to the Kelly Family… who are the first winners of my nomination contest. Thank you to Nicole Daggs for nominating them. Nicole D. will have a $250 print credit waiting for her after her next session.

I got eight entries total and I was truly moved by all of them. It was difficult to make a decision and I spent lots of time praying and thinking about which family I could best be of service to. My heart wants to help everyone but I realize that is not realistic. I could not narrow it down to just one so in the end.. I choose two families to help. Thank you to all of you who took time to nominate someone special to you.

I introduce you to the Kelly family and their story….

The Kellys had their first child, a son named Isaac, Jr., in July of 2007.  In late January 2008, Isaac, Jr. was getting some tummy time just before getting ready for a bath and bed. His father picked him up off the floor, and Nicole was talking to him and playing with him. Isaac took his last breath and was gone. He was exactly 6 months old. The Kellys handled their loss in such an amazing and graceful way. I really saw God and the divine in the Kellys during this time. Obviously, they were (and are) devastated, but Nicole, who is a wonderful singer, sang at the funeral and did the eulogy. One thing she said stuck with me — “If God had asked me, ‘Do you want this perfect, funny, loving and healthy little boy to light up your life for 6 months, but then he will leave you to live with Me?’ I would have said,  ‘Yes!’” That is Nicole, and the faith that she and her husband demonstrated was a lesson for all who have the privilege of knowing
them.  At the time Isaac, Jr. died, they were trying for another baby. Nicole was pregnant but didn’t know it for some time. But she lost that baby in February.  Soon thereafter they got pregnant again, and the Kellys had Ian just a couple of weeks ago. What a year of ups and downs for this family.  I believe that they are truly deserving of your services and that a photographic celebration of Ian, Nicole and Isaac, Sr. would be the perfect beginning to their new family.

I will be heading to Nicole and Isaac’s house for a newborn session next week and I am so thrilled to meet them. Their story is very touching and I feel honored to be a part of helping them celebrate this new beginning as well as honoring baby Isaac’s short life.