This is the first time I’ve blogged anything personal in a long time. This post will serve multiple purposes. For starters, I’m terribly late on Noah’s 12 year photo session, but with good reason. The last 6 months have been horrific for our family. I would explain it all, but I’m not writing a book here and you’d probably think I’m crazy because it’s completely unbelievable. Beginning in March, we were slapped in the face with cancers, hospitals, tumors, falls, a broken hip, surgeries, radiation, chemo, rehab, and… sadly… a memorial service for my dear mother-in-law, Karen. It’s been just over a month since I watched my husband kiss his mother goodbye and the pain is still raw.

I wish I could say we are all doing okay, but we’re still in shock and probably going through some PTSD. We ask ourselves on a daily basis “what the hell just happened?!” We’ll make it through because we survived the last 6 months, it will just take time. I know there is sunshine ahead and good times to be had. I know this because we have Jesus and He’s got us wrapped in His embrace.

But this post is about my Noah. This kid has been through a lot in just one year. We started homeschool last fall and he’s thriving, although he’s decided he wants to attend public high school! I’m fairly certain my senior clients have him convinced it will be the time of his life. 🙂 He’s gone through a major growth spurt and is becoming a little man right in front of our eyes. He’s learned some hard life lessons and has proven to be strong, compassionate, and loving in the ways he helped care for his grandmother and great-grandmother. He was awarded his second degree black belt last fall and made honor roll for his sixth grade year. He’s started off 7th grade deciding he really likes pre-algebra and Spanish! He’s still riding his dirt bike, is obsessed with cars and XBox, and is a voracious reader of adventure series.

Noah, we are so incredibly proud of the young man you’re becoming. Keep on being your empathetic and silly self! We love you more than anything in this world!

My heart. Just look at him!

Yes, “it’s all good.”

I have to also thank my many friends and clients who have supported our family during this time. Your meals, gift certificates, cards, emails, texts, and words of support are how we are still standing. Being a solo business owner is a tough job during challenging times. But you’ve all shown me so much love and grace.

Thank you will never be enough.