The Great Fan Giveaway!

Yay! I've hit 1500 fans and I appreciate every single one of them! Thank you for sticking with me so far and I am so excited for the future of this ministry and service. As my photography grows, my clientele and outlook grows and I see so much potential in using the business to bless more and more people. It's been 8 years, the next 8 will be incredible!

As a part of my appreciation, please enter yourself in a drawing to win some fabulous prizes from some amazing businesses in the Spring and Tomball area of Houston. If you are linked to this area, we want your business! We are willing to showcase our product and give away a freebie to one very lucky winner. We serve Spring, Tomball, Cypress, Champions, Klein, Willowbrook, The Woodlands, Conroe, and Magnolia areas, so if you are from around here, please enter!

The Northwest Houston area winner will have "Liked" each business Facebook page and commented below that they've done so as well as shared the link to their own profiles (public setting). A random winner will be drawn from the names in the comments listed below or on my Facebook page (*new* since some have expressed having problems posting a comment on this blog-I've tried fixing it, but I'm not sure if it's computer/phone settings!). Just post that you're entering the giveaway :)

Participants can earn an extra entry by signing up for my JHCC email newsletter here:

Web Form Generator

The winner will be asked to pay shipping on certain items if necessary, but the stores would really just like for you to stop by their locations to pick up your goods. That's why it's local! Please show each of the businesses some love and let them know JHCC sent you!

1. JH Capturing Creations Photography - FB Page - Website


2. Doorbdazzled Deco Mesh Designs - FB Page - Etsy Store


3. Naturally Nancy's - FB Page - Website


4. Gymboree Play and Music (Willowbrook Plaza location only) - FB Page - Website


5. Dickey's BBQ (Louetta/I-45 location only) - FB Page - Website


6. Delightfully Delish - FB Page - Website


7. Funky Pony Boutique - FB Page


8. Me and My Porch Designs - FB Page - Website


9. Sweet B's Homemade Sweets - FB Page - Website


10. MJ Bailey Properties - FB Page - Website


11. Bailey's Cleaning Service - FB Page


I cannot wait to see who the winner will be! Total value for these prizes is $750!! WOW. WOW. WOW!! Good luck!!

Giveaway will run from Monday, July 15th - Monday, July 29th. Deadline to enter is 10pm on Monday, July 29th with the winner announced on this blog on Tuesday, July 30th. Tell everyone you can and enter as soon as you can. Don't hesitate to subscribe to my email list for an extra entry!

---------------------------UPDATE JULY 30TH, 2013--------------------------------------------------

CONGRATULATIONS to JODY CLIPPINGER!! She is the winner of the Great Fan Giveaway!

A Dream Come True

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Our family was blessed to have an opportunity to visit beautiful Florida during vacation time this year. My husband and I were excited to share our newfound love for Pensacola that started last summer with our kids. Last year, my husband and I ventured out to Pensacola alone and we decided back then that we would definitely be returning to the Florida beaches with the kids the following year. Soon after returning home and picking up the kids from their grandparents, I was driving with Rio somewhere and telling her about the fun we had. We hadn't mentioned to her that we were vacationing in Florida before we left because we didn't want her to think we were visiting her favorite dolphin, Winter, without her. Ever since she saw the movie Dolphin Tale, she has been a huge Winter fan, visiting the website to watch the webcam online that showed Winter's activities 24/7. Winter is an amazing dolphin whose story of surpassing incredible odds to survive inspired the movie. At only 3 months old, she was found trapped in a crab trap line and as a result lost her entire tail. No other dolphin in the world has survived such an amputation, but her story is different due to a one-of-a-kind prosthetic tail created and used to help her heal. The sacrifices made for this sea animal is nothing less than amazing. You can read the rest of her story here or watch the movie sometime. Armed with knowledge that Winter lived in Florida, I knew she would assume that if we were going to Florida, we would have naturally have visited her beloved dolphin that was in the same state. When I shared that we were in Florida, her first question was exactly what I had thought, "Did you see Winter??!!"

"No," I replied. "Winter is actually a lot further away from the place in Florida where we visited. Florida is a large state. Next year, though, Dad and I want to take the family to Florida for vacation. We know you'll love it!"

"Wow!", she replied. Then as I expected, she jumped through to her next dying question, "Can we visit Winter since we're in Florida, Mom? Pleaaasssse??"

I knew that was coming. I was already shaking my head. "No, I'm sorry. We can't, honey. Winter is much farther than where Mommy and Daddy were. It's an extra 8 hours of drive time to where Winter lives and where we were was far enough. We would be driving 16 whole hours, which I don't think you and your brother can tolerate." I looked back and watched her countenance shift from beautiful and beloved expectation and hope to one of creeping disappointment and sadness. Winter would be closer, but not close enough. Tears welled up and I tried to soothe her. "Rio, it's going to be ok! We're going to have plenty of fun-you'll see..."

