Helen Joy’s Photography Blog

Helen Joy George 1/26/15 Helen Joy George 1/26/15

jon and arin | a new year's day wedding

On New Year's morning, a special time ripe with anticipation and dreams of adventures yet to unfold, Jon and Arin got married. I joined them for a mere two hours of their morning to tell their story...today and for years to come.

New Year was their day. They started dating on New Year's Day 9 years ago and 5 years ago he asked her to marry him. This long awaited day was worth waiting for. It was the most lovely winter day...clean and warm and crisp all at the same time.

This day was pure and simple.

Cooking and bustling and all hands on deck to help. Mama's hands carefully weaving babies breath around the cake, babes underfoot, love all around. I found myself holding my breath at times not wanting to break the spell.

This is what weddings should be, whether in the comfort of a home or in the largest cathedral.

Weddings should be enjoyed.

Finally when it came time for toasts, it hit me. Not only was I just effortlessly able to document the day without really interrupting it, I was overwhelmed with the intimacy I was experiencing side by side next to their most loved ones. It reminded me of the feel I get in a birth room. Then gratitude filled my heart and spilled over into laughter.

Take a peek into their beautiful wedding day...

At a time when I usually feel burned out from my busy season, this simple wedding energized the depths of my soul and reaffirmed the direction I am wanting to go in this coming year.

Here's to love!

www.helenjoy.com

Helen Joy George 1/20/15 Helen Joy George 1/20/15

thankful for the extraordinary

I have a really hard time breaking out the big camera for any type of family event. I think it's because between wrangling the boys and nursing the baby and trying to be present and just enjoy, it all seems a bit overwhelming.

But then I am editing other people's photos and I'm left sad with the few hurried iPhone photos I managed to snap of our get togethers.

So for Thanksgiving, I grabbed my camera and headed to our THREE dinners armed with a passion to capture the extraordinary in our ordinary. Nothing was fancy but I can just hear the laughter and feel the warmth of the hearth in each picture and I know I will treasure them forever.

www.helenjoy.com

Helen Joy George 1/8/15 Helen Joy George 1/8/15

To Lucy Miller on her very first birthday

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Oh my darling girl,

A year has come and gone since you were placed in my arms and I treasured every single minute. Truly. I have hundreds of early mornings stored up in my heart as I watched your eye lashes flutter open and find me. There is no doubt in my heart that you don’t know the love we share.

You have brought so much joy into my soul. You have brought so much healing to my heart.

I remember laying on the operating table, and it seemed so peaceful. My favorite hymn was playing over the speaker and every single person in there was so kind. Emily was rubbing lavender on my head and the beautiful warm bright lights were shining all about. I remember the excitement of KNOWING I was about to meet you, and the fact that I wouldn’t have to worry if you would be alive.

You have taught me so much in your short life and your birth story has opened my heart to women in a new and exciting way. You knocked down walls of judgment and freed me to love and support no matter what.

I laugh when I think back to when I thought c section mamas couldn’t possibly bond with their babies as well. Ha!

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You are pure sunshine and delight. Other than your car seat, I can count on one hand the times I couldn’t console you which is a far cry from how it was with your brothers. God knew we needed you.

Everyone who looks into your eyes feels love. There is a warmth that drips from your eyes that is intoxicating and so very genuine. Even strangers comment to me how they feel when they look into your eyes.

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I can tell you are going to be kind and caring and gentle. But you are also a fireball thanks to your big brothers who love you and hang on your every coo.

You are content. So very content. I love watching you play with your simple toys (aka random things found on the floor). You prefer having fists full of whatever you are playing with. I would say your favorite toy at this point in time is a deck of playing cards. You crack me up as you very seriously one by one put them into one hand.

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I think more than anything, you have melted the ice of my heart and have allowed me to believe that God wants to bless me. Previously I had been living in fear of the next bad thing, but you were the literal and actual desire of my young, immature heart…every last detail of you.

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You are my rainbow baby. A treasure born after 3 losses.

Lucy Miller, I cannot imagine how our lives could be without you in it. I feel like I won the lottery to be your mama.

As sad as it is to leave behind your first year, I know that year two is going to bring so much beautiful change and I will get to hear more words and see you learn and grow.

Praising the Lord for your life, today and everyday.

Your Mama

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