The Remembering OC game on 7/21 is Mets vs DODGERS – NOT the White Sox!!

I apologize for any confusion!

Also, ticket prices will be $40 again this year, which does include a donation to the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation.  Seats will be in the same general area that we sat last year.  There are other sections available, but seats would be closer to $50/each and I want to keep this as affordable as possible, while at the same time raise money for Carcinoid/Neuroendocrine Tumors research.

Hope to see you all there!

I have so much to share and so much to get caught up on, but this takes precedence right now.  My husband will always take precedence (well, second to only Shane of course).  And so I want to talk about the next Mets fundraising event which will take place this summer.

I realize that July is months away, but I’ve been contacted by the Mets already and tickets for group sales are already on sale.  I’d like to insure that we can get the best seats possible, and at the best rates possible, so that we can raise as much as we can for the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation.

We had such an amazing turnout last year – 191 people!! – and I would love to have an even larger turnout this year.  Chris would’ve loved this, and as always, my only regret is that he won’t be there with all of us.

So here’s the plan:

I’m going to get tickets to the Mets/White Sox game at CitiField on Saturday, July 21!  As of now, the game is slated for a 1:10pm start.  What better way to honor Chris than to all attend a game of his beloved Mets (that should tell you all how much I love my husband; I’m STILL a Yankees fan; but Shane is an all out Mets fan already!).  I know I don’t need to tell anyone how much Chris loved NY sports.  And I think this is a fantastic way to honor his memory.

Just like last year, we need a minimum of 25 people to get the Group discount and I need the final head count before making the reservation – we will all be seated together.

So, if you’re interested in spending another day at the Mets ballpark with Shane and I; then you need to let me know by Friday, February 10.  I would then need all payment by Friday ,March 1.  To reserve your seat; just email me at rememberingoc@hotmail.com; and be sure to let me know how many tickets you want.  And please feel free to invite ANYONE.  The more, the merrier.  And as always, a portion of the ticket sales will go to the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation.

So, here are the details:
When: Saturday, July 21; game starts at 1:10pm
Where: Mets ballpark, CitiField
Price: Tickets will be around $45/each, I’m confirming that now with my Group Sales contact and will make and update on the blog if that changes.  That includes a $10-$15 donation to Caring for Carcinoid.
Seats: Most likely will be in the Promenade Reserved section, which is where we sat last year.  (For $10 more we could sit in the Pepsi Porch or Left Field Landing sections.  You can put your preference in the email; but unless everyone opts for the better seats, we’ll be staying with the $45 seats.  Seating chart can be found HERE; click on one of the sections for a view of the field.)

And here’s what we get (directly from the Mets website):
*10 % Discount off Regular Single Game Ticket Prices for Premium, Classic and Value Categories
*Seats Together in the Best Available Location
*Ballpark Greeting by your Mets Account Representative
*Group Scoreboard Welcome during the game (which in my opinion, is just one more way to promote our cause and to help make the public aware of Carcinoid cancer.)

I really hope to have a big turn out for this; for Shane, for Chris, for Carcinoid awareness.  I made a promise to my husband in those last days; and as I’ve said before, I fully intend to keep it for the rest of my life.  This is only the beginning.  I hope you’ll all be with us on this journey.

So; here’s to Remembering OC in 2012.  Here’s to Paying it Forward.

. . . just VERY busy!  The next chapter in our life started on Tuesday and Shane and I have both been busy trying to adapt (and if I’m honest, Nana and Aunt Kate have been having their own fair share of adapting seeing as how I can’t go to school at night without them) so my career change has had an impact on a lot of us, I’m just hoping the adjustment period is short lived.

I’m already happier now than I was a month ago.  The prospect of what lies ahead is daunting – working (for free) at an elementary school during the day, taking a full semester course load at night and still finding time to be a mom seems almost impossible, but I remind myself it’s a year.  One year.  And then we move on from here into a world that will, hopefully, offer us some rewards.

Our fingers are crossed and we’re plowing ahead.  LOTS to share and tell.  Lots of memories to record.  Hopefully this weekend will offer some time for catching up.

And let the games begin . . .

