I am excited and honored to introduce you all to the lovely Nancy! Her immediate smile and friendliness immediately puts you at ease and the more we chatted during her photo session, one will soon realize that one of the great sources of that smile and joy comes from her 5 children and 7 grandchildren. (Her grandson's public declaration of love for how his grandma makes the best brownies totally convinced me that indeed, Nancy is one special woman!)
I love and appreciate Nancy's honesty and even more so her willingness to share the great challenges and joys that she's experienced as woman. In a world where perceived perfection is so easy to hide behind, it is truly a breath of fresh air to hear out the intricacies of someone's heart and life experiences.
Nancy, thank you so much for sharing that warm smile of yours with the world and for allowing me to see a glimpse of your world. May these photographs be a reminder for years to come that you are beautiful and uniquely made, both inside and out.
Photography: Heartbox Photography
Many thanks to Ashlyn Taylor for her lovely work on Nancy's hair and makeup!
Who or what life experiences have helped shape you to be the woman you are today?
"Absolutely everyone that has touched my life, has helped shape that life. I was married at 18, and divorced 4 years later, and had custody of my oldest two children. In the next 14 years, I had two more children and during those years, I worked, did Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTA, and one year of Little League for 3 of the kids. I was a single parent with 4 children, when I met my second husband. We were married almost 10 years when he died in a motorcycle accident. My aunt died 6 months later, at the age of 96. The day after my husband died, we found out my stepson was going to be a father.
Baby Joaquin was born the following March. The day before the one-year anniversary of my husband’s death, my oldest daughter gave birth to a son. Those two little boys helped me get through that first year…. don’t know what I would have done without the little ones to focus on."
"I joined a singles activity club almost 5 years ago, and that helped me form new friendships, and getting back out in the world. I also went back to school just a couple of months before my husband’s death, and earned 3 Associates Degrees in 3 years (all with highest honors). I still have not dated, and am not sure I want to date…..but we will see what the future brings."
"Life is a learning experience, and each day you learn something new….if you don’t you will stagnate."
If you knew then what you know now as a woman, what would you have told your 18-year-old self?
"I don’t think I would change anything…..everything played out just the way it should have. If I change anything, I would not be the person I am now. My husband and I both had this belief. We met at the right time and the right place to appreciate each other, and love each other. If we had met sooner, we would not be the same people, and the relationship might not have worked as well."
What are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about my family, after that, my work, and my friends. I [also] love to read."
If you could share a message about beauty to other women, what would that message be?
"I would say to take care of yourself, eat healthy, get exercise (even if it is just walking), love life, and enjoy yourself. Always keep your mind active, and laugh often. Make friends, care for your fellow humans (and animals), and try not to stress over minor things."