Abandoning professionalism, I’m going to admit it-I have favorites. I’m human, forgive me 🙂 Kristin is one of them and having the opportunity to photography her belly is something I have been anticipating for several months. I am ecstatic to meet (and photograph) this baby girl…and I know I’m not the only one!

I met Kristin three years ago. I can remember the evening…we were both attending a bereavement support group, releasing balloons in remembrance of our babies. I don’t know if I’ve even told Kristin, but I knew who she was before we ever spoke.  I had been following her blog since shortly after her son, Noah’s, death.  My mom had photographed Kristin’s belly & Noah shortly after birth…she was touched by Kristin’s strength and faith & she had shared a little of that with me. Kristin & women at Wallen Baptist Church began making memory books, in honor of Noah, for my mom & I to fill with our photographs as a keepsake for parent’s who experience infant loss. I remember thinking when I first saw one of the beautiful books, “Wow, this is one strong lady-blessing so many other parents with this gift.”  Never did I think that a few months later I would be assembling my own memory book. As I did, I thought of Kristin-of her witness & unwavering faith when the walls were crumbling down. Quite frankly, I wanted to be like her….faithful, humble, obedient….when what I really felt like doing was to throw my hands up at God.

I don’t feel that it is my place to share much of Kristin, Mike, Trent & Drew’s very personal journey.  Kristin has a beautiful blog – you can check it out here. You will be BLOWN AWAY by this family’s faith and her heartfelt words. Over the past three years I have been blessed by Kristin and her babies. I often think of Noah, Joanna, and Emilie and how God has used their precious lives to touch so many. What I have learned most from Kristin’s witness is to lean not on our own understanding, but to trust that God is faithful – ALWAYS – and that He has a plan, even when we cannot make sense of it. Trusting that, I know that the Creator’s hands are knitting together a perfect, beautiful baby girl who will be here shortly 😉

Kristin & Mike, thanks for letting me document this special time! I hope that you treasure these images for years to come…