Pray for Gibby

I wanted to share one of my latest sessions for the Emily Project. My friend Krista, whose daughter is one of my daughter's school buddies, mentioned awhile back that her mother was undergoing major surgery to remove a mass. I, along with many of Krista's friends and family, offered to pray and added myself to an email list keeping up with her mom's progress and prognosis. Unfortunately, right after the first surgery, we received an email with some not-so good news-liposarcoma cancer, a very rare form. Nancy (or Gibby as all of her family and friends lovingly refer to her) underwent very difficult radiation treatments for some time, and just recently learned that the treatments had not helped and in fact, the cancer had grown. The family was very shaken by this news, as you can imagine, and as Krista's friend I felt so helpless for her and for the family. I was thrilled that they accepted my nomination for the Emily Project and hope that these images can be a bright light in a dark time. Nancy and her husband have made the decision to keep fighting this cancer, and she begins chemotherapy tomorrow (Thursday) morning-please, please pray for her, for her husband, and for her children and grandchildren as they come together to provide her strength.


If you would like to continue to pray for Nancy and follow her story, you can visit her Caring Bridge page here.

As you can see, Nancy is incredibly loved.

Three generations of beautiful women:
Their strength and love has humbled me:

A candid shot after the session was over with Gibby and her granddaughter:

Edited to add: I just received this email from Krista this morning and wanted to ask all of my readers to please help me pray for Nancy:

Dear Friends,

I really need you to stop what you are doing after you read this and say a prayer for Gibby. I just got off the phone with her and they are on their way to check her in to the hospital for chemotherapy. She is very scared and was crying. This totally breaks my heart that I cannot "fix" it for her. Pray that she some how find peace through all of this and pray that she doesn't get too sick. I love you all and please forward this, as I know I have forgotten many. Thank you all for everything. I am so grateful to you!
Love,
Krista

My 100th Post!

Well I've been blogging now for almost a year, and according to Blogger, this makes my 100th time to post in my blog. Woooo hooo!!

To celebrate I thought we'd have a fun little contest. Leave a comment with your guess on how many sessions I have done since last August, and the closest without going over will win a $10 gift certificate to Itunes, or choose a $10 gift card to Starbucks! Keep in mind I was on maternity leave for 6 weeks last year, and sessions with my own kids don't count. Be sure and leave me a way to contact you if you win!

Also don't forget the Reprint Sale is still going on through Saturday, so today and tomorrow are your last chance to save big time on prints from your past sessions!

And finally I have a huge sneak peek for a few patient clients.

First up are the most recent recipients of the Emily Project session! Kenzi was born with cerebral palsy, and her smile literally brought the sunshine from behind the clouds the evening of our session. We drove up to pouring rain and started the session with the most beautiful sunshine we could have asked for. It was a miracle! Thor is Kenzi's protective twin brother: watch out ladies, ok??



Next up are my old friends, who, sadly for me, are ending their baby plan with this session. We first met when Mom, who could have been a professional maternity model and is all over my website, was 7 months pregnant. Now here he is, just over a year old. Every session with him has been so fun and easy and I'm going to miss his sweet little smile every few months!

And last but CERTAINLY not least, the gorgeous one year old who happens to belong to one of my dearest and oldest friends. Joining her already wonderful big sister, I have already warned Dad that he is going to be in BIG TROUBLE someday!!

Just a reminder--don't forget to nominate your friends and family who are in need for The Emily Project. We need nominations for August and September.

Those of you who haven't seen me in awhile may not know that since late April I have been in a splint for my ankle. Not exactly the most mobile device for someone who needs to get around quickly to chase her subjects. So I was very relieved to walk(limp) into this little guys' house and see that unlike my own baby, he sits exactly where you put him! Woo hoo! Not only was he easy, but his gorgeous family made the session easy as well.

Doesn't he have a great smile?

He and Daddy are big buddies:
The adoring parents:
Aren't they a beautiful family???!!

I'm still taking bookings for Fountain Sessions, call today if you are interested!

Deanna

Meet the Freemans

I know many have been waiting for these pictures of last month's Emily Project recipients. To bring anyone new up to speed, Cindy and Bill were nominated to have portraits made by a wonderful friend of theirs who was touched by the way Bill is facing his terminal throat cancer. I took them as clients hoping I could give them something...instead, they gave me so much more-perspective, faith, and hope.
So without further ado, meet the Freemans. A family of infinite faith and love, and great role models for all of us.
Although Bill seemed very well to me at the time, his wife tells me he doesn't remember doing these photos. Although I made it through the photo session and proofing these images without crying, that information did me in. Please pray for Bill and his family.

