Blog — Stories of Joy Photography

Every year I like to pause, look back, and write a little recap of our life. You can click here for last year’s post (there is a rabbit hole through the link to review posts of many years).

We welcomed in 2021 in Rangeley, Maine. On the first day of the year Andrew and I took a dip in the lake (it had opened up after freezing in December), and Mae waded in a little. We enjoyed snow activities for about a week, and then returned home to Florida. Scott and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary in January, and Scott’s birthday. Mae started ballet with her best friends in Sebastian.

In February Scott and I took a trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia and St. Augustine, Florida to celebrate our anniversary. Mae and her friends had a little Valentine’s Day party in the park. We love these friends and their families! We got a lot of work and school done in February.

In March Abby turned 15! Mae had Tympanoplasty ear surgery at Joe Di Maggio’s Children’s Hospital. We had had several appointments and tests with her cleft team, who referred us to a specialist who repaired the hole in her ear. We had several followup appointments after the surgery, and finally in October were told the surgery was successful, and we don’t have to go back to the ENT specialist (Mae will continue seeing her cleft team yearly). While the surgery and recovery was rough on our little girl, it really is amazing how fast she bounced back. It may have helped her hearing some, but she still does have mild hearing loss in her right ear. The biggest benefit according to Mae was she is able to get her ear wet now, and in June she learned to jump in and swim under water.

In April it was Oliver’s (Abby’s cat) turn to have surgery. After seeing three vets (one emergency visit in the middle of the night to Melbourne) it was determined he needed to go on a special diet for the rest of his life for his urinary health. We sure love our Abby!

Abby and I photographed Indian River Steam Fest again - such a fun community event! Mark your calendars for March 12th, 2022 this year!

May was a busy month for us: Scott and I flew to Virginia for Thomas’ graduation from Patrick Henry College. Thomas stayed in Purcellville for the summer to continue working for HSLDA. We also took a trip to Clearwater to see Winter the Dolphin at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (so glad we did, since it had been Mae’s greatest wish, and Winter the dolphin passed away this year), and went to FPEA Homeschool Convention in Orlando.

Abby got her learner’s permit in May, and is a great driver already!

In June some of us took a quick trip to Maine to get our rental property ready for renters, and of course we had to photograph the lupines! On our way back to Florida we got news: Gladston had proposed, and Sarah said yes! Our our way from the airport we drove to an Indian restaurant where Glady had invited family and friends for an engagement celebration dinner. So special! We started planning an August wedding in Maine for a random Tuesday.

July was hot in Florida, I worked more than I thought I could handle in the heat and humidity, but we also took trips to the ocean and friends’ pools. Some of our crew flew to OshKosh WI for a EAA AirVenture, our Finland flights were canceled again. Abby and I took engagement photos of Sarah and Gladston, and Shelby came to take Day in The Life pictures of us.

August was the WEDDING MONTH! Also a month for family and friends and lots of amazing food. We all (including my sister and her family!) headed to Maine the second week of August. We had a relaxing family week swimming in the lake and hanging out together, and then put on high gear to get Sarah and Glady hitched. Sarah & Gladston’s wedding was small and simple (on a random Tuesday), but the plans changed a few times because of hurricane Henri. We ended up having a ceremony at a tiny log church and a wonderful reception at Bald Mountain Camps in Oquossoc.

Sarah and Gladston moved to Phoenix, Arizona where Sarah continued school and Glady started a new job. They got to set up their first home together. Thomas moved to Maine and started a new job in Augusta.

September brought the start of homeschooling: Abby in 10th grade and Mae in 3rd. We started school with my sister’s family, and took lots of walks and hikes and field trips. Highlights were visiting Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Narrow Gauge Railroad in Phillips, ME, and Plimoth Patuxet Museums on Cape Cod.

In October Mae and I returned to Florida for multiple photo sessions and doctor’s appointments. We got to see friends, too. It was a fun time! We flew back to Maine for Halloween - gotta love small town celebrations: trick-or-treating on and off Main Street in the daylight!

In November (alone) I had 17 different family photo sessions in Florida, Daniel started training for a new job in New Hampshire, and we celebrated Thanksgiving in Maine with everyone, except Sarah and Gladston (who went to California for Thanksgiving).

In December our family - and my sister’s family - met again in Maine for Christmas. Gladston graduated from his Master’s Program and Sarah graduated from IRSC, and then they flew up to join us. We had birthdays (quads and me), an adoption day (Abby), and the week of Christmas we welcomed Covid to our midst. Two years of pandemic, and it got us all this month. My sister and I continued taking cold dips in the lake until the lake froze over on Christmas Eve. And we continued our daily walks even through covid, although one day we only made it from the lake to the garage and back home.

I don’t know about you, but after 2020 and 2021 I’m not all that hopeful things will improve in 2022… What a crazy world we live in. However, God is always good, He is always with us, and His promises are true. That’s all the hope we need to cling to. So my plan for 2022 is to love God and love people.

We streamed church this Sunday from Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, and I’d like to share Pastor Jack’s Bible verses for the new year with you:

You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
Psalm 65:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Joshua 1:5-7

Abby and I would like to wish each of you a blessed New Year 2022! We are so thankful for each of you supporting our small business, and we do look forward to serving many of you with our photography in 2022.

Happy New Year 2022!

xo

Sennu and Abby

While I was up north, my associate photographer, Ashley, took photos of the V family for their family reunion session! I was so excited to edit them because they are such a beautiful family, and I have loved our previous sessions! It’s always so wonderful to serve clients year after year - it’s an honor I don’t take lightly.