Better late than never, right? Here’s a blog post that’s way late but too good to pass up.

Meet Kyle and Alex. Kyle is my best friend, Danielle’s, brother. These two are so cute I just couldn’t help myself. I could have shot them all night, except we had no sun left. I can’t wait for these two love birds to get married. They are going to make the CUTEST bride and groom

Here are just a few from their super fun session!

Here’s a little sneak peek of the oh so cute couple I shot last night! Are they not just AMAZING? Congratulations again Kyle and Alex! I’m so stoked for you two. Full post coming soon

You probably remember Pattie that I posted about last week with her grandkids. You know…the absolutely darling kids with her!

When I heard Pattie was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I was taken back to the day when I found out my little sister, Emily, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (a childhood cancer) at only 8 years old. I re-lived a lot of those memories for a week or so, and my heart just broke for Pattie’s family because I know all those feelings they’re experiencing. What my family and I went through those 2 1/2 years was tough and a huge test of our faith. So many people have asked me what got me through that time. # 1 was my faith in the Lord, that he was going to take care of everything and he was where I’d find my comfort, strength, and peace. #2 was my sister Emily. Even though she was the one that spent all the nights in the hospital, had numerous surgeries, several rounds of chemo, several treatments of radiation, took countless pills each day…SHE WAS MY STRENGTH. It blew me away how much faith an 8 year old could have in the Lord. She was never scared, and she always had a smile on her face and kept the family laughing, even up to those moments before she passed away. When Emily knew she didn’t have much time left she told my family, “Jesus and I will be waiting for you in heaven.” Hearing her say that gave me so much peace. She knew God was going to take care of her. Losing a sister is not easy by any means, but I’ve held onto that phrase she told us and it makes me so excited to see her in heaven someday.

All this to say, I really felt God put it on my heart to help out Pattie and her family. I find it so easy to connect to families that are going through what I’ve been through, and I count that as a blessing. So here’s a little way for my to give to Pattie’s family using the gifts God has so graciously given me since she won’t be able to work during all of her treatment.

Please pass this on to all your friends and family, and keep Pattie and her family in your prayers. Thanks so much!

I had the pleasure today of shooting Jessica and Chad’s engagement session. OH…MY…GOSH…seriously?! Can theses two be any cuter? They were like super models…no joke! Jessica’s eyes are A-MA-ZING. I had so much fun with them and I’m SO STOKED for their wedding this September. It’s going to be in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Can you say BEAUTIFUL PICTURES? Thanks Chad and Jess for letting me capture your upcoming big day! Chad, please feel better. You were a trooper today, thanks for sticking it out! And Jessica…we both know it was a rattlesnake in those boxes, but we’ll let Chad think it was only a bug. The things you do to get good pictures. HA! I’m so excited for you two. You’re so perfect for each other! It just makes me smile.

So I’ve been terrible about blogging lately, but things have just been so busy. I promise there is a good reason behind it all. You can all just take a guess…okay…I’ll just tell you…

I’M ENGAGED!!!

Yes it’s true. Justin and I are engaged and we’re planning a wedding. We’re getting married on:

FEBRUARY 6, 2010

Guess what that means…only 100 days till I am “Mrs. Cheney”

We are beyond excited! There’s so many things to look forward to in marriage and we can’t wait to see God’s hand at work in our lives together.

So many people ask “Why so soon?” Well here’s exactly why. As most of you know, Justin was in the sheriff academy up until August this last summer. Well, he’s all graduated and now a Deputy Sheriff. Let me tell you, he is one HOT COP! This coming June he starts FTO which is training on the streets and that lasts about 5-6 months. The academy is a cake walk compared to FTO, so there is no chance of getting married or even planning a wedding during that time like we were hoping. We had been talking about getting married around May or June, but when we heard when he would start FTO, we had to try and figure out what we wanted to do to work around his training schedule. Well, our two options were to either get married in 4 months, which would give us a few months to settle down, and get a place together, and adjust to married life before he starts training. OR…our other option was to wait about a year and a half. We definitely did not like that idea at all. At this point, we are so anxious to be married, we couldn’t imagine waiting another year and a half, and having to go through FTO and not see each other with his crazy schedule.

So I have some catching up to do on posting sessions and weddings, but I’ll also be posting all about the wedding and preparations. I’m already having so much fun planning, and my friends and family have been wonderful and so much help. I can’t thank you all enough.

If anyone has ANY wedding advice, planning tips, etc. PLEASE feel free to leave a comment. I’ve never planned a wedding before so it’s all new to me.

Here are some pictures of the ring, because I know everyone always wants to see it…Justin did an AMAZING job! I love everything about it. I find myself staring at it as I’m driving and my hand is on the steering wheel. It’s got some POP to it! BUT…the pictures don’t do it justice.

I had NO idea Justin was about to propose…he was supposed to be going to a mens retreat with our church over the weekend. I went to go have dinner with my friend Danielle, and the whole night I was so sad that Justin was going to be gone all weekend, and the next week I would be gone in San Diego for 6 days. Needless to say, I wasn’t my cheeriest at dinner, and was a little mopey. I’m sure Danielle thought I was ridiculous and was probably saying in her head “Keary, stop complaining..you’ll be engaged in like 2 hours”. Well we sat through dinner and decided to go back to her house to play Wii and card games with her ever so amazing family that I adore. So we drive back to her house and as we’re walking up the front porch steps I stop and say “URGHHH Danielle, I forgot to go to Target to buy the 4th season of Grey’s Anatomy…now I don’t have anything to do this weekend” Well she kept insisting “everything will be okay” But of course I didn’t believe her. So me and my bad attitude (that I didn’t show) walked inside the house. Her brother Kyle was sitting at the kitchen table, all by himself, on a Friday night, doing homework. I though to myself “poor guy…that sucks”. Danielle asked Kyle where her mom and dad were and he said “outside” Soooo….we walked though the kitchen and to the backyard sliding glass door. At this point I started to get excited to see her parents, so I felt like the night wold end better. I noticed all the lights were off outside, so in my mind I was trying to figure out where her parents were. I assumed they were over on the other side of the house. Danielle opened the door, and flipped the switch…I froze in my footsteps. Christmas lights lit up all over the place, chinese lanterns lit up (which I had kept saying the last few months that I wanted those at my wedding someday), and there were roses everywhere, floating candles in the pool, and music started playing…And there was Justin…on one knee…holding a little black box with a ring in it. Everything happened so fast. I didn’t even see it coming. I swore I would because I’m always so aware of whats going on. Justin tells me I should be an investigator because he can’t hide anything from me. To make a REALLY LONG story short…I said “YES” And of course there were a million other little details that made everything perfect and how he already had engagement parties planned for us, and the whole weekend to celebrate. It was the BEST DAY of my life…but soon, FEB 6th will be the best day of my life.

I can’t wait to marry you Justin Patrick Cheney!

This is MJ & Berto. They were so much fun. 100% completely in love! Berto is a graphic designer so he is super creative and lots of great ideas.

I cannot wait for the wedding in August. It’s gonna be FANTASTIC!

He loves Darth Vader…so he brought the mask

Inside joke…

Berto is a fan of silly faces…he really wanted MJ to make one too…HAHA

He is a lucky man…she is absolutely GORGEOUS!