I wasn't going to talk about any of this as I am a person who feels like when you do something nice, you don't mention it again.  I believe God sees and the people for whom I have done the nice thing know or don't know but they feel it, you know?  I changed my mind at about 2:30am on Friday morning.  It came to me as I woke up from sleep, that this wasn't my story.  I was a bit character in a story much larger and way more plot driven than just my little part.  So here it is, Dreams.

A couple of weeks ago I opened an email which stopped my heart and made me catch my breath.  It made my eyes sting from unshed tears and even my nose began to sting.  It stirred something in me that I can't explain.  The email was from Sara, who owns my gym, Prime Fitness in Clarksville, Tennessee.  Getting emails isn't in itself a shocking thing.  They email us information about promotions etc. but this one was just more than that.  

In the email, Sara described her dream that she had been working on making a reality.  She was training her body and mind for the last three years for climbing the first, for her, of the world's 7 summits, Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina.  She saved her money and held her dreams close to her while she trained so hard.  I don't know if you all have ever dreamed of climbing a mountain but I haven't.  Anyway, she actually really really was excited about sleeping on the ice at 23,000 ft and was so thrilled about the idea of this adventure.  I will never forget this quote from Sara in our email, "However, as excited as I have been for this trip I recently heard Love INVITE me to lay it down."  She went on to explain how she met a new friend named Kennedy.  She is a 19 year old woman who was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) while she was a junior at West Creek High.  Sara met Kennedy through a Prime member who is on Kennedy's hospice team.  Sara wanted to see that Kennedy's dream, no matter how crazy, came true in life.  They talked about river rafting and sky diving -- and that is what made the tears fall.  Y'all I have a beautiful child who is about to be seventeen and she dreams of a lifetime of adventures that are too crazy to even think about for me.  Last year for her birthday she begged us to let her sky dive.  This could be my baby talking of dreams instead of being allowed to live them.  I am so thankful that Kennedy had that time at that kitchen table to laugh and dream with Sara.  Sara was determined to find Kennedy's real dream but Kennedy could only talk about her family and how to help them find joy, she couldn't say or probably even allow herself to dream her own BIG dreams.  I can imagine when she finally did speak the words, they probably came out in an uncertain whisper, unsure if she was even really supposed to utter them outloud to the universe.  Finally it came.  She loves the beach and dreams to see Fiji and swim with the dolphins.  She wants to see a waterfall.  Let that soak in.  This young woman who two years ago was full of passion and adventure just wants to see a foreign beach, dolphins and a waterfall.  Lord, I didn't even know such a place existed so she must have poured over images on the internet etc, to even find out about such a place.  

The Make A Wish Foundation only sponsors kids younger than 18 and the Dream Foundation only supports dreams inside the Untied States.  Sara doesn't believe in conditions or limitations when it comes to love or dreams.  Right then Sara PROMISED her that she would get to go to Fiji with her mom and dad.  She promised Kennedy in full faith so Sara traded her dream of climbing her own mountain for a dream of helping Kennedy climb hers.  She wanted to offer Kennedy something that her family and the doctors couldn't, she offered Kennedy HOPE in the form of a dream.  Here is the part of the email that spoke literal words to me.  Sara said, " I want to INVITE you to join me in this love story."  Love story is my phrase of the year.  Y'all this IS a love story and how could I help?  Where do I fit in?  Where do you, the reader fit in?  They had a day where they closed the gym and opened it up to visitors from gyms from all over who paid $10 to work out on one day.  It was called Mayhem - Workout for a Reason.  Now I could do that with my husband and give $20. We could even add a little more with it or I could invite YOU to help me dream BIGGER.
 

She said my phrase in her email as though she were talking to me.  She was talking to me.  She was inviting me to help.  I knew I could donate a session or more than one but y'all mini sessions are hard and tiring.  I couldn't go spend the day at some random park waiting in the cold for people who could be late or not show up.  What could I do?  I have a friend named Tyler who shared the land near him, with me.  He always told me to just go and it was fine.  Without that land 5 minutes from me I would not be able to do this.  This was a beautiful spot and an enormous part of this story for without it there would be no story.  I set out feelers of who would want to join me in this.  The very first person within minutes of me posting was Melissa. I have known her family for many many years and they are the best people.  Melissa and her sister, Suzanne are nearly perfect humans.  Seriously if I didn't love them I could hate them.  They are beautiful and funny and athletic and have the best children.  No matter how much time has passed since I have seen those children they hug me and treat me like family!  So Melissa signed up and then so did Suzanne.  Then my friend Amy signed up.  I met her this year and knew we would be friends.  Then one of Suzanne's friends, Jessica signed up and lastly a local, extremely talented photographer signed up.  (And she complimented MY work, and hers is gorgeous!!  It was such a blessing to my heart!). I had a few others who signed up but were unable to come due to weather or obligations but they prayed about the work being done.  

