After a long journey, I just wanted to share the awesome news: THE CALENDAR IS IN PRODUCTION!!

I am so excited, I can barely contain myself! I simply can not wait to see all these precious children in print!

Thank you to the last minute sponsors who chimed in today with their generous support towards this incredible cause!

I’ll keep you posted on the progress, anticipated arrival date; and I’ll be sharing some fun comments from the panel of judges who helped select the images for the calendar as well.

Stay tuned!!

It is so hard to believe that this was the last session of The Dream Calendar! I am mixed with all kinds of emotions…elated that we’ve completed the task; yet sad that I won’t be spending my afternoons with such precious children like these! How amazing to look back over the last month or so and see the different faces who have brought smiles to my own! I can’t wait for you to hold the calendar in your hands, so that month by month you too can experience the same overwhelming sense of accomplishment and joy that I now feel.

This last session was with a sweet little girl named Allie. Her parent’s actually founded Clouds of Hope, the charity which the Dream Calendar will aid. It made Allie’s session so special just knowing that the dreams God has placed in her tiny heart have already impacted hundreds of children. Her family is amazing and so is she!

These are some of my favorite images of our time together! Allie’s big blue eyes leave me breathless and her spunky personality is contagious! I had to include the last picture just for her! Allie was constantly wanting me to snap an image of one of her silly faces. This picture of her laughing really captured her enthusiasm in a way I hadn’t anticipated! It’s actually one of my favorites!

Next on my list, when this calendar is completely through, spending some time with her beautiful big sister, Abbie! She’s quite a model too!!

Enjoy and as always, leave a comment AND keep spreading the word about The Dream Calendar!!

I finally got to meet up with Julia and her sweet mom yesterday to take some images for the calendar. Earlier this year, my Project Childhood Session with Julia spurred a dream in my heart that resulted in this charity project. It was so precious to reflect upon that time with Julia and all the fun we had during her first session…things like laughing about trying to blow bubbles with gum, cracking silly jokes and holding on while Hannah drove her around the bumpy gardens.

This time with Julia was a treat as well. She is such a complete joy to be around. Though she’s grown up a bit since I saw her last, she is still the beautiful and fun loving girl I remember so well!

Thank you Julia and Lisa for coming out to be a part of a project that was greatly inspired by your stories!

Enjoy and don’t forget… leave a comment!

Here they are, the final sessions of The Dream Calendar! Before I head off to get some sleep, I wanted to at least post a sneak peek of what’s to come! I love Julia’s smile in this picture and Allie twirling and swirling with her skirt! I’ll post more tomorrow, but for now, enjoy these!!

I can hardly believe how close we are to completing The Dream Calendar! Session 10 really reminded me that it’s almost done!

This brother and sister duo were awesome! I actually met Ariana about a year ago, when I took pictures at a local preschool; and then I was introduced to her brother over the summer, as he was in my Vacation Bible School class. It was so neat to finally see them in action as siblings. They are simply precious!

Austin serenaded me with the chorus from one of his favorite songs during our session: “Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm. Oh no, You never let go, through every high and every low. Oh no, You never let get of me!” What a priceless moment and what a priceless truth as well! How encouraging to hear those words coming from a child who believes and sees that in his everyday life!

Ariana was quite the princess, ruffling up her pettiskirt and dazzling the camera with her enormous and sparkly brown eyes! She was a joy to spend time with and was a perfect little model, as you’ll soon see!!

I couldn’t help but to post an image of each of them individually as well. These pictures were just too cute to resist!

Thank you to Austin, Ariana and their mom for coming out, despite the dreary skies and the lurking mosquitoes! Christina, thank you as well for the awesome conversation about the progress that’s been made in Austin’s life and the allowing me to spread that encouraging news to others! What a blessing our time was together!

Enjoy these sweet pictures and as always, don’t forget to leave a comment!

I had the honor of meeting Jayden, right after my sweet session with Megan. He was just as charming! With his mom and baby sister encouraging him to smile big, Jayden jumped right into his modeling session! He stopped in all the right places and flashed his award winning grin. Quite the talker, I learned all about his favorite television shows and his baby sis. Jayden is certainly a proud big brother!

These are some of my favorite images of my time with him! As you know by now, it’s hard to resist posting a feet picture too! Thanks Jayden for being such a great sport! Your pictures are precious!

Enjoy and don’t forget to leave a comment!

Today was a busy day! I completed Sessions 8-11 and the cover shot! Whew! It’s proof the calendar is almost DONE

Driving over to meet Megan I was a bit nervous, as the sky was clouding up and there seemed to be some sprinkles! Although we felt a few drops during our time together, most of the rain held off for this beautiful little princess!

The moment I set my eyes on Megan I was smitten! She is absolutely adorable! Getting to know her mom and grandmother was wonderful as well, and being a mom, my heart melted every time Megan responded to hers! They displayed such a special bond that I couldn’t help but to include an image of them together in this post!

As I spent some time with this sweet family, my passion for this project was continually confirmed! Each child I’ve met has a story begging to be told. There are struggles coupled with milestones, hardships met with joy, and tears shed for each smile and laugh ringing out. These children have captured a place in my heart, as I’ve sought to capture theirs.

Driving home this evening, I was overcome with emotion, as I thought of the enormous privilege I have had to spend time with each of these children. They’ve willingly trusted me, made me laugh uncontrollably and brought me to tears with their smiles and joy in the midst of uncertain circumstances. I hope that as you’ve followed this journey, you too have been moved; and I’m positive when you see these images of beautiful Megan, you’ll be reminded of the joy that can be found in the simplest things; like sparkling eyes, tender smiles and tiny little feet!

Thank you so much Terri for sharing your little girl with me this afternoon. I have been deeply touched by those moments we spent together!

Enjoy! Don’t forget to leave a comment too!

This Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of meeting Collin and his mom! He immediately started up a conversation and I soon learned of his deep passion for the movie Speed Racer! He was so much fun! He shared lots of stories and even more smiles during our session.

My mom happened to be in town for the weekend again and she captured a sweet moment of Collin inspecting the writing on my camera strap. It’s been awesome to have her tag along, to show her support for this endeavor and to have some priceless behind the scenes images as well!

Thanks Collin for being such a great sport! You were awesome! Oh, and I couldn’t resist posting one of your cool car too!

Don’t forget to leave a comment, to spread the word and to send an email if you have suggestions for additional calendar sponsors!

Thanks!

It’s hard to believe 6 sessions have come and gone already! What an incredible adventure this has been so far!

Sage was the perfect little angel to photograph for the mid way session, especially with those charming wings! The minute I saw them, I imagined how precious they would be on a little girl. When Sage slipped them on, I could hardly believe how darling they were! Well, really, how darling she was!

Have you ever seen anyone strike a pose, without any prompting, like this one? I certainly haven’t! Sage was a complete pro in front of the camera and the politest little sweetheart you could imagine!

It was hard to pick just a few to share, but hands down, these are some of my favorites!

Thank you to Sage and her mom, aunt and 2 younger brothers for joining us for such a fun adventure- mosquitoes and all!

Don’t forget to leave a comment!

Just a little sneak peek of an angel I spent some time with yesterday evening!