Remember this darling shoot from a while back?
It was featured today over at Forget Me Knot Weddings, a beautiful blog full of all things. . . beautiful.
Thank you Forget Me Knot for the feature!
i’d love to hear from you. Contact me using the form below.
In 2010, our perfect *”Baby Gavin” returned to Heaven after losing a courageous battle with **Pertussis (whooping cough). We are eternally and profoundly grateful to the thousands upon thousands (upon thousands) of friends and strangers from all over the world, of all faiths and creeds, who united with our family in prayer during Baby Gavin’s horrific illness and who grieved with us and continued to petition God in our behalf during the dark days following his tragic death. You may read Gavin’s story as it unfolded by visiting my old blog here. I am committed to sharing my ongoing struggles with grief and our journey toward joy here on the new blog. I am always humbled and amazed by the continued outpouring of love and support. Thank you for sharing in our journey and inspiring us with your unceasing love! God is good!
*My brother Gavin passed away unexpectedly in 2007. With all these Angel Gavins, it can get a little confusing at times, so just know that when I refer to “Gavin” I’m referring to my wonderful brother. When I refer to “Baby Gavin,” it is in reference to my perfect son, both of whom I cannot wait to see in Heaven!
**You will periodically see me blog about The Sounds of Pertussis campaign. I am an unpaid spokesperson and am only compensated travel expenses where applicable for my involvement with this important cause. Join our fight against this deadly communicable disease at www.soundsofpertussis.com or like us on facebook at www.facebook.com/soundsofpertussis.
Remember this darling shoot from a while back?
It was featured today over at Forget Me Knot Weddings, a beautiful blog full of all things. . . beautiful.
Thank you Forget Me Knot for the feature!
Oh oh oh. I met Alexis and JP the day before their beautiful Annisquam, MA wedding. In about 17 seconds I knew that they are the kind of people you want to have in your lives for the rest of forever. . . their families too. Quality. People. All. And now, the longest post in recorded history. Enjoy.
These first two sets of files, make my heart sing. Annisquam is like going back in time. It’s the very best kind of magic there is.
First we headed in to Boston (about 45 min from the bride’s BEAUTIFUL home in Annisquam) for hair and make up. Boston = Brick. The end.
Then back to the bride’s house to finish getting ready for the ceremony.
I drooled over the couple’s letterpressed invites.
Alexis’ sister, Stephanie, after planning the wedding, making favors and 7 million etcs, made this beautiful quilt as a gift to the bride and groom!
She gave it to Alexis just before the ceremony. It was so incredibly touching to see Alexis’ reaction. . .
Then on to the ceremony outside the bride’s family home. The view is like nothing you’ve ever seen in your life. . . and from EVERY DIRECTION!
Hello beautiful tree swing built for two! LOVE.
Sister Stephanie’s lovely favors. . . aaaaaaand, she made the cake to boot. Truth. Best.sister.ever.
Congratulations Alexis and JP! It was an HONOR to be a part of your big day!!
A million loves!
xx!
N
Above, Harrison, Idaho. From or 2 month long road trip/camping extravaganza.
Image Credit: Raleigh (left) Yours Truly (right) . . both shot with the instax mini 7s
I am in a FUNK.
Of the deep and the dark variety.
So clearly, camping is the only remedy.
Though admittedly it’s heart-wrenching to be here. . . where a year ago to this very week I camped on this very same beach, 9 months pregnant and blissfully unaware of the chasm ahead.
. . . . . . . . .
Ah, the loop of time for the grieving heart.
The difference was that this time after visiting campingfunzone.com we decided to rent a class b rv as it seemed fun. And it was.
A custom tailored Hell. Desolate, despondent and horrifying.
An indescribably lonely place to be.
I’ll see you when I pull myself together, because we all know that I will.
In the mean time, I’m giving myself permission to be a mess.
Because quite frankly, after all I’ve been through with gavin 1 and then gavin 2 (before the first was even cold in his grave), if I weren’t, I’d wonder what was wrong with myself.
HERE’S SOME REASONS WHY CAMPING IS FUN
Cаmрfіrе fооdѕ. Classic саmріng mеаnѕ уоu’ll gеt to еnjоу things lіkе hоt dogs, сhірѕ, S’Mоrеѕ аnd еvеn реrhарѕ ѕоmе fun dutсh оvеn оr саѕt іrоn сооkеd mеаlѕ. This саn іnсludе bacon, biscuits аnd grаvу for brеаkfаѕt, оr a уummу реасh соbblеr fоr dеѕѕеrt. Cаmрfіrе fооdѕ аrе fun to make, but аlѕо dеlісіоuѕ tо еаt. Eѕресіаllу wіth that ѕmоkу flаvоr аddеd tо thіngѕ lіkе hоt dоgѕ, сhісkеn, burgers and more. But like Camping Console asserts, without a few yet important essentials, things can totally upend.
Fewer electronic dіѕtrасtіоnѕ. Cаmріng means you leave the tеlеvіѕіоn, vіdео gаmеѕ аnd еvеn уоur phone аt home. Thіѕ gіvеѕ уоu less contact with thе оutѕіdе wоrld, аnd many mоrе hоurѕ of рlауіng gаmеѕ, tаlkіng, hunting fоr trеаѕurеѕ on nаturе walks оr even ѕіngіng сlаѕѕіс саmрfіrе ѕоngѕ together. Rеmоvе the dіѕtrасtіоnѕ аnd focus on еасh оthеr аѕ needed.
Lеаrn lіfе skills. Tаkіng уоur kids camping gіvеѕ уоu a chance to teach them hоw tо рrореrlу mаkе a саmрfіrе, gаthеr wооd and sticks аѕ needed fоr said fire or еvеn сооk оvеr open coals. Yоu саn teach them about trapping small game, trасkіng аnіmаlѕ in thе wооdѕ, hоw tо tеll directions wіth and without a соmраѕѕ, аѕ well аѕ ѕіmрlе thіngѕ lіkе hоw to fіѕh.
Slееріng bags and tents. Nееd I say more? Cаmріng out іѕ аlwауѕ fun whеn you have a tent, a fеw ѕlееріng bags and ріllоwѕ. Whеthеr you саmр under the ѕtаrѕ or іn a tеnt the kids will hаvе tоnѕ оf fun setting uр camp, рісkіng their ѕроt to sleep.
Gеt uр close аnd реrѕоnаl wіth animals. From ѕееіng mоrе bіrdѕ, to bеіng іn areas with rаbbіtѕ, rассооnѕ, роѕѕumѕ, dееr оr еvеn ѕnаkеѕ уоu саn lеаrn a lоt more about wіldlіfе whеn you gо саmріng with уоur fаmіlу.
above first day of school shots taken on the instax mini 7s
Today I opened Baby Gavin’s closet and silently ran my hand along his clothes . . . hanging there, untouched for so many months, still adorned with tags and the smell of newness.
And my heart was so heavy. My arms so empty. My soul so full of sorrow.
Then I heard the howl of laughter from the living room and was reminded of YOU. All you continue to give me every day. All you represent. All your very lives do to remind me of the hope and wonder of living.
You remind me that He hasn’t forgotten us. That we are not forsaken. He holds us still. . . even in the midst of pain and indescribable sorrow. . . in the very palm of his hand.
Thank you.
Mommy loves you with all of her.
xx,
Me
Love this family up, down, side to side. SUCH a fun shoot! . . . have I mentioned how much I love this family? Be sure to check out Nicole’s oh-so-beautiful photography here. Enjoy! xx! Me