My daughter, Makensie, has always had such a bright, positive spirit, and I’m so grateful she’s always seen me and her dad through loving eyes. I remember her often talking about how much she loved seeing me wear heels to church or that suit-and-heel power combination to work. While I’ve embraced more casual shoes lately, I still cherish those moments when I can dress up.

Now, that vibrant daughter is an incredible colleague. Together, we have a shared journey of purpose and connection.

As of the end of 2025, Makensie is officially joining Shepherd Way as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate. She has already been a tremendous support, helping me with social media, marketing, and business ideas while also pouring her love into being a wonderful stay-at-home mom to my grandson. With this exciting new chapter, it felt like the perfect time to capture our joy with some beautiful, fun headshots—a true mother-daughter collaboration.

She booked the session, and the day arrived so quickly! We didn’t have much time to coordinate outfits, but sometimes, the best looks are found in shared history. We chose navy dresses because I realized the one I wore to the 2022 ATSA conference in Los Angeles was so similar to the one she recently wore to the conference in Florida. To us, this felt symbolic—the vital work of violence and sexual abuse prevention connects us from the West Coast to the East Coast. We added some cool boots for a touch of strength and grounding.

For our second look, a beautiful black and white contrast, I wore a jumpsuit I hadn’t had a chance to wear yet. The most meaningful touch, though, was the necklace. I asked my own mother if I could borrow her precious heart necklace that her friend Gracie loaned her, the one she wore at my dad’s funeral, and I placed it on a gold bangle. It was a beautiful way to bring the strength and love of three generations into our photographs.

We intentionally cleared our schedules—no counseling appointments for that day—so we could enjoy our time together without the rush. We had long, thoughtful conversations about the things we wanted to tackle side by side: education, prevention, counseling, and deeper community work. We share a burning passion for continued education, racial healing, breaking generational trauma, suicide prevention,  and advocating fiercely for our LGBTQ+ allies, all while striving to do God’s work along the way.

After a truly fun day of pampering and being photographed, we enjoyed a relaxing meal at a Chinese restaurant. As we were leaving, a young woman sitting in a nearby booth caught my attention. She smiled and said, “I love your hair.” I thanked her and, beaming, explained that Kens and I had just had a photoshoot. When I shared that Makensie was my daughter and was joining my practice, a profound moment unfolded.

The young woman was celebrating with a friend and had a celebration bag. From it, she carefully pulled out a few photos. She explained that her mother had passed away when she was just one year old, and she only had one picture of them together as an infant.

I knew immediately this was a divine, beautiful moment. Her friend had taken that single infant photo and lovingly created a composite, adding the adult her into the picture with her mother. She also had a photo of her mom with angel wings. As we parted, the significance of what we had just shared—the joy of having pictures together, the comfort of knowing that love transcends loss—washed over me.

We will forever cherish the pictures and the fun we had during our photoshoot. But it’s the unexpected reminder from a kind stranger, on a day dedicated to celebration, that the memories and photos we create are not just for us; they are a legacy, a lifeline, and a quiet testament to enduring love.

It was a perfect final grace note for the start of our shared professional journey.