Maddie Grace

My sister Nikki's 6 year old, Maddie, is at the Cinncinatti Childrens Colorectal Clinic for the next week or so. She has some chronic issues with her bowels that are really difficult on her and thus far has not recieved effective treatment. They were able to get into this clinic, the only one like it in the world, much sooner than they anticipated and are really praying that they will get some answers to help Maddie. The poor thing is in diapers still because she has no control over her bowels because of the chronic constipation that has basically removed all sensations of knowing when she has to go. Nikki is going to chronical the week on http://www.sweetmaddiegrace.blogspot.com/ Many of you probably have already recieved this info, but thought I would post it on here too incase you haven't. I know the family would appreciate your prayers! Yesterday was her first day and it was a rough one so I am sure Maddie is more than anxious about going back today.

Kelli is 4!!

I can't believe this sweet girl is 4 years old already! It goes too fast! Kelli is a mini-me. It is fun to watch her and in my mind be transported back to when I was her age! Today I asked her what she wanted to do and she said she wanted to play outside. It was raining so I told her she would have to think of some things to do inside and maybe she would be able to go out later in the day. So we spent some time watching her favorite movie, and then we painted for a while and then she said...Can't I just go out and play even though it is raining? I figured what the heck and boy did she have fun! We pranced around in the yard for a while and I couldn't help but snap a few photos of her cute outfit! Then she wanted to swing...she recently figured out how to pump and she is thrilled that she can make herself go as high as Andrew does!

And then she wanted to ride her new bike. Brian put training wheels on Andrew's old bike (much to Andrew's dissaproval) and she is doing great! She also got this lovely princess bike helmet from grandma and papa Mauch with matching knee pads! She looks so cute and she rode for hours today! She has this little path she does over and over and over!
And when I told her I was going to put pictures of her on my blog today because it was her birthday (like I need a reason to put pictures on my blog) she said, can you take a picture of my toes to show everyone! I painted her toes for her b-day party we had on Saturday...everyday since she wakes up and looks at her toes and proclaims that her toes still look beautiful!!
Our neighbor has this tree with the most amazingly beautiful blossoms... the perfect backdrop for one last shot of the birthday girl!

Happy Birthday Kelli Belly!

A Family In Need

(Chris, Rhonda, Seth and Raegan Barney)
I recieved a letter this week from my friend Laurel. Laurel was my discipleship leader when I was in middle school. Laurel was writing to ask for help for her dear friend Rhonda. Rhonda began having "strange" symptoms in 2005 and was just diagnosed with Lyme Disease in late February of 2008. Her symptoms have become progressively more severe, more frequent and more debilitating. She is at times unable to care for her 2 young children. Rhonda recently discovered a clinic in Reno, Nevada that treats lyme disease patients in a way that is different than any other clinic in the country. The Sierra Integrative Clinic combines Western medicine with European herbs and Eastern medicine. Rhonda is now at this clinic and has to be there for 5 weeks of treatment. You can read her blog journal at http://www.myhealingroad.blogspot.com/ . You will quickly learn that she is a strong amazing woman with immense faith. Laurel and her friends are writing asking for help for this sweet family because of the financial burden this family is encountering. The treatment was once estimated at $15,000 but is is now looking like it could surpass $40,000 with the associated costs and follow-up treatments and uncovered medical expenses. Rhonda's friends are asking us to consider helping this family by praying for her healing, by praying for her husband Chris and their children Seth and Raegan as they go through these 5 weeks with her being gone, and by giving anything that we can to help alleviate their financial burden. There are two ways you can give:


You may send a check made payable to Chris and/or Rhonda Barney to 14481 Club House Road, Gainesville, VA 20115. An account has been established where all fundraising monies will be deposited for their sue for medical and related expenses.


OR


You may also log onto http://www.paypal.com/ and go to SEND MONEY and put in the email address myhealingroad@comcast.net This option allows you to use a debit or credit card.


I know times are tough for many so if you cannot give financially, would you please take a minute to pray for this sweet family?

These Eyes...

This is a sweet gal from our church...aren't her eyes to die for! I am in love with this picture!

Like Brother, Like Sister.

I Feel The Earth Move...

Night before last Brian had a really fitful night of sleep. He kept waking me up and I would ask him if he was okay and he would say yes and go right back to sleep. This happened several times that night and he only remembers it happening one time because I scared him half to death when I asked him if he was okay. So early this morning when I awoke to the whole bed shaking I assumed it was him again and rolled over to see what in the world he was doing and when I rolled over he sat straight up and started looking over the edge of the bed. The bed was still shaking and our bed if you haven't seen it is made of enormous logs and is practically unmovable. I kept asking him why is the bed shaking, WHY is the bed shaking, WHY IS THE BED SHAKING!? He said he didn't know and got up and went to the bathroom. He got back in bed and I sort of drifted in and out of sleep for the next half hour or so my mind thinking of numerous explanations of what could have happened. And obviously I was more asleep than awake, because I had convinced my self that there was a person under the bed and then thought, perhaps it is even a cougar =) (remember, I am more asleep than awake and police did just kill one around Chicago this past week and we talked about it right before we went to bed). Well when Brian's alarm went off, I made him check under the bed before he went to the shower. He said, "what do you think there is under there? A person?" and I answered, "Or maybe a cougar, just check it would ya?" =) Of course neither was under the bed, and he left for the bathroom with some wisecrack about maybe it was an earthquake...Yeah whatever, I thought. So I roll over, relaxed now that I know there is neither a cougar or a person under the bed, hoping to get another hour of sleep before the kids get up. Then I hear Brian running from the bathroom down the hallway towards our room. SO now I am thinking there was someone (or maybe a cougar =)!)in the bathroom and he is running to our room to get the phone to call 911! I have quite the imagination if you haven't figured that out yet! He was in fact coming to the room to turn on the radio so I could hear..."the epicenter was West Salem, Illinois and the quake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and was felt as far away as Ohio. Initial reports indicate that this is the largest earthquake who's epicenter was in Illinois as long as records have been kept." I was totally dumbstruck!! The thought that an earthquake was causing our bed to shake never even entered my mind as a possibility...not even after Brian joked about it! It was so fun to watch the news this morning and tell the kids about it and listen to all the stories of those who felt it, and many people had similar thoughts as me....well they didn't take it as far as the cougar, but many did think that someone was in their room! So I am only partially insane! But was that ever in question?? So did you feel it?? I would love to hear your story if you did! Either email me or leave a comment. I heard a great story about a 60 year old woman who felt it and I will tell that later, because it is too funny to not pass along!

The Big Sister

First Official Client of Kori Mauch Photography!!

This is a sweet family I met when Andrew took me out for lunch at McDonalds over his spring break. I have been wanting (and needing) some additional newborns to photograph to add to my portfolio and this mom was happy to have this precious boy photographed! He is so sweet, slept so soundly for the first half of the shoot and then was wide awake and happy for the rest! I also photographed his big sister and will post a few of those when I have them edited! You also would not have believed the beautiful light in this home!! It was perfect!

My goal is to be doing one Photo session a week as the weather permits. I have 2 more openings for April and 3 for May, so if you are interested please let me know! I have been hard at work on my website and hope to launch it by the end of the month! I would still like to add some newborns (ideally under 2 weeks old), some maternity shots, kids 7-18 and some young couples! If you are interested, I can strike up a deal with you for your help!! Thanks to all my friends and family who have let me use them as my subjects for the past year!!

We are still alive!

More to come....Spring Break update, Emily's first taste of the great outdoors, first official client of Kori Mauch Photography, and more!!

I Love My Bath!!