We’ve barely had a chance to come up for air since Thanksgiving hit between holiday festivities, lots of visiting family and way too much time spent being sick.  It’s been a whirlwind for sure.  There’s so much to share, so many stories to tell, so many photos that captured all of our wonderful moments – there just hasn’t been much time.  And this week is my last week at work.  As of Friday I’ll be unemployed.  Pretty scary stuff.  Exciting too.  I’m hoping to do a lot of catching up during our week long holiday break.  Shane is SO into Christmas this year and I’m loving every moment that we’re spending together.  He is my light, that kid.  He really is the one thing that keeps me going.

I’ve been missing Chris a lot lately, too.  My heart aches for him so badly this time of year.  There are dinner and drink dates we’re missing out on because he’s not here.  There are family activities that just aren’t as festive without him here to share them with.  I find myself wanting to reach for him even more than I do the rest of the year, and yet no matter how far over I stretch my arm, he’s just not there.  I keep thinking the pain, the longing, the tears, they should be better by now.  And some days, some days I guess they are.  But most days I’m still just a wife who wishes she still had a husband.  A mom who wishes her little guy still had his dad.  I miss our family of 3.  Two is lonely.  Very lonely.  I still hope that it gets easier some day.  That some day the lump in my throat won’t be so noticeable, but I also question the ability for that to happen.  I know how much I love that man.  And I know how much he loved me.  And I know that kind of loss hurts.  That it will always hurt.  And that certain times of the year, it will hurt even more.  2012 is “just behind the corner” (as Shane would say).  We’re about to enter our third calendar year without Chris.  Seems impossible.  He was just here.  He was just holding my hand.  He was just singing to his son.  His absence is felt.  And it’s felt even more during this season of family.  During our own season of change.

photos courtesy of Crista Acosta Photography

Still keeping in the spirit of the holiday; and still blurry, dark and horrible as could be!

This would be his “why are you still bothering me with that thing” face.

Miss him so much.

Shane started with a few cold symptoms late last week, and by the time Jay & Aly’s shower was over on Saturday, he was feeling it.  Sunday we literally laid around and did nothing (except for laundry, as you’ll see) and after I put him to bed (he was asleep before 7pm – that’s when you know he’s not feeling well) he woke himself up 4 times in the first hour from all of his coughing.  After that, I had him come out on the couch in the family room where I was folding laundry; and instead of goofing around thinking he had one up on me, he was asleep again in about 3 minutes.  Zoe immediately jumped up next to him and never once left his side all night!

The Shane/Zoe Cycle.  AKA – a sick boy and his dog.

Step One – Shane falls asleep on the couch and Zoe jumps up to lie RIGHTNEXTTOHIM.  NOT something Zoe would typically do!

Step Two -Zoe falls asleep

Step Three – Shane wakes up briefly, spins around and falls immediately back to sleep.  On top of Zoe.

Step Four – Mommy “fixes” Shane and goes to get a glass of water.  She comes back to find Shane’s arm, stretched out as far as it could go, and resting on Zoe.  Some bonds just can not be broken.

A rarely seen and (when you get right down to it) technically HORRIBLE photo, but it’s one that hold a very special place in my heart.  Taken pre-house renovations, pre-Shane, pre-pregnancy, possibly even pre-wedding.  Life was simple.  Health was rampant.  Love was oozing out of our ears.  Merry Christmas, my love.

He’s way too cute (and sweaty!) not to share!  LOVE his Grinch bedding!

I have always loved the holidays.  ALWAYS.  Of course they’ve been lacking a whole lot the last 3 years, but what’s been missing has morphed into who we are and it’s all part of our new normal.

Missing Chris even more this time of year doesn’t change the fact that I share our home with our 5 year old, who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his buddy Old St. Nick.  Shane is just SO much freakin’ fun this year!  He’s aware of everything, he understands all of it, and he is more excited than I have ever seen him about anything.

Last year, right before Thanksgiving, my mom came home from Hallmark with a Christmas countdown ornament.  When it’s touched, the display screen lights up and counts down the days left until Christmas; right to the very last second.  It sits on the nightstand next to his bed, and while he didn’t pay it too much attention last year, he’s checking that thing all the time this go-around!

