Annie & Family.

I have a bunch of categories in my photo-sharing files. Sometimes I need to create a new album and have a hard time figuring out just which category I should to put the particular photos in. With this little mini-session, there was no question. It went in the one labeled ‘Family.’ Because they are. A unit of people who are kindred, who have experienced life in unique and beautiful ways. In ways that only they can really know and understand. And when a gift is to be given, the best gift of all for a mother is that of family being all together. In one place. As it used to be.

Rebekah surprised her mother with the gift of bringing Annie back home from Illinois for a few days. The surprise took many weeks of planning, coordinating, and hours of travel- 1,000 miles by car and eventually airplane. It took effort and hope and help and forethought, and lots of selflessly keeping things quiet. It was all worth it. It worked. What I know is this: Steve and Dorothy have two special girls. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to take a few pictures of them all together. In one place. Like it used to be.