Update on memorial service...

The time to remember and celebrate Mike will be at Wabisis Park at 3pm. For those who want to map quest, the address is 11220 Springhill Drive, Greenville, MI 48848. Vistations will be held at Pederson Home in Rockford MI. Thurs 2-4, 6-9, and Friday 11-1 pm.

We met this morning with a dear friend of Mike's, Matt Krick, who will be officiating his memorial. It was a bitter sweet time as we remembered Mike. We laughed, cried, shared funny and amazing stories that brought joy to our hearts and souls, while at the same time sadness and loss. We want to extend this opportunity to those who have been impacted by Mike at his celebration of life memorial on Friday. If you would like to share a thought, story or memory, we will have a time where you will be invited to speak and ask it to be under 2 minutes. We also covet any thoughts you may want to share with us as a family and would love anything written so we can have that to remember him by.

Because of the impact Mike has had on so many, we are concerned about seating. Those of you who will be attending this memorial are asked to bring a folding chair "just in case" there is not enough seating.

Also I know many have inquired as to the cause of Mike's passing...The official finding is "natural causes", but I can't see anything natural about Mike's death.

The ache and pain is for us to have to wrestle through...

I will say again how much i am clinging to your words, your prayers, your offers of love. And it have been a blessing to Mike's family to read the many messages and memories. It brings up a bit of peace to know how well he was loved and the impact he had on so many.

making it through minute by minute...
kelly

a time of remembrance for Mike Powers...

It is overwhelming and so so good to receive all of your loving words and to hear all of the memories you had of Mike. It affirms to me what an amazing, extraordinary, one of kind person he was...

The visitation hours for Mike will be at Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford Thursday 2-4 pm, 6-9 pm and Friday 11 am-1 pm. We are waiting to finalize the location for the memorial service which will take place on Friday late afternoon and once I know I will pass that information along.

Also in lieu of flowers we ask that you offer contributions to our dear friends Chad and Marlana Smith who are in Guatemala serving and loving on orphans. Checks can be me made out to Blythefiled Hills Baptist Church c/o Chad and Marlana Smith.

So grateful for your presence...clinging to your prayers,
kelly

Life stilled...

This weekend I tragically lost my husband....This is unexpected and of course devastating, but I am surrounded by amazing family and friends.

At this time I will not be taking any new inquiries and if you have already arranged for my services you will be contacted shortly with details to rescheduled or to connect you with another photographer.

Thank you for your prayers and love...

mark {senior}...

For ten years I worked with high school and college students...mentoring, counseling, listening. i love this season of life for them...they have a lot of questions, a lot of possibilities.

Mark has a great spirit...he talked about wanting to travel and experience life before heading to college. He knows good music, good art, and has a witty sense of humor. Thanks for sharing one of your favorite "thinking" spots Mark...

Mark and I share an appreciation for Sufjan Stevens...so I had to use of one my favorites for the slideshow. enjoy...

ashlee & kyle {engagement}

at the end of our session ashlee gave me one of the greatest compliments...she said they were dreading having their pictures taken earlier that day, but after our time together they felt so relaxed and had a great time. it felt like they were just on a date...

and that's what i hope all of my couples experience with me...i'm not there to create an artificial moment but to capture what's true in your relationship.

i was smitten with these two after our night in saint joseph (named the most romantic city in michigan you know). i can't wait for their wedding in october!

can you guess what date their wedding day is???

enjoy your slideshow!

a day at the beach...

It was such a delight reuniting with my freshman year roommate Sarah and her whole extended family for a day at the beach...

It's really hard to believe that I will be celebrating my 10 year reunion at Taylor University. College for me really was an amazing time...of growth, learning, and a lot of playing. It's fun to see where life has taken all of us over the years (I certainly did not dream that I would be a photographer ten years ago!)

I loved seeing Sarah as a mom of three...She's a fun and engaging mom, just like I remember her from our college days. All of the kids were too too cute!

Hope you enjoy the slideshow...

shaina & jesse...

It was a perfect end to a full summer of weddings...Jill and I traveled to the other side of the state, to Saginaw for Jesse and Shaina's wedding. Again the weather was brilliant, with blue skies and a cool breeze.

Their story started at the workplace where Jesse spied the new intern and despite warnings from his mom to not pursue a "student" they were meant to be together (and his mom is delighted!). I love the friendship between these two...and when they look at each other there is pure love and joy for each other.

Jesse and Shaina wanted to wait for their first glance to happen at the ceremony...so we headed out after the ceremony all around town to capture some great pictures. My favorite spot was the zoo where Matt, one of the groomsmen, worked his charm and got us in for free. We had so much fun on the carousal and matching up the guys in their "penguin suits" with...well the penguins!

The celebration ended at the Temple theater, another new favorite venue. It's a historic theater that has been converted into a reception hall. My favorite detail of possibly all my weddings is the marquee with Jesse and Shaina's names up in lights! The reception was so fun and very emotional. I don't think there was a dry eye after the speeches.

