxox

Over the last few weeks Jackson has been asking these questions and making little remarks that make him seem so old.  The other day I asked him if he wanted a snack and he replied ‘Actually Mom, I can easily get it myself.’  First of all, where did he learn ‘actually,’ and second of all how does he know how to use ‘easily’ correctly!?  I’ll have you know, he walked into the pantry and did in fact get his snack himself.

Last month I came across a movie we made on my computer of Jackson when he was just under 2 years old. (I’ll have to post some of it if i ever figure out how to post video!)  I remember thinking ‘Oh my goodness, he is almost two – he’s so big!’   After I watched it (and maaaybe cried a little!) I realized just how small he really was – and just how big he has become..

Jackson,

As you start your second year of preschool, may your heart be open and may you be kind to your new classmates.  Even though you don’t have the same friends this year, I know you’ll make new ones and we’ll still play with your old ones. May you help your friends, teachers and always do good listening.  Remember to use your manners but still make time to be silly.  Always help clean up the messes you make while having fun.  Share your toys and special things with your class, and most of all – just be yourself… thats the best part.

I can’t wait to see how much you grow this year.  I love you. I’m so proud of you. Thanks for keeping my heart smiling so big.

Love, Mom

remember his little face – so excited for school from last year?! Talk about looking little! He looks so young in those two shots!

Here’s to another year (and some time for mommy to get a few things done – yahoo!!)

xoox

With a great sense of hope – I welcome our new President…