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I made a big decision this summer, but it has taken me this long to finally update my blog:

I have "hung up" the camera and will not be taking on any new sessions.

Life is busy, and my little one is growing up so fast, and I have decided to spend my valuable time with my family as much as I can.

My apologies to those who have requested family photo sessions.
I hope you understand.

Thank you to everyone who has been following my blog over the years.

Wilma

Remembering Baby Lucas

February 3, 2012

"No farewell words were spoken,

No time to say goodbye,

You were gone before we knew it,

And only God can tell us why."

Baby Lucas's arrival was very much anticipated by his family, but his passing brought much shock and sorrow.   I am sure the family's sorrow was deepened because the loss of little Lucas was far from home and away from big brother J.  

I am always so honoured when families allow me to share in their precious time with a precious child.  

If you would like more information about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, or if you would like to donate to this organization, please click here.

Baby Alexa

January 13, 2012

"Softly the leaves of memory fall

Gently I gather and treasure them all,

Unseen, unheard you are always near,

So missed, so loved, so very dear.

No longer in our lives to share,

But in our hearts you're always there."

 I had two sessions in one day, and I had hoped to time it so both sessions were done during one visit to the hospital, but little Alexa (4 and a bit pounds) decided to hang out with her momma for a few more hours.  Alexa was a precious little girl, and she pulled at heartstrings before she was even born.  Big brother C got to come out of bed and to the hospital to see and cuddle with his newborn sister.   Little Alexa, however, grew her wings and is now with older sister I watching over their family.

Thanks, C&G (and Grandma S) for sharing these treasured moments of Alexa with me.

If you would like more information about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, or if you would like to donate to this organization, please click here.

Remembering Baby Mary

January 13, 2012

Guardian Angel from heaven so bright,

Watching beside me to lead me aright,

Fold thy wings round me, and guard me with love,

Softly sing songs to me of heaven above.

Mary was a tiny little girl who was very loved by her parents and her 4 siblings.   She was born with Trisomy 18 which is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra 18th chromosome.  50% of Trisomy 18 babies do not survive birth, and for those who are born live, the survival is very low.  Many of these babies have internal abnormalities, but amazingly her heart was normal and beating strong 2 weeks after being welcomed into this world.

It was so wonderful to meet this little girl and witness how very loved she was by her family.

Thanks to Mary's family for sharing a few of these precious moments with me.

For more information about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, or to donate to this organization, please click here.

Baby Nathan

I’ll Lend you for a little time a child of mine

by Edgar Guest

“I’ll lend you for a little time a child of mine,” He said.

“For you to love the while he lives and mourn when he is dead,

“It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three.

“But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?

“He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, but should his stay be brief,

“You’ll have his lovely memories, as solace for your grief,

“I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

“But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.

“I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true,

“And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have selected you.

“Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain,

“Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?

I fancied that I heard them say: Dear Lord, Thy will be done!

“For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we’ll run.

We’ll shelter him with tenderness: we’ll love him while we may,

And for happiness we’ve known forever grateful stay.

“But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’d planned.

“We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.” 

On December 20 I had the opportunity to photograph little Nathan, a precious boy with caramel-coloured hair who was warmly welcomed and loved by his parents.  

Nathan has a big battle ahead of him; he has a large brain cyst which will require a lot of doctor visits, bloodwork, measurements, tests, and possible surgery.  At this point, no one knows what the outcome will be.  

Nathan's family is holding onto faith and prayer during this difficult time.

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Aisha

Aisha is an adorable 4 1/2 month girl who has a special place in my heart, and I captured a few photos of her alone and with her parents.  

Thanks for coming over for this session, S&R&A!!  I am looking forward to watching Aisha as she grows!

Canadian Rocky Mountains

We live just an hour drive away from one of the world's most famous & beautiful mountain ranges: the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  Yes, we truly are blessed.

Last week, our family had a vacation to the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  It is a beautiful time of year and the autumn colours are stunning.

I wanted to share a few of my favourite places.

Herbert Lake
Banff National Park

Ducks on Herbert Lake
Banff National Park

Peyto Lake
Banff National Park

Autumn in Banff National Park

Beautiful glacier lakes & snow-capped mountains

Near Saskatchewan Crossing

Autumn Splendour

Waterfalls

Mountain Sheep

Near Athabasca Glacier
Jasper National Park

Medicine Lake
Jasper National Park

Rolling clouds
Jasper National Park

Maligne Lake
Antique B&W Version

Maligne Lake
Colour Version

Bull Elk
The sun & the angle of that the photo was taken = a very overexposed photo, especially since this photo was taken very quickly.
I played around in Photoshop to give it this "old" black & white look.

Mule Deer

 Bull Elk
Jasper

Elk
Jasper National Park
(We did not see any bears or moose on this vacation.
We did, however, see a fox, 2 coyotes & many white-tailed deer, but we didn't get photos of them.)

Vermilion Lakes & Mount Rundle
Banff National Park

Chad & Christine and Isabelle

I love watching kids growing up, and this session was no exception.  

The last time I photographed little Isabelle was in June 2010 when she was 5 months old... and she's still adorable!

Chad & Christine - thank you so much for coming back for more family photos!  I'm looking forward to capturing even more milestones!

