It’s been almost four years since I first met Julie. In that time, I’ve come to truly appreciate her not only as a partner-in-crime at work, but also as an incredibly lovely young lady. I feel like Julie is seventy years younger than I am, so it makes sense that her approach to, well, everything is just so youthful and sweet. She is one of those truly special individuals that just make you want to be better. Suffice it to say, I really like Julie. Continue reading
I have this little buddy. Her name is Maya and she recently celebrated her third birthday. I’ve been following her (quite literally) since she was born as her mom is really good about capturing her at each milestone age. That’s a lesson for this mom who is not so good about doing that. Continue reading
You know how you read or hear something and think it’s pretty awesome and then, later, read or hear something that basically reiterates that other thing and you’re like, ‘whoa, I need to tell people that.’? I find it funny (not like ‘haha’, but like ‘hmm’) that I need that validation step to feel this way, but I do. Continue reading
infinite love.
When I was about fourteen, our church extended a call to a new pastor and his family. Pastor Jack, his wife, Mary, and their four children quickly acclimated not only to our church but also to our community. To know is to love the Klunder family. Continue reading
I just logged into Facebook and happened to see a photo of one of my favorite couple’s first Christmas tree. It beautifully celebrates their new home and their new marriage; just under three months in.
I was beyond ridiculously honored when Carly asked me to be a part of her day; the day in which she would become the wife of Mr. Ryan Davis. I don’t know Ryan as well as I know Carly but to know her is to love them.
I met Carly in an interview, strangely, at Biggs a few years back. As soon as she was hired, we started working together and I count my lucky stars I had the opportunity to get to know her then because now she’s all Mrs.-Popular-Pants and if I happen to see her I wave quickly and run away so as not to be run over by her fan club. I’m kidding. Sort of.
Anyway, Carly started dating Ryan not long after we met and I remember her playing it down. Big time. ‘We’re just friends,’ she would say for the first year (and a half?). But I could tell he made her happy. And I figured that eventually she would come to realize that he thought she was pretty much the next best thing to well, his dog Noah.
Fast forward to the fall of 2012 and one morning Carly came back to work after a lovely weekend in Mackinac and I heard squealing. And, oh.my.word when you hear squealing at work someone is either a.) engaged, b.) with child or c.) literally with child, like in the office. When I saw Carly, I knew she must have gotten engaged and as she told the story, I found myself in tears in her office. No really, I was crying, and it wasn’t the pretty kind.
If it isn’t obvious, I could talk about Carly all day. I love her. Well, not as much as Ryan does, but it’s a lot.
Ryan and Carly chose the beautiful Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey for their September wedding. I’ve never been to Petoskey and after a couple of days there, I know I’m going back. The hotel was the perfect venue with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan below. The weather was absolutely perfect and the bride and groom didn’t disappoint either. Their bridal party was ridiculously fun and flexible and Nikki and I had an amazing time following them around. And, I may even have danced a little after I was off the clock.
I feel so blessed to have been a part of Ryan and Carly’s perfect Petoskey day. Here’s to many more firsts, Mr. and Mrs. Davis.
I was honored to be asked to take some photos of sweet little Emry now that she’s reached another one of her many-to-come milestones. I love, love, love working with this family because not only are they fun to photograph; they are fun to be around. Honestly, sometimes I have to watch myself because we just get chatty and then whoopsie, I’ve forgotten what I’m supposed to be focused on. Literally. Continue reading
My friend Melissa is eagerly anticipating the arrival of her sweet little boy in just a few short weeks … October 3, to be exact. By the way, I can’t imagine how I would have felt knowing the exact day Connor would enter my world. This is where Melissa-the-likes-to-plan-ahead friend is very different than Staci-the-fly-by-the-seat gal. But I digress. Continue reading
So, just over eight years ago I learned I was pregnant with Connor. The year prior wasn’t easy. Becoming pregnant was a task in and of itself, but I was thankful when I found a group of women online on a similar journey. These women would become my “mommy friends.”
Sadly, that really is what I always call them. It’s just the easiest way to describe this deeply-connected, honest, loving, steadfast group of moms. We’ve moved around the InterWebs over the course of the past eight years. Our lives have all changed pretty significantly too, which I guess is to be expected for a group of 65ish people Many of us had more children; some of us got divorced; some of us got re-married; some of us went back to school and pursued new careers … all fairly common over that period of time. But, there were some events that none of us could have foreseen and those were the times that we all rallied around each other and I once again learned the capacity of human beings to care for one another.
Today, though, the focus is not on the group but on an individual whom I’ve come to love dearly. Her name is Mollie. Mollie is a single mom to three beautiful children. She is one of the most humble, sweet women I’ve ever “met”. (No, I’ve never had the opportunity to meet Mollie in person. She’s sort of an imaginary friend, but not. You know?)
Anyway, two years ago Mollie was diagnosed (quite suddenly) with Type 1 diabetes and she’s been facing some pretty severe side effects already. Her endo has recommended she get an insulin pump but unfortunately, she’s been denied by her state-provided insurance. You can read more of the story here.
Mollie posted the other night in our private Facebook group, not with a plea for money, but just that she’s been feeling so awful. Almost immediately, the mommy powers activated to start securing funding for this pump (they can cost upwards of $6,000). I just looked and her wonderful supporters have already raised about 1/3 of that. How amazing is that?!
I have a few people that read here. Would you read a little about Mollie and consider giving? I don’t ask for donations, well, pretty much ever, but I wholeheartedly believe that when a number of people commit small acts, big change can occur.
Thanks in advance for any support you could offer – even if it’s just spreading the word!
For the last seventy or so weeks (ok, 13ish), I’ve been glued to the tv on Monday nights. It’s not always at the same time (DVR, for the win!), but I usually tune in on Monday to watch the trainwreck otherwise known as The Bachelorette.
Now, I know what you’re gonna say … ‘Seriously?! It’s not real! You can’t fall in love in six weeks. No one ever gets/stays married!’ And my response would be … Everyone is entitled to their opinion. In fact, I even took a vow with two of my good friends once to never.watch.again. I can’t say what season it was (because I don’t recall) but somehow, like a fish takes the bait, I was lured back in. I am now officially a part of “The Bachelor Nation.” Wow, that does read as corny as I thought it would. Continue reading
a brand new ending 