I want to share a story of gratitude in the midst of difficult and heart-wrenching circumstances I can imagine:

Yesterday, a baby named Nathan was born — and died.

Moments after his passing, a well-intentioned and grieving family member said, “We prayed for a miracle, but we didn’t get one this time.”

“Not true,” his daddy said.

Just moments after his first and only child had died, this daddy began to list the miracles — the things they had to be thankful for…

• After years of infertility, Nathan’s conception was a miracle. Then his parents learned that he had Potter’s Syndrome, a condition incompatible with life because his kidneys did not form — so they savored every moment of pregnancy, which would be the only time they’d spend with him.
• Nathan, which means “gift from God,” was born alive: another blessing-miracle.
• Nathan opened his eyes and looked at the faces of his parents: another specific prayer answered.
• Nathan lived nearly two hours: yet another blessing-miracle his parents had prayed for.

I am humbled by this example of gratitude.

Ken was there, photographing the family’s time with Nathan as part of our ministry work with an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I shot a maternity session for the couple a few weeks ago — part of how they savored the moments of pregnancy.

Today I am editing Nathan’s photographs.
And I am realizing how very much we take for granted.

We are very passionate about the work we do for “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” which is a charitable organization of volunteer photographers who provide remembrance photography (at no cost) to families suffering the loss of a baby. The most common response we get when we try to explain this to people is, “I don’t see how you do it.” The short answer to that is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). The longer answer is, although we have not personally experienced this kind of loss, many of our friends and family have, and most of them have nothing tangible by which to remember their child. I think that adds another level to an already tragic situation.

There are still a lot of misconceptions about these images. Remembrance photography is nothing new; it began back in Victorian times. When people think of taking pictures of a baby that is dying or has recently passed on, most people don’t think these images could be beautiful, but we hope to dispel that notion.

I was very touched by what Addison’s mom said to us in an email about the photographs from their NILMDTS session:

“These photos, and especially the slide show, have been the one thing our family can look to as the bright spot in this terrible thing that has happened.  In fact, [my husband's] extended family was so touched by the NILMDTS organization that, as a Christmas gift to us, they all pitched in and made a donation in Addison’s memory. But we all know that behind the organization are the selfless, caring people like you and Ken, who volunteer your time and resources to help families like mine.

I have to share with you that until we learned of the existence of the organization (48 hours after Addison’s birth, and just 15 hours after her diagnosis/prognosis), we weren’t sure if we should have our son come to the hospital to meet his baby sister, who was destined to die within days.  We weren’t sure if it would be traumatizing or too weird for him.  But once we learned about the organization, it was a no-brainer.  There was nothing I wanted more at that moment than pictures of my two children together. And those pictures will help [him] remember his little sister as he grows up.

I wish there was more awareness of NILMDTS… The gratitude that we have for the services that you and Ken, personally, and the NILMDTS organization, as a whole, provided for our family cannot be fully expressed.  Thank you again, and if there is anything we can do to help spread the word about NILMDTS please let us know.”

We want to spread the word about NILMDTS. There are thousands of photographers across the country, and now in other countries, who serve as  volunteers for NILMDTS. We wish no one ever had need of this, but if they do, this should be something they know about, so please spread the word. And if you are a photographer, please consider volunteering your services as well.  Feel free to contact us with questions.

We homeschool our own kiddos, but we live around the corner from an elementary school. When a client/neighbor asked if we’d be willing to be judges for this year’s annual PTA-sponsored art contest at the school, we said an enthusiastic YES! We looooove when kids this young are already enjoying the art of photography, so we look for any opportunity to encourage them!

This year’s theme: “Beauty Is…”

Entries are divided into two age categories: K-2nd Grade, and 3rd-5th Grade, and are scored based on three categories:

1. Interpretation of Theme (up to 50 points possible)
2. Creativity (25 points possible)
3. Artistic Merit (25 points possible)

These children did so great! Scoring the photographs was sooooo hard, but we enjoyed every bit of it, and would gladly do this again!
(Sorry — we’re not telling which one got the highest score!)

While we were in Africa, we were blessed to get to meet some beautiful children in a very poor community called Naledi. Many are orphans, some are being raised by a teen sibling as the head of the family. They all loved having their picture made, and even the ones that spoke very little English could still say, “Take my picture!” I just have to share a few of these photos.

Two pretty young friends.

Curious boy.