Celebrating life and love,

Krista

What was the prize you ask?

A trip to Uganda, Africa to photograph Watoto’s projects… and to be mentored by three top photo journalists.

Seriously.

This to me is my dream trip of a lifetime. I don’t dream of all inclusive resorts… I dream of Africa. Of meeting people and hearing their stories, seeing how they live and sharing these moments with my camera. I dream of bringing awareness to issues and people – bring a voice to the voiceless – through my camera.

Tonight my dream came true.

One month from today, I leave for Africa. I still can hardly believe this. I was sure it was a typ-o in the email sender line or that they had misdialed my number (awkward!). But they have assured me that it’s for real. Myself, and two extremely talented other Canadian photographers were chosen to travel with three of Canada’s top photo journalists to Uganda. While there we will be visiting Watoto’s projects… child sponsorship villages, homes for women with HIV, meeting former child soldiers, homes for babies… and more. We will be documenting these projects and sharing with you. What an absolute honour.

I read some statistics tonight on Watoto’s website I have to share…

I believe in dreams coming true – but I also believe in answered prayers. I prayed and believed and hoped… and am so excited! It is so amazing the timing also and how it is all coming together. And right after I got the confirmation on my cell, I walked into the store and the song that was playing was “Wavin’ flag”. The song that was written for Haiti, that I used on my slideshows for my Haiti images… and a song I associate with the hope of a generation being rebuilt and renewed. Much like is needed in Uganda. To me it was a sign and I got a bit choked up.

I will be leaving one month from today… and gone June 16-28. I can not wait to share with you all!! Keep your eyes here for more about this dream trip! Also, if you know me, you know I hate flying – but love traveling. Would appreciate your prayers as it’s a long flight!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Dawn and I had fun chatting about ideas, and decided on a maternity session down at the beach with Scott and his two kids Adam and Sarah. Dawn is a great step-mom to these two and I have no doubt she’ll be a natural at the baby stage too!

Hamilton often gets a bad rap… but it has some beautiful places! Like this….

We started with the family of four with some fun in the sun and sand!

Dawn brought lots of wardrobe choices – love that!

Love the bright colours!

This cracked me up!

Can’t wait to meet the little one soon!!!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

What I have learned in what I can hardly believe has been almost a decade of parenting is this… I really don’t know what I’m doing. I make mistakes. But, I am learning so much. I am learning how to love with a reckless abandon (have you seen Eden’s wild running, leaping hugs? They’ll knock you off your feet!), I am learning to see the world with fresh eyes (why mom? why?), I am learning what I value most as I try to share my heart with my kids. I’m learning to laugh more, love more, play more, read more…. simply LIVE and embrace life with wide open arms.

This Mother’s Day I am so thankful for my two munchkins. It is such an honour to be their mom. The other day, Madison asked if I could take some photos of her. This is rare in our house… so I leaped at the chance. Eden had no interest… until she got bored of waiting for us. She joined us for some too! They wore what they had on… I let Madi choose the poses and locations around our yard. And we had fun! Here are my girlies…

Meet Madison. She is 9 years old, in love with horses, dogs, reading, climbing trees, and is at that fun age between starting to act grown up… and playing with Barbies. She is my sensitive girl who can tell instantly if someone is down or having a bad day. She’s quick to cheer you up with a thoughtful note, or impromptu gift. Madi has got a quick wit and I love conversing with her. She sees life and people in the best possible light. Love this kid.

And then there’s 7 year old Eden. Eden is a wild child. A free spirit. You never know what this girl is going to do – and I love her random, quirky ways. She is quick with her cuddles and compliments. She loves music, dancing, drawing, fashion, reading, and just being with people. Eden can make anyone laugh! Eden has a way of sneaking into your heart within seconds of meeting her. Probably because she’s already climbed up on your lap, wrapped her arms around your neck and told you how wonderful you are.

One thing I know… both my girls are passionate about finding ways to help people. To change the world. To make a difference. I can not wait to see where their paths take them.

This Mother’s Day I’m reminded what an amazing responsibility – and gift! – I have with my two girls.

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I have been married for 15 years and often get asked if I have any regrets or things I’d change about my wedding. There are two that come to mind. First, I’d hire a good photographer! And second, I would find ways to say thanks to my parents. Let me explain — since becoming a parent myself, I now see all the million and one ways my parents invested in me. A wedding is such a celebration of love — what better time to say thanks to those who have raised us and brought us to this point in our lives?

In conversations with fellow vendors Christa (Anista Designs) and Jocelyn (Sugarbelle Cakes), we came up with the idea of a bride throwing a tea party for her mother to say “thanks.” We pictured the tea party at the family home — a farm with an orchard in this case — but with the bride paying fine attention to details as a way to show mom she cares! It is a time for them to sit and reflect, reminisce, laugh, cry and dream together. We envisioned the tea party also as a time for an exchange of special gifts: a thank you card expressing a daughter’s gratitude, or perhaps a family heirloom from mom that has been passed down for generations. Our models are a mother and daughter, and they enjoyed sitting and looking at old family photos while mom shared stories of the daughter’s ancestors. A blank frame was presented for the daughter’s wedding photo to be added to the family history. The tea pot at the tea party has been passed down for generations and has the initials of six generations engraved in it!

Our theme was lace. Lace is so beautiful but also reminds us of an era gone by. The tablecloth at the tea party was hand made by the bride’s grandmother, for example. The wedding dress was one from a mother to her daughter (and awfully similar to one Kate Middleton made fashionable again!). Wearing a mother’s dress — even for only part of the day! — is such a beautiful tradition. Our lace theme was carried through the session in everything, from the cake and cookies made by Sugarbelle Cakes to the lace stationery (including those envelopes we’ve all been drooling over on Pinterest!) from Anista Designs. Some easy DIY lace projects were included that any bride could incorporate: a lace bouquet, a lace-covered frame with magnets for the seating plan, lace-covered balloons, a lace backdrop for your photo booth, a simple lace headband in the bride’s hair, etc. On Mother’s Day, we wanted to honour our moms and say THANKS!

