Love Thursday--Daddy's Little Girl

This one's from the archives way back in the beginning of January, but I've been wanting to use this photo for a Love Thursday, and Karen's post gave me the perfect opportunity.

Check out Shutter Sisters for some more Love.

Love Thursday--A New Family

This photo was taken at Ted's cousin Vikki's wedding rehearsal dinner. It's the heart locket presented to Vikki's daughter Mackenzie by Vikki and her now-husband Mike.

I remember the first time we met Mike. Vikki brought him to our monthly gathering at Ted's Grandma Sophie's house. He was shy and quiet, but so sweet that I hoped back then that someday he and Vikki would get married. Over the months, I saw how good he was to Mackenzie, and how she delighted in having a father figure in her life. After he and Vikki got engaged, Kenzie started calling him "Soon-To-Be-Daddy" because I'm sure she couldn't wait for the day when she could really call him "Daddy."

I am as happy for Mackenzie as I am for Vikki and Mike that they have formed this new family together. They are such a sweet bunch!

Check out the love on Love Thursday at Shutter Sisters.

My First Post on Shutter Sisters!

Hey, y'all! My first post on Shutter Sisters is up! I'll be posting the first Sunday of every month, so check it out!

In other news, it's been super busy around here (when is it not??). Ted's cousin Vikki got married yesterday, and she and her now-husband Mike had asked me to be the 2nd photographer. That means I'll be post-processing like mad tomorrow. Plus our upstairs neighbor accidentally left her water running in her kitchen and fell asleep Tuesday night, and now we've got some nasty water damage. We've been running a dehumidifier 24 hours/day since Friday afternoon, and I think the dryness in our place has contributed to Cadence now getting sick. Grrrr...Anyhoo, more later.

Love Thursday--Finding Family

It's Love Thursday on Shutter Sisters, folks, and here's my submission. This is Cadence with her BFF Rudden. These two have been friends since before Cadence could walk, and their devotion to each other is deep and wide. Just try separating them when it's time to go home, and you'll know what I mean.

Rudden's mom is my very good friend Amy. She has been a source of strength and encouragement to me over the past couple of years, and I am so grateful for her friendship. We are learning together how to find family and community among people who were once strangers.

Last night, we did this by gathering together at our church and sharing a meal. We hope to do this regularly so that we may deepen relationships and spur one another on, whether it's to dismantle our fears or to share hope and love or to share in traditions old and new.

The simple act of taking time out from our hectic lives to cook and eat together, or to wash dishes together, or to play together--I believe these are things that will help me find family. And I am so blessed to have landed amongst a group of folks who are characterized by their arms open wide, just like their hearts, who delight in conspiracies of hope and love, who are overflowing with creativity, who make me happy simply to be...

Go soak in more love on Love Thursday at Shutter Sisters.

Love Thursday

It's Love Thursday over at Shutter Sisters, and this is my submission. I absolutely love how Cadence's hair swirls into delicatle curls during bathtime. Melts my heart every time. See what else folks are loving over here.