They divorced when I was seven-ish.  I thought it was the end of the world.  And to me, it really was.  We were ‘broken,’  I was broken.  And then slowly but surely we had to put our family back together piece by piece.  Albeit, apart pieces, because of course, there was a Mom’s, and Dad’s.  Separate toothbrushes, two beds, different vacations, even different bedtimes, and Dad’s was a little more lenient on the later.  But, things would never go back to the way they were, this was the new normal.  And as I grew up, and became accustom to my new normal, something funny happened.  The arguments of past years became more few, and far between and my parents began speaking words to each other, and not yelling them.  There was casual hellos, and friendly conversations, family dinner nights on Sundays, holidays, and now vacations.

BULLSHIT! Amanda insisted, while studying each others’ poker face.  She had a bad habit of always calling Mom out, which unfortunately lead to her acquiring a huge stack of cards.  And Dad’s was definitely the hardest to decipher; truth or lie?  And as I sat around that coffee table, in our beach house in Florida, I didn’t want it to end because it meant much more to me then just that game of cards.  It was my family together.  My whole, broken and put back together, still divorced, amazing family, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  Because you see, no matter how confusing and broken you may feel, in the end, it always works out.

We struggled to push the glass door open and carefully made our way onto the back balcony in the pitch black night.  Our eyes had yet to adjust, grandpa, you out here? I hit my foot on the white lounge chair.  Yea I’m here, yoookaay he said, in his always chipper voice.  We felt around and seated ourselves across the lounge chair next to him.  Slowly our eyes revealed the starry night shining out over the waves crashing in the gulf, and our young ninety-four year old grandfather sipping on his mojito.  Brian, Amanda and I sat there in the warm summers night as we listened to his stories about what it was like when he was growing up, the civil war era, working for Dupont, and how he swept my grandmother, the beautiful Alice Hill, off her feet and away from the guy she was going with, during that very first car ride.

He has lead a full happy life, and through his recent travels in the last few years to Ireland, Alaska, and Hawaii, it had lead him to this point.  This night.  This balcony.  Sitting with three of his grandchildren, sharing stories of years past.  I couldn’t help but want to hear more stories, but in true Grandpa fashion his straw had reached dry ice at the bottom of his cup.  He had finished his drink, and needed another one, of course.  We walked off the balcony, leaving the stars and waves behind, but not the moments.  Those moments, on that balcony, they stayed with us.

I absolutely adore Jamie and Joe.  They have a amazing wedding planned for September at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, which is totally fitting because Jamie and Joe are both graphic designers, who met at work after a secret courtship so as not to get in trouble.  I met up with them in Frederick County, Maryland on a very steamy June day but regardless they were all smiles.  You know how much I love a couple when I traipse through huge straw fields acquiring poison ivy for the next month, KIDDING, kinda.  But obviously it was totally worth it, can’t wait for September!

I mean, really, how cute is Joe.  Err, I guess boys don’t like being called cute, but everything about him is so darn cute.  Jamie picked a keeper!

We found this precious little wild strawberry.  Then I dared Joe to eat it, he was too scared.  ;)

It is clearly evident how happy he makes her, Joe makes her smile all the time.

Hello there gorgeous light in an old barn, that we DID NOT TRESPASS TO GET INTO.

Sometimes couples have a hard time picking locations for our engagement sessions, but since Jamie and Joe are both graphic designers they had a vision for our shoot, and picked the most amazing spots.

Definitely my favorite photograph from the day.  It’s so them: happy, smiling, and in love.

Gorgeous Jamie, just gorgeous.

Here’s a little sneak peek from Katie and Mike’s wedding at The Oaks in Saint Michaels.  More from this wedding, and so many other blog posts coming soon!

Yes, it’s true.  I’m going on vacation.  I haven’t been on one of those things in six years. Crazy, I KNOW.  I’m not going to be answering emails during this time, so if it’s urgent call 911.  And just do me a little favor and go ahead and cross your fingers that the oil doesn’t reach the beach where were are going to be, because that would be just my luck.  Since the blogging is way backed up, here is a little goodness to hold you over.

And I might just be doing one of these vacation things again in the near future…so I’m taking a poll, what’s your favorite vacation spot?  One random lucky commenter will receive a fancy prize, so get to commenting.

