RIP Sweet Jessica

Tonight, as I sit here at my computer, I am trying to think of the words to communicate the whirlwind of feelings going through me. A little girl who I never met, but in the past week has become such a huge part of our lives here in Colorado, was taken away from this world much too soon. When I heard the news today that this beautiful innocent life was gone, I felt my heart break in half. As a mother of a daughter close to her age, I cannot begin to imagine the pain Jessica's family and friends must feel right now. Pain, anger, guilt, sorrow, regret. If only. What if. Excuse my language but... they better find the fucking bastard that did this! I am angry, sorrowful, devastated. It. Is. Not. Fair. There are some who believe in God, and some who don't...in times like these, I think we all look somewhere for an answer. The only one I can think of is that this is a sign that we MUST start loving each other, instead of hating. We must accept each others differences and value one and other. Never look down on someone else...instead look out for someone else. We must take the time, MAKE the time for our children, our families, our friends. We must care for each other, learn from each other and help each other. Life is too short to do anything else.
So, I will turn off my computer now, put my work away, leave the house dirty for a few more days.... and spend the weekend celebrating life with my family and friends.
Rest in peace sweet Jessica. You will be missed.

Full Circle

Eight years ago, I got a phone call from a total stranger. She introduced herself and told me she was a photographer that had just moved to Denver and was looking to meet some other people in the wedding business. We met for coffee at a bookstore, me with my 4 month old baby girl in tow. We chatted a bit about our businesses, Denver, life in general. I am so glad she called me that day because 8 years later, I am proud to call Sara Lazio my friend.

I met her again today for lunch. This time she is preparing to leave Denver. She and her beautiful family are heading east to start a new chapter in their lives. I am excited for her (and selfishly sad that she is going). Even though we only saw each other a few times a year, I feel like Sara has been an important part of my life and my business. She has captured precious moments in the life of my family and my friends, and in return I had the privilege of printing holiday cards and birthday party invitations for her & her husband and their 3 sweet boys.  It was nice to know that she was close by and that as my business was growing, so was hers. I feel a little bit like we were in Kindergarten together so many years ago at that coffee shop, and now we have graduated and she's heading off to college far away without me! But I know that change is good, and we will both continue to lead happy and succesful lives, wherever we are.

Dear Sara, I wish only the best for you, your family and your business. You deserve it!  Thank you for your beautiful photography, your inspiration and your friendship. I am a better person having met you and I know our paths will cross again...

(all photos by Sara Lazio - Lazio Images)

A Girl after my Own Heart

Mother's Day Questionnaire (Bella, age 8):
1. What's your favorite thing about your mom? She's creative.
2. What was your mom like when she was a little girl? She was creative.
3. If your mom wasn't a wedding invitation designer, what would she be? An artist.
4. What's your mom's favorite food? Pizza. Color? Orange. Thing to do with you? Love me.
5. What does your mom NOT like to do? Eat mint.
6. How do you know your mom loves you? Because I love her too.
7. What is something you want to do with your mom in the future that you have never done before? Go to Italy.
8. What is your first memory of your mom? She loved me.
9. How are you an your mom alike? We like art.
10. What do you want to be when you grow up? An artist.

Ha ha ha

I need to do more laughing out loud. I think we all need to do a little more laughing out loud. It makes us feel better. Remember the last time you saw a funny movie, a REALLY funny movie? Wasn't it great? Remember the last time you laughed so hard, you cried? Fun, right? A good sense of humor is a quality that I admire most in a person. Sometimes I think we all get caught up in life, work, politics, etc. and we forget to stop and just enjoy life. So your mission today is to laugh! I mean have a good laugh. Look around you, listen to your kids (they always have something funny to say), do a crazy dance and laugh at yourself, call your funniest friend, go to a movie or watch a comedy on tv if necessary, leave a comment with your funniest joke to share... Find the funny, and then remember how it feels and spread it around for the rest of the day.

LOL - go ahead!

We are Family

I learned a lot about my 'family' this week. I have always had a very supportive family... my husband, my daughter, my mom, dad, sister, in-laws, etc., and I am forever grateful for all of them. But this week, my family got much bigger. My family also includes the people that are around at a moments notice when needed, the people that over the years, have helped us move, driven us to the airport, painted walls in our house. They are the people that I run half-marathons with, the people I call for parenting advice, the people I work with and play with and travel with. They are the women that I admire that are amazing mothers and support each other at the hardest job we will ever have. They are the men that take care of us and love us and make us feel safe. They are the children that make us smile and keep us young and give us hope. They are the people that I have spent the last 7 years with for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are all the people who gathered yesterday to say good-bye to our dear friend, our brother. They are the people that shared tears and laughter in rememberence. They are the people that, in the years to come, will try to help fill the empty space. They are the people who will continue to support each other in good times and bad. They are my family.

Love

On October 12, 2002, our friend Scotty stood up reluctantly to read a verse at my wedding. It was not something he really wanted to do, to speak in front of a large crowd. But he did it, for us. As he started to read, a small, LOUD airplane flew overhead and started to drown out his voice. He paused for a moment as we all looked up at the plane and chuckled. But Scotty didn't let it stop him. He just smiled and read louder. The words he read will remain in my heart forever:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,

endures all things. Love never ends."

Yesterday morning I received the news that Scotty died suddenly in an accident. The first few hours of the day were spent in disbelief. The rest of the day was spent talking to friends and family, trying to comprehend that this had really happened. The tears came and went uncontrollably. It just didn't seem real.

At the end of the day, a gorgeous sunny Colorado day, I walked slowly to pick up my daughter from school. On the way home, I talked to my beautiful innocent 7 year old about death. About the death of our friend. I told her why we were so sad and what death really means. I told her that her two little friends were going to be very sad for a long time because their Daddy was gone. I assured her that most of the time, Mommies and Daddies live to be old and gray. I assured her that she should not worry about her Daddy or me. I held her hand and made sure she was OK and she understood. Later in the evening, I watched my strong, rock of a husband weep at the loss of his friend. He spent the entire day trying to make a small dent in the incredible list of things that need to be done when someone dies. He spent the entire day fighting back the tears. I am completely heartbroken and utterly at a loss, thinking of my friend and her two sweet little girls that are devastated and in shock over the loss of their husband and father. I am completely heartbroken for their families and for our friends. All I could do all night was send love and thoughts their way.

But there is one thing that I know, something Scotty taught me 10 years ago. When life is tough, when that loud little plane flies over your head and tries to drown out your voice … keep going. Smile. Don't give up. Love louder!

All my love to you Lisa, Ali, Riley, and all of your family and all of our amazing friends. I miss you Scotty and our love for you will last forever. Rest in peace friend.