I woke up that morning to a freezing cold and windy day.  My friend Alison messaged to tell me how she was praying for it to go well.  That was so amazing, I thought.  The first family came and they had littles in that cold wind but there was no crying - only smiling and joy.  It warmed my heart, I can tell you that.  When I finished with their session I went home to eat and warm up.  My friend, Christina, with Saved By Grace Photography called and wanted to come help!  The day warmed up and the sun was out.  Y'all it was a blessed day.  

Monday morning I gave the envelope of cash and checks to Sara.  I tried to just hand it to her and run but she chased me down and thanked me sincerely.  She said someone told her their photographer was doing some thing special and Sara said with pride, "I KNOW HER!!!"  lol. Several from the gym thanked me but I felt like I did so little.  It was the families who gave and the individuals who prayed who blessed this family and I felt like I just turned in the money.  Yesterday, at the gym Sara said she called Kennedy's family to meet at the bank.  She had already told them what the amount to deposit was and when she got there she handed them the last envelope, the one from us, and the family asked why?  Why would someone (us) give an entire day of work, just for them when we didn't even know this family.  Sara told them that no matter what they were going through, no matter how bad it got, God loved them.  The community loved them and we all wanted them to once again feel love and hope.  That is why I wanted to share this love story with you all.  They are going to Fiji.  I wish I could be there when Kennedy touches the sleek skin of the dolphin. I wish I could capture her face in the final pink and orange light of the sunset that evening.  I wish I could see her awe and hear her laugh when she not only sees a waterfall but maybe feels the foam as it tickles her nose.  I wish I could capture, on film, the joy that family will have as they relish time together doing something that they didn't dream they would be able to do a month ago.  I want to thank beautiful Sara, who's face always shines with love and joy and who's heart is sweet and kind.  Without her stepping out in faith, without her giving of her time to actually learn about Kennedy, there would be a different story and it wouldn't be so rich with love.  Thank you Sara for showing me and countless others, your heart and how to love and dream in full faith.  Any story can be a love story.  Thank you Kennedy for allowing Sara in, I pray your time in Fiji is better than your endless dreams and the joy you feel will fill you an fuel you.  Thank you Tyler and Madison for loving me and trusting me, without you, this day would not have been possible for me.  I will treasure the time I was able to photograph on land that was more beautiful in the sunset, than any other land could be.  Thank you Christina for running around feeding candy to two year old triplets until you were so tired you wanted to go to bed.  Thank you to Amy, Suzanne, Jessica, Melissa, and Pam for driving all this way and letting me capture your families on film and helping to show love to Kennedy.  Thank you for answering the call and being so generous.  Thank you to the friends and family who prayed for a successful day.  Please continue to pray for Kennedy and her journey.  

Mark 12:31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Oftentimes people tell me that they don't want to have pictures made in the winter because it's so ugly out.  I am not going to lie, Clarksville, Tennessee has not been the prettiest lately BUT there is always a reason for capturing memories!  Since it was somewhat rainy and gloomy we decided to go to downtown Clarksville to use all of the color as a backdrop.  On my way there I couldn't help but be in awe of all of the beautiful fog around me.  As soon as I got out of my car and hugged Lacey, she mentioned capturing the fog in some images.  We were thinking alike!!

Sometimes how I meet people is an interesting story.  This one is great!  My friend Christina from Saved By Grace Photography has a family that she regularly photographs.  Basically the family is part of her family without the genetics!  I have gotten to meet them as I have helped on some of their family shoots.  Well when the mom, who is also named Lacey, was ready to deliver her baby, she wanted a birth photographer.  Christina just happened to be out of town that weekend so she sent Lacey to me!  I went to the hospital where she was supposed to have her cesarean section and waited -- only to find out, they wouldn't let me see her until two hours after the baby was born!  So I sat with Lacey's family in the waiting room and I also made friends with another photographer.  When I got to go meet the baby I was introduced to the baby nurse, which happened to be THIS Lacey!  lol!  I followed the baby to her first little bath and absolutely fell in love with Lacey's easy gentle way and I fell in love with that sweet baby too!!  By the time I left the hospital I regretted not becoming Facebook friends with the nurse!  I finished the gallery, (that should be a blog post soon!) and my client Lacey contacted me and wished her nurse Lacey could see images of herself working.  I had a friend who also works in the same unit and she agreed to share the gallery with nurse Lacey!  So that is how we met!  It turns out she lives not too far from me and we scheduled a session!!!

Anyway, back to the session!  I got to meet Kevin, who didn't seem to think I was a stalker, which was a bonus.  lol.  He was super nice and also enjoys photography!!  

After we did a few images in downtown we decided to see if we could capture the fog before the rain came in, so we ventured down to Clarksville Marina's wetlands!  I have always dreamed of shooting there on a foggy day.  I had one client who wanted to shoot there once but it was the middle of summer when it was packed with fishermen.  We were hoping to have a rare moment of vacancy down there. 