Enjoy a few favorites and the slideshow at the end...

i LOVE these vintage shoes!

bisou, bisou little liam and finley!

she is so stunning!

shaina and jesse, i'm so delighted to have been a part of your day...you have an amazing community of family and friends and i loved capturing every moment!

the felt estate...

I will admit that when I drove up to the Felt Estate with my friend Mindy, we squealed with delight! A stunning house nestled in green fields, flanked with giant trees. It was an impressive sight...

Once the home of self-made millionaire and inventor Dorr E. Felt, it has now been restored and is available to rent for special events. I loved all of the vintage touches...The mansion itself has several rooms for dining, dancing, and a beautiful bride's room. The ballroom is on the third floor and is air-conditioned which created a cool atmosphere for some hot dancing. The grounds are just as stunning...They have a water park and several other gardens with dozens of butterflies dancing. At one point I thought I was in a Jane Austen book it was that romantic!

If you haven't booked a venue yet you should consider the Felt estate for your ceremony, reception or both! Just a few miles from Holland and Saugatuck it's a delight spot for wedding...

The bride's room was decorated with several mirrors, antique furniture and vintage dresses. Plus the lighting was a photographer's dream...

tara and bjorn...

their story started in maine, amongst the beautiful water, hills and the rigors of graduate school. introduced by a mutual friend, bjorn thought tara didn't even notice him, when in truth she knew the moment she saw him she was going to marry him.

their first date was almost canceled by a blizzard but they ventured into the white weather anyway and enjoyed an intimate dinner (and then bjorn spent an hour digging his car out of the snow).

and now a couple of years later they decided to celebrate their relationship on the shores of lake michigan...a perfect reflection of their mutual love for nature and water. (tara's an aquatic ecologist and bjorn is completing his PhD in environmental engineering...smart and green!)

the thunderstorm held off until ten minutes after their ceremony...families and friends rushed to their cars and to the felt estate (which is my new favorite venue that will get it's own blog posting...). the rest of the day was a fun and intimate celebration.

since tara and bjorn live in maine (one of my favorite places...) we couldn't do an engagement session. so we did an "after glow" session a couple of days after their wedding...i love these kind of sessions cause the couple is more relaxed and we can do some really fun and creative shots without worrying about messing up the dress. i took them down to reed's lake where we enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.

parking garages are one of my new favorite spots to shoot...

i think we even captured a little "maine" in some of these shots...

tara and bjorn...it was a delight being a part of your day. i wish you all the best as you finish school and look ahead to what's next. and if i find myself back in maine we need to do some kayaking!

have a lazy day...

i hope everyone enjoys an extra long weekend..i have a wedding tomorrow, a photo shoot on sunday and then i am going to have a lazy day with my husband on monday. so if you e-mail me over the weekend i will return your messages on tuesday.

delights...

alicia bock is an artist that always inspires me...she just posted these new number postcards on her etsy store. oh what do i love most...the vintage image, the rounded corners, thinking of which friend i could mail this delightful little note to???

grand rapids bridal show...

come meet me at this year's Grand Rapids Wedding Affair...it's my first bridal show and i'm looking forward to meeting lots of new friends! it should be a delightful evening...

amanda & brian...

"lovers must not, like usurers, live for themselves alone. they must finally turn from their gaze at one another back toward the community. if they had only themselves to consider, lovers would not need to marry, but they must think of others and of other things. they say their vows to the community as much as to one another, and the community gathers around them to hear and to wish them well, on their behalf and its own. it gathers around them because it understands how necessary, how joyful, and how fearful this joining is." wendell berry

i am so endeared to this couple...from the first moment we met i was so drawn to their sincerity and depth. after a little last minute change in the wedding date due to a job opportunity i was so delighted that i was able to be present to their celebration.

i know that my pictures can't fully express the intimate, playful, emotional, and authentic spirit of the day. it was an honest celebration...not everything was primmed and polished. but what was beautiful were the hearts of these two amazing people. i have never heard a couple speak their vows with such conviction. and what was true throughout this whole day was how they delighted and honored the community around them. as reflected in the passage from wendell berry that they included in their program, they testified that their relationship is stregthened by the presence of their family and friends.

i walked away from this day inspired to be more for my husband, my family, my friends. thank you amanda and brian for the honor...

maybe my all time favorite...

i called her my anthroplogie bride...

the reception at her parents home had a field of sunflowers...delight!

okay i love this picture...amanda's dad is a serious hunter. this is only a small section of the trophey room...and amanda had at least one up there.

i love running into past couples...i captured ryan and sarah's wedding last summer and they were kind enough to recommend me to amanda and brian. happy anniversary friends!

and a big thanks to my friend sam for second shooting with me...it was a delight!

hannah {senior}

have i mentioned how much i love senior sessions? i met hannah through her big sister, jackie who's wedding i shot a couple of years ago. now hannah is looking ahead to her future, with dreams of pursuing the graphic arts.

we spent a delightful summer evening shooting around downtown rockford and found so many fun spots. hannah worked it out and i think her sweet spirit really shined!

hannah i know that God will bless the road ahead of you!