Devistation when least expected & faith beyond belief

I have been surounded by friends everywhere who are having babies-- blog friends, close friends, co-workers. As many of you know babies and kids are two things that make my heart beat. Besides other health reasons-- making it potentially possible for a future family is one of the main reasons I will be having surgery on June 3. Many things have been tugging at my heart as I read stories of two bloggers who are expecting twins (natural)- people who have just given birth in the last month, friends celebrating 1 year birthdays of children, hearing the joy of others as they anounce for the first time to the world that they are expecting. It all makes my heart tug in different directions.

In the midst of all these emotions I was struck by a prayer announcement on the radio on Friday morning. Steven Curtis Chapman (long time Christian singer & big adoption advocate) and his family are morning the loss of their 5 year old little one. Days after their oldest daughter just got engaged and one of their son's graduation from High school... this. I can't imagine. The worst of all was that she was hit in the driveway by a car being driven by one of her siblings. (on accident- story here). I can't even imagine the devastation. Please join me in praying for them during this time.

SCC has a song that I have always loved-- called "With Hope" I am sure he never imagined he would be living these words in this situation. Here is a tribute I found on You tube with the song and pics of her and the family.




Only a big God and an amazing faith can get you through something like that.

In reading blogs I also came across this story. AMAZING! This couple has love that beats any boundary. She has Cystic Fibrosis and the story of their faith and their miracle baby is amazing. You can read it here:
(click on the word here).

I hope that no matter what happens in my life-- in our family-- that I have a faith that perceivers beyond any plan I think is best. Any devastation I perceive. Any fear I have in my own abilities. God is bigger than all that!

Big news that would have made a big impact in our lives

Man-- it's been forever-- does anyone still read this!!???

I know I said a few weeks ago I had lots going on... and if anyone still wonders what the news is-- I can now tell you that it's good news and not bad news. And honestly it's good news on many levels

Big News #1
Let's go back 10 days or so. I was at the dr and she informed me that she thought I had several red flags for endometiral cancer. Some of my test results pointed in that direction and she wanted to do some further tests and biopsy. So she did. It didn't hit me hard when she told me. But later that day as I talked to Ry about it and told close friends-- not for sympathy or drama-- but because I know they would walk with us through both til we had results and regardless of the results. I also believe that prayers do something. They certainly provided a peace for me over the 10 days. I just had a strange sense of calm that only God can provide. So Wednesday I found out I am cancer free!!! I can't tell you how awesome it was to have people who I knew call me that day and check in-- send me emails-- check in on face book. I really believe that too often in our society we think of these things as taboo-- or too personal-- but I believe there is something amazing about walking in honest community through a situation like that. I do still have to have some surgery in a couple weeks-- but I will trade that for cancer any day! Thanks for the prayers!

Big News #4
ck photography is busy as ever! I have had sessions every weekend over the past few weeks and it's not changing til July!! I didn't take on lots of weddings this year cause we weren't sure where/what life would be like and didn't want to commit to driving to Michigan every weekend if we weren't still here. But I have been doing lots of family/kid/couple sessions & I just love it! I love the people I love how excited I get before a session-- how excited I get when I see the pics on my computer and they get to final proof stage. I love teasing people with a couple good shots along the way knowing there are so many more! So-- I'm diving in. I am working on the business plan and some other things. It's not a fling-- a fleeting passion or anything else. I love it. I have a TON to learn about the biz side as well as the photography side-- but I don't think that will ever stop. But I am excited. I told Ry the other day--- if I am going to do this I need to do it-- be intentional about this figure out where I want to go with it and do it! I can't wait to discover this dream even more!

Here are some favs from last weekend:



Still working through this families session-- but this is one of my favs. It was super cloudy and sprinkling on and off-- they were trooper through the whole thing!

That's it for my big news. Sorry if you were hoping for something more monumental! I'm busy-- which is good and I am excited about all the possibilities! Life is good. God is good. Can't wait for what's next!

Leave me some love and let me know if you are still reading!
ck