I am so excited to bring you this very special I Still Do shoot of Peter and Jo. Over the past year, this tremendous couple has faced adversity head-on as they worked through Peter’s recovery from a stroke.  Jo reached out to Brent and I to capture some intimate, candid shots of the two of them in their home to chronicle both Peter’s progress and the love they share as husband and wife.  Spending the afternoon with these two has given us an even greater appreciation for the enduring beauty of marriage.

For their photoshoot, Brent and I tried to incorporate elements from their home and life that shows the challenges they have experienced and surpassed this past year.  From Peter’s orthosis that he no longer needs to use, to the elevator they had to build into their home, to their adopted “son” Bun the stuffed bunny who remained vigilant at Peter’s side in the hospital. We chose to end our shoot with a toast to the new year and the possibilities it brings, as well as a couple images with a saying that was on Jo and Peter’s mantel that I think beautifully describes their relationship.

Finally, rather than tell their story myself, I asked Jo if she would mind sharing a few words about their journey.  She graciously agreed, and below you can find their beautiful story.

“I recently read a quote that ended “Great relationships aren’t great because they have no problems.  They’re great because both people care enough about the other person to find a way to make it work.”  Peter has made it easy for me to love him – I’ve tried to be lovable.  This reminds me of the time, about 8 years into our marriage, that we realized that when we shared an order of french fries, I ate the plump fries thinking I was saving the best crunchy fries for him, and he ate the crunchies thinking he was saving the best plump fries for me; we loved each other enough to give up our favorite things and take less to make the other one happy.  Now I eat the crunchies, he eats the plump, and we both smile about how much we love each other. You never really know how good it is until it’s almost gone.  Our life was good, like the ebb and flow of the waves, routine, dependable, with excitement amidst the security.  Then came the storm…

“In January 2015, on a trip home from visiting his folks, Peter had a massive stroke.  The horrifying experience arrived with many blessings – we were in the hospital emergency room when it happened (a critical time-saver for treatment with certain meds), he was airlifted to a key stroke center for treatment (we would not have guessed that South Carolina was the place to be for stroke treatment), and the hospital physicians offered many aggressive and risky treatments that ultimately saved his life.

“The changes in our life are vast but workable.  The two most difficult challenges are not being able to drive his Mustangs (the clutch is a challenge with the lack of responsiveness in his left side) and being unable to continue serving our country as a member of the Air National Guard.  He has been affiliated with the Air Force for 35 years including four deployments to the Middle East.  Having been such a big part of his life, this has been a very difficult loss.

“The outpouring of love and prayers from family and friends has been humbling.  I believe that prayer made a difference in Peter’s survival, how could God ignore all the positive energy and prayers from our personal community.

“I believe our love made his recovery so expansive.  And it will continue beyond to his goals of returning to work and running again.”

Jo and Peter; thank you so much for this beautiful opportunity to document your precious story. It was truly an honor and we will keep Peter’s recovery in our prayers!

Gaithersburg, MD Anniversary Shoot by Gaithersburg MD Photographer, Mary Sarah Photography

Enjoy this Gaithersburg MD I Still Do shoot provided by Mary Sarah Photography offering Gaithersburg MD wedding and engagement photography.

Mary Sarah Photography is anything but your average Gaithersburg MD photographer.  Each photo shoot is treated with the utmost care, respect and creativity it deserves.  Our goal is to tell your story in the most compelling way possible – through photography.  Your photo shoot is carefully crafted to offer one of a kind unique photography in the Gaithersburg, MD area.

This is Gaithersburg photography at its best.  Mary Sarah Photography offers photography coverage in Frederick, Baltimore, Washington DC, and destinations worldwide.  Please contact us for more information.