I've had a lot of occassions lately to think about Americans. The 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, several New York Says Thank You events with the flag tour - have all made me much more thoughtful and proud of the people I live with in this country. It is truly the greatest. So much heart. So much resilience. So much hope - even in the face of despair. It is just so . . . American. This past weekend Sophia and I were in NYC again (ho hum - Oh how we LOVE that city!) and we were fortunate enough to have another opporutnity to photograph the 9/11 flag before it goes on display at the museum. It's always such a beautiful sight and such a moving experience for all who attend. This day was no exception. We headed to Liberty Island to open the flag at the feet of the Grand Lady herself, just across the water from the new Freedom Tower being construction in lower Manhattan. The Gold Star Mothers and the United War Veterans Council of America were present and assisting. They brought wreathes to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers.  We were also very lucky to have a wandering Girl Scouts Troop 52-696 from Milford, PA with strong girls!  This is no ordinary flag. Besides the significance of the flag itself, it is just downright impressive in size. It takes at least 30 adult people to unfold, hold and refold it. And there's always room for more and a few kids to run under it when it's raised, as if it were a tent in which to play. One of my favorite parts by the way. The weather forecast for NYC was not promising for the weekend, and in fact, Sophia and I got drenched going downtown Friday afternoon. But then NYC is even fun in the rain and there's always some fascinating place to run into if you'd like. But it cleared a bit and Sunday was looking good. Sunshine at breakfast and on our ferry to the island. Clouds rolled in but at least we stayed dry and could unfold Old Glory at the feet of the Statue of Liberty and in view of the new Freedom Tower with a new flag hanging on her side. FDNY had fire boats in the Hudson, spewing fountains of water into the air to celebrate her! The crowd cheered her!  NYPD had helicopter coverage (they were supposed to take Sophia up but . . .it just didn't happen. and she was ever so disappointed!) We stayed on the island for a few hours and then went to O'Hara's Pub across from Ground Zero and Firehouse 10. We've included a few pics from the FDNY memorial there. This post has more pics than usual but it really needs them! Just look and enjoy being American!  As always, it was so wonderful to see our New York Says Thank You family! We Love You all SO!


This was our escort for the day. I just never get tired of men in uniform. 
Sophia snapped this of the America II in the Hudson on our way back. Made us want champagne but we settled for beer and wine at O'Hara's. It was a good trade.  

These two are getting married! Yes, it's Philbrook. A gorgeous mixture of old world and new. The perfect place for Kate and Blaine's engagement session.  It so reflects their personalities and sophistication.  Blaine is (you're not going to believe this) a rocket scientist. Yes, another one. Our third! There are a lot of really smart guys out there with beautiful women in their lives! While Blaine is hitting the books, Kate is helping patients feel better through medical therapeutic massage. A touchy-feely girl! I noticed a great balance with these two. Kate is no bigger than a minute (incredibly gorgeous!) and she just fits so perfectly next to Blaine. He pulls her close and you can just see the peace in him and the contentment and appreciation they find in one another. AND they just have FUN!  I was trying to get Kate to take a little foster dog home with her and she so wanted to take him.  A  bit of a negotiation with Blaine was going on during part of our session. (see if you can guess which picture)  Kate is a dog lover. Blaine is a dog tolerater but a Kate lover so it was close but the airlines nixed dog travel so it was a no-go. Breathe, Blaine. It was really so cute!  Planning a June wedding here in Tulsa but calling Wisconsin home at the moment, it's a bit of a commute for photos and wedding planning so I was excited they could come this fall for them. So looking forward to darling Kate's bridal portraits next!

The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air . . . how many times we've all heard it, even said it. Yet every time I hear Jeff Parness of New York Says Thank You say this line from our national anthem, I get chills and I think of all the sacrifices that have been made for us to live in this great nation. 9/11 did that for me. I don't think before that day that I gave much thought to it or what it truly meant.  On this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, the New York Says Thank You foundation took the 9/11 flag to Joplin. Joplin, Missouri. The heartland of the USA. And while all the memorials were being held in NYC, D.C., Pennsylvania and throughout the country, a very special one was being held in Joplin. Because, as Jeff so humbly states, 9/11 happened to all of us, from sea to shining sea,  and yet it's not as significant as what happened on 9/12, when we -- all Americans -- united together to help one another in a time of need. It's just what we do after all. Joplin was the final stitching place for this wonderful national treasure which will find it's permanent home in the NYC 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero eventually, and be seen and shared by all the world. This flag has been lovingly stitched back together with pieces of flags and careful hands from all 50 states. Each stitch not only restored this flag, but the hope of its many people.  I know I felt a certain peace upon adding a stitch. A reclaiming if you will.  It was ours on 9/11/2001 and it's ours again 10 years later. The strength of the American people is mighty. It is formidable. It is constant. There are some things that no amount of violence can destroy. You can't take that away. I find comfort in that. I hope on this day you remembered 9/11 and it's many victims and sacrifices made as a result but also that tomorrow, on 9/12, you remember the strength and hope that springs eternal in the American people and lend a hand to someone in need. Pay it forward!

