Packing for Africa and an Empty Box

A year ago this is what my bed looked like:
I was surrounded by Ziploc baggies, dryer sheets and clothing.  Little pieces of paper were fluttering around in the breeze of the fan and I was trying my darnedest to remember to put the cap on the Sharpie after I used it every time so I didn't color on my bedspread.  The scent of lavender in the air was pleasant as I sorted and organized my outfits for the upcoming trip - putting each one into its own bag with a dryer sheet to keep it fresh-smelling. When I wasn't packing, shopping, or making lists, I was busy taking photos and editing images, raising money for the trip... that's how Mission for Mawu came to be! 
What I didn't know was that when I returned from Africa I would rebuke those dryer sheets.  I didn't know Mission for Mawu would keep on going.  I didn't know that I'd leave my (mostly) unpacked suitcase laying open on the sofa in our room for over a month just so I could smell Africa every time I walked by it. 
I didn't know that I would come back missing a vital organ: my heart. 
It's been (almost exactly) a year since my trek to Ghana, West Africa.  (You can start reading day 1 of my journey if you haven't read it yet, then follow the sidebar links to the other days)  I knew going into this journey that it would change my life, but I didn't know the effect would be so long-lasting.  I mean, I had hoped it would be, but (and those of you that have been on short-term missions know) I figured it would wear off after a few months. I felt inside-out-upside-down-turned-around when I came back and I have to say, I still get those feelings a year later.  I can't keep my mind off of Africa.
I can't stop thinking about Father's House.

I can't get these sweet little faces out of my head.

      

My dear friend (and co-founder of Father's House) is heading back to Ghana in a few days and I thought about sending him with an empty box.  That way he'd have something to put my heart in when he found it there, and he could bring it back to me here in the States.  But I'm not giving him a box, even though I know he would totally take it if I asked him to.  I kind of love that my heart is in Africa.  I wouldn't feel right if it were anywhere else.  So I've tossed the empty box in the recycle bin and look forward to the day my husband gets to visit the place that stole my heart.  And I look forward to the day my son gets to meet the kids that will teach him how to play a mean game of futbal.  And I look forward to the day our family sets off on the journey together, following God's call for our lives. So until then, I'll keep snapping photos, I'll keep editing images and mailing out CD's... I'll keep donating 25% of every session fee to Father's House, and I'll keep putting the other 75% into our special missions fund so we can go when God tells us to.

And until then, my bed looks like this:

 

And that makes my heart happy... even if it is all the way across the ocean.

The Brittish Yavoos Are Coming!

How exciting to hear the The Father's House had some guests from Canada recently! 

That's right, Jake, Chanda and the Great 8 got a visit from 5 'yavoos' recently!  Five girls from Canada hung out at TFH for a few days and one of them blogged about it HERE.  How awesome is it that people from all over are coming to know and learn about The Father's House?  It gives me the warm fuzzies inside when I think about how knowledge of TFH is growing every day... from events like Ghana Rock, an interview on the radio with the founders here in the Charlotte area, and now this.  Awesomeness.  Yes.  I just said Awesomeness.  I can, because I'm excited! :)   Keep spreading the word about the amazing things happening at and through The Father's House - and hey, why don't YOU get involved too?  Head to the TFH website to check it out!

A Little Overdue...

This post is a little overdue, I'll admit it.  Luckily, I was overdue too, or I wouldn't have been able to capture this adorable family in their first weeks of being a family of four!  She and I were due only a week apart, she went pretty close to her due date, and I was 10 days late, so I got to capture this cutie in his first few days of life (with the help of my friend/fellow photog cause we all know I wasn't going to be able to bend/crouch/crawl at over 9 months pregnant!)

 

Isn't he handsome?!  Baby Jack was such a gem to photograph - very even tempered and he put up with us handling him very nicely!  

Big sister got in on the action too - isn't she just gorgeous!?

 

She did a great job holding her baby brother!

Mom & Dad couldn't escape the camera either - here's to the new family of FOUR!

 

She's SUCH a daddy's girl these days :)

 

Thanks for letting me (us) capture your new little addition and beautiful family Holtmans! 

Version 2.0

Meet the Sides family... no you aren't imagining it, these aren't the same Sides as before - baby L didn't grow up that fast!  These are baby L's cousins!  It was a joy and honor to be able to photograph another part of the Sides family this spring as they welcomed their second baby boy into the world.  Baby F Sides was only 11 days old the day of the shoot - and he was such a trooper!

Big brother T was just waking up from his nap in time to be captured on film.  He's a fun-spirited, adorable one-and-a-half year old that kept us on our toes!

The parents weren't planning on being in the shots, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass - they were sweet to indulge me!

And we can't forget the first 'baby' of the family - he's a great guard dog... sweet, soft and very interested in taking care of his 'brothers'!

 

Thanks for letting me capture your beautiful family on camera Sides family!!

... Oh, and GO WOLFPACK! :)

Spring is near...

... and so is the arrival of this adorable family's first baby

- a girl! 

I had so much fun hanging out with these dear friends of ours and being able to capture their very first baby bump.  It was an unseasonably warm day here in Charlotte so we headed to the park!  ... and apparently so did every other person in the city!  It was a great day for photos, so with some patience waiting for people to get out of the frame and some pleading pregnant women, we were able to capture some really cute photos.  I'm sure we were quite the sight to behold - this mama walking around at 37 weeks crouching, bending and laying down with me snapping away behind the lens at 33 weeks! 

     

There's Big Brother Levi! He's excited to meet his baby sister too!

    

 

Love the way he's looking at her in this one!

 

She's so gorgeous!!!

    

     

After our fun at the park we headed back to their place to capture some of the cute little details in the nursery.

 

 
Those beautiful curtains were hand-made by Amy's mother-in-law!  Aren't they beautiful!

Thanks for letting me capture this special moment for you Pugh family!  I look forward to meeting baby girl in person very soon!