"One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter."

- Joseph Addison

The Nazario crew was full of playful laughter and I feel like their vivacious attitudes really shine through in these images. It's such a joy for me to watch families and kids who enjoy each other, and this group had me giggling behind my camera. I also have to give major credit to Erin, their mom, because she was incredibly relaxed and willing to goof around with us. A relaxed/playful mom pretty much always translates into great photos of the kids because they are able to  relax and reveal more of their true personality... which is always what I'm after! Genuine, honest images. It doesn't hurt when there are three gorgeous kids involved either...

Just in case you thought I may have fallen off the face of the earth... these these the little mooshies that have been keeping me busy. We just had a little family reunion over the long weekend and my Montana nieces stayed at our house. Waking up to these hearts, well, it melts mine. Today I'm playing catch up...

Well, it's exciting to say that my project has officially begun and I've been so blown away by the responses that I've already received by so many people. I'm most certainly still in the "getting organized" phase of things, but it's been beyond encouraging to be affirmed by all these emails... hearing that there are people who want to share their stories! Now I am just hoping and praying like crazy that I can do this justice! I desperately desire to capture the range of impact that Lost Valley has had across the generations.

As promised, I want to share bits and pieces of my story along the way... so here is a journal entry from that first summer I was there.

June 9, 2001
I sit here on the rickety little bridge that crosses the creek, then leads to the pond, and the glory of this places fills my eyes and my soul. The full moon from last night still lingers with its translucent outline against the glowing morning sky. The clouds are few, but beautiful... their undersides still purple. Goose Creek flows calm, yet firm, smoothing the tops of protruding rocks and making the ever changing ripples along the surface. Steam is still rising off the top of the pond and through it's veil I can see the brood mares and their babies graze quietly, peacefully. What an amazing way to start my day. I'm realizing that part of the reason that I'm here is that this place is restoring my joy. This is a place where my busy tendencies and frantic to-do's are stripped away and replaced with a simplicity of life and purpose. Being here I am able to take off the blinders, and take in the raw beauty that surrounds me. Focus on people and relationships... focus on developing myself into the person that I have the potential to become, realizing the purpose of my unique gifts and talents.... and focus on being fully satisfied in that purpose.

Notes from a talk from Bob Foster Sr.- the importance of foundation
"You will only go up in direct proportion to how much you go down. People don't see your foundation, they see what you are able to build as a result of that foundation."

" Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

During my stay in Greenville I had the opportunity to re-connect with the Warren family, which was such a joy since they've added a little girl to the family since I saw them at the beach last summer (here). And can I just say how much I love getting to photograph kiddos as they grow and change?!? Little Charlie has grown and changed so much in the last few months... from the moment I came in the door he was proudly chatting with me, showing off his muscles and the new tent he got for Christmas. And baby girl, Riley, well its just amazing to see what a beautiful little butterbean she has become in just a few short months.

Seeing these precious little ones is just a reminder to me about how the days pass so quickly and I long to enjoy each day... not rush it away waiting for the next big trip, travel or adventure. So that is why I love the above quote... I want to write on my heart that each day is the best day, and to live like I really mean that.

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." - Coco Chanel

If anyone I know embodies this description, it is the newly married Mrs. Whitney Sturge! I just got home from a fabulous weekend in Greenville, SC celebrating Whitney and Andy's wedding extravaganza. These images are from oh-so-fabulous and completely unforgettable bridal luncheon, which I absolutely loved photographing... almost as much as I loved getting to be a guest at their uber-elegant, traditional Southern ceremony on Saturday night. It was surely the social event of the season!