Just in time for Mother’s Day! This could make a great gift for Mom, or Grandmaw, Nanna, MawMaw- what ever you may call her. Win a free Youthpix photo and video documentary of your
kid(s).

I love kids. My journey in photography started with youth sports, and I always enjoyed capturing the silly faces and innocent eys. We are offering limited Children’s and Senior sessions through Youthpix, but most of my time is devoted to Bridals, Engagements, and Weddings now days.

We’ve decided to offer another contest in light of all the fun we had with the Valentine’s contest. (See Kimberly and Skip’s photo’s below- and be on the look out next week for our other winner’s pictures!)

We will offer a free Youthpix photo shoot, a CD of all the pictures, a brag book (coffee table book), and a video documentary by Steven Schaefer to the winner of our Spring contest! In 1,000 words or less, simply tell us what your kids mean to you. E-mail your story (along with pictures if you would like) to mark@markeric.net. We will vote on a winner on April 20th.

Allright- the entries are coming in. Keep them coming!

1. Wendy McGee

Hi Mark,

Let me tell you about my daughter Bethany. She is 17 years old and she
is my special child. She is the light of my life. Everyone in our town
knows and loves her. If everyone enjoyed life as much as she does this
world would be a much happier place. She loves to sing, I think she
knows the words to every song she has ever heard. We live in the country
and she enjoys raising and showing cows. She has won may awards doing
this over the past 8 years. This has also helped with her confidence and
self esteem. If you ever want an honest opinion about something just ask
Bethany because she will tell you just like it is.
About 7 years ago we put her in a private Christian school. They have
been great with her. Since this is her last year to attend school they
are going to let her participate in the graduation ceremony in May of
this year. We are really trying to make this a special time for her. We
have ordered graduation invitations and are planning an after grad
party. I would love for you to take her senior pictures. I know the
attention of a professional photo shoot would make her feel like a real
big time senior.

Thank You,

Wendy McGee

(photographs submitted by Wendy McGee) Thanks Wendy!

2. Natalie
I will begin with what I have always began with when someone says I don’t look old enough to have a daughter that age, “She is the angel that Jesus sent to save me!”

I was not raised in a Christian home, so by the age of 15 my mother was working on her 3rd marriage and my father was too busy with his “new” family to have time for me. So when I say that I got pregnant on purpose, please realize that it was because I just wanted somebody who would love me always.

From the 1st moment that I spent alone the my new baby girl I knew I wanted to give her everything that I had always dreamed of. Lauren Mae gave me the strength to work hard at pursuing a higher education so that I could provide the best for her. When I would get stressed and want to give up I would go into her room at night and watch her breath; and the strength that I needed would come.

We have in a way grown up together so we are very close. We have a song: the one by Shania Twain that says, “From the first moment I saw you, I saw love; from the first moment I touched you, I felt love… Looks like we’ve made it, look how far we’ve come my baby… They said, I’ll bet, they’ll never make it but just look at us holding on.” We also have a special thumb touch that we still do when we promise each other something. From the very first time that Lauren Mae said, “I love you mommy” I have always said back, “I love you more!” So it became a game with us who could say “I love you more” the most. Then when she was 5 she responded to my one day with “mommy, I love you as much as you love me!” That has always been our saying sense then. In fact, just this year, and she is 17 now, Lauren recorded me saying that with her cell phone so that every time I call her instead of it ringing she hears me saying, “I love you as much as you love me!” One more special thing that I want to share with you. Up until Lauren Mae’s senior year, when we both started to prepare ourselves for her to grow up and be independent, Lauren Mae had always ended her voice mail recording with, “831 (8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning= I LOVE YOU) times forever mom.” Everyone that called her would hear her tell her mom she loved me. I call her my angel because God truly sent her to give me someone that would love me like He does: forever!

It was during Lauren Mae’s last few years of high school that I started to realize that in only a few short years she would be grown. I realized then that I had lived my entire life loving being a mom and I didn’t want it to be coming to an end. So I finally decided to ask God to bless me with another angel. This time the Lord made me wait a year and a half before becoming pregnant so that I would, in a small sense, understand how a woman could miss someone sooo much that she had never held before. Sixteen years after I had my baby girl my son was born. Before my son was born I feared I would not love him as much as I loved my Lauren Mae; but it is unexplainable…….from the 1st moment I saw him I loved him so deeply!

I promise there are stars in his eyes when he smiles and I can’t kiss him enough to satisfy my desire. I could spend every moment of every day totally consumed with every movement that he makes. I have tried to make it a habit to hold him for an entire nap at least once a week. One time that was 3 hours of just holding him in my arms; listening to his hums and feeling him breathe. Just being his mom and knowing that I get to experience the next 18 years with him gives me such great joy and thankfulness to the Lord for blessing me with my two angels.

3. Crystal

Dear Mark,

I have two beautiful little girls. Brianne who’s 3 and Gracy who is 1. They are my everything. They both have such vibrant and wonderful personalities. My husband has been working out of town for the past 3 months and if I didn’t have my girls to keep me going and keep a smile on my face I don’t know what I’d do. They are the reason I look forward to waking up in the morning. There’s nothing like receiving their sweet hugs and kisses and hearing I love you Mommy that just makes my heart melt. They inspire me to try to be the best mother that I can be.

Crystal Sanford

p.s. I wasn’t sure if I shoud try to enter because I’m from Hot Springs, Arkansas. I wasn’t sure if the contest was limited to just people in Louisana But I figured I would try. (from mark: I’m glad you entered! We’ll find a way to make the shoot happen. Thank you!)

Photographs submitted by Crystal (Thanks Crystal!)