I always consider it a great privilege to be able to document times in your life that are so tender and fleeting and precious. Newborn sessions are ones that I hold so dear to my heart for that reason.  This session, though, was a little different for me – sacred almost.  You see, this baby holds a special place in my heart.  Friends, this is my youngest nephew, Liam.

Now every baby is a beautiful gift from God, I know that to be true.  Liam, though, is a special reminder of God’s great faithfulness, that sorrow doesn’t last forever and the difference a year can make. You see, a little over a year ago, my sister-in-law, Karen, gave birth to another baby.  On February 12, 2016,  Karen and Will said both hello and goodbye to their first baby boy, Ethan. Ethan was diagnosed, in utero, with a fairly advanced case of trisomy 18  early on in the pregnancy.  After hearing their options, Karen and Will made a brave and noble choice to continue Ethan’s pregnancy as long as the Lord would allow, hoping to be able to spend even a few moments with their boy, while his heart was still beating. Unfortunately at 32 weeks, Ethan’s heart could no longer keep up and he was born still, into the arms of Jesus.

BUT, “sorrow lasts only for a night.” We found out a few months later that we would be welcoming another nephew or niece into the family.  This time, it was, “a very normal, boring pregnancy.” Eight or so months later, we welcome this very handsome new nephew into our lives. What a remarkable and beautiful gift!

Needless to say, this session with this precious, new family was one that I won’t soon forget.  The added bonus of quality Aunt/Nephew bonding time was icing on the cake.

“After the worst storms, come the most beautiful rainbows.”