How could this not be my favorite photo this week? This is my freckled-sunshine-Annie girl. Those Hydrangeas were just begging to bring out the blue in her eyes. She begrudgingly posed for this. I was in the middle of another shoot, and she was in the middle of working on one of her two summer jobs. I held the soft petals against her face and said a name of someone she holds dear. We won’t say whom. All I can say is she lost her resolve to make me stop, and gave me a soft and pensive smile. She told me I cheated. Maybe I did. Look what I got? Magic. My summer girl.

This really can’t count as a favorite photo of the week, because I haven’t posted one in weeks. It is, however one of my favorites from this week. I love Zinnias. They are so happy and dependable. Chris and I planted a row of these when he planted the summer vegetable garden. I still remember us sprinkling the delicate seeds into the rocky farm soil we inherited on this land. It was nearly dark and we planted them by flashlight just before an evening walk. Now, they stand as beacons of hope on the edge of the withering garden. I can almost hear them giggling sometimes, as if in conversation. They always cheer my heart. My love and I planted them together, and once again, we are reaping what we have sown. So glad we sowed joy.

Had to choose this for my favorite photo this week. Meet Indiana, aka Indiana Appleseed, Independent Sunshine, or just Indie. She will answer to them all. We got her shortly after my sweet Taylor of 12 years died. Taylor was an English Springer Spaniel and dearly loved by the family. I knew we could not replace her, but we wanted another dog, and our Golden Retriever Cowboy was lonely. We found Indie advertised online by a local homeschool family. She was the last available female. I loved her immediately. As you can tell, she is very smart, and sometimes we think she can look into our souls with those eyes. She is so much fun. She had a litter of puppies in her first year, and many of our friends benefitted! We get to keep up on their progress in their new families, and they are also dearly loved. Our other puppy, Ellie, was the runt of the litter. She “wears the pants” as Johnny so aptly puts it. Demure looking, she really runs the show, as most little dogs do.:)

I had to do more than one favorite photo this week, because there were so many I loved in this shoot! These are my friend Linda’s beautiful kids and I loved these shots!!! So sweet.

I love this image. Caught at an unexpected moment and angle, it feels intimate and beautiful. This is one of my elegant brides from this last year. I could choose so many photos of her. She was so free and fun to photograph. Who knows what she was thinking at this moment, as she was breathing in the last moments before her marriage to Jonathan. Stunning.

I love looking through my archives for favorite photos. Each set brings back a world of memories and experiences not only with my family, but my clients as well.

This one of the Shogren Family is very special to me. I love this family!  They are so warm and encouraging to be around. Karen mentors young women and is on the prayer team at our church, and you can always find Dan smiling and working with the parking  lot team. I always feel loved when I am around them.

I adore this picture of them  as they are being encircled with their now mostly grown children. All of them are also wonderful, each of them in their own way. This image just says “family” to me.  We need more of this! May the heritage they have created continue for generations to come.

I am trying to continue my favorite photo of the week, in spite of the busyness of late. I came across this photo today that I took  two summers ago on Peak’s Island in Maine. Our dear friends have a house there, and we have the relished the community we have found with them while on that beautiful and  idyllic island. I took this while walking one morning. This photo describes the pace on Peaks so well. Everyone works at a slow pace, and doesn’t seem to mind hanging their underwear out on the line to dry, even if it is just out back on the main road through town. I love that. May we all be so free and transparent. Here’s to summer, friendship, Peaks Island, and letting it all hang out!

I love this photo of my Annie. She will be twenty this week. Although this photo was just taken last year atop our horse Jackie, you can still see the little girl in her. My little girl. The little girl that loves to come home and ride horses, sit and read on the porch swing, dance in the kitchen and make me laugh. Annie. Only one.

While sorting through my photos for a new project, I came across many of my favorite photos. So, I decided to start a category just for them, and post them from time to time.

I love this one of little Camden Chupp taken for his one year birthday.

Enjoy~