I so enjoyed my session with Michelle!  It was rewarding for me to take her out of her comfort zone, and capture her in a way that surprised her.  She is an earthy, natural beauty, and I don't think she realized just how amazing she looks until she saw her images!  I am honored to be able to gift women through portraiture. To create something that lifts the soul and spirt and boosts the self confidence that we women often times need.  Michelle shared with me her faith in God and it was encouraging to hear the reminders that God is the God of abundance. Read more about her charity of choice, and see why she is a Woman with Heart!

 Tell us about you, your family, and your work (if applicable):

I moved to Tennessee in 2004, which was a coming home of sorts for my husband Eric, who grew up in Hendersonville.  I am a Tallahassee Lassie who grew up in the Florida sunshine.  Mom to two amazing young adults, Mary-Margaret who graduates from Belmont this May, with a degree in Interior Design. And Grant who is a Jr at Ole Miss majoring in civil engineering.  He is a member of the Naval ROTC and will be commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy upon graduation. I have been a Realtor in Middle Tennessee with a concentration in Nashville, Brentwood & Franklin since 2006. In my free time I love to dig in the dirt, shop for old things, try new restaurants and go on nature walks with my husband.

 Tell us your favorite charity and why it is your favorite charity. 

Wreaths Across America is an organization that I am very passionate about.  There are over 11,000 Veterans buried at the Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery, with that number growing.  An annual event that started at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC and quickly spread across the nation to honor every man and woman who served our country.  Their mission is to HONOR, REMEMBER & TEACH.  On a designated day in December, live evergreen wreaths are placed on the grave of Veterans during a very special ceremony all across the U.S.  Fundraising occurs all year in hopes to be able to honor every one of these men and women.  The Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery has never been able to honor every Veteran laid to rest there.  As the wife of a Veteran and Mother to a son who will serve, it is personal to be able to do this.  Many of our Veterans have been forgotten.

 How can the community help your charity?

Being able to lay the wreaths is done solely by donations. Donations can be made to the following link, www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. The cost of one wreath is $15 but all donations are welcome. The total cost to cover the entire cemetery is in excess of $120,000 so donations are desperately needed. Volunteers are also needed to unload the wreaths as they arrive on semi-trucks.  The wreaths leave Maine in a convoy with truck drivers who have been selected to participate, many Veterans themselves. Once they arrive a crew is needed to unpack the wreaths and prepare them for being laid the following day. Volunteers are needed the day of, to lay the wreaths.  This is a very special & patriotic ceremony. All branches of service are honored.  Volunteers will stand before the fallen, say their name with a prayer and place the wreath upon the tombstone. Saying the Veterans name is very important and a symbolic part of the ceremony.  The wreaths are then collected a month later and volunteers are needed at that time.

What does beautiful mean to you?

Gosh, this question.  When I think of beautiful, I think of my Mother. She was a teen Mom who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 39 and lost her battle at 49. She was a beautiful woman. But it wasn’t her physical attributes that made her beautiful, it was her unrelenting spirit and desire to fight a disease so that she could have just one more day with her family.  A family that she loved fiercely.   She truly taught me what beautiful is. How to create it and how to live it. When faced with extreme adversity, she was the epitome of beautiful.

What makes you happy?

My family. It really is that simple.

What is an inspirational quote that resonates with you?

“She’s a good girl, loves her Mama

Loves Jesus & America too” – Tom Petty

What was your experience like having a "Women with Heart" session?              

 So much fun!  I was shy at first and Erin really made it a fun and comfortable experience.  I am so grateful for the time spent with her.  She is passionate about her work and I love that.