Suffering Loss (Why I've been MIA)

Dearest bloggy buddies. Can I just hug each of you and tell you that you are loved and appreciated and beautiful and talented?

Remember when I called upon your visual opinion as to which of my photography prints I should donate to an auction benefiting my friends for their medical expenses? It was believed their little girl was born with an underdeveloped brain and wouldn't quite be at the level of other kids her age--maybe a year or two behind. So many unknowns, time would tell more.

But it turned out to be more than that, a neurodegenerative disease of the mitochondria, and ten-month-old Jamie Faith passed away on April 10th, surrounded by family and friends that love her dearly.

It's so hard to know what to do, what to say, to friends going through the loss of their child. My husband and I were there for this baby's birth (well, in the waiting room at the hospital) and at their home when she left us. I was honored to take her newborn pictures, as well as pictures of her last moments--the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

At the memorial service, a family friend spoke and said that Jamie touched so many lives without ever saying a word. And it's true.

She will be missed.

Praying for strength, peace, and healing.

Friday Five - Like a Love Song, Wii Dance, and Revisions

1. I - I love you like a love song, baby. And I keep hittin' repeatpeatpeatpeatpeat. Oh, Selena Gomez. The first time I heard this song, I didn't get it. At all.

2. But it kept coming up on Just Dance 4 for the Wii (we won the Wii in a raffle at a benefit!), and suddenly I was addicted. I am determined to get a perfect score on this song, as well as Call Me Maybe, and Maneater. But I am a terrible dancer. It's still fun though!

3. My revisions are done and turned in to my editor! The changes weren't TOO major, but they took some time, and I'm pretty happy with the result. So now I wait. I'm getting good at the waiting.

4. Anyone watching The Voice this season? We skipped the last couple seasons, but with the judge switches, we decided to give it a shot and we're hooked! Blake is hilarious as always and there is some serious talent out there! I already bought Savannah Berry's version of Safe & Sound (she's from Houston, y'all!) and I have my eye on a few others.

5. Some of you may remember my 2013 good eating/fitness goal I set in January, and I did really really good! .... until my book deal. And I admittedly have done a little too much celebrating. And once you taste that sugar, it's hard to knock it again. BUT I've joined a DietBet for April and I'm getting back on track! How are your goals going this year?