The Gravois Family

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This is the Gravois family. Ryan and Natalie have been long time friends of Paula and I. We have had the pleasure of seeing them married and since then have two adorable children. Their story is not one of an average young couple, but it is one that has me holding on to my two own children a little tighter.

Back in February of this year their then 1.5 year old Olivia Kate, she's now two, was having balance issues. They took her to the Dr and soon after an MRI revealed a large tumor in the center of her brain. She was admitted immediately and underwent surgery to remove the tumor the next day. Olivia's prognosis came back stating she had a malignant AT/RT tumor with a genetic mutation. Their son, William, was only a month old and they just bought their first home in another state for Ryan's job. Family rallied around them and made the move for Natalie and Ryan and chipped in with the care of William so they could be by Olivia's side at every moment. Olivia has since been through many rounds of chemo, proton therapy and stem cell transplants. This also means they have been mostly living in hospitals this year. They have been living between hospitals in Mobile, Houston, New Orleans, and now here in Birmingham where Olivia will be having her last two rounds of chemo and everything else that goes along with it. Ryan and Natalie inspire us every day with their courage to fight with the most positive of attitudes. Were they heartbroken? Yes, but through a great gathering of prayer we have all seen miracles happen and Natalie and Ryan hang on to the promises of God...

"This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Josh 1:9

You can follow more of their story and get updates on Olivia HERE. We have found that Olivia Kate has quite the fight behind that sweet smile. I hope you find yourself as inspired by this family as we are.

Miami

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This past September Paula and I headed down to Miami and the Keys to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. It was a full week without the kids and without a care. A side note - if you ever want to go to Miami then September is perfect. It was warm but not sweltering and because it is classified as hurricane season we were able to stay at five star hotels at four star prices. My only regret was that we didn't take more pictures. Also, I didn't know that wild chickens were all the rage in the keys.

Act of Congress

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I was recently able to shoot a few concerts for local favorite Act of Congress. They both featured partnerships with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The first was at the Alabama Theater and the second at Regions Park. I've know the band members for years and they're insanely talented. You can check out their music on ITunes or check them out on their website. This was a big departure from shooting weddings but ended up being one of the most fun shooting experiences I've had in awhile. Here are some shots. Enjoy.