Sixteen Candles... and some Purple Lanterns... and Mosquito Repellant

So, sometimes I do birthday parties. I especially like to do them when the guest of honor is either very young or someone I know very well, when it is a momentous birthday, and when it is outside. Therefore, I was excited when Marlyss asked me about taking pics at Brittany's 16th birthday, which also happened to be outside. Marlyss has been a friend of mine for several years (I think I even baby-sat for her once, many, many, many moons ago...), they go to my church, I did her son's senior pictures, and Brittany was in my class this past year. Sometimes it can be awkward having church kids in your class. It's true. However, awkward at times or not (falling out of the desk), I LOVED getting to know Brittany better and LOVED her whole 2nd period class, many of whom were also at the party. Win-win, I say. So Brittany, Happy Sweet Sixteen and I hope that you will always know the joy of life and friendships that you do right now! I also hope you realize what you have in that sweet mama of yours and that you will always strive, as you do right now, to make her proud. :) Love you!!!

Forever Friends

A few weeks ago I got a call about doing some really special pictures. See, there is this group of three friends... and they have BEEN friends for a very long time. And now, one of them is moving away. (I can relate quite well to this sad scenario because I was once in a group of three friends, and one of them moved away... and now the OTHER is moving away. But enough about me and the fact that EVERY SINGLE PERSON I BECOME CLOSE TO MOVES AWAY--) They wanted some pictures done of all three of them. And the coolest part-- they wanted them done at a local elementary school where they all worked when their friendship started. How cool is that?!?!?! So, I met them (under some potentially very threatening skies) last week and we took some of the sweetest and most REAL pictures I think I have ever taken. You can see in these shots how COMFORTABLE they are all are with each other and how NATURAL their friendship is. It made me really glad that we live in 2011, when friends can move great distances away and we are still only a plane ride, a facetime call, or a facebook chat away instead of back when distance meant the end of great friendships! Gals, I had the best time taking these and I hope you remain as close as you are right now. :)

Today, a Frudent; Tomorrow, a Friend.

In my "real" job, there are lots and lots of perks. (There are also some downsides, but those are very few and the perks largely outweigh them.) One of those perks is that I get to know some of the most awesomely amazing kids who grow into these phenomenal adults. This year's senior group contains some pretty wonderful people. Kaitlyn is one of these. I taught her three years ago, as a sophomore honors student, this past year as a junior in Holocaust Lit, and I will get to have her THIS year in AP English. She is also part of a small group from Holocaust Lit who traveled to Memphis with me last school year for a whirlwind conference. On that trip, we were talking about the unique relationship and bond that teachers and students have with each other. I am always quick to point out that we are NOT friends. I truly love them, and I think they love me, but there is a line that has to be there to have an effective educational environment. They always laugh and roll their eyes (and sometimes act hurt) when I make that statement. On that trip, someone (can't remember which one) coined the words "freacher/frudent". This is a mix of friend/teacher and friend/student. I thought that was perfect. :) Because one day soon, I will think of Kaitlyn as my friend. She is just the sort of person I LOVE to have as a friend...

She is smart, funny, loves to read and discuss books (HELLO!!!), and has a zest for life that shines through everything she does. She is sensitive without being dramatic and sarcastic without being mean. I have had the best time getting to know her better every year and I know this year will be no different. Kaitlyn, your pics are gorgeous because YOU are gorgeous, and what makes you gorgeous is way more than your eyes and hair... it's that spirit and spunk that you have that bubbles out of you. I had such fun taking your pictures and I look forward to "AP our senior year". :)

To The Least of These...

Week before last, I got to spend a week doing the work of my heart-- Royal Family Kids' Camp. It was an amazing week, and I wish everyone could see what we see that week-- the faces of the children, singing their hearts out; the sheer joy as they conquer a fear; and the trust in their eyes as they bond with the adult staff at camp. This ministry is a powerful example of us being His hands and feet, His heart in the world. It's not always easy; the hands and feet get tired and sometimes, when you're His heart, you get broken. However, it's worth every moment to give them a week of positive memories.

Two disclaimers: This event took place the first week of June. My blogging is a bit behind.
Also, if you look at this post and think to yourself, "She did not even get the kids' FACES in the pictures!" then I did my job. :) The kids get photo albums to take home of pictures of only themselves. Due to privacy restrictions and confidentiality (since they are in state custody), we cannot show their faces. I tried to pick of few of my (anonymous) favorites for this posting.

Late But Great

The Walker Valley prom pictures will come soon, I hope. I had a bit of an issue after I burned the CDs for the groups and deleted them off my computer before I burned MYSELF a copy. However, I still have the memory cards and they will be put up soon!