Back from my Ecuador trip and trying to make sense of what I experienced in my travels to all the orphanages, but most importantly WHY. I think back onto what I most desire to achieve for my clients with my photography; it is to demonstrate the connection between who you are as a family and deliver a finished product that is a visual reinforcement of your family’s connection, the sense of your family – to admire, enjoy and cherish that particular time in your lives.

Then, when I fast forward to my time spent with not only these wonderful children and the people that volunteer their time to create this sense of family – I realize that these children will never have these images or hear the story of how their mum realized they were pregnant for the very first time or have maternity images anticipating their arrival, or see in an album that amazing growth of their first year, or hear about their two-year-old tantrums with them being so fiercely independent.  These children would not hear the story of their birth at every birthday (as my Mum recounts each year).  Or have those monumental pictures: first day of school, vacations, goofy sibling images, dressing up in Halloween costumes, blowing out candles on birthday cakes, those fabulous missing front teeth. HOW could I NOT want to go to Ecuador and give these children images to have so they remember who they were and how beautiful and perfect they were right then?!!!

It saddens me to think that not only are these children growing up with out a mother and/or father – but how they will also not have any physical or tangible documentation of who they were – how precious they looked, how beautiful their smiles, or pensive their looks were.

Their spirit of fun, sense of community, and respect for each other was awe inspiring.  When lining up for food, trying on the shoes that were donated to them, and enjoying their treats and graciously accepting, there was  none of the pushing, grabbing or tears of frustration that are present in my day-to-day life with my three children. In short, these precious children were strong and resilient. But they need love, they need help, and your assistance. Caleb Allred, said it best, “We can’t change their past, but we can certainly change their future.”

I have donated my services to many charities: Near and Far Aid, Circle of Care, A Better Chance, NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep), as well as local preschools and elementary schools, all with hopes that the funds raised will assist families and their children.  Please take a moment to reflect on your lives and the lives of your children. We can all be guilty at some point of taking things for granted. Please go that one step beyond gratitude for you life and family, and reach out to help these beautiful children.  For the price of one Starbucks coffee a month you can help change their lives.