hello...it's me.

Hi. It has been a while. It has been a BUSY but great summer. In July, I photographed 3 weddings, Rick went on 2 trips (one with youth and one with college) AND we spent a week in California. No wonder I'm tired. During that time I was still trying to help out at collegedale, but they found a great person for the job and she is already whipping the place into shape. Me & Benjamin can really do some damage. :) Not that we spent an insane amount of time up there, but it's been strange to be back home with no where to go. I've enjoyed the time with Benjamin though. He's starting pre-school next week which is bitter sweet for me. I'll love the "me" time, but I'll be so excited when I get to pick him up everyday.

So if you want to see what I've been up to photography-wise, you can check that out here:

laurencochranphotography

I have been so excited to be so busy. Photography is my passion. That's what got us out to California too. I have a connection through a co-worker from Marietta and she flew me out to Malibu for her daughter's wedding. Since Benjamin's flight would be free as well, we decided to make it a family trip. Well, that and Rick said I wasn't going to Malibu without him. I'm so glad we did. We haven't done anything like that in such a long time. We hung out in Malibu, went to the beach, toured LA and Hollywood, and spent a couple days in San Diego too. That's where we had the most fun...we took Benjamin to the zoo. It was worth the whole trip to me. Benjamin loved it and learned so much in just a day.

He is getting so smart these days. It just shocks me how I can sit down with him and talk about something. He never even acknowledges my presence and somehow later finds me and repeats what I taught him. For example, he knows that apple starts with A. He doesn't know that alligator starts with A, just apple. :) Also, every thing that looks like a letter is "A, apple."

I also love to hear him talk. He picks up on things we say (even the not so correct way of speaking). He's getting more and more independent, not as much in what he does for himself but what he wants to do. It's sort of teenager-ish. Sometimes it seems like he hates my ideas, just because they are mine. It's just a phase though and it too shall pass. He is alot like Rick - laid back and for that I am thankful. He'll be the perfect balance for some lucky high-strung girl someday - just like daddy.

Rick is busy busy busy these days. Even getting a little stressed at times, which is not just rare, but unheard of for him. We are getting super pumped about the start of school this next week and he wants it to be great. We want to reach as many people as possible because we know how this ministry changed us, and that it can do the same for others.

On a side note, don't know how many people actually read this blog, but this precious girl need prayers. Hailey Trainer, from Marietta, GA, was diagnosed in Sept. 2008 with AT/RT brain cancer. She, along with her beautiful family, has fought for 2 years a battle that not many could even imagine. All seemed to be going well and she was making tremendous progress, but a new tumor was spotted in her last MRI. Please pray for strength and comfort for her and her family and that Hailey can continue to shine and show the world how amazing she is. You can read her story here.

Be blessed,