Every morning, depending on which bed he wakes up in, he either runs into my room with the ornament in his hand, or he runs back into his own room to grab it, and he wakes me up just to tell me what the numbers on the ornament are and exactly how many days are left until Christmas.  He then puts the ornament down on my nightstand and runs into the family room to change the Santa count down display we have sitting next to the TV.  This one uses blocks and he changes the number on the blocks to reflect the same number he just saw on the ornament’s display screen.  Once the blocks have been adjusted, he runs into the kitchen, grabs the dry erase marker and crosses off another day on the calendar that sits on the fridge (mind you, the day he’s crossing off is the one we’ve hardly begun).  On the fridge calendar, he’s counting down the days to get to the box with the star in it (December 1); the day he can FINALLY start the (several) advent calendars we have (there were only so many morning I could stand to hear him ask if NOW he could open a door on the lego box – the Lego City Advent Calendars are PERFECT for little boys, if you haven’t checked them out, you’re missing out!) and once all the counters and calendars have been dealt with; he’s now ready to start the hunt for Joe Elf.  Joe Elf is our “Elf on the Shelf” and every morning Shane just can’t wait to see where he’s ended up after getting back from his trip to the North Pole! (Every night Joe Elf goes back to the North Pole to report to Santa on Shane’s day).  He’s always asking what the next holiday craft project is, if it’s time to make more cookies for Santa yet, which Christmas show we can watch next.  The excitement is obvious, as it’s written all over his face!  He can barely contain himself.  He’s busting at the seams (of his Christmas pajamas!) with anticipation of THE day.  And his excitement; you can’t help but have it rub off on you – it’s addictive – the sweet, innocent holiday merriment of a young child.  He makes me wish it was Christmas everyday.  At night, he’s eager to climb into his bed (decked out in his red jersey sheets and Grinch bedding) next to me and read a few holiday books under the twinkling glow from the Christmas lights that string across his bedroom walls.  There is something magical about it.  And as we lie there at night, I can’t help but smile, because I know what the morning holds.  We get to do it all over again.

And it all starts with the numbers on the ornament’s display screen.

It’s now official.  As of December 23, I will be unemployeed.

It’s not as bad as it sounds though.  I gave my notice yesterday.

As of January, I will officially be going back to school to become an elementary school teacher!  It’s terrifying and exciting all at the same time!

I am enrolled in an internship/certification track program at the University of Bridgeport.  This (incredible) program allows me to intern at a local elementary school during the day and take classes towards my Master in Education at night.  In exchange for the internship, my tuition is paid for.  The program runs a year and half and, hopefully, shortly after that, I’ll be standing in front of a classroom of my own.

I sometimes wonder who the hell I think I am to up and quit my job; with nothing else lined up.  I’m a single mom.  Living in Fairfield County.  But the desire to have more time with Shane; to FINALLY have more time to be a MOM; far outweighs any fear I may have.  As an unemployeed widow with a child under the age of 16, I will be able to collect survivor benefits from social security until I start working again.  It certainly doesn’t come close to covering what my current salary is, but if I’m very careful, and very frugal, it will be enough to live on until I’m working again.

My whole life I’ve wanted nothing more than to be a wife and a mom.  I wanted my kids to be able to have the kind of summers that I had a growing up.  A TRUE break.  The freedom to run around outside, ride their bikes, go swimming with friends, have playdates and go on vacations.  I never wanted our life to revolve around work.  I never wanted my kids to have to spend their summers at day care, or summer camps.  I may not be able to be the stay at home mom I’ve always wanted to be, but I can give him this much.  I can give him his childhood summers.  I can give him more of me.  The me that doesn’t have to worry about cramming a weeks worth of errands and chores into a weekend.  The me with WAY fewer responsibilities.  I can give him the mom he deserves.  The mom I had as a kid.

I can’t put a price tag on that.  No paycheck is worth the time I’ll gain with my little boy.  And while CT isn’t exactly swimming in open teaching positions right now, I know from experience that a lot can change in a year and a half.  Even things that you would never imagine possible.  So that is what I’m holding onto.

And ironically, it’s really only BECAUSE of my husband’s untimely death that I’m even able to do this.  It’s because of him that I’m going to be able to give our son the life we wanted for him to have.  My mortgage is affordable, because of Chris’ planning ahead, because he did consider the possibility of a future that none of us want to imagine.  Because of his planning, I’m able to walk away from my job to work as an intern; so that I don’t have tens of thousands of dollars in student loans when all is said and done.  Because of my husband, I’m being given the opportunity to follow a different dream.  Even in his death, he’s still there.  He’s still looking out for us.  He’s still paving roads and opening doors.  And I’m thankful.  I’m thankful for the opportunities that now lie ahead.

And I can not wait for this summer.  50+ “home days” with my best boy.  It simply does not get any better than that.

Just one; more to come.

