To the Love of My Life

Happy 8th anniversary to the love of my life!  I can't believe it's gone so fast!  You and I have shared some of the most beautiful and the most devastating moments together and through them all you have been a safe place for me to fall, a shoulder to cry on, and a best friend to laugh with.  I do not deserve you but I thank God everyday for you.

I know this anniversary is bitter sweet.  Even as we grieve together, you have been a source of strength and comfort.  In those moments when I see you beside me, I think of your song, "It's been harder than we dreamed but I believe that's what the promise is for, so let's go dancing in the mine field."  And then I remember... you and I have always been able to dance in dark, haven't we?

I love you!

#1 Dad!

Happy FIRST Father's Day, Daddy!
Father's Day was lots of fun last year when I was pregnant - even better now that she's finally here!  Check out the card Katelyn and I made for Derrick.  She really did help - picked out the paper and "signed" her name!  More pictures under "Read More." 

Something I Never Thought I'd Blog About...

I have had several conversations recently with friends who are pregnant or thinking about starting a family:  To Breastfeed or Not to Breastfeed, that is their question.  And it's a question I faced, too.  I have been on every conceivable side of that fence in the last 15+ years.  As a teenager, I thought, "NEVER!  THAT'S SO WEIRD!"  And yes, it is a little weird.  As a young adult, I thought, "I guess it's OK for some people, but I don't want to do it."  And when I saw a woman in England breastfeeding her son in church I was secretly mortified that she would do something like that in public.  (Granted, there was no cover involved... she just hung herself out there for the world to see... in church... during the sermon.  Greg Pampell, you remember that???  You were preaching!)  And as a married woman, I thought, "I guess I can see the benefits of it, but it's SO weird... I don't think I could ever do that."  Then I got pregnant.

(Mostly Disney) Movie Wish List

I have always loved Disney movies and now, as Katelyn is getting older and more interested in TV, I am thinking about all the movies I'd like to add to our little collection... movies that were magical for me as a child.  And I hope they will be the same for my little girl!

Life's a Dance

4 photos here and more on facebook!

My Daughter

My life (and photography) has recently been taken over by a beautiful little girl. Introducing our first child, Katelyn.
*I did not take all of these photos

Thanksgiving with the Normans

Happy 2nd Birthday, Ali!

We got to go home to celebrate the 2nd birthday of Derrick's niece, Ali. She is quite the miracle, born 8 weeks premature in an emergency C-Section. Now she is absolutely beautiful - as you can see!

Weekend with Derrick's family

Weekend with my family