Equines Assisting Special Individuals

Earlier this year, I had a chance to go visit the Equines Assisting Special Individuals therapeutic riding program in Walker County, AL. It was started by a wonderful woman named Kim Hall, who "dreamed of a place where abused or neglected children, a child who needs special assistance could experience unconditional love and acceptance." Some personal experiences, including a son who has special needs, spurred on this passion and it is now a reality.



Kim asked a few riders to come while I was there photographing and I got to witness, first hand, the transformation these frustrated, often handicapped children experienced when they sat on the obedient horses.

Boone was the most dramatic. When he arrived, he was so excited, but quickly grew very frustrated. He can't walk without assistance from his mother and can communicate through sounds, but not through language you and I can decipher. He was moaning and groaning, so impatient to get on that horse. When the horse was finally ready, they popped Boone up there and I think the expression speaks for itself. After only a few moments, he was begging to trot and trot he did. The poor escorts and his mother were exhausted, but the look on that sweet boy's face must have been worth it.
Look at the sheer delight. And his sweet mom's face as she sees her baby so happy.


I was touched by this organization and grateful to see how therapeutic it actually is.

The Browns

I had fun with this brother and sisters and bro-in-law in December. They called to get Christmas photos for their mom as a surprise. And, although there was some concern that she was onto them when they all left looking so dapper, the surprise was a success!! She, and I, were thrilled with the results.

I think it's so important to capture each phase of life, and we forget this as our children get older. Here ya go!

This was my favorite moment, when my instruction was something brilliant like "sit wherever" and the boys cozied up. Broke the ice!

Aynsley's fam

This post is from a shoot in December for my friend Aynsley and her little girl. I hadn't looked at them in so long that I was so excited to see, again, how some of them turned out! Aynsley's sweet brother joined us on this very cold day and won uncle of the year award. Not to mention the picture of little girl R kissing him is one of my favorites from the day. Enjoy!

Look how much she loosened up by the time we were winding up. These last ones are my favorites, because that captures her little self.

Sweet A Fam

My long-ago friends Meg and Basheer asked me to take pictures of her extended family as a gift for her grandmother for Christmas. We got lots of LOTS of people that are wonderful for her grandmother and captured much personality and laughs! But my favorites were of Meg and Basheer's little boy. They are a really cute family and you can just see how much they all love each other. It was a delight to be a part of the big day!

The Lumpkins

This family is a delight. And rather amazing. I went to preschool with her, sing on praise team with him, and basically giggle anytime their boys walk into the room. They're too cute. They love the Lord. And if you've met them you know it. They're working really hard on adopting and I know that their next baby will be as delightful as these 3 boys.



They adopted and LOVE this dog. He's blind and they knew it. Can you fathom the hearts on these people?





What you don't know about this picture is that it's time to go. The baby she's holding is upset because he got hurt and the other two are yelling and mad that they have to leave. And she's cool as a cucumber. I'm sure she would tell you she didn't feel that way, and that she's not always like this, but this is what I see. Amazing.

Another H Family again!

Back in November, I think, I got to play with this adorable family again. It was a joint Christmas card/4-month portrait session. I LOVE the H family and their kids are just cute and sweet and wonderful. We had a blast. And this little girl has started looking like the rest of them! You may remember Miss M from the 3-window sill shot a few months ago. Isn't she fun?