A girl’s best friend | The Goggin Family

This is my very favorite family to photograph.  I will warn you though, I am a little biased.  This beautiful mommy is my very best friend in the whole wide world (and make sure you keep reading because I have a little bragging to do about her).  I know you’ve seen these faces several times on the blog.  Her and her husband, Shawn, adopted this handsome little man from Uganda earlier this year.  I was lucky enough to pull them away for a few minutes after his 3rd birthday party and have some fun for a little family session in the backyard.  I don’t get to see these 3 as much as I would like because they live in Charleston so I take full advantage when we do have some time together.  You can just feel how much Daniel is loved and cared for.  I so enjoy watching their family grow together.  Melissa and Shawn are amazing parents.  I can not even begin to write about all the things I’ve learned just from watching these two in their marriage and now as parents.  They’ll both tell you, it isn’t always easy but it’s worth it.  God has blessed them in so many ways and I feel more blessed just having them all in my life.

A little back story, Melissa and I have literally known each other since diapers.  We went to the same daycare and schools growing up and attended USC together.  I’ve always called her my best friend through the 27 years we’ve known each other.  Now that we are a little older the term Best Friends means so much more.  It’s not just girls nights, calls to gossip (don’t act like you don’t do it), going shopping together, venting about things that don’t really matter and trying new restaurants together.  It’s about a true, meaningful, uplifting, encouraging, supportive friendship that has and will stand the test of time.  Melissa is the kind of friend I pray everyone has in their life.  She’s always there to talk through anything big or small.  We have conversations about everything from what are favorite ice-cream is to what God is doing in our lives to personal finances and what we dream about for the future.  We compliment each other as friends and have so much in common it’s scary.  Melissa is the one that stands beside me even if I’m wrong and guides me like a best friend should.  I know if I needed her to come to Charlotte in the middle of the night, she would after a Venti Carmel Machiatto at Starbucks, on me of course.  She celebrates things that are important to me and hurts with me when things aren’t right.  We can both admit, we haven’t always given our best to each other.  I know I’ve let her down before and vise versa.  But that is the beauty of a true friendship.  You fix it, apologize, forgive and grow together.  It’s part of getting older and growing up.

Especially over the last few years, I’m so incredibly thankful for our friendship.  Growing up comes with lots of changes like moving all over the country, a growing family, starting businesses and getting married.  With each chapter, I’m so lucky to have her as a best friend.  I feel like we grow closer every day.  Only by the grace of God, have we been able to have such a special friendship.  I don’t tell her enough but I love this girl like she was my sister.  My prayer is that I will always cherish our friendship and give as much to her as she gives to me.  I’m getting married in 2 months and so honored to have her as my Matron of Honor.  I couldn’t have made it to this point without her.  Thank you Melissa for being awesome and to Shawn for being such a wonderful husband to my best friend.

Bert and Ernie – BFFAA!!!!

Visit our website to view more of our charlotte family photography.  To schedule and design your perfect family photography session, email us at brittany@brittanylaurenphotography.org.  Limited sessions are available each month.  Located in Charlotte, North Carolina serving surrounding areas in North and South Carolina.

 

Charlotte Family Photographer