This session is extra special to me because Lila is the daughter of my boss. But it goes deeper than that. I found Jeniece’s law office after I had a crisis within myself over whether or not I still wanted to practice law. I had just taken almost a year off from law focusing solely on photography to cleanse my soul. I know that sounds cliche trust me. But the job I had sucked all the life out of me, ya know? Have you ever felt that? Where you just questioned everything you once felt so secure about? That’s where I was. So I focused on my art for that entire year.

Then towards the end of 2018, I felt called to enter the legal field again. I realized that what was missing was I gave up the passion that led me to practice law to begin with. Looking back, although the last 9 years were hard, at times traumatizing, and very emotional, I know that God had to take me through those valleys to prepare me for what was ahead. And he also gave me the season of rest that I so desperately needed. But at the exact right moment, he tugged on my heart and I felt called to start practicing criminal defense. This blog has become completely about me and not about Lila, but I swear it all ties together! LOL

At the exact right moment, I reached out to Jeniece about working at her firm, and about a week after I did that, an opening miraculously popped up. And I have to say that working for Jeniece and the friends I’ve made both at the office and through my relationship with her have been so healing on mine and my husband’s heart. It is exactly what I needed, and I have never been so happy in my adult life as I am during this season.

Enter Jeniece’s children. She has the most amazing kids and I love hanging out with them. Cliche again I know, but they are really cool. And Lila, her middle child, has all the spirit and fire that I had at her age.

So now that I’m done blabbering about myself, let me tell you about how cool Lila is. She is about to graduate high school with basically an associates degree. She is the manager at a restaurant. She is feisty, sassy, loving, hard working, driven, and a boss (pun intended because he’s actually a boss, but she’s also a BOSS, ya feel me?). She is who she is and she lets the world see that. And I love her for it. I love that she just is completely herself.

Always be you baby girl. Always feel that fire, and don’t let anyone tell you to be anything other than perfectly you. I love you and I love that your mom brought you into my life! I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you graduate and start the rest of your college.