If anyone wants to help Bill's family out with his expenses, please read here.

Contemplative on a Thursday night

I'm so, so, behind. I don't have any pictures to show you guys because I've been shooting so many pictures, I haven't had time in between to proof them. Playing catch up stinks.

I did, however, want to write about my experience with my first ever "Emily Project" recipients. Our session was last night. Words absolutely cannot express how grateful I am to have had Bill and Cindy Freeman come into my life. Can you imagine having terminal throat cancer, having three children under the age of 10, planning your own funeral?? Now just maybe you can imagine that...but can you imagine looking death in the face and being downright GRATEFUL, EXCITED, for the opportunities and joys you receive from God through the process? I myself have been seriously ill before...and went through the whole "Why, meeeee?" thing. Bill immediately knew there was a purpose to his illness. He is sharing his love for God with anyone who will listen, and he has faith that everything he is going through has a purpose. He also has 100% faith that God will take care of him and his family through all of this, and because of that, God has. Checks for EXACT amounts needed for bills showing up in his mailbox with no sender listed. Situations like that, over and over and over...you just couldn't listen to Bill's story and not believe that God is holding him in His hands. I am a better for person for having talked with this family for just the hour and a half I spent with them last evening.

I will have some images from their session very soon (having computer issues on top of being behind!). In the meantime, there is a fund set up for Bill's family---please donate if you can to help with medical expenses, etc.

William Freeman Care Fund
PO Box 1087
Frisco, TX 75034
or deposits can be made at any Capital One Bank.
Checks or deposits should be made out to the *William Freeman Care Fund*

I also wanted to share this month's recipient of the Emily project:


The family I would like to nominate - Mike, Janet, Thor, and Kenzi. A few years ago, Janet and Mike did in vitro fertilization after years of trying to get pregnant. Four eggs were implanted...Janet lost one baby somewhere around 4 or 5 months, and then after complications galore (lots of bed rest, cervical cerclage x2, hospitalizations, etc.), the water broke with one of her triplets at just before 32 weeks. She made it 5 more days before infection set in and she was forced to go ahead and deliver all three babies. Hunter, the smallest, and the one whose water had broken, did not survive. Thor and Kenzi spent considerable time in the hospital, and ultimately, Kenzi has severe cerebral palsy - Thor is perfectly healthy.
Janet works tirelessly with her daughter...she has devoted much of her life to giving Kenzi the best quality of life possible - traveling all over to try new remedies for various symptoms of the disease - it is just an amazing kind of love. Mike still rocks Kenzi to bed each night, and she can hardly stand to be away from her daddy for any amount of time. Thor has had his own set of issues to deal with being the twin brother of an especially needy sister.
Janet expressed to me that she desperately wants some great pictures of her kids, but no one has ever been able to do great things with Kenzi, and they have never wanted to spend a lot of money on pictures when getting good ones is just so difficult! I told her about you (but not about the Emily Project), and that you have such a way of drawing kids out and capturing them - an amazing gift and talent straight from above!
She was going to look at your web-site and couldn't wait to see the most recent pictures of our little angels. If anyone deserves special pictures of their beautiful family, it is this family!!! They are all just amazing - but professional photography has been something they've denied themselves for lots of reasons. Please consider them for this gift you've chosen to give of yourself...I'm crying just thinking about it.

Please keep sending in your nominations-we'll be selecting this month's at the end of April. Read here for info and send nominations to nominations@devine-memories.com

Thanks for hangin' in there on this long one. You guys are the best readers/clients a girl could have!

Spring Break and Emily Project

Just a reminder to everyone that I will be on Spring Break with my kids next week, March 5-10th. All calls and emails will be returned the following week, thank you for your understanding!

I wanted to announce the recipient of the Emily Project package for this month. For those who don't know, you can nominate someone in your life (including yourself) for a free session and $500 print package. The project is set up to provide portraits to families who deserve professional photos of their family but for one reason or another can't or haven't had them made otherwise. Here is the letter I received that was chosen:

"I would like to nominate my friends, Bill and Cindy, for photographs.

This is a fabulous family with 3 beautiful children 11 - 5 years of age. Last year about this time Bill got a sore throat and after several rounds of antibiotics it was not getting better. He went to the Dr. and tests revealed that he had throat cancer at a very advanced stage. He was given very little time with little hope for treatment. He chose to believe in his recovery with the help of God. Prayers came from many and in the end he did beat the cancer. However, not for long. He fought a second battle this summer and now he is in his third round and this one is not good. They cannot find the center of the cancer and there is no way to treat it. He went to MD Anderson for a trial treatment and was told that he was not a good candidate for the treatment and was sent home. I have been told that he was given 9 mo - 36 mo.

