it’s been a while…  she was busy kicking breast cancer’s @$$.  here’s her last post on the blog.

and the next chapter in her journey, which i’m honored to document, is adoption.  with all that cancer business behind her, she and tim are ready to start their family, and adoption is the road.  we got to hang out a bit, and it was so cool to see their excitement about everything in their world these days… adoption classes, creating a portfolio, home visits… the whole process is a bit overwhelming just to hear about.  for sure, they will be formally prepared for the baby they will some day call their own… much more so than many of us who have planned or unplanned babies. 

she is the short quirky, spunky, artsy jelly to his tall methodical, electrical engineering peanut butter.

of all the things cancer taught them, it seems obvious they it must have given them an appreciation for carpe diem and finding humor wherever you can.  for sure they know how to laugh at me

and each otherand themselves.and i’m sure, while most of us take such things for granted, they learned to admire each other’s uniqueness so much…“Bridget, tell Tim ‘i hope our baby learns to have your….”“and Tim, ‘Bridget, I hope our baby learns to have your…”

i don’t know what was whispered after the “…”.  that’s for them:

to be reminded that before everything, there was the new immature love they had for each other.

 and since everything, there is the strong mature love they have grown thru’ their struggles and time together. 

what i do know is that they are waiting, planning, hoping and praying for a baby.  if you or someone you know is pregnant and considering adoption, perhaps the Beattys would be the right match.  a little girl with a B name or a little boy with a T name will soon change Bridget & Tim to Mommy & Daddy.  I cannot wait to share that chapter with you all!

on top of everything looking first-class, she held the event at an actual airport, right on theme, and had the incredible backdrop of real planes and skydivers, complete with American flag displays and the night ended with fireworks.  unbelievable. 

Nika thought of everything.  a special kid’s only section included craft paper table cloth for doodling, books, bubbles, old school airplanes to put together and glowsticks for later. 

it also happened to be outrageously hot.  saturday’s high of 99 degrees tied a 58-year-old record for the date and surpassed Friday as the hottest day of the year by one degree.  you’d think it would be miserable, but she had that covered too.  the kids ran and played in the sprinkler, a trampoline equipped kiddie pool, golf clubs, frisbees, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, wiffle ball and lots more.she presented her best girls with hand picked vintage cases filled with glamorous vintage goodies- and treated them to a photo shoot.  what girl doesn’t need a breathtaking new facebook pic?

↓runway models↓ get it?

and what modern party is complete without a photobooth for the guests to get silly in?  all of her details were perfect, i just loved the theme and all the special touches.  a girl after my own heart.

thank you justin & nika for treating me like a superstar through the last year.  from your engagement session in the fall, to the accommodations in Colorado for your bridegroom fashion shoot, and finally wrapping it up with the documentation of your reception and fun on the runway session with your girls.  i’ll try not to be offended when i don’t get a ticket to join you on your tropical honeymoon   best wishes!  {BD} 

We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. {Japanese Proverb}

p.s. just so you all know, going in with your friends for a limo to prom/homecoming is SO cliche.  all the trendsetters are going in on custom photo sessions.  just sayin.

he really impressed me as a mature little man who does a good job of taking care of his mama.

quite the gentleman indeed.  it was my pleasure to shoot the little ham, and get him out of his morning classes at school

next up was Lawana with her girls.  i always love witnessing the energy that a bonded group like this shares.

and i love having them tell me embarassing childhood stories about the guest of honor

such a gracious host to give each of the ladies their own time in the spotlight.  especially after they brought up those old jeans and the skating rink LOL

my favorites   ↓  ↑   family ties and real emotion. doesn’t get much better than that.  happy birthday Lawana!!!

well, six months ago, you might say how gorgeous she is… how her energy for life is such a breath of fresh air…  what an infectious smile she has…  

personally i would say “there’s something about that girl that i love/we are gonna be good friends one day/i’m so glad my girls have her for an art teacher/she has such a fabulous name”

and today? 

you would say all those same things.  only you would say them with a different tone of sincerity and appreciation and awe.  today you know that bridget beatty has stage 2 breast cancer.

the smart, pretty, talented girl who has her first real job and her very own husband and a slew of pets to love on now has to take time out of her sweet little life to deal with this stupid thing called cancer.  and it’s tragic and it’s heartbreaking and it’s the most unfair.  but the greatest thing about bridget is that you spend 10 minutes with her, and she’s not the girl with cancer.  everything else about her shines so brightly that she makes having cancer seem like “i stubbed my toe earlier but it will be fine, now let’s go enjoy our day at the fair…”

my self and my girls and my church pray for her every single day.  but they aren’t desperate pleading prayers- mine at least… they are prayers of anticipation.  i’m really just curious to see how this cancer thing will be used in her life and the lives of those around her.  it sounds bold, but i’ve always had a sense of peace about it.  it’s why i felt completely comfortable saying to her from the beginning “i really don’t see this being more than a hiccup in your story”.  that’s not to make light of body-wrecking chemo, round after round.  or being a twenty-something and having your hairbrush be replaced by a lint roller.  or how it must feel to have to explain ”the news” over and over to friends and family and students and coworkers and curious people on the street.  i’m just saying, bridget is special and i’ve never seen cancer be used to spread such inspiration and positivity.  that’s not even a real word, but for her, it’s the perfect word.   

if you are lucky enough to know bridget,  you might want to know there will be a benefit for her:

October 16th {4pm}

Grandfather’s Barn

6901 Stillwell Beckett Road

Oxford, Ohio 

show her some support there, and whether you know her or not, show her some love here by comment if you’d like to.  i see on her FB wall that she touches the hearts of so many.  i can only imagine that it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that everyone is on your side.

  {for my beautiful friend who spells her name wrong  i adore you. -Bridgette}

PHUNBOOTH {fuhnbooth} -noun-, -verb-, phunboothed, phunboothing

1.something that provides mirth or amusement, whilst preserving precious memories 

2.  a temporary structure guaranteed to spice up your party and make you insta-popular nice brad pitt goatee mary katherine gallagher anyone??  “sometimes when i get nervous…” silly bandz immortalized!  he’s showing off the first egg hatched on the farm

 message me about custom phunbooth options for your next party, meeting, reunion, wedding reception, graduation party, omigoshwhataboutahighschoolreunion… the possibilities are endless, you tell me!  if it’s a party, and especially if there is free food, i’m there let’s get phunboothing…

oh yeah, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!   hope you are all enjoying food, fun, freedom, fireworks and family.  God bless America!!!

it only takes a few minutes with these girls to see what an awesome relationship they have together.  it’s the kind of clique you would love to be adopted into. thanks for letting me feel like an honorary member for a day… and thank you for ALL the excited feedback you gave me.  you are SO sweet and now I’m anxiously awaiting the next big celebration you guys have so i have an excuse to create a sequel to our Sex and the City session:) 

Terra: Many wishes for a blessed wedding, honeymoon and marriage!!!

***why not take a cue from Terra’s fab friends?  message me about creating a fun fashion shoot for you and your own amazing group***