she's got an avalanche packed into a snowball

E is so many, many incredible things...but after seeing the pictures below, I am certain one word will be ringing in your ears.  FIERCE.  And magnificently so.

I was tempted to entitle this blog post "THAT.JUST.HAPPENED." 

i have called you and you are mine

Sarita + Toby

Thai Buddhist Wedding/Blessing Ceremony - 08.22.2009

. . . . .

I have shared Sarita and Toby's affections in an earlier post.  At the time, we were galavanting around the city of Chicago, a place and culture I'm most familiar with.  But when the Saturday arrived for Sarita and Toby's Thai Buddhist wedding blessing ceremony, I was totally unprepared for the grandeur and emotion that would find its way before me.  A blessing ceremony is most ceremonious and filled with ritual and for someone outside of the culture, it was a most beautiful union and certainly an amazing rite of passage to witness.  I hope to describe a bit of what you are about to see (if you're unfamiliar!) from sources I've found--but do correct me if I'm at all inaccurate!  It was all just so full of colors and sounds and tastes that awakened my senses and brought me to the *here and now*...full of joy for such a fantastic couple.                           

During this wedding ceremony nine Buddhist monks are invited to preside over. Thai people believe that number 9 is the lucky number. Nine in Thai read as "Gouw" which means progressive. Therefore, people always choose to have 9 monks for the religious ceremony. However, any odd number, 3, 5, 7 can be used if they cannot find 9 monks. The odd number will add 1 Buddha image and the number will become even. Monks sit on straw mattress on the left of the altar. The couple sit near an altar which the Buddha image is placed. The monks recite various Pali chants to bless the couple.

The first monk holds a special fan (Talapat) in one hand and a microphone in the other hand. The monks will chant and say prayers whilst a lit candle is placed in a bowl of water. This lustral water is then used later to bless the couple (Rad Nam Sung) . A bowl of white paste may also be blessed which will be used later to anoint the foreheads of the bride and groom.

Nine trays are placed in front of the monks. Each tray contains several small dishes. After prayers are over, the newly weds present alms, food and an envelope to each monk. The monks cannot eat later than 12:00 noon. The envelopes contain money. As monks cannot touch money, Thai people give envelopes. Then monks eat and when meal is over they go back to the temple.  

          

The next part of the wedding ceremony is usually conducted by a senior elder who may be a member of the bride's family or a respected member of the community. During the wedding ceremony, the couple wear traditional Thai clothing and kneel in front of the senior elder, with the groom on the right. The couple 'wai' is specially prepared white thread, and 'sai monkhon', is looped and used to link together the bride’s and the groom’s heads. It is symbolic that the thread forms two circles which whilst linked, also remain independent. This indicates that the couple’s destinies are linked, but individual identity is retained. The circle is also symbolic because of its continuity and the fact that merit can be carried around in the circle.The senior elder then pours sacred water over the hands of the couple. Bowls of flowers are placed underneath the hands to catch the water. The guests then bless the couple by also pouring water over the hands of the couple in the 'rod nam sang' ceremony.

**I have to add here that watching each guest bless Sarita and Toby was one of the most deeply intimate and powerful experiences I have had.  To hear the wishes of joy and happiness and spot the occasional tear was almost too much for my heart!  I was pretty misty behind the lens.**

A sampling of their guests blessing them...

And the food!  Ohhh, the food...

So much joy for this pair...

Congratulations on your recent nuptials (they had a gorgeous wedding in California on September 3rd!), Sarita and Toby!!! 

her eyes as clear as centuries

They were ships passing in the night, Eve and my Sarah were--that's how Eve's mama so aptly described them.  Oh so true.  This notion has always brought me a sort of comfort.  And eight months later, this brilliant girl slipped into the world and I witnessed it firsthand.  It was a glorious birth.  I gained a sense of who she was from the moment I laid eyes on her--such a vibrant soul.  And she changed everyone, including me.

Fast forward one year.  Wait.  One year?  How can that be?  Really???

Love you so very much, darling girl.  ♥

that's where i belong

You have yourself a family...a bustling one, with three girls...and you spend your years raising them: loving them, nurturing them and filling them with the hopes and goals you know they're capable of achieving.  Then suddenly, it's a late summer evening, just one week before your oldest  is about to make the longest drive she's ever known; she's heading off to college.  And the love and the hopes and the dreams all filter into one moment...and this is it.

I cannot imagine the multitude of emotions that Joan and Tom were experiencing as I came to take family photographs at their home last week.  I'm not even looking kindgergarten straight in the eye yet and I wince at the thought--my son is not moving a whole state away like their daughter is!  But to see them all together, in the relaxed, candid way I so enjoy and in the "you just have to!" traditional family pose that sneaks in, all I could sense was their, well, togetherness!  They just adored each other so.  The bond between sisters was so strong.  And I'll admit I was a bit misty when Joan snuck in between her girls.  How proud they must be to have their babies truly blooming into strong, beautiful women.

It was an honor to capture this turning point in their lives.  Thank you so much, Joan and Tom!  And best of luck at Indiana University, Emily!!!

winner winner, chicken dinner!

Hi lovelies!!!

I apologize for posting this so late in the evening, but I am excited to post the winner of my Parents' Picks-inspired raffle for a FREE SESSION and $100 PRINT CREDIT!!!

Fifty-nine amazing people posted comments and I excluded two who said they were just gushing (I love you!), which brought the total entries to fifty-seven.  I then copied and pasted all of the comments in a PDF form and assigned them in numerical order.  In the effort of being totally honest, I print-screened the results, so you can view them as I generated them!

Soooo...congratulations, Jessica!!!!!!!!!  You're the big winner!!!!!!!!!!!!  Woo woo!!!!!!!!  An email will be following this post!  I want to thank everyone who participated in this raffle and I hope you keep me in mind when thinking about your photography needs...and please keep an eye on my blog for any future contests!!!!!!