Labor Day Thoughts

This Labor Day weekend fell on the dates of another important “Labor Day” in our family’s history!  On September 2nd, 1976, Sherelene and I had our last child, a daughter, Catherine Anne, pictured, above right, with her husband Clint.  Last night we had a family cook-out and celebrated that blessed event!  The arrival of any child is a blessing beyond measure but, Catherine was also a miracle, please let me explain.

First, Sherelene and I had two sons, Scott and Wesley, and we desperately wanted a daughter, but there was one problem, in the past 60 years in our family, (the Fortneys), there had been 45 boys and 3 girls born, and the last girl had been 21 years before!!!  Chances looked pretty slim. But this wasn’t the biggest issue we faced,  Sherelene has gotten pregnant with a IUD in place and the threat to the baby was severe.  So severe that many doctors including those in our own family urged Sherelene to have a therapeutic abortion.  The horror stories about where the IUD had ended up in other births was terrifying.  Sherelene and I prayed about it and were vehemently opposed to abortion.  We believed God had assured us that He had the situation in His hands. We finally decided that we trusted God with this crisis, and would go forward with His assurance that He had things under control.  I would be lying if I didn’t share that we were very concerned, but we held fast to the promise he had given us in prayer.

On the evening of September the 1st, 1976 we went to the hospital as Sherelene started into labor. It so happened that Sherelene’s OBGYN was also a photo student of mine and he insisted I be in the delivery room for the birth, he said, to photograph the birth, but I think he knew if things went wrong I would need to be there.  I’ve never had a tougher photo assignment waiting for our baby to come into the world, holding on to God’s hand every moment, with every contraction. Just before Catherine arrived I could see Dr. Hurlocker smile a big smile through his mask, and held up the IUD, and said, well this is out of the way!   Through tears I photographed the birth of the first girl in our family in 21 years, a healthy baby, who would be our Catherine!  It was the turning point in mine and Sherelene’s walk with God, the first real test of betting it all on His faithfulness.  Sherelene got her wish for a daughter, and I learned that God does not lie when he says I’ve got your back!  So you might say that Labor Day has a very different meaning for us!  Catherine has been a precious addition our family and especially to my life.  I did not have a sister, remember the Fortney history with girls, but she taught me what the true joy of being the father of a daughter could bring into my life.  Later she traveled with me to many national parks and we enjoyed photography together!  I love all my children, but Catherine does hold a special place in my heart.

So today I celebrate a very special Labor Day!

Blessings,

the pilgrim

Postscript:

It’s off to Photoshop World tonight!!  I am very excited to see so many friends and share some photography in the three programs I will be doing there!  Most of my heavy duty serious gear is already packed for the Glacier Workshop and I didn’t think I would have much time to go out and shoot in Las Vegas, plus the 100+ degree temps will keep me in the hotel!!!

So this week I will post images from Photoshop World with a twist, I’ve decided to shoot everything with my Fuji X100s and shoot most of the people stuff in Black and White!  I love the B&W that this camera produces and it is noiseless at 6400, so it should be fun, below is the very light kit I’m taking to Vegas.  I’m not much of street shooter, but this is the week to learn as I try to capture the mood of Photoshop World, please join me all week for the fun!

Pray my photo skills are up to the task!  Please!!!!!!