This last Christmas, as some of you might recall, we did the Big Christmas Giveway. It was an opportunity for people to submit someone they knew, someone doing good, someone in need, someone who just basicly, needed a little extra love sprinkled on their Christmas, for the Giveway. The Giveaway entailed a free session plus a gift of $750 for anything they’d like - prints, books, etc.
It was our first year doing this and honestly, I was so nervous we wouldn’t receive applicants and then was so surprised, inspired and relieved when not only did we receive several submissions but several AMAZING submissions. It was then a nervousness centered not on enough applicants but on how in the world to decide. So, I turned it over to my family. Being that I knew many of the people submitting, I didn’t want any kind of unconscious bias to play into the final decision. And while, as I said, there were many thoughtful, beautiful submissions, there was one family in particular that completely shined and begged to be the winner: the Herlehy’s.
In the time since they won and meeting and working with them for their session, it’s confirmed for me that they were definitely the best choice for this gift but more than that, it’s helped refine my vision for the Giveaway next year. It’s made me realize the Giveaway is about celebrating people who are making a positive impact in the world around them; people who may be facing adversity and yet, persevere. People who inspire and amaze us and teach us something about ourselves and who we want to be.
This is the Herlehy’s - Jim, Jaime, Max, Baylor and Sam. Jim is a teacher and head football coach at Foresthill High School and Jaime does web design from home while managing the schedules of three little people. Football is a huge part of Jim’s life and they have embraced it together as a family so that it is something they can all share in. Max, Sam and Baylor demonstrated their team spirit at our session by bringing football helmets and an adorable handmade cheerleading outfit that Baylor modeled for us. I’ve been told that rain or shine, you’ll find them on the sidelines, Max coaching beside dad, Jaime, Baylor and Sam cheering on their team.
We decided back in January to wait until spring for their session since we wanted to do it outdoors. Last week I met up with them in Foresthill for their “spring” session. Revision - their session that was supposed to be a spring session because in reality, in snowed in the morning and threatened us with dark clouds in the afternoon and hovered at around 50 while the kids danced around barefoot (because, you know, it looks so much cuter!) and poor little Baylor dashed in and out of her hooded hot pink sweatshirt between shots. We might have rescheduled on any other given day but here’s the thing - Max has been battling Leukemia and it relapsed. He started treatment this week - again. Max, for clarification, is the dashing little man with brown hair below. He’s the oldest sibling and the strongest little kid I think I’ve ever met.
So strong that during his illness he would be found at his station on the sidelines, coaching along with his dad. So strong that when his parents told him he had relapsed, his response was simply “we’ll get to see the new hospital.”
Right now the Herlehy’s need your prayers. They need them for very specific things, as noted on their blog, which you can visit here (and get a more thorough overview of Max’s situation) and which I’ll list as well:
- Max to go back in remission
- An ultimate cure – the complete removal of the cancerous cells from his spinal column
- Jim and I to have absolute certainty that Maxwell is getting the best care possible
- God to provide the perfect bone marrow match for Maxwell quickly
- Our family to have endurance, rest, peace and joy
- God to take care of all the pesky details
- Our relationships with one another to stay strong and continue to grow, despite hardship
- Maxwell to have his customary joy, toughness and unsinkable attitude
- Maxwell to be protected from medical errors, dangerous side-effects and infections
- Baylor and Samuel to feel loved and cherished
- Protection from fear
This family is massively loved by the community that surrounds them and it’s easy to see why. Even though you don’t know them, I hope you’ll put them in your thoughts and prayers. If you’d like to leave some blog love here, I’d be thrilled to pass it along to them or you can leave some on their blog, using the link above.
Here are some favorite images from our 50 degree spring session.
Because there was no one fav that stood out in the whole family images - I loved them all equally for the character and personality in each, I had to include them all…
Baylor…
Baylor dancing to stay warm…not really but it probably helped!
Sam demonstrating some skills he’s learned…
Sam showing off that adorable smile…
Max showing us his take on sitting on the couch…
Max flashing those gorgeous blue eyes that will make girls swoon in highschool…
Oddly appropriate if you saw the massive clouds just behind their heads about also unbelievably entertaining for the kids. I had no idea! I’m so clued in now - umbrellas = all kinds of crazy fun for kids.
My complete absolute favorites - Team Spirit at it’s best!
Bundled up and ready to head home but not before catching Coach Herlehy in his characteristic red hat. Definitely a must.
Is this cute or what?!! 
