Who I am

Hello! My name is Harleigh and here is my story.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, I was only three when my mother, sister Hannah, and I moved to a little town in Southwest, Michigan called Stevensville. This was where my mom grew up and where the rest of our family was, so it made sense to locate back here after my moms divorce with my "ex" dad (as we call him).

I'm going to make this long story as short as possible, I promise.

My mom was a wonderful single mother for a while. She worked extra hard to provide for us while teaching and waitressing. We lived in "the yellow house" and spent our evenings with our grandparents while mom worked. My grandpa and uncle were basically my father figures growing up, until Charley came along.

Charley's parents owned the restaurant where my mom waitressed (little did she know, she'd be owning that same restaurant currently). He was a cook there. I'll never forget hearing a mans voice in our house while my sister and I were supposed to be sleeping upstairs. We went down in the computer room and there they were laughing and smiling. Han and I obviously new they were a perfect match. They got married when I was in the 7th grade, and my mom wasn't the only one with a new last name. Charley adopted my sister and I a year later. Best day ever. Going into the 8th grade with a new last name had everyone confused!

Losing a dad to gain a new and better one was truly a blessing in disguise. We call him dad like he was there in the hospital room while we were being born. I not only gained an awesome dad, but an AWESOME family, too! Two bros, Max and Ben, an unbelievable set of grandparents (we lost Poppa a few years ago but he will always be with us!), an aunt, uncle, two cousins, and so many more amazing people on that side. If you couldn't tell, I LOVE MY FAMILY. I'm close with both sides and I'm so grateful for that.

There's my background story and why I am the way I am today. I could write pages more but I'll save those for later.

This is my family. we may not all be blood related, but It feels like we are.We fight like it, Care like it, and Love like it. Wouldn't know what to do without them! I'm very sappy and love love. so get used to it.

A little more about myself that you will probably read about someday:

> I grew up on the beach along #LakeMichigan, boating, collecting beach glass and Indian beads, paddle boarding, tubing, cookouts, etc. Our beach is now GONE and it's so sad!

> I've had a boyfriend for EIGHT years. Wow. His name is Josh and we've had some awesome memories together!

> Josh is the father to our extremely spoiled but so stickin' cute #goldendoodle, Oakley. He's almost 9 months! Literally obsessed with him.

> #Photography is SO SPECIAL to me. All pictures on my site are taken by me, from a Canon Mark 5d 3. It's more of a hobby right now, but want to make it bigger someday.

> I have such an urge to #TRAVEL it's ridiculous. Why must it be so dang expensive!? I love being introduced to new cultures and exploring our gorgeous world (always with my camera in hand of course).

> I graduated from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids (Go Lakers) with a hospitality degree. This blog is on my "for fun" photography site. Check out my pictures! I'd love feedback, comments, and to learn about people! If I don't know you, where are you from!?

Harleigh