Everyone has a story to tell and over the years of photographing people, I have learned that if you take the time to learn the story of what makes them “THEM”, that it’s so much easier to portray them in a photograph. I’ve heard LOTS of stories throughout the years- some heartbreaking, some of them are hilarious…..and every once in a while, you find a very inspirational one. This is where Missy comes in. If she looks familiar, it’s because you’ve seen her a time or two on my blog. She is the women in this surrogacy posts. If you haven’t seen it yet, go grab yourself a tissue. *you have been warned* (https://jenmckenphoto.com/2012/05/surrogacy-6-long-years-jen-mcken-photography/)
So what’s their story:
“We met in 1988 (he was a Sr, I was a freshman), on the HS musical stage. He can’t even sing! LMAO!!! I met him, looked in his eyes and thought to myself “I’m going to marry him someday.
Years later in 1991, my Sr. prom was coming up and I wanted to go with a friend that would appreciate it so I asked Pat. A little while later, he asked me to be his girlfriend…the rest is history. He did tell me later that during Christmas break of 1990, he dug out his year book to get the spelling of my name so he could call me and ask me out, but his younger brother stopped him and told him I had a boyfriend. lol! He’s my rock. My soulmate. My very best friend. And the best Dad ever. ” -Missy
Pat and I got married under less than ideal circumstances. I was pregnant. Six days after the wedding I had a miscarriage. Pat held my hand and said “don’ worry, we’ll have lots of kids” (he had no idea..lol) We always said if we could handle the 2 weeks before and 1 week after our wedding…we could handle anything. It’s true. 21 years this Feb.
There’s a gap between my first two kids. We tried for years-3 rounds of fertility drugs failed. Finally had him, and the next two were…wow. Quick. LOL I think part of my drive to be a surrogate was having our own struggle. I know both sides. The longing and failure and the success and happiness. Having other parents not have that struggle is my way of giving back. ” -Missy
Meet the Emanual’s (a.k.a. the half dozen): Missy, Pat, Marissa, Mitchell, Mackenna and Mason 🙂
I love this one!!!
Random Facts:
Mason can open a combination lock without knowing the numbers. He’s done it three times with his brother’s lock, and locks from two friends from school. He can also solve a rubik’s cube.
Mitchell is a whiz at math, and was helping his older sister with her 7th grade algebra when he was only in 1st grade. He also can memorize music REALLY fast. Never uses a flip-folder.
Mackenna would give the last cookie in the package to you. She has the sweetest, most loving heart. She also loves to be in the kitchen baking.
Marissa taught herself to twirl a baton when she was a sophomore in HS. She tried out and made the competition squad as a Jr and also her Sr year. She also twirled fire for Sr night. Yes, that’s twirling fire after only knowing how to twirl for 18 mos. Talk about mom having a panic attack…lol
Thank you guys for being so freakin awesome during our shoot! Fist bump *explosion* 🙂