‘He did it right in this very spot.’ We stood at work, and the light coming from her finger was just about as bright at the smile on her face as she told me how he proposed.  I ouued and ahhed over her fancy new ring and was excited to hear what she had planned.  It won’t be for a few years she said, once I finish up Pharmacy school, then we will get married.  And just as she planned Asal finally finished school, and has planned a beautiful wedding at the end of July.

I’m so excited for Asal and Nick’s wedding at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, with the biggest Greek/Persian wedding reception you have ever seen at the Grand Lodge in Baltimore.

Is your pharmacist this hot?  Cause I know mine isn’t.  So fierce, Asal, so fierce.

Ever since I’ve know Asal (we used to work together), she has wanted a photograph in front of a barn door as I have done before.  Hard to do in Baltimore, but I think it was her lucky day.  Barn door, in downtown Baltimore, BOOM.

Nick is pretty much a professional model in front of the camera.

This one is definitely my favorite from the day.

Today I sat at my desk and staring out the window where I can see a rooftop pool.  It would have looked so much better up close, I’m sure of, but alas I sit at my desk editing.  I’m tired and frustrated, this computer switching thing is killing me and the thought of going on vacation this weekend, for a whole week, is putting me in even more of a panic.  It’s days like these where my frustration just makes me want to throw in the towel.  And as I took one of two breaks, TWO BREAKS PEOPLE, in nine and a half hours, I opened my front door to the most spectacular sight I HAVE EVER SEEN. Apparently someone got word that I like cupcakes, particularly, Georgetown Cupcakes.  I’m not exactly sure who they came from, but I can guarantee you that they made my day.

Thank you mystery Cupcake Bandit, I love them so very much, and I can’t thank you enough for brightening my day.  They are so delicious, and I might already have had two three.

Nicole and Mike are so adorable, and I can’t wait for their August wedding in downtown Annapolis at the super chic Westin. Thanks guys for spending the afternoon with me roaming the streets of Bethesda!

Mike is always smiling and having fun.

Well hello there gorgeous!

I love this one, it’s so them.

June, whew, glad that month is over. Some days it seemed everything was going wrong. Like EVERYTHING. It started when I went into my Dell computer and graciously tried to make more room for it to run faster. More commonly known as deleted things, crucial things, things that may or may not have stopped my computer from working FOR TWO WEEKS, and then it was all down hill from there. And I’m not going to lie, sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when life keeps kicking you down. But I’m here, keeping my head up and trying to move forward. I ended up buying a new fancy machine, and it’s got a picture of a half eaten apple on the front. I feel really lost, but I’m excited to get back into the swing of things. So please pardon the dust if things seem to be running a little haywire around here, cause, THEY ARE!

Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the fourth with your families. And if you get a photo booth at your wedding, I may or may not have to jump in.

POP. SSSSSSSSSSS. The tire started to wobble and the car became out of control. I pulled over on the very narrow median, right against the cement barrier of Interstate 495, which more resembles a Nascar track, at the peak of rush hour. I called AAA and they said it would be a two hour wait, and I’m all, DO YOU KNOW WHERE I’M STOPPED?! I guess it didn’t matter to them. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I called my dad crying. He had just started to get sick, and I didn’t want to ask him for help because I wasn’t sure if he could do it. After a less than sixty second conversation he promptly hung up the phone and said he was on his way. Not fifteen minutes later, I saw his black BMW with it’s hazards on, precariously make it’s way across traffic and pull up right behind me. I took a huge sigh of relief. When I needed rescuing. My dad, he came. To rescue me, selflessly, even though his balance was so off we weren’t sure if he could do it.

He stepped out of the car with his suit on and started removing the lug nuts, as his tie flapped in the wind, generated by the cars whizzing by at 75mph. And when his balance was thrown off, he would put his hand on the back of my white civic, recompose himself, then continue changing my tire. Although it meant a lot to me at the time, I never knew how just how much that moment meant to me, because we all were unsure of how this sickness would progress. But through all my years one thing has remained the same, he comes, to rescue me, selflessly, even though he’s not sure he can do it.

Happy Father’s Day Dad, Thank you for passing your love of photography to me, rescuing me times of need, and pushing me to chase my dreams. I love you. m