It's picnic month...

My sister called my attention to a contest going on... (share pictures of a picnic and write why it was special to you) and well, not only would I like to win but this picnic story is really worth sharing.  It was the only picture-taking experience I've had where I fought back tearing up...the story behind it is really special.  Before I continue, thank you to my family, friends, blog friends, and others for reading my blog and always leaving such nice words here!!  I wish I had more time to thank you individually.

Last summer I met Alexa through her blog- we had both been asked to guest post and so after she said hi to me we became blog friends.  Months after that I had found out her husband was in critical condition in the hospital- that she almost lost him in his sleep, due to a stroke.  Thinking about her with her two small children- not knowing if he was going to make it, was heartbreaking.  I didn't even know her in real life but I cared that she was okay.  It was such a blessing that Chellis, her husband, pulled through it.  Although... things weren't the way they were before- he is now in a wheelchair, and learning how to live life this whole new way.


For Alexa and her family, it has been a hard long road... after her husband was released from the hospital, things were challenging on a whole new level.  The thing is though, you'd never know it.  Her blog is incredibly positive, focusing on the beauty in her life- rather than let her circumstance get her down.  I'm sure seeing her husband unable to completely function the way he used to is just one struggle- but also, I've witnessed the physical struggle it is.  And it was immensely humbling.

I watched Alexa lift her husband out of her car and also through the fence that led us to our picnic spot.  She helped him down on the ground for some of our shots, made him feel comfortable when he couldn't adjust himself.   I could tell it was a struggle, and I wished there was more I could do.  Sure, I helped as much as I could while we were there but I knew she did a lot of this alone at home every day.


The best part was hearing them laugh when the biggest physical struggles came..  when it got really hard, they laughed.  They laughed that it felt like a workout- and joked they might just look sweaty in the pictures.


Despite the storm clouds that rolled in their lives months before they've found happiness.  She doesn't let the future worry her- she's just loving and living each day - finding joy in the journey.