I’ll never forget July of 2004. I had just started as a new Audit Associate with a large national accounting firm (which shall remain nameless) right out of college and with anxious nervousness I headed north on Walker Avenue in downtown OKC to my first real job. I had a governmental client and my “workspace” was a shared room in the basement of said client. No windows, cement walls, the whole bit. Imagine working in a cellar without Grandma’s canned goods surrounding you, and that pretty much nails it.
Two weeks in to this job, I was…to put it frankly…miserable. I was working a LOT and was pretty sure that my boss hated me. Like, didn’t want me to die, but just wanted me to suffer. Everyone that worked with me was so busy that no one really talked to me much those first two weeks. One day right before lunch I had just about had all I could stand and couldn’t wait to get out of the basement workspace and Bethanie said “Hey, let’s go to lunch”. Bethanie had been there for over a year when I started and had already learned the ropes. This girl, who, by her own admission, wasn’t a big fan of mine when we first met, totally took me under her wing. (She thought I was WAY too cheerlead-y)
From that day on, through good and bad, Bethanie has been my best friend. I stayed at that job for ten months…many of those nights I slept on her couch. She and her husband Rusty cooked for me, provided laughter, and gave me a much-needed escape. They were my oasis. During that time in my life, it was definitely not a “wine and roses” situation, but I would take that job a million times over because that’s how I met Rusty and Bethanie. Mushy, I know, but I mean it.
I got to have an impromptu dinner with Bethanie and Rusty tonight and I am so very, very fortunate that they are in my life. I did these portraits for them a month or so ago and wanted to share them with you.
I know this time of year gets so busy and we get so wrapped up in the holidays, but be sure to take a moment to be thankful for those people that support and love you.
I can’t remember what inappropriate comment I made to get this reaction…but I love this picture.
Their new baby puppy Tatum…she is a doll and my corgi, Fletcher, is in love with her.
Their awesome two kiddos Kaeden and Raegen! I love these kids…amazingly talented and no kidding….SO WELL BEHAVED!!
I love this series…the puppy loves these kiddos!
A quick funny story…Bethanie called me one day and sounding slightly panicked asked, “I don’t have a warm and chewy center, do I? DO I??!?” Without any hesitation I said “Of course you do…you just don’t show it to everybody.” Bethanie has a mildly harsh exterior when you first meet her….not because she’s mean…but just because she’s Bethanie. That is why she didn’t super-love me at first. Right out of college I was blissfully naive and just thought everyone was going to be my very best friend. Survey says…..X. I learned that lesson the hard way, but I also got to see Bethanie’s softer side…and I think these next two pictures capture it…
Family. 
