Portraits of a beautiful person.

In my job I am blessed to know some amazing people. I meet them in an intimate setting: as their nurse as they navigate their terminal illness to the end. It can create personal heartbreak, yes, knowing that the people you grow so fond of are not long for this world, but it all feels worth it. I meet amazing people that do amazing things. I meet people ready to see the end, people fighting their diagnoses, and people that simply live each day to its fullest, with a unique intention that a terminal illness can bring.

I have been blessed with the honor of knowing a woman named Christi. Christi is very much alive, and during my months as her nurse her optimism has been simply enchanting. She was dealt such a crappy card in this life, but she smiles like no one I've ever seen. She is kind, she is appreciative, and really, I have grown quite fond of her. I have returned to my favorite local hospice agency, so she is no longer my patient; she is now my friend. As her friend she has given me permission to photograph her, not only the beautiful, shining self that she is, but the harder, more sick parts that are very much a part of her reality. She does not hide her cancer, it is a part of her now, just as her pain pump that is constantly infusing medicine into her is a part of her. Just as her colostomy and nephrostomy tubes are a part of her, the cane that she must use because her gait is too unsteady to walk without it. Just as the smile that she gives when she sees you is a part of her. The compliments she always doles out, and the attitude that keeps on looking at the positive; these are a part of her. She is multi-facted. She is beautiful. 

Thank you Christi for letting me take these special photos of you and your mama. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life. Thank you for making my life even more meaningful having known you. You are a special human being.

 

 

 

A week in the life, instagrammed

There is not one part of me that regrets leaving my 8-5 hospice RN job for a hospital job, one where I work 2-3 nights a week. That leaves so much free time to enjoy this lovely summer, my fantastic family, and one of the most gorgeous places on Earth (in my opinion).

View from my hospital, paying the bills and taking the pics.

When city bound, we hit the public pools.

Or the local resevoirs

We hit the jackpot by making wonderful friends who let us rent their property in Salida, CO.

We go there a LOT. This is the view from the front porch

Salida is a whitewater rafting hub. It SO makes me want to learn kayaking!

This weekend we were surprised to find a carnival in downtown Salida.

And we thoroughly enjoyed it! (You can see my husband and daughter waving)

We celebrated Father's Day

because Mike is such an awesome dad.

And we celebrated my birthday

Where I spent the morning on a solo hike up a 14er

It was AWESOME.

In the Rocky Mountains, I sometimes pretend I'm Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music....the Hills are Alive!

I can't begin to tell you how much I love this state.

I look forward to a summer FILLED with adventures!

The art of toddler photography

Though not impossible, toddlography is TRICKY, and there are several elements that I personally suggest to making your toddler photography session one that doesn't make you want to run for the liquor cabinet.

Life with child (winter edition)



We stroll through the park.



We make visual masterpieces!

We have fun with everyday objects

We take the baby out for a stroll (dressed up of course)

Lunch at the Toddler Tent

Airplane Rides!



We drink tea together



We endure cold, but pretty hikes



Act like the rockstars that we are!





treasure hunting

Yesterday was my special Monday with Ellie. We walked slowly through the park. We pointed out squirrels and birds. We talked to the geese. We paid attention to the details.

Even though Winter is upon us and much of the landscape is brown, we managed to bring home an abundance of treasure from our day.

It seems that no matter where I am in life, when I walk slow, look around, and pay attention, there is always an abundance of treasure to be found.

Simple

Do you remember when life was this easy? 

Where the hardest decision was what to do next?

Where the mere act of running down the street could elicit pure joy?

As adults,

we get bogged down with life,

tied to our technology,

worried about money,

I want to remember

Playing.

Laughing.

Learning.

Friendship.

Feeling oh so loved.

treasure

Nature is so pretty.



Fall-ing in love

The weather is surely getting colder.

Our heat comes on at night now. My summer clothes are all packed away.

But before the nights get teeny tiny and I have constant hankering for all things baked, comes the small, glorious window of time that is the Fall. The air, the chill, the colors, the glorious desire to be outdoors kicking leaves around...this is where it's at.

This makes me very, very happy.



If you knew how crappy of a cook I am that you'd know why this was worthy of a picture.

 

Lovin the cider.

 

Cousins!!!

 

The petting zoo...not havin it.



Leaving it up to the pros.

So even though I bought my super nice camera when Ellie came into the world, and I had to buy an external harddrive just to fit my thousands of pictures on it, there was one experience I wanted to have to commemorate Ellie's first birthday...portraits. Real, honest to God portraits done by an actual photographer in an actual studio. Aside from some pretty snazzy Sears shots when I was a kid,
 and of course the yearly school photo, this was an experience I have not really had. And I like photography. Not like I'm going to declare "I love photography and want to be a photographer gosh darnit" but you know, I like to pretend, on the sly. Use my alter "photog" ego as I'm snapping away with my super awesome Canon. So this experience was not just for the experience, but also to spy. What is this crazy world of "photography"? 

So we had our shoot with the lovely and talented photographer Kellie Coughlin. The pictures are back and here are a few. What do you think? Any favorites?

p.s. For the record, my husband does not usually have this burly moustache. However our pictures happened to coincide with Mike's softball tournament, and apparently shaving the 'stache could've jinxed the whole thing. So what are ya gonna do? Though he doesn't come out and admit it, he's pretty proud of the damn thing.