Here's a few snaps from today in Joplin. The 9/11 flag was unfurled and held high at the exact times of impact and collapse of the twin towers on September 11, 2001, the pentagon and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Moments of silence for all. Fire bells tolled. Bagpipes echoed in the clear morning. The flag was held securely off the ground between each raising by a huge team of volunteers - old, young and in-between from all across America. 

  

Laina, Laina, Laina. I just don't even know where to start with this girl! So fun. So gorgeous. So sweet and kind. I just love her! Laina is the first bride that Chris Humphrey and LSD shared and it was perfect! I shot her bridal portraits and he shot her wedding. (You can see her wedding pics here.) Now, we brainstormed these bridals way before but of course, logistics (Laina in D.C. and THE DRESS) getting coordinated for the right date pushed us to less than 2 weeks  before the wedding date! Laina has a 'thing' for this pink couch that once resided in her sorority house. It is an awesome pink couch if I do say so myself. I would love to have it reside at LSD. :D  Not a chance. I've been told it's moving to D.C. We decided to feature it in her bridals and her dad lugged it downtown for us. What a trouper! Up until this day, it had been about 110 degrees every day for two months. BUT - on this day, we were forecast with our first chance of rain and it was only in the upper 80's. Miracle of miracles! We started at The Mayo Hotel where Laina was getting ready and when we moved to the rooftop, dark clouds started rolling in, deepening the sky to a periwinkle blue. It was gorgeous but it almost looks like a backdrop! It was real, and so were the sprinkles that started when we were up there. However, glancing over the railing on the rooftop towards the BOK center, it was still sunshine there. You know how weird our Oklahoma weather is right? It can be raining on one side of the street so you just cross and your dry again. So that's what we did. Made the mad dash to the BOK center with the pink couch! WOOT! So glad we did. We had little TIDO there with us to have pics with his 'Mom'. TIDO travels everywhere with Laina and he's so cute and adoring. Well, the clouds rolled over downtown but we never felt a drop of rain. It was so perfect! You may notice in Laina's wedding photos that she changed into dress #2 for her reception. It was a beautiful Monique Lhuillier dress with a blinging beaded bodice (say that fast 3 times) and a full tutu skirt to the floor . . . BUT wait, Laina wanted a short party dress. She has an incredible sense of style, and she LOVED the dress,  so . . . she had it cut off! I'm pretty sure I don't have the guts to cut off a designer dress but I oh so love it when my brides do! Sophia and I incorporated her second little dress into a darling separate portrait session just to create a special gift for the groom. ;) But we can share the bling!


 

Gorgeous, Laina!

This is my second military emergency engagement session this summer. Can you believe it? This one had an even smaller window of time to complete. Justin was just going to be home for a bit more than a week from Afghanistan. He and Kelsey are planning a red-white-and-blue July 2012 wedding! Good friends before falling in love,  these two aren't strangers to the long-distance relationship, but the military really puts it to the test! Before being shipped out, Justin arranged a geocache (like a scavenger hunt with GPS coordinates to follow) the last clue led Kelsey to an Altoids tin with a proposal inside! When she looked around, he was down on one knee! Isn't that the sweetest? We spent a little time around town - again, I'm sure his idea of R&R was NOT having pictures taken but he actually suggested a shot he really wanted (the dual focus classic) - - on the blog now :)  I loved watching him just watch her and look at her. Like he was trying to memorize everything about her before he has to leave again. He'd wrap his big strong arms around her teeniness (she's so stinkin' cute!) and she'd just melt into him.  They had such a great time together, they pretty much forgot I was around. We added their dogs into the mix for a few - Duke and Mac - big but very well behaved! Wishing you both the best of everything! Thank you Justin for your service. Come home safely and really soon!