They share their lives with three sons and three dogs, and manage to carve out alone time together. The last photo shoot we did involved the whole crew. This time it was all them.
Different setting. Different flava.
With ominous autumn skies and the final flicker of brilliant foliage, we caught the tail end of Indian summer at the Mill.
Teresa had on the cutest jeweled flats, and her Bruce just threw her over his shoulder and walked up that hillside like nobody’s business. Hmm . . . benefit of marrying a career firefighter.
Teresa and Bruce wanted a record of who they are as a couple amidst the season of lacrosse tournaments, part time jobs, soccer practices and myriad activities. It reminds me to embrace this day, because that’s all I’m guaranteed. And if you don’t take the time to record it, who will?
When I answered the phone, I ran for the laundry room, mostly so I could hear and partly so she wouldn’t hear. Tuesday at our house can be zoo-ey, to say the least. It’s crunch day between Monday and Wednesday– our co-op days. It’s the day of of timers and checklists, and no time for dilly-dallying.
The voice on the phone was calm, but bright and incredibly well spoken. She explained that after checking out other photographers’ sites, she typed in one last address. Mine. And after reading my blog and site, she knew we were a fit. God frequently brings me little gifts, especially when I am running low on reserves.
So here’s the fit. We both dreamed of being English teachers as young women. Joan grew up in the midwest, and made it to Boston, eventually working at Harvard U! She got that degree in English, and moved to Washington D.C. where she pursued her career.
Joan met Jim, and they were married (going on 30 years now!) and she LOVES the institution of marriage. Jim accompanied Joan on our shoot, and they have the real thing, I’m happy to report.
Joan has a mother’s heart. She lives life fully, focusing on the joy, and it shows in everything about her. She is an adventurer, from moving to DC as a young professional to exploring the Cali Redwoods solo. Her latest adventure is becoming a wedding officiant. And let me tell you, her heart’s in it 100%! Joan’s got the listening ears. A mother’s wisdom. The law of kindness on her tongue.
Have I mentioned I love my job??
November in Maryland smiled sunshine and blue skies on the wedding of April and Colin at Historic Savage Mill. Lots of beautiful images . . . so much life and love, but I’ll tell you all about it a little later. After I get some sleep.
Here’s a wet your whistle, sneak peak.
Pumpkin Day kind of passed us by in a whirlwind this year. We’d been out of commission, and then on Halloween we had SIX soccer games . . . three players, different fields, all day long. Each morning that week the kids asked, “Can we go to Baugher’s to get our pumpkins today??” And the answer day after day was not what they had hoped for.
Sunday, November 1st, we’re driving home from church, and Dan asked to stop into the orchard where he works. Big sign . . . all pumpkins, $1. WooHoo! So, I could finally say, “Today is the day! You can pick as big a pumpkin as you can carry . . . and they thought they had been released into Toys-R-Us on a shopping spree. So, I got outa there for $5, and the Freundels got their pumpkins. Only Michael’s gotten to carve so far, but we talk about it most days.
The boys want to shoot their pumpkins off our backyard trebuchet. I think they’re waiting till they start to rot. joy.
And yes, Sam is still livin’ in that Woody costume. Going on day 7 today. Ridin’ that pumpkin horse.
Steve and Jackie. Alec and Steph. The Speights Family. Alec is going off into the Coast Guard in a couple of weeks, so Jackie decided that it was high time to capture her family . . . while they are all still under the same roof. Alec will leave home knowing that he has a family that will be praying for him, missing him and believing 100% in him. Jackie and Steve are parents who have set high standards for their kids, and Alec and Steph are about the sharpest young adults imaginable. I had the pleasure to get to know both of them last year during our community’s production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Jackie and Steve have provided a firm foundation for their kids . . . they have high expectations, but it’s all undergirded by love, communication and lots of laughter. They are a family who know how to have FUN. Can’t you see it in their eyes?? I LOVE this family!
