Happy Birthday, Matthew

Wow, is it possible that it's been 18 years ago, RIGHT NOW, since Matthew came bouncing into our lives. He gave his sisters someone to baby, his daddy someone to talk sports with, his grandparents "a boy", and his mama another beautiful healthy baby. I thank God every day for giving us Matthew and for keeping him safe. I feel so blessed today to come to the realization that I have three "adults" now. We made it! Wanna know a secret? They're all here, too. Right now they are all still sound asleep because all three of them stayed up way into the night talking and laughing! (Yes, I have a few tears right now.) They are so close and it makes my heart happy :)

Happy Birthday, Tiffany!

Hope you have a wonderful day! I know this is your wedding picture but it's one of my favorites of you! Happy Memories, Happy Day then and now! Hugs!

Adam Garren's Wedding to Lauren Riportella

About two months ago, Rich Van Wingerden stopped me at one of Matthew's basketball games and asked me it Marianne needed my help shooting a wedding on January 9th, would I be available. I told him I would check my calendar but I was pretty sure I would be able to help. About two weeks later, Marianne send me a text message with her number and asked me to give her a call. I'll admit over the holidays I was so busy that every time I thought to call her I was no where near her phone number. Finally on Friday morning (one day before wedding) we were able to talk. Following our conversation she said she would email the details about the times and what she might need from me, etc. Later that day, I still hadn't received any info other than that the wedding was at the Biltmore House (a photography opportunity dream of mine) and that it started at a 11 am. Sounds good. Like it probably won't take up the whole day, right? About 9:30 pm, she sent a text and asked if we could just talk. I said, "Sure" and she called. We went over a lot of details and 30 minutes later started to say, "Goodbye." when I said, "Oh,yea,what are the names of the bride and groom in case I have to tell them at the gate?" She said the bride's name was Lauren Riportella and the groom was Adam Garren. I said, "Adam Garren? Mother is Teresa and Father is Steve?" She said, "Yes, you know them?" "All his life," I said! It made me so happy to know that I was going to be taking care of photographing the groom, Adam, and his best man, Steve. I took it upon myself to make sure I got lots and lots of photos of the groom's side of the family! When Teresa showed up looking so pretty and then Sara and Doug and Terri, my heart was so full! Then Steve and his wife, Tina, who was in my Vision Class and one of my favorite people arrived and I knew this was going to be a beautiful day. I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to be involved in a wedding on the beautiful Biltmore Estate but for it to have been a family that is so sweet made it even more blessed! I actually cried when I hugged Teresa and Sara; then again during the ceremony (though my few tears were nothing compared to the river that Todd, Adam's little brother, was crying); and then again when hugging Doug and Terri on there way back to Charlotte. There is something about being around Doug that always reminds me of Youth group with Philip and anytime I think about Philip, I cry. After spending 8 hours with Adam and Todd, I am here to tell you Steve and Teresa should be very proud. Both boys (men) were so polite and their smiles were so pleasing to my lens! The estate was beautiful, the bride was beautiful and the family was beautiful. It was one of my most favorite photo shoots ever. The video is 10 minutes long - but I think it's worth it!

Happy New Year

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