Beth Helen - Yesterday and Today

Today is Beth's birthday!

Beth was born on a Monday evening after a somewhat arduous labor which is unusual in a 5th child but she was well worth the effort.

She is a very important part of this large family.

That started with this smaller family.

And an even more important part of this smaller family.

I wrote about Beth in these posts:  2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.  They tell a lot about her over the years.

Now I'm going to talk about Beth in the present.

Obviously she's quirky and fun.  No one has a better, sharper sense of humor.

She's loving, kind, and thoughtful so she's empathetic and sensitive to the feelings of others and is the first to offer aid or comfort when it's needed.

She's hard working - SO very hard working.

And it's not just the photographing that keeps her busy.  Every session involves hours of editing and culling and she WILL NOT compromise.  Every session gets the same attention to detail and gets the same beautiful results.

And she's such a hard working girl, that her biggest stressor is finding time for her beloved family. Sometimes she just has to grab the moment - it might be a little spontaneous dancing in the kitchen after dinner,

or a quick photo with one of the kids,

helping them with their homework,

or reveling in their successes and accomplishments.

And, obviously she knows how to dress up for a party.

So you see how much fun she is, how conscientious and loving she is, and how hard she works.

But there's more.  She's a loving daughter, sister, and mother.  She wants the best - not just for herself, but for everyone around her.  She's willing to work hard to provide the best and be the best and she looks for that in all of us.  There's no one more loyal, honest, or forthright than Beth and we could not be prouder of her.

So happy birthday, Beth!  We're hoping you're having the beautiful day you deserve and that the coming year is your best one ever - but only half as awesome as the many more to follow.