Remember the feeling of spinning round & round as a kid, trying to make yourself dizzy? That first step you take to stop the dizziness is always the wonkiest. You try to get your footing, but 90% of the time, you just fall flat on your face as the world keeps spinning around you…

That’s what the last six months have felt like for me. The world kept spinning at a crazy pace & I kept grasping to find my footing. Last fall, life threw me a heck of a curve ball, and while I took a pretty solid swing…I can’t say that I knocked it out of the park. Its incredibly hard to face your own mortality…and even harder to watch your children have a front-row seat in your struggle to survive. I could recap it all for you..the 29 nights I had to kiss my boys goodnight & watch the hospital room door close behind them, the mornings I woke to find my hubby scrunched into pretzel positions after spending the night in a non-reclining recliner, the incredible surgeon who saved my life on September 17th (who also happens to be one of my former fathers of the bride..), the 6 weddings I shot with an 8-inch gash down my middle..packed with gauze, the wound vac that my incredible surgeon tried to get me to wear to my October weddings ( which I convinced him I could not shoot with..), the pain of missing my first 2 weddings in 6 years of business… and the amazing job my brother Ben did shooting in my stead, having my buddy Shane Snider swoop in and offer to back me up for my October weddings ( and lovingly referring to me as “roast beef” during each road trip ), the crazy amount of flowers that flooded the hospital room making it look like a flower shop exploded ( and my favorite card from friends Cathy & David ), the insane amount of spaghetti & lasagna that packed our fridge for weeks; losing the luxury of showering for a solid month ( in case you’re wondering, the magic dry shampoo cap isn’t so magic ), watching the sparkle in my children’s eyes fade a little as they discovered mommies aren’t invincible after all, spending 8 weeks looking like I got into a fight with a drunken knife-wielding sailor, and having that incredible surgeon promise to put my belly button back where it belongs ( a promise he kept 100% ), dropping 20 pounds in 4 weeks to a frail-looking 105lbs, and finally, finally realizing that it’s time for me to slow down. 234 weddings in 6 years. You do the math. For some people that’s cake, but for me…my job had become my life. I could recap it all for you, piece by piece, but the truth is…I don’t want to look back. Time to tear the rearview mirror off the car. Our struggles don’t define us. Its how we find our way through them, that makes life richer in the end. It may sound bananas, but I feel like I’ve been given a gift. A glimpse of what life is truly about. And from where I’m standing, it has never been sweeter. The past 6 months have been spent building the life I’ve always wanted..a life of balance. A life where work & family can happily coexist. I hope you guys can forgive me for the lack of posts since last fall. I’ve watched with a heavy heart as my blog traffic dropped from 3-4000 visits a week to just under 900. To those of you who kept checking back…thank-you…and I promise I won’t disappear on you again.

So the answer to the question I’m sure you’re wanting to ask….did I intend to leave a snapshot of my sweaty little family ( after an hour of crabbing with friends in Charleston ) pinned to my blog for half a year? No….but I can tell you this…it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Everything has changed for the better in these past 6 months & I intend for those changes to be seen here on the blog too. Not just in its appearance, but in the content posted. Stick around & you’ll see what I mean.. :)

The 2012 season could not have started with a more inspiring couple. Now that I have officially hijacked Lynn & Stefan’s blog post with this update, its time to tell their story. I’ve known Stefan for ages…since middle school days. He’s the guy that, even throughout high school, everyone loved. His boyish charm made the girls swoon & the fact that he isn’t afraid to be completely goofy ( the proof is in their save the date video here) makes him even more lovable. I knew it would take an extraordinary gal to sweep him off his feet, and after meeting Lynn..let me tell ya, he hit the jackpot. She has a Catherine Hepburn-style beauty, classic…with a smile to end all smiles. I have always loved people that smile with their eyes, and Lynn is one of those people. She lights up when she’s with Stefan & if the moments on their wedding day are any indication of how they will spend their married life, its sure to be blissful. They share an awe-inspiring love that literally took my breath away during their first look. When I started putting together their slideshow, I searched for over a week for the perfect song & after trying a few jingle-jangly indie tunes that didn’t quite fit, I decided to go with something special. This song was written by my hubby for his solo record released in 2009, and he has played it live at quite a few weddings. I’ve been waiting for the perfect couple to share this song with & Lynn and Stefan are it.

Thanks to Lynn, Stefan & their families for letting me share in their joy. It was truly unforgettable.

Oh, and their first look image is featured on Moment Junkie today. Congrats guys. What a moment.

Venue- Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard
Dress- Justin Alexander
Flowers- Hedge Fine Blooms
Hair/Makeup- Elan salon
Ceremony music- Terra Voce
Cake- Maliha Creations
Wine cork place cards- DIY by the bride & groom
Yellow menu cards- Cheer Up Cherup
Band- Six Stylez
Second shooter extraordinaire- Amy Martin