He is such an inspiration, as when others are in this position they retreat into self pity and draw into themselves. He has chosen to reach out and tell his story and how God is good and is working miracles through him. He feels that God has a purpose for him going through this and wants to share. I would love to see this family get portraits and have special memories for the future..."

To me, this is what the Emily project is all about. Thank you, Michele, for telling me about your friends, and for giving them this gift that I know they will cherish, and giving me this opportunity. You are an angel!

If you would like to nominate someone, please send an email explaining why you are nominating them to nominations@devine-memories.com . Be sure and include your contact information, and the contact information for the person you are nominating.

Sales and Specials!!

Semi-Annual Reprint Sale!

20% off Large Prints (16x20 and larger)

20% off Canvas Prints (16x20 and larger)

15% off 20x10 collages

15% off all other print sizes

-This offer is ONLY good for reprint orders, orders that are taken after an initial order from the session has already been made and fulfilled.
-not applicable with any other offer or discount
-Minimum order requirement of $200
-Offer good through February 9th, 2007

February Session Special
Book a weekday session in the month of February, and get a complimentary session for a friend! (or split the price of the session) ($225 savings)

To qualify, sessions must both be booked on an available weekday in the month of February 2007. Not valid for gift certificates or with any other offer. Hurry, sessions are limited and will go quickly!!

Drawing for a $50 Target Gift Card!
Everyone subscribed to Devine Inspirations will automatically be entered to win a $50 gift card to Target! Click here to subscribe . Drawing will be held Saturday, February 17th, 2007 and winner will be notified by email.

NEWS:
After some consideration, we have decided to begin offering digital negatives. The files can be purchased outright or earned with a minimum print order. Please call for details.

Mother's Day Sessions- The most popular mini sessions of the year will be held on Saturday, March 17th. A fabulous chance to have the perfect gift for that special Mom in your life. Surprise her with pictures of just the kids, or bring her along to be in the pictures with her favorite little ones. These are already booking up so call soon if you are interested.

Please keep in mind that Spring Portraits book far in advance, so if you are considering a spring session you will want to make sure and book it as soon as you can.

Don' t forget to nominate someone in your life for a free session and photo package. Send your nominations to nominations@devine-memories.com

Giving Back

One of my *many* resolutions for this new year was to dedicate myself to giving back as much as I can.

One thing I'm trying to do and trying to get my kids to do is to try one random act of kindness everyday. Today was my first real shot at it. I was standing in line at Target and noticed that the lady behind me looked absolutely smashing in the color she was wearing. I remembered a few years ago, some stranger I never had met told me how amazing I looked in the pink suit I was wearing. I never forgot it. I decided to be uncomfortable (I'm pretty shy) for the moment and let her know how amazing she looked in that color. I can't tell you the look on her face...it wasn't a polite smile, or even an amused or "she must be crazy" look that I got, which I guess is what I expected...instead her eyes lit up, her entire face lit up, and she looked so sincerely flattered. I am hooked!

Now on the not-so-random note, I have come up with an idea that I'm ready to try out in the upcoming months. I realize that having professional, caring, and personal pictures made of your children is a big investment, and I know that there are plenty of great parents out there who would love to have those memories captured but just can't afford it, for whatever reason. I am setting up an application/nomination process to offer those families the chance to have the portraits that I feel everyone should have.

The nominees should apply or be nominated if they believe in the value of portraits but do not have the means to have them made on their own.

Apply if you believe it is important to capture your child now...apply if you love every face they make and want to remember them as they are...if you cringe at the thought of forgetting the way they grab your chin when they kiss you...but just can't afford the expense.

Even better, nominate someone whom you think deserves to have pictures made of their family or children. Maybe someone is having a tough year financially, or their health is failing...for whatever reason...I know you all will have someone special in mind. I am open to anything...teenagers, families, couples; the session does not just have to be children.

Send your email with the following things included:

1-who you are nominating (or your name if you are applying yourself)
2-tell me their story, including why they would want the portraits, and why they need or deserve them
3-contact information for you and the person you are nominating

I am setting up a separate email account for the applications to be sent: nominations@devine-memories.com , and will choose based on those emails.

The person chosen will get the session, a $500 print package, and the DVD of their slideshow, total value $920.

The first applicant will be chosen in February, so start sending the nominations in now!