I’ve been asked a few times lately to share the story of how Chris and I met; where we went on our first date (soooo typical OC) and how our relationship progressed.  I was actually surprised it wasn’t something I had documented here before.  Yes, I’ve touched upon it here and there and I’ve shared stories and glimpses into our early days, but it’s one story I haven’t told from start to finish.  And maybe that’s the very reason why; the “finish”.  I hate that our story ended so soon, too soon.  So early.  I hate that all that’s left of us is what resides in my mind.  Well, that and our remarkable 5 year old. And while there are far too many moments, too many memories to possibly be able to share in one blog post; here it is, the story of us.  The condensed version, anyway.

The early days of the summer of 1999, the summer before my senior year at UConn, I spent doing very little. I had put a call into my temp agency, the same one I used every other summer, with the hopes that a job that fit my schedule would come up. It didn’t take long, a job was available right here in Stratford. The problem was they needed me to start that day and I was home, alone, without a car. I told the guy from the temp agency I had no way of getting to or from work that day and he immediately offered to pick me up and drive me down there. I was floored. Certainly not the norm, but I was glad for the chance to earn some money and quickly took him up on his offer. An hour later I was walking into UniFirst; and while I didn’t know it then, but I was also walking towards my future.

I was told I was needed down in AR/AP/CSR and would be taking care of a lot of different tasks. I’d be dealing both with the customers, and with the drivers. I was completely outside of my comfort zone, and I knew it, but there was something familiar, something very comfortable, about that job. I immediately fell in love with all of the employees, I even went out on a couple of dates with one of the drivers, but there was a second driver who was busy trying to capture my heart; even if I was unaware of it at the time.

The first time I met Chris was late in the afternoon on my first day. He had just come back from being on the road. One of the last driver’s back (I would come to learn that this was typical for him – one of the first to leave and one of the last to return) and still he had to unload and reload his truck and cash out before he could call it a day. I remember feeling sorry for him. He looked tired. But he was still kind to me. He walked into the office I shared with Theresa, shouting “Hey, T”, he handed her all his paperwork from the day, glanced at me, gave me a huge smile and a gentle wave and turned and walked back out. That very next morning Theresa was trying to set us up.

Chris and I spent the next 4 weeks chatting in the stairwell by the loading dock. He told me he had just come back from a family wedding, which happened to fall over the weekend of his 30th birthday. I had told him that I left work for the 4th of July weekend with plans to fly to TN to visit one of best friends from high school, only to learn of my dad’s passing when I got home from work that day; my trip to TN had been postponed. We talked about the job. About our families. Our friends. He would hint that he’d like for us to go out sometime, and I’d hint that I was reluctant, but one afternoon I walked into the office and Theresa, who had become a pretty good friend, looked at me and said I’d be sorry if I didn’t go out with Chris. She said he was one of the good guys and it would be a bad move to not get to know him better. So I finally agreed. And he finally asked me out. And on July 29, 1999, we had our first date. I was a little reluctant at first, our first date consisted of meeting up at a local dive bar while he did his laundry in the laundromat next door (typical OC, or what?!), but the second I sat down on the bar stool next to him, I knew it was the right move.

We spent a lot of time talking that night. I spent a LOT of time laughing. And on our way out of the bar, standing on the sidewalk on the corner of Main St and Stratford Ave, when he pulled me into his arms and kissed me for the first time; I knew then I was in trouble. I was already falling for this guy. And I’m really honest with myself, I knew at that moment that he was my future.

