I already knew Eric. We were friends…in fact great friends for a long time. He was once my boss. He made me laugh…he made everybody laugh. He drove me nuts on occasion…okay a lot of occasions. When he wanted me to “produce” something he would bribe me with a dinner out…I am such a sucker for a good dinner…especially one that someone else is paying for! He used that to his advantage. ;-) But as a return favor I brought him home cooked meals into the office often. He was appreciative. Eric and I were close. We had a bond…a love-hate relationship…like older brother younger sister. We looked out for each other. Eric attended my wedding. In fact, he was a huge help at my wedding! I always loved Eric. Always. Even when we lost touch for a little while…I knew that we would always be friends. I wished him happiness in his life. He deserved that!
Out of the blue one afternoon I received an e-mail. “I am getting married and I want you to photograph my wedding.” Eric is a “get to the point” kinda guy. I was shocked. Eric is getting married? Wow! This girl is special. I knew that without ever meeting her. “Okay! Wow! Congratulations!!! I would LOVE to photograph your wedding.” We scheduled a meeting as this wedding was going to happen in less than one month…she was that special! I remember the moment that I laid eyes on Christina…it was as if the heavens opened up and the choir began to sing here comes the Bride. I was giddy. She was a dream Bride. We talked wedding details and reminisced about old times that Eric and I recalled. One thing stood out…aside from Christina’s magnificent engagement ring. ;-) Eric was ready for this. For marriage. For a family. I remember he said to me “I will be a good Dad, don’t you think?” Absolutely! I replied. There was no doubt in my mind. When the time came Eric would be a wonderful Father.
Very quickly I came to know Christina…the real Christina, not the beautiful exterior that made you do a double take. The inner Christina is even more beautiful than the outer Christina. She is strong. Intelligent. Independent. Faithful. Gorgeous. Authentic. Grounded. A woman after The Lord’s own heart. She is just what Eric needed. I understood why this wedding was going to happen in less than a month. They were soul mates. Perfect for each other. I was honored. On December 13th of last year, I had the distinct honor of documenting my old friend and my new friends love and wedding vows as they stood before Our Lord and made a lifetime commitment to each other. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. He was beaming. Eric deserved this. Happiness had become him. Christina became his wife. We laughed, we joked. Eric made faces and silly comments. Christina and I rolled our eyes at him…several times. And then we laughed some more…because that it what you do in Eric’s presence…laugh, roll your eyes and laugh some more. He is Eric. There is only one of him. Thankfully. ;-)
I remember the day that the e-mail came announcing the news that Eric and Christina were expecting their first child. It was exciting. My joy was for both of them but I remember saying to myself. Eric deserves this. He has come such a long way. Happiness has become him. The Lord has touched him. It has been a long journey. He has worked hard. He has been blessed. Eric deserves this.
It was a windy, very windy, chilly afternoon when we met to photograph Eric and Christina’s maternity session. The sun was warm and glowing and felt wonderful when it touched you in between the bursts of a chilly breeze. The Stratton’s were the picture of happiness. Baby Lucy was on her way! They were going to be a family. They were ready. Christina was as stunning as ever! Eric would be a great Dad. This session was filled with the typical…Christina and I laughing at Eric…followed by us rolling our eyes at his antics and comments. Which are obvious to you, who do not know Eric, just by looking at the images that we captured that day. He is Eric. There is only one of him. Thankfully. ;-)
On November 8, 2009 Lucy Lynn Stratton was born. She was perfect, beautiful, healthy, happy and smothered in love. The Stratton’s had become a family. Eric and Christina were proud. They brought home their little bundle of joy and slowly began the journey of learning to settle into life as parents. They welcomed it. They were blessed. They were three. Christina brought baby Lucy to meet me and have her infant session. I loved her. She was sweet and precious…just what I expected. I indulged in the baby whispers and wails…you forget all too soon what that sounds like. I vividly remember rubbing my thumb in a forward backward pattern over little Lucy’s eyebrows trying to put her to sleep as she lay in the golden pea-pod. I had a vision for these images. Lucy cooperated and we nailed it. She was angelic laying there up against the warmth of the orange sun. The wheat grass behind her glistened and swayed a little in the air. She was perfect. Christina was proud.
