Here’s a few of my favorites from the Sibling Mini Sessions we had a couple Saturdays ago! I was excited to introduce this new Mini Session theme to the list for 2015. My relationship with my siblings is something & cherish! And it was super fun to see these 3 sibling sets interact!
Brotherly love 🙂 🙂
She’s seriously SUCHÂ a great big sister!
   
These two cracked me up!
For the list of the Mini Sessions I’ll be having in 2015, click HERE!
Today’s post is all about the birthday girl Amanda 🙂
I met Amanda 3 years ago at a retreat for Pastors Kids (PK). There was a little “store” that the PK’s could purchase snacks & small little souvenirs that I was helping out at & Amanda had her eye on several of the little stuffed animals there. Little did I know that a little over a year later, she & her entire family would be moving to Bloomington-Normal & that her dad would become one of my boss’s while I worked at First Assembly.
I was really looking forward to spending one on one time with Amanda & taking pictures of her! We had a beautiful sunny Saturday, probably the first really warm one of the year & I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Amanda.
We walked around Uptown Normal & talked. Amanda was a good sport & laughed at all my corny jokes 😉 And I got to hear about all her plans for her birthday party she was planning & the art piece she was entering into a festival.
(I think she’s laughing at one of my silly jokes here 😉 )
                
If you know Amanda, you know she loves her Converse shoes!
She’s such a beautiful young lady.
Amanda also loves running. I asked her to show me how she looks right before it’s time to speed off 🙂
You’re a beautiful & talented young woman Amanda. I know the Lord has special plans for you. I hope you have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY & that this year is full of fun, adventure & God surprises 🙂
I love my brother David.
Some of you may not know, but I am the oldest in my family & I have 3 other siblings. A sister & two younger brothers.
I’ve shared this story with people before but never written about it. One time when my sister & I were very young (aka no little brothers were in sight) we were playing at a playground. There were two little boys that were brothers that showed up to play too. My sister & I had such a blast with them. I remember enjoying myself so much that during the midst of our adventures on the swings & laughs on the slide, I prayed & asked the Lord for two brothers just like them. I didn’t just want one, but two. TWO brothers.
Years later, the Lord answered my childlike prayer. I can still remember that day at the playground clear as day. And I’m very, VERY thankful that the Lord didn’t give me just one brother, but TWO.
My brother David is awesome. He’s my grocery shopping buddy- every two weeks he joins me in picking up everything on my grocery list & we have a brother/sister date. He’s very good with little kids. He’s musically talented in so many ways. Rap & singing solo’s. He makes the best hot chai tea ever. My parents dog & my sister’s dog love him. He’s got a mind for business & could probably run Apple himself. He writes awesome poems. He’s very discerning & can tell when someone’s feelings are hurt or is being left out. He’s very helpful. He’s funny. Actually, he can be pretty hilarious.
His “classic” funny face 🙂
          
This is one of my favorites.
I love you David. I prayed for you years ago & I’m so thankful the Lord answered my prayer by giving our family you. You’re talented. You’re smart. And you care about people. I’m thankful you’re my brother.
PS This was one of the very last picture we took & it’s my very favorite.
My sister is so beautiful. It was a joy to be able to spend time with her on her 25th birthday last month & capture some fun portraits of her. Other then my husband, my sister is truly my best friend. We have tons of inside jokes & quote old black & white movies that no one else has even heard of. (Although she often trumps me by quoting a movie line & saying, “What’s that from?” & I can’t remember.) Leah’s hilarious & is often cracking me up through-out the day with texts full of her wit.
Leah is also a very wise woman. And smart. This next month, Leah will be graduating from Illinois State University, magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
We spend some time in my parents neighborhood for awhile at the beginning of her session. Leah thought of having her morkie dog, Lucy, for part of the session & I thought it was a great idea!
Lucy looking up at her momma 🙂
If you’ve been to my parents house & met Lucy, I’m sure you’ll agree with everyone else that she’s a sweetie. Because everyone loves Lucy 🙂
I could have posted TONS images from just this portion of the session. My sister is SO beautiful.
The soon to be graduate & teacher!!!
I love you Leah! You’re not just my sister, but my best friend 🙂 I know you are my little sister, but in so many ways I look up to you. This has been a hard year for you & I’ve seen you to continue to grow & blossom instead of shrink & wither. You pressed on. Through these past years at Heartland & at ISU, you pressed on. I’m so PROUD of you. I could never have done what you’ve accomplished. You’ve let the Lord guide your dreams & take you down the journey He has for you. The best is yet to come. And I promise, I will be the LOUDEST person at the Redbird Arena on the ISU campus come December 13 next month when you walk. I will be smiling, crying (as I am now 😉 ) & yelling, “THAT’S MY SISTER!”
I love you Eah.
(If you haven’t viewed it yet, make sure you look at Part I of this Double Maternity Session here & Part II here!)
Here’s the final posts in the 3 parts of Amber & Rachel’s Double Maternity Session!
Meet the Birkey Family! We spent the entire session at Phil’s parents farm home & property. It was a perfect setting since it’s the same land that Phil farms & their family spends a lot of time at. I always love shooting sessions at a location that is special to the family or individual.
Rachel was my small group leader years back & I remember the girls in our group praying for children for her & Phil. They twins came not too long later & it’s SO exciting that Baby #3 will be here soon!!! PS Rachel has given the baby the nickname “Pumpkin” so we thought it’d be fun to use a pumpkin throughout the session 🙂
You’re amazing parents Phil & Rachel! Can’t wait to meet your little guy soon!
Beautiful momma!
       
The face parents make when they already have twins who are 2 1/2 & Baby #3 is coming! 😉
           
Kisses with momma!
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(If you haven’t already, make sure you check out the first part of Amber & Rachel’s Double Maternity Session. Part III will be posted on Monday!)
Amber & Rachel’s sister relationship reminds me of my sister & I’s. They quote old movies, are fans of Charlie Brown & love fall. They also have another sister in Montana who completes their sister trio!
I’ve said before how I love capturing maternity sessions, but having two beautiful momma’s who are not only sisters but close friends is pretty special. Both Amber & Rachel are expecting boys & within about a month of each other!
  
Another version of the natural sunlight picture we got! The other is posted on facebook here: www.facebook.com/youweremadetosmile
Sisters/mommas/friends! Best combination ever!
For the past 6 years, I’ve watched this girl grow into a beautiful young woman who loves the Lord & has so much creativity, love & ideas flowing out of her! We had such a fun morning spending time in Uptown Normal & then going out to her parents home in the country & visiting two neighbors, one of which had a beautiful covered ivy barn & the other, a handsome horse named Seamus 🙂
Someone likes her Starbucks 😉 And I LOVED this flower wreath that Grace made HERSELF!
  
 
We were both in love with the ivy that crept all around the barn on her neighbor’s property.
 
Grace & Seamus <3
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