I am stepping in here now because tomorrow it begins. The most precious time for our family. Christmas.  We wait a whole year for it.  The opportunity to dress up, eat out, worship and hibernate for a whole 36 hours.  To say I am excited would be an understatement.

I really can not put into words how grateful I am for all of you.  The people who support me and who support Changing the Face of Beauty.  These past couple weeks have put a lot of things into perspective.  “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Like Forest Gump said “You never know what you are going to get.”  Ain’t that the truth.  Life is a box of chocolates and that is what continues to make it interesting and special.

We have grown a lot this year as a family.  In fact we just took a trip to the city this afternoon and not one person lost their mind and Mom didn’t once loose her temper.  That right there is a Christmas miracle.  I am thankful for the year ahead where we can enjoy each other instead of drive each other crazy.  But most of all I am grateful for the grace that my family gives me every day.  I am by far not a #1 mom.  I spend way too much time working and promoting a campaign that I feel is so important to my children’s future.  What I often forget is just how important today is to their future.  I appreciate the support that consistently give me and the understanding when I tell them just a min 4 times in a row.  This blog, photography and Changing the Face of Beauty take up a lot of their time.  It is impossible to do all those things and not have it take up time.  2014 has taught me to prioritize.  It has reminded me that memories now also affect the future and I need to continue to make them.

So as I close out this year I really just want to say thank you to my family for believing in me, for giving me the time I need to do what I do and for loving me even when I am really not easy to love.  It is because of you people are talking about what is possible.  Changing the Face of Beauty would sure not be where it is today with out each of you.

That being said 2015 has so many gifts that await.  As we speak there are advertising firms pitching new looks for campaigns to their clients that include the Changing the Face of Beauty’s mission (I can’t WAIT to share who!).  There are moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and siblings standing up and saying #imready for #15in2015 because of Izzy Bradley and her Mom.  There are disability organizations such as Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network partnering because they want advertising to change.  There companies like Infantino speaking out about their commitment of showing diversity in their advertising by including models of all abilities. Lastly there are news outlets talking about it! ABC News, NY Daily News, and Pioneer Press.  All these things combined will continue the push for a brighter, beautiful future in out countries media.

So with that I have a fireplace and a family calling my name.  I will leave you with a little glimpse of what we have been up to over the past week.

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Christmas cookies at the cottage.

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Last day of school shenanigans.

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Our girl roller skated for the first time and did it all by herself.

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The girls behind the beautiful song set to release in 2014. Love them so much.

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Our annual trip to Millennium Park to skate.

 

I wish you all the most amazing holiday.  I hope you are surrounded by the ones that love you.  I will be back before the New Year as we will be celebrating a little girl who will be 5 years old next week.

familycard2014 copyMerry Christmas! OX Katie