We spent the rest of the summer flirting at work once he finally got back from being on the road. We continued our chats on the stairwell, we’d exchange glances while passing in the halls. Only Theresa knew we had begun casually dating and outside of work, we spent as much time together as we could. My return to school was quickly approaching and we packed as much as we could into those final weeks. Our 2nd and 3rd dates involved trips to the movies. We saw both The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project (a movie he had already seen, but offered to see again with me). We spent a lot of Saturday nights hanging out in the living room of the house on King St that he shared with Jamie. We’d pick up Chinese food for dinner, we’d drink out of Ball canning jars, we’d sit on (one of three) sofa’s in the living room listening to his vast CD assortment. We had many, many Friday night dinners at Chuck’s with Jamie & Sue. We’d take trips to the mall. We’d drive out to New Haven and go to Richter’s. Or to the Village Pub. And before we knew it summer was over. I was heading back to UConn to finish out my degree and I was leaving behind the love of my life. Looking back at it now, I think that time apart made us stronger. It made us realize what we had and what we never wanted to lose. We spent our weekends driving back and forth to be together. We’d spend entire weekends locked inside that house on King Street. Cooking dinners together, sharing beers with our friends. And before we knew it, I was a college graduate and was home for good. I came home in May 2000 and by August we were moving into our first place together. That following April he left UniFirst and started his job at King Industries. A job he found because of UniFirst. The would make two life changing events that that (not so great) job at UniFirst brought to him. That summer we were moving out of our first place and moving into the home that my mom grew up in. In September 2002 we ran to an animal shelter in Long Island to rescue Kylee. In May of 2003 he finally asked me to be his wife, in a very “around the bush”/OC kind of way. That December, we brought Zoe home from the same animal shelter in Long Island. We were married 10 months later in October 2004, with our two new family members present at the church for pictures. In April 2005 we purchased the home that we had spent the last 4 years living in and started making it ours. Our home. In August 2005 we found out we were expecting our first baby. Shane was born on May 3, 2006 and together the five of us lived the picture perfect life until that fateful day in October 2008. The day that cancer, our sixth family member, would move in. And it refused to move out until it finally took with Chris it on July 16, 2009.

As long ago as 1999 sounds to me right now, the ride; our ride; was far too short.  We had less than 10 years together.  And while we certainly packed a lot into those years, it will never be enough.  I grieve his loss every single day.  I shed tears for what will never be every single day.  And I’ve come to terms with the fact that those two things will never change.  They are a part of me now.  And while I’m thankful for the time we had together, for the things he showed and gave me during our 10 years, it can never make up for what could’ve been.  What should’ve been.  I will never understood why we deserved the hand we were dealt.  Why I couldn’t have the minivan driving, soccer mom life I had always dreamed of.  I’ll never understand why bad things happen to good people.  But I’m reminded on a daily basis, especially this time of year, to be thankful for the time we did have together.  I am a better person for having had those 10 years with Chris.  I love that man with every fiber of my being.  And I still find reasons to fall even more in love with him on daily basis.  And I think that speaks volumes as to who he was; and what we had; that even now that he’s gone, I love him more and more every day.

I miss our nights on King Street.  I miss running off to Bon Jovi shows; or Ranger games at the drop of a hat.  I miss catching a last minute train to the city just because we could.  I miss our teenage makeout sessions with Bruce playing in the background.  I miss having him hold my hand while we drive.  I miss packing him up for those Giants games and sitting up on the couch at night waiting for him to come home.  I miss cooking with him.  I miss his one-liners.  His storytelling abilities.  His antics that could so easily have boarded on annoying; but never did.  Ever.  I miss the smell of him lingering in our bedroom after a shower.  I miss watching him shave.  I miss tracing the heart shaped patch of hair on his back with my finger.  I miss watching him with our son.  With our girls.  I miss the lightheartedness that his very presence brought to a room.  I miss everything there is to miss about that man.  But I cherish our memories.  And I cherish our story.  Even if it never did get the chance to turn into the novel it was always meant to be.

In honor of next week.  And the “great debate” I face every year.  Real vs Artificial.  Real has won the last 2 years.  Not so sure what the outcome will be this time around.

Soccer is done for the season and the holidays loom ahead.  As usual, we trade in one thing to keep us busy for another.  Shaner is excited.  VERY excited.  He knows what the cold weather means and he’s chomping at the bit for the holidays to arrive at our door.  And if I’m being honest, so am I.  I’m ready for some celebratory garb to spruce up our home.  Some holiday cheer to spread around.  It’s been a long fall so far, and I think we’re both ready for some holiday fun.

One of my oldest friends gave birth to twin boys 2.5 weeks ago.  The day after they all went home she went into heart failure; was put on life support and also on the transplant list.  Her boys weren’t even one week old.  It was a horrible few days, involving multiple open heart surgeries, but thankfully she was in the right place, at the right time, with the right surgeons.  And now, 1.5 weeks later, she’s heading home.  Her surgical team was able to repair her own heart and in return, get her off of life support and off the transplant list.  Miracles really can happen.  And we are all forever grateful.   She’s been at my side over half of my life; and while we’ve hit a few bumps in the road; I realize she’s never really left the car.  I’ve realized in these last few weeks just how much I’ve missed her.  And I’m feeling blessed (not something I ever thought I’d hear myself say) to have the chance to ride out the journey with her.  And while I so badly wish I go back in time (for so many reasons), I do realize we’ll only be stronger for having been down the path we’ve been on.

