My new doula website

I created a new website for my doula business! I need to work on it some more but I have been SO busy with births, photo shoots and being a homeschool mom!

Here is the link :www.gracefulbeginningsdoulaservices.com

A memorial the day before Mother's Day

Today I attended a memorial for woman named "Jeanie " the mother of one of my homeschool momma's . I had only met her once just recently right after she learned she had stage 4 Colon cancer . It was an aggressive cancer. Like many cancers showed no mercy .

She had three beautiful daughters of her own . She was only 63 both her parents in their 90's are still living . I listened to my friend Ashley sing a solo while,playing the guitar a song she wrote just for her . The title was 'mommy' there wasn't a dry eye . Her voice like an angel singing her song for her mother . The lyrics were so touching . I listened to the family speak about her . She was such an amazing woman . An artist as well such beautiful art .

The photos in the slide of course struct me as a photographer as it told the story of this beautiful woman . She loved her children deeply and it showed in every photo . She even had what appeared to be hand made baby carriers like a mei tei of today she wore her babies or was holding them in every one . Such a giving compassionate person she was. 

My heart hurt for her children and grand children . She went so quickly . 

Like my mother in law ( her ovarian cancer was diagnosed a month before she died ) my father in law passed away in less than 6 months from his stage 4 lung cancer . 

I sat there remembering my friend Patty whom passed away July 11, 2011 . She fought her cancer 5 years . Leaving 4 beautiful young children . I still miss her deeply. I think about her often and every time I go into our local health food store . 

It was a sad day for many yet this woman suffers no more and is with God . I sat there thinking how sad it is my mother is alive but barely speaks to me . And I do try I even sent a Mother's Day card . I sadly don't have many fond memories of my parents not like what I heard and saw today . I don't feel,the love that this woman obviously had for her children from my mother . It's really sad .

I sat thinking I hope my own children know how much I love them all . They are my life my world . My reason for living . They get mad at me a lot lately . Teens are hard so I let it go hoping and praying they will realize . I have done everything I do for them to keep,them close to me to protect them from this sometimes ugly cruel world . But they for the most part do not see that , yet . 

Tomorrow is Mother's Day . I have so many friends whose mothers have passed away . So many mothers that never held their child . Or lost a child too soon . 

We all need to love one another every single day . Show compassion every day . We are not promised tomorrow we have to live for today and live everyday like there is no tomorrow because any one of us could die in an instant . Words left unspoken . Grudges held . Regrets . If your mother is alive call her tell her you love her . Simple words with huge meaning . 

Felicity Agnes First Holy Communion

Felicity received her First Holy Communion on Sunday May 4! She has waited for this day since she was a baby. When I would go up to receive communion she would be in the sling and reach out and get mad when she could not also 'get jeeessus' as she would say....

Yes I cried. I took photos as best I could during mass, but did not get a good one of HER. I was so upset but managed to capture a few others.

We went over to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche for her photo shoot after (also because I took photos of sweet friend's baby baptism in the chapel)

Her veil was custom made for me by a friend of mine's mom. She is a famous bridal veil creator and her wedding veils are in top magazines! Here is a link to her website: http://www.beatricecouturedesigns.com/ they are the sweetest people. And I got to watch her make it. The dress her three older sisters wore. She wore PINK glitter Tom's as her shoes. Yes I know not traditional shoes but practical :)

Here is the link to the photos I took at the First Communion:  http://lisaolschewskephotography.com/firstcommunion2014

And here is a link to photos of Felicity I took at the Shrine: http://lisaolschewskephotography.com/felicityfirstcommunion

Here a two :

Five years of Sebastian

Sebastian is five years old today . Hope this link works . It is a slideshow from his birth onward . 

Click this link to view the slide show