Nate and Helena had a BOY this morning…and a big boy he is.  He was born at 5:24am weighing 9lbs. 6 oz.  He is healthy, with a head full of hair.  We all visited him this morning, along with Big Sister, Elin.  They were excited to see him…they only wished they could have touched and poked him.  Welcome to the family, little man!

I think so highly of this young woman.  And not because she is my neice.  She just gets it.  She is mature well-beyond her years.  I have no doubt that she will pave a grand road for herself because she is driven, hard working, and extremely creative.

She is a typical teen.  She experiments with too much makeup for which I consistently give her grief…she needs NONE…she is beautiful without it.  But like a typical teen, you could beat her with a hammer and she still wouldn’t agree.  She also spends A LOT of time texting. Now, her only downfall is she likes to spend.  In fact, you could take her into a Tackle & Bait Shop and she would still find something to buy even though she is not interested in fishing in the least.

But unlike most teens, this one has endured horrific things very few have.  She has done it with grace and above else, honesty.

She has an extreme interest in photography (future assistant, perhaps?) so she and Nate set out on a beautiful late-Autumn day for some quick images.  Unfortunately, we had little time during her visit to spend more than a few minutes…lots of shoots the same day.  However, on her next visit we promise to spend some more time.  Enjoy!

We wish all of those who have served in the military and their families a sincere thanks. Happy Memorial Day!

We seldom post personal images but this moment was too good not to share. This was the happiest moment we will remember as a family…The Stoner Six.

My husband, Tim, was deployed to Iraq last April. He had an admirable cause of flying Medevac missions to save soldiers lives. I, along with my four young children (Briggs, Gage, Emerson, and Campbell), missed him considerably during his absence.  However, we found great strength in the support of our friends and family. Most importantly, we remained positive and grateful for the experience.

To see the entire collection of images that I am forever thankful for Nate capturing, you may visit our blog, Letters From Tim.  Thank you.

I have never been big on birthdays. Besides the first and your last, they really have little significance. However, now that I have my daughter, Elin, my attitude has changed. I looked into the mirror this morning and wondered if I would be here for my 68th birthday. My hope is – YES! I want to see the beautiful woman Elin grows into. She is my greatest gift, and one that keeps giving each day. Maybe I will be a grandpa on my 68th.

This image is of Elin and me today. N8