Sure enough, we got there and it was gorgeous!! It wasn't super foggy, which was a bummer but we made it work.  It was raining pretty heavily by the time we left!!  If you are ever in Clarksville and want a photographer for this area I AM IN!!!

I love how sweet these two were.  Kevin was so sweet to her and didn't mind at all that I was dragging them around.  I know they were hungry!  They were on the way to Blackhorse for brunch, which they said was AMAZING, but I heard NO complaints!  I hope I get the chance to shoot for them again soon!!  I have more to blog about this session but I think it will have to be a two parter!!  Thank you all for reading this!  Do you have a location you've always wanted to have a session at?  Where?  

Every year, at this time, the gyms are crowded with those of us who make a new resolution (well sometimes old resolution we renew every year) to work out and get fit.  The grocery aisles are filled with organization devices because we are determined this year will be the year we clear out minds and spaces from clutter.  Churches see higher attendance because we are convinced this is the year we will give up that one day of a week of sleeping in and be involved in church and have regular Sunday morning attendance.  One of these might be you or all of them might be you.  

Those who are business owners pick this time of year to focus on our goals, some times we even pick a word or phrase that mean something to us.  Maybe it's a technique we are determined to learn or that we are going to save money.  Either way we pick a word.  Last year my word was confidence.  I was going to go into the year more confident in my business being more intentional.  Up until last year, business was something that happened to me, but 2016 was the year I was going to tackle the business.  I made myself goals like booking three weddings for the year, booking three seniors, and a new family every month, and blogging more.  I just really wanted to focus more on my business.  The first week I scheduled three weddings, three seniors and a couple of new family shoots and boy, no one was more surprised that me that it would happen that quickly!  Talk about goals!  Except my word was confidence.  I had to sell me, my pricing and the importance of prints with CONFIDENCE!  I quickly stopped blogging and will admit that telling people the reason they should choose me was very difficult.  I don't like people who toot their own horn and I didn't want to be that gal!  So I bought very expensive software to assist me with sending out contracts and questionnaires and invoices!  (No more forgetting to ask for payment at the shoot!!). I was busier in my business than I ever thought possible.  2016 was an amazing year!

This year I have been slow about my goals and word.  I wondered how I could possibly do better with bookings than last year.  SO today I have started a new goal list that I will begin praying over.  (I pray over my goals because I want God to help me be intentional and I want Him to be the first to hear me.  I want God to know all credit of anything I am able to produce, do or be comes from HIM not me.)

This year my phrase is Love Story.  I want to be the storyteller through my images of your love story.  I'm not talking I am only shooting weddings and engagements.  I'm talking I want to sew together the fabric of your story and tell it so that generations from now your story will still have meaning and strength.  Your love stories are when you created a surprise birthday party for your mama's 80th and invited every friend seen and unseen in the last 30 years and bring them all together over bbq and cake.  I want to tell your story.  I want to tell the story of you caring for your child with cancer and how you fix pancakes in the morning and give him his meds and you wake up for the day with so much love in your heart that it shines on your face.  I want to tell your birth story so that every year on his or her birthday you can go back and remember every hand hold, nurse and doctor who helped with that day.  I want to tell the story of your baby turning one and how he is your little wild thing so we create a space that tells your story.  I want to be the one who tells the story of your love that keeps you awake at night every single night of your husbands deployment and up early in the morning to get your children to school because your husband depends on you to be strong while he is away.  I want to tell the story of your family sitting around the dinner table you had crafted with enough seating that all your children can bring their husbands and wives and children and ALWAYS have a seat at your table.  I want to tell the story of your family farm by photographing you with your family with all the hope of the future while standing in front of the old house of your past.  I want to enter your home and take pictures of the first week of your child's life or the last days with your pet.  I want to take pictures of you in a field of golden wheat in the sunset dancing with the man you love more today, than you did 20 years ago when you married him, while your children play around you.  These stories are your past and your future and I want to be the one to tell them.

Hollywood wants us to believe love begins when he asks you to marry him and pinnacles with a walk down the aisle but I want to capture all of it.  Real love begins and ends over and over again with the same man through so many years and I want to capture how the years change that love.  Hollywood tells you that the giant white wedding of your dreams is the only way you can be happy and while I want to capture that I also want to capture the couple at the courthouse getting married before the husband deploys or the couple getting married in their living room with family and a couple of friends watching.  If it's YOUR love story, I want to capture it!  Let this be the year of babies and weddings, of family sessions and surprise engagements!  Let me capture your seniors personality in swoon worthy gloss.  Let this be the year Mandy Chadwick Photography captures the joy you feel when you look at your crazy wild free and loving family.  2017 and all it's love stories are just waiting to be told!

Do you have an idea of a story you'd like told?  Do you know someone planning a tiny wedding or elopement?  I would love to speak with them!  IF you send them my way, you will get a special referral prize!!  Let's tell lot's of stories together this year!

So many love stories!!  I am ready!!

XOXO,

Mandy