They are beautiful, beautiful, boys.  They take after their Momma.  I can not wait to finally meet them.  And spoil them rotten!

Life has been busy and stressful; and I’m hoping to have some great news to share in the coming week or two.  We are on the brink of making some big changes here.  Changes for the better.  Changes that allow me more time to be a mom.  More time to spend with my boy.  More time to tell Daddy stories and more time to create new memories.  I’m beyond excited about what could lie ahead and I’m praying hard that it all works out.  It’s been a long road, lining everything up to make this change, and I’m hoping that the last few pieces of the puzzle continue to line up and fit together.

Shane LOVED soccer, as I knew he would.  So much like his dad again in that respect.  And already we’re debating about whether to do baseball or soccer in the spring.  He’s anxious to try new things, too, but I think he may have found “his” sport these last few months.

Last week they had two days off from school, one for Election day and one for Veteran’s day.  Shane came with me to work for election day and my office will never be the same again:

He was bored by 11am and ready to head home!  I was able to bribe him to hang in there until 2:30 by promising him a trip to one of his favorite places:

Some of us love our trips to the Cape, and others just love happy meals!

And finally, we capped off our busy last few weeks with a Saturday night playdate with Mommy’s college friends.  I love our group.  I love that we’ve shared an incredible bond and friendship over the last 15 years.  I love how we come together in the difficult times; no questions asked; no words spoken; and are just there.  We are lucky to have each other.  And while we’ve always known that, these last few weeks have reinforced that knowledge all over again.

Jeanette and Cin, you guys were missed.  A lot.  It’s hard to imagine that there are 7 kids MISSING from this photo!

And that brings us back to the holidays.  I’m ready to slow down and soak it all in.  Rejoice in what we do have.  And reflect, as we always do, on what’s been missing these last few years.  Life is still changing.  And I am still learning.

Stowe, VT; June 2005.  Our last trip as a family of “four”.  Two months later we would find out Shane was on his way.

My brother and (future) sister-in-law are getting married in April and we’re hosting their shower at my house early in December.  So with both the holidays and the shower quickly approaching, we’ve been trying to get as much done as possible!  And that includes anything from putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls, to getting some holiday baking out of the way!

Shane isn’t much of a help when it comes to the painting, but this kid sure does enjoy baking some cookies!  And unlike his father used to do when he “helped” me; Shane isn’t busy trying to sneak as much cookie dough as possible when I’m not looking – he’s actually busy helping!!

LOVE these moments with my little guy.  Loved them last year, too.  He’s just so much fun!!!  We cranked up the Imagination Movers channel on Pandora (just a little too early for me to start with the Christmas carols) and we got to work!  He mixed the dough, start to finish, I rolled the dough into little balls, he pressed his little thumb into the middle of each one, and then very, very, carefully, he filled each little 5 year old thumbprint hole with jam.  So sweet.  So fun.  So Shane.

We had a blast last night trick or treating with our BFF’s! All 3 boys wanted to be astronauts, and I wish we had one good picture of all of them together between us, but we don’t. They were adorable though – take my word on that!

These are all iPhone shots (again), but considering I forgot to grab my camera when I left the house that morning, I’m beyond glad to have these.

Shane’s happy jack-o-lantern; he drew the face, and I carved it.

Same pumpkin, 2nd face!

Mommy and her astronaut

All 3 astronauts!

And with Shane’s help, we made the holiday switch this morning -

Pumpkin picking. Shane’s 1st Halloween.

I have an obsession with photographs. More specifically, photographs of my family. Anyone who has ever been inside our home can attest to that. I take FAR too many and don’t delete a single one. Not a closed eye, not a weird smile, not a single one. And still, it wasn’t enough.

I realized, after Chris died, just how few family pictures we had. The problem with me taking all the photos, is that I wasn’t in a single one. I vowed to change that. I vowed to get in front of the camera more. And this past weekend, I finally kept true to my word.

I have “known” Crista for years. Yet we met for the first time just three days ago. Her talent is beyond measure. Together with her lens, she captures the magic. The memories. The love. I couldn’t possibly love these images any more than I do. Crista, I owe you the world. You provide your clients with a gift that can not be purchased or found anywhere else. You pour your heart into your work, and the proof shines through in the images you create. In the moments you capture. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Click HERE to go to Crista Acosta’s blog to view some of the images from our session . . .