A Different Kind of Photo Shoot

  Family shoots are usually fun, light-hearted events, but sometimes, we have to take a different approach to a Photo shoot.

  This shoot was different.

This shoot provoked laughter AND tears, because this shoot was taken out of urgency.

The kind of urgency you get when you receive bad news.

  Dale’s father, not yet 60, was just diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. 

More spots then they can count on his liver, and spots in his lungs too.

We aren’t going down without a fight, both with the doctor and chemo, and natural remedies too. But it didn’t change our feelings on the timing of this Family Photo Shoot.  Some things you just don’t realize you need to do, until you think that maybe soon you won’t get the chance anymore.  

  We wanted to take Papa Dons photo BEFORE the Chemo took it’s toll on his body and his appearance. 

  There have been many, many tears shed at our house and many difficult decisions to make, and paperwork to fill out.  

  There have been many serious talks, some with tears, some without, about what was happening to Papa.  

Because of this, the children decided to make Papa Don cards, listing all the reasons they love him. They worked so hard on their pictures.  

We decided at the photo shoot would be a perfect time to give them to him……

  We are believing in Faith, in a God who is the Great I AM.  The perfect Healer.  And we will pray and fight with and for Don until the end, no matter what the end holds. 

  That’s the hardest part about all this,

Praying and believing for the best, yet having to take all steps to prepare and plan for the worst.

  But I know this, our Heavenly Father has plans for Papa Don, plans to bring him hope and a future…..

  And until we know those plans, our job is to make each day count as if it were his last. 

  But that’s the funny part about all this,

Any of us, at any time could be living our last days, minutes, moments.

  So here’s to saying I love you,

I care about you,

You are an amazing example to our children,

You make us laugh,

We admire you and your quiet strength,

Thank you……….

And here’s to spending just a few more seconds in that hug good bye each time you come over…..

  For this Earth is not our home……

We are all here but a moment in time.

~T

 

Update:  God is so so good!  We have been pursuing both chemo and natural treatments via The Life Vessel and we have some amazing news.  Don’s markers in his blood were over 8,000 his first visit, and the doctor frankly told him he shouldn’t even be here.  2 months later: his marker count came back at 4,000!  Praise God for His healing touch, and may He continue to bring healing to Don’s body as he fights this cancer.  Thank you for your prayers!

4 little Ferguson’s Photography: Love Is In the Air

  Today on the blog, a recent engagement session.  I will be photographing Kris and Melissa’s reception this May in our hometown. They are having a Florida Beach Wedding!  FUN in the sun!

    I second shot for this wedding as a favor to an oh-so nauseous pregnant friend. I am so glad I did. I LOVE vintage everything, so to get to edit these “vintage” made me so HAPPY!

Favorite shot of all time……seeking the Lord in prayer before they said I DO.

~T

4 little Ferguson’s Photography: Mommy To Be

  Maternity sessions are so fun!  Maybe because for once, I am not the one pregnant?   :) 

  No, really, all teasing aside…….there is such beauty to be captured in these rounded bellies, full of new life, new beginnings!

  I have photographed 3 that have gone un-shared for months now, due to the overwhelming amount of good food being eaten and then posted on here!!

~T

  Growing Family #1 are near and dear to our hearts, Dale went to school with Jamie and has gotten close with Mike through Men’s Encounter and morning work outs at the gym.  These were taken this fall.

Growing Family #2 was for a Christmas Card announcement for a couple we teasingly call our Tree Hugger Friends.   Momma-to-Be,  Kalene wasn’t showing yet, so we got creative with their announcement.

  Maternity Session number 3 has been something I have only dreamed of, a snowy maternity shoot! I prayed SO hard for snow BEFORE her baby was due, and wouldn’t you know, the weather warmed up to 75 just a few days before this!  I about gave up hope, but it came, one day and one day only….I teasingly told Dale it was just for me!!! Thanks, Lord!  :)
By the time we got to shoot, all the snow was melted from the trees, but thankfully the ground was still covered.  I am glad Mandy braved the cold to do this though, because it was gone a few hours later! 

My Funny Little Valentines

The 4 little Fergusons are here to say…….

Now Pax, give ‘em a smooch…..

A smooch?  Bleh. NO WAY!

UH UH, not doin’ it.

Nope.

How about a knuckle sandwich?

PAXTON, you be nice!!!!!!

Ok, ok, sending big smooches your way, this Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

From your 4 favorite little Fergusons

4 little Ferguson’s Photography: Family Sessions Continued

~T

4 little Ferguson’s Photography: Family Sessions

I was a BUSY girl in October!  {and November!!!!} Lots of photo sessions while the weather was warm and the trees were golden. Good thing too, it’s COLD and very stickish here now, as all of the leaves have fallen to the ground.  I have a few more sessions to edit, then I am done until Spring time.  Maybe I’ll actually take some of my own children during the day for fun again! :)
Here are some of my favorites from recent sessions:

More to come soon, I am editing away!  :)

~T

Fall Break Fun

I loooove when all my babies are home from school!   Between all the Turkey Day fun, multiple photo sessions and a family friend’s wedding, Fall Break went way too fast!!!

