A Week In Review ;)

So for the past week I have been working a "temporary consulting" job  so for the first time since July of 2010 I have had to get up at 6am, get dressed (in dress clothes) and drive to an office!  I was really dreading it, and am still dreading doing it again this week, but it hasn't been that bad.  Would I rather be home in my studio?  Absolutely, but I think the worse part has been having to wear shoes!  Seriously, I hate shoes unless they are my old ratty flip flops and I'm thinking they don't make the "dress code" in the office.  To be honest I've been in a pretty bad mood all week  because of it and probably took it out on my husband and kids when they really didn't deserve it. 

All in all the week went pretty fast and as the week came to a close, I received a call from Riley Hospital of a family requesting the services of NILMDTS.  Because I was working, I tried to find one of our other photographers to take the session; but I was not having any luck and time was running out for us to get there.  So I ran home, got my camera and went back to do the session.

I don't give details of NILMDTS sessions because it is a very emotional and private expereince for the family and the photographer, but as with the other 19 beautiful babies that I have had the honor to photograph, this little angel takes a special place in my heart along with his beautiful family.  I spend a very short amount of time with these families, but in that brief time I feel a connection that runs very deep as they allow me to share and capture some very special moments with their child. 

As I have spent the  past few days editing their images and getting them ready for them; that process puts me into a complete and total different mind set.  As with every session I take for NILMDTS it brings me down to earth and back to reality about how precious life is and I step back and look at my blessings. 

As we start a new week, this family prepares to lay their first child to rest and my thoughts and prayers are with them hoping that they have peace and love to guide them through this difficult time in their lives.  And as I start this new week, I will do so not with dread of having to "go to work" but with thankfulness for my family and all the wonderful things that God has given to me.

I'll leave you with a picture that brings a smile to my face every time...this was drawn at Disney this summer of my two kids...and it's fitting, the artist captured it perfect...JT is always looking at Lauren like "what the heck are you doing?" and she is always smiling that little onrey smile!  Have a wonderful week :)

NILMDTS

I had a NILMDTS session today and met a wonderful family that is suffering the loss of a child.  After each and every session that I do for NILMDTS, I always step back and look at my life and thank God for everything I have.  In the wake of a families tragedy and loss one seems to find that those little things that seem so bad, really aren't that bad. 

I can't give specific details about my session out of respect for the families, but today's session was a little more difficult than other sessions I have done.  He was beautiful and I could feel how much his family loved him and see it in every image I took.  He will take his place in my heart right next to the 18 other beautiful little angels that have graced my life over the past 4 years I have been part of this organization.

Many of you know of my association with the organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) but I don't think I have ever actually explained what it is or why I do it.  For those of you that don't know what NILMDTS is, it is an incredible organization that provides families of babies who are stillborn or are at risk of dying as newborns with free professional portraits with their baby.  Before you say, "OMG! Why would you want that?"  This is a sample of the type of portraits that are created for the families.

To see more or learn more about how you can contribute to this organization go to www.nilmdts.org

In 2005 a Colorado family had to make the excruciating decision to take their 6 day old baby off life support. But before they did, they called a local photographer to take black and white portraits of them cradling their son. Those tender photographs documenting the child's eternal connection with his parents inspired the mother, Cheryl Haggard and photographer, Sandy Puc' to found this nonprofit organization.   The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of approximately 7000 volunteer photographers in the United States and nineteen International countries. To read more about Cheryl's story and letter she wrote to her baby boy Maddux, click HERE .

I am so proud to be one a member of this organization, I joined the organization 2008 and it has been one of the hardest, but yet most rewarding things I have ever done.  I have provided this service to 19 families.  Each family has touched me in many ways and I will never forget them.  I'm so sorry for the losses that they have suffered, but so honored that I was allowed the privilege to meet and photograph their beautiful babies and give them something to treasure of their precious child.

Today I am one of two Area Coordinators for the Indianapolis area.  We service all Indianapolis hospitals and surrounding areas.  There are 15 wonderful, giving, caring photographers that donate their time to provide services for these families and I can truly say I am a better person for knowing these wonderful people and being part of this organization. 

Many people hear about this and ask me how I can do this.   The answer is almost impossible to put into words, it's a feeling that is indescribable.  The only way I think I can make it make sense is to say this......I am blessed with two beautiful children that I can hug and kiss day and night, these families have lost that ability, they will leave a hospital with nothing more than a memory of their child that they held in their arms for a short time.  I can give them something tangible to take home, if only a portrait to hang along with their other family portraits to say "that's my son/daughter, a part of our family."  Those final memories of their time with their precious child, we capture and preserve....Always loved; never forgotten.