in your heart

sometimes life graces you with the presence of a remarkable human being with such kindness in their heart and such peace in their smile because they have loved. so much. and they ARE loved. so much more than they can ever imagine.

"family is what life is all about, " she softly whispered to me with a light in her eyes, a happiness in her heart, and a natural smile filled with love. she is brave beyond life. beautiful, loving, strong. she is someone's family. someone who will ALways be in your heart. and this is for her.







we cannot always explain everything, we don't always know the reasons why,
we only know the love we feel makes our souls sing with life.











every moment we have shared together, every breath we have smiled,
you were there with me, you were the one who made it worth while.








so no matter where this journey of life takes us, if our paths separate from time to time,
warmth will always fill my heart, I will carry you with me, you will always be my shining star.








you are someone's mother.



















you are someone's grandmother.























you are the one and only glamorous gigi.
















you are our family. you ARE love.
so save a place for me, save a space for me. in your heart.
















as you are ALways in my heart. always. no matter where you are. you are my shining star.

becoming whole

sometimes, something is missing. you just don't know what it is. until you have it and you can hold it in your hands and your heart can smile that it is yours and you never have to let it go.

even when you are completely exhausted, overwhelmed, emotional, full of so.much.love. you think you might burst. that is when you feel it the most. you feel whole. and you cannot imagine how you lived your life without it before.

it doesn't matter *how* you came to be. you did. and you are whole. and you are a family. and you have love. and you have fears. and you have little fingers grasping tightly to never let *you* go. you never felt so needed before. and you were never before needed so much. you are someone's mom. you are someone's dad. you are someone's son. you are someone's daughter. you are someone's *family.* and you are whole.

how could you love someone you never met before so.very.much. you would give your life for that little being, you would take their sicknesses, their pain, their heartbreaks, and go through it all for them?

because you just could. and you do. and you always will. you are *whole.* and the best part? you don't ever have to let go.


and it all began with the two most beautiful faces you ever did see....


meet kyrie.





and kingston.











the loves of your life.












and you just happen to be the loves of *their* lives as well. did you know that? even when you feel like NOthing you do is right. even when you have had a major fail of a day. even when you didn't even get a chance to shower. for three days in a row. you are still loved. you are still whole. and you can live off coffee if you want to. cause you are loved. and you are perfect to someone. no matter WHAT you do.



this is what happiness looks like. this is your family. this is your life.




















































and you wouldn't have it any.other.way.




























cause these two perfect faces?













just as much as they made YOU whole? you made their whole.entire.life.



no matter how you came to be. you just did. and you are whole. and you are a family.


and family is the most beautiful word you have ever known.







welcome "whole"me, stefanich family!!!

what courage looks like.

and let me tell you, it doesn't get any cuter than this.



this is the story of brielle and brooke. the most courageous, wonderfully happy, gentle-spirited, kind, loving just plain *amazing* little people I have ever met. though their story by no means defines them, it is one that must be heard because it is so important and it has changed their lives forever. but you know what? it hasn't changed *them.* they are way too incredible to let it.

both of these beautiful sisters have a rare and devastating disease known as SMA, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type II. you can read more about their journey and their courage here:

http://brielleandbrooke.smakids.org

beacause that is all the time I am going to give that wicked disease right now. this day was about THEM. about how they are an inspiration to anyone who has ever had to fight for their life or struggled with pain. because, if you didn't *know* they had SMA, well, then you wouldn't *know* it. they are just that amazing. their smiles melted my heart and I swelled with love from the moment their big, wild, curly hair (jealous...) and kind eyes graced me with their presence. and from the moment we first met until stickers and the best hugs EVER were exchanged, their smiles never took a backseat.

brielle and brooke? you overWHELM me with your courage and strength.


and believe me, you are about to fall in love, too....

beautiful, bubbly, big laughter, big hearted big sister brielle.



sweet, soft-spoken, silly, spontaneous, super fun, smaller sister, brooke.



every image makes my heart swell. three sizes too big. but the good too big.




**love**









we had a pretty good time I think....and with these two, living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment of it, how could I not do the same??






















**love**
just a little supermodel break, you know....





sisters. they are in this thing called life together.




with some serious love and support from their ahMAZing mama. (super gorgeous and kind mama, I might add...)




super serious loving....



I think the feeling is pretty mutual...










courage defined.





strength you never thought was possible from such itty little ones.





but this is what it looks like.
and I think, it is going to be near impossible for anything to get these two down.



actually, I *know* it. and I am so honored to know such amazing, beautiful girls. whom we can never stop fighting for. because I know? they never will either.