  So every year, the kids BEG their daddy to build them a HUGE pile of leaves and throw them into it.  It’s hysterical to watch them disappear down into the pile.  Even the cats got involved in the fun this time!  :)

Silly Stripes! Do you see him peeking?

Everyone takes a turn getting tossed into the pile.

We are blessed to have the majority of both our extended families in town, so for Holidays we tend to do lunch at one place and supper at another.

Dale’s grandparents had 10 children, each of them has like 5 kids and now that our generation has kids, its gotten even bigger.  Aunt Lucy’s table has 18 leaves and stretches from one side of the room to the other.  Then there is still a young adult and very full kids table in the kitchen.  It is one loud, busy place!  Each child has a group of cousins to run around with, so they love it.  

Uncle Mike had his new Razor there this year, so it was extra COOL!

Ty before.                                                                Ty after.

My family gathering is much smaller, and quieter, but fun just the same.  It was such a blessing to have Grandpa home to visit from the nursing home, he misses being at home with Grandma so much.  The infamous Aunt Gena and Uncle Dan were there, a Great Uncle and Aunt from Iowa, who are like Grandparents to the kiddos, and even an Oregon cousin, who came to visit from college.  The kids loved playing Bingo with everyone!  Poor Nana, was sick and couldn’t join us.   :(

Hope your Thanksgiving was great and spent with those you love!  I am so thankful for this blog and all of you. I am also thankful there is still half a Double Sensation Pumpkin Pie residing in my fridge for me to eat on this week….

Just sayin’!

~T

Happy Thanksgiving!

Many thanks for your love and support this year!

~Dale, Tonya & the 4 little Fergusons

No Weekend Potluck, Friday.  Come back next week and bring all your yummy dishes!   :)

4 little Fergusons, 2200 miles & A Georgia Wedding: Part 2

It was wedding day when I left you yesterday, and I had 40 minutes to get ALL six of us spiffed up, dressed and ready to go!

Super Auntie Lauren to the rescue!  :)

She popped over from her room next door, and took one girl at a time to braid their hair, while I got the rest of us dressed. Praise the Lord for her amazing braiding skills, I was hoping for a good hour to experiment with the girls’ hair and I am just not a good braider yet. {But I did learn a basic French Braid, FINALLY!}

Here are the end results, she did this gorgeous angled braid that led into a braided bun.  BEAUTIFUL!!!! Thanks, Auntie Lauren!

The wedding was at the Military base, so we had to go through security with a photo id check to even get in. See that picture, above collage, top middle?  It is a photo of a HUGE cemetery of all the fallen soldiers from that particular fort.  May we always remember, our freedom is never free.  God bless them.

We got to the church at 2 for pics, the wedding started at 4.  Thankfully Dale was amazing and had all the kids eat and nap while I was gone, so they were happy and ready to take photos.

There is nothing more special to me, then seeing two lives joined as one, God’s way.  Aaron and Ashley are an amazing example of True Love Waits, and it was such a blessing to be a part of their beautiful day as they made a lifelong covenant before Christ and a church full of family and friends, to die to self, and become one flesh.

Check out the tearful groom, and his PROUD smile when he sees her! LOVE IT!

Guess who walked down the aisle without a moments pause or hint of hesitation?  Yup, Pax!

  I didn’t even have to use the fruit snacks to try to bribe him to come towards me.  He picked up his side of the sign and trucked down the aisle like he had planned it that way all along.

While everyone else was doing the group photos, I grabbed Chad and Lauren for a quick family picture.  Aren’t they PRECIOUS?

After that, we headed to the reception:

Look at my sweet girls, bottom right picture below, watching the happy couple and dreaming of their own special day!

My little dancers…..

We danced, laughed and had so much fun, but alas, it was time to head back to the hotel to pack and prepare for a long drive home.  As I mentioned yesterday, the kids did great, and we didn’t get out the final activity until an hour from home.  Success!

It was a great trip! We will venture cross-country in our car again, SOMEDAY.

~T

‘Staches & Lips

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Mustaches and Lips on a stick are ALL the rage right now…for birthday parties, photo booths, wedding shoots, you name it! 

  I shopped around for a bit before deciding I could just make my own:

This really is so simple.

Take some stiff craft felt, I paid a buck at Hobby Lobby for it.

Google mustache templates and lip templates.  Print and cut out, then trace onto felt.

Hot glue onto small bamboo skewers, usually used for cake pops.

Have some fun!

Easy schmeasy!

~T