Holiday Season summed up

So we kicked off this holiday season as we do every year...celebrating our anniversary.  It's been 4 years.  This year, we were lucky enough to re-visit our most favorite place...a little B&B in Asheville, NC. 

Not only that, but we went to the Grove Park and looked at all the gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.  We saw a lot of local art and ate at two of our favorite restaurants in the area.  One...yes...was BBQ!  DELISH!!!

We visited "our" tree!  JJ carved our names 5 years ago.  I took a little bit for us to find it but we did find it. 

 

 And he updated my inititials.

We toured the Biltmore just as we did on our last visit...it never gets old to me...I love it!  I love our B&B, I love the innkeepers, I love the food and most of all I love my husband!

Then on to Christmas...whew, what a whirlwind.  We were thankful to see all of our friends and family.  I can remember last year thinking...I can't wait until next year when I won't be in a scarf and things will be normal...THANK YOU GOD for another year...a healthy year!

Besides my health and an amazing husband, family and friends...what else could I ever need?  Something I have wanted and dreamed of since I was a little girl...A WHITE CHRISTMAS.  So what did we do with our wintery white day?  Sat our behinds inside where it's warm and we watched the original 'A Christmas Carol.'  I did take a moment to go outside with our little one...Skeeter.

For my pure entertainment only, the following pictures were taken.  If there is a news report of a cat slaying his owner, you won't be surprised if it turns out to be me.

  

I hope you all had a safe and happy Christmas. 

Besties for life

We all have one (hopefully).  I am blessed, I have more than one but no more than a handful.  Maybe because I am a gemini...I have one for each personality.  Each are different but my love is the same!  I am talking about my very best friends!!  Those who accept me for all my quirky ways and love me just the same.  The memories we've collected through the years are priceless.  Having the opportunity to photograph my friends with their families is pretty amazing.  Being behind the lens, you see a lot of emotion.  Sometimes I just smile watching my friends...some who used to dance on bars with me...now parenting their kiddo(s).  :)

At any rate...here are a few pictures of Jennifer and Julie, two of my very best friends.   These girls couldn't be more different, but I love them both the same.  A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending a few hours photographing them with their pride and joy:)  xoxoxooxox to both of you!!  LOVE!!

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First up...Jennifer. 
I met Jennifer in 7th grade.  I was "the new kid" at school and we hit it off right away.  She lived on the lake so I spent a lot of summers at her house.  She comes from an amazing family, loves to laugh and is super sweet.  She has some kinky hair for a white girl...and I love it when she straightens it.  To say she is a good mom would be an understatement.  She has 3 kiddos...Luke, Jake and Macy.  Those kids are her world and they know it...in a good way.   One day, I hope I can be half the mom she is.   She is also the mom/friend that thought feeding her kids full of sugar before a photo shoot was a good idea:)  Love you Jen Jen!

 LOTS of sugar!!

          A little bit of sass + a whole lot of sweet = this family

 

Next up...Julie.
Julie and I met in college.  She is that girl with tons of friends and somehow manages to keep up with all of them.  She is the life of the party!  No doubt those who know her, have great stories!!  Once she considers you a friend, you are a friend for life.  She will stand up for you if she feels like someone is talking about you...or your husband (even if they aren't).  She is a great mom as well.  She keeps it real about motherhood.  And I love her for it!  There just aren't enough words to describe this gem.  I am so very lucky to call Julie a friend.
 

 Her daughter Raney was the first kiddo I ever photographed.  She is a cutie.  But ask her to do something she doesn't want to do...and it ain't happening.  Sometimes, a lollipop bribe will do the trick:)

 Lose the lollipop, lose the kid.

 And she's done!

Fighting Cancer Inc.

Let me introduce you to Sharon Grammer, one of the most amazing women I know.  I was told when I was diagnosed with cancer I would meet people that would become life long friends.  I don't know if I believed that at the time.  But I do now!

I met Sharon my first day of Chemo.  What a scary day for me!  Quite frankly, it was the scariest day of my life.  Now, I think it is important to show God's magic in all of this.  I don't remember if it was days or weeks before, but one of my husband's co-workers mentioned Sharon and her 'sunshine boxes'.  He said his girlfriend knew her and would pass my name along if we wanted.  We didn't quite understand it all, but agreed.  We thought, if anything, someone else would be praying for us. 

