{Read on for all the ways that you can help Broxton + sign up for The Run for Broxton}

Meet Broxton.

A darling just-turned two year old, completely and utterly adored by his family. Soft, whispy dark blonde hair, long eyelashes and an innate sweetness about him.  You can’t help but want to hold him.

The amazing bond between Broxton and his big brother is so incredible to witness, full of sweet tenderness and protection.

Broxton is a special gem in this world.  His sweet soul is full of life, but his small little body is hurting.

Broxton has Batten Disease and has recently been put on Hospice care.

Batten Disease is a rare genetic disorder in which affected children suffer mental impairment, worsening seizures, and progressive loss of sight and motor skills.  Eventually, children with Batten Disease become blind, bedridden, and unable to communicate, and it is presently always fatal.  The Infantile form of Batten Disease begins between the ages of 6 months and 2 years and progresses rapidly.  Affected children fail to thrive, have abnormally small heads, and typically have short, sharp muscle contractions.  Initial signs of this disorder include delayed psycho-motor development with progressive deterioration, other motor disorders, or seizures,  The infantile form has the most rapid progression and children live into their mid-childhood years. 

{source | the Batten Disease Support and Research Foundation web site}

You can read about Broxton and the Taylor family’s journey on their Caringbridge site HERE.

Imagine for a moment (because unless you have gone through this, we will never really fully understand beyond imagining) as a parent, having a little one year old full of life–walking, talking and smiling. Then, one day things begin to change and suddenly that child loses the ability to walk, to talk, to smile, to eat…this is the world that the Taylor family lives in. Just this past June, Broxton was diagnosed with Batten Disease, and in the just over six months since, their whole universe has changed.

Wouldn’t you do everything in your power to help your child? Knowing the raw love that comes with being a parent, doesn’t your heart hurt? Don’t you want to do everything you can–big or small–to help this family? To help little Broxton? To help other little ones suffering from this horrible disease?

The Run for Broxton is an event that will take place in Gilbert at Freestone park in just a few short weeks on Sunday, February 12, 2012. We would LOVE you to help this family with medical bills, with the cost of care and also help other little ones that have Batten Disease.

Simply CLICK HERE to sign up for the run. It would be such a show of community support if you did. The price is so reasonable–$15 for a 1 mile walk/run or $25 for a 5K.

Can’t make the race but want to donate? Simply CLICK HERE to take you to the direct donation site.

Ways You can Help Broxton:

~ Sign up for the Run for Broxton

~Donate directly to Broxton

~Share this blog post via Facebook or Email

~Leave words of encouragement to the Taylor family on this blog post

~Pray and/or send positive thoughts to the Taylor family

I urge you to help in any way you can, even if it is just to share this blog post to spread the word or to learn more, or to leave sweet words of encouragement. Thank you, thank you!!

Special Child

You weren’t like other children,

And God was well aware,

You’d need a caring family,

With love enough to share.

And so He sent you to us,

And much to our surprise,

You haven’t been a challenge,

But a blessing in disguise.

Your winning smiles and laughter,

The pleasures you impact,

Far outweigh your special needs,

And melt the coldest heart.

We’re proud that we’ve been chosen,

To help you learn and grow,

The job that you have brought us,

Is more than you can know.

A precious gift from Heaven,

A treasure from above,

A child who’s taught us many things,

But most of all – “Real Love”.

~sharon harris

xoxo,

laura

“Fun is good.”

~dr. seuss

…and this family had no shortage of it. I loved when mom and I chatted before the session and how she described her sweet family–they love to have fun and would embrace fun, natural and silly images.  These three kiddos were all so polite and funny, they were simply naturals in front of the camera! The love for one another within this family was quite obvious and shone through during their session. They came armed with yummy cupcakes from The Coffee Shop at Agritopia, welcomed smashing them into one another’s faces, no one skipped a beat when I asked them to jump over a mound of oranges, and it was as though it was the most normal thing in the world when I asked them to throw oranges at me. My kind of peeps, I tell ya! The session ended with a fun dance party in the groves, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

This fam’ purchased a HUGE 30×40 custom canvas collage and Fanciful Frames to show off images of their session that I cannot wait to share with you! SO gorgeous and such a fun memory of their family.  Thanks so much, H family!

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xoxo,

laura

 
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in

Oh, let it shine, c’mon
Now everybody just sing along
Let the sun shine in
Open up your heart and let it shine on in

“Let the Sunshine In/Age of Aquarius”, fifth dimension

I just lovie love this family + it was fun to see them again and how much bigger their sweet little man has gotten since our last session!! They seriously rock–I mean, mom didn’t even skip a beat when the little man happily soaked his fabulous little red Toms in the muddy creek!  Big mwah, lovelies!

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xoxo,

laura

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.”
~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

Thank you to all of my dear clients for such an amazing year. I relished meeting so many new people and getting to see so many familiar faces as well–such a blessing to be able to do this! This is a random selection of images from this year–it is just impossible to include all, so I had someone choose at random for me. Choosing among clients would have been like picking a favorite child–I just couldn’t and love you all too much! Each one of you is so dear to me, and thank you for the opportunity to capture your special moments in time.  Here’s to another fabulous year filled with fun, laughter and connection.

much love,

laura

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Here’s to more beautiful moments in 2012!

xoxo,

la

“Where you love somebody a whole lot, and you know that person loves you, that’s the most beautiful place in the whole world. “

~ann cameron

This sweet family has two of the most darling girls ever! They are both so happy, sweet, mild-mannered and loving towards one another–it was a beautiful thing to see.  The bond between sisters is a special one that deepens and grows from a very young age–playmates, confidants, allies.  This wonderful family just returned to the states from their current home in Japan, and I immediately felt a certain kinship with these two sweet sisters.  I also lived in a foreign country at a young age, and it has colored my whole life–in a beautiful way. I became a lover of cultures different from my own, learned how to make fast friends and caught the travel bug early. What a special gift these parents are giving their daughters.

