Hiley Creative Photography

The Clarks and Easoms

admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:34:17 +0000

Yesterday, I met a new member of the Easom family, little Abby. She was welcomed by big brother, Warren, and cousins, Emma and Sam. This family is so much fun, and it is hilarious watching Sam and Warren play (and argue). It’s got to be great growing up with a cousin who is your same age and lives close by. Sweet Emma is the calming influence of this rough-and-tumble group, and little Abby is just going with the flow. Enjoy this little look at our time together.

Six years with Herschel…

admin — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:51:45 +0000

Today was a big day in our house. Six years ago (on a Sunday) I remember waking up to last minute grocery store runs, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes with Meg, brisk walks with her in the stroller up and down the driveway, Arby’s (I know) for lunch, my mom and sister stopping by. Dropping Meg off at my mom’s along with Josephine, our four-legged daughter, talking with my dad on the phone and later in person, taking a drive to Macon, walking with Newt, talking to my best friend, Jana, on the phone right before my water broke, and thirty minutes later delivering my amazing little boy. Newt so badly wanted to name him Herschel (Go Dawgs!), but I had other names in mind. After seeing him in all of his glory at 10 lbs., Newt decided that I should have the honor of naming him. My sister, Erin, watched the nurses bathe him and wrestle him into a baby t-shirt. Newt waltzed proudly around the waiting room, known then to all as the father of the ten-pounder. It was the longest day and the shortest day all at once. So much to do and appreciate, and so much to look forward to. We worried about how Meg would take to having a little brother – the jury is still out on that one most days.

So today, tonight really, I’d like to thank my God for sending a little (big, little) boy to me six years ago. I really thought Meg needed a sister, but it turns out that God knew all along exactly what we all needed. Love you, Russ!

With Dr. Luhrs and sweet sister, Meg

Loving on our sweet greyhound, Amber

Cupcakes at school!

The birthday bear sang to him.

From the Hardy Farms field trip last week

It’s gonna be a good life…

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Left our annual girls’ weekend this morning with the sun shining, blue skies, sunroof open. A little sad because it may be an entire year before all seven of us are together again. “Good Life” was on the radio- a fitting song for our group. The seven of us have basically known each other for twenty-five years; smaller groups of us have been together since birth.

Hope was late!!!

Jana came first, in December, then me, in January, Lee and Hope in April. In kindergarten, Lori’s family moved to town. Allison joined us in the 4th grade. Then Tracy came from Byron at the start of 9th grade. We have been scattered across the United States and have migrated back. There have been weddings, babies, fur babies, and celebrations. This group has also seen its share of broken hearts, loss, and death.

Three of us have lost parents; one has lost a child.

Our conversations this weekend ran the gamut, and hasn’t changed much from our high school discussions – parents, boys, and now includes our husbands, kids, pets, and good eye cremes. We were asked to show our IDs at dinner, but suspect that our kind waiter was just doing his job and did NOT mistake us for a group of sorority chicks.

I guess the point of this post was to simply say that we seven girls have really had a “Good Life,” and it’s been good together – even if it’s only once-a-year together. These strong, beautiful women are my friends, and I think we’ve turned out pretty awesome! Love y’all -

L is for Leo…

admin — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:15:37 +0000

my wonderfully handsome cat. He and I had a little QT this afternoon in the flower bed. Loving this 60 mm lens!

When the power goes out…

admin — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:11:07 +0000

on a stormy afternoon in the Georgia heat, what do you do? We play with strobe lights, of course!