Her bottom lip started peeking out and the frown was now spread from cheek to cheek. "I wish I could just see her. It would be my dream come true. I just love her so much." The tears had come loose. Her heart was breaking.

I looked away and stared at the road. I did that thing I often do when it comes to my kids and their "wants". Is this a total no? Should I be considering this? What if she really means that? What's the cost to me really? I knew it would cost more monetarily, but somehow as I searched my own past and couldn't come up with any instance of a sacrificial event that satisfied my own childhood dreams out of financial constraints, part of the cost of being part of a 12 children family, the financial concern began to wane.

"Why are you being so hard? Why can't we take her? Is it just the drive time? We can deal with it if that's all. If it's the money, we can make a plan and save..." I was talking to myself. I glanced back at her, tears still streaming, and broke the news. "Ok. Don't cry. We can go see Winter next year."

Her face turned to look at me in the mirror and her eyes focused. "What? Really? We can see her?"

"Yes, honey, we can."

"YES!!! WOO HOO!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, THIS IS MY DREAM COME TRUE!! THANK YOU, MOMMA!! THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Oh I can't wait till next summer!!"

And that was it. The plan was set.

It's been a whole year since that car ride and I don't know of many people that she's close to that didn't know of our travel plans for this summer. She shared that her dream would be coming true with everyone she could. She imagined Winter couldn't wait to see her either.

The day of our visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida was a hot and humid day all the way until about 3:32. The Aquarium is a non-profit organization whose mission is preserving the marine life and environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release. We got to see the animals and sat in on many talks about the rescued animals that live there in the early afternoon. Lathan had an appointment for a dolphin picture and was able to do his around 1pm that afternoon. We purchased a "dolphin encounter" for Rio since it was her dream to be up and close to her favorite animal. The books she borrows from the library up until now have been scores and scores of dolphin and marine animal-related books. She has so much knowledge already and the dolphin encounter would just bring all of that knowledge up close and personal. I was excited for her. 3:30 hit and we had already been waiting at our assigned area for about 20 minutes to make sure she was present when they needed her. She was so excited. Everything was great until the skies clouded and the rain and lightning started at 3:32. They needed an "all-clear" from the lightning to allow anyone near the platform that stood on the water of the pool. The ensuing storm looked like it meant business, however, and I became worried. We still had a site to visit about the making of the movie, but they closed at 6pm and we were quickly running out of time. After about an hour of waiting on clear skies, the other two girls signed up for the encounter got their refunds and headed home. We had decided we would stay all day if we needed to. Rio had the patience of a saint, and although she was worried, you couldn't tell. She took it all in stride and just waited patiently for her turn. She got to speak to the dolphin expert who did about 30 minutes of dolphin knowledge with her and the group. As the hours passed, despite prayers for a clear sky, the manager came out to let us know the all-clear would not be occurring that day. We didn't expect to stay another day in Clearwater, but when asked if we would like a rain check for the next morning, I didn't hesitate. We got a time at 9am the next day and I prayed all night for a clear morning. Upon waking up, we got what we prayed for. Clear and beautiful skies and a second chance at a dream encounter for my little girl. I couldn't be more excited for her!

Winter is pictured first. You can tell her apart from the rest because of her missing tail. Rio's dolphin encounter was with Hope, another rescued Dolphin at the Aquarium. Rio was excited to be able to see Winter and play and interact with Hope. Her encounter included working with the trainer to give Hope hand signals for tricks and playing fetch with water toys. Here she is-a girl in her dream come true.

Lathan's interests naturally follow his big sister's. As an avid Dolphin Tale fan himself, he kept exclaiming things like, "Wow! That's just like the movie!!" His huge, beautiful smile burst into a thousand joys. He was ecstatic. His photo opportunity came and he felt like a big kid getting to go out on the platform without Mommy or Daddy. Here he is. The dolphin pictured in the second image is Panama-she's got a great smile! I mentioned the rain on the first afternoon and had an opportunity to capture a green-clad Lathan with a matching umbrella. His look melts me!


The next day was a drive to Pensacola and the surf on the beach was very dangerous. We ended up playing along the shore and looking for shells. The next day would produce more rain, so this was the opportunity we had for the beach at this location. That was ok because one opportunity is all I need to grab some fabulous pictures of the kids playing.
Rio got preoccupied with shells and lost interest in the camera pretty quickly while we were out there, but I still had Lathan to play with. I convinced him he needed to give me his best "surfer guy" pose-a pose he was looking to do since our friend Melanie had mentioned he'd make a cool one the week before. He was ready to pose!
And finally, a couple of great fatherly images for my husband to treasure. I don't mention enough what a wonderful, supportive, and patient father he is. Here he is, existing in "the moment" with our kids. I adore it!


What a wonderful trip and time we were blessed with! My 15 year old niece also came along with us, but she's too shy to have her picture posted. I am still relishing in the bond that occurred between the cousins and between us all through this trip. Relationships are still building and bonds are being strengthened through her time with us still. I'm extremely joyous to see so many dreams come true!! -