Their Bun, Christina's Oven...

I'm going to start at the end of my photo shoot with Christina. We went to get coffee and a smoothie following our time together. The gentleman working the counter asked if we were sisters. Almost simultaneously, we chuckled and said "Yeah, I guess you could say that!" Christina and I met almost 15 years ago on bid night at the University of Northern Colorado. Within a few months, we were sisters in Alpha Phi, and 2 years later, roommates. Christina has a presence about her. Confident, well-spoken, flawlessly dressed, focused, beautiful. I have to admit, she was intimidating. But with all of that, I came to know that Christina was kind, genuine, and the kind of person you just want to know and be around. 

Through the years, as it often happens, we drifted apart. She is now married to a wonderful man that she started dating back in college, and has 2 beautiful boys ages 2 and 4. Facebook, with all of its flaws, did one amazing thing, it brought her beautiful smile back into my life. It was about 7 months ago that I learned she was pregnant, but this was a pregnancy like no other. Christina is a surrogate for a lovely couple from Arizona. Deb and Tom and their beautiful daughter Kelly are so excited that Christina is helping complete their family with the birth of their baby boy, Sean Patrick, coming up in just a few short weeks. 

As Christina and I have had the chance to talk again after many years, I learned that she first began to entertain the thought of surrogacy after her best friend, also an Alpha Phi, was facing challenges getting pregnant. As luck would have it, her best friend was able to get pregnant and now has beautiful twins! Even so, Christina just couldn't let the idea go of helping a family somewhere realize their dream of having a family. After all the paperwork and interviews were completed, Deb, Tom, and Kelly came into her life, and now she is about to give life to their baby boy. I cannot imagine a more selfless act. 

I never thought Christina could be more beautiful than I remembered her to be in college, but she is absolutely glowing. Pregnancy suits her well. Still as confident as ever, but somehow humbled by this experience, Christina is still the kind of person I want to know and be around. I asked Christina if she was scared or worried about being emotional when this experience was over. Her response? This experience will never be over. I get to be in Sean's life forever through pictures and stories. What I am doing is making a gift, one that I knew would be given away. 

Wow, just wow. 

These pictures were emotional and hard for me to edit. I hope they captured the essence of love and beauty that I felt while taking them. I found myself choked up because I am proud to know her, proud of what she is doing, and I am humbled to know that good people still exist, truly good people that do the right thing because it is right. To Christina, my love and prayers are with you at this exciting time in your life. To Deb, Tom, and Kelly, may Sean Patrick always bring a smile to your face. May his presence be the gift that you always desired. May your family love each other every moment of everyday. 

Chelsea & Ben Are Goin' to the Chapel!

It's been about 12 or 13 years ago that I met Chelsea while working together for a restaurant in The Denver Tech Center. Since I know my mom reads my blog, I'll keep this very PC. Back in those days, we liked to have our fun. Chelsea and I could often be found enjoying a post work drink at our favorite watering hole during that long hot summer. Chelsea being the sweet person she is, always let me crash on her couch so that I could avoid the treacherous drive home late at night. There began a friendship. 

Over the years, we lost touch with each other, but as luck would have it, Facebook brought us back into each others lives again. I am now happily married to a man that I met that very summer working with Chelsea. We actually all worked together. Chelsea would say that from the beginning, she knew we would end up together. Chelsea has now met the man of her dreams and will be a lucky bride later this summer. Ben is wonderful. Tall, handsome, polite, and hilarious! He is jokester and has kept me laughing each time we have spent any time together. Chelsea is a jokester in her own right too. These two share a love of sports, and football in particular. Unfortunately, Ben is a Seahawks fan (he will however constantly remind you that they are the SUPERBOWL CHAMPS and stomped the Broncos this past year) but Chelsea is a diehard Broncos fan. They love to razz each other through this rivalry. 

Jokes aside, Chelsea and Ben are sweet. They live their lives as sweet people, but they are sweet to each other. Ben opens the car door for Chelsea. He helped her to stand every time I had her sitting on the ground for pictures. Chelsea would often be found squeezing her tall fella when she thought I wasn't looking. Sure, Chelsea and Ben love each other, but I can tell they also like each other too. Think about it. Loving someone is very different from liking them. Liking brings your love to a whole new level. 

I can't wait to see Chelsea and Ben exchange their vows this summer. I will be there, camera ready to snap some wonderful, and probably silly pictures. To Chelsea and Ben, may today be the day that you love each other the least. May your love grow with each passing day. Cheers!