We are so in love with this vintage wedding dress!

Wherever you are, I hope you have time to thank mom – or the women in your lives who have invested in you!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I love how they’re always laughing!!

Behind the baseball diamond was some great fields – where we found some gorgeous trees, rocks and other goodies!

Alicia has this hilarious habit of leaping into Steve’s arms… if he’s ready or not!

Can’t wait for your wedding next month!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I haven’t posted pictures of the munchkins in awhile – we had an impromptu photo session tonight around the house here… for now here’s one. I love these two so much!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Kirk, Lyndsay and Abigail came over to my place. We started in and around the yard – before heading in to my studio. I always say I’m not a studio photographer… but it was fun to photograph in and around my work space! I’m not into backdrops and studio lights (natural light pretty please!) but having her on the couch and bench and such was a lot of fun!

So without further ado… introducing Miss Abigail! Prepare to fall in love….

Abigail wasn’t too keen on being on the grass. ha ha.

Got to love a daddy’s girl though! And a GRandpa’s girl too – I LOVE that Abigail’s child care when Lyndsay goes back to work is her Lyndsay’s dad. How special!

Mommyhood completely suits Lyndsay!

This is the sign it’s time to go inside!

First a behind the scenes look at what mom’s and dads do…. here they are both singing and dancing and… I love it!

Got to love perfect baby skin – gorgeous girl!

And I have to share a funny story. If Abigail got upset at all, all they had to do was play the Will.I.Am Sesame Street video, and she instantly cheered up. I mean INSTANTLY. And if I needed her to look somewhere, mom or dad would simply hold their iphone in that direction. It was hilarious – and so helpful!

I’ll leave you with Abigail’s favourite song… be forewarned though it gets stuck in your head!!!

Celebrating life and love

Krista

There are times I can forget Meera has the big “c” word. I know that seems silly as I visit her monthly in the hospitals and see her unwell. But, I also see her laugh and play and be a typical two year old. For some reason this week it hit me how this wee little munchkin is fighting this battle for her life. Meera’s last MRI came back great, her chemo finishes in just over a month – and things are looking great… but the fact that this little Miss has had to fight this war can make my heart ache. Yesterday her mom shared how a 16year old friend with the same cancer as Meera passed away this week. 16years old. I hope and pray that in my lifetime we see a cure to cancer. Today I’m wearing my “cancer sucks” shirt we had made up when my dad went through his cancer scare. I am also stepping out to enjoy and savour this day – and every day – because I can. I’m sure that 16 year old, and countless others, would have given anything to enjoy one more day. May I not take this day, this breath, this moment for granted.

Sigh. Big breath.

Okay – so on Monday I went to join Meera for her last small chemo treatment. In June Meera has her last big chemo treatment. In July we party.

When I got there Meera didn’t look overly thrilled to be there.

I have loved getting to know Meera – I love kids so much. She is getting more and more comfortable with me, and I was able to take her down to the Teddy Bear Sanctuary on her ward and spend some time one on one hanging out with her.

There are so many great volunteers – one elderly lady volunteer, brought Meera in a stuffed bear and some colouring. She told me that they buy the bears, and then make the little sweaters and outfits for them. So sweet! I LOVE seeing how people use whatever gifts they have to bring cheer and hope.

We headed back to the oncology room – such a fun place for kids! – to wait. So much to do and play with!

And let’s not forget sleeping beauty… Meera’s wee sister slept most of the time. But I did manage to get some snuggles in first.

And then it was show time. First they had to access her port, take some bood samples, etc. Poor Meera. What kid wants to lay down and let people poke and prod at them? I can’t even get my kids to let me brush their hair! She looked so sad… and when she started to reach for me and yell “hold hand” for me to hold her hand, I wished I could have. I am always amazed at how strong and loving Roy and Laura are with her.

And then within seconds of having it done, she sits up, wipes her tears and in her cheery little voice starts playing again. Love. This. Kid.

I love how hospitals and nurses make things fun for kids. Meera walked with the nurse to send her blood “to the moon” (aka – the vacuum system that sends it to the lab!).

Then once the blood report came back, we could proceed with the chemo.

And more waiting….

The nurse brought in a whoopee cushion – hilarious! Meera’s face whenever someone sat on it was priceless!

Meera has all the staff charmed as she wanders the halls and explores.

Laura has an ability to make everything fun for Meera.

When I left Meera was doing okay…

Shortly afterwards though her fever spiked, her hemoglobin dropped and she needed red blood, her nose started ripping blood again, her blood platelets dropped too… and so back to the hospital goes the family. Such an exhausting, emotional roller coaster.

Please keep this family of four in your thoughts and prayers. And above all remember to….

celebrate life and love!

Krista

We had plans to meet downtown Oakville around where they had their first date – but when Jennifer emailed me to say how gorgeous the orchard photos I had posted recently were – we changed plans. Unfortunately the pink cherry blossoms were gone, but the beautiful white pear blossoms were still here. All day that day it rained and was cloudy and just looked ominous. We debated to postpone it – but didn’t want to lose the blossoms. We went with it – and so glad we did! The sky was gorgeous, and the nice soft overcast light beautiful. And at one point the sun just burst through and lit up all the trees like they were glowing. It was a chilly evening but SO beautiful!

I’ll leave you with these two which sums up Hamilton & Jen perfectly…. lots of laughs!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista