Well Hello there, I am back with a slight cough, but doing so much better!
Thank you for the well wishes!
Kisses for all of you, errr...or maybe not! You germaphobes just got totally weirded out, huh? I know...I heard you gasping and turning your head...
I had the pleasure of taking some photos a few weekends ago at the San Clemente pier with one of my girlfriends and her hubby....here is where the story begins.
I would like to think I am a good friend, I would like to think I take the time to take care of others and to let them know I am always here for them. At times I get really wrapped up in my working schedule and my family and I feel as though I am an awful friend, especially when I forget a birthday or miss a girl's night and that much needed cold cocktail!
However, I have a dear friend, to whom has been on my mind for a little while now and I thought I needed to share her with you. I thought I needed to share her, because a part of her story has made me a better mom & friend, her story has touched parts of my heart that I didn't know existed and yet are hard to talk about.
My friend, Erin has to be hands down the most sincere person I have ever met. When you talk to her you feel as though you are the only person in the room. She listens so intently, and when you greet each other she hugs you with the most affection a friend can give. She fills the room with her laughter and her amazing spirit. I am so blessed to call her my friend, she will always be a part of me.
On that note, my dear friend is about to have a sweet little baby boy to whom they have decided to call Hanlon, how cute is that? Hanlon will be blessed with the best mommy & daddy ever, he will be showered with love as all babies are, and he will be looked after by his older sister, Mary as she flutters around him above with her angel wings and her tiny lifted spirit.
As we go through life we will have friends come and go. We will have friends that stick with us through thick and thin, and friends who will not agree with our choices and move on. We will have friends that move far away and friends we loose to soon, but in life we will always have a handful that change our lives.
I am blessed to have an amazing handful of friends that have changed my life. My best friend will always be a part of my handful & my dear friend Erin will as well. She has taught me what it means to loose, what it means to fight and what it means to allow yourself to feel, really feel and soak in the emotions. She has taught me that strength comes from within and it is ok to be sad, and to hold on to memories as comfort. She also taught me that laughter is some good medicine! She reminds me of the importance of cherishing every single moment with my son, to hold him a minute longer because it can all too quickly be taken away.
Hanlon has a special mommy as she knows what a blessing he will always be their lives!
Hold on to your handful of friends as they teach you more about yourself then you may realize.
And in the end you will need them, really need them in ways you never thought possible.
XOXO~
P.S. My girlfriend is in the hospital as I write this. Her baby is due on July 21st & we decided to have a girl's night on Thursday at the hospital. Girly movies, food and chitter chatter galore, I can't wait!
P.S.S. Last one I promise, I recently stumbled upon a wonderful blog and I adore her words and her photography. She wrote an amazing post a few days ago and has allowed me to add her here. Swing on by Laura's blog ~ {My Life is a piece of Cake} for some amazing inspiration!
That's all folks! 'Til we meet again...may the life you lead be the life you love!
You are so blessed to have such a sweet woman in your life. Your blessings are endless.
Thanks for sharing Erin with us....She sounds like a treasure.
The 21st can't get here soon enough :)
PS lurve the name Hanlon!!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
pss i'm not a germ freak :) bring it on girl!
Posted by: Amy | July 14, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Hi tara.
You are indeed blessed to have a number of wonderful, supportive women in your life. Your dear friends make a beautiful couple, btw. ;) The photos are wonderful, and I am sure that they will cherish them.
I'm happy to hear that you are feeling better. Having a cold in the summer seems so wrong.
I hope your cold disappears and you can get back to making some more funky tan lines right away. ;)
XOXO
*Tricia
Posted by: Tricia | July 14, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Those are beautiful pictures!! Erin is not only beautiful on the outside, but she obviously is beautiful on the inside too! There is nothing like the love of good girlfriends! You girlies are so blessed to have eachother! I'm sick too, so go ahead, cough in my face, I don't care! :)
Posted by: Tricia Whisler | July 14, 2009 at 12:10 PM
That is so sweet! I have a friend like that named Beth. She is the sweetest person ever. Congrats to Erin and her new baby on the way!
Posted by: Erin | July 14, 2009 at 12:16 PM
This is such a sweet post. Love the pictures. I wish we would have taken more pictures when I was pregs. :) Congrats to Erin and her hubby. xo
Posted by: Julie | July 14, 2009 at 01:26 PM
I really do think you missed your calling. I just love all your photos. You just have a way of adding the feeling into them. Of course your subjects are always fabulous too.
Congrats to you for having such a wonderful friend and to her for the new baby on the way!
Posted by: Maggie | July 14, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Tara! i love your eye - what fabulous pictures!!
Goes perfectly with your fabulous friend, too - what a beautiful sentiment, and how exciting to anticipate the 21st!!
BIG hugs to you, friend! Such a great tribute to friends!
xoxo
Posted by: Tracy | July 14, 2009 at 04:26 PM
You did a fantastic job taking their photos!! Just gorgeous!!
Posted by: Jeanne | July 14, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Tara-These photographs turned out so wonderful! You did a fabulous job with this couple. & from your words, she certainly seems worthy of it. She's fairly lucky to have you, too. Glad you are feeling better! :)
Posted by: heather | July 14, 2009 at 04:41 PM
what a sweet post for a special friend...and the photos are wonderful!
xo
chasity
Posted by: Chasity | July 14, 2009 at 04:45 PM
What a sweet story! I'm sure that your friends LOVES you as much as you LOVE her! I will keep her in my prayers and pray for an easy and safe delivery of her sweet baby boy.
Posted by: Kimm at Reinvented | July 14, 2009 at 05:55 PM
You are a great photographer!! Just lovely!
Posted by: Our Creative Life | July 14, 2009 at 06:37 PM
You are SO SO SO SWEET.
This bloggin' world continues to amaze and inspire me.
I am blessed to have found this outlet...and to find readers like you!
thank you
Laura
Posted by: Laura Phelps | July 14, 2009 at 10:38 PM
very sweet post! Gorgeous photos! Gorgeous family!
Posted by: lissa | July 14, 2009 at 11:11 PM
What beautiful photos of beautiful Erin and her husband. A nice driftwood frame, perhaps? Tara, I hope you're feeling better soon, but on the bright side, just think, you get to stay home for a couple of days :o)
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | July 15, 2009 at 04:03 AM
Love Friendships and wonderful people who bring out the best in everyone! What a beautiful couple and lucky little boy! and so happy you have this family in your life!
I adore Laura's blog!
hugs,
LuLu
Posted by: LuLu | July 15, 2009 at 05:08 AM
What a wonderful story. Please give your girlfriend a great big hug from me. Good friends are a treasure never ever to be wasted.
I'm off to check out the blog you recommended - I can only imagine how wonderful it must be if you love it so.
Posted by: suzann | July 15, 2009 at 05:26 AM
what a beautiful tribute to your friend.
and i love laura's blog...it's been a fav of mine for a while.
Posted by: kasey | July 15, 2009 at 05:53 AM
Happy to know you are on the mend :) These are beautiful beautiful pictures. How lucky to have such an amazing friend.
Posted by: Rebekah | July 15, 2009 at 06:58 AM
What a blessing to have such a friend...but she is blessed to have you as well...lovely images...what talent you have!
Posted by: koralee | July 15, 2009 at 07:48 AM
Hi sweet Tara :)
What a wonderful post about a dear friend. I think you're lucky to have each other ;)
Your pictures are gorgeous! Congratulations to the happy couple.
missed you!
xoxo,
rue
Posted by: rue | July 15, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Amen to friends, what would we do without them???
Posted by: Diana Thompson | July 15, 2009 at 08:10 AM
You are the best of friends to all your girlfriends, YOU always take the time out to make everyone feel special & honestly Tara not sure you have ever missed a girls night/happy hour! I couldnt agree with you any more, Erin has such a beautiful spirit & it is certain that when we hold little Hanlon in our arms that our tears of joy will be bouncing off his face! And you will have an extra special conection because I just realized yesterday that you & Hanlon will share a Birthday!! hugs~
Posted by: sheramo | July 15, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Isn't the bottom of the pier the perfect spot for great pictures? Yours came out beautiful!
Posted by: migambeta@yahoo.com | July 15, 2009 at 08:56 AM
What a beautiful post filled to the brim with love. As lucky as you are to have Erin as a friend...she is just as lucky to have you.
Posted by: Andrea - Faded Plains | July 15, 2009 at 02:31 PM