Mom and her girls

This is my sweet friend Shara.  We met nearly six years ago in our first lamaze class.  It was seriously one of the scariest moments of mine and my husbands life.  I will spare you the details, but if you've ever sat in a Lamaze class as a first-time parent, you know what I'm talking about. 
I still remember meeting Shara like it was yesterday.  She is someone who I would consider an old soul.  Sweet, kind and caring. 

Fastforward several years...Shara now has two seriously beautiful little girls.  She has faced some unfair trails in the last few years that nobody would want to face. 

Her story is one you might look at and ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  But Shara will be the first to tell you, that she never lost hope in God's plan for her life.  She is a testimony to the world, that if you hold on long enough to God's promises, He will show you the light at the end of the tunnel. 

When she contacted me to do a session of her and her girls, to celebrate this new journey of her life, I was beyond excited.  She has weathered some serious storms of life, and with the Lord, has come thru them a stronger woman today.  I know if you spoke to her yourself, she'd tell you just how awesome our God is!

So, here are some of my favorite images from her session with her girls.  How precious is the relationship between mothers & daugthers!

Would you look at the beauty of her oldest?? Stunning!

Her youngest...I absolutely adore this shot.  Her face is priceless.

Truly enjoyed my session with these ladies! :)

Marquez Christmas 2011

Christmas for the Marquez Family was downright awesome! Truly enjoyed being with our families, and watching the joy on the kiddos faces. Here is our Christmas in pictures...beware, there are many. :)

 Warning: we did not have matching Christmas pjs. I know, *gasp!*

Santa brought an awesome guitar!

He is such a stinker!!

So my husband and were SUPER excited about this gift...we purchased three sets.  One for each of the older boys.  It's the Armor of God! They can dress up like a solider for Jesus! Comes complete with all the tools needed:  Sheild of Faith, Breastplate of Righteousness and so on! It also comes with a devotion that you can share with your children over the Armor of God.

And as you can see, he took his job VERY seriously...I am being serious when I tell you he hasn't taken this armor off, and wants to sleep in it.  Hilarious!

My brother and sister-in-law (and cousins!) gave them some western guns...so Bryce had to get my Dad's old cowboy boots to complete the look.  Priceless memories. :)

It was truly such a fabulous Christmas! So blessed indeed! Gearing up for tomorrow as my sweet Parker-roo turns TWO.  I can't even utter the words without tears.  Time flies way too fast!!

Goodnight friends!