Bagley Family

I had so much fun documenting the Bagley Family. They are all so much fun and easy going. When Connie emailed me about a big family shoot I wont lie, I was a bit nervous. They were the biggest group of adults, minus sweet baby Kaydee, that I had done, not to mention that Robin, Connie and Donnie's youngest daughter, has been my best friend since forever, my roomate in college, my bestest bud! We really did have a great time. It was so cool to see they're whole family together, and getting to be a part of documenting they're family.










Click to see more of the Bagley Family

Wheelock Slideshow

Thanks again Wheelock family, it was such fun shooting your family...with a camera of course!

Wheelock Family

I met the Wheelocks through my sister, who met the Wheelocks through adoption. They are not only an amazingly beautiful family, they share the same heart beat of adoption. It was so wonderful to see them all together and to see God's work first hand. One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is being able to capture special moments in peoples lives, and I am grateful to have been a part of theirs. Here are just a few...

Summers coming to an end

Summers almost over...I'm both sad and happy. I cant wait for cooler days, and some structure. But for now, for our last week of summer we are just being bums. We are sleeping in, staying in our pjs, and Ella's favorite... eating way too much junk food. I am swearing off junk food once school begins and determined to get back in the gym. All my hard work is going to mush, literally. Oh and have I mentioned that a miracle has occurred? Bennet has finally gotten into a preschool. Thats right after a year of being on a wait list he has made it! After a year of pretty much zero time in my house without children, my little boy will be heading off two days a week to much needed school time! Yea!

New Coffee table book design

Super cute new coffee table book design! This one is the same size as the 'classic' album but has a little pizzaz! It can also easily be made to fit the smaller brag book size for grandparents.

Gotcha Day!

Just one year ago today we held our little Bennet Toufiq-y for the first time. I say 'we' held it was more like I held, if you remeber Bennet wasnt always such a fan of his dad! Wow, how he changed! Bennet has gone from an angry, confused, sad little boy to a wild, loving, outgoing 2 year old. He has been such an unbelievable blessing to this family. I honestly cannot remember life with our him. He is soooooo strong willed, and can sometimes drive me out of my mind but he has the sweetest little heart with the most expressive face you've ever met. Today we celebrated with family, we celebrated Bennet's life, and how he has forever changed this family. We went around and all said what we loved about him the most, the favorites were anywhere from his beautiful eyes, his adventurus spirit (thanks allee) to always ready and willing to play (love those potts). I said my favorite was his snuggles, he gives hugs that will melt your heart. I really cannot believe its been a year since we met him it seems like yesterday that I was in the airport getting 'the call' that we had a son. At the same time it seems like Bennet has always been here, I can't imagine my day with out him.


Our referral pic.


This was taken right after Travis left Bennet with us. 10 minutes later he was out cold, just a little stressful on the little guy.




And here he is last week playing with his two favorite princesses, sorry Ben one day you will kill your Tia!

Warner Bros. 'Orphan'

Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life.....


As most of you know that read my blog, it started out to document my journey to our son, Bennet Toufiq. Those of you that have read since the beginning know that choosing to adopt has its many ups and down. It is not always the easiest path. The process is long, and uncerntain. There are many fears of the unknown. Will this child fit with us? Will he be healthy? Can I love him as much as I love my daughter? What will my and family and friends think? The list goes on. But at the end of the day we choose to follow God. And he faithfully answered those questions. Somewhere in middle of all my fears, I handed it all over and walked the closest walk I ever have with the Lord. After almost a year and a half of waiting, on Aug. 4th we held our son for the first time. The moment was of course different, but just as special as the first time I held Ella. Being blessed by adoption has changed my life forever. I will forever be changed by the children without families that we met in Ethiopia, I think of them daily. I am changed by seeing a mothers love for her child and the sacrifices they will make for their child's future. I am changed by God's unfailing love for his children. I am changed by the strength and ability a child can have to overcome obstacles and trials. And I am forever changed by this little boy, this 'orphan', that God has chosen for us.




Join me in Defending the casue of the Orphan.... From Tom Davis' blog:
This is the opportunity to defend the cause of the orphan. But instead of cursing the darkness, lets put the truth on display.

Tom is challenging his readers and friends to write 500 positive blog posts about how an orphan has impacted and changed your life. Post this on your own blog so that when people search for the movie, they are flooded with positive messages about adoption and orphan care.

Just finish this sentence: "Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life..."

This is the heart of defending orphans. Help push back the darkness and deceit here by holding up as an example the powerful love that adoption and orphan care can unleash.

Heres how you can defend the orphan:
1. Write a "positive protest post" on you blog that references the movie, Orphan.
2. Focus on your orphan care or adoption story that is positive, redeeming, and full of love.
3. Link your post to www.tomdavis.typepad.com
4. Send out an email, Facebook message, or tweet to get others to do the same thing on their blogs.