Faith is the strength by which a shattered world emerges into the light ~ Helen Keller
I’ve touched on my faith now and again on this blog. I’ve mostly journaled about it over on my personal blog, though. Now in a busy season, I’m finding it more difficult to blog about anything personal over on that blog, what with trying to keep y’all up to date over here! I’ve recently reconciled that my faith is as much a part of me as this photography thing gift I’ve been given. So, I’ve concluded that this blog is personal. My art, my new friendships, the people that I come into contact with…all personal. With that said, lovely blog readers, I’ll be posting more personal things over here alongside the business stuff. This may include posts about my faith, my journey, parenting, family life. It’s somewhat scary putting it all out there, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t be anywhere without my God. So, friends, please note that at times, my blog may be a bit raw, a bit emotional, and that I may talk about God.
The fact is that my life is real, raw, emotional and amazing. This is a place for me to be me. Part of you choosing me as your photographer is to know me. To know that I am just like many of you, to know that I go through the same things you do as a family and as a mother or parent. The best advice I’ve learned over the last few years of being in the business of photography, is that you’re going to choose me for me. Yes for my art and product, but more for what I do and how I do it and my faith and my family are so much a part of what shapes me and my artistic vision.
So this one is about all of that. Last year, my sweet sister and her husband were expecting a baby girl. They’d been trying for a while to conceive and when they finally did, we were all so happy for them. She had a few complications but was put on bedrest. We were prayerful and hopeful. It was so very difficult for me to be away from her during this time. I wanted to comfort her and let her know that everything was going to be alright. And then, a few days later, I got the call. Nothing was alright. My sister went into labor and it was unable to be stopped. She gave birth to a sweet little angel (Amelia) at 19 weeks gestation. I was devastated for them. But what amazed me was that my sister, while deeply saddened and hurt and I’m sure feeling feelings I can’t imagine, with all of that, she was going to be okay.
God only gives us what we can handle.
This is a story of sunbeams out of the clouds; beauty out of ashes. The images below are of my sister’s new son, William. He’s healthy, he’s beautiful, he’s 7 weeks old. Sometimes, our faith is tested in ways we can never imagine. Sometimes, God gives us battles that we think we’ll never get through. But He knows that we will. He knows His plan for us. Had the angel Amelia never made her way to Heaven, we wouldn’t be holding and snuggling and loving this precious baby boy in our arms today.
PS, Thank you for choosing me and thank you for our conversation! Thank you for your mama being there and her lovely company. Thank you for letting me capture just a part of your sweet story.
