On Days Like Today...

On days like today,

most of the world will crawl out of bed and start their days as usual,

they will head into work,

and mindlessly get through the day waiting for the weekend.

On days like today,

children will play in their back yard or swim in a pool,

soaking up every moment of the summer sun.

On days like today,

people will continue on as normal and this day will be forgotten,

for others,

they will remember it forever.

Today was supposed to be a miraculous day for the Foltz Family.

They were supposed to be welcoming their twin boys, Corban and Jude, to the world.

Sam's ultrasound is the most heartbreakingly beautiful thing I have ever seen.

The twins made the shape of a perfect little heart.

Corban and Jude were joined together.

Although odds were slim to none,

many of us still hoped and prayed for a miracle.

Begging that on this day,

we would be celebrating their life.

The Foltz family was robbed of that opportunity.

Instead they will mourn over the sons they love, but will never know.

I am sick and tired of the broken record I have become,

telling Sam,

"Your boys are in the arms of Jesus"

or

"God is using your family to His glory so much right now"

or

"You guys have no idea how much you are strengthening others' faith...my faith"

While all of these things are true,

it doesn't change the fact that the Foltz family was shaken to their very core.

They are hurting a very raw and intense pain.

On days like today,

many of us can see God's glory...

but today, the Foltz Family needs to be surrounded with love.

I am going out of order with posts so I can let the Foltz Family see their pictures today.

It is one of the few things I can do to show my love for them on this day.

I am sure no one will object.

Although we may only see 3 in this picture,

this is a family of 5,

who thankfully can take comfort in the fact that they will be reunited again.

Praying for you all today and in the days to come.

Their beautiful daughter, Adalena.

Sam and Alex,

I am not even going to pretend to know what you are going through-

but I will tell you what I do know to be fact:

A hug and kiss from your little girl can be some of the best medicine!

Speaking of Adalena,

that little girl can move...QUICK!

Please send up your prayers for this family and for Sam's family, the Stines.

It seems like the Stine's just can't catch a break.

For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to know them,

they are one of the most amazing and sweetest families on the earth.

They are often an integral part to others' support systems and right now,

they need as many of as possible to be a part of theirs.

To top off what they already knew was going to be a horrible week,

Sam's father was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Please pray for Val and Tom Stine,

Samantha (Stine), Alex, and Adalena Foltz,

Brandy (Stine) and Elliot Voris (and their unborn baby),

Angie (Stine) and Ben Geiger (and their soon to be born son, Brennan)

and Stephanie Stine (who is holding out for Sam Bradford) : )

***Those of you whose sessions were bumped, you will all have 2 extra preview images posted for your patience. Here is the order of previews:

Mendez Trash the Dress

Baby Caden

Ashley and Dan: Engaged

The Sweetens

Baby Chloe

Hayden

Grayson

Josh and Ashley: Married

Lindsay and David: Engaged

LL Turns 3

Keeping Up With The Browns

I absolutely LOVE sessions with this family.

Maybe its because after a long week of session after session,

these kiddos jump in ready to go.

It feels like a switch turns on when I raise my camera to my face

and all of a sudden these 3 are models.

Lets face it, some sessions are actually work... not theirs.

I know who I am going to if I ever need models in StL!

Braydan has grown so much since I last saw her! She is so laid back and ready to do any pose without ever complaining!

Then theres Kinley. Between her hair and eyes, I can't decide which I am more jealous of.

Ashton also grew like a little weed this past year. He is so funny. He somehow manages to be all boy despite growing up with 2 big sisters.

I had to end on a sister pic.

These two are so cute together and I want to capture the moment before they are teenagers.

This Year's Family Photo

April has booked me the last 3 years to do photos of her and her siblings.

I look forward to the sessions because they always pick a fun, new theme every year.

The first year was Disney, the next year was a Hawaiian theme,

this year was Breast Cancer Awareness.

While the other two were lite and carefree, this one has serious significance.

This past year, shortly after their family photos last year,

they lost their mother to a very aggressive cancer.

It seemed like one day she was diagnosed, the next she was gone.

Their family is forever changed,

but these 3 will definitely keep the memory of their mother alive and well.

I had to include this picture.

The girls got matching tattoos in memory of their mom!

Baby Ava

Baby Ava sure is loved.

So much so that her Great Aunt (dual meanings to the Great) purchased this photo session.

Ava made an unexpected, early delivery and from that day forward her family pitched in to help this sweet little girl!

She is just perfect. From her teeny little fingers...

To her round little toes.

Such a happy girl!

Ashley + Dave

Dave once said to me, "So what? Do we need to schedule a

photo session with you in order to see you?"

As it turned out, the answer unfortunately seemed to be "yes".

Never again will I schedule things the way I did on my last trip to St Louis.

I didn't sit down for more than an hour at a time.

I saw some of my friends, but only for 20 minutes to an hour or so.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed all of the photo sessions

-especially since most of my clients are friends, BUT

next time around the scheduling will be quite different!

I'm thinking a day or two of marathon sessions!

Unfortunately, I only saw Ashley and Dave during their photos,

which really stinks considering Ash and I have been friends for years.

So I am sooo glad they scheduled a photo session so I could actually see them!

Ash brought her dog, Jake, along.

This is the only child I think Ashley would ever enjoy having!

Ash may not be a kid person, but she is in love with her baby dog!

I have seen ash through a lot of boyfriends.

I liked some, and others- I wanted to wring their necks.

I can honestly say none of the guys treated her as well as Dave does.

And let me tell you, she can be a real P.I.T.A. (as can I, hence our friendship)

Dave proposed to Ashley almost two years ago when we were all in Jamaica for my wedding. I could not be more excited to share such monumental memories with my friends.

Ash, you are gorgeous. Don't let anyone ever tell you anything different. This pic wasn't even posed. It was just hotter than you know what outside and Ash was trying to cool off.

Hope you both love them!!

MISS YOU ALREADY!