A trip down Memory Lane...

When i planned to do personal photographs on Tuesdays on the blog I just thought oh I will just pick an age and pick an image, but today my heart is headed in a different direction.  My whole point for wanting to share these images with my clients is that I want people to realize the importance of everyday images as well as portraits.  And there aren't many images this morning that are more important to me than this one.  This image was taken in the Spring of 2008 at my graduation from Western Carolina.  This was shortly before my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  He passed away in November of 2011, and the past year has been very difficult but we know that he was suffering so much in the past few months, and he is rejoicing and praising the Lord in Heaven and I would never EVER want him back here on earth.  Things have been getting progressively easier, but the past week he has been in every dream every night. And my heart breaks because i do miss him. Its images like this that reminds me how precious the moments you have are. 

My grandfather was an amazing man of God.  His legacy and the work he did for the Lord (not for himself) extended far beyond what any of us knew at the time he passed away.  There have been so many people who have reached out since, and told us how much of an impact he had on their life.     

Alzheimer's is a horrible disease, and one day I hope and pray that there is a cure. I am working on a project that i hope will one day will bless families who are heading down the very difficult road that we traveled when my grandfather was diagnosed.

My grandfather always had a camera in his hand, He loved being able to share pictures with people of events that he had been to ,  sometimes i thought why in the world did you take a picture of that, but today I wouldn't give anything in the world for many of the pictures he took over the years.  The moments he captured that are priceless now.

A Trip Down Memory Lane... Age 1

My Cousin Lauren on the left--- me on the right

I came across this photo this week and it just made me smile... Life was so much more simple then.  I realized in looking at this image how blessed I am to have these memories, to have had a family who loves and cares about me, and to have had someone who was not only my cousin but a lifelong friend in my life. To have been able to grow up with someone who understood, who you could complain to when your parents seemed unreasonable, who planned an amazing senior trip, and introduced me to the most amazing man in my life.  I was so blessed to be able to stand beside her on the day of her wedding and watch her marry the man who had adored her since the moment he laid eyes on her was to me priceless and worth far more many other memories in my life.  I am so grateful to have someone in my life that loves me for who I am, and has been a friend through out so many ups and downs.

I'm grateful for family, friends, and wonderful pictures that help me remember it all :) 

Weekend Plans: Greenville, SC

Date Night!!! Its amazing what a date night can do for your relationship and i am so glad my husband continues to date me even after we are married :) I have been like a high school girl getting ready for her first date this week waiting on the night when she finally gets to go out with her crush :) I am so looking forward to our night out in Greenville even though i have absolutely no idea what he has up his sleeve :)

AND I get to meet a pretty amazing couple who's wedding I will be shooting in June for their Engagement session today at Falls Park.  So all around ... I would say ... Pretty amazing Day ahead in my book.

If you have never been to falls park it is a beautiful place for a picnic or to read and relax or take a stroll with a good friend or someone you love.  The beautiful suspended bridge over the rocky falls of the Reedy river are spectacular. 

    

 Its actually where my husband and I had several date nights 

       

and then where proposed to me 5 years ago last week, 

and where I had my bridal pictures taken  so i may be just a  little bit biased ;)

"Getting to Know you... Getting to know All about You"

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? 
I was .... I was named after 3 kids my mom taught in her 1st grade class when she was expecting me.  

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? 
The Last time I probably really cried was when my grandfather passed away last november.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? 
Yes.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I don't really like lunch meat. but i guess if had to choose i would say Turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 
Not yet, but I have 2 amazing neices

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? 
Absolutely!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? 
Yes, its probobly one of my worst traits

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? 
Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Possibly... Depending on who was there with me 

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? 
Frosted Flakes and Captian Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? 
No Way!!! I very rarely wear shoes with laces for this very point haha.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? 
not really

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? 
Blue Belle- Butter Crunch

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? 
Face/smile.

15. RED OR PINK? 
PINK!!!!!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? 
That I am very self critical 

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? 
My Grandpa

18. What color is your car? 
Tan

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
None... Bare feet is the way to go :) 

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A Hot dog and Sourc ream and Onion Chips

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? 
Only the World - Mandisa

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? 
Pink!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Apple Pie, Vanilla

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? 
My Grandma 

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Beach house!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? 
Football, Baseball, and Hockey

27. HAIR COLOR? 
Brownish Black

28. EYE COLOR? 
green

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? 
No  Thank Goodness I have a fear of anything touching my eyes... lol.. even eyedrops (yes I know this is weird haha)

30. FAVORITE FOOD? 
Grilled Cheese and french fries

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? 
I love Action Movies... so an in between. 

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? 
All about Steve

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? 
Purple !!! Go Cats!!

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? 
Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES? 
Hugs. No, kisses. No... I can't decide.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? 
Brownies

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
both.

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
Computer... 

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? 
One Tuesday Morning- Karen Kingsbury's book about September 11th

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? 
Polka dots

42. FAVORITE SOUND? 
Rain Falling

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? 
Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Maryland - DC area

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? 
I can sing :) 

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? 
Hendersonville NC 

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Hendersonville NC

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Yellow

49.  What is your greatest weakness?
Anything Vintage

50. Where do you hope to be in 10 years?
Rocking babies :)