Sunday’s mini Christmas sessions at Rixey Manor were amazing for me because I had the chance to meet up with friends, new and old. Literally each session has a special place in my heart and I can’t think of a better backdrop than the wedidng venue (and its owners, Isadora and Ben) who have so embraced this community since coming here. Over a thousand dollars was donated for a local family and three other local charities and over 50 cans of food for the food closet were given.

Every family here is special to my heart in several ways. But I want to just highlight Debbie and Howie Holmes for a moment…I am pulling this from my facebook post because this really explains it best…

THIS is why I love doing what I do. I can’t put a finger on exactly why I teared up showing this to my husband last night…maybe it’s because I have never seen a photo of them like this before or maybe it’s because I know of only a portion of the sacrifices they have made because they love God (and wouldn’t even consider them sacrifices) or maybe it’s because I identify with this…because my husband looks at me with sweetness and love and makes me laugh too. The prettiest bouquet, the most lovely dress…nothing compares to this to me. Real-life love…where you choose to love through everything, to forgive, to cherish…even when the world would tell you otherwise…when you know that God gave everything to pursue you and your love comes from a place of gratitude and joy, not just emotion. This is it for me…