WOW, we had no idea!

The morning of my 1st chemo, we got off the elevator and there was Sharon and Ileana, the girlfriend of my husband's co-worker.  They were standing in the waiting room with a bright red bag and smiles that warmed my heart.  I started to cry because it was just a moment of good.  A moment of kindness.  A moment of God.  She gave me a crocheted throw someone had made while praying for me and JJ.  I was overwhelmed with love.  I mean, to think...someone I did not know and would probably never meet thought enough of me, to not only pray for me, but make something to comfort me and keep me warm with love and prayers throughout my scary day...and days to come.  Sharon then presented me with my 'sunshine box'.  She gave me the rules...open one a day to bring a ray of sunshine to each day.  I did exactly that and it was a moment I looked forward to each day! 

Sharon and I have stayed in touch and we are hoping the Lord will lead us in starting an evening support group for women facing or who have faced a gynecological cancer.  I know God brought us together for a greater plan and I am excited to see it unfold.

Take a look at her web-site and see everything she has going on.  She is always looking for volunteers to wrap for the sunshine boxes and even volunteers to help with delivery.  They appreciate donations towards the sunshine box or donations for their annual yard sale that funds most of what they do.  www.fightingcancerinc.org

Her latest accomplishment...calendar girl!  Pick up a calendar at the Presbyterian Cancer Center or Buddy Kemp Caring House.  And look for this face...

10.10.10 OD Resort

If you know me, you know there was a BIG wedding this year on 10.10.10 at The Ocean Drive Resort in Myrtle Beach.  The couple, none other than my mom and her long time friend David.   My mom and David met while taking shag lessons.  If you don't know what shaggin' is, get your mind out of the gutter...it is a dance.  Maybe it is a East Coast thing and maybe even just the Southern part.  Come to think of it, it may very well be a Carolina thing...maybe even Virginia.  At any rate, there was a movie named after it...SHAG and I think it is one of my all time favorite movies.  A total chick flick.
So about a year or two after my stepdad passed away, my mom started taking shag lessons to brush up on her steps and meet new people.  She met David.  He eventually came around the family and we thought oh boy, this guy is super quiet...he probably thinks we are all crazy!  But he kept coming around and eventually we all became comfortable with one another.  We like David.  He fits in well.  Bless his heart, he accepts us...that has to say something, right? 
So this year, they were married on...you guessed it 10.10.10 at..yep, OD Resort.

Little pink shoes...

I met Lindsay through Danielle.  Danielle, the supportive gal she is, came to a Stella & Dot party I was having and brought along several friends.  <ENTER> Lindsay.  We share a love for Stella & Dot.  Lindsay is one of those women that has it all...looks fabulous, great career, amazing family.  And I was thrilled when she asked me to photograph her family. 

The Strongest Woman I Know...

I remember when I was a (prissy) little girl, a woman cutting the grass, diggin' ditches, killin' snakes, workin' the farm... all seemed unheard of.  But for this woman, it was just another day.  Over the years, she has become my friend and one of the most Godly women I know.  We chat often and learn from one another.  She is my friend!  And I love her dearly!  I was visiting with her the other day and she saw a spider in the corner and killed it with her bare hands.  WHAT?!  I would have grabbed five paper towels and made sure there was no chance of it reaching through to grab me. 

On the flip side, she told me she had never had a man bring her flowers, open doors or treat her special.  That seems crazy to me.  I guess because of how lucky I got with JJ.  This came to light when JJ bought her a corsage for Mother's day a few years back.  You would've thought he gave her a million dollars...we have tried not to miss an opportunity to send her flowers since. 

Annie has been a 2nd mom to me for over 25 years.  We have become close as the years have passed.  It is even crazier that our bond is growing through something like ovarian cancer.  I offered to take pictures of her and my sister, niece and nephew.  This day was full of laughter, music lessons, teal toes, and cooking.

Let me introduce you to the strongest woman I know...Annie! And Beverly, Zachary and Abbygail.

 Something about the 1st grandchild that is extra special!

Abbygail wearing Nana's wig and jewelry:)