Adam Signs up for 100-mile Ultramarathon

Cindy took this photo of me signing up for the Burning River 100. This is a 100-mile race that takes place in northern Ohio in July 2012. There's a 30-hour time limit and I'd love to finish in under 24 hours. In 2011 I knocked out a few marathons and a 50km+ race with minimal training, so I'm excited about a new challenge.

I remember after my first marathon in 2001 that I could barely walk for several days after the race. At that point I couldn't even imagine running another step. Fast forward a few years and I ran my first back-to-back marathons (Virginia on Saturday, North Carolina on Sunday) and loved the experience. The following year I ran a 50-miler and felt great. The intimidating part about the 50-miler was how much "unknown" territory there was. I knew what it was like to run 33 miles, but that left 17 miles of "unknown" out there on the trails. Those were the intimidating miles.

I have no plans to run anything beyond 50 miles as I train for this 100-mile race, which means I'll be facing 50 miles of "unknown". In my imagination it's like the path ahead of me goes dark and I don't know what to expect. How hard will it be? What will be my greatest enemy? Quads? Stomach? Sleepiness? Blisters? Doubt?

I'm going to do by best to prepare for the challenge and I'm basing my training plan on this schedule. I'm also looking for people to help as crew and pacers, so if anybody wants a memorable experience on the trails of Northern Ohio drop me a line. Stay tuned for more details...

Lisa + Scott: Family

Lisa and Scott have three beautiful children and we were lucky enough to catch the last of the fall colors of 2011. We headed out to St. James Farm in Warrenville to capture the leaves, their smiles, and sweet memories of their family together. Below are just a few of my favorites...

Five Cousins: Wheaton Family Sneak Peek

I am so excited to show you more of the wonderful shots I captured at this recent family session, but in the meantime let me give you a little sneak peak of these two sweet families who are also our good friends.

Sarah: Senior Session

I owe a big thank you to Sarah for a delightful senior session. She has a beautiful smile, a tender heart, and a mature confidence that exceeds her age. We met up at the Danada Equestrian Center because she loves horses and worked there for many years. I love shooting a session in a place that is familiar to them because they can be comfortably themselves. That comfort shows through in these great shots we captured on a warm fall afternoon with beautiful light and vibrant fall leaves. Enjoy...

Tom + Susie: Family

Tom and Susie are raising two wonderful boys who are full of energy, action, and giggles. God has worked in interesting ways to bring Tom and Susie together in marriage, and in truly miraculous ways to make their family what it is. To make this family session extra special, we met up at the exact same spot at the country club where Tom and Susie had their wedding photos taken. I so enjoyed my time with them and love the family memories we captured together on this fall afternoon.

Nick + Annie: Family

Nick is from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands and Annie is from France. They met at Wheaton College, married, and have three beautiful children. They now live in France where they love their neighbors: refugees, college students, and their local church.

Nick and Annie are two of the most beautiful people we'll ever know in this life. Our friendship with them goes back to Wheaton and has spanned hundreds of meals, thousands of miles, and countless games of ping pong. Memories of laughter, adventures, and trials all bring tears to me eyes as I remember the paths of life that we've walked together.

The strength of their faith and the generosity of their hearts are two indelible marks of their character that any friend is encouraged by. Of course it's no surprise to see these same traits growing in their sweet children. We only get to visit with this dear family every couple of years, but our children consider them good friends and talk about them often. Even at a young age their sweet spirit is leaving a mark on their world.

This legacy of faith and generosity spans multiple generations, as we've enjoyed the blessings and friendship of Nick's parents for many years…starting 14 years ago during our honeymoon on St. Croix. Well, we're back on St. Croix for a few weeks and I was delighted when they asked me to shoot a family session with all three generations at a place that's very special to their family, the St. Croix YWAM base. Enjoy...

Rick + Gail: Family

Rick and Gail are about to be empty nesters, which is pretty hard for us to imagine with four little ones in our home. They're handling these big changes with grace, but wanted to capture some family photos and memories before their children headed off in separate directions. Their daughter Sarah is headed off for her first year of college and their son Brent will be leading a one-year study team in China. While they will obviously miss their children, it's wonderful to see them encouraging their children in the next exciting phases of their own lives.

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Emily + Graham: Wedding Teaser

It's been a very busy summer around here, but I'm delighted that wedding photos of Emily and Graham are almost ready! Check back early next week for the complete gallery, but in the meantime, here's a little wedding day teaser of their beautiful day.

14 years

Adam and I celebrated 14 years of marriage on July 19. We had one of the kids' favorite babysitters come care for them so we could enjoy an evening out. Adam surprised me with dinner at a wonderful Spanish tapas restaurant, Meson Sabika. A dear friend had told us about it and we finally had a chance to experience it. It is a beautiful place--an old mansion--with gorgeous gardens and fountains and columns outside. Of course, we took photos!






We shared tapas and a seafood paella.


Best of all, we shared time and good conversation, reflecting on how we've grown in our love for one another over the years. It is true for us that we love each other more and better now. May God continue to grow our love for each other in the years to come!