Reeves

The Reeves! I think these pictures truly speak for themselves!! There is NEVER a dull moment!!
This adorable family has been a part of my life for almost 18 years! I can NOT beleive how the time has flown by and all we have been through!! As you can see- they have mah many additions to theor family in that time! And each one is so wonderfully unique that I am just completely entertained the entire time we are together!!

I love this family as if they were my own! We shared a strong bond the instant we met at a baseball park many years ago! Our husbands ar great friends too- and that really made us even closer. Kathryn (the oldest) was Mitch's very first sleep over friend!! They were best friends-- and even though it will be a while before we all see each other again-- we easily go back together like we see each other every day! True friendship!

I had sooooooo much fun with this session!! We laughed and laughed at these silly kids! I am so glad ya'll got to come up and do this with us!! We need to get together again soon!! Love you!!

Promise of Joy:
How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in Heaven because we belong to Christ.
Ephesians 1:3

PoP session!!

THERE WILL

Oh my goodness-- there are NO words to adequately express how I feel at this moment!! This day has been a looooong time coming!
God led me to be a part of His ministry 3 years ago. I knew then who my first family would be-- but it has taken us this long to get everything worked out!! -- Even if it was FREEZING today-- and even if it rained on us as we prayed together-- but was worth every degree my body temperature dropped!! Lets PRAY that no one gets sick from this!!

Meet the Allums. This is one of the MOST precious families I have ever had the honor of photographing. We have been praying for them for over 10 years. We started out as strangers then... but God definitely gives you a love for those you pray for.

Through events at church, and accidental run-ins in Wal Mart, posts on James Christopher's Caring Bridge site, and bone marrow drives, we have become friends. My children feel as though they know James Christopher through all of the prayers they have prayed for them. Not a week - or often a day - goes by that we don't pray for this precious family.

The amazing thing for me is that when we take part in something to help enourage the Allums-- we ALWAYS leave feeling more encouraged and inspired by THEM than we could have ever done for them! They are so full of God's joy that it is literally contagious!!

James Christopher (he is the oldest child) was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia (FA) when he was very young. This can cause so many different problems, but especially with the immune system. Little sicknesses that we don't even give much thought to - such as a sinus infection - can actually be life-threatening to a child with FA. Immediately upon diagnosis the Allums and their entire community went into "prayer mode" and have been there ever since. Through prayer James Christopher has grown and flourished, far exceeding his doctors' expectations. He has been involved in many different ministries and has been a huge component in bone marrow drives across our nation- and even met with President George W. Bush to pass laws to make bone marrow donation easier and cheaper than ever. Many, many lives have been saved thanks to James Christopher's willingness to speak out and share his story with others.

Please, please visit James Christopher's Caring Bridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jameschristopherallums to read more about his life and his family. You can sign up to receive updates to let others know his praises and needed prayers. He also has a guestbook that you can write words of encouragment in-- please take a minute to do this.

I could go on and on and on about the unselfishness and generosity of this family-- but it won't take you long to learn that through his blog. But I ask you to PLEASE join me in praying for this family. Pray for God to continue to bless them and draw them close to Him. Pray that He will touch James Christopher and heal him. For I KNOW this family would shout it from the mountain tops and give all of the praise and glory to God-- they already DO! Pray for the ministries this family is involved in. They have litereally touched thousands of lives. They know that prayer is exactly what has brought them this far...

It is truly one of my greatest honors to be a small part of Portraits of Praise. I am so touched that God would use me to hopefully bring a little ray of sunchine in the lives of others. To help others praise Him during the storms of life. I thank God for this family and for being the inspiration to this ministry.

PLEASE tell other photographers and families about this ministry. Go to www.portraitsofpraise2011.blogspot.com--- The links at the top tell who qualifies as a recipient, what they will receive and what other photographers need to do to serve.



Promise of Joy:
Heal me O' Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved; for You are the One I praise.
Jeremiah 17:14

Whetstone's

Well...I don't even know where to start with this family!! They are so much fun and easy going that I can honestly say that my life has gotten better-- and even easier since we have met! LOL! The oldest little guy is my son's very best friend and clone in personality. There is NEVER a dull moment with these two. We laugh and sometimes want to cry because of their craziness!! The funny thing is that a mutual friend of ours told me years ago that Skyler and Mitch need to meet because they are so much alike. She nailed it!! They met the next year-- I have NO idea why it took so long they literally live walking distance behind us!!

So now the boys have a well-worn path between our 2 homes and pretty much go everwhere together. So our families have all become friends. I adore them. I am thankful for their friendship!! We say all the time that we so glad we are not the only ones suffering with scatter-brained boys!! LOL!!

I am so glad we took the time to capture these memories for ya'll! They are all growing up so fast!! I really am thankful for you and the way you take care of Mitch like he is your own!! Skyler is very much like part of our family- and when he is here- he is treated like!! (He is a great dish-washer, in case you didn't know)! hahaha!!

Promise of Joy:
God is my strength and power; and He maketh my way perfect.
II Samuel 22:33

I had a great afternoon with these two beautiful girls! Days like this I LOOOOVE my job! =)

I love when I get to meet new families in my community-- it always instills me a sense of pride-- we truly have the best families-- and I count this one among the best. These girls are precious!

Thank you so much for trusting me to capture these memories for you! There are many more pics to come-- they were so hard to choose from! =)

Promise of Joy:
Jesus said..."I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
John 11:25

One of the MOST profound verses in the Bible. Jesus is the ONLY way. He doesn't say I am A resurrection-- He is THE resurrection! Don't be confused by the world...get in His Word.