But I didn’t set out to start a website. I started out hoping to send one man a message about the misconceptions of mixed-race families. I had a vision of sending him a Christmas card filled with pictures of mixed-race families and people who are happy people living happy lives.

The goal was to send him a Christmas card of 100 mixed-race families and people. As I received pictures from all over the world — including Korea, Belgium and South Africa — I realized that this little project was about more than one man. It was about the entire world and the tragic misconceptions that still exist.

And so it turns out that a bad decision sparked a facebook status that sparked a blog that sparked a movement. And here we are. Read a timeline below.

Oct. 6, 2009: Marriage license denied
Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace in Louisiana’s Tangipahoa Parish, declined to sign the marriage license of interracial couple Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay. Bardwell’s wife told the couple he did not do interracial marriages.

Oct. 15, 2009: “My concern is for the children”
Bardwell issued a statement to media explaining his decision. “I’m not a racist,” he said. “I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children.” He said his conclusion regarding black and white mixed-race couples is that “black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society.”

Oct. 19, 2009: “Remember that guy who … ?”
I posted this as a status on my Facebook page along with our family picture.

My page was inundated with comments from people pushing me to really do it.

• Libby H.: Suzy I think you need to start a new group organizing people to send in their photos with a short testimony of how blessed their lives are as a mixed race family. Post the address of the judge and let him be inundated with positive replies to his ridiculous judgment. I think it would be incredible!
• Craig W.: WOW!!! Now that’s a GREAT Idea. We might have to join you on that one! HAHA! For real though, if you do this let me know…
• Jenna R.: First, this is a GREAT picture! Second, my vote is yeah, send it and when you do let me know, I have one that I would like to include as well!

Oct. 21, 2009: Suzy responds. mixedandhappy.com is born.
Sitting at the mall on my lunch break, I started a Facebook group that I called Mixed and Happy. I loved the name enough to buy the domain that same day, although the domain would simply link to my blog.

Oct. 23, 2009: Mixed and Happy blog
I decided to start the Mixed and Happy blog as a way to track the pictures of people who wanted to be included in the Bardwell Christmas card. Read the first-ever blog post here.

Nov. 14, 2009: Spreading the Mixed and Happy love!
This personal project quickly morphed into a family project. A great way to inspire my children and make meaningful memories.

Painting the 34th Street Wall in Gainesville, Fla.

My daughter and I.

Dec. 16, 2009: Christmas card is mailed, 130 Mixed and Happy pictures!
(From the blog:)
Hi Mixed and Happies!

I’m thrilled to say that the most colorful Christmas card of the season is on its way to New Orleans and should be in Keith Bardwell’s hands by Christmas day. I don’t know if he’ll even open the package, but it’s now out of my hands and into his. I knew you’d all want to see the final result, so I snapped a few shots.

Mixed and Happies from all over the world!

I didn’t even think about what I was going to write on this card, I just started writing. As I was writing, I realized that this project was all about love. So, no judging Keith Bardwell, no throwing stones. Just showing some love. Because, when all is said and done, that’s what changes hearts and lives.

The final package

Feb. 14, 2010: Mixed and Happy launch!
We chose to launch the new site on Valentine’s Day since our message is all about love.

August 2010: Making national headlines!

Mixed and Happy is thrilled to have been a part of one story that made national headlines. I was contacted by one of our Facebook fans and in turn, I wrote about her story. As a result of the coverage on our website, every major news media outlet picked up on the story and within 24 hours, a school’s outdated policy was changed. Read the original coverage on our site here. And here, you can read about it in the national headlines here. This was major breaking news over one weekend. What an exciting time that was for us.