A few days passed. The news came that little Lucy was in a fight for her life. I couldn’t make sense of it. I just held her. She was perfect. I just rubbed her eyebrows and put her to sleep. She was peaceful. Oh Lord! What has happened? My worry soon turned to sorrow as I knew that my friends would be spending their Thanksgiving in a hospital awaiting a miracle for their precious daughter. They prayed. I prayed. Many of you prayed. People around the world prayed. The Lord heard our prayers. But on November 29, 2009 baby Lucy shed that little pod and became a heavenly pea in the presence of Our Lord. Lucy is home. She is perfect. We, on the other hand, are sad…not for her but for those who love her. For my friends Eric and Christina, Lucy was their child. Their love. Their family. But they remain steadfast in their faith. I admire them. They know that they will cradle their precious Lucy again one day. She will welcome them home. The Stratton’s pray that she will welcome you home too. If Lucy’s death brings one more person home to The Lord, The Stratton’s bare that pain in hopes that they too will see you in the Kingdom of Heaven. She is home. She is perfect. She is Lucy Lynn Stratton. A flawless angel in Christ.
Eric and Christina, I love you both. I remember. I will always remember.
Beautifully written Dawn – you are a blessing to them as well – I am sure of it.
Such a sad story but so uplifting to hear of her parent’s faith and steadfast-ness. I know they will always cherish these pictures Dawn and your friendship too. They are in my prayers.
I know you have no idea who I am, but I want you to know that tears are streaming down my face for you right now, dear parents of Lucy Lynn. She was a brief and absolutely beautiful gift, the most precious a person can be given. I pray that your very tender hearts can be sheltered by our Almighty Father. I know he is bending low to cradle you in your pain, he has felt it too. As a mother, and as a fellow believer, I wish and wait with you to see those that we love again, in His house.
Know that my prayers and thoughts are with you.
Ashley
She is beautiful, your words are perfect and what GORGEOUS memories for mom and dad to have of her. She is resting on angel’s wings in heaven. May God guide and help her parents in this tragic time.
Dawn this is a beautiful tribute to that perfect angel. I pray for the Lord to lift these parents up during this very sad and difficult week.
Dawn, so eloquently written – straight from the heart. As I wipe my tears, I pray for your friends that they find strength and courage to be brave and to heal. God bless you all!
My heart breaks Lucy and her family. She is in a beautiful safe place now. I hope you have peace knowing she cant hurt now.
Dear Eric & Christina, I know there are no words or actions that can heal your pain, right now. I promise you, that in time, you will be able to handle the memory of your precious babe with a smile, rather than tears.
Having walked your path, I can only say, there is no making sense of this event right now. But someday, it will be shared with you and you will know what to do with your new understanding. You are in my prayers.
My heart breaks for this family. I am so sorry Eric and Christina. Dawn, such beautiful images that will be treasured forever.
My heart is breaking for yall. Lucy brought such love and joy in her short life. I know she will be with you in your heart every day until you can hold her in your arms again. Please know that many are praying for yall.
Eric & Christina, my prayers go out for you for the strength to bear the unimaginable. May God be with you!
What a gorgeous baby girl. May you find peace in this time of sorrow.
There are no words. You are in my thoughts and prayers, I can’t imagine what you are going through. She is beautiful, and so very loved. You can tell how precious she is to everyone.
Eric & Christina, no words can take the sorrow from you. As I wipe the tears from my eyes, I know that in time you will soon hold that beautiful child in your arms once again.
Dawn, you are such a wonderful person and I am truly blessed to call you a friend.
What a gorgeous tribute Dawn!! Amazing words and photographs!! I am praying for you Eric and Christina, I sit here with tears in my eyes trying to think of something to say to you but I know there is nothing that will comfort. She is in such a better place now, with the Lord Almighty and she is waiting! God Bless Ya’ll, and you too Dawn, you are truly a blessing in my life and in others! I am so blessed to have you as my friend!
Dawn you have given Erica and Christina a priceless treasure. I pray for healing and understanding in the difficult time. God be with you all.
I can’t express the sorrow I feel for all of you that knew and loved Lucy. But as I sit here with tears streaming I also am thinking how fortunate it is that you, Dawn were asked to participate in the most important and wonderful moments of Eric, Christina and Lucy’s lives, and how precious your beautiful images of Lucy will be for her parents. My heart is with all of you.