Flying high.

Beautiful family

Darling little lass - just doing her own thing.

I Heart Faces: Fix-It Friday

It's been a while since I participated in IHF's FIF.  The photo today was so adorable, I just couldn't resist editing the photo of these 2 beauties.
(Original photo by Angie Arthur).

Straight out of Camera

Colour Edit

B&W Edit

Sepia Edit

Remembering Baby Anessa

There are no good-byes for us.

Wherever you are, you will always be in our hearts.

~ Mahatma Ghandi

On Sunday, August 7, 2011 the world welcomed twins girls, Anessa & Aisha into this world.

Anessa said hello to her family for an hour before she grew wings & left this world.

Born at 33 weeks, these girls were already so very beautiful - and their Caucasian-Middle Eastern ethnicity was already obvious.

Little Anessa, you will be missed much by your parents, Aisha, and the many people around you called Family.

For more information about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep or to donate to this organization, click here.

Remembering Grandpa Jake

My father-in-law, Jake,  passed away a few weeks ago after a short but aggressive battle with cancer.  He was a jovial & caring man, and he will be missed by many, especially his 4 children, 4 step-children and my mother-in-law.   My son, who is now nearly 2 years old, will grow up not knowing his Grandpa Jake, although we have photos of him perched on his grandfather's lap on each occasion that we visited them in Saskatchewan or they visited us in Calgary.

We'll miss you, Grandpa Jake!

03 March 1940 - 21 July 2011

Playing with Photoshop

Every once in a while I try play with Photoshop with "old" photos... and I was in such a mood earlier this week (must have been the rainy weather that brought this on).

This photo was taken in 2008 during a hike on Castle Mountain.

The photo on the far left was the original.

The middle & right photos are with much dramatic changes.

Amazing how much a computer program can change a photo. 

The lily pad photos were taken a few years ago while I was in Vancouver.  

From top to bottom:

Original Photo

Minor saturation boost & a border

Black & white version

That's all for now, folks!

Remembering Riley

She was planted on earth to bloom in Heaven.

- by Unknown Author

This morning I met 2 beautiful newborn baby girls, Riley & Olivia, who entered the world 4 weeks earlier than their due date.   Surrounded by love & their loved ones, Riley left this earthly world for her eternal world.

Riley will be missed much by twin sister Olivia, parents N&K, first-time grandparents S&D, F&J, Aunt A. & Uncle A., Aunt J & little Miss H and by many more loved ones!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share in this precious moment of your lives.

For more information about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep or to donate to this organization, click here.

I Heart Faces: Fix-It Friday

It's been a long time since I participated in I Heart Faces "Fix-It Friday (FIF)" but here's my first FIF of 2011.

Original photo (SOOC) taken by Angie Arthur Photography

Edit #1 - I used a variety of actions to give this result.

Edit #2 - B&W

Edit #3 - Sepia

Edit #4 - Sepia + Grunge border

Remembering Grace

An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth,

Then whispered as she closed the book,

"Too beautiful for this earth."

Author unknown

Last night I had the opportunity to photograph a little girl who arrived in this world much too early. Little Grace was born at 23 weeks and weighed in about 500 grams and measured 30 cm in length. She was a feisty little gal, but she left this world about 24 hours after she was born. Grace: you will be missed much by your family.

My thoughts are with this family during this time of loss.

I am so honoured to have witnessed the short life of little Grace.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is a nonprofit organization that offers remembrance photography to families who have lost a baby. Donations to support the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

foundation can be made here.

Baby Kezia

Little 3 1/2 week old Kezia was a long-awaited answer to prayer. She is an adorable, beautiful little girl, and we are so happy for our friends Jen & Steve. Congratulations again!

Thanks, Steve & Jen for coming out to show off Kezia for this photo session!

Remembering Baby Samuel

Ten little fingers

Ten little toes

One belly button

One little nose

One tiny mouth

Two little eyes

Two little wings

And tearful goodbyes

Samuel was 2 days shy of one month when I photographed him. He was a little fighter who had to battle heart surgery and then some other complications. His parents & 2 adorable older siblings loved him dearly. Samuel grew little angel wings on his 1 month birthday.

Samuel, you will be missed very much by many people.

I am so honoured to have witnessed the short life of precious little Samuel.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is a nonprofit organization that offers remembrance photography to families who have lost a baby.

Donations to support the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep foundation can be made here.

In Memory of Baby Amara

Just before Christmas, I photographed a little girl who arrived in, and departed from, this world much too early but she will live on in her parents' hearts forever. She was so very, very tiny but also so very beautiful, and I am blessed to have met little Amara.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is a nonprofit organization that offers remembrance photography to families who have lost a baby.

Donations to support the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep foundation can be made here.

The "L" Family

Three cute little munchkins came to see me for a photo session last week. Their little cousin was visiting from "out east" so this was a perfect opportunity to capture some cousin photos.

The 2 sisters & their cousin:

Miss Tatum:

Master Carter. I love the hat!

Miss Isla

The sisters even had time for a "tea party." Oh, what fun!

Not to be outdone, the little man had to show off his clothing. What a little stud-muffin!

Thanks for a fun visit!