Tis Still the Season

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and are looking as forward to the New Year as we are! 2010 is going to bring a new town, a new house, and hopefully be a very healing, happy, healthy year. We're feeling very excited to finally start getting settled into our new life. It's crazy to think how much change one year can bring, and I find myself in a constant state of missing - someone, something, some place that I loved. And, it seems that the best way to stop dwelling on what we no longer have is to dwell on what do have and be grateful. No matter what challenges and changes this year has thrown at us, we have still always been blessed. We've always had basic necessities, comforts, excess of what we need. Even writing this, I know that I can't truly understand what it means to not have a roof over my head, a change of clothes, or food.

Driving through Franklin a couple weeks ago, we saw a house decorated with Christmas lights that spelled out "Jesus is the reason for every season." If you've heard my recent grumbling about rife consumerism, retail rescue, and the long lost meaning of Christmas, you know I got a kick out of this! I know we've just come through a big season of giving, but I encourage you to keep at it. Clean out your closet and donate the clothes and coats you never wear, give those Christmas gifts you don't like to someone who would really appreciate them, give your time. There are many hardworking people living right here who could use a helping hand. And luckily there are people and organizations to help!

Book a session before by January 31, 2010 and in exchange for your session fee, we will accept a donation for Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring me a BIG box (we're not talking a shoe box) of food to donate or even better, write a check to Second Harvest for the full amount of your waived session fee and provide 600 meals for people who would otherwise go hungry. If you don't want to book a session, donate anyway!

• 1 in 6 Tennesseans are at Risk of Hunger
• 50% of our clients are children; 10% are seniors
• We are seeing more and more first time users and demand is up 38% in Davidson Co
• Demand is up 75-125% in outlying counties (we serve 46 counties)
• A little goes a long way – just $1 provides 4 meals for hungry men, women and children.

What they need:

Peanut butter, beans, baby food, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, cereal, and rice.
Please be sure not to bring any dented cans or expired food.

And, if you'd like a daily dose of other things you can do to help, subscribe to Cool People Care.

Coming Soon

Her first baby girl will be arriving any day now, and I cannot wait to meet her. I'm positive that she will be nothing short of beautiful, and if she's anything like her mom, made for the camera. This is just a tiny sneak from the shoot...

Candice

It's usually just the babies crying during my photo shoots, but this was the first time I cried. In fact, I spent so much time fighting back tears, I had to check the files when I finished to make sure they were in focus. I met Candice at a friend's wedding this summer, and she contacted me for pictures for her website shortly after we moved to Tennessee. I had heard her story before, but to hear her tell it, to see her love for God shining through despite her heart ache, was a completely different experience. Candice's husband, David, died in a plane crash while transporting and organ just 10 months after they found out that their 3rd baby has Down's Syndrome. The night David died, Candice said, "God is still good," and through her faith she is turning tragedy into something beautiful. To learn more about Candice and what she's doing now, visit her website.



Later, we headed to The Factory in Franklin to take some head shots. Wedding 101 is an adorable wedding boutique located upstairs that just happens to have the most awesome natural light streaming in. They were so gracious, and let us take several of her shots there. If you need help planning your wedding, this is definitely the place to go!