Quality Time…

admin — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:26:30 +0000

Last week was the annual Indian Springs Holiness Camp Meeting in Flovilla, GA. I remember coming to these camp meetings as a child and staying with my friend, Lee, in her family’s tiny one-room cabin. It was a whole-lot of fun! One bathroom, cold showers, screened porches for playing board games during the afternoon rains, a huge rope swing, and lots of old-school fun and fellowship with zero TV. As a teenager, I lived in the girls’ dorm for the ten-day meeting. Awesome devotionals, talent nights, kitchen duty, ropes courses, the lake – it was lazy summer goodness. As an adult, I’ve found myself back at Indian Springs at my dad’s and stepmom’s cabin. We don’t get to stay the entire time, but we do enjoy several days of visits on the porch, Fresh Aire BBQ up the road, bible studies, homemade ice cream, and more un-plugged quietness. For me, it allows me to wake up a few minutes early and sit with my dad on the porch and just catch up. Our lives are crazy and this does not happen often. Though we live in the same town, we have our best talks at Indian Springs. I did not take my camera off the porch this year, but then again, I feel like the porch is sort of the springboard for all camp meeting activities. Here are a few shots of us enjoying each other. And, you will notice that Mac, the mutt, is sort of central to the whole Indian Springs experience, too. Camp meeting is more fun with a dog for sure!

It’s a Love/Hate Thing…

admin — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:44:19 +0000

These two are like peas and carrots, except when they are like oil and water. It’s always one situation or the other – hot or cold. From High Tides in Flagler Beach, Florida.

Peas and carrots time…

Beach Time with the Barbours {Volusia County Family Photographer}

admin — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:56:52 +0000

After several days in the sun with our good friends, the Barbours, it was time to make some family photographs on the beach. We planned a dinner at High Tides in Flagler Beach with the photo session to happen just in time for oysters and beer to be served. It was a winning combination!

Beach light {Volusia County Family Photographer}

admin — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:39:33 +0000

I love, love, love photographing families at the beach. It’s often sweaty and sandy work, but there’s just something about the light in the evenings along the Florida coast that just begs for photographs. This past week, I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time with two wonderful families and to capture some of their interactions in the beautiful beach light. Enjoy this little look of the H kids (and a friend), who are hardly kids at all anymore! Love y’all!

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Remembering…

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:00:45 +0000

This week is always hard for me. Tuesday marked the third anniversary of the day I lost the best dog in the world, Josephine. My constant companion of twelve years became so sick, and we had to let her go. Putting pets to sleep is one of the hardest parts of pet ownership. I remember going to see Marley and Me in the theater a few months before Josephine died and crying until my entire body hurt. Little did I know that I would have to relive that experience first hand in a short time. As hard as it is, making the tough decision to let them die is often necessary, and I would not have skipped those moments with my dogs. I say ‘dogs’ in the plural because this past Monday I had to make the same decision for my sweet Amber Opal. We had been watching her decline in health for the last several months, and she looked at me on Monday as if to say she’d had enough. I understood that look.

Amber came to us only five years ago at 9.5 years old. She was a retired racer who had been relisted through SEGA (Southeastern Greyhound Adoption) because her original adopted family had fallen info financial troubles. As a racer, Amber ran over 175 races and placed in many of them. She was immediately comfortable at our home, as I caught her sleeping on my daughter’s bed within a week. She was quiet, but funny, could run like the wind, and could curl up into a tiny ball to snuggle. In time, she visited Summerhill nursing facility in Perry, GA with a group of other greyhounds, and I started taking her to work with me at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. Amber was a reward for my students after they finished a project or after a tough week of graduation testing. She would lay on the floor and my students would snuggle around her and just love on her.

I will never forget my sweet Amberly. She was a huge part of our family for these past five years, as we loved her so very much. Amber and Josephine were best buds, and it’s so hard to realize that they are now both gone. So, as a tribute to both of my girls, I’m including some photos of both. Rest in peace, sweet Amber. I know that you and Josephine are playing together and having so much fun. Love you!

One of my favorite pictures of my daughter and Amber when we first got her.

Amber at the farm…

Josephine at the farm…

Amber with her squirrel toy in the backyard.

A stoic Josephine – so sweet…

Snuggle time with the kids…

All of the goofballs together – Amber, Meg, Josephine, and Russ

Another favorite of Meg and Amber…