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Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Blessings!

Wishing you and your family a joyous Christmas! May your heart be filled with happiness and cheerfulness and your days blessed with the company of good friends and family. A special thanks to all the wonderful people who have made 2010 an amazing year for Circle of Life Photography~ I feel continually blessed by each one of you! Praying for God's continued guidance and direction in the year to come~ may I honor and glorify Him in the images of his people!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Giving Back :: Celebrating Adoption {Fall 2010}

Hello again! No, I did not drop off the face of the earth, but blogging has taken a back seat to portrait sessions, editing, ordering and family life the past month. I had no idea what I was in store for this fall! But I loved every minute. Some days I feel a little like I went back to college (I LOVED college!) ~ the late, late nights, lots of coffee to keep going, lots of work interspersed with fun times with family & friends over the holidays. Now I am SOOO ready for a winter break, but can start to resume posting some of the fabulous sessions from the fall.

The first one up is the adorable Miss A~ this was a giving back/baby portrait session to celebrate her recent adoption. I always love finding out the stories of families who are created through adoption~ her mommy & daddy, Lisa and James, were thrilled to find out they were going to be parents as they received a call saying a baby girl had been matched with them~ and she had not only arrived, but was waiting for them at the hospital! I can't imagine the scramble to get everything needed for a newborn and literally transform a room into a nursery overnight. This little sweetheart has been a blessing and a little lovebug for her family, with a smile that is so endearing. We met at a local park on a beautiful fall morning~ here are a few from her session! Enjoy!










Links

Photo gallery website for proofing and additional info: www.mycirclephotos.com 


Circle of Life Photography's page on Facebook~ Click HERE to add this page to your favorites!


Michelle Miller allowed me to link to her brilliant post about the art of photographing ... I simply cannot say it better myself! Click HERE to read the post.

Giving Back~ Organizations supported by Circle of Life Photography

In giving back, Circle of Life Photography's main goal is to help those experiencing extreme poverty and nourishing them with food, shelter and spiritual guidance. Education is a big part of helping people learn how to help themselves and change the downward spiral of poverty for a better future for themselves and their children. Locally, a more tangible way of giving back is through using my photography gifts to serve others who are experiencing crisis (see NILMDTS and Pillows of Love.)


Compassion International~ Haiti's Child Survival Project

http://www.compassion.com/contribution/csp/default.htm

In 2011-12, Circle of Life Photography makes a monthly $30 donation to the non-profit organization, Compassion International, whose goal is to change Haiti through the rescue, nuture and discipling of children during the critical early childhood years.


Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation

http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart for families overcome by the grief and pain of the death of their newborn or infant. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives. I am an active NILMDTS volunteer photographer for Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Lancaster Women & Babies Hospital.


Joni & Friends Family Retreat

http://www.joniandfriends.org

I am honored to be a volunteer photographer at the Joni & Friends Family Retreat in the Poconos (Spruce Lake Retreat) for a week each summer (click here for past blog post.) Joni & Friends seeks to serve as a ministry of outreach to people with disabilities and their families across the US and around the world. Families from around the country attend Family Retreats seeking relaxation, encouragement and a time to strengthen their family.