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Cheryl Savel is Superwoman.
Don’t believe me? Just ask her kids, Kristen and Trey!
Cheryl worked her way through nursing school after her mom died, eating PB&J sandwiches nightly, and now works as a Labor and Delivery nurse. I’m sure we’re all familiar with nursing schedules, right? It seems like they are never off the clock, and never off their feet. No matter what, though, she always made sure to support whatever her kids were doing. Kristen said that she and her brother both played sports growing up, and even if their mom had to come right from work, she’d proudly show up in her scrubs to cheer them on.
One of my favorite things Cheryl told me is that she had never been lucky enough to win something, or get a blue ribbon prize, but all that changed when she became a mom.
My kids are my trophy. They are my blue ribbon with the star on top. Everyday is Mother’s Day for me as I count my blessings. I miss my mom every minute of every day but I know that she lives in my heart and helps me to become the mom I am today.
Everybody say it with me now: awwwwww!
When I asked Kristen and Trey what their favorite memories were of their mom, they were both so sweet! Trey’s favorite memory is when he and his mom both dressed up and went on a “date” to White Hall while Kristen and their dad went to a father-daughter dance. He remembers how cool it was to hang out like friends, but fancy it up a little! Kristen fondly remembers blaring Tim McGraw and Shania Twain music while dancing…I mean cleaning, around the house. Cheryl always had a way of making even boring tasks a little more fun, because she knew that family time and making memories were the most important things.
Then I asked Cheryl what her favorite moments of motherhood have been so far, and top of her list was watching each of them graduate high school. Next on her list is seeing her husband walk Kristen down the aisle as she married her best friend, and feeling the true meaning of pride as she saw Trey on the parade deck at Parris Island, as a U.S. Marine. OORAH!
Because of Trey’s service in the Marine Corps, they don’t get to see him as often as they’d like. He is actually stationed with Kristen’s husband nearby, in North Carolina, which made it a bit easier for him to come down to Carolina Shores for their session. Kristen is in school for cosmetology. Watching these three interact was great, because it was obvious that even as adults they love their mom so much, and she gives it right back to them. Even Trey said that their mom is his best friend, fun to hang out with, and never missing a chance to let him know how proud she is.
Cheryl loves how each of her children are so unique, and way different from each other. Of Kristen, Cheryl said that she has the biggest heart, and can always touch people with her special brand of kindness and love. She also said that Kristen is the one that is most like her, and she knows that Kristen has inherited her spirit of motivation, so she will always succeed in life. Trey has a stoic heart, ready to push through all the challenges life throws his way. When he came to her at the age of 18 to say he was enlisting in the Marines, her first reaction was to tell him not to go. It took a lot of courage and respect for Trey’s decisions to let him make his own way, wherever that would lead him. Now, not a day goes by when she doesn’t think of how proud she is of the hero she always knew he was, and how the world now gets to know him the same way.
Even as a family photographer, I don’t often get the privilege of photographing parents with their adult children. I love that Kristen took the time to nominate her family for a spot in this year’s Mother’s Day project. The funny thing is that I met Cheryl not long after she won her session, because she was a L&D nurse for my sister-in-law! I love the small-town feel that Beaufort has; it always feels like the world is so much smaller here.
I want to finish off this blog post with something Kristen said about her mom:
I have never seen someone more committed to their family! Every dance recital, sports event, and field trip she was there. Even if she was running up in her scrubs after a 12 hour shift she would be there! When I was a kid I wanted the coolest cleats or the newest softball bat but I never realized until I got older that the biggest gift was she was sitting up there cheering me on and that means the world to me. I have the best mom ever!
Destination sessions are available, as well as sessions in my new location of Beaufort, South Carolina. To schedule your own family session, feel free to contact me at info@nadiahurttphotography.com.
