Tag Archives: love

loud mouth

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I have a short story to share with you, my dear readers.

Connor had soccer practice this evening.

His coach asked the kids to line up after getting a drink.

Connor burped (loudly).

Because of his noisy outburst, Coach Maule let the team know they could run around the end goal and back.

When they got back, he was giving him a hard time and so Connor responded with what I’m sure was something he heard on TV … or on the radio … or from Siri. He said, “Well, my mom has gas.”

I started dying inside so all I could do was laugh.

I laughed uncomfortably for what felt like ten minutes while his coach also shared that moms don’t fart … they burp out of their butts.

More uncomfortable laughter.

Tonight at the football game, I learned the story had gone viral and now everyone thinks I have gas.

Well, Connor James, at least (if I really did have gas) I keep it to myself.

The end.

P.S. I’m only sharing this story because 1.) I believe in transparency with my readers and you already promised you wouldn’t judge me. Ever. And 2.) I never, ever want to forget how funny my kid is.

mandy + travis: engaged

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I grew up with Mandy. She and I went to the same church, elementary, high school, youth group, etc. She moved to Wisconsin where she met Travis (a Miami Dolphins fan … I know, weird). Anyway, I’ve seen her happy on numerous occasions. Now, if memory serves me (this always gets dangerous), Mandy’s middle name is Joy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her live up to her middle name as much as she did when we met for her engagement session just over a week ago. Wow, these two are in love. I smiled during the entire session. I’m really excited to be partnering with Nikki again to shoot their October wedding. There is no doubt the day will full of joy, as God’s been planning it for quite some time.

If you have just a little fun today, it’s a sign that maybe the future will hold even more fun for you. Fun isn’t just fun – it’s hope. – Linda Richman

There are a few more shots of this adorable couple in the slideshow below.

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he’s growing up

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It’s bible school week at church. There will be a follow-up to share all of the hilarity that goes along with sugared-up preschoolers but I decided to take the first three days of this week off because 1.) I needed some time with CJ and 2.) I inevitably wind up with a migraine by the end of bible school week because it’s just.so.much.

We swam for a bit Sunday and Lindsey’s elbow accidentally met Connor’s front tooth (the last man standing, if you will) and knocked it loose … well, a bit more loose than it was already and then it hit me. I realized just how much he’s growing up. His face is changing; his vocabulary is expanding; he catches more of my sarcasm; and, teeth are nearly flying out of his mouth at this point.

After a busy couple of days with cousins and friends and bible school, I decided today I was going to soak up as much of the day as I could with him. He snuck into my bed sometime around six and then slept soundly until 8:30. We ate breakfast on the deck, got dressed and headed to the driving range. He nailed a couple of great drives and when he got frustrated that every ball didn’t go that far (or even fifteen feet, for that matter), he started talking about grass growing in the sand. Change the focus much?

We came back, showered up and headed to Kalamazoo for some fun at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Can I just say how awesome it is to have a free museum nearby? We paid for a planetarium show but that was all (aside from parking) and walked out of there with treasure crafts (a crown, a couple wooden bracelets and two wooden tops that he was able to decorate) and non-stop chatter about all the cool exhibits inside.

For the first time in a long time, too, I asked him for a few pictures and he obliged. He never does that. I just wanted to capture his face … just as it is right now. He likes smiling with his ridiculous tooth hanging out but he also gave me a couple sweet grins and all I knew was that my little guy is no longer so little. He’s a boy … my almost first grade boy.

toothy grin

My silly boy.

mooth with a looth tooth

My growing-up boy.

high school senior in training

 

amazingly beautiful

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My sister and I were honored to shoot a wedding today in one of the most beautiful venues I’ve ever step foot in. Today wasn’t the first time I’ve been in Hope College’s Dimnent Chapel, but I’ve never been lucky enough to have my camera in hand.

I have to say that today, though, someone overshadowed the church. Continue reading →

moments

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Did you know that if you live what’s considered an “average” lifetime, you will breathe for roughly 36,816,480 minutes? I didn’t either until just now. Thanks, Google.

How many of those minutes will you remember, though? How many of those minutes will become moments? To me, moments differ from minutes. Moments are important; they are significant; they will not be forgotten.

I’ve had several moments in my (shorter in comparison) life thus far. I was fortunate enough to have another one this past weekend. I celebrated with my cousin, Tiffany, as she married her best friend, Andrew. The moment came just before Tiffany walked down the aisle. She stood arm in arm with her brother, Nick, who would walk with her and ultimately, bear the responsibility of giving her away.

My inability to capture what happened next was a result of another moment in the past … watching them become inseparable while their dad was fighting cancer. Nick proudly escorted Tiffany and the tears flowed freely from my eyes; camera shaking along with my emotion.

I guess “capturing” in this moment was two-fold. I was attempting to capture Tiffany and Andrew’s wedding with my camera (and so was my amazing sister), but I was able to capture the emotion that everyone in the chapel felt … for them, and with them.

At the end, I hugged Nick tightly as he walked back and told him I was proud of him. I heard my mom say, “You were born to do this.” Her words could not have been more true. Uncle Steve would be so proud.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. – Hilary Cooper