And today she is 4!!

Today she wanted to wear her bright pink twirly dress....

and her green Chucks.

Today we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and 

she was so excited about the Cinderella balloon tied to the back of her chair!

Today she twirled and danced and skipped everywhere she went.

She blushed when people told her happy birthday.

Right now we are baking a chocolate birthday cake with pink frosting (her choice)...

And later we'll go for a bike ride and enjoy a bonfire...

And tonight I'll say a pray of gratitude for her and 

how blessed we are that she's in our lives.

Happy Birthday little one!! 

xo

YPII/GIFT 2011 Conference: Stepping Up Because You Care

Recently I had the pleasure of photographing the 2011 Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana (YPII) and Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) Conference held at Park Tudor.  I always feel honored to participate at their events.  The energy of the room is palpable with both students and adults eager to engage with one another.  Great discussion and brainstorming took place in the roundtable sessions as we looked forward to the upcoming school year.  The keynote speaker was Indianapolis Colts Community Spokesperson and author of One Step at a Time, Josh Bleill.  Mr. Bleill captivated the audience with his story.  There were smiles and tears and excitement as he spoke of his bravery and persistence.  I'm grateful to have been present to witness it.  

You can find out more about YPII here.  
And like them on Facebook! 

Sunrise through the fog...

From a recent trip to Door County, Wisconsin.

I wanted to get up early one morning to watch the sunrise and 

my father-in-law suggested I go fishing with him.

I'm always up for a new adventure...curious to go where I've not yet been.

I agreed on two conditions:

1. I don't fish.  No hooking, gutting, cleaning, etc. etc.

2. I NEED...MUST HAVE...coffee in the morning...especially at 3:30am.

The next morning, we pulled out of the driveway with 

fishing gear, a family friend,  and a giant thermos of coffee in hand.

The sunrise was not exactly as I'd envisioned, but gorgeous still.

The fog was so thick we could barely tell where the water ended and the sky began.

(Amen for radar technology!)

And as the sun began to rise, the most beautiful pastel shades filled the sky.

My father-in-law reeled in a salmon that we savored at dinner later that same night.

Incredibly delicious...marinated in a soy sauce with brown sugar/ginger and 

then grilled with sliced onion and lemon...so good! 

Our return trip to the harbor later that morning...the sun rising.

Summer memories to relish...