Eric and Christina, I sit here with tears in my eyes for you. What Dawn has captured for you, I hope will help you in the difficult times of healing ahead of you. I know that you have many people around you that love you, and that is such a blessing. You are in my prayers, and may God heal your pain and may you find peace in your hearts very soon. She is SO beautiful.
For Eric and Christina, I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you have lost your precious baby Lucy. I’m sure there are no words to offer much comfort at a time such as this. Please know that you are in many peoples thoughts, prayers, and hearts. You are in mine. I hope that you are able to find some comfort during this incredibly difficult time and that your faith and your family get you through.
Eric and Christina, you and your family are in my prayers.
Eric and Christina, I pray that the Lord will wrap his healing hands upon you and heal you hearts. Your baby girl was a precious angel from God. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in Louisiana.
Eric and Christina, my heart aches for you and your loss and I pray that God will comfort you through this difficult time and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. We lift you up and ask God to hold you in His arms and to give you peace and to heal your hearts. One day you will see your sweet lil girl again!!
Dawn, God put you in their lives for a reason, what a great friend you are, I know they will treasure these beautiful photos forever.
My prayers are with Eric and Christina in this difficult time. I pray for healing and comfort in the knowledge that the Lord knows what He is doing, and you will have a joyful reunion with Lucy when the time is right, according to His perfect plan.
Baby Lucy is a gift. She reminds me why life is so precious and why I am so grateful that God will now be there for her to comfort her and to bless her. I waited until now to read this tribute and to look again at her beautiful photos because I knew I would need time to cry and to pray. Thank you Dawn for creating such beautiful memories of this angelic baby.
Thank you Dawn for such a wonderful celebration of Lucy Lynn Stratton.
What a beautiful angel!! Praying for you all. I pray you feel God’s love wrapped around you. Dawn what a beautiful gift you gave these parents. ((HUGS and LOTS of prayers))
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Lucy, Eric and Christina. Christina and I have been friends for about 5 years and you captured her spirit perfectly. She and Eric continue to be in my prayers daily.
I’d like to personally thank all of you folks for your prayers. Please remember that man’s sinful mind can only see things from the human perspective. The Lord’s perspective often differs from ours.
Psalms 139 says:
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Secondly, Chris and I are saved by the blood of Christ so we hold this hope that we see Lucy once again. And I believe the sands of time are slipping quickly away:
13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall desend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Dawn I am in tears. Thank you for paying tribute to this little angel and I just know she is watching and waiting for her parents in heaven. I pray that God can give the parents strength to make it through this tough time. Thank you for letting God use you in such a powerful way!
I am so sorry for your loss you will be in my prayers. I do nt understand why this happen but God knows best and we cannot question him. May God give you the strenth and resolve to know that we as parents never want to out live our children as they are the most precious gift of our life. God be with you.
Dawn that was such a beautifully moving tribute to such a perfect little angel. My heart is with the family and I lift them up in prayer. I have no words to express my feelings of sorrow for their loss, it touched me on such a deep level and has me in tears as if I knew them.
May the Lord comfort you during this time. Our flesh is weak but our faith is strong…rely on that!!!!
My heart and prayers go out to this family. May they find peace through this very difficult time.
She was beautiful and perfect. I pray that they find peace in all of this. She’s a perfect angel.
Wow Dawn, your words are beautiful and so are your photo’s, to be treasured forever. I remember seeing the Stratton’s wedding album, Maternity session and Lucy’s newborn photo’s and always wished the best for their family. This news comes as such a shocking tragity we all love Lucy and her beautiful mother and father. I feel like I know them through your blogs. Their faith is amazing and seems to be unbreakable. I am without words of comfort but there is comfort in the arms of our Lord and I will continue to pray for this family. Love. Peace. Prayer.
Dawn,
thank you again for posting about my little girl. Well tomorrow,is my birthday and its a real treat to be able to come to the site and read about the love I miss more than anything. One of my best friends daughter recently told me I bet you’re the saddest parents in the whole world……well she’s totally right. But at least I have these preserved memories to go back to on days like this.
With all my love to Christina & Lucy………eric
So beautifully chronicled, in word and in print. Eric & Christina, your faith is a pillar of strength. My heart goes out to you as you face this tragic anniversary. As I wipe away the tears from reading this and seeing these precious images, the song by Natalie Grant resounds in my heart;
This is what is means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
and you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held
I pray that you both continue to be held by our Almighty Father and I look forward to rejoicing with you both one day as you are reunited with your sweet Lucy.
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