Our session was almost rescheduled due to rain, but the sun came out in all of its glorious warmness just in time for our session–perfect!  Oh, and I am guessing that mama found confetti in all sorts of fun spots after our session–under hats, in the mouth, covered in the hair, in boots…it was well worth it, though!

Such a fun session–thank you for trusting me with your memories, S family. It was a true pleasure to photograph the love among your family, and your girls are simply precious!

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xoxo,

laura

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

~”where the sidewalk ends”, shel silverstein

It always is so interesting to me to see how very different the personalities of siblings can be. For all their similarities, each child is a unique being and full of so many special things all their own. These two siblings were sweet, mild-mannered and oh-so-fun to photograph. What I loved was that big sis delighted in taking off her shoes and socks to go wading in the muddy waters.  She LOVED it. So much, in fact, that she didn’t want to put her shoes back on at all, preferring to feel the dirt and earth beneath her feet for our walk back to the car. Little brother, on the other hand, was not so keen on the idea of the squishy mud through his toes and was quite anxious to get his shoes back on. They reminded me a bit of my own two children, and reminded me once again how our differences are what make us amazing.

During this session, we had a fun little treat–snow in Phoenix! Well, at least our version of snow–white billowed from the blossoming tree that seemed like little flurries swirling around. Love, love…

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xoxo,

laura

“Laugh as much as you breath and love as long as you live”

…especially when they are on cute little feet! Don’t those chevron wellies rock your socks off? I have a pair for my Addie, too, so I was so full of smiles to see mom bring these for this little peach and their session!

~~~

So, so loved. That is what I get from each and every session with this little sweets and her fabulous parents. She is so incredibly loved and it shows in every little smile, giggle and curious exploration she has during our session. I love her to pieces and feel so thankful to have had the opportunity to photograph her so often–maybe you remember her watermelon drool here, or her first birthday cupcake smash here…

It is always such a treat when clients trust you with their family’s memories. Thanks for another fun time!

Oh, and pssst…her mama makes the most ahh-dorable hair accessories, seen here along with some Whippy Cake!

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Hair Accessories | Miss M | Whippy Cake

xoxo,

laura

“This morning,
In the hush of dawn,
I knew the miracle of birth -
I looked on the small child
In my arms -
And felt full ownership
Of earth!”

- Katherine Edelman

There was something so magical about this session. The sun was just rising over the nearby mountains, creating a beautiful rush of sun over this home and peeking through the gate.  There was a calm quiet across the neighborhood–people in their homes still sleeping, not yet showing the hustle and bustle of daily life.  While life was passing normally by, inside this home life had just recently changed forever. This couple became parents to this little cutie pie, and their world will never be the same…

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xoxo,

laura

“This moment contains all moments.”

~c.s. lewis

There will never be another moment in time like this minute right.now. Never. Your children will never be these ages again, they will never again look exactly like they do today.  The baby faces will sooner than we would like change into the face of a child, the chubby little legs will thin out and start to walk, the little hands that grasp at everything with a curious fervor will soon become more sure and stronger with age. Think about it.  Don’t you want to freeze time and capture where your family is NOW? There really is no perfect age, then, for a photograph. Yes, as photographers we do believe there are more optimal times than others when you are wanting something specific. When you simply want to capture your child and all that this very stage has to offer, though, now is the time. No expectations on what to say or how to pose or how it will look, for each child is different and shines in different ways at different ages. That is the true beauty of it. What a treat to have the opportunity to follow my smallest of subjects as they explore with wonder all the new things we encounter.

This session with this sweet family was full of walking and exploring new little nooks and crannies, with stops along the way for dancing with mom, twirling, nursing and games of tag with dad. That’s life and that’s beautiful! We ended our session at Paletas Betty, a darling little Mexican Popsicle shop that was the perfect backdrop as the sky darkened with night (also the perfect spot to nab a treat for a mama-t0-be on a hot summer day as seen in this session). Nothing quite like a little face covered in ice cream, full of the seriousness and concentration that comes with wanting to eat every.single.drip of chocolate.

Thank you, C family. Your moments in time are simply wonderful and I am so thankful for the opportunity to capture them!

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xoxo,

laura

“Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life… a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year – and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God. ”

~Ray Stannard Baker

I am thankful for a full life of amazing people, beauty around me, things to be creatively fufilled by–oh so much.

Thankful for the gift of my beautiful family and our health.

Thankful for friends with whom I have such a deep connection, near and far.

Thankful for clients that are sweet and oh-so-much fun to photograph.

Thankful for the wonderful worldwide community of photographers and businesses that I have the opportunity to know and work with.

Thankful for the richness that is the love that I have around me.

So thankful.

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{image from the recent Sunflower Thanksgiving shoot styled by The TomKat Studio for HGTV that I photographed. View more here as well as download the free Sunflower printable collection.}

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Happy Thanksgiving! May you have full hearts and happy bellies!

xoxo,

laura