"You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them."

Desmond Tutu

Although I'm a few days behind in getting this blog entry written, I wanted to be sure I got it done while this photo session was still relatively fresh in my mind.

This was the third time for me to take family photos for Mark, Rachel, Lily and Elliot.  I am so humbled (in a good way) that they have entrusted me with their family photos three times now!  It's so much fun watching Lily and Elliot get bigger and seeing the new things they are doing each time I see them.

Little Elliot has been through a lot in his two years.  He received a heart transplant on January 14, 2014 due to being born with a heart condition called CHD - Congenital Heart Disease.  You can read more about his journey at http://www.theindependent.com/news/local/st-paul-toddler-recovering-with-new-heart/article_e30916be-a1cb-11e3-bfa5-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story

He is looking so healthy and was kind of the star of the session as he didn't seem to mind being in front of the camera.  I took many photos of Elliot while his mom, Rachel sang "Five Little Monkeys" to him.  The song made him smile and I even tried my hand at singing it although the words weren't nearly as well rehearsed coming from my mouth.  He enjoyed the song and even added his own hand choreography to it.  

Not to take any credit away from big sister, Lily, as she did a fabulous job of posing for me as well.  I took my oldest daughter along on this session as she and Lily have been going to dance school together for three years now so they had some fun playing too.

Thank you, Sazama family, for letting me photograph your family again.  Your family is very special and you have one amazing little Heart Hero.

Follow this link to find out more about Heart Heroes and all they do.  heartheroes.org