One Last Christmas

Every  mother has a vision that she will have a perfect healthy child.  Sometimes that just doesn't happen.
This year has been a huge roller coaster ride with my youngest daughters health.  She has had various unrelated health problems this year including having to undergo surgery.  She has pulled through every obstacle that has been thrown her way since birth.  She is one of the strongest kids I know.  Going to regular doctors visit with Chrisiana  aren't  normal for me anymore because I dread going.  I'm so scared her doctor will come back diagnosing her with something new. They are just as difficult for her as they are me. When its time for her to go see the doctor she will hide and become very serious. She wont go if she doesn't have her comfort toy or blanket.  Seeing my daughter have high anxiety in going to her routine visits is just heartbreaking as a mother. My older daughter saw a St. Jude commercial one day and told me. "Mommy that's where Chrisi needs to go so they can make her better and her hair can grow." Of course I just lost it and sobbed.  I didn't know she was being affected by everything.  Kids understand much more than we think. 

I'm so thankful that God has allowed her to be in our lives for 4 wonderful years.  When I first heard the song in the video, I cried.  I was in my car & I just cried & cried.  It's such a touching song.  It doesn't matter what my daughter has gone through or will go through, SHE IS STILL HERE WITH US.  Ive learned that everyday I have my girls with me is a blessing because at any moment God can decide to take them home with him.  This Christmas give thanks to the healthy children in your life and pray for the ones that aren't.

Help - Portrait 2010

On Saturday Dec 4th, 2010, photographers world wide came together to volunteer their time & expertise to give back to their community and help underpriviledged families, by taking & giving them free portraits.  I volunteered at two locations this year.  Each location had its own organizer, which I must say did an outstanding job, & each location had dedicated photographers & make-up artists to glam up all the ladies.  Both locations were filled with donated food for the families as well as stuffed toys that my friends & neighbors donated to the children.  I collected over 108 stuffed toys and every child received one.  A huge thank you to everyone who donated their gently used stuffed toys; you helped make a difference this year in a child's eye. The holiday season is not about receiving, but about giving.




Your donated toys.

 

The kids rushing in for the gold after their picture was taken.

 


Make Up Galore!

 




The set up from our morning location. The organizer went beyond.



Boys Will Be Boys

Like my post title says, boys will be boys. I had an adventurous time with these two cute little boys, as you will see in these pictures. This family has been a huge support for my family. I can always count on them for anything. Sadly, like all military familes, we get moved around. They soon will leave & I will miss them greatly. Thank you for allowing me to photograph your family.

Gotta love little boys with such big personalities.

Thanksgiving 2010

I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week. My family spent Thanksgiving with another USMC family and we had lots of delicious food. In being a ''military family'' your friends that you meet become your family, since your immediate & extended family are always almost in another state. During Thanksgiving week, I had the opportunity to help photograph the Armed Services YMCA San Diego as they helped other military families through Maria Shrivers Million Meals Giveaway and Jackson and Blanc Turkey Giveaway. Lots of wonderful people showed up to help including Chopper the biker dog. Chopper is well known all over San Diego and loves to help others. He is so cute and always has his motorcycle with him. The ASYMCA served 1160 military families with Thanksgiving Food Assistance. They are awesome & a wonderful organization that genuinely cares for others. I love volunteering for them!

Two of the San Diego Chargers came out to help pass out turkeys & take pictures with the families.

Our Family Portraits

This past weekend my family & I had a wonderful opportunity to be photographed by my friend, photographer Lauren Nygard. Lauren is a wedding & portrait photographer, using only natural light. She is based in Oceanside, CA, which is not too far from San Diego, CA. She is a sweetheart. My girls took right to her & they continue to talk about how nice she was to them. She is very kid friendly.


It had been years since our last professional family portrait. Hard to believe huh? Well, it's kind of hard to take pictures of myself with my family. = )

I'm really glad we finally took family pictures that turned out beautifully. I couldn't have picked a better photographer. "Thank You Lauren." They will be hanging up in my living room proudly on display.
Here are just a few of my favorite images. Click on the pictures & you will be redirected to her
website. I highly recommend her.